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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 1, 1996TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: M. Rebecca Loader, Library Director Marsha Tubbs, Children's Librarian February 1, 1996 January 1996 Operational Report The Children's Department spent time regrouping during the month of January. We organized year-end statistics for 1995, finalized program plans for 1996, and got moving on a great New Year! WINTER STORYTIME: We have 48 children registered for storytime this winter compared to 104 last year at this time. I think that the wry cold weather has been a major factor affecting registrations this season. While the drop in registration is disappointing, I don't feel it's related to the program as comments from participants have been very positive. STORYTIME SUPPORT MATERIALS: I completed two new storytelling props during the month of January. An apron stow for A hat for Minerva Louise, and an apron/prop for Three baqs full. A hat for Minerva Louise consists of all felt figures with velcro backs (to work with the storyteller's apron). Three ba.qs full is a wooden sheep who gives all his wool away and the farmer's wife knits him a sweater for the winter. The sweater was designed and produced by Jeanine Schmidt, staff member. My thanks to Jeanine! These props are time-consuming, but add so much to the program, I feel they are worth it! KEEPING IN TOUCH: The first issue of Keeping in Touch, our newsletter for area teachers, went out this month. Overall, I think the materials included are excellent, I hope the teachers agree! It will be a challenge to meet deadlines for this newsletter, but since it doesn't contain time sensitive information, I hope to be able to produce copy well in advance. INVENTORY/WEEDING: Kelly and I began the inventory ofJ FIC. We have completed J FICA - J FIC C. It is slow-going as we are double checking the entries in the database (to make material code and shelf location changes). We are also checking our shelf list simultaneously to match accession numbers and barcodes. We hope to have this project completed by the end of May. '~CFE: ECFE representative, Carol Wade, approached me in December requesting a presentation for parents and children at their facility. The subject matter requested was "Selecting books for preschoolers" and '"How to read to your preschooler". Both are very broad topics, so we settled on a 40-50 minute presentation on "Selecting books for preschoolers 0 - 5 years of age". The programs were held January 30. Each session had 8 parents and 8 children. I did not receive a lot of feedback, but felt the response was positive. There were some questions raised at the end of the second session regarding the "over emphasis of reading, and its importance for kids today", and "7 levels of intelligence", and "perhaps reading is not your child's strong area", etc. It was a difficult presentation to make and I'm not sure that the message was received. One can only try. HEADSTART: I was contacted by Headstart to do a similar program (see above) for them. I agreed to repeat the "Selecting books for preschoolers" program on February 13 at 7:00 P.M. for the parent's of preschoolers in Anoka County meeting. The meeting will be held at NEI. STAFF SUPERVISION/WORK DIRECTION: The part-time staff has been working on mending easy books since August. They are making little progress. I have decided to shelve this project (temporarily) and resume it again in June during daytime hours. I spent some evenings this month working in the Children's Department to get a picture of the work flow, tasks accomplished, and the amount of patron business conducted evening. My conclusion: direct supervision is necessary. I hope to give new work assignments, monitor them closely, and provide positive reinforcement whenever possible. Perhaps a concentrated effort on my part can bring the group to a "team" before summer begins. Coming in February: Sneakin' a Peek - YA newsletter J Fiction weeding Winter Reading Club Winter Storytime Booking MELSA performers