- Haverstraw King's Daughter Public Library They put a movie trailer plug-in on the teen page to play book trailers. Their children's page also has an amazing collection of app looking icons for popular games. Very clean and streamlined design.
- Nyack Library The children's portion of the website uses a really handsome Tree image map where you can click on different leaves on the tree and go to different portions of the YS webpage.
- Bethlehem Library in Delmar, NY has the landing page of their Teen page a giant iphone. How trendy!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Library Websites with Style
I am always on the prowl to find great ideas for my library's website. This blog entry has some recent websites I have come across that are doing some pretty neat web design on a dime.
Summer Reading Prizes for Teens
Each year for my Teen Summer Reading teens read all summer long to rack up points. At the end of August we have a big party and each point a teen has earned over the summer translates into 1 raffle ticket. The teens then have the chance to try and win cool prizes in a Penny Social style raffle. I make sure to give ALL participants who logged any reading throughout the summer a gift bag with a book, ice-cream coupon, button, and candy. I also keep a special box of consolation prizes for teens who did not win anything at the raffle.
Here are some pictures of past summer reading prizes for teens I have awarded:
I buy most of my prizes from: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, BJ's Wholesale, Target, Dick Blick Art Supplies,
Here are some of the best teen summer reading prizes I have given away:
- Themed Book Baskets (Twilight, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Chronicles of Narnia, Movie Night)
- Lego Kits
- Manga Drawing Books
- Sketch Pads and pens
- Candy and Cookies
- Domo Doll!
- T-Shirts
- Anything Book related (Hunger Games pins, Harry Potter Scarf)
- Purses
- Teen Book Bundles
- Wallet on a chain
- Wrist cuffs
- Metal Lunchboxes
- Justin Bieber Standee!
- Fun USB drives
- Gift Cards
Stuff They Were Not Into as Much as Me!:
- Chinese Calligraphy Set
- Dream Journals
- Stickers
- Chess Set
- How To Kits
- Japanese Candy
- Mario Brothers Beach Towel
- Magnetic Poetry
Here are some pictures of past summer reading prizes for teens I have awarded:
 |
| Teen SRP Prizes |
Sunday, October 23, 2011
The Rainbow Project
The Rainbow Project is a booklist of recommended books for kids and teens revolving around the topics of GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, and Questioning.) It is the brainchild of the ALA GLBT Round Table and SRRT (Social Responsibilities Round Table.)
Check-out their website here
This is a booklist of just some of the recommended books from the August 2011 issue of VOYA magazine. (v 34, #3, page 226-227 by Lynn Evarts.) Check-out the article for the full listing.
- Will by Maria Boyd, 2010
- Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi, 2010
- Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz, 2009
- Out by Sandra Diersch, 2010
- Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green, 2010
- The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Change by Amy Ignatow, 2010
- Me by Ricky Martin, 2010
- Scars by Cheryle Rainfeld, 2010
- Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson, 2010
- Avert.org An abundance of information for young people confused or concerned about sex. Has a small section on GLBTQ sexuality.
- Teenshealth.org Covers many topics on teen growth including sexual harassment and bullying.
- GoAskAlice Like a "Dear Sally" with issues teens are concerned about.
- PlannedParenthood Special section on how to come out to your family
Monday, October 3, 2011
Home School Open House Preparation
Learn how to get the most out of your public library!
NYS Regulations
Online Resources available using your library card:
Grolier Online
- Featured Lesson plans available by subject or grade level. Each topic features objectives, preparation, resources (including links to Grolier Encyclopedia Entries), vocabulary, activities, discussion questions, extensions, and assessments.
- Feature Showcase- Dynamic, fun content for students. About 9 of these showcases are on the website.
Twayne's Author Series
- Critical Interpretation and discussion of works of literature
NovelList Plus
- Featuring book discussion guides
- Subject reading lists for different age groups. Titles link to library catalog
- Author Read-a-Likes
- Picture Book Extenders- Bring picture books to life with discussion questions and activities relating to the book
Picture Books for Curriculum :
- Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
- How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz
- Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming
- Librarian on the Roof by M.G. King
- The Lion's Share: A Tale of Halving Cake and Eating it Too by Matt McElligott
- If I Ran foWebsites:
NYS Regulationr President by Catherine Stier - Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff
NYS Regulations
Friday, August 12, 2011
Insanewiches
As the title of the book "Insanewiches: 101 ways to think outside the lunchbox" by Adrian Fiorino suggest this book is insane! I can
not wait to do a teen or kids program around this book. This book is 222 pages of sheer joy. From sandwiches that look like severed hands to painting pallets there is a sandwich for everyone in here. Similar to the book "Hello, Cupcake" many of these designs are not practical for everyday lunch boxes but boy oh boy will your kid be the coolest in school if he/she whips one of these out at lunchtime!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Library Amazing Race Program
So I adore planning big events where I get loads of kids to come and explore the library..... they are kinda my thing. This summer the SRP manual had a great program idea called Dewey's Amazing Race based on the premise of the TV show "The Amazing Race." I thought it sounded right up our alley and would be a good way to keep a large group of kids entertained for about an hour and learn about the library!
Basically it works like this; there are 10 activity stations throughout the building and outside. I will break the kids into teams of 3 or 4 (dependent on how many kids show up). They will get a map of the grounds and where each of the activities are. At each station is a stamp and a stamp pad. Each team stamps their map when the station is complete. Each team who completes all 10 stations gets a prize (temporary tattoo) I have teen volunteers at the stations that are more involved to help out. They are also coming early to help do all the set-up.
Rather than make the teams finish each station in order let them jump around to alleviate congestion.
Station 1, 000: World Record Plunge Based on the Guinness Book of World Records students will replicate a feat from the book. One of the coldest inhabited places is Resolute, Canada, with an average temperature of -16 degrees Celsius. Participants plunge their hands into a bucket of ice water to retrieve a small toy at the bottom. Volunteer present
Station 2, 100: Spooky Treats Participants create an edible ghost by wrapping a lollipop in tissue, tying a piece of yarn around the neck, and using a black marker to make a face.
Station 3, 200: Goddess Golf Teams use crochet mallet to put the ball through arches labeled with the names of gods and goddesses. Each player must hit through 2 arches to move on. Volunteer present
Station 4, 300: Endangered Eggs Egg and Spoon. Players carry a picture of an endangered species that is taped to a wooden egg with a spoon and place them in a bucket labeled "Safe Place."
Station 5, 400: Guten Tag Participants match words for hello from different countries to the proper countries. They must get them all right to move on. Volunteer present
Station 6, 500: Under the Sea Participants will explore sea shells and petrified sea creatures using microscopes. Volunteer present
Station 7, 600: Fruit Kebabs Fruit Kebab from the Middle East. Cut up bananas, strawberries, apples, and other fruit using plastic knives. Place the pieces on toothpicks and eat carefully. Have kids finish eating before they move on to the next station. Volunteer present
Station 8, 700: Take off and Landing Participants make paper airplanes to be flown into buckets labeled with a foreign city. City suggestions: Tokyo, Rio, Rome, Paris. Volunteer present
Station 9, 800: Mad Words Have teams complete a Mad Lib
Station 10, 900: Where in the World? Hang up a large map of the world, give them a list of 4 countries they must find to advance. Volunteer present
Final station, have their map checked and get reward!
Basically it works like this; there are 10 activity stations throughout the building and outside. I will break the kids into teams of 3 or 4 (dependent on how many kids show up). They will get a map of the grounds and where each of the activities are. At each station is a stamp and a stamp pad. Each team stamps their map when the station is complete. Each team who completes all 10 stations gets a prize (temporary tattoo) I have teen volunteers at the stations that are more involved to help out. They are also coming early to help do all the set-up.
Rather than make the teams finish each station in order let them jump around to alleviate congestion.
Station 1, 000: World Record Plunge Based on the Guinness Book of World Records students will replicate a feat from the book. One of the coldest inhabited places is Resolute, Canada, with an average temperature of -16 degrees Celsius. Participants plunge their hands into a bucket of ice water to retrieve a small toy at the bottom. Volunteer present
Station 2, 100: Spooky Treats Participants create an edible ghost by wrapping a lollipop in tissue, tying a piece of yarn around the neck, and using a black marker to make a face.
Station 3, 200: Goddess Golf Teams use crochet mallet to put the ball through arches labeled with the names of gods and goddesses. Each player must hit through 2 arches to move on. Volunteer present
Station 4, 300: Endangered Eggs Egg and Spoon. Players carry a picture of an endangered species that is taped to a wooden egg with a spoon and place them in a bucket labeled "Safe Place."
Station 5, 400: Guten Tag Participants match words for hello from different countries to the proper countries. They must get them all right to move on. Volunteer present
Station 6, 500: Under the Sea Participants will explore sea shells and petrified sea creatures using microscopes. Volunteer present
Station 7, 600: Fruit Kebabs Fruit Kebab from the Middle East. Cut up bananas, strawberries, apples, and other fruit using plastic knives. Place the pieces on toothpicks and eat carefully. Have kids finish eating before they move on to the next station. Volunteer present
Station 8, 700: Take off and Landing Participants make paper airplanes to be flown into buckets labeled with a foreign city. City suggestions: Tokyo, Rio, Rome, Paris. Volunteer present
Station 9, 800: Mad Words Have teams complete a Mad Lib
Station 10, 900: Where in the World? Hang up a large map of the world, give them a list of 4 countries they must find to advance. Volunteer present
Final station, have their map checked and get reward!
Endangered Animals for Station 4
Alternative to Summer Reading Incentives
For the past few years I have heard of libraries offering kids the option to donate to a non-profit organization instead of receiving prizes for summer reading. We give out a lot of fun little plastic toys, erasers, etc but I really want to teach kids life lessons whenever I can. (don't worry I am not preachy with them!)
This year for a change I set aside a little bit of the money I would normally use on summer reading incentive prizes to be used to donate to several non-profit organizations. This has turned out to be a huge success! This is how the program worked:
I created "Make a difference in the world" certificates (template) and placed them in the prize box. For every ten stickers a child gets on their reading chart (15 minutes=1 sticker) they get to pick a prize from the box. For these donation certificates kids must trade in 20 of their stickers and the library will donate $1.00 to the charity they choose. The charities I had as options include the local animal shelter, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Red Cross.
The real sacrifice for the kids is that they can have to give up not one but two prizes to donate to a charity. Parents are really excited about this program and love seeing their selfless children make such decisions.
At the end of the summer I send each charity a check along with a letter wit the names of all the kids who donated and how many hours they read to make their donation.
If there are issues with using public funding to run this program hook up with a local business and have them sponsor it. You can have a finite amount of dollars put away for the program. Be sure to research the charity you choose to make sure it fits with the libraries mission and is legit.
This year for a change I set aside a little bit of the money I would normally use on summer reading incentive prizes to be used to donate to several non-profit organizations. This has turned out to be a huge success! This is how the program worked:
I created "Make a difference in the world" certificates (template) and placed them in the prize box. For every ten stickers a child gets on their reading chart (15 minutes=1 sticker) they get to pick a prize from the box. For these donation certificates kids must trade in 20 of their stickers and the library will donate $1.00 to the charity they choose. The charities I had as options include the local animal shelter, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Red Cross.
The real sacrifice for the kids is that they can have to give up not one but two prizes to donate to a charity. Parents are really excited about this program and love seeing their selfless children make such decisions.
At the end of the summer I send each charity a check along with a letter wit the names of all the kids who donated and how many hours they read to make their donation.
If there are issues with using public funding to run this program hook up with a local business and have them sponsor it. You can have a finite amount of dollars put away for the program. Be sure to research the charity you choose to make sure it fits with the libraries mission and is legit.
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