Fizz, Boom Read!

Summer reading has commenced!

 

It was a little tricky to start with planning and figuring out what my new community needed and wanted for summer reading. The community was used to a very different summer reading program in the past and last year's did not end well. I was determined to use summer reading to help rebuild the library's tainted reputation.

 

Monday was the official kick-off. Participants of all ages could come and register and sign-up for programs. They could also enjoy donated Eat n' Park cookies, visit the balloon artist and win door prizes. I was stressed to the max that no one would show up because that's how this community works too...not incredibly supportive of the library.

 

So, for me...one would have been a success.

 

Well, I was pleasantly surprised when more than 50 came to the kick-off and as of this morning nearly 90 were registered for summer reading. That is a huge improvement in programming for my library. This is just the beginning. I still have to get through six weeks of programming basically on my own with now help.

 

Ready, set, go...see you in August!

 

 



It's a...LIBRARY!!!

Here I am months after my last post finally back on the blog. It's been a crazy summer. I'll explain in future posts because this post is all about the amazing new library that we moved into at the end of July and beginning of August.

 

If those of you had ever been to the old library or saw pictures I posted of the teen department there, you know it was a long time coming. I had books on top of books and behind other books in the teen section. You could literally get hurt looking for one.

 

Programming was hard because it was a shared space, so we had to schedule around the township, who we rented from.  There wasn't space in the teen department either for programs, only room for one person to walk between the three sets of shelving units.

 

Now, I have space and lots of it! I love that I have teens studying here after school. There were two playing mancala today. They actually want to come and hang out in the teen room because its all theirs and not a corner off the main library.

 

I'm not going to describe it in detail. You can look at the pictures. I have my own desk. No one else can steal it. There is a chalkboard around it for the teens to use. The tweens have there own area now. There is plenty of seating and space for programs. It's a dream come true for a teen librarian.

 

 

 

The move has not been without growing pains but I'm adjusting to my new space and learning to find ways to make the teens feel welcome. I'm not used to having a space where we all can sit together. I let the play music. I have candy for them. There are games and craft supplies for them to use.

 

The rest of the library is great but I'm partial to the teen department. The children's area is colorful and has a road that leads to the storytime room. There is a cafe beyond that and an actual staff room. We also have a patio, which we call the lanai like on Golden Girls.

 

 

 

Come visit and check out a book! I'll give you a tour if I'm not bogged down in a grant or published the latest newsletter.