Elementary School Library Usage after school?

[horseshowmom]

We live in a very rural area and are looking for creative outreach ideas for our elementary school. One of the possibilities is having the library open for parents after the school day ends.

Does anybody have any examples of how your elementary school makes the library available in positive ways?

(Demographics: 95%+ are socioeconomically disadvantaged students)

Thanks!

 

[NotUrsula]

My first question would be: is there a public system branch nearby, and if so, how are their use statistics for this age group? You don't want to try to create competition if the public library is drawing young patrons in. On the other hand, if there isn't a public branch nearby, I'd consider speaking to them about possibly cooperating to make the school library into a p/t community satellite branch. (In the past there have been grants given for this by foundations.)

I'm not a school librarian, but I know that in many schools, particularly in disadvantaged areas, security costs tend to be a big issue when you discuss extended hours for the library. It is one thing if the library is in a part of the buidling that can easily be blocked off, but if it isn't, you'll need guards to keep community members from roaming freely through the halls. The cost of climate control tends to be a factor as well.

You might want to take a look at the AASL website: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/index.cfm

 

[si-am]

You'd have to consider staffing. How late would the library stay open? Would the librarians be paid extra?

 

[Agri]

All the libraries in my area seem to do well because they really promote reading and have competitions and lots of achievement rewards. Between accelerated reader and the battle of the books, the libraries stay pretty busy. All classes also have scheduled library time.

When the kids reach a certain reading level, they get a reward and it'd be easy to do things like that in your school. Look for reading contests the kids can participate in, too, like read-a-thons and such. Ask local businesses if they'll help sponsor a program to promote reading in your school, too (ex. free small pizza if they read x number of books).

I wouldn't keep it open late, but I would keep it open through dismissal time so that parents could come in and help pick out books then.

Do you regularly buy new, trendy books?

 

[Magic Mom]

Considering the budget cuts many districts are facing, extended hours would be hard to justify. Are you looking to draw parents in ? Do you have reason to believe extended hours would be utilized by families?

What are you goals for the outreach?

 

[horseshowmom]

Good questions!

My first question would be: is there a public system branch nearby, and if so, how are their use statistics for this age group? You don't want to try to create competition if the public library is drawing young patrons in.

No conflict, the town library closes at 5. The hope is to attract parents who wouldn't normally think about going to the town library (which would be the large majority of the parents).

I'm not a school librarian, but I know that in many schools, particularly in disadvantaged areas, security costs tend to be a big issue when you discuss extended hours for the library. It is one thing if the library is in a part of the buidling that can easily be blocked off, but if it isn't, you'll need guards to keep community members from roaming freely through the halls. The cost of climate control tends to be a factor as well.

Small school in a rural area with one long hall - security's not a big issue (cow pastures surround the school ). The rest of the school would be closed off (metal gates). We actually still have A/C in the windows and a heater in the room so the difference in heating/cooling would be negligible.

You'd have to consider staffing. How late would the library stay open? Would the librarians be paid extra?

There is no money for extra pay, but we may be able to make the librarian's hours flexible (come in later the day(s) they stay open later).

All the libraries in my area seem to do well because they really promote reading and have competitions and lots of achievement rewards.

All classes also have scheduled library time.

We do have some awards, but we hope to expand this next year (keeping in mind that we have almost no funds - our school doesn't have art, music, or anything of that nature). We have very few businesses (no restaurants, a couple of gas stations that have quick food, one grocery store and one Dollar Tree), and those places do get hit up pretty regularly since they're all there is. We are looking into possible options though!

Our students have both fixed time (regularly scheduled classroom time) and flex time (allowing them to come as often as they wish - don't have to wait until scheduled class time), but the thought was that we might be able to encourage parents to start coming in to get books and, hopefully, start reading to their younger children (those not already in school). Our kids come to school with little exposure to much of anything. Their vocabulary is extremely limited.

I wouldn't keep it open late, but I would keep it open through dismissal time so that parents could come in and help pick out books then.

Do you regularly buy new, trendy books?

We do try to keep up with the new books as much as possible, but our total new book budget for this year was $5000 (and that's a lot compared to our previous years).

Almost all students ride a bus so the library would have to be open long enough for parents to come by after work. I thought maybe 5:30 or so.

Considering the budget cuts many districts are facing, extended hours would be hard to justify. Are you looking to draw parents in ? Do you have reason to believe extended hours would be utilized by families?

What are you goals for the outreach?

As I mentioned above, our main focus would be to try to reach parents who wouldn't think about going to the town library (most of them). Hopefully, they're fairly comfortable with the school. The librarian is agreeable to staying late (that would be me). We may be able to do a flexible schedule, but if not, I'm willing to stay late one or two days a week.

Our kids come to school and have so little exposure to books and reading. I would love to see parents start checking out books to read to their preschool children (we start with K). I would love to have our students see their parents reading books.

Do I have reason to believe this will work, not necessarily, but I'm looking for ideas that might help me make it work.

 

[Magic Mom]

This is my take, ( for what little it's worth) parents that don't read or expose their children to books and public libraries, generally won't be bothered to come to the school library either. Parents are so busy working and/or schlepping kids to activities that an extra trip to the library just for books that their kids have access to already won't happen. You won't draw the intended demographic. The parents that will come are the ones that don't really need it. You have to give them some incentive, some bait to get them in the door and excited about "library time" with their kids.

Start off once a week or every two weeks opening for a couple of hours late afternoon. Have a theme each night. Offer rewards (free/cheap rewards like extra recess or popcorn on Friday) to the grade/class with the highest turnout. Have a character from a favorite book visit ( like Clifford or Miss Frizz.) Have guest readers. Collaborate with the art teacher to have an art night where kids art is on display in the library. Collaborate with teacher to have a book parade.

Whatever it is, it has to be a good reason for families to make the trip.

 

[horseshowmom]

This is my take, ( for what little it's worth) parents that don't read or expose their children to books and public libraries, generally won't be bothered to come to the school library either. Parents are so busy working and/or schlepping kids to activities that an extra trip to the library just for books that their kids have access to already won't happen. You won't draw the intended demographic. The parents that will come are the ones that don't really need it. You have to give them some incentive, some bait to get them in the door and excited about "library time" with their kids.

Start off once a week or every two weeks opening for a couple of hours late afternoon. Have a theme each night. Offer rewards (free/cheap rewards like extra recess or popcorn on Friday) to the grade/class with the highest turnout. Have a character from a favorite book visit ( like Clifford or Miss Frizz.) Have guest readers. Collaborate with the art teacher to have an art night where kids art is on display in the library. Collaborate with teacher to have a book parade.

Whatever it is, it has to be a good reason for families to make the trip.

I appreciate the ideas. In our area, there aren't really any activities to carry kids to, but you are dead on about the fact that it's going to be hard to get the parents in. That's why I'm looking for ideas that I may be able to use here. We don't have art (or anything else), but maybe we can figure out a way to make something like that work.

I will check into the possibility of getting costumes for the characters (we're 60 miles from a costume place, and I'll probably have to pay for it out of my own pocket, but maybe not). I can see where that would get kids excited.

The extra recess would be worthwhile, and I might be able to arrange for them to be out of uniform if their parent comes.

Like I said, my main goal is to have the parents check out books that they can then read to their preschool children. Many of those children have no access to books at all.

I know that it may not work at all, but I figure it can't hurt to try. Thanks for the help!

 

[paintnolish]

Ok, this might seem like the opposite of what you are going for, but could you have a movie night? I am kind of going off of what Magic Mom suggested...a once a week "party"? You could have a theme or book series with a related film (Magic School Bus has cartoons, for example) to organize the night around. This would help get them in the library, which would be the first step. Good luck!

 

[Agri]

I think its unrealistic to try to get parents to basically teach their kids more than they have in previous generations prior to arriving at school just with a library. While its an admirable goal, its sort of like just dropping vague hints and hoping your SO will figure it out and bring you home the flowers you 'asked' for.

I would think if your end goal is to get the locals to change the way they raise their children, you would do better to try to educate the parents directly about it through literature and programs/presentations at the school.

Otherwise, I think the best you can hope for is to get the older siblings to practice reading with their younger siblings.

 

[Magic Mom]

I appreciate the ideas. In our area, there aren't really any activities to carry kids to, but you are dead on about the fact that it's going to be hard to get the parents in. That's why I'm looking for ideas that I may be able to use here. We don't have art (or anything else), but maybe we can figure out a way to make something like that work.

That might work to your advantage. If there isn't much going on for families to do, then a Library Family Night might bring families in.

 

[Tink888]

I agree with another poster about the suggestion of themed movie nights which correspond to a book series.

What about story times for pre-schoolers? Or themed craft nights that correspond to books?

For older kids you could have book clubs, reading contests, chess clubs, and game nights. Do you have a pool of volunteers that could offer tutoring services?

Does the library have a computer lab? You could offer seminars covering basic computer skills, resume help, budgeting - for example coupon sites on the internet, etc. That might get adults in the door.

 

[clh2]

I love your idea to get people into the library. Really, Really do!

What about doing a story-time for the preschoolers?

My only concern - as I am a working parent - a closing time of 5:30 isn't that much different than the local library that is open until 5:00.

Is there any possibility of opening back up from 5-7 or 6-8? I'm tired and hungry when I get home from work (as is my family). If you were only open until 5:30, we would have to pass.

My mom was a librarian before she retired. We always had TONS of library books around. I was actually thinking of one of those books today - "Nothing Ever Happens on My Block".

However you institute this program...GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[luvsJack]

You could do a story and then let the kids and parents work together on a craft that goes with the story. Let the story be one of a series and have the other books displayed to encourage parents to check the books out.

Another idea would be to go with the theme's, like say "Alice in Wonderland". Read parts of the book (enough to really spark their interest in reading the whole thing), have a Mad Hatter tea party to go with it and then set up all types of learning centers to show the parents how kids can learn all kinds of skills from books--you want activities for the parents and kids to do together.

Other ideas would be to maybe encourage the parents to help their child come up with a new hat for "Cat in the Hat" and have a Dr. Suess night reading all kinds of Dr. Suess books.

You may could also encourage other groups in the school to do things to bring people into the library. Art displays, choir preformances, etc. will bring people in and then you can have displays of books to spark the kid's interest.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Many good ideas on the thread. I know that you want to make it so the parents are checking out books however if you really want to expose kids to reading you have to do "themes" or have kids perform, or put on an "art show" in order to get parents in.

Hard to do when you don't have music, art, or choir.

One thing they did at my dd's former elementary school in TX was to have the kids perform something at a PTA meeting in order to get parents in for every PTA meeting.

It worked! Every seat and then some was filled every PTA meeting. I thought it was pretty brilliant and annoying because you had to go and see your kid. I am trying to remember what they did. It would be something like "5th grade Night" and at the end of the meeting they would wrap it up with a song/skit thing.

I would read to them to start off with. Start with Dr. Suess as someone said above and read "The Lorax" for the kids. Young kids love to be read to and they would probably get a kick out of it.

It is the end of the yr so perhaps you could try different things to see what works. Good Luck!!!

 

[scrapquitler]

Good questions!



As I mentioned above, our main focus would be to try to reach parents who wouldn't think about going to the town library (most of them). Hopefully, they're fairly comfortable with the school. The librarian is agreeable to staying late (that would be me). We may be able to do a flexible schedule, but if not, I'm willing to stay late one or two days a week.

Our kids come to school and have so little exposure to books and reading. I would love to see parents start checking out books to read to their preschool children (we start with K). I would love to have our students see their parents reading books.

Do I have reason to believe this will work, not necessarily, but I'm looking for ideas that might help me make it work.

A small suggestion based on something our public library has in the children's section:

We have the 'red bag' program. The local public library bought a bunch of red zippered tote bags (with the library's logo on the front). Inside each bag, they made placed a bunch of books (usually about 9-10) with a similar theme (snow, the beach, apples, dinosaurs, families, numbers, etc) and ONE activity thing of some sort that related to the theme (some of them are puzzles, some are flash cards, some have a puppet, some have stamps and an ink pad, etc.) The bags also have a folder with a list of other books related to the subject, a few websites that might be appropriate for kids to learn more about the topic or that have related online games, and a list of a few other activities to try at home. Perhaps you could make some of these bags up and have the children take turns taking a bag home on the weekend or something like that?

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Do chicka chicka boom boom and have each family that comes decorate a letter to display on the coconut tree in the libary. You could do somthing like if we get all the letters we can do X during libiary time at school.

 

[luvsJack]

Another idea would be to have older kids do "readings" from a favorite book. 5 or 6 kids would each read passages from a book--again enough to spark interest. These could be books that the older kids can read themselves but maybe parents can read to younger kids.

Our school did the red bag idea too. The teachers said it was a hit with the parents.

 

[golfgal]

What I would do is to enlist high school aged kids as volunteers to run homework help programs for the kids of all ages, K-12, have FREE after school care for any kids (or a sliding scale fee but make it CHEAP) but make the parents come INTO the library to "sign out" their child. It will take time but as the kids grow to like the library, many of their parents will eventually want to see what it is all about.

It gives the kids a place to go after school, gives the high school kids great experience and something to put on college applications, gives parents free after school care and it exposes the kids to books, more learning, gets them to get their homework done with assistance that their parents probably can't offer.

Get a grant writer on board and gets some grants to fund things like snacks after school, possibly pay a few adults to oversee the programs, materials for the programs, etc. Since it is at a school I am going to guess that there is playground equipment so the kids can do their work from say 3-4 and play from 5-6, for example.

Then, a few times a month have family programs-I like the movie idea-but even just games, etc. Offer free food and people will come.

 

[shortbun]

High school homework help? Latchkey?