Children's Services Meeting Minutes for April 2005

Date:  April 13, 2005

Location:  Bethany Library

Attendees:  Geri Price-OUT, Joan Shelton-CH, Fran Harbert- DC, Carolyn Abernathy-SO, Barb Johnson-BI, Marilyn Hudson-CT, Lisa Bradley-DN, Dana Morrow-OUT, Mary Strasner-DN, Cheryll Smith- MC, Cheryl Coleman-RE, Anita Roesler- OUT, Daniel E. Fields-BE, Karen Lehr-ED, Kelley Riha-OUT, Julie Mock-MSL, Mary Lou Strong-DN, Alma Brown-WA, LaVetta Dent-OUT.

LaVetta Dent welcomed everyone and passed out a handout from Jeanne Devlin in MAC. Jeanne advised that MAC has a number of free things (stickers, disposable watches, and other movie-oriented trinkets) that can be used as giveaways at children’s programs. Just contact MAC if you would like some items for giveaways.

LaVetta also announced that we should be receiving the Sam Noble Museum tickets for the Summer Book Program this week. She also informed us that the museum has some interesting traveling exhibits. Their website lists them and provides details about the cost of hosting these exhibits.
Heidi Port cannot be here today for the meeting. She believes she covered everything about volunteers for the Summer Book Program at the retreat. If anyone has questions, please email Heidi or contact LaVetta.

Dana passed out handouts for “Making Family Connections: A Workshop for Librarians and Literacy Providers.” Several people from the system have already signed up, but there are still spots available. It’s FREE and will be offered on two dates: May 9th and May 10th. The program is the same each day.
LaVetta reminded everyone that Jim Trelease, “our hero,” will present a workshop DN on Thursday, April 21. Mary Strasner said that she has extra flyers and postcards promoting the workshop. Let Mary know if you would like extras.

Julie Mock wanted to make everyone aware of the new Grolier databases available through the library. We have new subscriptions to Lands and Peoples, America the Beautiful, and New Book of Popular Science. The link on the MLS webpage is entitled: “Grolier Online.” We have had print versions of these materials in the past. Julie highlighted major features of these online resources and provided handouts regarding each resource. America the Beautiful has great maps and information about cities, Native Americans, and timelines. There are also news articles on current topics and the information seems to be updated quickly. It is very current. Julie was especially impressed with the Almanac. It has lots of interesting facts like longest river, state capitals, and different national symbols. Also, it has good information on Oklahoma. When everyone in the county is doing reports on Oklahoma and all the books are checked out, this can be a wonderful resource. Again, information is very up-to-date and  incorporates 2000 census information. The information on Oklahoma government is clear, easy to understand, and intended for kids. If information is underlined, that constitutes a link that can be used to access additional information. The resource also has good information on famous Oklahomans, including more contemporary figures like Tommy Franks and Matt Hoffman.

The New Book of Science has Sci Clopedia, which is a science encyclopedia. It has links to pictures, including pictures of animals, which can be hard to find when children are doing reports. The pictures can be printed from the database. The New Book of Science has lots of lists, including lists of Nobel Prize Winners. It also has a sky watch feature which tells you what constellations can be seen in the sky on that exact date. It also has information on science projects and experiments.

The Land and People is like America the Beautiful except it covers countries. The almanac area is particularly good. Its information on Afghanistan appears to be very current. It also has color pictures of each country’s flag. It has a “global news desk” that contains news on current events. It had been updated to include the very recent death of the Pope.

This resource is also great in online format because the extension libraries can offer reference resources that they did not have onsite at their libraries. LaVetta will send copies of the Grolier handouts to all Extension libraries.

Julie also reported that the Oklahoman Archives are now accessible to MLS customers at home. Be sure to let Susan Ryan know about problems we or our customers are having with the database. We have served as a beta tester for the Oklahoman and they are interested in working out the bugs. Librarians continued to report problems with printing.

Anita Roessler
Anita reported that the Lifetime Reader Winterfest was very successful. Last year, MLS had 711 participants; this year we had 1147. That’s up 62%. Virtually all branches saw increases and SO had a phenomenal increase with 454 participants! YEA!!! SO attributes much of the success to circ. clerks who really promoted the program asking customers if they were interested in signing up and ruffling only a few feathers among folks who do not like to reveal their age.

Dana Morrow
Dana proceeded with a Show and Tell about the Read to Me Program. She brought the newly designed Read to Me bag with a prototype of the materials that will be included within the bag. They are beautiful and were designed with help from Michelle Keel and the design team at the Oklahoman. The bag will be featured in the Star Bright Books catalog. Proceeds from sales of the bags will go to MLS to help fund the purchase of more Read to Me kits for area families.

The kit will contain:

• a card on 4 tips for reading to children.
• Baby’s first library card
• Kiss magnet
• Evaluation postcard
• Read to Me Book
• Prescription to read to their baby everyday
• A baby bib
• Door knocker

They wanted to include things that parents will see on an everyday basis so they will be reminded about the importance of reading to their children.18% of the kits will be made available in Spanish. Dana also announced that OUT has received a $17,000 grant to purchase board books. OUT will have cards that will say something like “good for 1 board book” for parents who have a library card or get one.

Dana asked for input about how to handle the baby’s first library cards. She thinks that people will want to keep the cards for scrapbooks, etc. Yet, Dana will need to get information about how many of these cards are returned as part of the evaluation of the program. Some suggestions included adding a field to the new library card form to indicate the parent is obtaining the card in response to the Read to Me program, to have duplicate baby cards to give parents as a keepsake, and to have post-its on the board books that will be given away and mail the post-its to Dana when a parent is given a board book.

Dana also talked about the Reading Prescription component of the Success by Six program. In Reach Out and Read, physicians are given prescription pads and asked to prescribe daily reading aloud to children. If you know a physician, parent as teacher, preacher, or nursery worker who might be interested in participating in the program, please email Dana and let her know how many prescription pads are desired.

The Reach Out and Read program has three components:

• Reading aloud in waiting rooms
• Providing prescriptions to parents to encourage parents to read to their children on a daily basis
• Giving out paperback books at doctor visits.

Barbara Beasley
Barbara Beasely conducted the training for the Summer @ the Library (“SAL”). She said each branch will get two laminated copies of the handout, “Summer Reading 2005 Cheat Sheet.” This document explains the program and can be referred to by MLS employees at the desk in answering questions from the public about the program.

The purpose of the SAL is to encourage kids to continue reading throughout the summer. The SAL has several components:

• Staff
• Events
• Programs
• Teen Summer Volunteers

The survey of parents from last year found that parents felt that the people working the desk did not fully understand the program. MLS wants EVERY employee to understand the program and to be able to answer the public’s questions.

Barbara also informed us that the SAL materials will be available in Spanish. (It was noted that Grolier Online has a Spanish/English dictionary.)

Barbara asked for a volunteer to be the child so they could act out the process. Cheryl “Hollywood” Coleman played the role exquisitely. The script went something like this:

Barbara: Did you get a brochure at school?
Cheryl: No.
B. That’s OK. You can sign up now.

Steps:

1. Barbara asked Cheryl to fill out the Dragons, Dreams, & Daring Deeds sign up card. She then detached it from the tri-fold pamphlet and filed it in the Children’s sign up box.
2. She gave Cheryl her prizes:
1. Reading log for writing the names of the books she read or listened to
2. Sonic bag
3. Coupon for the Sam Noble Museum
4. Sticker
5. Bookmark
3. Barbara asked Cheryl to decide is she wants to read: 8 books, 8 hours, or 800 pages. B. explained that magazines and audiocassettes count too. She explained that Cheryl should fill out her log as she reads her books. She will get a sticker for every book, hour, or 100 pages read or listened to.
4. After Cheryl meets her goal, she takes her Reading Card to the library. While supplies last, she can choose from between a medal or a medallion in a box. Children three and under can choose a board book, a medallion, or a medal. Cheryl has now finished LEVEL ONE. For purposes of ODL, Cheryl is deemed a finisher. Check off Level I on her sign up card and move her card from the “Sign up box” to the “Completed Box.”
5. Cheryl is asked if she would like to keep reading and receives applause when her answer is YES. She will determine her choice of books, hours, or pages (it can be the same or different) and will keep track of her reading on her log. She is given a drawing card, which she will fill out with her name, phone number, and library branch. She will check off “child” on the card. Cheryl will get stickers for each hour, book, or 100 pages she reads or listens.
6. When Cheryl completes Level II, she will receive:
1. Children’s Theatre ticket
2. Participation certificate
3. Passes for two Redhawk baseball coupons for tickets to Library Night at the Ball Park for the August 8th game.
4. Drawing card marked “child” entered in the drawing box for prizes.
7. Now that Cheryl has completed Level II check off Level II on her sign-up card in the Completed Box. Staff will not need to handle the sign-up card again.
8. If Cheryl wants to keep reading, she can get 4 additional drawing cards (for a total of 5.) These cards should be stamped “drawing only” so staff will know they do not need to consult the completed box when the cards are turned in. These cards can simply be placed in the Drawing box. Make sure that “child” has been checked.

As for the medals, OUT did not have enough money to purchase all new medals. We had 2100 left over. They made medallions with them and placed them in boxes. Participants will have a choice between medallions and medals until we run out of one or the other. Another words, there is a choice as long as supplies last.

We need to train our participants to keep up with their cards.

We will need to number the sign-up cards. We all need to enter the number of people who sign up for the SAL in Room Manager. When using Room Manager for SAL, be sure to use the category “Reading Program.” LaVetta will compile statistics solely using Room Manager figures; she won’t be using emails like last year. All children’s librarians should input their sign-up numbers after the first week of SAL. Mac likes to issue press releases using these figures. Then update numbers at the end of June and finally at the end of program. Sign-up numbers should be entered in the category of number “expected.” LaVetta will send us reminders. We will also need to input the number of finishers in Room Manager in the category, “actual.” Finishers are deemed to be all participants who complete Level One.

Additional sign-up cards will be housed at OUT.

The teen program will be run much like the children’s one. Older kids may be helped in selecting their goals visually by creating a display of what 8 books and 800 pages look like. They can count magazines, time spent reading on the Internet, and books on tape. Kelley played the role of surly teen.

Steps:

1. Teens will fill out the small black sign-up card. They keep ½ and we get the other half, which is filed in the sign-up notebook.
2. When a teen signs up, she gets the following sign-up prizes:
1. Subway bag
2. Bookmark
3. Carabiner with clock
4. Pass to Sam Noble Museum
3. Teen decides to read. 8 books, 8 hours, or 800 pages. For every book, hour, or 100 pages, they will get a sticker.
4. When the teen has completed Level I, he gets a metal CD carrying case that holds 12 CDS. Level I is checked off on the sign-up card.
5. If the teen decides to keep reading, they receive a drawing card. They should fill out the requested information and check-off “Teen.”
6. When Level II is met and stickers are affixed the drawing card should be entered in the drawing box. Teen will also receive a pass for 2 Redhawk baseball tickets as a Level II prize. Tell teens that the pass can be exchanged for two tickets at the Bricktown box office. This exchange can be done before the day of the game. (Of course this applies to children’s coupons as well.) Check off Level II on the sign-up card.
7. If teen wishes to continue reading, and we hope they will, they can get 4 more drawing cards. As with the Children’s program, stamp these 4 cards “drawing only” so staff will not have to be concerned about indicating levels on sign-up card. Be sure to check “Teen” as these are the same drawing cards children use. Prizes for teen will include an iPod shuffle, which should be VERY popular with teens.

Prize Notes:
There will be NO drawings at the ballpark. Each branch will conduct its own drawing and be responsible for contacting winners.

Explaining differences in the program to the public:
Because of differences in the program---for example, kids do not get baseball tickets now until they complete their first drawing card (Level II) ---- it is important to be able to explain why changes have been made. LaVetta has circulated potential questions that we may face from the public. If anyone has additional questions or ideas about how to respond to the listed questions, please email LaVetta by next Wednesday. She will work on responses that we will be able to share with Teen Volunteers, staff, and to use in our own dealings with the public.

Managers were interested in getting our input about whether to continue having 5 drawing cards. After much discussion, it was decided to stay with 5 drawing cards. If anyone needs more materials, there is about a one-week turn-around time in having additional SAL materials printed up.
In summary, kids finish Level I when they receive their initial set of 8 stickers on their reading log. They complete Level II when they finish their first drawing card. After that, kids can have 4 additional drawing cards that should be stamped, “Drawing only.” The “drawing only” stamp was passed around for everyone to try out.

Performers
Four performers/resource people attended the meeting to talk about what services they can provide to kids.

1. Wayne McEvilly: Musician
   Mr. McEvilly has been performing for children since 1974. His emphasis is on programming regarding Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Bach, with particular emphasis on Mozart. He has recorded 5 CDS and MLS has several copies in the system. McEvilly said that kids in kindergarten and younger have an affinity for Bach. Kids ages 5-12 seem to have a special affinity for Mozart.

   The program he takes to schools and libraries for Kindergarten and up is “Making Friends with Mozart.” (He is currently scheduled to put on programs for WA and BE.) He is adaptable, however, and can tailor his programs to the individual needs of the library. He brings a full keyboard with him. He can accommodate virtually any sized group. He has performed for 12 – 400 kids and has put on shows for both schools and libraries.

   His program consists of about ½ hour of Mozart for K-2nd grade and about 45 minutes for 3-6th grade. He charges $175.00 and would probably offer a set of his CDs for the children’s section at that price. He passed around letters from children who wrote him thanking him for his program.

   He has handouts for teachers/librarians and provides suggestions about how to make the experience more effective. He incorporates opportunities for audience participation into his program. Kids serve as percussion instruments, time the 1 minute Butterfly piece, etc. He will be happy to talk with us at any time.

2. Barbie Dubberstein- Masters Special Ed. Former owner of a Gymboree Play Center and former Director of First pres. Early Childhood program in Edmond. She passed out a handout that describes the programs she is offering and stressed she can design programs to meet our needs. Some of the programs she can provide include:
• Preschool Fun and Fitness
• Toddler fun and fitness
• Cooking for Kids
  Ages 4-6: Cooking project correlates with book read by Barbie. Adult should come with child.
  Ages- 6-8: Cooking project centers around book at a level the child can read.
  Ages 8-12: Focuses on life skills, nutrition. She uses portable grills, microwaves, etc.
• Parachute lapsits.
• Play consultant or child development resource for Family Place.
• Parenting Book Club: ½ of time spent discussing selected book and ½ time spent sharing parenting experiences and concerns.
3. Molly Lemons a/k/a Miss Mollyloubelle: Storyteller/Author.
   Molly Lemmons is retired from the Mustang School District. She is also the author of Kind of Heart, based on stories about growing up in Oklahoma and Texas. The stories she tells in her programs are based on real life experiences growing up in this area. Outfitted in a lace dress, she told the story of the time her “friend” the leopard escaped from the OKC zoo and ended up in her yard. She often uses a parasol as a prop and likes to give children a sense of what it was like to live in “days gone by.” Her fee for libraries is $75.00 and her programs last between a ½ hour and hour.
4. Linda Allman- Red Cross/ Americorps
   Linda is a member of the Americorps, the domestic equivalent of the Peace Corps and is assigned to the Red Cross. She is interested in teaching and presenting programs on a number of issues. Her programs are FREE. The programs are interactive. Some of the possible programs include:
   Scrubby bear- a program about personal hygiene
   Whales Tales- Water safety
   Program on fire safety
   Masters of Disaster- helps empower kids. Shows kids how to make a disaster kit and disaster plan for the family.
   Tornadoes- Play games, discuss tornado safety, and make a tornado in a bottle.
   First Aid.

   They can present any kind of program and she is happy to design programs to meet a specific need. She can come and sit down with individual librarians and discuss what she can offer and help create programs. She is also available to serve as a Family Place resource person.

LaVetta said that Nelson has used this resource at the Norman Public Library with older kids and they really enjoyed the program. LaVetta has a notebook of the programs they offer and will route the notebook to all branches and then keep it permanently in OUT.

These programs are important because the children take the information home to their families and out to the community.

Family Place Discussion
With time running short, Daniel agreed to defer his presentation until the next meeting. As he conceded, even Hollywood guests on Jay Leno sometimes get bumped.

We will continue to have Coffee Talk to provide an opportunity for librarians to meet and chat with Family Place Resource professionals. Coffee Talk will be held at the end of August or beginning of September. There will only be one session this year. Please let Kelley know if you know of a resource person you would like to see invited. Kelley will be happy to send them an invitation.

Discussion ensued about problems with parents showing up but then not finishing the program. Several people expressed that they experienced this phenomena. Some people send out letters with the first set of questions for Family Place.

Several suggestions were:

• Overbook knowing that there will be drop-outs and no-shows. This program is still new to the community.
• Send out cute postcards saying “We are looking forward to seeing you this week.”
• When transportation is a problem, try to get bus passes or co-sponsor with Church or other organization that can help with transportation. (Alma has done this.)
• Offer drawing prizes such as a car seat for parents at each session or perhaps at the final session.
• Hand out colorful postcard size notices like those Mary has made to remind parents about the dates and topics for Family Place. Mary can share her template if anyone is interested.

Teresa Goggins will come to some of our meetings to help us with ideas for using the website to promote programs, etc.

Meeting ended. Thanks to Daniel who provided a wonderful spread of fruit, jelly beans, and wonderful cookies. Next meeting is on August 10 at Ralph Ellison Library.