Adult Services Minutes for October 2009

Date:  October 14, 2009

Attendance: Dana Morrow (OUT), Anita Roesler (OUT), Lindsay Jones Egle (DC), Harry Hoang (DN), Ronna Davis (ED), Sharon Nolan (BE), Glenn Webb (CH), Kelly Dalrymple (WA), JoAnn Walkup (RE), Chris Kennedy (MC), Suzette Felton (MC), Ann Meeks (BI), Julianna Link (VI), Ruby Soutiere (MSL), Kim Rickey (MSL), Jerod Gerfen (OUT).

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS

Autumn Outreach Programs: Dana discussed the success of the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers program that made a system-wide tour during the first week of October. Hopefully, the Music of Iraq program will be met with the same level of attendance and enthusiasm.

Dana requested that the Outreach supplied poster stands be used to market these major events prior to their respective performance times. Dana also emphasized the importance of checking all promotional materials (flyers, posters, etc.) to ensure that dates, times, etc. are correct. Detecting errors early on can help us mitigate any potential confusion.

From Band-Aids to Twisters: The From Band-Aids to Twisters program will be held at MC on 10-24-09 from 10am to 4pm. The program is a joint production through MLS, the Robert M. Bird Health Sciences Library, and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. System word-of-mouth promotion is greatly appreciated.

Mysterious California: Ruby briefly discussed a circulating DVD title that may be of interest to programmers looking to incorporate writing workshops in their curriculum. Mysterious California is a production that includes four California-based mystery authors and their methods/experiences related to the writing process itself.

SHARING OF PROGRAMS

Anita (OUT): The MLS service center move will begin in the near future (the original October 26 move date has been delayed). The total move-in time will last for approximately six weeks. Cataloging, Tech Processing, Interlibrary Loan, Books By Mail/Book Centers, Maintenance and Friends of the Library will be housed within the new center. Tours are available and recommended for anyone who has yet to see the new facility.

Diane Sarantakos of Development and Volunteer Services had recently pitched a new book club kit idea that is being used in various other public library systems nationwide. This new book club system is NOT intended to supersede any current or future book clubs, but act as a complimentary system. The proposed details for the book club kit system are as follows:

• Committee proposes & selects different titles for each kit
• Folders including information about the authors and books themselves are compiled for inclusion in each kit to guide readers
• 10-15 of each selected title and folders will be included in the kit and available as a singular checkout
• Interested patrons will select which title their book club would like to read and request the book kit to be picked up at their desired location.
• Kit would be checked out for a six week period and returned to desired library location

This book club kit proposal is not yet a definitive program and is being discussed by Donna Morris and Karen Marriott. Book club kits may be housed at the new service center and will be routed as requested.

Dana (OUT): There has been recent concern regarding the legality of our libraries offering public showings of feature films. Due to the lack of an educational component, we are technically not legally allowed for the public showing of popular films without paying for the rights.

Suzette (MC): The Midwest City library has recently enjoyed considerable success with various crafts programs, namely the weaving instruction courses. If this type of programming is popular at your library and you’ve yet to offer the weaving program, it is highly recommended that you give it a try. Currently, OUT owns ten looms for the program, and there is discussion of procuring additional looms. All participants will weave a singular item (scarf) and get to keep their work. The “Knit Wit” program has also been a popular crafts program. Some experimentation with scheduling for the “WII While You Wait” (gaming for adults) program has garnered better results than past offerings. Many adults decided to attend the program while waiting in queue for the public access computers. The German language program has also been a hit (some people have  actually been turned away due to the enthusiastic turnout).

Lindsay (DC): The recent “Super Saturday” event at DC was a big success. The day long program allowed local vendors to network with other commercial entities and their customers in the community. There are currently two book clubs meeting at DC, with one club meeting at a local assisted living facility. Like MC, the weaving program has also been a popular program in recent months. Some aspiring weavers had to be placed on a waiting list due to full enrollment.

Harry (DN): The recent Native American festival held at the DN library brought in approximately 350 attendees. The other major cultural program in the works at DN is the Asian Festival to be held in February of 2010. For the first time, the Asian Festival will be held on a Saturday instead of on Sunday. Wayne McEvilly will continue to offer classical piano concerts on Sunday afternoons in the spring of 2010. The Thursday “Noon Tunes” program continues to draw attendance and is also enabling us to put together a musical performer database which programmers can consult for future programming.

Ronna (ED): Edmond was fortunate enough to be able to offer Japanese language courses free of charge from the instructor. To commemorate this year’s Big Read of the classic The Maltese Falcon, ED hosted a Reader’s Theater production of the novel on October 17. The Building a Business program is in the works, and a “blockbuster” program about the publishing market geared towards aspiring writers was a huge success.

David Ferris, author of the Mysterious Oklahoma series participated in a recent program entitled “Eerie Oklahoma,” which elicited considerable interest. Ronna and Ann Meeks from BI are facilitating an educational program on the local history of WWII German POW camps. A traveling bus will take attendees to the local POW camps in the OKC vicinity.

Glen (CH): The Capitol Hill library is currently offering Spanish language classes, scrapbooking programs, and computer instruction courses.

Ann (BI): The locally produced documentary dealing with substance abuse and addiction called Twelve was recently screened. There wasn’t a panel of teenagers present for the event, however. A program on metaphysics had a great turnout. NY guitarist Peter Fletcher will be performing soon and the Metro Spring Quartet and Ballet school will also have an upcoming program. There is also an Urban Poets program coming up in the near future.

Kelly (WA): The Warr Acres library book clubs are currently reading The Maltese Falcon for the Big Read program, and will be offering the small business program through SCORE. A program titled “Ghostlahoma” was particularly popular in the month of October. Based on the book by the same name, the authors discussed ways to conduct paranormal investigations. Many meeting attendees discussed the possibility of having supernatural/paranormal programming in October 2010. Kelly will possibly coordinate such programming.

JoAnn (RE): The Juneteenth Health Fair was a success. RE will offer another day long poetry reading event next April, and are currently considering offering SCORE seminars. JoAnn also discussed a genealogical program where older and younger family members team up to conduct family lineage research. She hopes to offer this program again in the future.

Sharon (BE): Judy Howard presented her work on October 24 for the centennial quilt program. In November a class on metaphysics and a program with Cynthia Wolf for “Songs of the Cattle Drive” will be offered. Debra Jackson will give a performance, and an open house at BE will be held in the month of December. For customer service month, BE is providing different prize drawings.

Julianna (VI): The VI book clubs are participating in the Big Read programs. A book club has also been created for a group at a local retirement center. Recent popular programming includes the Fancy Dancer performance and the Reading to Dogs programs. Upcoming programs at VI include knitting instruction and computer courses. Tax preparation and assistance programming will begin in January of 2010, but will only be offered during the daytime hours this year.

PERFORMER PRESENTATIONS

Judy Howard: Children and Adult Oklahoma History Programs & Quilt Exhibit, Writing, Marketing, Publishing & Quilt-Making Workshops (artist information in Performing Artist Index).

Andea Johnson: Teaches people how to make art with items and artifacts you already have at home, or with items that hold personal significance. Her technique is similar to scrapbooking. Tentatively, class sizes would be between 10-15 per session. Artist contact: 405-708-9831 or  [email protected] .

Boris Connally’s Jazz Ensemble: Group plays traditional jazz standards for an assortment of events. Artist contact: 590-8196.

Tamia Cox: Tamia is a member of the ACLU of Oklahoma and proposed a 2010 program offered through the ACLU to commemorate Banned Books Week. The program is intended to raise education and awareness of censorship in its many forms. Artist contact: 525-3831 or [email protected]