Video 2

This is another video I made and narrated for my Preparing Instructional Media course in my MLIS program. For this assignment, we had to play a game in which you have the ability to interact with other players. I chose the game World or Warcraft.

Video

A video I made for an assignment in my Preparing Instructional Media course for my MLIS program.

Sample Newsletter

For another course in my MLIS program, we had to interview a librarian and form a sample newsletter from the interview. I chose to interview a librarian that I had never met in a large city to see how work in the big city library differs from a smaller town library. Here is the sample newsletter:

Game 2

Here is another game that I prepared for the same course as the previous game. Use the arrow keys to guide Pengy to his gingerbread house. Be sure to avoid the Christmas tree, reindeer, and snowman or Pengy will be forced to the beginning to start his journey again.

Game for Course in MLIS Program

This is a game that I prepared for the course Preparing Instructional Media. While it is a simple game, it is meant to demonstrate that I can prepare a basic game.

Recommendations for Video Games in the Public Library

We had an assignment to recommend video games that we believe would be good for patrons to borrow.  I chose the following games:

New Super Mario Bros for the Wii U: This game, which my four year old plays well, teaches teamwork in my opinion. When you play multiple players, you have the option on the Wii U for one person to use the Wii U tablet, which lets that player give the other player “helpers.” They can stun the “bad guys” and add blocks for the other play to step on. Using the tablet requires the player to assist another player and anticipate what the other play may and what may happen. This requires critical thinking skills.

Just Dance (any of them) for the Wii or Wii U: This game may not be educational, but I recommend it because the player doesn’t sit or stay stationary while playing this game. It promotes fun exercise, which is a good thing to encourage all ages to do.

Jeopardy for the Wii U: This game is educational for obvious reasons. It requires the player to answer question and of course when you don’t know they answer is shown to you.

Zumba for the Wii or Wii U: This game is another game that isn’t necessarily educational, but I recommend it because of the exercise aspect of it. It encourages the player to be active instead of staying stationary all day. They have for kids and adults which is awesome and obviously can be purchased for the XBOX 360 or the Wii.

Practicing the Use of HTML

This chart was also an assignment in the course Preparing Instructional Media. The purpose is to show that I have a basic understanding of HTML.

Examples of Different Resources Possibly Available in Public Libraries

Resources Possibly Available:
Use of Computers
Use of Internet
Children's Story Times
Children's Arts & Crafts
Teen Gaming Evenings/Nights
Audiobooks on CD, Overdrive, & Playaway
Online & In-Library Tutoring for All Ages
Movie Nights
Use of Social Media by Library Staff to Inform Patrons
Books Clubs for All Ages
Smart Phone and Tablet Applications

Reading Importance

Another assignment due this week for class is to create a piece of media that give information on a subject we feel is important or that we are interested in. I chose the topic of reading importance because reading is important. It does so much for all of us, but especially children. I have witnessed this with my own children. By regularly reading to them and talking with them, they learn to speak well and early. My four year old son constantly asks how to spell words and desires to read. Take a look at my assignment below!

Instructional Handout Assignment

This week for a course we had to prepare an instructional handout and put it on the blog. This is my instructional handout, on making a PowerPoint. Enjoy!

Youth Services

Many public libraries have a variety of youth services (ages Newborn to 18 years old). These services range from baby and toddler story times to teen book clubs and gaming nights. Youth services are, in my opinion, very critical to a library system. These young people are tomorrow's leaders and by reaching them and sparking their reading interest at a young age, we set them up to love learning and books for their lifetime. 

These screenshots are from a library system (Polk County Library System: Lake Wales Public Library) that I came across while working on an assignment. The website was easy to use and the Youth Services page on the website was colorful and very attracting to young ones. 

I would also like to highlight a few other libraries that have youth program or pages that I found intriguing. These other libraries really help me form ideas for what I would like to see in a library that I may potentially be a librarian of one day. 

Palm Beach County Library System - This library has links to homework databases for kids, book recommendations, live homework help for teens, and much more in addition to the regular programs for kids and teens at public libraries.

Baldwin Public Library - This library youth page was interesting because they offer youth programs for school aged children in the late afternoons and evenings. 

Boynton Beach City Library - This library has interesting programs for the youth, which includes lego days. What child doesn't love legos?

Collier County Public Library - This library has a variety of many different types of programs.

Check these out and find out what is available at the public libraries near you! 

Childcare in Public Libraries

Short Term Childcare in Public Libraries

Many college students are also parents that use the public libraries for research and doing homework. I think a childcare center in the public library would be an awesome idea for these parents. There would of course be age restrictions, time limits, and proper security measures set up. Many students cannot afford full time childcare, especially when they only need their child(ren) watched long enough to type a paper or check out a book. 

What do you all think of this idea? Good or bad?

Do any of you know of any public libraries that offer this kind of service?

For the course Adult Service in Libraries in the MLIS program, we had to form a mock marketing plan for a program that we would put into practice in a public library. This is my mock plan:

Vikki Brown

LIS 6523 Online

Due: December 6, 2014

Marketing Plan

Marketing Plan

Summary: The public library wants to establish short term childcare targeted to parents in school/college that need short term childcare to research and/or complete assignments.

Information about the planning group: The team will include a library staff member, children’s librarian, a member of Department of Children and Families, and a retired preschool teacher.

Strengths:

Staff:

·         We have a credible and highly recommended retired preschool teacher to maintain, direct, and work the childcare area.

·         We have a children’s librarian currently on staff that will assist the retired preschool teacher in organizing entertainment and education for children.

Technology:

·         We have the most current computer technology for use in security (signing in and out children, keeping time records, photos of parents and children, allergy and emergency contact information, etc) and for use in childhood education (learning games and educational websites such as PBS Kids).

 

 

Products:

·         We have durable “sign in cards” that allow parents to swipe and automatically sign in and out their child(ren).

·         We have the most current and highest safety rated toys for children to learn and play.

·         All staff members that will work in the childcare area will receive regular training and certification and attend childcare workshops.

Weaknesses:

Staff:

·         The Department of Children and Families has a large workload and not always available for consulting.

Technology:

·         The program used to sign children in and out can be slow at times.

Products:

·         The cards are subject to users losing and/or misplacing them.

·         The toys are subject to be broken through rough and regular use.

·         The toys must be sanitized daily for the safety and wellness of children.

Goals and Objectives:

Goal: Offer a short term childcare center for parents continuing their education that will allow them to research and/or complete assignments to maintain high grades without worrying about the cost of childcare.

Objectives:

1.      Create a safe and fun childcare center complete with all the necessities for caring for children.

2.      Increase library usage by 30%.

3.      Target the parent students at businesses/places regularly visited by parents.

Marketing strategy and tactics:

Phase One: Build an addition onto the library to provide ample and safe room for childcare by obtaining proper permits, materials, and use of highly rated and credible building and/or contracting officials.

Phase Two: Promote new childcare service with the use of social media, print media, radio, and the library’s website. Print media will be posted at colleges, shopping stores/centers, hospitals, and pediatrician offices.

Action Plan:

One team member will be responsible for creating a timeline that will span over a one year time frame of implementing the childcare center. Another team member will be responsible for regular release of advertisements and marketing materials.

Evaluation:

Library staff and childcare center team members will complete regular surveys and share concerns/comments in monthly meetings about how the process of implementing the childcare center is going.

Budget:

Quarterly fundraisers will take place to assist in funding the childcare center. The childcare center team will work closely with the financial advisor and budget planner of the Board of County Commissioners and the library director. To help with the cost of providing the free childcare service, late child pick up fees will occur in increments of $10 for every 5 minutes past pick up time. If childcare is needed in excess of the allowable 45 minutes, a fee of $25 for every 30 minutes up to a maximum of a total of 2 hours will occur.

 

Public Library Fine Forgiveness?

Check out this library in Florida that allows kids and teens to "read down" their fines. While most patrons may not owe much in fines, this is still an awesome way to encourage more reading. -
Read Down Your Fines | Palm Beach County Library System


Here's an article on a different public library offering fine forgiveness. -
Reading Public Library in Pennsylvania.


The Palm Beach County program is only for kids and teens and available all year, but the program in Reading Public Library was offered in two different ways, one for adults and one for kids.

Check them out. Just another awesome service that some public libraries are offering and maybe more in the future will follow. These type of services serve dual purposes.

Does your public library offer any fine forgiveness programs?

Lights, Camera, Action

I am sure by now that everyone, or most everyone, is aware that you can borrow movies from public libraries. Most libraries stay up-to-date on the latest DVD releases and have a wide variety of DVDs to peruse. Did you also know that many libraries have movie nights?

This public library in Dixon, California is showing The Fault in Our Stars. The Fault in Our Stars movie is based from a book, which is an awesome way to get people interested in reading.

The Library of Congress even hosts movie screenings.

While researching the topic of movies in public libraries, I found an interesting post on LaFourche Parish Public Library's (a Louisiana library system) webpage. There is a list of movies coming out in 2015 that are based on books.

I think that movie nights are a great way to gain interest in the library and books, if the movie is based on a book. My idea for a movie night would be to have a theme based on the movie. For example, if The Help were the movie being show in the library, I would have snacks and drinks mentioned in the book. Near the snack table would be a display of the actual The Help book along with other fiction and nonfiction books relating to The Help. I think a children's movie night would be a great idea as well. Imagine lots of children coming to see The Polar Express dressed in their pajamas drinking hot cocoa and eating popcorn. I am sure the library would become a special place for them after that. I know my four year old boy would think that an awesome thing to do!

Does your pubic library host movie viewings?

It's Mario Time...

In either 2007 or 2008, the local public library that I worked for began offering video games from different game platforms available for patrons to borrow. We also had one or two game nights where students with the permission of parents would stay the whole night in the library. They had to of course stay the whole night (no leaving, but telling mom and dad you were at the library) and supervised by an array of library staff for the entire night. Video games stations were set up along with being able to read and use the computers for the time you were there. I remember it being a successful idea for the young high school students. (I am not quite sure if it is still done as I do not work there right now.)

As I began thinking of ideas for this blog, this memory of the game lock-ins came to my mind. Do any other public libraries offer video games for borrowing?

Some libraries that offer video games:

Cecil County Public Library

Heartland Library Cooperative

This link contains a list of more libraries that were found to be circulating games, as well.

Some interesting reads on the subject of video games in libraries:

CNN: Do video games belong in libraries?

At libraries across America, it's game on

Video games and libraries are a good mix, say librarians

Does your library offer games? If you're not sure, ask your librarian! 

#PublicLibrary

Everyone is liking, poking, tweeting, tagging, hash-tagging, rating, and checking in. Some much is happening online and it does businesses and organizations, including public libraries, to be clued into and using sites like Facebook and Twitter to reach more people.

I personally run one Facebook page and assist with another. I know from managing these pages that may people look to them for information and to connect. People use these pages to rate the organizations, provide feedback, and to find out what is happening.

Some libraries with Facebook pages:

Jacksonville Public Library

Miami-Dade Public Library System

Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

Some libraries with Twitter accounts:

Montgomery County Public Library

New York Public Library

Library of Congress

Here are some interesting reads about social media in libraries:

Social Networking: This is part of a report done in 2012 by the American Library Association

Social Media: Libraries Are Posting, but Is Anyone Listening?: This is an article from the Library Journal

This is a slideshow from Slideshare:

Social Media & Public Libraries from akcrow

Does your local library use Facebook or Twitter? Do you "follow" or "like" them?

Audiobooks

When I was about nineteen years old, I was very busy with working two jobs and a full time student with a course load of 6 classes. I love reading, but I just did not have the time to sit and casually read at this time. I decided to borrow an audiobook from the public library and listen to it in my car while driving to school and work. It was amazing for me. I was finally able to "read" for fun without sacrificing homework time.

There are many different methods to be able to listen to audiobooks and audiobooks come in almost every genre.

There are books on CDs such as this:

There is something called a playaway. The playway is an MP3 player with a single audiobook preloaded onto it. 

There are also downloadable audiobooks available in different formats to be able to be used on different kinds of devices. The company Overdrive allows many public libraries the ability to provide this service. This screenshot of the Overdrive website shows that you can find your local library to see what's available to you and they also have app available. 

Check your local public library to see what is available to you. 

Instagram & Public Libraries?

Seems like I am always seeing someone post something from Instagram or snapping a selfie which made me think about how could Instagram relate to public libraries.

According to the Instagram website, there are:

200 million active users

20 billion photos shared

1.6 billion likes daily

60 million average photos per day.

With statistics like that, public libraries could reach a lot more people by posting photos on Instagram. Public libraries could share their programs, post updates such as when new materials are available at the library, or just random tidbits of information. 

I came across a really interesting list of ways Instagram can be used in the library:

1. Show off your books

2. Show off your events and services

3. Go behind the scenes

4. Give a sneak peek

5. Show the offices/workspaces

6. Take your patrons with you (Take pictures at events/conventions/conferences)

7. Share your staff/librarians

8.Show off your library space

9. Turn print marketing materials into digital ones

Some libraries already using Instagram for their libraries:

San Francisco Public Library

This library has 798 posts and 1,441 followers

Los Angeles County Public Library

This library has 217 posts and 1,079 followers.

San Jose Public Library

This library has 189 posts and 257 followers.

Does your local public library have an Instagram account?

There's an App for that

In today's world, it seems like there is an app for everything. Applications on smart phones can actually be very useful at times, when we are not all checking Facebook or playing candy crush. There are apps for what seems like anything we would need from mobile banking to couponing to even finding a clean restroom (yes, there is an app for that - Sit or Squat).

Mobile applications for smart phones for a public library seem like they would be a great idea. Patrons could browse the catalog, reserve materials, check their accounts, renew materials, and maybe even pay their overdue fines. This thought led me on a search to see if any libraries have an app for that. 

I found these public libraries that have smart phone apps:

Calgary Public Library

Miami-Dade Public Library System

Mobile Public Library

New York Public Library

Why are smart phone applications beneficial to patrons?

People do many tasks on their smart phones. By allowing more access of the public library to patrons, it makes borrowing library materials easier and maybe more appealing to a different crowd. Perhaps, if the public sees that libraries stay up to date with current technologies and they are more than just old books, they will utilize all the public libraries have to offer.

What is this blog about?

I am Vikki, and I am currently a Graduate student in the library and information science program. My ultimate goal is to become a library director for a cooperative of public libraries.

I have loved public libraries for as long as I can remember. I love everything about them. I remember being so excited to be five years old and getting my VERY OWN library card. I felt like I had the key to the world in my hands. I could check out, what felt like, as many books as I wanted. Along with checking out books, the card granted me access to the other services of the library that I obviously did not use at that time, but much later. At twelve years old, I decided that my career was going to be librarian. I volunteered for four years then at the age of sixteen became a paid library assistant. I worked for my local public library until I was twenty-one years old with my last position held being cataloger.

The older I became and the more I worked in the library at different tasks and positions, I realized that many patrons of the public libraries do not know all that libraries have to offer and the help that can be provided to them. I also realized that many public libraries are hindered by their budgets or county officials in that they cannot offer all the services they should be able to offer patrons.

This blog is to provide information on services that are available in public libraries or that could be useful in public libraries and why these services are needed and beneficial to communities.

It is impossible to enter a large library... without feeling an inward sensation of reverence, and without catching some sparks of noble emulation, from the mass of mind which is scattered around you.
- James Crossley