Bits from Barb

SLP Update
Reminder about State Park Pass Use
I want to remind all public libraries about the rules regarding use of the State Park Passes offered this year through a collaboration between DLTCL and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The most important rule is that libraries may only give each reader one pass. This means that the passes may not be put out for the public to pick up themselves, or left where youth might be able to take them. The passes indicate that the parks will only accept one pass per child during this summer. The last time we offered state park passes several families showed up with children who had weeks worth of passes and they expected to be able to use them. This is very disheartening for the park staff and discourages the DNR from offering the passes to public libraries.
The passes are intended to be given to readers after they have completed a given amount of reading. Individual libraries decide what that amount is. But libraries should not give out the park passes when children register for the programs.
To avoid abuse of the passes public libraries should stamp their library name on their passes so the state park staff know the pass is legitimate. The state parks will be sending me any multiple passes they confiscate and I will be contacting the offending libraries. Libraries risk participation in future state incentive programs. Everyone's cooperation is needed with a state promotion like this to ensure continuation of the partnerships.

Collaboration with American Family Children's Hospital
DLTCL has entered into a unique collaboration with the American Family Children's Hospital in Madison to offer the "Catch the Reading Bug" summer reading program to children who are hospitalized over the summer. Anne Riceman is the children's librarian at the hospital and is coordinating the summer reading program there. She is using a paper bug jar as her reading log.
DLTCL would like to request that public libraries accept these reading logs if children bring them to their local public library. The logs will indicate they are from the Children's Hospital. It would be very helpful if public libraries around the state accept the titles as part of the required reading for the local program. That way children who miss out on so much because of their hospital stays, will not miss out on summer reading fun. Anne also has set up a teen reading program so teens may be bringing in their logs if they used them while they were at the hospital. Anne will indicate on the reading log if she has already given them a state park pass.
It would be very helpful if librarians let me know if they receive the hospital reading logs. That way DLTCL can help the hospital track the number of children who actually do make the connection between the program at the hospital and at their local library.

Safety Checks on CSLP Products
Karen Drevo, Nebraska, is the CSLP Vendor Committee Chair. One of the things she does is work with Highsmith to review safety reports on items supplied for the summer library program and pass along that information to the member states. There has been recent concern nationally about the safety of plastics in general, but most recently concern has focused on the plastics used in water bottles and items used by young children. Karen wrote to the CSLP state representatives to let us know none of the CSLP incentive items have been rated by the government as "not safe.". There will NOT be a recall on any of the items. However if librarians ordered this year's CSLP sippy cups and water bottles, Highsmith will accept any returns if people would prefer not to distribute them.
--Karen Drevo, CSLP Vendor Committee Chair, kdrevo@ci.norfolk.ne.us

Reproducible Reading Certificate
If anyone needs a black and white copy of the Catch the Reading Bug reading certificate, please let me know. The certificate was accidently left off the clip art cd this year. CSLP has sent us copies and they are also available from the CSLP web page at www.cslpreads.org

Most Frequently Offered Services or Activities Involving Teens
According to the data on the 2007 public library Annual Reports, last year most public libraries (90%) reported they have added materials to a collection specifically intended for teens. Over half of all public libraries met at the library or visited middle school students at least once, and 40% of all public libraries met with classes of high school students.
Forty-six percent (179) of public libraries host teens who do volunteer work as part of a high school graduation requirement, and 38% (148) host teens who are doing court ordered community service. Seventy-four libraries have teen advisory groups, and about 12% have teen volunteer groups. Fifty-three libraries have a teen web site, blog, or have a presence on a social networking website such as My Space or Face Book. In 2006, 25 libraries reported they had a designated teen services librarian. In 2007, seventy libraries reported that a staff person spent at least 10 hours per week on teen services. Less than half of libraries (43%) have a designated area for teen materials and seating. Sixteen libraries use an electronic contact list for teens, teen telephone calling tree, or cell phone message group to let teens know about activities at the library.

YALSA Young Adult Literature Symposium, November 7-9, 2008
Registration is now open for the inaugural Young Adult Literature Symposium, Nov. 7-9, at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, as announced by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Early bird pricing for the symposium is available until Sept. 1, with advance registration from Sept. 2 to Oct. 3. Registration is available at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.

The symposium, funded in part by the William C. Morris Endowment, will take place biennially beginning this year. The 2008 theme is "How We Read Now." The symposium begins with Picturing the Story: Teens Get Graphic @ your library, a preconference focusing on illustrated materials for teens, followed by two days of programs, poster sessions and receptions. Registrants can also sign up for the optional Genre Luncheon on Saturday, in which they can meet and mingle with young adult authors over lunch. Details, including a preliminary program, are available at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium by clicking on "Programs & Presentations."

Early bird registration costs $195 for YALSA members, as well as members of the Tennessee Library Association and the Tennessee Association of School Librarians; $245 for ALA personal members; $300 for nonmembers; and $50 for students, who must be enrolled full-time in a library and information science program. Registrants can attend the preconference for an additional $75. Rooms at the Millennium Maxwell House are offered at a special rate for registrants of $119 per night. To find out how to reserve a hotel room and see the full list of registration rates, visit www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.

New ALA Publication on Teen Girls and Technology
ALA has released a new publication about teen girls and their interaction with technologies. According to author and professor Lesley Farmer, teenage girls are not embracing technology and all of its potential impact on their futures. In her Teen Girls & Technology: What's the Problem, What's the Solution? Farmer explores the developmental issues of teen girls, including the reality of girls and tech as it now stands.

SYSTEM YOUTH LIAISON POSTING
Barbara Huntington, DLTCL
June 2008