Youth Services Forum Executive Committee
June 9, 2000
Charlottesville, VA

Attending: Ginger Armstrong, Linda Gosnell, Shelley Gravel, Maureen Harrill, Jennifer Heelen, Sherry Inabinet, Diantha McCauley, Sherry Pearson, Jessica Printz, Rebecca Purdy, Josie Schaffer

The meeting was called to order.

Sherry Pearson and Maureen discussed the activities occurring in Region I. Roanoke County received a Director's Award for the "Tons of Fun at the Mall" event which includes entertainment, crafts, rides, etc. A live pet show was a popular attraction at the library. Also a "Computer Camp for Kids" will be offered. In Buchanan County, a new kids' web page was produced. Pulaski County just finished a Reading is Fundamental program that gave 2,432 books to children in public schools. Also a family night picnic is scheduled with tethered hot air balloon rides. The Smyth-Bland Regional Library added an adult reading club this year and will have a special Harry Potter Week for teens. Tazewell County will have reading participants dressed up as bugs for a parade. Roanoke City is teaching storytelling skills to teens who will later tells stories to parents and preschoolers. Salem Public Library will work with Roanoke College to present a weekly after-school storytime and now has an area in the library specifically designated for teens. Performers visiting the libraries in this region include Barefoot Puppets, Virginia Museum of Natural History, the Fairytaler, C. Shells, Fish the Magish, Mary Veverka, and "Birds with Sue Brewer."

Josie reported on Region III news. Chesapeake will offer a karaoke program, a Harry Potter program, and a stuffed pet parade. The Eastern Shore Public Library will present programs on fun experiments, medieval adventure, travel, face painting and costumes, and tumbling and magic. Hampton Public Library will offer "Storytelling in the Park" as well as baby, family, and teen summer reading programs. Newport News Public Library will offer a "Teen Power 911" program as well as a mystery night program. Norfolk Public Library introduces two additions to its web site: Generation Next (for teens) and Book Cove (for kids). The Williamsburg Public Library will once again feature its Wheel of Reading (see web site http://www.wrl.org/YS/summerwheel.html). They will also offer a "Harry Potter Readditch." York County will feature "Movie Mondays" and will offer activities that revolve around the summer reading themes. Performers visiting the region include Bob Zentz, the Loud Poetry Guy, Little Big Band, Karen Lyles (the juggling lady), storyteller Dylan Pritchett, Wappadoodle Puppets, magician Penn Russell, C. Shells, Virginia Opera Fairy Tale Trunk show, Ryoshin-Kan Karate Demo Team, storyteller Mendel Williams, Tyrone & Tilford Show, Jonathan Austin's 24-Hour Emergency Juggling Service, the Virginia Living Museum, and Rainbow Puppets.

Sherry Inabinet reported on Middlesex County news. The library won a grant to fund its summer reading craft programs and presenters. The Accelerated Reader program will be available in the library this summer. They are also offering a "Play with Your Food" event.

Jessica Printz reported on some Region IV news. The Appomattox Regional Library will send representatives to schools to advertise the summer reading program with a short skit. Chesterfield County will offer a grant-funded program by the Chesterfield Historical Society on life in Chesterfield in the 1700's. The emphasis will be on games kids played and food that they may have eaten. Colonial Heights has scheduled several community programs with visits from the Fort Lee Brass Quintet, the local fire department, a policeman, an art teacher, a music teacher, an origami group, and a handbell group. Essex County will be moving into a new facility as well as becoming automated so there will be no summer reading program this year. The bee from Old Country Buffet will visit the Petersburg Public Library. The police department will set up a bike rodeo where kids will be able to drive their bikes through the obstacle course and learn about bike safety. The Richmond Public Library will offer pony rides at the summer reading kick-off. Chess clubs, YA book clubs, feature films, and crafts will be offered this summer. Elmo recently visited the branches. Also students who have written an essay on why they want to be a cub reporter for MediaOne will be videotaped at the library in June.

Linda reported on Region IV news at Pamunkey Regional Library and Henrico Public Library. At Pamunkey, a "Homeschoolers: Get to Know Your Library" program was offered. Linda reported that Kitty Davis, a VCU professor, is available to speak about homeschooling. A program on soap making was also offered. Former Richmond TV news anchor, Angie Miles, visited the Upper King William Branch's Open House and autographed her books. She can be reached at angiemiles@paintedbridge.com. Free promotional compact discs from MTV will be given away as teen prizes. The Wonderland Players have conducted a popular monthly family theatrical series at the Ashland branch. The Henrico Public Library will feature a Children's Art Exhibit. The Fairfield Library held its 2nd annual "Community Day" celebration of National Library Week in conjunction with the County Parks and Recreation Department. "Read Aloud Afternoons" are also offered at the Tuckahoe Library. The Innsbrook Library conducted a Harry Potter book discussion that included a trivia game and a craft. The Richmond Astronomical Society also held a StarGazers program. Children can now enroll in the summer reading program online with the library's new computer system using read@henricolibrary.now. An adult summer reading program will also be offered. Performers visiting Region IV include musician John McCutcheon, Virginia Living Museum, Alex-Zan, Running Deer, Amazing Jason, Pamela Bomboy, C. Shells, Nick Newlin, Joe Pipik of BackPack Puppets, Pat Mendoza, and Jonathan Austin.

Jennifer reported on Region VI news. Members of Region VI met to review publisher's titles and made comments on hundreds of books. These comments were then sent to the publishers, and the books were distributed among the libraries. Pat Muller will be presenting a workshop on teen services for the region in October at the Shenandoah County Library. Augusta County recently added "Mother Goose Story Times." Culpeper County is looking for an additional children's librarian and is accepting applications until June 20th. Handley Regional Library will be counting time spent reading this year and prizes will include horseback riding and canoeing. A Harry Potter Luncheon is scheduled. Jefferson-Madison Regional Library will be offering "Flat Stanley's Summer Adventures" in which the library provides a laminated Stanley that kids can take on vacations with them. The Stinky Cheese Man will also visit the library. The Rappahannock County Library will have its first teen summer reading program. They recently formed a Teen Advisory Board and will be starting a literary magazine for teen writers. Rockingham Public Library conducted its Fourth Annual Honored Teacher Contest. Shenandoah County Library will be closing on June 23rd and will reopen in a new location on July 18th. The new children's area will feature a reading kiosk with cushions and a canopy roof, a listening station, a video viewing station, an internet station, a children's PAC and a cd-rom station. The library will have a teen and adult summer reading program for the first time. The Staunton Public Library will have three Family Read Aloud Nights to promote Read Aloud Virginia and the Summer Reading Challenge. They will also host pajama parties on the lawn. Waynesboro will feature chess instructors and a fantasy bug drawing contest. Performers in the area include Kim and Jimbo Cary, cartoonist Jim Sizemore, Barefoot Puppets, Wildlife Center of Virginia, storyteller Pat Mendoza, storyteller Kathy Coleman, Nick Newlin, musician Barb Martin, Snakes Alive, dancer Donna Graham, singer/storyteller Eve Watters, Rainbow Puppets, Gary Lloyd the Mason Talespinner, and the C. Shells. Jennifer also distributed a regional contact list for Region VI. Diantha reported that Augusta County will also be holding a teen orientation workshop for teen volunteers.

Rebecca reported on the news from VLA Council. VLA has lost 289 members from last year and public library members are needed for the New Members Roundtable. If you know of anyone who would be interested in serving, please contact Cy Dillon. An overabundance of concurrent session proposals were received. Final decisions about which sessions will be offered at the VLA Conference will be made soon. The Program Planner's Workshop that will be offered at the VLA Conference was highly recommended. Legislative Day will occur in late April/early May. The Intellectual Freedom Committee is considering a copyright workshop. A Youth Volunteer Award will be given out for 2001. The youth award will be given to the student at his/her school.

Sherry Inabinet reported on the Jefferson Cup Award Committee. The committee has recommended that the honorarium for the award increase. They are checking with other states to see how they are handling state awards. The committee suggested that individual committee members not award a single book more than 50 of each member's 100 points. The committee also suggested that each former chair of the committee serve in an ex officio capacity for one year following their term as chair. The Youth Services Forum approved these recommendations and will recommend this procedure to VLA Council. Sherry will write up a proposal of the Jefferson Cup changes and recommendations for VLA Council. Currently the Jefferson Cup Committee has requested directors to find people who might be interested in serving on the committee. Requests are also being sent to public and private schools. The new chair of the committee will be Ann Fondren. VLA is promoting the luncheon on Friday at the VLA Conference as the Jefferson Cup Luncheon.

Linda introduced a liaison opportunity for the Youth Services Forum with the Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education. Members meet four times a year and are having an annual conference at James Madison University at the end of June. Diantha may be able to attend or inquire about working with them.

Rebecca handed out a new list of VLA members who have expressed interest in the Youth Services Forum on their VLA membership forms.

Rebecca needs dates for all regional "Patchwork of Programs" as soon as possible so that the program flyer can be constructed with the dates of all programs by July 15th. She will inquire about having the flyer as an insert in the VLA Newsletter as well. The flyer will involve one-stop registration. Attendees can register until the day of the workshop. Rebecca brought a mock-up of the flyer that the group discussed. Prices for the program, e-mail address, location to attend, contact information, library information, as well as a statement referring to more information on the web page were added.

It was suggested that the Youth Services Forum web page contain all of the Jefferson Cup lists to date. The Library of Virginia may have the lists in the archives.

The deadline for Paraprofessional Forum program proposals is June 23rd. The group recommended a programming workshop and the Jefferson Cup Overfloweth program.

The minutes from the April meeting were approved without addition or correction.

The meeting adjourned.