Children's Department Overview


From the web page:

Philosophy:

Children of all ages and abilities are welcome in the Albany County Public Library's Children's Room. We offer a comfortable, inviting environment for reading, studying or just socializing. The Children's Room is specifically designed to serve the needs of young customers and their parents, caregivers and educators. Our goal is to encourage children to develop a love of books, reading and learning through our diverse collection, programs, and services.

 

Additional planning

''actions taken in italics

 

Planning:

''Involving children with books and the library is essential beginning at a very young age. The Children's Department has great success with preschool events, but once those children become more independent, involved in school and other activities, the library has a lower priority in their lives.

 

Our challenge is to continue excellent events & collections for the very young and develop intriguing and helpful opportunities for older children so they can transition into each phase of library usership. Include a transition to YA users.

 

Our children's room and web page should convey our philosophy. Both should be colorful, comfortable, imaginative, innovative, informative and playful.

 

Atmosphere:

Creating a positive, not punitive, environment. Use flyers, bookmarks, postersBook care campaign. Posters, bookmarks about care of books.

Fine free policy versus damaged books. What you might be charged for.

Have a display of damaged materials.

''new Fee Schedule addresses much of this.

''Unattended children policy. Poster and Flyers.

Create a promotion of the policy that is warm and supportive. Make it clear that we care about the safety and well being of the children and that our policy is for their protection.

''Safe Child guidelines have been developed from the unattended children policy. Posters and flyers are available and should be distributed as needed.

 

''Computer use. Signage and flyers should be explanatory, positive.

Signage re:30 minute time limit. One dedicated to catalog use.

Make the time limit fun. Maybe have a timer that will ding when time is up?

Signage re:use by children and their accompanying adults. Includes teachers and college students using the children's collection for class preparation.

Internet policy. Have a flyer that describes "safe surfing."

''sign stating "computers are for children, students, caregivers" etc are in place; thirty minute time limit signs in place.

 

''Creating a colorful, comfortable, playful environment.

PHYSICAL

Wall mural.

''in progress.

''Displays.

''include bulletin boards and displays on Childrens/YA divider shelves. The giraffe is a fun feature, can change to meet the theme of the room.

''Seating - pillows, beanbags.

''beanbag chairs and stuffed animals have been donated (2006). Question now arises: how do we disinfect these additions? Customers love the seating/socializing area in the E (picturebooks.

''Shelving - lower shelving for picturebooks, logical grouping, good signage.

''working on signage. the flow of picturebooks awkward for some.

''Layout - good line of vision, places for people to sit and read, talk, share.

 

EQUIPMENT for public

Computers - wireless headsets for games.

''headsets should be cheap and replaceable. purchasing the more expensive doesn't mean they are more durable.

''Durable listening station for talking books.

 

Employ additional staff and maximize their skills.

Staff children's room from 10am-8pm. and on weekends.

''how does this meet with the new DESK effort?

''Hire & train staff to assist effectively anywhere in the library.

Have "Youth Services" Department, combining some duties like ordering.

Staff "Youth Services Reference" between Children's & YA.

Have shelvers/shelf readers/display maintainers.

Develop a volunteer based "read aloud" group.

 

EQUIPMENT & space for staff

Offices, storage and workspace all together

tools for storytimes in workroom.

Bookkeepers office reverts to children's dept.

''County Librarian has moved to this office

''Additional usable space: patio

 

PROGRAMS

Events for all ages.

Intergenerational activities

Space available for all kinds of groups.

Events planned but not supervised by staff.

''efforts to recruit volunteers to lead events has not been successful. do we spend more time on this?

''Computer training; internet, catalog, databases.

Community workers presentations. (police, fire dept. etc. read at library)

Programs for elementary kids on days when school is out.

''events on no school days have been successful, but not always easy to staff. collaborations have been spotty.

 

''OUTREACH. Take the library "on the road"

Book groups at SACC, dorms, homes.

Offer training for how to hold your own book group.

Visit dorms, SACC, schools to demonstrate online catalog & databases.

Visit more day cares (use volunteer group).

Career day presentations.

Bookmobile. Storytimes on the road. Especially with Stories in the Parks.

 

COLLABORATION with outside agencies for programs

Work with UW to determine what local middle/high school kids should know about the library before college.

Work with elementary librarians to show how school library resources & public library resources can work together.

Raising Readers. Learn how to read with your child.

Workshops for reading to/with with children. UW Education, Preschools?

What places would benefit from a Read and Return or travelling book collection? Hospital? Public Health? City Hall?

Develop a regular program with Parks & Rec.

0123 PACT offer a storytime / playgroup.

 

COLLECTION

Weed and develop list for areas that need enrichment. It's better to have nothing than to have something that is dated or wrong.

Update and refresh. No one wants to check out a book that is icky.

Collaborate with curriculum coordinator for the school district.

 

FUNDRAISING

Early literacy grants.

Any literacy grants.

Other agencies for collaboration.

Corporate sponsorships.

Art projects to enhance the "look" of the library. Sell bricks, tiles, etc.

Storytime art as postcards.