Adult and Youth Collaborative Programs

For All

Collaborations work: A Willingness to Learn

Youth Services

Coordinator

+Public Services

Librarian

=A mutually beneficial learning and mentoring relationship

Collaborations work:Our Shared Interests

A passion for fostering a greater interest and variety in reading

Using social media effectively in Readers Advisory (RA):

• We share reviews, links, memes & images to encourage patrons to keep reading

RA in general - undertaking continuing education to find innovative ways to recommend reads

We share a variety of fun RA posts

The Library Director encourages input on how to enhance programming with suggestions from all frontline staff

• Especially from reference and circulation staff. They are the gateway to patron knowledge & feedback!

This encourages

Staff sharing their creative ideas

Fine-tuning ideas into workable programs! Halloween fun for all ages 2014

Collaborations work:Knowledge-Sharing Environment

Collaborations work:A Good Working Relationship

Sound respect for one another is key! • Politely “agreeing to disagree” makes

partnership and interdepartmental collaboration possible

Listening and sharing ideas arises from the knowledge-sharing environment.

• We frequently communicate about upcoming collaborations and ideas on future events.

Reliability and flexibility• We know what to expect from each other, but

step in to help when needed.

Adult Reading Resolution

• Double sided, half letter cards were launched in January for adults to foster varied reading

• Frontline Reference Staff alerted us “The children want in!”

• Youth Reading Resolution designed as a 1 sided half letter card, which aims to expand the reading repertoire of youth

A Reading Resolution for All

• RA posts for both sets routinely posted to Facebook page.

• Uploaded forms available online by patron request also encourages more participation.

• To date, over 120 physical forms have been handed out with an unknown number of online participants.

Separate Adult & Youth Reading Resolution RA posts are regularly posted

Jan 29: National Puzzle Day

• Youth & Adult Jigsaw & crossword puzzles scattered to celebrate this fun observance

• ‘Puzzles & Riddles’ was the theme for the week’s Story & Baby Time.

• We took photos of puzzlers and and shared on our Facebook Page. This resulted in lots of interaction and new followers!

Both adults and youth enjoyed this easy to set up activity

Blind Date with a Book encourages families to read

• Kids loved it, and parents joined in! Parents observed taking up the ‘adult’ blind date to make it a family activity

• “Rate Your Date & Win Something Sweet” cards made available with the promise of a candy prize draw to enhance participation

Our adult category winner with her daughters whom also participated in the Youth Blind Date

“Selfie with Seuss” –Dr. Seuss's Birthday

• Patrons were encouraged to take a picture with Seuss poster.

• Story time theme was Dr. Seuss.

• Lots of participation and sharing on the Facebook page with new followers!

All ages enjoyed celebrating Dr. Seuss's Birthday!

Movie Nights for most ages

Movie nights suitable for most ages tie into existing programs; Guardians of the Galaxy before Free Comic Book / May the 4th Be With You Day.Upcoming:

• Avengers as a lead up to the week of our Summer Reading Kickoff Picnic

• Bridge to Terabithia for Banned Books Week

• Cinderella the week prior to the annual Fairy Tale Tea Party!

Double-sided bookmarks made in LibraryAware

Other Collaborative Programs

Library Scavenger Hunts

• Non-profit youth organizations occasionally sleepover in the Library e.g. Girls Scouts

• Planning a simple Scavenger Hunt for them strengthens partnerships in a fun way!

Holiday Gift Wrapping Workshops

• A local hobbyist suggested a giftwrapping program to the Public Services Librarian, but was willing to teach both youth and adults.

• Youth Coordinator agreed as long as Public Services could cover due to prior scheduled events.

Screenshot of Scavenger Hunt handout emailed to Girls & Boys Scout Groups

Possible Interdepartmental Collaborations• Social Media: MPL’s Facebook serves both adults and

youth. This fosters communication and collaboration about what posts are made. Encouraging patrons of all ages to share their own pictures and posts has increased public interaction and grown online audience.

• Movie Nights: A fun, simple way to get youth and adult departments working together for an easy, all-ages event.

• Separate, but similar, RA and other passive programs: Reading Resolutions or Blind Date with a Book are simple programs that attract both young and adult readers.

Lessons Learned• Not all programs will be equally successful

in different age groups. Be supportive of your team either way! For e.g. Blind Date was more popular with youth, while Guardians of the Galaxy attracted adults.

• Ask other departments and staff members for advice. They can offer varied experience and support to your joint programming efforts. Keep them informed!

• Plan ahead and market in advance to get the word out and increase participation.

Collaborative Endeavors

A knowledge-sharing environment is VITAL to success in collaborations!

Collaboration:

Builds stronger relationships with all staff, especially departments involved

Programs can be simple —extravagance is not necessary!

Results in strong working relationships, mutual respect, and acknowledgement of individual strengths Our own selfie had given us the idea to

create ‘Selfie with Dr. Seuss’ passive program!Shared on MPL Facebook on March 3