Adult Services Minutes for May 2013

Date: May 1, 2013

Location: Midwest City Library

Attending: Lindsay Egle - DC, Emily Williams - OUT, Anita Roesler - OUT, Mary Ann Johnson - ED, Dana Morrow - OUT, Kelley Riha - OUT, Ajax Delvecki - MC, Darrie Breathwit -  SO, Annie Emmons - NW, Susie Beasley - CT, Ann Meeks - BI, Sharon Nolan - BE, Alexis Blidel - AL, Julianna Link - VI Joey Shelton - RE, Angela Thornton – DN, Mary Sholly - OUT

Dana Morrow - Brainstorming

What does Winter Readfest do for your customers? Why do we do it and what does it do for us?
As an award for our customers for being loyal. Originally started to try to acknowledge our senior citizen customers, it was originally the life time readers society. Darrie would like to see something like programming that would go along with winter readfest, programs on ereaders, databases, family history, etc. Would like the program to be more than just a prize program. This program does attract new customers. Adults always ask why everything is for kids. For the most part, everything is for babies or kids. We have started with the tween age, but once you get past the age for summer reading, what attracts them to library? Anita feels we lost a lot of seniors when we stopped giving out book bags at sign up. There are also people who are like, do not give me another bag. Ann sees it as a fun thing to do for adults, most of the regulars will tell stories about doing it every year! The ones that have done it before, seem to like it more than the new people. Dana says the reality is that we will need to cut the budget for WRF. Look into cutting down the cost by maybe doing 25 instead of 50 dollar GC's. Sharon says that everybody really loved it and they are so happy that we opened it up to all adults. They really like the ipads, and she sees it as a way to introduce the electronic age/movement to those who would not be able to afford it or might not be familiar with it. It is excitement and a way to learn. An incentive. It seems that food prices have gone up so $25 for food is too little. At the high end restaurants, the costumers might feel that they would not have the money for a tip. We could do Visa Cards. It's hard to give everything that's alike to every library because of the different clients. Customers CAN re-gift! An older couple at Edmond received a Zoo pass and they were unable to use it so they gave it to a younger family that had kids since all their kids/grandkids were grown. Businesses might be willing to donate prizes for us to give away. Joey thinks customers are afraid of the gameboard. We think that our experiment made people back away from joining.

Prizes that should stay: Chocolate basket, Visa Card, Zoo Membership, Electronics - we could do maybe an android device instead of ipad, you can get 2 for the price of 1, Braum's, Art Museum

Procedure - how many like the game sheet. ED liked the gamesheet but maybe word it differently. Why have the categories if it’s read whatever you want?  Customers were frustrated with it.

Anita wanted customers to be more vested in the library, maybe move out of their comfort zone.  We think they still need to read 3 books to enter the drawing. Maybe have a little booklet that they fill out for each book, then the drawing slip is cut off the booklet. Customers would get to keep the half with their books, we would get the customer info and a questionnaire.  Darrie said she tried her marketing genius but costumers were having issues with the game sheet because they felt they had to read the whole sheet instead of just 3.  Maybe start second Monday in January have it for 6 weeks. Ann would like a required staff training of WRF. NW did an internal WRF, for staff, to keep interest up.

Introductions!

Dana
Thank you for double checking the info on the tours that we do. Thank you and please continue to check the info mag.

Kelley Smith  - How to build a website with public domain software. iwebarchitect.com 405-202-6691

Teaching how to create a webpage, using everyday language. An hour possibly an hour and fifteen for the presentation. This would probably not be a step by step to build a website during session, there would be a lot of problems you would run into, and would take much longer. This would be a springboard to interest people in website design. Usually $50 an hour rate. Would do it for a flat $50. Currently the only class they teach. If customers were asking for more advanced classes, they would be open to expanding their classes.

Emily Williams - So You Want to Give a Booktalk

There are so many kinds of book talks you can do. Emily really likes to get up and just start reading, it grabs attention and can calm down a group of kids that are running around. Know your audience. What are the logistics of the group. Introduce yourself, say you're with MLS, encourage interaction. A good place for a formal booktalk would be a book club picking their new book, and an informal book talk would be readers advisory. Stunt booktalks can be fun too, incorporate things like music, drama or reading aloud. Probably wouldn't do more than 20 minutes of booktalks for any group. Book talks take practice, but try not to have a script you follow verbatim. Only talk about books you like, if you are enthusiastic about the books, customers will enjoy it more. Give catchy one liners and have a hook. Keep it short, don't really talk more than a minute about one book. Don't talk about a book you don't like. Don't give away the ending. Be excited about it but don't gush, find other ways to talk about the book than just omg I loved it. Don't mix too much personal info in. Start with an attention grabber, have some filler, then save the best for last. Break it up, keep it exciting. What is your end game? Leave a list of the books you talked about/suggested. Always mention the title and author of every book. Just remember that if you have a book that you don't think your audience will like, just skip it. Practice with everybody, use every chance to talk about books as you can. There is a Booktalkers Bible in system.
Only one month before Summer Reading starts. Every staff member has to take the training, EVERYBODY! Summer Reading is much like last year, with the game boards and every child receiving a book at goal 2. Please remember all of the books were donated by SONIC and we should thank SONIC every chance we get.
Break

Kim Terry - Basecamp

Basecamp is a way for MAC to better communicate with our staff in the libraries. You can see the status of the different projects that you have requested, as well as the projects that your whole library has requested. You can see start dates and when they are supposed to be due. As soon as MAC gets a project, it is put in Basecamp as soon as they can, definitely within a week’s time.

Basecamp can be as simple as looking at requests, to using it to keep up with your project requests and who and what has been requested. You can review your requests, look for and fix errors.

Emily really likes that we have a history of the different projects requested; you won’t have to worry with keeping all the emails from previous programs to refer back to.
If you use the online "wufoo" project request form, you can add your Facebook, Twitter, and other press/social media dates.
Kim suggests using the Single Library form for most of your MAC requests. This is the easiest form to use!
For last minute requests, known as OMG requests, you can look through the MAC projects catalog, find a previously done flyer, and just let MAC know what information you would like changed. For OMG projects, MAC requests that you do not as for the artwork to be changed. If you are just recycling artwork, please still give the 30 advance notice for projects.

Dana reminded everybody that this 30 day period should end when you want your projects delivered and not on your program date so that you have time to properly advertise your program.

If you have an order under 150, you can have these printed in-house. If your order is 150 or over, this must be sent to the printers. Bookmarks always look best when they have been sent to the printers!

If there is a program that your library does frequently, you can ask MAC to make a template for it. MAC would like to remind everybody that they have access to lots of different fonts that the rest of the library does not so take that into consideration.
If you see something you like in the gallery, you can reference it in your MAC request, anything from graphics to the font.

Janet Brooks - Talking to Local or Self Published Authors

Make sure your author has material in system before selecting the author. You can call MSL and let them know what author you are planning on having and they will let you know if they can add the books for you.  Make sure to give a lead of at least 6 weeks, more if possible.  Since you plan programs 3 months in advance usually, this shouldn't be a problem. MSL has to evaluate the material before they can buy it. If you are in contact with the author, try to get a book from them for MSL to look at. Published reviews are best for MSL. We don't do book signings! Every event should be a program. If they want to do book signing etc put them in contact with Full Circle they have a local author event pretty much every month. If the author is with you, ask them how to get more copies. If they give you books to review for a program, make sure to mark it so that MSL can put a priority on it. Every book must meet two criteria of selection rules. If you get a gift book and it is in system, you can just print out the bib record and send it to cataloging. If you get a gift book that is not in system and you would like it to be considered, you need to send it to MSL. Further instructions on hand out. You should always read the book before you plan the program. Ann says that non-fiction usually has a better turn out than fiction.

Heidi - Volunteer Update        www.supportmls.org/volunteer

For any volunteer opportunity, the volunteer needs to have signed up then been assigned to the specific task they are volunteering for. If this is a one time opportunity, you can have Heidi set it so that it isn’t made public. For more information on creating opportunities or working with volunteers, contact Heidi.
Any adult who volunteers must first have a background check. No one should be volunteering without one. Our back ground checks for volunteers have a very quick turnaround time.

The artist and presenter database from now on is going to be paid presenters, and these should be people you're happy with, aka have an approval rating.
If the person is not being paid by the library, they are a volunteer, even if they are being paid by an outside source.  If you have questions always feel free to call Heidi.

Annie is going to email out the general volunteer opportunity for everybody to use.
Grilled Cheese Bar Lunch!

Presenter Denise Kennemer - Journal Writing 405-416-3683 [email protected]

Tries to teach 3-4 different kinds of journaling during the course of the class. Talks about privacy of journaling and how to journal for self and for others. 3 different lengths of classes, 2 hour, 6 hour, and 12 hour.   Would like $25 an hour for classes. Has done journaling at Guthrie library.   Gave out handout of different classes.
Presenter Deb Blakely - Savory Spices 405-525-9119

Presented a short program about spices. When doing a program will bring spices and talk about different spices, history of spices etc. Talked about the difference between herbs and spices. Length of class around an hour or more, $50-$75.

Stacy Schrank - OUHSC Library.

Health information specialist. Looking for 20 across the system, there would be special training. Hoping for one person from each library. This is going to introduce you to the resources available to you to do health based programs. Once the group has been selected, the course of study will be decided, classes will be begin in the fall. This will be a specialization that the medical library association keeps a list of. The expectation of these people will be that they can be the person to help with questions. You have to do 12 hours to complete the requirements for certification. Planning to do 6 classes that are 3 hours each.
Sharing

Dana -  had an experience with a customer that lives on the other side of the digital divide.

Wants to do a class for parents, how to teach your children to read.

Julianna / Village -Last big program was the Sarah Lee Guthrie program. Had about 125 people. Had over 1100 customers get tax help this season. Recently had the Reader's Advisory training, this class ended up being mostly about book talking. She has 4 different sets of books that can be used for book clubs if anybody would like them!

Lindsey / Del City - Had an Irish Dancing troupe, contact Devin Mcghee at DC if you would like to have them. Had weaving with Donna that was well attended. OSU extensions doing a program next month for eating on a limited budget with food stamps etc.  Doing organizing with your kids and container gardening.  Grief  recovery.

Darrie / Southern Oaks - Had Love's Labours Lost, customers really enjoyed it. Darrie went to get more customers to come in, talked to a guy in his thirties, this gentleman told her after the program that this was the first play that he had ever been to. Book club really enjoyed the Killing Kennedy book. Adult Basic Education classes have been great, classes will resume in August. Healthy eating and cooking demonstration in March with OSU Extension.

Mary Ann / Edmond- Had Eating on the Run from OSU  OKC, going to have law management. Wayne McEvilly on Sunday. History book club, doing Last Outlaws about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid. June going to have the Summer Survival guide for moms. Going to have watercolor again taught by Torkan. David Farris in July going to have a new book about stories from Edmond and Guthrie.

Susie / Choctaw - Had Diabetes 101 last night, was very successful -35 people. From a customer "I love this library, libraries are wonderful places to discover what you like and what you need". Getting new carpet in May. July going to have Daily Oklahoman Archive program with Phyllis Davidson. “Books, bagels, and biscotti”.  Debbie Langston doing art class in July. Going to have a program with DAR, SAR, and CAR.

Alexis / Almonte - Started a knitting group, going to have volunteers come teach. Setting up a yoga class. 2 weeks until first book club. Thinking about having somebody from humane society come to talk.

Anita / Outreach - Not sure what happened to the OATH Coalition, has tried to contact but hasn't been able to if you want to do a program with them, please do so but we will not be doing it system wide right now. Getting a new fan! Books By Mail coordinator will be retiring. Anita will be retiring in just over a year.

Annie / Northwest - Had a very busy April, something at the library every Saturday. Had Loves Labor Lost. Shakepeare in the park had a miscommunication so they are going to make it up and donate season tickets to give as door prizes as an apology. Had gardening open house, ended up being great and inexpensive. Had about 9 different groups give info out about gardening had about 75 people attend. Had container gardening that afternoon. Last Saturday in April is world tai chi day, had different styles of tai chi demonstrate, 27 different customers plus lots of volunteer instructors, 2 ladies drove up from Duncan. Going to have a lady and her therapy dog come in and talk, Joy Laughenburgen and Goldie, with HALO. Oklahoma voices in inspirational fiction, going to have a group of OK authors present.
Downtown - Had UCO dancers perform in atrium. “Chocolate Hair, Vanilla Care” was about styling African American and racially mixed hair. “Diaper Bad Cinema”, a time where moms can take their kids to the movies and not worry about having the kids run around and be noisy. Have destination wedding program tomorrow. Master Class with Leonna Mitchell. Wayne McEvilly Mothers day. Learn to Waltz program. Lawyers in the library. The book of love program will have 2 different age groups. Fencing demonstrating. 

Sharon / Bethany - In May UCO flute ensemble. May 11 doing paper roses, these are very pretty flowers, this program done by 2 aides, can make hair clips and broach clips. Ling Miller coming. June for Father’s Day, Jim Garling - cowboys songs.

Kelley / Outreach - Doing a lot of resource fairs, if you need an extra hand, please call and I'll help!

Ann / Belle Isle - Taught first craft class. Did a decoupage class. Had Peter Fletcher, guitarist from NY, pricey but had great feedback. Nathan Brown, poet laureate, Oklahoma humanities council. Closed for carpeting. Going to have Wayne McEvilly. ESL has ended early, they are having budget issues.

Joey / Ralph Ellison - Cancelled GED class not enough people showing up for it. Salsa dancing was great. R&B line dancing is next month on Fridays.

Ajax / Midwest City - Eric Humphries doing art display in gallery and display cases and doing an artist talk. June and July is mainly children programs. In July the State Fair is coming out to talk about one of the art contests they have. Mary Ann says they do a great display. August the fair will be back to talk about the history, present and future vision for the fair, this will lead to a series on stay-cations. Sharon suggested contacting Kathy Anderson with the Route 66 Association. Will be having the Oklahoma Historical Society doing a display of family heirlooms.

Kelley / Warr Acres - In December did a holiday snack thing, this program isn't advertised but still had 46 attend. Did a make and take for Valentine ’s Day, had 49 attend. Vegetable gardening for early spring. Had Janet Croft a token scholar do copyright basics talk. Senior legal resource center doing senior law, estates etc. Jill Watskey. Polymer Clay class June 8th, making beads the "European style", going to have 2 sessions because she can only have 8 people in class.

BAKED OATMEAL
6 c. Oatmeal
4 eggs, slightly beaten
2 c. Sugar
1 ½ Tbsp. Baking powder
1 c. Milk
1 ½ tsp. Salt
1 c. Oil
1 tsp. Cinnamom
Mix all ingredients and pour into ungreased 9" x13' pan
Bake at 350 for 35 - 40 min.