Children and Teen Services Conference
University Plaza Hotel and Conference Center
August 20-21, 2008
Make your hotel reservation by July 30 to receive OLC conference rate.
Staff who serve the library's young patrons must be internal and external advocates for the diverse needs of their constituents. They must be able to translate their organization's mission and purpose into programs and services for infants, pre-schoolers, children, 'tweens, and teens---programs and services that include but are not limited to emerging technology demands like social networking, collections that meet the expectations of their young customers, marketing and outreach programs that are engaging, services to underserved groups, and the emerging emphasis on early literacy. The committee seeks breakout programs in the areas listed above that will provide theory as well as practical ideas--including the rationale behind them--to maximize the effectiveness of services to all ages of children and teens.
Agenda
Wednesday, August 20th
10:00 AM
Registration
10:30 AM
Welcome and Introductions
Amy Switzer, Conference Program Chair
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Opening General Session
Child or Teen: Growing Up but Still Between
Sheila Mikkelson, Director, Seymour Public Library District, Auburn, New York
To successfully serve youth, librarians need to understand childhood and adolescent stages, including psychological, physiological, cognitive, and social changes. |
These phases play a role in shaping library services for various age groups. Sheila Mikkelson, having conducted intensive research on the developmental stages of youth,
will share her knowledge and give suggestions for redirecting negative behavior, reference, outreach, programming, and getting library administrators on board in advocating for these important age groups.
Mikkelson has 13 years of experience in public libraries. Previously she was the Director of the Dover Public Library in Delaware, the Manager of the Young Adults' Services Department at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the Young Adult Coordinator at the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She is the author of three books under her maiden name, Anderson, including Serving Older Teens, Extreme Teens: Library Services to Nontraditional Young Adults, and Serving Young Teens and 'tweens. As a YALSA Serving the Underserved Trainer, she has presented numerous workshops on teen library services. She served on the YALSA Board of Directors and as an ALA Councilor-at-Large. Mikkelson has been an adjunct instructor for Clarion University of Pennsylvania since 2000, teaching courses in young adult and children's literature, management, collection development, reference, humanities, and rural library services. You can learn more about Mikkelson on her Web site (http://www.sheilabanderson.com/). |
11:30 AM
Lunch
12:30 PM
First Breakout Sessions
Your Chance to Shine! (And Maybe Win Some Money!)
Victoria Vogel, Rocky River Public Library
Did you know that there are dozens of awards and mini grants available through organizations like the American Library Association and its affiliates? Have a great program that you want to show off? Know a coworker or volunteer who deserves recognition? Have an idea, issue or trend pertaining to your field that you are dying to write about? Even if you are new to the field, not an ALA member, and never written a grant before you could win. Victoria Vogel will give you an overview of some of these grant, award, and publishing opportunities that are just waiting for you!
It's a Webbykinz World: How Kids Use and Socialize on the Web
Jessi Crim-Weithman, Westerville Public Library
A walk around your library will undoubtedly reveal many of your youngest customers surfing the Web. A closer look will likely unveil that they are entranced in the world of Webkinz. The popularity of Webkinz has soared in the last year. What are kids doing on Webkinz? How is it relevant to us? Take an in-depth tour of a Webkinz world. We will also look at other similar sites that are gaining popularity with young users, including a few best of the best from libraries. Understanding kids online habits and usage patterns will give us a leg up in delivering services to meet their needs. This program will serve as a good introduction to social network sites that excite and hook kids under 10. The program is designed for staff serving children in both our physical and virtual arenas.
Literacy and the Teen Parent
Marianna DiGiacomo and Lisa Szeles, Stark County District Library
The reality is there is an underserved group out there that needs our help—teen parents. This program is aimed at providing early literacy information to teen parents about skills needed to five their children the pre-reading abilities highlighted in the Ohio Ready to Read workshops, as well as offer these parents information they need to improve their own literacy. Join Marianna DiGiacomo and Lisa Szeles for fun ideas and crafts to reach out to those parents who are still learning themselves.
Thanks for the Good Words James Cook! Books about Diversity for Teens
Ann Conway and Carrie Vale, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
James Cook, a Dayton Metro librarian who passed away in 2005, was a tremendous advocate for teen literature and a mentor to many serving teens in libraries. OLC's Young Adult Services Division created an award to honor Cook by selecting a book that celebrates diversity. The first winner of the James Cook Teen Book Award was Marina Budhos. Her title, Ask Me No Questions, explores how a Muslim family's life is changed in post 9/11 America. Explore the criteria behind the award and how you can nominate a title. Hear about other excellent teen titles that explore the timely theme of diversity.
The Story Behind the Stories
Cynthia Furlong Reynolds, Author
Author Jane Resh Thomas once observed, “Writers write from a dark pit deep within themselves,”—and whether we call it the “muse” or a “pit,” writers who are worth reading have a small stock of themes or messages that they draw upon when they write. |
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| We read and write to explore our role in the world and the world itself. How can children's books help readers become better people as well as more informed readers? This year 28,000 children's books will roll off North American presses. How do you choose what is worth reading and what is worthless with so much to choose from? There is a set criteria known booth to accomplished writers, readers, and professionals in the media: Imagination, Curiosity, Observation, Language, and Time. How can we apply them as a criteria for evaluating books and for teaching writing tools? Cynthia Furlong Reynolds is the author of a new chapter book series that starts in Ohio with Oliver's Travels: Adventures in Ohio, and includes a dozen picture books, a half-dozen histories, and 30 years worth of newspaper and magazine features. She'll help tell the “story behind the stories.” |
1:45 PM
Break
2:00 PM
Second Breakout Sessions
A Prescription for Teen Services: Strategies for Successful Health and Wellness Programming
Erin Lockledge, Rosen Publishing
Obesity, substance abuse, eating disorders, school violence…Teen health is a national priority, and librarians have the power to be pivotal to that movement. But how do teens get the information they so desperately need—but are sometimes too embarrassed or busy to ask for? Erin Lockledge, Editorial Director for Rosen Publishing's award-winning, critically acclaimed “Teen Health & Wellness” database, shares strategies to leverage databases, the Web, print, and other resources to support creative teen health and wellness programs. She also offers tips for maximum outreach to schools, parents, and the community at large. Participants will be able to access persuasive data to help gain internal support for teen health and wellness programming, identify compelling (and cool) program ideas for teen patrons, and compile a short-list of appropriate community groups for teen health and wellness collaboration.
To Level or Not to Level? That is the Question.
Deborah L. Dubois and Diane Tobias, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library
Come prepared for a lively discussion of the pros and cons of leveling readers in the library's collection. Get information on different methods of leveling and learn about how the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library improves service to patrons and supports the education of children in the county schools. Using background information and materials from the West Bloomfield Township Library in Michigan, the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library has reorganized their reader collection to make it easier for parents, children, and teachers to find appropriate books for beginning readers.
Access, Intellectual Freedom and Web 2.0: Focus on Teens
Amy Switzer, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library; Ben Lathrop, Fairfield Lane Library
While there has been a veritable avalanche of information on social networking, user-generated content, and Web 2.0, very little of the conversation has addressed the intellectual freedom issues associated with these new technologies. Library professionals routinely defend the First Amendment rights of library users to seek, access, receive, and disseminate ideas. These rights are applicable to all library users (including minors) and should be protected regardless of the format information comes in. Legislative initiatives as well as some local restrictions would deny users the right to access many of the Web 2.0 applications. This program will provide an overview of social networking applications, Web 2.0- technologies, and the accompanying professional and intellectual freedom issues they pose with special attention and a discussion of how these issues affect teens in your library.
Calling All 'Tweens!
Dorothy Feller, Missy Little, Penny Marshall and Michelle McMorrow Ramsell, Tuscarawas County Public Library
Is your library 'tween-friendly? Do you want to attract more 'tweens to your library? Staff of the Tuscarawas County Public Library will share ideas they have used to create a space, build a collection, and plan programs to attract 'tweens and keep 'tweens coming to their library! Note: For this program, 'tweens are described as ages 8-12 years or grades 3-6.
Kids Need to KRA-L Before They Read
Stephanie Siddens and Linda Norton Smith, Ohio Department of Education
In 2006, one-third of Ohio 's 130,000 Kindergartners did not have the skills to begin learning the first day of Kindergarten. Meet two educators from the Ohio Department of Education who will explain the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment—literacy assessment that all children going into Kindergarten must undergo. Come learn how this assessment is given and how libraries can help better prepare these future readers for these assessments.
3:15 PM
Break
3:30 PM
Third Breakout Sessions
Can Teens and Seniors “Get Along” in Our Library?
Marlene Ressler, Preble County District Library; Steven Haynie, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library; Cheryl Kuonen, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library; Rhashida N. Osaze, Cleveland Public Library
Who says that teens and seniors need to be separated in the library? This panel will discuss successful, innovative, and creative multigenerational programs for teens and seniors in rural, suburban, and urban libraries. Everything from multigenerational Wii tournaments to crafts and puppet plays will be covered.
Picturing the Black Experience: African American Children's Book Illustrators
Alison Caplan, Akron Art Museum
"Literature gives us images with which to think," remarked Coretta Scott King award-winning author Virginia Hamilton, but what happens when children don't see a reflection of their own identities and experiences in the picture books presented to them on library shelves or during story hour? This talk seeks to highlight the work of illustrators that attempt to fill that void for young African American children. Alison Caplan, Associate Educator for the Akron Museum, will use the Corretta Scott King Book Award as a starting point to highlight African American illustrators who heighten awareness of the African American experience. Along the way, Caplan will show the post-modern nature of African American illustration, in addition to the strong tradition of familial ties within the community.
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Weeders Attract More Readers!
Belinda Boon, Kent State University School of Library and Information Science
Is weeding really necessary? Will anyone really notice the difference if it isn't done? Isn't it just a subjective process without any rhyme or reason? |
| Yes, yes, and NO! This workshop explores the straightforward guidelines recommended in The CREW Method, a nationally recognized tool for intelligent de-selection. Through this engaging interactive program, participants will discover for themselves that these methods really work and overcome their fear of weeding. |
Video Games and Graphic Novels: An Introduction… Just for Parents!
Ellen Seeburger, Angie Grandstaff, and Jeff Stemen, Upper Arlington Public Library
Video games and graphic novels are more popular with teens and 'tweens than ever before but it's not always the teens and 'tweens who come into the library needing information on games or graphic novels, it's their parents. Join librarians Ellen Seeburger, Angie Grandstaff, and the Upper Arlington Public Library's UAPlay video game leader Jeff Stemen for an overview on introducing parents to video games and graphic novels at the library. They will explore literacy connections, resources on video games and graphic novels, a few of their favorite games and graphic novels, and how to present the whole package to the parents in your community. Participants will come away with the resources to present their own parent workshop on video games and graphic novels.
Youth Services Boot Camp
Carol Mitchell, Greene County Public Library, Cedarville Community Library; Jay Wise, Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library; Bonnie Banks, Amos Memorial Public Library
Youth services managers realize that in today's high-pressure, fast-paced library environment, one of the few constants is change. Whether you are a seasoned veteran, new to managing children's and young adult services, or somewhere in between, the desire to improve and become a better manager is almost universal. The question is, though, how do you improve? Join us for a round-table discussion on practical, every day management issues unique to the youth services world. Topics for discussion will include getting staff buy-in and support of new trends and services; incorporating OLC's Core Competencies into in-house training and professional development; supporting and encouraging paraprofessional staff in your department; how the Ohio Ready to Read initiative might impact your programming both now and in the future; "Well, I never learned about THIS in Library School," and those sticky but necessary interpersonal issues, such as building strong professional relationships with administrators and other staff members and evaluating youth services staff fairly and honestly.
4:45 PM
Day One: Wrap-Up
As the first day of the conference winds down, program committee members and OLC staff will be on hand to informally offer suggestions on evening activities and events in Columbus. You may just want to retire to your room with a good book but if you're looking for a good restaurant or some “retail therapy” organizers of the conference will happily provide suggestions and directions.
Thursday, August 21
8:00 AM
Full buffet breakfast
9:00 AM
Fourth Breakout Sessions
Book Haters: Bookclubs for Teens Who Hate to Read
Brenna Friesner and Liza Kahoe, Cuyahoga County Public Library
Are you in charge of a group of unmotivated after school kids who would rather eat paste than participate in literature based programming? Are you struggling to connect great books with teens that are burnt out on reading? Learn how to start an unconventional book club that will appeal to your “non-readers” and still keep your programming budget out of the red. Take away craft included.
What Every Teacher Wants Children's Librarians to Know
Julie Warmack, Chatfield College/Cincinnati Public Schools
Early learners need opportunities to make connections, develop vocabulary, and build creativity as they learn through a variety of ways. However, for children, multisensory learning is more relevant than strictly verbal learning. Children need to be provided opportunities to develop ideas through play and the use of educational materials in order to achieve mastery of the standards. For example, by the end of the fourth grade children should be able to sound out words, read fluently, find the main idea and theme of a story, use a variety of strategies to understand a story and compare, and analyze what is read. One resource that educators should and can utilize to assist children is the public library.
Warmack will offer children's librarians 10 ways to encourage mastery of early childhood standards using a variety of children's literature. The list of quality children's literature is extensive, many of which are loved time and again by children. For example, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes, is a story that promotes sequencing concepts (first, second, third…) and also generates creativity. The Letters are Lost and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom are two more books that are used in the classroom year after year that provide content for literacy as children need to identify letters and sounds. These two books encourage phonemic awareness-one of the early childhood objectives. Warmack's demonstration will explore how librarians can find creative ways to connect literacy and art while directly correlating with the education standards. In addition, she will provide ideas for outreach opportunities in education. There is a high demand to keep arts in the schools, but lack of funding makes this nearly impossible. One way libraries can reach young learners is to offer art through literature programs. Literature and libraries can provide these experiences and more.
The Best Middle School Books You're Not Reading, but Should!
Annisha Jeffries, Cleveland Public Library
Find out what's hot in literature for young readers. |
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| Hear about some of the best children's books that may have fallen under the radar but are must haves for your collection. This presentation will give you the inside scoop and tips on ways to present these titles to young readers. |
Helping Youth Achieve Their Maximum Potential: Bringing Flesh to Strategic Plan Priorities
Celia A. Huffman, Cuyahoga County Public Library
One of Cuyahoga County Public Library's six priorities of service for 2008 includes helping youth achieve their maximum potential. Though every library's interpretation of this may be different based on local community needs, this program fleshes out some specific applications of how library staff envisioned this priority in the greater Cleveland area…homework centers, summer camps and clubs, poetry slams, and more. In addition, a discussion of the importance of developing strategic partnerships and collaborations in making it all happen! For children's and teen librarians; this program will discuss molding program concepts to strategic organizational priorities, specific program development models, suggestions of potential partnerships in local communities, and awareness of potential pitfalls along the way!
Mother Goose on the Loose in Ohio
Jennifer Sivers-Shrader and Pat Clingman, Dayton Metro Library/Miamisburg Branch
Do you need ideas for a toddler or infant storytime? Mother Goose on the Loose, created by Betsy Diamant-Cohen, is a dynamic and interactive storytime program geared for ages three and under. Learn how to start your own Mother Goose on the Loose program from two children's librarians who have successfully used the program to promote early literacy and engage families at the library. Included in the session will be demonstrations, practical tips, and plenty of fun.
10:15 AM
Break
10:30 AM
Fifth Breakout Sessions
Is This Homeschool Day at the Library?
Cheryl Blankenship and Susan Spears, Briggs Lawrence County Public Library
What do you do with all the homeschooled students who come to the library for supplemental materials? This program looks at one successful programming at our Southeastern Ohio library. Every other week during the school year, we provide a program specifically designed for the homeschooling family. We will take a look at materials used, program ideas, community speakers, and providing a homeschool-friendly environment in your library. This session will cover all of the joys and difficulties of addressing this group and the advantages to your local library.
Don't Stop the Music!
Amy Brown, Worthington Libraries; Cindy Brown, LakeVille Memorial Schools
Can you say the ABC's without singing the tune? Probably not. It's a classic example of how music has the power to help students learn and remember important information and experiences all while having fun! It's a tool used frequently in storytimes, but how can library staff incorporate music into school-age programs? This session will demonstrate songs, stories, instruments, and activities that you can add to elementary age programs. The best part is you don't need to be an exceptional musician or an experienced singer. All that's required is a willingness to play and have fun with music.
Making Your Library the Place of Choice for Young Patrons through Mentoring
Brandy Biegler and Stephanie Robinson, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Is your library the place of choice for young patrons during non-school hours? The children and teens served by public libraries today require more than just books and information. The personal relationships library staff offer to young people can play a vital role in their development. We will discuss why mentoring is an important aspect of every public library and how library staff can develop the skills needed to effectively mentor young patrons in their library.
Getting What You Want: Hiring, Training, and Directing New Staff
Jay Wise, Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library; Lisa Hamrick, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; Carol Mitchell, Greene County Public Library
Building strong youth services teams starts with a solid foundation. Youth services managers and supervisors as well as those aspiring to take on management roles will benefit from this session that will focus on interviewing techniques to identify the best candidates; designing staff training to achieve outcomes consistent with the OLC core competencies; developing awareness of administrative and HR concerns pertaining to staffing; and evaluating employees' strengths and areas for improvement using the core competencies.
Programming for a Captive Audience: Library Services to Teens in Juvenile Detention Centers
Virginia Wright, Tuscarawas County Public Library
Is there a juvenile detention facility in your area?
Does your library offer community outreach programs to underserved teens? Would you like to? Does developing a program that has the possibility to make a positive impact in the lives of troubled teens appeal to you?
Teens in juvenile detention facilities often have free time on their hands. Those in charge of these facilities are always on the lookout for programs and activities that will help fill that time in a positive way. Your library has what they are looking for!
Join us as we discuss practical ideas on developing a partnership with the local detention center, programming ideas that can be adapted for teens attending alternative schools or who live in a group home setting, pitfalls to look out for, and resources to help your “captivating” program succeed.
11:45 AM
Lunch
12:45 PM
Closing Summary Session
Reflections on a Conference
Sheila Mikkelson will have been not only the keynote speaker at the conference, but she will also have been a participant—attending sessions and interacting with participants at breaks and meal events. In this wrap-up session, Mikkelson will reflect on what she's heard, seen and learned, as well as what she thinks still needs to be said, heard, and taught to enhance the effectiveness of library staff who work with children, 'tweens, and teens. She'll encourage questions from the audience and engage in discussion all who've participated in this professional development event.
1:45 PM
Adjournment
