Youth Services Forum Executive Committee

Charlottesville, VA

June 4, 2004

 

Attending: Ginger Armstrong, Melanie Barker, Tim Carrier, Sue Llewellyn, Dora Rowe, Deborah Wright

 

The meeting began with regional reports.

 

Dora and Melanie reported on Region II events.  The Amherst County Public Library will wrap up the summer reading program with a day of swimming at the Izaak Walton Park.  Amherst will also be dedicating a state-of-the-art puppet theatre.  The Blue Ridge Regional Library will end the summer with Library Olympics that will include events like weight lifting (lifting a two pound bar) and figure twirling (instead of figure skating) as well as other events.  The Campbell County Public Library will host Tales & Trails on Saturday, June 19th with activities in the Timbrook Park.  The Central Virginia Regional Library will offer a step performance by a high school step team and a hiking/nature program.   The Franklin County Public Library will host a YA talent show.  The Pittsylvania County Library will offer six programs each week, four for children 3-11, one for teens, and one family night program.  The Lynchburg Public Library will offer Monday Movie Matinees while Nottoway County will host a 1950s sock hop with twist and bubble gum blowing contests. The Hamner Public Library will offer beginning acting classes for teens and adults by Tracy Davis, a Hollywood professional.  An Emergency Spanish class will also be offered as well as performers such as Pamela Bomboy, The McKenzies, Ezibu Muntu African Dance Troupe, Jane Crouse, and David Risley.  Saturdays are History Days with programs that include an Amelia Fiesta, a Medieval Fair, 19th Century Children’s Games, Citie of Henricus, and a Japanese Tea Ceremony.

 

Deborah reported on Region III information from Neva White.  Noreen Bernstein from the Williamsburg Regional Library will be featured on the cover of School Library Journal for her after-school literacy program. The Mathews Memorial Library will use a space theme for the summer, “Lift Off for Summer Adventure,” and will feature astronomers, meteorologists, pilots, and naturalists.  The Middlesex County Public Library sponsored a BRASS 5 concert in May.  Middle school students had a master class with BRASS 5 and then performed with the group on two numbers.  The Portsmouth Public Library will be providing Motheread classes at the family shelter and will also be part of Cox Channel 11’s “Summer Reading with Cox 11.”  The Chesapeake Public Library will feature the Hunt Family Fiddlers, troubadour Bob Zentz, magician Brad Matchett, and storyteller Eunice Jones.  The Hampton Public Library will create a Magic Club sponsored by the local Society of Young Magicians.  The Norfolk Public Library will host the Tidewater Praise Dancers, the Reel Thing Irish Dancers, and the “Grand Electro Show” presented by Nauticus.  Virginia Beach will continue with its extremely popular Magic Tree House programs.

 

Ginger reported on events at the Chesterfield County Public Library in Region IV.  The Read 2 Rover program will continue.  Summer performers include the C. Shells, the One-Man Band, and Ban Caribe and Kevin Davis.  Other programs include “The Enchanted Kingdom of Nepal” in which the culture, stories, and dances of Nepal will be shared.  Lauren Smith will teach basic ballet.  The Virginia State University Farm Tour will be offered in which attendees can hold fish, pet goats, and tour a greenhouse.  Teen volunteers will share reading time with preschool and elementary school children with the Bean Bag Book Buddies program.  Canyon Smith will explain the art of airbrushing.  A Teen Open House will also be held at some branches.

 

Sue reported on events in Region V.  The Alexandria Library offers Bill Jenkins’ World of Music, the Yo-Yo Guy, and a concert by students in Alexandria’s Summer Music program.  The Arlington County Library will use “Get Caught Reading” as its summer reading program theme.  Arlington also has a storytelling program on television and on the Internet, Cuentos y Mas, Stories and More…with storyteller Mariela Aguilar performing bilingual stories, music, and movement for children ages 4-8.   The Fauquier County Public Library will offer a drumming workshop, a karaoke “Teen Idol” talent show, and a Space Invasion Teen Lock-In.  The Loudoun County Public Library, through a grant from MetLife and Libraries for the Future, presents a weekly program for teens that participate in the Department of Mental Health’s Homework Club.  The program is “Literacy Through Photography” and enables children to express what they feel about themselves, their home, and their community through writing and art.  The L.E. Smoot Memorial Library will offer Duct Tape Fashions and Accessories, Rockin’ Tattoos, and Tie Dye programs.  The Chinn Park Regional Library had ponies for children to ride for their annual Shepard Animal program.  The Bull Run Regional Library will offer a DJ workshop, an agility dog trial demonstration, a woodcarving workshop, an Animal Carnival, and an after-hours party, Rock Around the Clock.

 

Tim reported on Region VI news.  The Winchester area’s “One Book, One Community” program will take place during the summer in order to develop a region-wide summer reading program for children.  The collaborative effort includes the library, area schools, PTOs, the city council, the Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations.  Books for three different age levels will be announced on June 4th.  Among the performers visiting the area is a youth band called “Rock & Read.”  The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library will use the “Track It Down at Your Library” theme for kids this summer.   The Gordon Avenue Library will begin the summer with an ice cream social while the Crozet Library will end the summer with one.  Children participating in the summer reading program will also automatically be contributing for Read for a Cause with a $1,000 gift from the Friends of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library going to DonorsChoose.  The teen summer reading program will use the state theme.  A Favorite CD Contest will start the summer.  A gift certificate to a local music store will be given to a winner at each branch who selects the CD with the most votes.  The choices will also be considered in adding CDs to the library’s collection.  The Music Resource Center will present a songwriting workshop and will work with the library on a Teen Music Showcase talent show.  Magician Joseph Young and members of the Front Royal Cardinals will visit the Samuels Public Library.  The Augusta County Library will start a Teen Puppet Troupe this summer.  The Staunton Public Library will offer a mystery program as well as a visit from the Staunton Braves, a Valley League baseball team.  The Waynesboro Public Library will offer Café Read and a movie program.

 

The April minutes were approved.

 

No new business was discussed as the chair was ill and unable to attend.

 

The next meeting will be held on Friday, September 10th at 2:00 p.m. at the Northside Library.

 

The meeting adjourned.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Ginger Armstrong