YA Services Minutes - August 30, 2023

OES Updates 

YALSA Symposium – 5 People will attend and present their favorite session to the group at the spring Teen Services meeting. If there are sessions you want documented, contact Emily. 

TeenTober – Use Universal Tag if you want something highlighted on page. Email Emily  with any additional questions. 

Fall visits – Emily will schedule Teen Services check-ins. 

Next meeting in person! – More info coming soon 

Summer Reading Review 

What worked?  

Natasha (AL) – Travel programs from location to location – staff facilitating some programs at other locations 

Kelley R (OES) – Grateful to CIS for signing many OUT guests up for Summer Reading program. 

Elisabeth (VI) – Summer Reading numbers were up and there was more action this year. Felt like before pandemic activity. 

Lacy (SO) – Museum of Art programs were well attended. 

Natasha (AL) – Thankful for all branches that helped Almonte – since the move. 

Heidi – KUDOS to everyone with volunteers. No issues and no problems. 

What didn’t work? What challenges did you have? Ideas for the future? 

Mary West (CL) - Reaching out and scheduling with all museums was a challenge. (Potential solution discussed: Maybe put together a committee that focuses on getting all RTOs and schedules aligned for Summer Reading programs?  

Josie (RE) – Talk with Oklahoma Museum Association or Oklahoma Museum Network to help as a go-between with the museums. 

Elisabeth (VI) – Find ways to keep Summer Reading momentum going throughout the Summer and not just the beginning. Keep the program exciting, engaging, and challenging. 

Mark Schuster (RD) – The teen volunteer programs at locations around the system seemed to be very robust and well organized this year. Well done! 

Read it Forward Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma delivery – September 27. 

Sharing 

Natasha (AL) – Almonte is now located at Trinity Lutheran Church. PLEASE Spread the word about the Trinity move! No programming space but they've made it work. Attended Outreach events/ school visits (around 5). Will attend more. Take home kits – Food Explorer (focuses on dishes from different cultures. The first is a Native American dish). Please contact Natasha if you want to shadow her during school visits (anyone is welcome to shadow her!) 

Rondia and Anna (BE) –All-ages themed Murder Mayhem in May. Eek-Tober in October (partnership with YMCA for “BOOFEST’). Spooky Barbies. Teen Volunteer opportunity – Rocket Readers. D&D and 3-D Printing. Sewing machine programs 

Rena and Josie (RE) – Perler Beads program. Candy Sushi program. 3-D painting sculpture program – using makerspace and circuit machine. Trunk or Treat. Escape Room for Teens. 

Paula and Terri (WA) – Macrame bracelets program. TeenTober goals/programs– craft programs, take home kits, Solar Eclipse program, coding club, STEM club, beginning teen guitar, getting in schools and outreaching (trying to get that teen demographic to come in). 

Megan (DC) – Teen makerspace, book drop boxes, D&D. 

Lacy and Elicia (SO) – Homework Help, plan more school visits, scrapbooking, book boxes, and had a successful Summer Equinox Party in June. 

Kenzie (NW) – Trying something new at NW by having teen programs every Thursday night and Saturday afternoon. Then some recurring programs: Knit Crochet 2, How to Adult, STEM Challenge, book club, and the Artsy Fartsy Club. They also have the RPG Dread program in October. 

Krystle (CH) – Homework help, Take home kit (circuit gingerbread house), Haunted house at library, ornament decoration, bring back book boxes. 

Sheldon (BI) – BI owns a record player. Programs and goals - Escape Room, Music study room, redecorating teen space. 

Elisabeth (VI) – Good responses from schools when outreaching via email and in person programs - Code Club with Fiero, Escape Rooms. 

Heidi (CVA) – Fall book sale is happening and volunteers can be 14 and up. 123PWM! Bilingual volunteers are needed to translate programs. Homework Help – Service-learning hours. Therapy Dogs – 46 dogs short. NEW Employee – Rebecca. 

Kristine (CD) – Kristine is now ordering for YA & YGN collection. 

Kim (DN) – Paranormal Fest (October 28th), three escape rooms, Spooky Story Time. 

Mary (CL) – beaded jewelry program that incorporate morse code inside bead pattern, 28 people attended anime club, Tricity Youth and Wellness is coming to discuss mental health resources and facilitate conversations, TeenTober – back to kindergarten throwback for teens. 

Mark (RD) – Preparing final budget, Almonte Maker Space, Village – outdoor play place. 

OES – Eclipse Glasses going out to branches, Site visits with Sooner Success, Sensory Bags coming, Emily has YA books available for Book Boxes.