Incentives to Read - February 6, 2014

Attendance: Chair: Karen Marriott; LO: Kay Bauman, Julie Ballou & Jana Hausburg (PIE group); OUT: Emily Williams, Kristin Williamson; PLA: Kellie Delaney, Stacy Schrank; DVS:Heidi Port, Diane Sarantakos, Sarah Blaney; MaC: Kim Terry

1. Kay handed out copies of the minutes from last meeting.
2. John Wood (IT) and Kay will finish their library visits on February 7th.  These visits helped determine the computer needs for each library location in regards to the new online summer reading program.  These visits also helped ensure an overall understanding of the program.  Library staff indicated the menu of computer options are wonderful and will help attain the guidelines identified in the Summer Reading Online Registration announcement. Some locations made some purchase requests that we have forwarded to Anne (IT) and DVS for futher information.
3. At our last meeting we discussed how t-shirts have been designed and/or purchased as marketing pieces for the reading program and the discussion was tabled until additional information could be obtained and considered.  After collecting information and discussing the topic with various members of the ITR as well as with our Executive Director, the following explains the decision made:
   
   1. For Volunteers MLS has opportunities for connecting Library advocates with a spectrum of opportunities, service and potential.  One of those includes teen volunteers during the summer. 
      
      1. Specifically, the goals for Summer Reading Program Volunteers include:
         • To gain job training and work experience
         • To develop skills including self-motivation and taking initiative
         • To increase connection to the Library
         • To encourage camaraderie with like-minded teens
         • To encourage reading skills
         • To support the Library
      2. MLS provides a t-shirt for teens to wear when they are volunteering at the library.  These t-shirts identify the MLS volunteer for staff and customers as well as promote that the library has opportunities to volunteer.
   2. For Staff
      
      1. As an additional way to promote the MLS reading program, each staff member will receive a button (rather than a t-shirt for purchase as we have had sometimes) designed to raise awareness or spark curiosity about the reading program.  MLS staff will wear these beginning with pre-registration through the end of the program.
      2. As a special 'perk' for this summer, you are welcome to follow Friday attire guidelines every day from June 1 through July 31!  (Thanks, Donna!)
      3. If you’d like to decorate your button for added flair, have fun doing so!
4. DVS Update
   
   1. DVS and OUT worked together to identify the appropriate age group for the various drawing prizes.
   2. DVS will evaluate whether we have grant monies available to purchase the items the Managers of Library Operations indicated they needed to help achieve the guidelines identified in the Summer Reading Online Registration announcement.  Specifically, some managers have requested another Netbook and a rolling cart to secure it.
5. Stacy asked a few questions for clarification as he begins developing the training for the reading program. 
   1. To assist with the training we will have a staff reading program that will begin in April (specific dates will be agreed upon by the next ITR meeting) and end before the registration for the customer reading program.  The staff version will mimick the customer version to aid in learning as well as have fun learning about our reading habits.
   2. We all agreed the pre-registration for the customer reading program would be May 15 rather than the May 1 originally discussed.  This for 2 reasons:  1) we believe that a month is too long and customers might forget that they signed up and 2) we need a couple more weeks to be sure to have time to have our 2 new Evanced products running.  The Signup is the event calendaring product and Spaces is the meeting room booking product.  We plan on having those functional by June 1.
6. MaC uploaded drafts in a Basecamp project for the committee to review.  Kim brought updated copies of the draft and we tweaked a few more areas.  An updated draft will be in the Basecamp project later.
7. Our next ITR meeting will be February 27, 2014 in the Brawner room Downtown at 10:00 am.