Orientation for New Youth Services Librarians

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Orientation for New Youth Services Librarians
YS 101

• Presented by
• Maureen Ambrosino, Youth Services Consultant
• Central Massachusetts Regional Library System
• October 11, 2006

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Welcome to YS 101!

• Introductions
• Programming
• Balancing Act
• Time Management
• Budgeting/Finances
• Collection Development
• Regional Services
• Questions/Concerns

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Programs to consider

• Baby Time
• Toddler Time
• 3 4 Year Story Time
• Pre-Kindergarten Story Time for age 5
• After School School Vacation Book Discussions
• Family Reading Time for Elementary
• Young Adult Reading Clubs Programs
• For tweens and teens

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• Programming!
• (Or, you mean they actually PAY me to come to
  work in my jammies and read to kids? This is SO
  cool!)

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Baby Time

• Things to Decide in Advance
• Is it a social time for mothers?
• What is the structure?
• Is it a movement class? Is it a lap-sit class?
• What do you hope to accomplish?
• Do you have an adequate collection to support the
  program? (Board boooks are essential)
• Mother Goose on the Loose

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Toddler Time for age 2

• Things to decide in advance
• Is an adult required to attend? (recommended)
• May siblings attend? (not recommended)
• What is your goal?
• Will this be a reading time or a social time?
• If it is a reading time, what strategy will you
  use to assure participation by the adults?
• How many children/parents may attend?
• Registration? Or drop-in? (for all programs)

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Preschool Story Time

• Things to Decide in Advance
• How many may attend?
• Is an adult required to attend?
• Will you do a craft project as part of the
  program?
• Short movie? (public performance)
• What are the beginning and ending dates for the
  program?
• Is advance registration required?
• What do you hope to accomplish?
• May siblings attend?
• What ages? 3-4? 3-5?

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After School Programs

• Things to decide in advance
• Who is the audience?
• How will you attract them?
• Will you make contact with the schools?
• What are the school regulations?
• Where will you meet and how frequently?
• What will you do to make this fun?
• Crafts, book groups, performers, homework help
• Will you need volunteers, or will staff run it?
• ALSC new Kids _at_ Your Library campaign

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YA Programs

• Youth Advisory Council
• Drop in programs crafts, henna, movies, book
  discussions
• Food!
• Teen volunteer programs
• Lots more info to come!

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The Balancing Act

• Programs
• Circulation
• Reference
• Readers Advisory
• Staff Relations
• Public Relations
• Publicity
• Database Training
• Staff Training
• New technology

• Budget
• Outreach to schools
• Outreach to other organizations
• Collection Development
• Purchasing
• Weeding
• Collection Evaluation
• Collection Maintenance
• Grants

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Time Management

• Things to Consider
• What is essential?
• How much time does it require?
• Who will do this task?
• How much can I do and not be burnt-out?
• Can volunteers help me with this?
• What is the cost? (in time and money)
• If I start this, will it need to be ongoing?

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Managing a Book Budget

• Determine your annual budget at the beginning of
  the fiscal year.
• Evaluate the needs of your collection.
• Regularly read the professional review materials.
• School Library Journal
• Booklist
• Horn Book
• And others
• Order materials according to departmental needs
  and not based upon your personal likes/dislikes.

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The Money

• Most budgets must be spent between August and
  late May/early June. Municipalities usually are
  not ready for purchases in July and, they close
  their books by early June.
• Plan for 10 spending months, and divide your
  budget proportionately. Spend in that pattern,
  and you will always have new books arriving.
• If you have a cataloging department, before
  making very large purchases, forewarn them.
  Remember They are working with you surprise
  shipments of large quantities of books can be
  disconcerting.

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Placing Orders

• Read reviews and order materials that are well
  received and needed in your library.
• Check the catalog to see if you already own the
  book.
• Check your files to see if the book is already on
  order.
• Write-out an order card copy for your files.
• Record your order
• Estimate the discounted price and record your
  spending in your ledger/spreadsheet
• Always utilize technology tools that are
  available.
• When the book arrives, check it off.
• Check and recheck your budget.
• Tip Complete all spending by the end of May.
  This allows the fiscal office to close the books
  for the fiscal year.

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Regional Resources

• Ellison dies/machines for loan
• Multiple copy sets
• Limited photocopying
• Summer Reading Program supplies
• YA book blog http//cmrlsyabooks.blogspot.com
• Photo gallery on Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cmr
  ls/sets
• Consulting help with collection development,
  policies, weeding, programming questions,
• at your library/our office/via email-phone-IM
• Continuing education workshops all year

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HAVE FUN!