Adult Services Minutes for May 2003

Date:  May 14, 2003

Location: Bethany Library

Time:  1:00-4:00pm

Anita Roesler, Senior Services Coordinator welcomed all present to the meeting.

Attendance:  Marcia Findeiss-CT, Sharon Nolan-BE, Shellie Zeigler-Hill-DC, Susie Beasley-MC, Sharon May-RE, Linda Gens-VI, Patricia Uselton-WA, Dana Morrow-OUT, Kelly Dalrymple-WA, Susan Ryan-MSL

NEW DISPLAY:
Anita discussed a new display made possible by a Friends grant. The display is available for checkout from Outreach, but you must pick up and drop off yourself (may be crushed on a delivery truck). Please call Sharon Maine for details @ 235-9223, ext. 25 if you would like to use the display materials.

SENIOR ADULT READING:
Scott Carter would like for us to some up with a cool, catchy name for the reading program for seniors, which will be held in February and March of 2004. Some ideas thrown around were: Adult Winter Reading, 55+. If you have any more ideas please email Anita. Anita passed around the card that the participants will use. It is small enough for a man or a lady’s wallet. When the first card is completed (after reading 4 books), the participant will get a prize. After that all cards completed are used to be entered into a drawing. It was suggested that the type font be enlarged on the card, but Anita is concerned that all the information will not fit on the card size if we do this.

SOUTHWESTERN SENIOR EXPO:
Anita attended the expo. The Library had a booth which promoted books by mail and all other services for seniors in the library.

FRIENDS GRANT:
Anita announced that she is working on a Friends grant to fund a special program for each branch. Anita would like for the programs to focus on literary aspects. Some possibilities are: Calamity Jane, Glenda Carlisle, Barbara Byrd (Book Talks) and Roger Harris. This will take place during the Senior Adult Reading Program.

METROTECH:
Metrotech will begin putting their classes at the MLS libraries in their catalogues. If a customer asks to sign up, please direct them to call Metrotech directly to do this. Anita stated that some people have been expressing reservations about going to the Metrotech campus for classes, so we are helping them out as well by having their classes at our libraries. The classes will begin in September. BI, SO, DN & ED will be the first branches to hold classes.

CITY-COUNTY HEALTH CLASSES:
Anita reported that the “Chronic Pain” class at BI on Tuesday mornings is going well. There is an average of 8-9 individuals per class. However, the age of the participants is not known. There is an interest in taking this class to other branches in the MLS. Each class is 6 sessions long. CT, MC. BE and VI expressed interest.

• Ann Meeks asked for a mailing list for senior citizen centers in OKC. Anita passed around a directory.
• Dana Morrow announced that the new meeting room reservation database will be up and running by July 1, 2004. Mr. Win will no longer be available at that time. Sorrow was expressed by some to the upcoming loss of Mr.Win.

EMAIL UPDATES:
Anita reviewed some emails from the past few weeks.

• Kelley Riha sent an email re: OU Speaker Service
• Cheryl from RE sent an email re: Donna Hillhouse. Ms. Hillhouse refuses to sign a W-9 for tax purposes; therefore we are unable to schedule her for any programs.
• Kelley Riha sent an email re: performer review form. If you have a performer at your branch that you would recommend, please fill out a review form.

SURVIVAL KIT FOR SENIORS:
Anita passed around this book. Every branch should have a 2003 copy of it. It resides in the reference area. Call number: 305.26/SU963s.

STATE CONFERENCE ON AGING:
Anita attended this year’s state conference on Aging in Norman. She discussed her experience as well as some topics that were offered. Some books that were mentioned were: Learning to Grow Young, What’s Worth Knowing, The Lonely Bowler and Aging for Dummies.

Anita suggested that if we want to attend next year’s conference, we will need to put it in our budget. It is a 3-day conference this year @ $45/day including lunch.

• Anita brought her “Reminiscence Kits” if anyone would like to use them. They included: Remembering the Farm & Remembering Work Life.

DANA MORROW:
Dana discussed that the budget is down from the previous year, but the exact amount is not certain at this time.

Dana passed around the Culture Shock programs compact brochure for the teens.

Dana also passed around the community leader handout, encouraging community leaders (clergy, doctors, etc.) to encourage parents to read to their children. This is encouraged to be used on a one-on-one basis with community leaders, not merely as a handout at the library.

SUSAN RYAN-MATERIAL SELECTION:
We are going to keep the Mitchell’s database at this time. We will not be adding a new automotive database any time soon. We are using funds to add more users to the ancestory.com database. ILL usage has increased. But it is suspected that it is due to other library system patrons using ILL to obtain our materials and to use our ILL service.

SHARING:
WA: Coffee break program continues, OK City-County PREP Program. Kelly Dalrymple spoke to some individuals from her parent’s church re: Internet & Genealogy. She said they were very interested. It was also mentioned that having a staff person at WA that can speak Spanish has helped to increase their Hispanic clientele.

CT: Marsha discussed our role as information specialists in regard to the future of public interest in the digital age as the FCC proceeds with plans to end some long standing safeguards. She passed out a website for anyone who is interested:
http://www.democraticmedia.org/issues/mediaownership/

DANA-OUT: Dana discussed the Johnny Appleseed Program that is upcoming in October. Dana also discussed a group called, “Harmonia.” This will be part of the “My World” Series. She asked if any of us have any leads of any formed Eastern European groups? If you do, please contact Dana.

BE: The ladies that were china painters have booked elsewhere. There was a hummingbird program from the OSU extension last night, 25 attended. BE will have Homemade Toiletries with Karen Bray on Saturday. Starting June 7th, each Saturday there will be a beginning Yoga class. Sharon also discussed the “Stranger Danger” Program that recently had.

RE: Sharon shared that they had a poetry contest for the month of April (national poetry month). In July, she is thinking of having an open mic poetry night.

DC: Shellie discussed the progress of her adult bookclub; she also continues to have a teen bookclub as well. Shellie discussed the computer class she had last week. She continues to perform booktalks at the Timberwood Assisted Living Center.

MC: Susie discussed the “let’s Talk about Music” class that was attended by homeschoolers. The Fancy Dancers program went well with over 100 in attendance.

Susie handed out the new Studio Mid-Del brochure. Shellie stated that she attends a dance class there and it is great. The Studio offers dance and art classes for individuals of all ages. Susie announced that at the AARP tax center, 832 people were served. She is working on a grant for funds for more large print books. They will also be having a program by the City-County Health Dept. entitled: Helping Children Cope During Unsettling Times.” Linda (VI) stated that they attempted to have that class at VI, but had to cancel due to lack of attendance.

VI: Linda stated that the Spanish classes are continuing twice a week for two hours. They also continue with their ESL classes. They recently had a gardening program, from OK. County Extensions, that went well.

CHARLES DODSON:
Charles Dodson from Village on the Park (as well as Dodson Cafeteria’s) was a guest speaker. He delighted us in the history of cafeterias in the OKC area (which happens to be the Cafeteria Capital of the World, who knew?). Mr. Dodson is available for hire. His stories will surely delight our seniors from the OKC area. His number is: 692-8700.  Dana determined that $50 was a fair price to pay him as a speaker.

The Meeting was adjourned at 4:05 pm.

The next meeting will be on July 9th, Location to be announced.