Creative Adult Programming Roundup

Lincoln City Libraries
Bagels & Books
Set your superstitions aside and come share your favorite read with other book lovers and friends. If "sharing" is not your forte, you're welcome to enjoy a bagel, cup of coffee, and the opportunity to find your next favorite summer read!
T-Shirt Totes
Re-purpose an unwanted t-shirt by turning it into a reusable tote bag! Supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring your own tee. It's a great way to use last season's team shirt or a favorite concert tee!
Other ideas:

• Learn to knit or crochet

Adult Summer Reading Programs

This year I am tasked at my new job with running the adult summer reading program for our 9 libraries. In the past we had people write short book reviews and at the end of the summer did drawings for gift cards to our local independent bookstore. This year I am exploring other ways of doing an adult summer reading program. If you have a method that works we would love to hear about it in the comments section.

DC Public Library
http://dclibrary.org/adultsummerreading 
How to Play
Sign up online or at any neighborhood library. Win a DC Public Library totebag just for signing up. This year's game consists of 10 activities: 5 Reader Block activities and 5 Explorer Block activities. 
Reader Block
Realist - Read 1 non-fiction book Fictionista - Read 1 work of fiction Digitarian - Read 1 eBook Audiophile - Listen to 1 audiobook : downloadable audiobooks, audiobooks on CD Book Clubber - Attend 1 DCPL book club Explorer Block
Library Learner - Attend a Summer Reading event at the library Maker - Create an object in Digital Commons Downloader - Try Zinio or Freegal at dclibrary.org I ❤ DC - Try the DC By the Book App | for Android | for iPhone Fun & Games - Attend a movie night or game night at the library How to Win
Silver Level: Complete any 2 different activities (Reader or Explorer Block) and log your activity online. Then, visit your neighborhood library to receive a coupon for a free burrito at Chipotle.
Gold Level: Complete 2 different Reader activities plus 2 activities from either block for 4 blocks total. Log your activity online. Then, visit your neighborhood library to choose a free paperback book. You will automatically be entered into three raffles.
All prizes available while supplies last.Prize RafflesNeighborhood Library Raffles** Drawing will take place on Monday September 1.  To qualify you must have completed the adult summer reading program by Sunday, August 31.
· 1 Amazon Kindle
War of the Worlds with cover art by local artist Tracie Ching>
One Grand Prize Raffle** Drawing will take place on Friday, August 22.  To qualify you must have completed the adult summer reading program by Thursday, August 21.
· Washington Nationals Game Experience for four people, including:
     -4 field-level tickets
     -special on-field batting practice session
     -free parking for game day

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Did you know?

• Reading for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by more than two thirds. 
• Reading (or bibliotherapy) can help reverse symptoms of depression, by activating the frontal lobes of the brain. 
• Reading provides an opportunity for social interaction. Rather than a focus on negative issues such as gossiping, you'll have a positive topic for conversation. 
• Reading improves your general knowledge and boosts your analytical skills. Reading gives you time to nurture yourself and slow the pace of a hectic life. 
• Reading keeps your memory sharp, your mind healthy and ensures your capacity to learn as you age.

Washington-Centerville Public Library

Getting staff invested in registering adults

 Beyond getting patrons to register, we wanted them to actually read. The random drawing helped, but nothing can replace the staff members personally encouraging patrons to read. We found that the efforts of our front-line public services staff were crucial in keeping people excited about reading for ASRC. So, we decided the best marketing opportunity would have to occur on the front line. To encourage our staff to “sell” continued participation, we created a unique incentive program. At our library, each staff member takes a turn signing up patrons for ASRC during the first few weeks of the summer. Thereafter, if a person they registered for ASRC wins a weekly drawing, the staff member wins a gift certificate for lunch at a local restaurant. Thus, staff members’ chances of winning are directly tied to the reading efforts of those they registered for ASRC. Staff loved the gift certificates, and we loved the fact that the number of ASRC participants who actually read increased 74 percent over our 1997 numbers!

Creative Library Program Round Up

Zentangle Workshops

 Lansingburgh Branch of the Troy Library

 The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Almost anyone can use it to create beautiful images. It increases focus and creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well being. Suitable for all interests and ages.

Fun and Free Apps for Grown-ups

Guilderland Library

An "app" is short for application software. Apps are designed to run on smartphones, tablet computers and other mobile devices. Come learn about some fun and free apps for your Android or Apple device. We'll also discuss where to find additional apps and reliable reviews of apps. Bring your mobile device and favorite apps to share!

Photography Contest
William K Sandford Library
Calling all amateur photographers. The annual Library photography contest is next month and entries are due soon. Each photographer may submit up to three framed photos for the 2014 Colonie Library Photography
Contest and Exhibit. The exhibit will run from August 1 to 31. Judging will be done the first week of August and a reception will be held on August 9th. Ribbons and certificates will be awarded for for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for both an adult and a teen category. As last year, photos will be judged for their impact, artistry, and technique. All entries must be framed, with the photos between 8x10 and 11x14 (not counting the frame). For hanging purposes, each photo must have a wire or other loop to hang from). Please attach a card or paper to the back with your name, email, phone number and age, if under 20. 

Colonie Tuesday Night Live Poets' Corner

William K. Sandford Library

Local poets and writers of all ages areinvited to present six to ten minutes of their original work at this open reading forum. The public is encouraged to stop in and listen. Hosted by William Robert Foltin

Digital Photography Workshop

William K. Sandford Library

 If you've ever wondered what all those mysterious buttons and settings on your digital camera are for, this workshop is for you! From white balance, to aperture, to portrait mode - we will demystify common digital photography settings and features and learn how to use them to take beautiful photographs. Bring your camera - this beginner workshop is hands on! Participants will have the opportunity to explore

their own camera with guidance from the instructor.

Kids Book Club Facilitating

Information from the New York State Council for the Humanities Book Clubs for Kids Webinar

• Whom do you most want to reach? Why do you want them in the library? What age group do you want? What makes you want to bring these kids together? Is a book club a good fit for these kids?
• Keep the group limited to a specific age group (eg:8-11)
• Getting the word out: Talk to kids you know and have them invite their friends, post a flyer, advertise online, contact the local school principal, speak to teachers at staff meetings (flyers are not the best way to get the word to students), talk to school librarians, see if kids can get school credit, look for community organizations that work with your target age group: churches, clubs, youth center.
• Share 3-5 books that share one big idea. The things that brings kids back is the feeling of community
• Have a theme for your group. eg: happiness, tolerance, leadership, bullying,
• Big ideas or themes give discussions purpose, focus, and continuity. Exploring big ideas unites the group
• What is a successful discussion? Group feels comfortable disagreeing, there is a good vibe, conversation continues afterward, everyone participates by listening and talking, facilitator guides without taking sides or talking too much.
• What is a meaningful discussion? participants leave with a greater understanding of themselves and others, leave feeling connected, leave thinking about the conversation, different perspectives are encouraged and discussed.
• How do you choose the theme? What do you think kids want to talk about? What ideas will be important to them? What books do they want to read? What ideas do you hope kids will get from conversations about this idea?
• Consider books that: confront theme, keep attention even after you are finished, have different points of view, have compelling characters kids can relate to, have "snag points" moments of thinking or wondering, would be interesting to compare to each other. Mix it up, use picture books, graphic novels, chapter books.
• Check out the explore NY Booklist
• Choose a facilitator. Open, friendly, like working with kids, read a lot of books for that age group, love hearing what kids have to say, have time to prepare questions, believes in the importance of talking about books, shares enthusiasm for this kind of literature,
• Plan ahead. How will you begin the conversation? What kinds of topics and ideas do you want to explore?
• Set expectations. Let everyone have a chance to talk. Have everyone read the book beforehand. Silence is okay. Make sure everyone has nametags.
• Ask good questions. Write short open ended questions that allow kids to interpret in their own way. Explore plot, characters, and style. Connect books to other books you read in the theme. Make personal connections to characters. Ask questions that don't have a right or wrong answer. Don't assume everyone has read the text the same way. Focus on the places where opinions may differ.Take time to read a portion of the book aloud. Let's them hear a fluent reader which they may never hear.
• Break it up. Give kids a chance to talk to each other, use short activities that will generate conversation about the book. Don't do activities just for the sake of doing activities.
• Keeping the conversation going. Treat it like a conversation between friends, listen with genuine interest, ask questions that make sense for the conversation that is already happening. Look at the person and use their first name. Avoid answering your own questions, speak last and prioritize other voices over your own. Close the conversation with something that keeps them thinking of the topic or theme.
• Have everyone write a question and draw later in the discussion when there is a lull.
• Encourage kids to look at everyone, not just you when talking
• Together Parent Child Book Club
• Community Conversations for Kids
• Together Book Club

Teen Book Club

I am thinking of trying a Teen Book Club for the fall. I have tried a couple times in the past to hold teen book discussions. Sadly, they are low attendance. With the exception of Twilight. I held the discussion as part of the movie screening, and related snacks. I had over 30 girls (and 1 boy) whom I had never seen in the library before! I also tried the Hunger Games, but it was a year before it's popularity swept the nation so I had 2 teens. I had arranged it with their English teacher the students would get extra credit for attending.

My new approach is to see if the High School librarian wants to work with me on doing a teen book club up at the high school. We pick the books and co-facilitate the discussion that is held right after school in the high school library. It is my hope that the relationship I build with participating students will entice them to the library during the school year. As is stands now we see kids and teens in the summer but rarely during the school year. Has anyone done this with their local school librarian? I am interested to hear some stories on how it went!

Teen Transliteracy Summer Reading Part 2

Here is a link to the Teen Transliteracy Summer Reading Program Quest Book I created for the 2012 season.

All in all I am really disappointed. Let me preface that with I had really good program attendance but only had 5 teens of the 30 something who registered actually turn in their quest book at the end of the program. All summer long there were more teens who completed quests that I signed-off on but they failed to turn in their book so I could count up how many quests they finished thus awarding them raffle tickets.

Where did I go wrong?
In previous years they write down what they read in a home log book. Each item has a point value, 1 point=1 raffle ticket. They also have an official reading log that stays in the library and that I would keep after the program ended. Each time the teen comes into the library they transfer the info from their home log into the in-house one. This method saw many more teens filling out the official in-house log sheet as they did not have to turn anything in to me. I think where I went wrong this year was the having them turn something in.

What will I change for next year?
For next year I plan on keeping the reading quest idea but will include many more reading tasks. Those seemed to be the most popular ones. The photography related quests also were popular. Least popular= building a solar oven to make s'mores. What?, you ask! You cannot believe those darling teens did not want to make a solar oven and bring their dear old librarian a yummy s'more. Well I am here to tell you they didn't :(
My other idea for next year is instead of having them turn in their quest book to get credit I will give them credit when they have me sign off on the quest. To do this I will add a little tear away tab at the bottom of each page in the questbook. On this little tab I will have the teen's name, the quest, and a space for my initials. Then at the end of the summer I will sort these out and award raffle tickets from these tear away tabs. No more teens having to hand anything in!

Did anyone else experiment with Transliteracy this summer?

So I joined Pinterest

I have had little time to update this blog as I am juggling 3 part time jobs at the moment. It seems I have even less time to reflect on library programs than before. In an effort to keep my program ideas more organized (aside from this blog or course) I have caved in and joined Pinterest. As I suspected I am fully addicted. What I did not anticipate is how immensely useful a tool it is. I am gathering some wonderful, easy ideas for my library and home. Each year I do a couple programs that involve a children's ornament making workshop. I created a pinboard for "ornaments" and am already saving ideas to implement in December. In previous years I would have to scour Martha Stewart and Family Fun magazine for the perfect project.

So, yes despite my earlier blog post vowing to not join Pinterest I have drunk the Kool-Aid. If you want to join me check me out @ http://pinterest.com/llafera