Youth Services Forum Executive Committee
Meeting
September 7, 2001
Charlottesville, VA
Attending: Ginger Armstrong, Tim Carrier, Indira Dholakia, Jane Ferguson, Ann Fondren, Shelley Gravel, Lisa Payne, Sherry Pearson
Sherry called the meeting to order.
Sherry began with a report of Region I events at the Vinton Library in Roanoke County. Follow-up training was held for the Gates Lab. Autumn Morningstar, a Native American storyteller and magician, was extremely popular and information about her can be found at the following URL – http://www.angelfire.com/celeb/magicmorningstar/AMS.HTML. A “popcorn and a movie” program was offered as well as an ice cream party at the end of the Summer Reading Program.
Maureen reported on other events in Region I. The Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library organized an art contest with the local school system and the Barnes and Noble for Teen Read Week. Storytimes will now feature favorites books instead of themes and the library hopes to incorporate the REEL (Reading Enhances Early Learning) program to help educate parents. The Roanoke City Public Library planned a Poetry Slam for Teen Read Week. Will Clay (a local children’s book illustrator) will serve as program host for a Harry Potter Trivia Night. Puppets with Pizzaz will perform for Read Aloud Week and Cathy Francis & the Little Big Band will perform at all libraries for National Children’s Book Week. The Roanoke County Public Library will also be offering an origami workshop and a Harry Potter party will coincide with the movie release. Face painting workshops will be offered in the fall and participants will later paint faces at the “Tons of Fun on the Mall” event. The Galax-Carroll Regional Library will offer an open house to introduce programs for preschoolers and their parents, teachers at the elementary schools, headstart teachers, and homeschoolers. The Wythe-Grayson Regional Library will be using the “Catch a Dragon by the Tail” theme for National Children’s Book Week. The Salem Public Library was visited by juggler Jonathan Austin, KayDee Puppets, and Fish the Magish. Themed books were ordered from Scholastic as prizes and then leftover t-shirts from last year were also given away as incentives.
Lorry Risinger sent a report from Region II. The Amherst Public Library hosted Teddy Spaghetti as well as a representative from James River State Park who presented a “Creature Feature” program. The young adult group took field trips to local museums and parks. The Bedford Public Library hosted Cathy Francis and the Little Big Band for the Summer Reading Program Finale. In Franklin County, the YA volunteers chose a country to research and then dressed up in costumes, told traditional tales, and sang songs for the younger children in an “Around the World in 80 Minutes” program. After the presentation, children could go to the International Marketplace where young adults made items for the younger children to purchase with play money. A babysitter’s workshop was offered for middle and high school students. In Danville, a craft program called “Rocket Science” was the most popular in which children decorated canisters and then using Alka Seltzer and water watched the canisters fly in the air like rockets. Lorry also sent a sample of a book care bookmark used by the Lynchburg Public Library. She also provided everyone with a packet of information about the puzzles mentioned at the last meeting. These puzzles can be purchased from Lakeshore Learning Materials at www.lakeshorelearning.com. Included with the puzzle information was a sample bookmark that guides parents in helping their children learn through puzzles. On a Teen Tuesday in the summer, a creative lettering workshop was offered at the Lynchburg Public Library. Examples of different lettering styles and materials used at the program were also distributed. Sherry also reminded everyone of Lorry’s upcoming and very popular “Bookless Storytelling Encore” which will be offered on September 21st. The Ellison Die machine will be available for use after this program.
Sherry reminded everyone about VLA Newsletter inserts. She asked that promotional flyers for Youth Services Forum programs be e-mailed to the editor of the newsletter if you would like the flyer included in the VLA Newsletter.
Sherry stated that the group is still searching for another representative for Region III.
Lisa reported on events in Region IV. The Appomattox Regional Library will offer bedtime storytimes on selected evenings. The Hopewell Library will offer computer classes for youth as well. For Teen Read Week, a riddle contest will be offered. Children’s author LuLu Delacre and mountain storyteller and musician David Holt will visit the Henrico Public Library. Ms. Delacre will do one of her programs solely in Spanish. Two Harry Potter programs will be held as a tie-in to the movie premiere. Community Helpers Week will be celebrated in October with special visits from local firemen, policemen, doctors, and others. “Terrifying Tales” will be offered for teens. The YA librarians are also planning to participate in a “Drive to Read” program during Teen Read Week in which teens could win NASCAR tickets and maybe a car. The Pamunkey Regional Library will highlight Library Card Sign-Up Month, Banned Books Week, and Children’s Book Week in the fall. The Goochland Branch will host storyteller Mary Veverka for “Stories and a Bedtime Snack.” In September, the libraries are offering a free gift to every sixth grader that brings in their library card or gets a new one. Newly redesigned teen areas can be seen in several branches and a new section on the website will highlight what’s hot in Teen Lit. Powhatan offers its storytimes year-round and currently has a teen group that meets each Monday for reading discussions, crafts, creative writing or other activities. The Richmond Public Library will offer a program with YA author Elisa Carbone (author of Warriors and Stealing Freedom) at the Main Library. The Main Library also hosts a literary club for 11 to 14 year olds. The Belmont Branch just added a Family Reading Night and the East End Branch will have those who sign up for a library card in September be eligible to win a School Supplies Basket. The library also has a free art area where students are encouraged to add their artistic talent to a “Back to School” mural. The Hull Street Branch offers the “Arthur Club” and the Westover Hills Branch offers a chess club in conjunction with the Richmond City Schools.
Ginger reported on events in Chesterfield County. A local rock band will perform at the Midlothian Library. Preschool storytimes continue. Historical Impressions will offer a “Tales of Terror” program for young adults in October. For Teen Read Week, the library in cooperation with the public schools will offer a “Best of the Best” program in which young adults vote for their favorite Harry Potter book, the best character to have as a friend, and the best setting to stay away from among other categories. Students will either vote at the library or at school. Ballots will be compiled and the “Best of the Best” will be announced during Teen Read Week. Two libraries are in the process of moving. All are encouraged to visit the new LaPrade Library during the VLA Conference.
Jane stated that Sue Llewelyn has resigned from the committee. She introduced Indira Dholakia, our new regional representative from Region V and Sherry welcomed Indira to the committee. The Alexandria Public Library will continue to offer its First Saturday Storytime. The Arlington County Public Library will offer a “Library Links” program that is designed to reach the new immigrant population in the area. Librarians will showcase a different section of the collection in order to teach children and parents how to use the library. These programs are offered at outreach centers, housing projects, and other county centers. The library also offers training programs for volunteers in connection with the Human Services Department to teach volunteers how to present programs to children and parents. The “Reading Is Important” program is mandated for parents by the court system. The Caroline County Library will be sponsoring a “Bridges” program that is designed to extend the school day by focusing on academic improvement, recreation, and other activities provided by community partners. The Fairfax County Public Library will participate in the Fall for the Book Literary Festival that will take place September 19-23 and is sponsored by the Fairfax County Public Library, George Mason University, the City of Fairfax, and the Washington Post. Blue Sky Puppet Theatre, Lisa Ketchum (Blue Coyote), E.B. Lewis (Bat Boy and His Violin), Annette Curtis Klause (Alien Secrets), and illustrator Michael Dooling (The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin) will appear. The Mary Riley Styles Public Library offered a Monday Movie program that was very successful. The Fauquier County Public Library will be adding a “Half-Pints” storytime session for ages 18-30 months. An Area 51 party will be offered for 8-12 year olds this fall as well. The “Kindergarten Kick-Off” storytime for children was extremely popular. The King George Library system will be planning a birthday party to celebrate Winnie the Pooh’s 75th Anniversary. The Prince William Public Library will host Danza del Rio and Cantare for Hispanic Heritage Month. Gayle Danly, the former National Poetry Slam champion, will visit for Teen Read Week.
Indira reported on news in Loudoun County. Barry Louis Polisar will perform at the Lovettsville Library. Multicultural Month in October will be celebrated with Anansegromma of Ghana performing “Tubom, Tubom: Ananse and the Monster Fish” and Antoni Rocha offering Brazilian stories called “Jungle Tales.” Gayle Danly will also present a program for Teen Read Week. The Little Theatre of the Deaf will perform “The Ropes Stories.” Native American storytellers Mary Voskian and Dovie Thomason will also visit.
Tim reported on news in Region VI. The Augusta County Library offered a “Ride to the West Day” where kids learned how to use lassos and lariats and had a visit from a Texas longhorn. Teens held a Read-A-Thon to help collect books for a local homeless mission and a shelter for victims of abuse. The 75th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh, the annual bookmark contest during Children’s Book Week, and a visit from Kaydee Puppets are planned for the fall. Plans are also underway for a “Chapter-a-Day” online book club for teens. Katy Caron is leaving the Culpeper County Public Library but will remain a Region VI Representative on the Youth Services Forum and Jefferson Cup. The Culpeper County Library offered the prize option of choosing a book for the library to purchase. Over 350 books were chosen by readers for the library system. The Fluvanna County Library had an enormous increase in registration for the Summer Reading Program this year. Programs featured puppeteers, storytellers, and a visit from emus owned by a Fluvanna resident. The Handley Public Library re-opened and the new Bowman Library opened. A Harry Potter program and a Children’s Book Week Festival are being planned. Summer programs included a teen volunteer program, puppet shows, movie showings, and a “Survival” book reading program. The Highland County Library offered a program for upper elementary students who created their own journals. The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library offered an ice cream social at the Gordon Avenue Library that included a visit from Froggy. Participants in the children’s and teen’s programs read to support the rebuilding of a library in Panajachel, Guatemala that was destroyed by fire last fall. Events included Hawaiian music and dance by the Kahela Dancers, West African music and games by Anansegromma of Ghana, and skyviewing with the Virginia Discovery Museum. Spanish language storytime will resume this fall. The teen offerings this summer included a Mehndi workshop, creative writing workshops, and a tae-kwon do demonstration. This fall, Teen Read Week will be celebrated with a “Survivor” booklist inviting teens to vote books off the list either on paper or online. Also a “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” game will be offered at the Northside Library. Plans are underway for the fourth annual Science Project Help Day in which area scientists are available to help students with their science projects. The Orange County Public Library gave away a computer, a bicycle, a baseball picture from the Orioles, an American Girls doll (Kit), and a small television this summer. Programs included a robot, a spinning workshop (featuring spinning wheels and wool), and an “Under the Sea” program. At the Samuels Public Library, the Library Lock-In was a great success. 13-16 year olds spent the night at the library enjoying karaoke, games, pizza, and movies. The Staunton Public Library will hold its first after hours party with a Harry Potter celebration. Historical Impressions will visit to tell ghost stories in October.
The June minutes were approved.
Sherry reported on VLA Council news. Gale donated $2500 to the conference in addition to their exhibit space fee. Two $500 donations were received to support the Jefferson Cup breakfast.
Remember that January 24th is Legislative Day. A series of questions were sent to the gubernatorial candidates and responses may be found in the next Virginia Libraries magazine. E-mailing legislators about pending plans was encouraged.
The evaluations for the VLA Conference may be conducted online instead of distributed as handouts.
Publications would like to formalize a photo archive for VLA and will take photographs at the conference with this in mind.
Sherry announced that policy changes need to go through a committee or forum and then be approved by VLA Council before a policy change is accepted.
VLA Council is hopeful that there will be no increase in VLA dues until 2003.
Sherry distributed the New Millennium Cosmic Poetry Contest information received from Cy Dillon. She will talk with Pat Muller to see if the Library of Virginia may want to offer access to this program from its youth website.
Ann reported on Jefferson Cup news. The brochures have been printed and distributed. Ann has worked very hard to find a company that could reproduce (at a reasonable price) the lost artwork from last year. Jim Murphy will be attending the Jefferson Cup Breakfast. Ann stated that she would like to push for a Jefferson Cup luncheon for next year. The Library of Virginia will have books for sale for the event including Murphy’s new Dear America title. A signing time will be designated after the breakfast. It is not certain yet as to whether Murphy will sign at the Library of Virginia the previous evening. Jefferson Cup bookmarks will be included in the VLA Conference packets as well. The Accelerated Reader web page featured Blizzard! (the Jefferson Cup winner) recently. Jim Murphy is also receiving the National Nonfiction Book Award in December. The new committee is currently receiving books and Rebecca is working very hard to get the books to members quickly.
Shelley reported on Virginia Young Readers. A meeting will be held in November during which the members will discuss books read during the summer. The current list can be found on the VSRA web page at http://www.vsra.org. Ann stated that she promoted the Virginia Young Readers program by placing a sticker of Virginia on the spines of these titles with the year written on the sticker.
Sherry discussed the need for a chair next year and named Lisa Payne as the upcoming Youth Services Chair. Thanks to Lisa for volunteering!
Sherry reminded regional representatives that they should think about what they would like to offer for a program in their area. All regional representatives must offer a program in their region at least once during their term. Suggestions for programs included a Capitol Choices program.
Sherry announced that VLA approved all of the session proposals submitted by the Youth Services Forum. As a result, we will offer a puppet workshop, a computer sign-up workshop, a problem patron workshop, the Jefferson Cup breakfast, and the Jefferson Cup Overfloweth program.
The table talks will occur during the same time frame as our business meeting. The Youth Services Forum will share a table with Pat from the Library of Virginia. Ann will bring extra copies of the Jefferson Cup flyer as well as interest sheets for the table talks. Ann will also bring information about VEMA. Ginger will bring copies of the Youth Services Forum survey form and may be able to bring a handout of basic information about the Youth Services Forum. Shelley will create an information sheet about the Virginia Young Readers program. Sherry and Pat will discuss other handouts for the table.
Sherry asked for volunteers to help make copies of Heidi Rugg’s packet for the puppet workshop at the VLA Conference. Sherry said that she would send packets or contact Lisa, Ginger, Maureen, and Jane if/when copies needed to be made prior to Heidi’s program. Heidi may sell finger puppets and a flyer for Barefoot Puppets may be included in the VLA Conference registration packet.
Sherry asked for volunteers to be reporters at the Youth Services Forum’s sessions during VLA. Reporters are asked to write a 200-300 word summary of the session attended. Ann will write an article about the Jefferson Cup breakfast. Tim will write a summary of the “I Signed Up for That Computer” session. Jane signed up for the problem patrons workshop and Maureen signed up for the Heidi Rugg program.
Ann encouraged everyone to attend the Virginia Educational Media Association’s Conference in Norfolk that will be held the week after Thanksgiving. Diana Gabaldon will be speaking at the banquet and Walter Dean Myers will speak at the luncheon. An Angel Tree will be located at the conference and attendees are encouraged to bring new books for the shelters in Norfolk. Vendors will provide special discounts if purchasing books for the Angel Tree.
The next meeting will be held at the VLA Conference on Thursday, October 18th from 5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
The meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ginger Armstrong
Youth Services Forum Secretary