Incentives to Read Minutes - September 21, 2015

Software Options:

A few months ago Kellie Delaney attended an Evanced Seminar where they introduced their new summer reader product Wandoo. During the demo they announced that Summer Reader will no longer be supported. Issues came up and they changed the original cutoff date from summer 2017 to this summer (2015). Kellie introduced new software options to review, there was a brief description about these options.

• Library Insight – www.libraryinsight.com/default.htm

• BiblioCommons – http://www.bibliocommons.com/ - Has Summer Reading section

• Counting Opinions – www.rcapp.net – Used by Pioneer Library System last year

• The Great Reading Adventure – www.greatreadingadventure.com – Created by the Institute of Libraries and Museums. It is available as freeware and can be downloaded for free.

• Beanstack – http://metrolibrarydemo.beanstack.com/ - Should primarily be used as a supplement and not used fully as our summer software. Targeted more toward early childhood. It is a great tool for parents and can be used for SmartStart, 1-2-3 Play with Me, etc.

• Wandoo – http://evancedsolutions.com/products/wandooreader/ - An Evanced Software which used the same platform as Sign Up & Spaces

Kellie lead the discussion and consideration of the various software programs

LaVetta listed from her notes of meetings with regions, a few comments and concerns from library staff, which included, the usefulness of printable logs for parents, an easier printed certificate of completion, a less complicated weekly automated drawing system, easier tracking system and being able to retrieve what school our young members attend for data purposes, and communicate with Carl-X and populate member information. She also suggested going with a system that allows member information to attach to their member number, such as “Tailored Titles”, reading list, or if they’ve written a review and would like to keep it, or refer to it later.

Emily suggested they pick a software that still has the group / family option.

Tim added that the committee needs to be sure to look at all business and technical requirements when looking at any software options. He also stated that it would be best to have the actual companies present their own software demos.

Kellie stated the software program will need to be selected soon. She will continue to keep everyone posted and once she is contacted by the companies, she will send out demo dates & times through Outlook.

Summer Reading Goals for ITR Committee:

• LaVetta opened the floor for any goal ideas / suggestions, or discussions.

• Tim suggested to the ITR Committee to try including Oklahoma school systems within our MLS Summer Reading Program in the future. Simply allow schools to become more involved and work with us in the process of Summer Reading. Tim sees great things for the future of Summer Reading and would like it to be all year long. He wants our approach for Summer Reading achievement to be designed to meet our Strategic Plan. Tim expressed that he understands that Summer Reading is a big deal for our library, being the largest program we offer system-wide, therefore we should put as much as we can into it, including resources. He is aware that these changes cannot be made in one year, but believe we should focus on preparing for success. Tim asked the ITR Committee if they had any feedback or questions on what he had discussed with the group.

• Kristin made the committee aware that sometimes when the Summer Reading information and other promotional items are mailed to schools they may be thrown in the trash by their staff. She stated that the Oklahoma City Public Schools has a communication staff member that makes sure information is sent out to their schools. She stated that they are very helpful and proactive.

• LaVetta and Kristin will soon contact the Mid-Del School District in hopes of them agreeing to place a library sticker on every report card envelope mailed to parents. The sticker’s wording will read something like, “Vacation reading equals better grades! Take your child to the public library for summer reading.” The library system will provide the stickers to the schools.

• LaVetta will meet with Jon Rollman soon to change the wording with Summer Reading Goals.

• Summer 2016 Changes to Consider: LaVetta handed out a 2 page Summer Reading Goal sheet and asked the committees for their feedback on it. Each Goal (3) listed was broken into objectives A, B, or C.

• Tim loved the outline and way the goals were broken down and how it can easily be referenced later on if needed.

• Erin would like it to be clearer to library staff and volunteers that they must help submit sign-up, tracking and input any information for members if they need help, or simply want help. She feels volunteer training should be more consistent throughout our library system. Sign-ups and tracking info should be entered for any and all members who ask us (volunteers and staff), regardless of reason, (don’t have a computer, don’t know how to use a computer), or just don’t want to do it themselves.

• LaVetta will work with Heidi to develop more training info for staff working with volunteers, to provide an info sheet about ways to mentor volunteers, and the committee will communicate Erin’s point to the staff.

• LaVetta then discussed a few of the changes after considering the new SOaP goals in the Summer Reading strategic goals which are easier to measure outcomes. She stated that the goals were ultimately multi-leveled goals. Meaning there were three goals sets, and for each goal are some objectives, then each objectives have Key Measures. She asked the committee review the strategic goals.

LaVetta then directed the committee to look at their Summer Reading Review sheet she handed out to them, which was outlined by each library region. It included the region’s thoughts of this year’s Summer Reading Program and suggestions for moving forward in plans for next year.

• Tim stated he’ll like there to be a more simplified reason why the library does Summer Reading.

• Kristin hopes it’ll be easier to maneuver from one page to another after logging into the new summer reading site.

• Emily suggested that in the future all the character stand-ups be rotated within each region.

• Kristin plans to begin ordering books in December to have a start before spring.

• LaVetta stated DN library staff would prefer next year’s Summer Reading groups be lowered to 30 people max, to help them manage large groups without depleting their incentives supplies.

• All agreed that deadlines should be given to members for drawing gift giveaway pickup. If a deadline is given to a member and they have chosen to make arrangements, then the arrangement date will be honored even if it is after the deadline. This will be discussed for taking affect during Summer Reading 2016.

• LaVetta asked Erin Bedford to be a liaison at the Regional Director’s meetings.

Meeting adjourned: 3:30 pm