getting out of the library
DESCRIPTION
Presentation from the ArLA 2014 conference.TRANSCRIPT
Morgan SalleeAssistant Youth Services ManagerCrowley Ridge Regional Library SystemCraighead County Jonesboro Public Library
Getting Out of
the Library
Opening
Open, shut them. Open, shut them.Give a little clap, clap, clap
Open, shut them. Open, shut them.Put them in your lap, lap, lap
Creep them, creep them, creep them, creep themRight up to your chin, chin, chin
Open up your little mouth,but do not let them in
CCJPL
• Main branch of the Crowley’s Ridge Regional Library system
• 7 smaller branches• Craighead and Poinsett Co.• Service Population: over 100k
CCJPL
• Children’s Summer Outreach2012: 57 Programs
1,628 Attendance2013: 474 Programs
7,787 Attendance
• Children’s School Year Outreach2012: 61 Programs
3,610 Attendance2013: 285 Programs
11,716 Attendance
• 2014/15 School Year School Year Outreach48 Centers in Craighead and Poinsett
100+ Monthly Daycare Storytimes800+ Programs/school year
CCJPL
• Adult Outreach Program:2014 (January-August):
Center Visits: 1,080 AttendanceOther Outreach: 2,503 Attendance
Why Outreach?
• “Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves…”
(ALA Library Bill of Rights)
• Services for infrequent or nonusers & the underserved
• Increase visibility in and engagement with the community
• Create new users/supporters
• Take the library to the patron
• Know YOUR reasons
Where are you now?
CCJPL Children’s Outreach, 2012• Library Card Sign-up Program
• School Visits (parent nights, author visits, SRC promotion)
• SRC- Traveling Storyteller (57 programs/summer)
• Dr. Seuss’s Birthday
• Back-to-School Fair
Know your community
Demographics and needs• Small city surrounded by rural areas• Economic drivers (education, healthcare, manufacturing,
agriculture)
• Lower than average unemployment rate• Higher than average poverty rate• Significant income and education gaps• Lower than average rankings on NAEP
scores (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
• Lack of positive after-school activities for K-12 students
What can we do?
• Identify groups with the most pressing need. Who can benefit most from our services?
• Take the library to our patrons
• Cultivate relationships with local nonprofits, churches, schools, daycares, senior citizen facilities and groups, and other organizations
• Early Literacy efforts
• School-Age Programs (during and after school)• Programs for all ages in and out of the library
• STEAM-based community engagement (all ages)
Start Planning
• Potential Partners
• Have realistic goals• Who, What, Where,
When and Why
• Make a plan
Identify Potential Partners
• Schools • Childcare Facilities• Summer Programs• Senior Care Facilities• Special Needs Facilities• DHS• Community Organizations• Local Businesses
Who?
•Choose Carefully
•Staff or
Volunteers
•Provide Training
•Focus on Quality
•Evaluations &
Feedback
Convincing the Decision-Makers
• Do your research• “Know your stuff”• Who, what ,where, when, & why• Funding (how much, sources)
• Graphs & numbers• Know your decision-makers,
what are their goals?
Song Break!
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spiderWent up the water spoutDown came the rainAnd washed the spider outOut came the sunAnd dried up all the rainAnd the itsy bitsy spiderWent up the spout again
Daycare Program
• Traveling Storyteller Program
• Monthly Storytime Visits• Books in a Bag• Year-Round Reading Program• Parent Nights• Early Literacy training
School Outreach
• SRC Promotion & Booktalks
• Parent Nights/ Family Fairs
• Library Card Sign-up• School Visits• Author/Illustrator Visits• Supplemental Collections
Teen Outreach
• Card Sign-Up• School Visits• Author/Artist Visits• SRC Promotion & Booktalks• Crafting @ Lunch• Book Discussions @ Lunch
Adult Outreach
• Community Centers• Special Interest Series• Traveling Books Program• Adults with special needs• Senior Centers• Assisted Living• Shelters
All Ages
• Fairs/Festivals• Mall/Parks• Movie Theater• Nature Center• Special Programs
All Ages
Branches
• Programs• Training
Summer
• Traveling Storyteller Program
• Childcare Facilities (including school-age)
• Branch Libraries
• Off-Site Programs: Parker Park & Mall
• Significant Expansions
Invite Them
• Special Programs• Field Trips/Tours• Workshops• Class Series
Costumes
Quality Programming
•Everything you do represents the library
•Be proud of your
product
•Volunteers
•Evaluation
Traveling Storytellers
• Volunteers or staff
• Full 30 min storytime/program
• Stories, songs, games, fingerplays, movement, etc.
• Leave something
Starting the Program
• DHS for Facility Directories (capacity, ages served, contact info)
• Set parameters (#s, frequency of visits)
• Contact Centers (availability & limitations)
*Excel Spreadsheet
• Map out your centers
• Assign day/time*Monthly Schedule (W1M, W1T, W1W…)*Calendars
Interest Postcards
Welcome Kit & Gifts
• ECRR Information
• Services for you, brochures
• Books in a Bag list
• My business card
• Storyteller’s Background Check
• Welcome letter listing expectations
• Thank you letter and gift
Themes
• Center curriculum ,topic, or interest
• Make your own themes
• Monthly (weekly in summer)
• Variety is YOUR friend
• Have back-up books, stories, songs, and games
• Be sensitive about holidays and certain topics.
PreK Storytime Components
• Introduction
• Opening Song (consistent)
• Books
• Storytelling
• Flannelboard Stories/Counting
• Songs (traditional and new)
• Movement (favorites and new)
• Fingerplays
• Counting, Colors, Letters, Sorting
• Games (Books, flannelboard, etc.)
• Leave craft and fingerplay sheet
• Closing song (consistent)
Know your Audience
Tell Stories for All Ages
• Books, variety
• Flannelboard
• Puppets
• Props
• Classics
• Stories from their youth
• Have participants help
Fingerplay Sheets
Music/Movement
Song Break!
Hokey Pokey
Games
• Guess Who- Books
• Matching Game
• Sorting
• Rhyming
• Colors, Numbers
Crafts/Experiments
• Logo goes on everything• Leave instructions with a picture or a
sample• Provide everything but the basics• Age appropriate, avoid choking hazards• Volunteers
Pinterest is your friendwww.pinterest.com/morgansallee/
Traveling Book Kits
• Large Print• 15 Kits• Variety of genres• To catalog or not?• Checking out to
patrons or centers
Market the Library
• Introduce Yourself
• Posters
• Bookmarks, promotional material
• Parent Nights
• Put your logo on everything
• Library Vehicle
• Uniform
Potential Issues
• Staff burnout• Cancellations and Rescheduling• Someone Forgets• Lack of Communication• Holidays/Themes• Various ages• Illness• Background Checks, fingerprints• Know any rules or policies
The Binder
• Schedule• Contact info• Maps• Notes• Place to record
stats and notes• Mileage Log
Evaluations & Review
• Always Evaluate
• Postage
• Feedback from Storytellers
• How are we doing?
• Changes
The Reward
