I took her ideas and created a Canva document that I could then put into Library Aware and promote the picture through Twitter and Instagram. I only had 6 entries.. BUT.. I love each and every one of them! I already have students asking me when I am doing the next contest.
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| Rules that I adapted from Jennifer Warren |
This month I also had a chance to pair up with our art teacher and read Silent Night. Students in her art class then created silhouettes that I used to decorate the library.
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| Some of the finished products |
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| Selfie station where participants stood behind the glass and became an Elf. |
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| Painted wood blocks for snowmen and books for book trees |
I was able to have some great decorations! Every week I have the 18+3C program come in and help me with various activities in the library. This includes finding books, deleting books, organizing books and creating bulletin boards. The 18+3C program is a work based program that helps train students that have various disabilities to get jobs after high school. I LOVE working with these guys!
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| Finished book tree |
One of my goals this year was to have 2 Late Night in the Library events. I was going for one in the fall and one in the spring. With middle schoolers being a little different in their needs and expectations, I scheduled it for after school-6pm. I was going to have ornament making, card making, a coding activity, the public library would be there and photo booth. About a week before the event was to take place, I was volunteering at our feeder elementary school (of course it is also my FAVORITE elementary school.. because it is Elliott) Several middle schoolers were also volunteering and mentioned how they wanted to do a Breakfast with Santa too. After chatting with them, I realized I needed to add a Santa.
I put it out to Facebook that I needed a Santa and I had Lee and Lisa step up! I also had my awesome friend Rachel volunteer her time!
1 Have stations set up that were fairly self sufficient
2 Have Rachel at the photo stations to help maneuver people through
3 Have another volunteer at the hot chocolate and cookie station
4 I would continue to walk around monitor all students
I did not ask for volunteers this time, as I had NO idea how many students would come (my hope is always at least 4) and I also had to see how it would run (I LOVE volunteers, but sometimes for the first time around.. it is a little more work because I have to train them!)
I created all my station signs in Canva and set up stations. Keep reading for the reality.
The Reality:
1- The stations were fairly self sufficient. The one where paint was involved did require me to use my teacher voice and explain how to take care of items (as in.. we had to close down part of this station) Let me preface this with- I am totally fine with various craft/messy items in the library.. well except glitter! So, I had no problem with paint. Students were doing fine until several chose to make poor decisions.
2- GREAT idea to have another adult volunteer at the photo booth station. It was an extra set of eyes.
3- SO glad I had a volunteer at the hot chocolate station!!! I filled up a 60 cup percolator 2 times, and we had 2 other pitchers of hot water available. We went through 120 cookies and that much hot chocolate.
4-I did monitor students, but I am thankful that I had some teachers come up and help monitor as well.
I of course always hope for at least 4 kids. I didn't know how this event would run. I had over 120 students show up!
What I would do different:
-Volunteers- although we have some great student council/NJHS students on campus- when I do this again, I am going to ask for high school volunteers. They can get hours, and I can have extra eyes on stations to help keep things going and restock.
-Time- Since Late Night in the Library is a come and go event, I don't think I will have it until 6pm. By 5:30pm, most everything had been gone through.
-Backpacks- Since kids were coming in right after school, we had a ton of backpacks that I didn't even think about planning for.
Late Night in the Library in elementary I really focused on parents working with their students. I know there are a TON of great parents out there of middle schoolers.. but I have also found that middle schoolers don't always want to be seen with their parents. So, this Late Night in the Library was really focused on the students. I did have a few families show up.
Things coming in the new year:
Reaching parents- I am going to try a Toddler Time and also a crafting/creating time
Focusing on siblings- I am beginning to see the drop of books checked out.. so I am going to focus on students reading to their younger siblings
Another Late Night in the Library
A couple of more contests
Sleep?
What activities do you do in your library to bring in students?
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| SO thankful for this lady right here!! |
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| For Ugly Sweater I was the resident Elf on the Bookshelf. You can't really see, but the elf is playing a ukulele and there are books on the tshirt bookshelf. Each book is labeled with a different club/organization I am involved in. |
Have I mentioned that I wouldn't be able to do any of this without some amazing support from my team, my administrators.. and my awesome clerk? Not only that.. but being a first year middle school librarian I am SUPER thankful for my middle school librarian team, librarian mentors both in district and out of district, and the previous librarian Cindi Rockett for already creating such a great program for me to walk into! I know I have lots of growing to do, and I know I surround myself with the best.
