Programming and Outreach
Teen Programs: 6
Teen Program Attendance: 90
Teen Room Attendance: 232
Teen volunteer hours: 82
Kids Programs: 42
Kids Program attendance: 520
Fall story times were eagerly embraced by families. There continues to be many new babies to the library who are looking for community and learning. In efforts to try new things, Baby Music has moved to an afternoon slot, and Sensory Adaptive Story Time (ages 2-5) has been added to Thursday morning. Kate shared a wonderful story- a caregiver from Music and Movement asked if Kate could share her playlists so they could practice at home, since her child is learning English. As expected, Kate was so happy to provide it.
Afterschool programming has returned. It often takes a little while for families to get settled into their new routines and get back to the library. Alex is offering the new Pokémon club once a month as well as regularly scheduled gaming meet ups. Kate has rebranded Neurodiversity Club to the Steam Scene as well as bringing back her popular Minecraft programs and Sensory Play. Laura has all of the therapy dogs ready to read. Kristine is resuming Bookmark Bunch and Chess club. Staff did some thoughtful examination of when registration is helpful and when it creates a barrier to programming and have tried to be as welcoming to the community as possible.
Photo Gallery
Updates and Projects
Using some of the funds from the Nolan Memorial Gift we purchased new seating for the Crawshaw Room. This seating is ergonomic with a bounce to be more supportive and still sensory friendly. Both smaller and larger sizes were purchased to meet the needs of the room users. Additionally new play equipment was purchased for the Treehouse Room. This included a dress up station to encourage imaginative play and vocabulary. One of the community helper costumes is a letter carrier in memory of Shawn Nolan, and the children can deliver mail to the librarians at the desk and back to the Treehouse Room. Gina updated the signage in the space- there is a nice clear poster on the wall with behavior expectations, and the bulletin board has alphabet tips to help families incorporate phonics into their play.
The Teens were back in the Teen Room on the first day of school. While summer is usually a bit of a slump, its great to see them back. Many new faces this year; several of whom saw AnnaRae at her spring outreach. AnnaRae also reports that a record number of students have joined the Teen Advisory Board and want to volunteer this fall. While we dislike turning away teens, we simply do not have enough work to take every volunteer that is looking for a placement and still provide a quality experience.
Collections and Display
Kid’s displays included: Back to school, Birds, Biographies, Library Books, Low-circing non-fiction, Peace Week, American Adventures, J fic mysteries and author spotlights on Rosemary Wells and Nancy Tafuri.
Teen displays included: Booked and Busy, Its Giving Autumn, and Bad Vibes Only.
As always, YS staff start looking at weeding projects in the fall- if books weren’t borrowed in the summer, it’s time to examine their tenure at the library.
CE
Kristine, Kate and AnnaRae attended the ALSC conference in Buffalo.
15 YS staffers attended Staff Development Day. It was a great day to learn and be together.
Kate attended a NYLA CE Committee meeting and will be moving to her new role as NYLA YSS Secretary.
What we’re reading
Kristine is reading Chernobyl, Life and Other Disasters by Yevgenia Nayberg
Alex is reading The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie
Kate is reading Storm Singer by Sarwat Chadda
Sunflowers and Lavender by Maisy Valais
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Respectfully submitted by Catherine Brenner