MS MEL and The Summer Library Program Collaborative

A few weeks ago I mentioned that Youth Librarian, Mel Hager would be attending the Collaborative Summer Library Program national conference.  She promised to give us a report and what she has to say follows. 

Ms. Mel in Arizona

It was absolutely incredible to be in that conference room with all those library folk at the CSLP (Collaborative Summer Library Program) national conference. There were some power house people there – even Caldecott and Newbery Committee members!

I was surprised by the “politics” involved. What a hoot to lobby for our favorite slogans and themes! Going at it from 8 am to 5-6 pm at night was exhausting. There was a lot to learn and a lot to decide. We even looked at potential artists for the Underground theme and got to vote for our favorites.

The winning slogans for the UNDERGROUND theme of 2013 are:

• Children's Slogan - "Dig Into Reading"
• Teen Slogan - "Beneath the Surface"
• Adult Slogan - "Groundbreaking Reads"

The all over general theme for 2014 is......SCIENCE. The good news is that recycling, going green, wildlife, agriculture - all of that can go under a science banner. Each library can take it wherever they like!

Another great opportunity I had in Arizona was to visit my friend’s Kindergarten class in Page. Since Page is in the Navajo Nation, most of my friend's students are Navajo. Arizona is a CSLP member state like North Carolina, so these children will have the opportunity to do "One World, Many Stories" this summer at their library just like us. Isn’t that neat to think about?

If anyone would like to see the storytime I did with the Kinders in Page AZ, check out the Alexander County Library Children’s Page on Facebook. I told them my Wide Mouth Frog story. They were a hoot!

Thanks Ms. Mel for that little peek into the world of library politics!  And speaking of hoots - Wide Mouth Frog really rocks!

CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN IS UNDERGROUND!

Meet Ms. Mel, Youth Services Librarian at Alexander County Library in North Carolina. She looks calm on this pic but answer me this!


Mel Hager, as usual, hanging out with readers.

When does Ms. Mel run around like a chicken with its head cut off?

During the Summer Reading Program, of course! 

Each year thousands of libraries across the US, particapate in the Collaboarative Summer Libary Program (CSLP).

Based on themes, promotional materials, and program ideas provided by CSLP, local libraries pull off dynamic summer reading programs replete with reading lists, parties, author events and lots of children coming and going all summer long!  Children, teens, and adults have a marvelous time. And libarians like Ms. Mel wonder whatever happened to summer vacation!

Ms. Mel is having hers right now.  No, not really - but she is a bit giddy about representing North Carolina at the CSLP national meeting in Scottsdale, AZ.  Over the next 3 days she'll work with librarians from around the country to determine the summer reading slogans for 2013 revolving around the theme, UNDERGROUND.


How'd Ms. Mel get this gig?

For the past two years, when Lori Special, from the State Library of North Carolina, represented our state's vote, she polled all of the children’s librarians aross the state. As Ms. Mel, said,  "I had to put in my “two cents” – and, lo and behold, it grew in value! I still cannot believe I’m going!"

By now, it should have sunk in because Ms. Mel is probably enjoying a marvelous Arizona morning with librarians from 49 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa and the Mariana Islands.

UNDERGROUND - what an intriguing theme to work with. Before heading for Arizona, Ms. Mel solicited some ideas from her her nckids listserv. A few of her favorites?  Dig A Little Deeper (children's theme) I Dig My Library (teens) and Unseen Passage (adults).

As for the 2014 theme Ms. Mel would like to Go Green but of course there will be other ideas to consider as well!

Dear friends - the Summer Library Reading Program is coming to a library near you. So what do you think?
1.  Anybody want to second Ms. Mel's dream of a "Go Green" theme for 2014?

2.  Got 2013 slogan/title ideas for reading with an underground theme?

3.  What focus possibilities come to mind for an underground theme? (Roots? A railroad? mining? or say...The Mafia?)

Your "two cents", please!