The NH Summer Reading Program Committee will meet in early January to plan a program at the CHILIS Spring Conference on Thursday, March 7, 2013. We would like to offer relevant, practical information that you can use to help improve your summer reading programs. This is a challenging goal!
On the one hand, we have veteran librarians for whom running a summer reading program is “old hat,” but who are looking for new ideas. We also recognize those who are hoping for guidance on how to do some of the basics: registration, tracking time vs. books read, programs that work, etc. And then there are those members who are asking more philosophical questions: what is the goal of summer reading programs; how do SRPs fit into the library’s mission; how can we make SRP relevant to our communities; and how do we effectively evaluate our SRPs ?
What would you like to see the NH SRP Committee address? Is there a speaker you can recommend that may offer a fresh perspective? Please send me your ideas by replying to this blog or by emailing me at the State Library. I appreciate any and all input!
The first couple years I ran an SRP, numbers increased fairly dramatically. For the past 2-3 years, however, attendance has dropped–mostly in terms of kids registered. Audiences at most events increased last year, but that was after a significant drop. I’m frustrated and at a loss for more ideas to draw people in.
I’d like to see is either publicity from other libraries or hear about some truly successful (and preferably repeatedly successful!) programs that other libraries are doing.
I feel a need to change what “programming” means and how I do it. Seems crazy to continue to pour superhuman energies into publicities and push and follow up when I get more satisfactory results from informal programming that allows for relationship building and downtime in hectic schedules. Community collabotation seems a key component. The PTO and other volunteers are all grappling with the same issues. One parent asked for “classes” last year. … I want the community library to be a place of enjoyment, relaxation and discovery in a world with too many should s and have to s … perhaps Im dre a ming.