Childrens Services Minutes - November 10, 2021

Welcome

Guest: Smart Start Central Oklahoma – Rufus D. Howard-Community Connector spoke on LiveBinder (www.livebinder.com) and the resources that it provided for families in Oklahoma County. In addition to ParentPro, a free service that connects families to parenting programs that take place in your home.

• Community Resources for Parents https://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1701255%20%20
• Community Resources for Professionals https://smartstartcentraloklahoma.org/professionals
• parentPRO https://www.parentpro.org/

Courtney Flores-Young Programs Coordinator- Spoke on Early Birds (free parenting program designed for expectant parents and those caring for children 0-5 years). In addition, to the kits provided to parents for attending these classes.

Shannon Dennis-Programs Director spoke on the intent of Smart Start to expand to more rural areas and finding new ways to connect with organizations in new communities to provide access to these resources and programs. Introduced Alondra Perez who is the new Bilingual Programs Coordinator

Questions/Comments

Shana/Mary from community libraries shared their interest in being an early birds site.

EPS Updates

123 Play with Me! – Jessica

• Kits are live. If you happen to run low on books email Jessica and if customers provide photos of their little ones pass those on to Jessica or Heidi or let customers know that they can tag their pics on social media.

Native American Heritage Month – Daniel

• Whose Land Kit? Birch tag and coffee grounds kits are live. Daniel thanked content kit creators.

NASA @ My Library – Kristin

• ALA grant given to Metro for NASA programming. 5161 funds can be used for this.
• Science Museum programs will be in person with a take home component.

Winter Reading – Kristin

• Emily Williams has finished staff training video and staff training will begin December 1st.
• Winter Reading will have a sponsor this year: Slim Chicken’s will provide Slim Meal coupons and will provide two 1 -year supplies of Slim Chickens. Those eligible for the 1 year vouchers are those who complete a black out bingo card.
• Marketing Materials are in progress.
• Completion prize will be a campfire mug and a coupon for one Slim Chicken's meal.
• Bingo categories will remain similar to last year’s winter reading bingo card.

Questions-

• In-person programming – Kimberly will take questions back to PSLT.
• Discussion about religious diversity programming.
  • Kim B. and Jessica addressed this question by explaining the goals and outcomes of these kits should be showing religious diversity. Jessica referenced the best practice programming sheet.
  • Daniel C. shared that he believes that collaboration with different branches would be a great tool in providing programming for this.
• Question asked about the possibility of contact tracing from in-person programs. Would attendees need to be contacted in case of an outbreak?

Sharing and Virtual Programming Discussion

Staff from each location shared what they have been working on and upcoming plans for programs, displays, and take-home kits.

Follow-up items from departments

• Heidi- Booksale will look a little different this year due to changes in procedures at the fairgrounds.
  • Volunteer pre-pre sale will still happen
• CRTD with dog teams and our sister library in German will happen this month.
• Kellie D.-more opportunities to create TikTok content for the library system will be coming soon.
• Emily- Winter training video is done and will be available to view December 1st.
• Kristin wanted to thank staff for all their hard work and creativity during all of these changes.

Adjourn