What is your library planning to do for 2021? Please send your photos, ideas, and any informative details to Luke Kralik at: luke.kralik@cslpreads.org I would love to share them in our newsletter.
Looking for some ideas for 2021 to use or share? https://www.pinterest.com/cslpreads/
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Public libraries feed hungry bodies as well as hungry minds during the summer – and throughout the year. The CSLP’s Child and Community Well-Being committee encourages library involvement in activities that support wellness, from summer and afterschool meals, to well-being programming, to support for basic needs, all to help children, teens, and communities stay nourished, active, and healthy when school is out. Resources include the Libraries and Summer Food page on the CSLP website; a Facebook group for news, support, and resource-sharing; and an ongoing series of stories showcasing the experiences of libraries around the country.
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Spreading a Little Kindness
by Rhonda Frevert, Burlington (Iowa) Public Library
Inspired by a youth program at the nearby Keokuk Public Library, a staff team at the Burlington Public Library developed a plan for an all-ages Kindness Club set to start in March 2020. The pandemic forced a decision just days ahead of the kickoff event. Opting not to cancel, they quickly adapted and went virtual by creating a Facebook group for participants.
Using videos and informational posts, the staff introduces a new kindness topic each month. They also promote the club through bookmarks and the library’s newsletter.
To encourage connection, the club started with letter writing and then constructed and delivered hundreds of May baskets to local seniors. Other projects included learning about pollinators and distributing seeds to support them, collecting supplies for area schools, spotlighting the importance of supporting local businesses, and painting an outdoor obstacle course on the riverfront for families to enjoy. A winter project focused on backyard birds with kits including identification guides and supplies to make simple homemade bird feeders.
The library has a longstanding tradition of collecting food in November as part of Burlington’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner. When the dinner was canceled, the Kindness Club partnered with Miss Great River to collect canned goods to distribute to local food pantries, created a display on food insecurity, and made handouts about area food pantries. They also collected warm outerwear to distribute locally.
This month the club celebrated Black History Month by sharing stories of local Black history, developing a book display, and distributing hands-on activity kits for families to learn about Black historical figures.
All of the club’s projects use items already on hand or low-cost materials with support from the Friends group. One of the May basket recipients even made a donation to support the club’s efforts.
Starting the Kindness Club in the midst of a pandemic and remaining active over the past year speaks to the creativity and dedication of our staff. It has been a valuable cross-departmental team experience, an overall bright spot in a tough time, and a nice connection with our community. We look forward to having that first in-person club meeting someday. Until then, we continue to look for ways to spread a little kindness.
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SRP Incentives in a Pandemic
by Aimee Adams, Events Coordinator, Medina County District Library
When COVID got us down, library staff got inventive. In 2020, the CSLP Stats Committee conducted a survey regarding incentives. 60% of respondents had purchased CSLP incentives in preparation for 2020 SRP. Normally, most libraries would dump the toy incentives into a “treasure chest” and let the kiddos rifle through to find their prize. With COVID, we realized, “EGADS! We can’t let them sift through the beloved treasure chest! How can we still hand out these fun rewards to our budding readers?”
I asked public library staff around Ohio for their methods of handing out prizes and was surprised at the creativity implemented. Many libraries such as Avon Lake and Kaubisch Memorial Library offered “grab & go” bags as part of their curbside service. Other libraries provided trays displaying the prizes as part of their curbside offerings.
Staff at the Medina County District Library used an enclosed display case so children could peruse the prize offerings before heading to the desk to announce their selection—the prize was placed in a VERY long-handled bug net and extended the selection to the recipient.
Archbold Public Library staff used a large poster with Velcro and a laminator to put up images of their incentives. When they were out of a prize for that day, they could take it down only to replace it the next day.
As we prepare for the 2021 Summer Reading season, we may see a light is flickering at the end of the tunnel. However, we are still far from the finish line. Hopefully, your library can implement a few of these ideas to pass out your incentives this summer.
I continue to sit in awe of your ingenuity and your dedication to providing a sense of normalcy and excitement during this bleak time. If you haven’t already, join CSLP's Official Summer Library Programming Group - 2021 Tails & Tales on Facebook - for more ideas.
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