Incentives to Read (ITR) Minutes - September 11, 2013

Attendance: Karen Marriott, chair; Kay Bauman, Emily Williams, Kristin Williamson, members of the PIE group: Julie Ballou, LaVetta Dent, Jana Hausburg. Absent: Anita Roesler.  Emily, Karen, and Kay met previously and it is a first meeting for the others present.

Karen briefly reviewed background on decision to move to online sign-up and tracking with 2014 program. For some time MLS has been in discussion about moving the summer reading program online. Charlotte Mecklinburg Public Library’s online summer reading program was part of a presentation at ALA’s annual convention this past summer. Several MLS members attended and thought there was good information for us to consider for our reading program.

A few weeks ago we made the announcement of moving to an online reading program that included the guidelines we want to meet. To recap:

• Focus the program on lifelong learning for all ages by adding an adult reading component to the current three levels
• Encourage adults to model lifelong learning by participating in the program with their children
• Increase participation without increasing staff workload
• Streamline processes
• Retain the Teen Volunteer Program
• Retain relationships with past sponsors and build new ones
• Reduce the volume of paper used throughout the program
• Allow online self-serve registration 24/7
• Allow online self-serve tracking of reading 24/7
• Ensure participants may also register and/or track online in the library with minimal computer wait time
• Automate the management of the incentives
• Automate the collecting of statistics
• Provide reports that are easy to produce

Lifelong learning for all ages is a goal so adults will be included in the reading program during the summer.

Recently, we purchased Evanced Summer Reading, an online tracking software, and are in the process of revamping the program in order to offer online tracking for our reading programs. We originally wanted to tie the software into our ILS so that the library card holders’ information was available. However, that is not an option and we will not be doing that. We may, however, be able to validate the card numbers in a similar way we do for using the databases.

Our next meeting we will have a demo of the Evanced Summer Reader program.

Distribution of incentives:

• Program will provide reading “incentives” rather than “prizes”.
• Members of the PIE Group and the Outreach Coordinators provided background on past practices and effectiveness of types of incentives.
• Sonic tater tots coupons received through ODL have not been given out as a summer reading program incentives due to the Sonic locations having a variety of stipulations for distribution.
• Customers do want the Sonic bags, any bag actually. Libraries generally leave these bags at the circulation desk for customers to use.
• The only item given out at sign-up this past year was the game board.
• We agreed to have no incentives at signup.
• Possibility of giving a fine waiver at Goal 1 and at Goal 2 was discussed. The waiver would only be for fines and would have an expiration date of August 31. The specific logistics of handling the waivers would need to be determined.
• A good incentive for adults the managers said is a canvas bag.
• Having 2 goals helps extend participation throughout the length of the program. We might consider having those who read more to receive more drawing options.

Studies showing the importance or reading 20 minutes per day were discussed.  20 minutes a day for 2 months (60 days) = 1200 minutes or 20 hours

Make goal 1 half way through the reading program so 10 hours is goal 1.

Connect importance of reading for Seniors.  May be able to show increases in literacy in OKC.

Explain the connection between the Strategic Plan and incentives, ie: Know your community = Museum passes

For situations such as when a daycare wants to sign up for the program, we will need to use the Netbooks and iPads with volunteers to help. Each library has 1 or 2 Netbooks

Our next meeting will include MaC, Web and DVS. Our next meetings will be:

• Thursday, September 26 1:00 DN Brawner room
• Thursday, October 10 10:00
• Thursday, October 25 1:00