From Stats to Sparkle,
Reimagining Your Programming Success
Los Gatos Library, Juv and Teen Librarians
So they began by passing out “Sparkle” pins and candy, I like them already
Leave a little sparkle everywhere you go. “Sparkle moments” a joyous, inspirational, feel good
moments. Goal is to create awesomeness in service and
increase motivation/morale of library staff.
Focus is building new connections not on the #’s or stats (yes, these are important, but shouldn't be the main focus)
For all programs: ask the questions:
- How does this promote
sparkle moments?
- How does it build
connections?
- Where's the sparkle?
Presentation Takeaways:
- Cultivate and capture the moments of warm fuzzies. Not just
stats!
- Share these moments.
- Don’t be shy about your successes.
Why?
After a renovation, library is now seen as
an afterschool destination for high schoolers-yeah!!
But 120 teens per day also presented new challenges for the library staff.
Staff reassessed policies, space for noise complaints, and discipline issues.
Need: to connect with the teens, control the situation
Solution: Library community
services officers: program CSO’s
(part of the local
police Explorers program, aged 16-19, wore police uniform)
Explorers were trained, wore uniforms, spend their time with teens int he library-built connections, got to know them.
Stephanie, 1st CSO:
-3 C’s Candy, conversation, consistency with the teens in
the library
Michelle, 2nd: shared her passion for police work
with teens in the PM
-"footprint Friday", good relationship with the teens at the
high school in the AM
Jessica, 3rd:
a consistence presence makes teens feel safe, awesome wall of teen
happenings, connected well with all ages,
What: StoryWalk: a
branded program, copyright
An outdoorsy, education minded community, builds early literacy skills, fosters family engagement, and exercise
Ideal: all libraries would have a storywalk that would also serve for library branding
Reality: city had many posting rules and policies
Compromise: created as a pilot project, the library would manage and supervise closely.
Plan:launched as part of the anniversary of library.
-each page, laminated, glued on lawn signs and put into the
ground along a path in a local park
Result: Great enthusiasm in community response: 63 kids, 51 adults
- parents engaged with kids in a playful setting, park was located in front of city hall- so city staff could
witness the joy of families.
during the summer: a performer cancelled, so the Storywalk was used as an
emergency fill in
Variation on the idea: As an open program:
displayed in the children's area, on the walls, ended at a
display of books -
-PD requested a storywalk for a city event.
What’s Next?: town developed trust in library programming.
Maybe—museums, local businesses, on the city trails, ongoing.
Reverse Required
Reading
Adults you know read books you love.
Adults read young adult books and responded via the library's social
media by answering 4 easy questions:
ie. Did you like it?
What did you not expect?
Adults posted pics of themselves reading the books- got more and more creative as time passed
How did it work?
Students nominated adults to read a specific YA books- (teachers,
police officers, etc.) Librarians then reached out to these adults- Hey you've been nominated by ... asked to read and post to the libraries FB page.
Result?
By asking adults to read teen novels, they became more
aware of how awesome teens are, and more aware of their experiences.
Be A Book Family-
BABF
Tween readers: families with tweens connect through
literature
Created library displays based on these 4 categories:
-Read to Me
-Growing Readers
-Sharing Stories
-Stories Connect
Quick
choose book displays- convenient for parents/ families
Associated to the displays: fun challenges, storywalk, signing a guest book,
passive craft
Display changes by the seasons
