Home / Childrens Services Minutes - November 11, 2020

Childrens Services Minutes - November 11, 2020

Submitted by kwilliamson on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 08:45
Meeting Date / Time: 
Wednesday, November 11, 2020 - 1:00am
Meeting Location: 
Virtual (MS Teams or Zoom)
Attendees: 
Kristin Williamson (EPS), Emily Williams (EPS), Teresa Matthews (EPS), Jessica Gonzalez (EPS), Amy Upchurch (AL), Tammy Knapp (BE), Allie Barton (BI), Katherine Hickey (BI), Gloria Melchor (CH), Shana Lancaster (CL), Mary West (CL), Scott Garrison (CL), Breanna Salzsieder (DC), Chelsee Bumann (DN), Brittney Logan (ED), Andrew Patton (ED), Marc Pezzell (ED), Tara Golden (MC), Tess Botkin (NW), Robin Miller (NW), Bridget Harkin (RE), Cheryll Jones (SO), Juliet Alavicheh (VI), Sally Gray (VI), Daniel Chesney (WA)
Guests: 
Heidi Port (DVS)
  • 1. Welcome Bridget @ RE, Tammy @ BE, and Jonathan @ CLs! 
  • 2. EPS Updates:
    • A. Summer Reading 2021 (Emily Williams)
      • It’s happening, but unsure of what it will look like 
      • 1st meeting is later this month 
      • Working to create contingency plans for all occasions 
      • Will most likely look like Summer Reading 2020 
  • B. Winter Reading Challenge (WRC) (Kristin Williamson)
    • WRC will be Jan/Feb 2021 
    • Will launch training in December 
    • Anyone can participate, but only adults are eligible for prizes 
    • Read 5 books on WRC BINGO and get a camping mug + entered for a chance to win drawing prizes such as Kindle Fire and Metro branded blanket 
    • Read 25 books and get entered for a chance to win swag bag and iPad 
  • C. Misc (Kristin Williamson)
    • Because of the ice storm, questions came up on whether to cancel programs  
    • Metro would like to create a backlog of pre-recorded activities (crafts, STEM, Storytime, etc.), so if we cancel live programs, we’ll have additional videos to replace it  
  • D. Children Reading to Dogs  (Heidi Port)
    • Cancelled last week and moved the dance party 
    • This week opened extra spots since we had more staff 
    • From a teacher, “98/100 on a reading test”. She saw such a difference for that student and attributed it to Childre Reading to Dogs 
    • Both staff and families have really enjoyed the program 
    • Macy’s is hosting a Make-a-Wish program for writing to Santa, will contribute $1 for every letter up to 1,000,000. 
  • 3. ALSC Institute 2020 
  • We are Water Protectors (Tess) 
  • Watercolor art, used small details in the pictures to create authenticity with focus on character togetherness, not the solitary native; showcased Natives without traditional attire 
  • Book inspired by the Dakota Access Pipe 
  • Book includes Indigenous voices and celebrates #OwnVoices    
  • Discussed the physical and emotional toll of writing books about culture 
  •  Global Citizen’s Academy: Creating cross-cultural experiences for disadvantaged youth (Shana) 
  • This is a program on cultural geography. It could be a one-off or a repeat program and is best for ages ~7-10. 
  • Ask questions like, “What do you see in your grocery store?”, “Where would you like to go?” “How do you think they live?” 
  • Highlight library resources and show YouTube travel blogs. You can travel anywhere!  
  • After watching ask questions like what did you notice? How is it different from where you live? Similar? Use smells. Highlight sounds. 
  • Have kids access Google Maps on street view and hand them a “passport” of places they’re visiting such as Key West, USA: read Full of Beans by Jennifer C. Holm (Key West 1930s) 
  • From Seed to STEM: How Seed Grants Grew Early STEM Learning in Minnesota Libraries (Sally) 
  • Created Daycare kits (example of Storytime on the resource library) 
  • Programs like Root View Farms, 4H gardens, Storytime, frozen blocks with branches then add salt to manipulate the ice, shadow tracing with farm animals and chalk, learning about artists and doing art like that person (such as sculpture), tape town, etc. 
  • Youth Services Leadership - Influence and Support (Mary) 
  • Importance of children’s services like most circs 
  • Use StrengthsFinder proactively and how to use it at work 
  • Power of partnership both internal (teen + adult library services), external (public) 
  • Using goals and dreams messages at other organizations to build rapport   
  • Virtual and Augmented Reality: Designing Immersive Learning Youth Programs (Katherine) 
  • Limitless (National Geographic app), draw what you see apps, Back to the Arcade 
  • Show the VR view on screen so others can watch, escape rooms where they take turns being the lead investigator 
  • Voxbooks makes VR goggles, comes with nonfiction books 
  • If you host a VR program, it might be helpful to have volunteers and/or additional activities while waiting turns  
  • Universal Design for Learning and Storytime: An Inclusive Approach to Early Literacy at the Library (Katherine) 
  • Tailors Storytime for special needs 
  • Used the dinner party analogy: if you’re hosting a dinner party, will you have one entre? No. Multiple in case of food allergies, etc. 
  • Use pictorial schedules to help kids know where we’re at in programs, create boundaries such as foam seats, provide fidget toys, limit sounds, size of program is the biggest barrier, resource library has slides 
  • You Look Like Me! Challenges, Strengths, and Opportunities for BIPOC Library Staff Working with Children (Gloria) 
  • A space for BIPOC library staff to discuss challenges and strengths 
  • Biggest challenges involve self-care, feelings of imposter syndrome 
  • Had the opportunity to network with librarians all over the states 
  • “beauty in knowing that your BIPOC community feels comfortable with you” 
  •  Help! MY Child Is Learning How to Read: Supporting K-3rd Graders and Their Families (Cheryll) 
  • Librarians were charged with the task of supporting grade level reading by the mayor, plan started with K-3rd grade, but due to COVID/less access for students upped it to K-5th  
  • Grade Level Reading (GRL) lens 
  • Background knowledge (what child already knows), Decoding (phonics, mostly at school), Motivation (librarian’s main charge, creating enjoyment from reading), Fluency (reading quickly and accurately) 
  • Change directional questions like “where are your first-grade books?” to RA questions 
  • Create personalized lists, serve them/curbside bundles, welcome to reading kits (nonfiction, diverse, with activities, tips, bookmarks, survey)  
  • Kindergarten Readiness: Fostering Well-Rounded Preschoolers (Chelsee) 
  • There is no national definition for Kindergarten Readiness (created by individual states), but there is for Pre-K, presenters conclude that they do not have enough resources for Kindergarten readiness 
  • Dramatic play and provide context (like read about astronauts then pretend and play), puppet program (make puppet and act out) 
  • Motor skills like obstacle course and scavenger hunts 
  • STREAM read a book and then do an activity based on STEM 
  • Library programs based on getting Kindergarten readiness – no parents, 15-minute Storytime, 5-minute skill building like sharing, 30 minutes play, etc. 
  • Engaging Families with Informational Text through PBS KIDS and Molly of Denali (Brittney) 
  • PBS has free community-based programs. Ready to Learn initiative which teaches tech and science for communities and community collaboratives. Denali is diverse and has most languages spoken in Alaska, created needs assessment because they recognized that one size doesn’t fit all. 
  • Families can go through activities like creating a map and adding it to their museum, then turn in museum to show to communities 
  • Elinor Wonders Why – STEM-focuses show for kids 
  • Uploaded notes into a PowerPoint in the resource library 
  • Using Brazelton Touchpoints to Engage Children and Families (Brittney) 
  • 13 development stages from birth- 3 that affect family dynamic 
  • Offers good customer service such as every staff member understands why child development, support all family, enforce rules but also make customers feel welcome  
  • Diversity Needs Jewish Books: A Missing Piece of the Diversity Conversation (Bridget) 
  • Judaism is more than the Holocaust or Hannukah. 
  • Play-Based Community Engagement: Enhancing Early Learning Services Through Play-Centered Outreach, Library Installations, and Programming (Breanna) 
  • For in libraries and in outreach. 
  • Restructured outreach with play mats and colorful/durable/cost effective toys, resources in the back,  
  • Slides to be added in the resource library soon! 
  • None of this applies to times of coronavirus 
  • Curiosity Kitchen - Promoting Healthy Living Through Programming and Partnerships (Andrew) 
  • Programming that offers healthy eating, 
  • Charlie carts are portable and comes with pots, pans, ovens, etc. Costs ~$10,000 
  • Other programs include organic baby food, chosemyplate.gov (child recipes from each state), cooking videos, community recipe sharing, partnerships with YMCA or Farmer’s Market 
  • *PSLT will send out new food guidelines   
  • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion with ALSC: Updates, Tools and Takeaways (Allie) 
  • Strategic plan, promote to children, recruit/keep BIPOC staff, highlight best practices, support other fellowships, conduct needs assessment for BIPOC individuals, make sure it’s for BIPOC not just about them, EDI task force, equity lens, trainings/meetings, anti-racist learning groups 
  • Not a political platform  
  • Collaborating to Create Welcoming Spaces for Children, Youth and Families (Kristin) 
  • Spaces that are being created should involve youth services staff working with architect, furniture guidelines, purpose of EL spaces, travelling play kits, after-school spaces 
  • Children's Librarianship in Communities Experiencing Trauma (Kristin) 
  • COVID, racial tensions, families being out of work 
  • Libraries seen as a source of consistency, community partnerships 
  • Importance of empathy-driven enforcement policies, kindness, look for positive interactions, do helpful things first then remind about the policy, whole person model 
  • Library professionals need to take time for themselves or it’s hard to serve people 
  • Share 
  • DemCo idea – radio transmitter, turn to station for parking lot Storytime, need big easel and exaggerated movements. 
  • Thoughts?  
  • Seemed open to the idea, won’t work for all locations 
  • 4. Share Time:
  • Juliet – Full STEAM Ahead is ongoing, have tried robots and videos from NASA! 
  • Brittney – bright spot is doing pre-K Storytime, missed interaction, kids have loved it! 
  • Amy – so many take-home kits! They are very popular but haven’t had much of a Zoom community. 
  • Robin -Program coming up called Artic Circle STEM challenge. There’s a blizzard and then the leader becomes ill. 5 challenges in envelopes such as tents are not warm, so you need to build an igloo. 
  • Tara – upcoming kit: DIY Snowman based on book Snowballs by Lois Ehlert 
  • Andrew – local scavenger hunt around town, uses a rhyme or riddle, customers send in emails back to the library when they figured it out! 
  • Daniel – Alma has been doing Fun to Read, with downloadable resources, Cheryl has been doing the WASH program, both have been great! 
  • Juliet – highlighted StarNet and their Planet Earth Campaign! 
  • Heidi – If you’re creating kits, then you can utilize volunteers!  
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