Childrens Services Minutes - April 01, 2015

Announcements were made and Kristin welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Sharing

Kristin stated a child development specialist was at the Edmond Library assisting a parent with understanding developmental stages in smaller children and helped the parent to detect developmental delays early on. Kristin then asked those in attendance to share any library stories they may have encountered.

Emily shared her experience working with author Stephanie Perkins. She spoke about her battle with depression and how she overcame it. Emily stated that her honesty captured the crowds attention.

Summer Reading

Staff training videos will be uploaded to the site explaining why the library began ‘Summer Reading’ and why we reinforce the importance of reading for at least 20 minutes a day. The video is for all to understand the process and reason for ‘Summer Reading’. Stacy also made us aware that an assessment will be given over ‘Summer Reading’. A mandatory Summer Reading test and assessment will be posted on the intranet for employees to take.

Incentives

This year’s incentives are the same as last year. Adults will have two incentives. A book of post-it notes and a portable battery charger. There will be 3 goals this year; Goal 1, Goal 2, and the “And Beyond” Goal. For everyone who read beyond 20 minutes a day, a book will be donated in their honor to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Again, this applies to every level.

Fine Waivers

There will be a new option called “Pay It Forward”. The Pay It Forward option allows customers who received a fine waiver as an initiative, to gift it to another reader if they’ll like. Kellie Delaney chimed in stating, ‘Pay It Forward’ will only be viewable by staff and Summer Reading volunteers online and will also be tracked as well. This type of gratitude shows the value of rewards and incentives.

Orders

There will be one designated person ordering from the supply catalog in each library. This year, ordering will be categorized by age group instead of title. A note feature will pop us as you place items into your cart. This allows the person ordering to add a note to their order.

More Information

Customers can start pre-registering for Summer Reading on May 15^th.

The sign up table will have a new name. It will now be called the “Celebration Station”. There will be props and other fun things at the Celebration Station. Stacy stated, “This will be the big thing in each library.” LaVetta made aware that the ‘Celebration Station’ will let customers know the Summer Reading season is here. Especially those customers who aren’t aware of ‘Summer Reading’. Now there will be displays and different props at each library location. Each Library will choose their own ‘Celebration Station’ look. Stacy told staff to not place the book plates / stickers in the books blank. Only use the book plate as the book is given to a customer, during the time of ‘Celebration’ only.

For those customer who want their photo taken, maybe next to a prop, etc. We will use our library tablet to take the customer’s photo. Each photo will be placed in our MLS private Flickr account, therefore a consent form must be signed. A photo must be taken with a completed consent form. If you cannot get consent, do not take the customer’s picture. Families will not have access to the MLS Flickr account. If the customer want their photo, employees will need to email it to themselves and then to the customer at the staff member’s discretion. Remember to use the hashtag “Ireadfor20”. Kellie asked all employees to participate this year.

Volunteers

Heidi announced that Summer Volunteers are already signing up.

Heidi passed around the summer volunteer shirts that were designed by our very own Emily Williams – Young Adults Service Coordinator. The shirts are red with the word “Volunteer” blasted on the front in a super hero way. Everyone in attendance loved the design.

Weekly Drawings

There will be weekly drawings during Summer Reading, some in person and some automated. The first week drawings are for those who pre-registered. During the second week early childhood readers will receive a ticket at the Circulation Desk to be placed in the drawing which will be rewarded the third week. They will be encouraged to turn their ticket in at the ‘Celebration Station’. Automated drawings will take place biweekly, therefore the second week drawing is for readers who wrote a book review. Each week there will be library promotions, such as ‘use your library card’ on week 3 for adult readers, or simply encouraging people to enroll in Summer Reading. The week four drawing will be for those who already completed week 1. Week five will be set for Neighborhood Arts promotion. Fast food chain Raising Canes has offered their services for promotion and will give free chicken fingers and lemonade to some library locations. Week six will be an automated drawing for those who tracked their own reading. Week seven drawing is set for the teens who’ve found a Super Hero Gnome in their perspective library location. Week eight, for readers who’ve completed week two.

Kristin passed around a few Gnomes.

There will be 152 drawings this year. Flyers will go out by the end of April.

Break: 2:15 – 2:30pm

Supply Catalog

LaVetta stated that the Outreach Supply Catalog will be released in two phases. Phase one will include supplies that are needed year ‘round, such as books for giveaways, dye cuts, bottled water, and other items given during events throughout the year. She added that the bottled water must be ordered by the case (24 bottles). Part of phase two will be general bookmarks, SmartStart tip sheets, table cloths, Spoticus (small or large), other costumes, board games, ODL supplies, etc. Any ideas for the supply catalog can be turned into LaVetta.

More Sharing

Heidi Port will not be in the office from April 19^th – May 3^rd.

LaVetta showed the book plates for this year and the Summer Reading activity sheet.

Sally Gray reported the Friends of the Village Library are sponsoring the Village Fair. The all-day event will take place at Casady School on Saturday, May 2^nd.

Kate reported the Midwest City Library will close April 13^th – April 26^th to receive new carpet and floor tiles, replacing the ceiling tiles and new paint on the walls in the back work room areas. She also announced an event called ‘Story Walk’ will take place in Midwest City on Thursday, June 4^th at 10am.

Marketing Update – Kim Terry

Kim wanted some feedback on a few MLS hero posters and cutouts that will set up around the ‘Celebration Station’. The options were 1. A muscled hero woman 2. A small boy reading a book 3. A Captain America like muscle man, all wearing our library logo.

Marketing have extra ‘Read 20’ buttons if anyone need to order them.

Please be aware that certain supplies will only be offered through our Marketing Department.

Meeting ended at 4:00 pm