Idea : How to Get Teens Into the Library

Known Fact: Libraries struggle to get teens into the library. I have tried my best to bring in the masses with Summer Reading Dances, pet rock training schools, and good old fashioned bribery, but it's just too hard to compete the the average teen's busy life style....

Or it WAS....

I found the solution. No need to thank me. Ok, if you REALLY want to, do so by nominating ME for the I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD. No pressure.... Have you started the application process yet? **sigh**


 Oh yeah..... Solution. Wait for it.... 

Wait for it....

Library Flash Mob Dance Parties!  **wild applause**

Did I hear skepticism in your applause? You don't quite believe it will bring teens in en mass?  **sigh** Skeptics. Just check out what happened at the Seattle Public Library earlier this summer.....
  


Told ya so!

Oh, Melissaaaaaaaa!!!!

Mo Willems Adores Me

I know. I know. Who doesn't? Right? Well this is an EXTRA special case. Now almost everyone I know knows just how much I adore Mo.

• I call story time dibs each time a new Pigeon book is published.
  
• I have perfected the Pigeon temper tantrum.
  
• I joined AWLMO… a fan club for Adults Who Love MO.
  
• I made my own Pigeon tshirt.
  
• I even got Aiden his 1^st Pigeon book BEFORE he was born.
  
• Even Esmé has a Pigeon book or two. (Dogs like Pigeons, too.)
  

 

Need I go on? Or do you get just how much I adore Mo? Anyway… back on topic… MO WILLEMS ADORES ME!!!

 

This year, Mo and his BFF Jon Scieszka MCed the Sixth Annual Book Cart Drill Team World Championships at ALA 2010 in DC. I begged…. I pleaded…. I even tried bribing my boss to let me attend, but alas she refused. **humph** I even tried throwing my very bestest Pigeon fit, but Sarah was NOT amused. **grumble, grumble, grumble**

 

What to do? What to do…? Start a Facebook campaign. Aside from being Esmé's godmother, Cindy D., is also the director of a college library… and at the conference. Hmmm….

(Exact quotes from FB)

CHRISS: Are you going to meet Pigeon's most wonderful creator tomorrow??? **sigh** He and Scieszka will be at the Book Cart Drill Team competition. **double sigh**

CINDY: Probably not. They were both in the hall today but the lines were crazy long!

CHRISS: **sigh** I need the Pigeon's autograph. **goes off to bribe Angela to get it** BTW, Esme sends puppy kisses.

**went off to harass Angela**

CHRISS: (Angela) I need Pigeon's autograph. He's in DC Sunday.... Pretty please?!?!? I'll never ask for anything ever again. Pinky Swear!!!... FINE! **throws self down** WAHHHHHH!!!!

BRANDY: I saw Jon at his book signing at the S&S booth. I wish I could have gotten a pic without looking like a creep-o.

CHRISS: Rub it in Brandy, rub it in. **grin** Now, if you see his BFF Mo, I expect you to look like a creep to get me that pic.... I'm on a mission.

ANGELA: Wish I could...would be the best gift ever !!!!

CHRISS: LOL, first Brandy not taking creepy pics of Jon, and now you, too! **sigh** =0)

 Then a few hours later….

BRANDY: Chriss, ask and ye shall receive. Check out my photo album called "Caldecott Magicness."

Now, I'm sure all of you are wondering exactly how Brandy made me squeal with joy and do a little jig….

Shortly after Brandy's first message, she left for the Caldecott/Newberry awards banquet... and seated at her table… Mo's agent Shelly. (Anyone think Karma must like me???)

As Brandy didn't record the whole conversation, I must paraphrase… and try to fill in the gaps.

BRANDY: Like, OMG. I was just torturing Chriss about Mo just a few hours ago!

MO'S AGENT: Chriss?

BRANDY: Chriss ADORES Mo. She won't let anyone else do Pigeon for story times. She designs her own Pigeon tees. She….

MO'S AGENT: (interrupting) WAIT! You mean the SAME Chriss who founded AWLMO?

BRANDY: Yes! She's even researched grants to get the Pigeon Party theatre performance to come to town.

MO'S AGENT: Like… OH… MY… GOD!!! Mo's gonna FLIP. He ADORES Chriss! Where is she??? They've got to meet!

BRANDY: **deep sigh** Alas, Sarah, Chriss's boss, refused to allow her to come to ALA 2010. **brightens** BUT it'll be so much fun to torture her with this story. **claps cheerfully**

**Enter Mo.**

MO'S AGENT: MO! Brandy works with THE CHRISS!!!

MO: Like OMG! The same Chriss who founded AWLMO?!?! Where is she? I ADORE her. We must meet.

MO'S AGENT: **grumbles about "someone named Sarah"**

MO: **steals Brandy's camera and shoves it at passing Jon Scieszka** JON! Brandy knows CHRISS!!! Take a picture of me for her so she will know how much I adore her.

BRANDY: **sigh** That Chriss has all the luck.

And that my friends is how I got a photo of Mo Willems taken just for me.

Other fun Chriss/Mo links...

• "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" Library Program
• Dolly tries to steal the bookmobile after reading Pigeon book
• Mo Willems in the New Year
• "I Love My Librarian" Award (OK, it's not really Mo related, but I'm sure he will be nominating me. **grin**)
• Mo gives Esme ideas
• My Pigeon tee

 

Dolly Misses Mommy

Now we all know that Dolly’s mommy Pam is one crafty lady. My girls absolutely love Pam’s recycled bottle dog toys. Feeling a little homesick, Dolly asked to come with me to my Yarn Party craft program where we teach kids how to knit and crochet. Knowing it was something her mommy would enjoy, she thought learning a new craft might make her feel better.

My friend Kirsten volunteers for the program (and has the patience of a saint), so I asked her to teach Dolly how to crochet during a slow point. We learned a few things... the most important of which is that thumbs are important when crocheting.... 

It got a little busy and I'm ashamed to say that I lost track of Dolly for a few minutes. Imagine my mortification upon seeing Dolly riding Kirsten's service dog Ruby.  **AGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!**  DOLLY!  Get off Ruby NOW!

Ruby gently reminded Dolly that she is NOT a horsey... or a lion statue... or a tiger statue.... 

Thankfully Ruby is patient with little girls and the two parted friends.  **deep sigh of relief**

 

Dolly: Summer Reading Super Star

Summer reading began June 8^th, and we've already signed up over 2,400 kids and 230 teens!!! Dolly saw what fun the kids were having (and saw little kids got a free book if they finished) and DEMANDED to sign up, too. No worries, Pam. I made her ask nicely. I know she was excited, but that's no reason to be rude.Dolly signed her name and age on a yellow ducky.

 

Miss Angela explained the program to her. She's supposed to put a sticker on the calendar every day that someone reads to her. When she uses up all 30 stickers, it means she read for 30 days and can come back and pick out a free book to keep forever and ever.

 

Dolly was so happy that she wanted to shake Miss Angela's hand.

 

Dolly wanted to get started on her reading right away. She picked out Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (one of my FAVORITE books). She wanted to give Pigeon the keys. Unfortunately the Bus Driver came back early. Mean Bus Driver!

Dolly hung out with the story time puppets while I worked during the afternoon... or so I thought. When I couldn't find her, a thorough search began.... Anyone want to guess where we found her???

That's right.  She was trying to steal the new children's bookmobile. Apparently Eric left the keys in the ignition.

Before leaving for the day, Dolly found her ducky on the wall of other summer reading rock stars.

Dolly Arrives at the Library

My house guest for the week finally arrived this afternoon!  (For those of you who've not met her before, Dolly is a special doll going on an Aloha Tour of the US raising money for a couple of great charities... Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and The Mark Sandman Music Project.)  

Miss Kitty, Lucy, and Erin sent me a surprise... a book that Miss Kitty wrote, a toy Prius, and a Prius customization kit.  I burst out laughing when I opened it and had to explain a few things to the people around.  Yes, peeps, that is right....  I FINALLY have my Pink eHow Prius.

Dolly arrived right in the middle of a severe thunderstorm.  Dolly was so brave.  I was on the Switchboard at the time, so she took over the monitoring of the Weather Radio.  (It went off more than once.)  She was quite the pro and knew exactly what to do.  I was just glad we didn't have to go down in the basement.  Bad storms, dark basements, AND hundreds of patrons squeezed into small spaces is not the first impression I want to make on my new house guest.

Her talents didn't end there though....  I had to step out for a moment, so she took over the switchboard, TOO! 

Dolly was a little jet lagged.  (A 3 day postal journey is not a walk in the park.)  While I spent a few hours at the Children's Desk signing kids up for  Summer Reading, Dolly asked to relax and catch up on a little email.  Miss Hilary was at KMOS Kids Day, so Dolly stole her computer.  Thank you Hilly!!! I made sure she put back all your stuff where she found it.  =0)


Since the weather's still not great, I'm going to let her catch on her zzz's tonight before we hit the road running tomorrow.  After all dog birthday parties, story time, knitting classes, a star gazing seminar, hiking, visiting the Columns, and a lot more are in her near future.


Stay tuned for more great Dolly fun....

Non-Library Summer Reading Programs

My library system is very lucky.  We have one of the largest library buildings in the state... even though we are a couple hours away from any major city.  We have a lot of community support... which also translates into thousands of patrons coming through the door every day.


BUT not all communities are so lucky.  Libraries have been closing their doors across the nation... which means it is less likely for children to read during the summer.  No reading=kids back sliding as much as 3 months in their reading skills every summer.

Thankfully, a few businesses are trying to pick up the slack....

• Barnes and Noble  Children read 8 books and get a free book in return.
• Borders and Waldens Books Children read 10 books and get a free book.
• Half Price Books Kids get a $3 gift certificate for every week they read for 15 minutes per day.
• Fazoli's Kids who read 5 books get a free kids meal. 

And as always, if your child is 0-4 yrs, check out the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to see if she's eligible to receive 1 free book per month.

Librarians Can't Tell Jokes

Summer Reading has started!  In the first 5 days, we signed up 1,565 kids and 146 teens.  That averages 30 kids per hour. Anyone else totally crash all weekend?  Next year maybe the board will give us combat pay for the first week....  NOTE  TO SELF: Check with Jim.  Bring Diet Pepsi bribe.

Librarians at the Springfield Public Library in Canada kick off the summer right... with a library joke booth.  Kids and staff alike step in and get their joke YouTubed.  Only problem... librarians can't tell jokes....




PS Props to Brandy who signed up 15 teens on Friday alone.