Suggestions from “Joy Factor” Participants
(Victoria and I would just like to add that we are humbled by your greatness!)
THANK YOU!!!
Name: Shirley Coleman, Windsor Public Library
PR:
We try to talk with as many patrons as possible – find out what they are reading, what they are doing, what they would like to see the library do / have
Non-judgmental
Educating staff on being nice
We’re public library, not in a school, but I do get out on the floor at our library during the times teens are most likely to be there (whenever possible). So far not too much success with developing partnership with schools.
Annual art contest
Contests at various intervals over the year
Teen specific summer reading program and other programming through the year
We try to have one writing activity during our summer reading program
We are planning to start a Teen “Book Review” group where they read the new books and write reviews for the library and the newspaper.
Management:
I have been trying to work with staff to be more user friendly for YAs
Displays are big for us, regularly rotate
Booklists, flyers lying around
Food & drink, library doesn’t allow but I try to overlook as much as possible
The usual tools, SLJ, ALA lists, Blue Spruce list
Talking w/ teens about what they like
We encourage them to make suggestions for purchase, and we make every effort to add those we can to the collection
Expanding genres –another activity during Summer Reading –we give extra points/incentives for every different genre they read. Points are then used to enter drawings for nice prizes.
PR:
Honor and acclaim student reading
Coach football, class sponsor, operate weight room, invited into class as a judge or observer
Monthly deliveries from Junior Library Guild (2 novels per month chosen by expert panel)
Reading critically, finding mistakes or curious “headlines” in newspapers. (Jay Leno’s book can kick this off)
Management:
Make deals at year’s end: bring in a book, and I’ll drop your fine
Water only allowed
Friendly teasing – most students love it
Blue Spruce List
Newbery
Name: Denise Everhart, Merino Elementary
PR:
I am a classroom aide for an hour a day and so have helped in most classrooms. I connect with teachers and see what units they are doing and offer to resource and collaborate on these units.
Attend staff meetings and assists teachers in any way needed
Attend senior citizen “meet and eat” and hand out bookmarks
Our school runs accelerated reader and Reading Counts. This has increased reading and motivated kids.
If a child is the first to read a new book, I let them write a summary of the book. I edit and print it and adhere it to the inside front cover.
Management:
Would like to start reading groups over noon hour. “Hank the Cowdog” day, “Captain Underpants” day, “American Girl” day
I put teacher requests and student requests first.
Name: Karen Hebbert, Eaton Public
Library
PR:
One of our main goals is to make our library a friendly place and make everyone (especially kids and students) feel welcome
We go to the schools when we get a chance – to read. Pioneer and local history programs. Also we look for opportunities to go into the community.
We had a mystery month – kids who read mysteries got a prize and we had a mystery writing contest. Those who wrote a mystery received a free book, and we had a guest author for a program. Also, last year for National Library Week (we had straw hats left over from SRP several years ago) our theme “Hats Off to Books” –individuals and families took a hat and decorated it to the theme of a book. Great success!
Name: Lynn Hogan, Silver Creek MD/SR (6th – 12th)
PR:
Starting book clubs with middle school kids
Have a great clerk, can sneak out, try to talk with teachers to see what they are doing in classrooms
Book fairs
Book clubs
Months class with kids
Banned Bookweek
Teen Read Week
Blue Spruce List
Management:
Much looser with food rules now. We sell lattes so we had to be looser with kids. Capped drinks also, not at keyboards
Kid interest
Conferences, SLJ & Booklist, word of mouth
District cataloging takes too long –2-3 months. Our district has one person doing the cataloging with the help of a clerk. There are over 40 schools so the turnaround time can be frustrating. Our specialists did do their own cataloging in previous years. When we all became connected through the Dynix system the district switched and hired a cataloger so all records matched.
Name: Carol Johnson, Wiggins Elementary and Jr/Sr High
PR:
School newsletter entries
District newsletter entries
Local newsletter entries
Comfortable couches and chairs
“Collectibles” decorate the tops of each of the shelves
Assist with school plays
Personal contact with teachers
Info shared at teacher meetings
Library awareness/Latte Day
Book Fair (Scholastic)
Paperback Book Exchange- We advertise by school-wide PA announcements and signs around the school for about a week before the exchange. Students may bring their paperback books to exchange to the library and receive a coupon for each book at an time. We collect books throughout that week. At the designated time and palce and date, only students who have coupons are invited to the library and they can pick as many books as they have coupons. It takes about a half hour. Sometimes we do this every year and sometimes every other year.
Author visits
Management:
I collect educational and teen-related cartoons/comics, laminate and display on a bulletin board. . . humor is great!!
Sundance Catalog ‘lists’
I trip to shop every quarter (and order)
Student suggestions
Blue Spruce list
Name: Carla Porter, Holyoke SD (K-12)
PR:
I have a PR program. Our plan is to do at least 1 PR activity a quarter. I’ve done a poetry café, a ‘kiss’ contest, and a smoothie break so far.
I help train students and staff in how to setup the digital projectors. I also do collaborative units – a handful of H.S. and tons at elementary
At the elementary we’ve done a “find nemo” hunt and Monday we’re having a party for the finders –about 50.
We’ve also done the Latte Day thing, usually around Dec 1st – 20th w/ book talks
I have a book club that publishes a ‘literary patron’ creative writing magazine for the school. Kids have SO much fun.
Management:
No fines unless lost or damaged
Genre organized fiction
Open mic poetry reading is SO appreciated
ALA Best Booklist
Amazon.com
Blue Spruce List
I hooked up with Atlantis for fiction in paperback. That’s been good, titles are popular, 13 new books each month, so there’s always new stuff which is anticipated by students. (I wouldn’t have chosen some of the titles.)
Name: Ellen Standley, Otis Elementary, (P/K – 6)
PR:
Banners in the hall, arrows “This way to the Library”
Decorate in rainbow hues around the room
Large “bubble” light, soft classical music, scent pot.
Colorful bulletin boards, hanging flags, wind chime. Banners, ‘stuffies,’ shells, fossils, Indian dolls, etc.
We do RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) 3 times a year and 2 in summer. The kids LOVE this.
Contests once in a while.
I collaboarte with the teachers and team teach with them in their room or coordinate my lessons etc to their thematic units. I may decorate an area to go with a thematic unit, e.g. “pioneers” –quilts, old coffee pot with silks sunflower etc.
Book Fair $ go to buy RIF books (They love and clamor for it.)
Free bookmarks all the time.
Treats sometimes.
“Treasure”/prizes every 9 weeks for all those terrific readers. All kids choose from a table of free goodies.
Spin off a book, an event, what a teacher is doing, and be sure to make it personal for the student (writing).
Management:
No fines at elementary.
I show them that I care by listening.
I sell weeded books for 5 – 25 cents, magazines free
I collaborate with the teachers all the time. I know them, am aware of their needs. I always ask if there is any way I can help them, and browse, etc. for things/materials they could use.
Show respect, expect respect for myself and anyone else there, especially while other student is sharing their thought or piece.
At the end of the year I make a 12 foot banner with the total amount of books checked out that year. It’s posted in the gym for elementary track/picnic day. We have 105 students and average 1000-1200 books a month from our library. I am the “cheerleader” for our awesome readers. I do encouragement for summer reading.
I have slips of paper and ask (remind) the students that I want their ideas for new books; genre, favorite author or title. I ask my teachers to give me lists of books they would like to see in the library. I emphasize how important it is.
I look at best seller lists, shop/compare through many catalogs. I browse and ‘flag’ pages and file these for when I buy. I am aware of my teachers’ styles etc.
I divide my books so that new books are put on the shelves every month. I make a big deal about ‘ta-da’ new books that are coming and book talk and/or ‘focal’ these books.
Name: Kendra Mann, Idalia School (K-12)
PR:
Book Fairs – “buy one get one free” in May as help for summer reading
Candy bowl and chocolates, etc.
Books given free to kids
Free bookmarks year round
Go to lots of extracurricular activities (programs, sports, etc.)
Discuss subjects that interest them individually (get to know your kids)
I am also Title I teacher and go into some of the rooms to work with the students. I deliver overdue notes personally. I like to be in the school lobby before and after school and during class breaks and lunch periods.
I helped with a Read-to-Achieve reading celebration the last 2 years. This year we honored the Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss, and reading aloud. I promote reading books and returning them undamaged to me by stickers on charts. When they fill a row either vertical or horizontal they get a piece of candy and a full chart earns them a candy bar.
(Writing) –I have them predict what the story will be about and later we compare what the book was really about with what they have predicted.
Management:
Grace period for fines.
If they’re breaking a rule, I remind them that they are ‘in “my” castle’ and I’m the king/ queen and my kingdom’s rules need to be followed.
I try to allow the students the freedom of not being quiet (within reason) in the library.
I try to get books at least once a month or at least once every 2 months
I pick books from Blue Spruce and other lists and other awards nominees.
I also pick books that sound interesting and sometimes I end up with books that either the language or content is questionable.
I try to get them process within a week. I will allow them out before they’re process if it is taking me longer.
Name: Elizabeth Godsey, WLD Centennial Park Library
PR:
Posters
Bookmarks
School visits
SRP
RAA
NLW
Name: Abby Nickell, Skyview Elementary, preschool-5th
PR:
Friday lunch in the library (students)
Bookworms library club (helpers)
Take time to listen to students and staff and look at them. Be helpful.
P.A. announcements about i.e. “100 pts for reading books”
Let students help me catalog books they write for library checkout
When students ask for a certain title or subject, we search for it online together so it can be ordered at some point
Evening family author social night –authors, book swaps, coffee house with poetry
reading by the kids
mini research – write poem on researched facts using a poetry style
Trip to public library, then ‘picnic’ bag lunch in the library
Name: Kim Ackerman, Skyline High School, grades 9 - 12
PR:
We sell lattes and other hot drinks every Wednesdays, which is also SSR day.
We have several cardboard 4-tier book displays sitting around. One by our circulation desk is best-sellers. Others are author or them displays and we change them often.
I go to SSR classes on Wed. and bring books to do book talks for the kids in that class. I’m working with our 2 YA fiction classes for seniors. Each student must do a library project (an author display, a them display, READ posters, etc.) and they meet in the library every Thursday.
Circle of 10 book groups from Karol Sacca, Roaring Forks H.S. media specialist – great!
Management:
We started with no food and drinks but we sell lattes so we’ve relaxed it, taken signs down, and just ask the kids to clean up. No food or drinks at computers.
Selection:
We shop constantly
We put bestsellers out first and send to cataloging some day.
We ask students for suggestions, watch bookseller lists, award books, sometimes buy at Sam’s (I’m sorry to say)
Name: Amy Sebby, Rocky Mountain
High School
PR:
Eye-catching, thought-provoking displays, variety of themes and subject areas
Spend time in the art room as a student
Work sporting events, debate
Get out in the classroom fixing equipment
Take time to stay and see presentations
Team activity
Poetry contest, over 60 entrants, have been asking when we will do it again
We offer to read their assignments and their pleasure writing
Management:
Fines waived for bringing in cans during food drive (team idea)
Water only allowed in library, food may be set aside at front desk
I never stop helping a student to help staff
I treat them as equal
Anytime a student or staff member says “sorry to interrupt” when I’m doing desk work, I tell them “don’t be sorry, you are my job—I was doing __ while I was waiting for you.”
Name: Karen Deane, Red Feather Lakes Library
PR:
I take programs to the school for “After School Enrichment Program” :Since the Red Feather School offers homework help, I decided to take the public library to the schools by offering different classes in their school program. I did a bookmaking class one month, a traveling storyteller hour the next, and a cartooning class the third month. These classes have been very well received and give me the opportunity to get to know area kids and talk to them about all the great stuff our library has to offer.
Always look for ways to support preschool moms
I visit schools for SRP
Book talks
Book making class
Cartooning class
Read at school
Summer Reading Program and Special Story Hours get kids to read more books
Name: Katrina Griffith, (will be at) Preston Jr High
PR:
Hot drinks day
Writing contests: Exchange entries with another library doing a similar contest so you can read each other’s entries!
Open house for staff (Groundhog Day, St. Paddy’s Day)
Helping teachers build research units
“critical skills” classes
Involve student aides in extra-curricular performances –always try to attend
Readers lunch
Book talks during lunch (free pizza)
Hot drinks mornings (free)
Currently doing KA’s “Get on Board and Read”
Inviting students to write through poetry contests, as well as short essay contests (the difficult piece has been to ‘assess’
Management:
We have invited not only ‘angel’ students to be student aides, but students with special needs. There is a place for everyone. “We want you here!”
Selection:
We sometimes take students to B&N to let them choose new titles!
Name: Nancy Giacomini, Sterling Middle School
PR:
Provide inviting atmosphere, comfortable chairs, music on CD
Library organized into separate areas
Small staff so can’t leave often. Classes come often to the Media Center. I do arrange to teach technology skills to 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students each year.
Offer a book exchange on 2 turnstiles in the library –ongoing: Bring a Book, Take a Book! We ask students to let us look at the book they bring, so that we can check to make sure that it is middle-school appropriate and at least in fair condition. That doesn’t always happen, but we check the books every so often and eliminate some. There usually is a pretty good flow of different books coming and going.
Provide Good Book Award Nominations for students –all they have to do is put Good Student Award Bookmark in book they recommend. This book award is very easy. All that students need to do if they liked a book is to put it inside the book when they turn it in. They don[‘t seem to want to take the time to have to write anything. Then when we shelve these books, we put them on a turnstile in the fiction section that says, “Student Nominated Books.” Students are always checking here to see what other students have recommended!
Table with books and reviews
Management:
Offer fine amnesty during Thanksgiving week, can of food eliminates fine.
‘missing’ cards materials, take approach with students that it must have been inadvertently mixed up with their items.
Provide grace period so students have time to remember their books.
Selection:
OM-NET suggestions
Amazon professional reviews
ILL requests from students and staff
Series of interest to students
YALSA book lists
Notebook kept in Fiction Section that contains sections according to genres that have suggestions from many areas (reviews, book lists) that may help to find a book of interest –title on notebook: Did you find what you are looking for?
Name: Eileen Jones, Burlington HS
PR:
Have a count the candy in the jar contest
Allow teachers to spread out projects to work in my room even if not doing library research
Volunteer to be a club sponsor and sport coach
Be in the hallways during class change to be visible
Produce senior class highlight video with 2 students in my class
Help with band or choir
Speak or show slides/pictures in a class of my travels
Get a free Burger King gift certificate (donated) for each book review turned in
Forgive overdue or fine if come in and deal with it during national library week
Tell them to write about something they like
Volunteer to help critique or proofread without being critical
Management:
Allow kids to each lunch at tables (not computers), and I have now 40 more kids in my room everyday that might not normally be in there. My policy to allow students to eat their lunch in my rooms come from two different points; the first of course is I feel we should encourage kids to come in our room (media center) any time. They might even pick up a magazine, newspaper or even a book to read while they are there eating lunch! Very rarely do I have discipline problems and the students not only learn to read recreationally, they also see the library as a safe, welcoming place. I also allow students to eat lunch in my room because I feel sorry for them…We have an open campus for lunch, but the problem is , that we not only don’t serve lunch, but students don’t have any way to go get a lunch. So they are stuck eating lunch from the vending machines or their own sack lunches. It really is a “sad” thing for the students who can’t leave and I feel bad for them, so I allow them to eat in my room to hopefully make them feel “better” about being stuck here. I know that the general library philosophy is to not allow food, but I don’t have a problem with food being shoved in the book shelves or anything. The occasional mess that is left is well worth the “discomfort.” Something as simple as saying ‘good morning’ or ‘hello’ to every student that walks in
Humor works great!
I reward my student aides with treats!
“Don’t ever be too busy to be nice!” (Eileen Jones)
Selection:
Ask students for suggestions
Ask staff what they will use for their classes
Buy similar types or books in a series
Name: Kathryn Cowan, Platte Valley Middle School
PR:
Get along well with kids.
Have a happy and friendly place for them.
Treat them with respect.
Book talks
Book clubs
Floater books, book fair
Display tables
Raffled Harry Potter book off
Help them with book reports
Help them with grammar
Management:
Selection: