YA Services Meeting Minutes - October 2013

Date: October 30, 2013
Location: Midwest City Library

Attendance: Emily Williams – OUT, Mary Sholly – OUT, Lynda Bahr – OUT, Suzette Felton – MC, Kim Edwards – DN, Dana Beach – CT, Elisabeth Wright – VI, Lindsay Egle – DC, Taryn Kingery – AL, John Hilbert – SO, Heidi Port – DVS, Cheryl Coleman – WA, Anna Todd – BI, Annie Emmons – NW, Debbie McPherson – BE, Sara Abbasi – RE

Call to order

Marketing – Kim Terry

You’re doing great on the calendar proofing, just keep up the good work of keeping a close eye on proofing. Please remember when you are telling MAC about changes that need made, to identify the library, date, program and time, along with your changes. This saves MAC a lot of time hunting around to find the info. If you can keep your descriptions of programs down to 2-3 sentences that would be great. If you have trouble doing that, email Doug the info, he is great with words and can usually help you out!

Make sure to check the pending calendar through the link that Kim sent out. This way you can make sure there are no mistakes on the website and that your program has been entered onto the website. If you missed the deadline for putting things into events, you can go ahead and add it into events (just remember when you do this, that the info only goes on the web, not the magazine). If you add a program into events last minute, always let Kim know so she can publish it to the website.

MAC is currently working on new “how to” guides for Emedia and  Apple products because of the new IOS, so if you have ordered some, please be patient. 

Updating the Emedia commercial to include Freegal and Zinio. Then will run the commercial again. Also going to advertise in the Gazette and Friday during the same time.

Kim would like to see more YA programmers turning in MAC requests for programs. She likes a lot of the programs that are going on and thinks they would make great posters. 

To get your program info on the Facebook page or Twitter, just indicate on your MAC request that you like that to happen. If you don’t do a request, you can ask Tim Spindle to add it for you. But MAC requests are preferred because then you can get a poster/picture to go along with your advert.

My Career, My Choice – Angela Williams

This program is about ensuring low income youth ages 14-21 receive employment. The program addresses areas such as basic skills deficiency (reading and math), preparing for work, and preparing for college. They offer the kids that participate in their program $5000 for school for 2 years. They also provide bus passes or other means of transportation for those with travel difficulties. They also offer paid internship and childcare. There are 2 offices in the OKC area, 1 on the southwest side and one on the northwest side of town.  They are happy to accept referrals for kids to join the program. They also offer tours of businesses and colleges that all youth whether in the program or not are invited to come to.

There is now a video interview platform on their website. This new platform has many benefits such as interview practice, the ability to record your interview and play it back to correct errors, and the ability to send your interview to family/friends to have them review and critique it. You do need a webcam to be able to do this. There is also an app available on the iPad. Anyone can use this platform regardless of being enrolled in the program or age.

Koch Communications – Krista Bruce

Explained about the Oklahoma College Savings Plan (OCSP), or the Summer Scholarship contest we participate in every year. Emily has the PowerPoint of the presentation should anybody like to view that. The board chair is the state treasurer. OCSP during the Summer does have the restriction that no staff members or their children can win the scholarship, but did you know they have scholarship contests all through the year? You can check those out on their facebook page or website. If you would like any more info or flyers for more contests, you can contact Krista at 405-815-4027 or email [email protected]

Summer Reading – Emily Williams

All of the details are being ironed out, should have answers for all questions beginning of next year.

Midwest City expressed that using a contract for volunteers is helpful for getting volunteers that are invested rather than just killing time.

Summer Volunteers – Heidi Port

The timeline for recruitment of volunteers with stay the same (Jan recruit returning volunteers, March open recruitment begins).

The YA librarians look for volunteers that are; mature, diligent, committed, professional, and know what need to be done.

The video training is well liked. Staff appreciated the laid out expectations for the volunteers. Would like step by step training for next summer, and possibly some shorter videos that address specific subjects.

The laser tag party was great this year because so many librarians were able to attend!

Sharing

Emily – OUT
Has advanced readers copies of many books if any YA librarian needs them. Afterschool seems to be going well.

Annie – NW
Writing and drawing contest went well and winners have been announced. Also enjoyed wizard chess. Asked for advice on what to do if there is a parent that hangs around and possibly is disruptive during teen programs.

Kim – DN
Catching Fire lock-in will be on the 16th, we have lots of boys signed up, and still have some slots left (Kim wants more girls to sign up). Planning to have an obstacle course and a trivia contest. This event you must pre-register for. Day of the Dead programs Friday and Saturday this week. Every Friday in November there is a make and take craft program at lunchtime. DN will be dressing up as characters from Gilligan’s Island for Halloween.

Dana – CT
Had an awesome zombie makeup program, plan to do it again next year. Had a punch card for SR programs this year to encourage teens to come to all of the programs, gave out small incentives for those that came to multiple programs. Planning to do this for fall and spring programs as well.

Anna – BI
There is now a new children’s librarian at BI. They are planning a lot of collaborative programs. Also using Pinterest for planning, every month Anna decorates the teen room with a category. Thinking about adding an incentive to read books from the category/book list for the month.

Cheryl – WA
Will do a “scavenger hunt” using the catalog and other library programs, this contest will last for a month and there are prizes for the top entries. Did a Mad Scientist program and had about 16 in attendance. Looking forward to the Catching Fire program from the Science Museum.

Sarah – RE
Getting adjusted to the new position, had been a librarian at a hospital before this, there is a lot to get used to. Working on a mentoring program and looking into a program on dance. Is thinking about starting a TAB and asked all is involved in that.

Taryn – AL
Did Blind Date with a YA Book and that seemed to have gone well. Attached cute little descriptions to the paper covering the book to entice kids to check them out. Also included rate your date cards in the books. When Taryn gets these back, she plans to create a poster out of them. Started a Teen Advisory Board.  International games day next month will have board games and a giant pacman game. Afterschool seemed to draw a younger crowd than expected, mainly 10-12 year olds.

Debbie – BE
Had forensic osteology and it was awesome. This program cost $125 and was great because you don’t have to love science to love this program. Afterschool has been going well.

Elisabeth – VI
Afterschool going well.  Did science programs in October, had Mad Scientist 2 weeks, astronomy club 1 week and science museum this week.

John – SO
Bill Thompson ran a D&D program at the library, this was run during the OU vs Texas game and still had about 14 in attendance ages from 16-25. Hector Lopez is a great artist if you need caricatures. Working towards having “teen led”/teen helping programs such as teens teaching kids origami.

Kristin – OUT
Currently working with the Science Museum to come up with more science based programs for libraries.