Engagement Managers Cabinet Minutes - October 13, 2021

Central Oklahoma Workforce Innovation Board https://cowib.org/ 

Guest Speaker: Denise Hyche, Youth Coordinator/Outreach Specialist 

A representative from COWIB shared their job seeker services and free workforce development programs from adults and teens, and how they can support the community we serve.  

They are federally funded through the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) and provide free programs for those who have barriers to the workforce (dropout, low income, English language learner, trouble with the law, etc.) and provide incentives and training. COWIB serves 9 counties including Oklahoma County to provide assessments and training/certification assistance, which must be in a high demand occupation (list is in the All Engagement SharePoint). They help with on-the-job training, work experience, supportive services (like the cost of uniforms and tools) and job placement. Customers can apply at cowib.org/apply, attend an orientation held every Tuesday at the OKC Central Office, or call their local office. There are no application deadlines as this is a year-long, self-paced program. 

Direct contact for staff: [email protected], 405-426-8839 

Updates 

Native American Heritage Month – Daniel - take home kits were routed out this week, starts November 1 

Winter Reading: Book Bingo update – Kristin – training coming December 1, sponsorship by Slim Chickens, program is January 1 – February 28, group had discussion about separate drawing for staff

123 Play with Me – Kimberly - Take home kits are being sealed up with handouts over the next couple of weeks and will be hand delivered by Jessica and Teresa the last week of October. Our landing page for 123 is also being updated for our customers and will be ready with fresh content by Nov 1. Social media will also go out in November.   

Vaccine Clinics – Kimberly - Jessica has shared out information with all staff about our 6 COVID-19 vaccine clinics with the OKC-County Health Department. Information is also available on our website for customers, including location dates/times along with a FAQ. Our 6 locations offering the clinics were selected based on low vaccination rates and/or high positivity rates in their respective zip codes. The target audience for OKCCHD are teens and young adults, but the primary goal is to see as many community members as possible who have not received that initial vaccine dose. Please make sure to promote this event as much as possible through local outreach! 

Folk and Traditional Art grant – Emily - our library was awarded a partnership grant with the Oklahoma Arts Council to highlight, celebrate, and preserve traditional cultural art practices that are not normally recognized by museums. We will be working with specific practitioners of Mexican folkloric music and African American quilting between now and May 2022. Components of the program include video interviews, photos and audio, displays, and other celebratory events. 

TeenTober – Emily - ongoing through October, visit the landing page to see all of the fun teen programs happening this month, please help us promote the Teen Summer Volunteer T-Shirt Art Contest 

Safe Place and Pivot – Emily - our libraries are becoming official Safe Place locations again, training and more information will be coming soon, Pivot is our partner agency and can assist when teens in crisis in our libraries need help 

Nasa @ My Library Grant – includes stipend for programs at Ralph Ellison around the space telescope being launched in December, spring program in conjunction with the first images, another around SR theme of Oceans of Possibility, other libraries can use these program plans and 5161 funds  

Volunteer software update – staff side is not working correctly, please contact Heidi if you need updates or help 

Sharing 

DN – fully staffed for Engagement, John Rex and Positive Tomorrows coming on regular schedule for book check-out, outreach at Pumpkinville/storytimes at Myriad Gardens, Palomar and Midtown Walkabout, Paranormal Fest, college test prep, Spoticus Dance Party at Scissortail on October 30 

WR – art around the world series with art kits 

BI – outdoor reading theatre, glowing campfire kit, puzzle swap, open Engagement Manager position, redistributing furniture 

MC – spooky scavenger hunt, maze kit 

NW – take home kits and outdoor storytimes, scavenger hunt with gnomes, finalizing December events 

RE – Paranormal Fest embroidered flyswatters, Teentober Drawlloween prompts with post-its, Nailed it and Failed it with prizes, bigfoot paint-by-number, building relationships with local schools, centennial is coming up and will have portraits of the community and shared language poetry 

ED – postponed open air health fair to spring, participated in Edmond Vibes art walk and talked to over 300 people, writing group started virtually and went really well – if other libraries want to start their own groups contact Danielle, LGBTQ Pride in Edmond on 10/23, Mitch Park trunk or treat on 10/30, Veteran’s Day celebration includes promoting VetNow and book lists, take and makes are still very popular, horror film club – Tales from the Silver Scream 

CH – haunted house, Haunt the Hill, OKC Ballet event, Day of the Dead storytime, Native cooking tutorial through Zoom 

BE – take home kits continue to be very popular, finger knitting, sugar skulls, outdoor programming like Stories & Fun and LEGO robotics, StoryWalk changes every month, Spoticus Out of this World kits, celebrating 2nd year at the new library 

WA – thank you to NW for staffing support, have been having successful outdoor programming, dedicated book club, 2 open positions 

VI – take home kits every Tuesday, Natural Grocers health & wellness programs on Zoom, outdoor storytimes have been getting good attendance, OKC Ballet this weekend, messy art program with teens and will display artwork in teen space, 1-on-1 tech help, outreach at Village Fall Festival 

AL – take home kits, weekly teen anime club, outreach, looking forward to the fall and new year 

SO – closed for sprinkler system repairs, Halloween science program outside, outdoor book club, social worker has been making resource pages, collaborating with other libraries, unattended minors issue 

DC – take home kits are very popular, teen financial kits, life skills kits, science programming on the patio, very busy in the afternoons with homeschool groups, vaccine clinic, Paranormal Fest, outdoor outreach and trunk or treats, Neighborhood Watch events 

DVS – site is being updated with new functionality, Sister Library Children Reading to Dogs program, please promote the Summer Volunteer T-shirt Art Contest to local schools and teens 

OES – encouragement for staff to volunteer to provide social media content, Summer Reading 2022 subcommittee applications are open, outreach event with Rainbow Fleet’s Fall Carnival next week