Ideas to Create an Equitable SLP

Interaction Institute for Social Change

In a recent ALSC blog post, Gabby Stoller reflected on the importance of creating a more equitable SLP and shared two changes they instituted at their library to create a more welcoming SLP.  

Changing up SLP's can be scary. How will your community react? Gabby reports the changes her library undertook were positively received by her community. 

To read about her changes, please click here. [Is Your Summer Reading Program Equitable? Stoller, Gabby. ALSC blog. May 4, 2024.]

Why ARE We Doing Summer Reading Programs?

It's no joke.

Recently, Jennifer Sullivan who blogs at Adventures in Storytime (and Beyond) took a research deep-dive into the efficacy of summer reading programs. She wanted to explore what the evidence is behind how we set our programs and whether the design of incentivized programs has any real effect on encouraging kids to be readers.

I appreciate her thoughts and research in these two "Evidence-Based Summer Reading Program Design" blog posts.

The Inconvenient Truth of Incentivized Reading Programs, Part 1 

The Inconvenient Truth of Incentivized Reading Programs, Part 2

Ten years ago, while working at La Crosse Public Library, we broke the tradition of incentivized summer library reading and went prize-less. Instead the team I worked with replaced the old SLP recording and prize methods with a gamified the weekly learning offering and a kid-powered communal activity (building a giant robot mural). 

We gave kids agency to choose whether they wanted to read, do activities, check out material, interact within the library or outside in creative learning, writing, talking, making and more. It was a true win-win with a final book at the end for those who wanted to have one.

You can read about that experience here (with links to the other three blog posts that detail the mechanics of the program) at the Tiny Tips for Library Fun blog. For more info, there also a number of posts addressing SLP change at that blog under the tag SLP R/Evolotion

If you still want more, here is a Pinterest board with dozens of links to blog posts and articles about doing summer reading programs differently called Summer Library R/Evolution [Let's talk about new and better ways to do public library youth SRP/SLP. Prizeless? Yes! Badges? Yes! Transliteracy? Yes! Experiential discovery? Yes] 

ALSC Offering SRP Grants

 As seen in Nicolet Federated Library System's newsletter: Nic News Weekly, October 20, 2023

ALSC/Baker & Taylor Summer Reading Program Grant applications due November 14

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Program and Services Recognition Committee is accepting applications for the 2024 ALSC/Baker & Taylor Summer Reading Program Grant.

This grant is designed to encourage reading programs for children in public libraries by providing $3,000 in financial assistance while recognizing ALSC members for outstanding program development.

Applications and supporting materials, including an itemized budget and the required signature form, are due by November 14, 2023. Learn more and apply here.

Reflecting on This Year's SLP

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

As the end of summer library program approaches and you are yearning for vacation, cooler weather and the return to school year rhythms, it is a perfect time to reflect on how this year's summer activities and program have gone and what might be different next year.  

What?!? Now?!? When energy is low and the furthest things from our mind is next summer?

ALSC's Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee hears you! In a recent blog post, they suggest 8 questions to help you evaluate and reflect on SLP that look less at stats and data and more at the bigger picture. 

Click here to read the full post. [Save Time and Alleviate Evaluation Stress with These 8 Questions. ALSC Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee. ALSC blog. July 22, 2023.]

Chair's Corner - May 2023 YSS Board Updates

Today's May 2023 YSS board meeting update is from Alison Loewen, our YSS 2023 Chair and Youth Services Librarian, Mead Public Library, Sheboygan

Are you feeling it?  The sweet promise of summer? Because I am!  Storytimes ended last week, and as I leaned back in my chair and let out a long sigh, I allowed the thought of summer break to sink in.  I could almost feel the warm sun on my skin, the sand between my toes, and the taste of sweet lemonade; wonderful, relaxing summer. And then I remembered that I’m a Youth Services Librarian and that it’s only just about to get busy!

With the Summer Reading Program gearing up, the new summer math adventure program on the horizon, guest performers, storytimes, and outreach events our Library calendar is booked.  And I have a laundry list of things I want to get done both around my house, and in my garden.  Not to mention all the family and friends I need to catch up with that I neglected during my winter hibernation.

In a recent Monarch Youth Services meeting I attended, YS Consultant Heather Fischer, asked seasoned Librarians to give advice to those who were newer to summer programming.  One colleague reminded us that summer will happen with or without us.  That no matter how much of ourselves we give to our libraries, that summer will happen regardless; and to not get down if things don’t go exactly as planned, or we don’t end up doing everything we wanted to.  And most important, remember to take some time for yourself, because it is your summer too.  

But before you take the vacation days you deserve, I want to give you a heads up about some exciting upcoming opportunities.  Did you know that we have another solar eclipse happening in 2024?  Don’t worry too much, however.  Wisconsin is not in the path of totality, so likely you won’t have the same mad rush for eclipse glasses as you did in 2017.  But if you do want to distribute glasses and plan programming, check out Starnet.  Also watch for news from DPI, who will have 4 solar eclipse programming kits to share with libraries around the State.

Also, keep your eye on the WLA conference page, as speaker info is released and registration opens.  YSS is planning another gathering at the conference, so if you missed our social at WAPL, we’de love to meet you at WLA.   

Alright, that’s all for now!  Make the most of your May, and remember to take time for yourself this summer -  have fun!