Oregon Library Support and Development Services Focus Institute, September 27, 2016.

1. BUILDING A…BETTER?
SUMMER READING
S Bryce Kozla
Focus Institute
September 27, 2016

2. PINTEREST http://bit.ly/ORSRP17

3. SUMMER READING LOGS
Los Alamos County Library System (NM) La Crosse Public Library (WI)
Gretna Public Library (NE)

4. • Less stress for staff
• Visual representation of
participation
• Few complaints about the lack of
tchotchkes

5. LPL’S SUMMER READING GAME
Benefits:
-choice and autonomy for
kids
-suggestions give kids new
ideas for reading and playing
-encouraged family
involvement
-they could do everything at
the library!
-easier on staff

6. ACTIVITY TIME!
Make a game card
Possible activity ideas:
-Read 93 separate squares)
-Write/Draw (+Doodle)
-Play/Do (+Build)
-Find It Out
-Library Program

7. SUMMER READING PROMOTION
 Meet them where they are
 Get them to come to the library
(this is POWERFUL stuff!)

8. HOW TO GET TO THE KIDS?
 Teacher buy-in:
 Ask for 15 min at each grade level TOPS
 Ask for three dates/times, make one of
them work
 If possible communicate through the LMC

9. 15 MIN PITCH: SOME THINGS TO TRY
 Talk TO the kids: no 4th wall
 BRAIN DRAIN: The library can solve it!
 2-3 things you want them to do: repeat them and
make THE KIDS repeat them

10. ACTIVITY: YOUR PITCH (10 MIN)
 What problem does your Summer Reading
Program solve for kids?
 What 2-3 things do you want them to remember?
 What else could you say about the library to pump
them up?

11. NOW YOU’VE DONE IT.
THEY’RE COMING FOR YOU.

12. SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED SOME

13. HERE IS THE BOAT AT LA CROSSE PUBLIC
LIBRARY.
• 23 year old memorial
•Steel sides
•Reward for “being caught reading” on it
The goal was to get kids to read
on the Boat.
Why weren’t we successful?

14. REWARDING FOR
EXPECTED BEHAVIOR
 Everyone likes being rewarded, right?
…is it a chore?

15.  Children weren’t reading….
 They were WAITING to “GET CAUGHT”
(when they didn’t fast enough?)

16. You can’t assume anyone
To know anything
You didn’t teach them
yourself.
--kind of a mix between Bruner
and Vygotsky

17. THE QUESTION:
How do we
set the kids up
for success?
1. Rename the Boat.
2. Make clear rules.
THE ANSWER:

18. How do we make non-arbitrary rules?

19. MANAGING THE SPACE: ADULTS

20. MANAGING SPACE: CHILDREN

21. ONE ESSENTIAL PART OF RULES:
How EXACTLY a child can meet
your expectations
(AS SOON AS they meet them, say
thanks)

22. 1. Empower children to use the
library effectively
2. Create a welcoming environment
for kids
3. Ensure more positive
interactions for you
SETTING CLEAR EXPECTATIONS WILL:

23. SETTING UP YOUR SPACE FOR SUCCESS
 Take a look around and ask yourself the following
questions:
1. Entering the Children’s area, what do I want a child
to gravitate toward?
 MAKE THIS SHINY
2. Looking around the Children’s area, is there
anything a child could do to destroy something
completely irreplaceable?
 REMOVE THIS THING

24. SETTING YOUR SPACE UP FOR SUCCESS

25. CHECK OUT CLUBS

26. STORY ACTION POD
Crowd-sourced displays
Your personal amusement

27. IN-ROOM DIY SCAVENGER HUNT

28. …WHEREVER THERE’S ROOM!

29. DISPLAYS AS
PASSIVE PROGRAMMING

30. BOOK BUNDLES

31. SRP DECORATING PARTY!

32. Contact me!
S Bryce Kozla
brycek@wccls.org
http://brycedontplay.blogspot.com/
Pinterest page:
http://bit.ly/ORSRP17