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SPRING 2016

SUMMER READING PROGRAMMING IDEAS FOR 2016

Girl Power!

Parallel Lives of Female Literary Characters

Genius Marketing Points You May Be Missing Programming for Patrons with Disabilities Summer Reading Promotional Items and Giveaways Find Your Next Summer Read with This Quiz $4.99 US

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the SUMMER READING issue 9

Studio Coverage Exclusively from Movie Licensing USA We are the only source able to offer you a public performance site license for all of these studios!

Celebrate summer reading with any of these popular book to movie titles, available exclusively as part of your license.

Want more book to movie ideas? Turn to Read it, See it, Love it on page 22!

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

elcome to Check It Out’s summer reading issue! As a publication dedicated to the professional librarians we serve, we hope this issue is filled with articles, ideas and research to help your library flourish in the busy upcoming months.

How are your summer reading plans progressing? I bet you’re getting excited for the activities and events you’re scheduling, budgeting and proposing! We’ve dedicated this issue to summer reading with the hopes of giving you some additional ideas to consider as you plan. Be sure to read our best bet summer reading promotional items on page 8, our programming ideas for all ages on page 3 and our Q&A session with Naperville Public Library regarding their annual kickoff dance on page 20. This issue also features a few in-depth feature articles. Don’t miss our guest article on testing out a Tor in the Lebanon Public Library written by Deputy Director Amy Lappin on page 10, or our expert tips on programming for patrons with disabilities on page 6. As always, we’ve included book to movie ideas in "Read It. See It. Love It". on page 22. Also included is a fun quiz on what you might want to read this summer on page 12. We hope this issue provides you with future programming ideas, tactics to enhance your library and ways to use your license. If there is something you would like to see in a future issue or someone you would like to pass a subscription of Check It Out to, please let us know! Feel free to contact your Movie Licensing USA Licensing Manager at 1-888-267-2658. As always, thank you for your patronage.

Sincerely,

C H AI R M AN

Incipit “In March 1996, Outside magazine sent me to Nepal to participate in, and write about, a guided ascent of Mount Everest. I went as one of eight clients on an expedition led by a well-known guide from New Zealand named Rob Hall. On May 10 I arrived on top of the mountain, but the summit came at a terrible cost. “ Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer and Randy Rackliff © Universal Studios

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SPRING 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

the 3

Summer Reading issue

Summer Reading Programming Ideas for 2016 Ideas for working with this year’s theme

17 Genius Marketing Points You May Be Missing Easy tips to boost your marketing efforts

6 Programming for Patrons with Disabilities How to raise awareness, provide programming and more

20 Programming Q&A with Naperville Public Library All about Naperville Public Library’s Summer Reading Dance for Teens

8 Summer Reading Promotional Items and Giveaways Our picks for best bet items

22 Read It. See It. Love It.

10 Protecting Patrons’ Online Privacy The story behind testing out Tor in the Lebanon Public Library

24 Share your Story 25 Fun and Games

Allegiant

12 Quiz: Find Your Next Summer Read See what book you should pick up next

By Veronica Roth

14 Girl Power! Parallel lives of female literary characters

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SUMMER READING

Summer Reading 2016!

Game on! Get ready for a summer of reading fun with themes centered on sports, fitness and exercising your right to read. This summer’s Illinois Reading Enrichment and Development program (iREAD) theme is “Read – For the Win!” which means sports stories, contests, games and more will be very popular. The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) has a similar set of themes with “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read” for children, “Get in the Game, Read” for teens and “Exercise your Mind – Read” for adults. Remember, every library’s summer reading plans may look a little different with activities and events planned at different times throughout the summer. However, all programs do a great job of achieving the same goal – motivating patrons of all ages to turn reading into a lifelong habit.

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SPRING 2016

SUMMER READING

Early Literacy and Children’s Programming These themes give you the perfect opportunity to focus on this summer’s upcoming Olympic Games in Rio! Give your summer reading kick-off party an Olympic twist by having patrons make their own tea light torches with toilet paper tubes, battery operated tea lights, orange cupcake wrappers, paint, glue and scissors. You can also invite young patrons to create their own Olympic medals from salt dough or air dry clay, paint and ribbon.

Pair these activities with child-friendly versions of your own Olympic games for some outdoor fun. Crabwalk races, water balloon relays, hula hoop-bean bag toss matches and pool noodle javelin competitions are fun ideas that don’t require much planning and play to a variety of strengths and abilities. Don’t forget to hold an awards ceremony after the games, and cap the event off with an Olympic-themed movie like Cool Runnings.

Teen Programming Pair stories of your favorite athletes with their movie counterparts. Highlight books in your teen reading groups like Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis, and Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation by John Carlin, then host a watch party to show the corresponding movie.

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You could also dedicate each week to highlighting a new sport. Pair books on surfing with movies like Soul Surfer and Blue Crush, help patrons learn a new sport like croquet or badminton with a free lesson, invite a fitness instructor to give a beginner class in weightlifting or tennis, or even host your own Olympic celebration to cheer on Team USA.

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SUMMER READING

Adult Programming Remember, your body isn’t the only thing that needs regular exercise. This year’s summer reading slogan is perfect for a season of fitness and wellness activities that strengthens the minds, bodies and spirits of your adult patrons. Partner with local gyms, fitness studios, wellness programs and more to add to a variety of programming activities for the whole body like yoga, Zumba, fitness training, a self-publishing seminar, foreign language lessons, healthy cooking classes, meditation training, brain buster activities and much more.

Fun for All Ages Host a family movie night with a sports theme. Show one of these family-friendly, feel good films and pair it with sports trivia for all ages before the movie starts. Partner with a local athletics association to offer the chance to host a concession stand, bake sale or snack bar to raise money for their organization or promote ticket sales.

Eat Pray Love, © Columbia Pictures Industries Inc.; A Beautiful Mind, © Universal Studios; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, © Focus Features LLC; Capote, © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Stranger Than Fiction, © Columbia Pictures Industries Inc.; Dirty Dancing, © Lions Gate Films, Inc.; Cool Runnings, © 2016 Walt Disney Enterprises, Inc.; Air Bud, © 2016 Walt Disney Enterprises, Inc.; Angels in the Outfield, © 2016 Walt Disney Enterprises, Inc.; The Mighty Ducks, © 2016 Walt Disney Enterprises, Inc.; The Big Green, © 2016 Walt Disney Enterprises, Inc..; Little Giants, © Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.; Bad News Bears, © Paramount Pictures; Rudy, © Columbia Pictures Industries Inc.; Soul Surfer, © Columbia Pictures Industries Inc.; Blue Crush, © Universal Studios; The Rookie, © Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.; Hoosiers, © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.

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SPRING 2016

SPECIAL NEEDS

PROGRAMMING FOR PATRONS WITH DISABILITIES Effectively serving patrons with special needs is something every community strives for. Libraries, in particular, have an excellent opportunity to raise awareness, provide education and resources, and strengthen services for children, teens and adults with disabilities and their families. Below are some tips on how to incorporate programming for those with special needs in your library, as well as advice from experts on running these programs. 6 SPRING 2016

TIP #1 - Reach Out to Others

Renee Grassi, youth department director at Glen Ellyn Public Library in Glen Ellyn, IL, encourages those who want to include programming for children with disabilities as part of their library’s programming to remember one of her favorite quotes: “inclusion is about the spirit, not the space.” This is sound advice for working with patrons of any age with disabilities. In a Webjunction article on welcoming children with disabilities at your library, she suggests partnering with a special education district, providing disability awareness training to all staff and reaching out to other special education professionals in your community to create comprehensive programming. Searching Meetup.com is another one of Grassi’s suggestions, as it may help find local support groups, parenting resources and other libraries who may be willing to help with your mission.

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SPECIAL NEEDS

TIP #2 - Shift Perspectives

Did you know that your library has the power to influence the way other patrons talk about those with disabilities? By using language that acknowledges the person first and the disability second, you can help patrons become more aware of how to address those with disabilities. In a recent Shriners Hospital newsletter provided by Shriner’s Hospital for Children in St. Louis, MO, experts at the hospital advise avoiding labels with negative connotations, like crippled, deformed, lame or handicapped, as well as negative descriptive phrases like confined, victim, stricken with and suffering from. Instead, they encourage the use of disabled, disability and the actual medical term like cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Emphasizing the individual first, is known as people first language, “where the person is the most important element, not the disability.” The experts at Shriners urge those working with people with disabilities to use phrasing like “a person who uses a prosthetic arm” rather than defining them by the disability itself. By remembering to use only language that encourages an individual combined with “people-first” language, you can help all patrons become more confident. The newsletter also included advice for speaking about children who are disabled. According to the newsletter, "our word choices have a tremendous impact on those around us. Children, especially, are deeply influenced by the language surrounding them – who they become is based on who they are learning to be.” Your library can be another source for children with disabilities to build self-confidence and self-esteem by encouraging others to simply be mindful of the effect words have on children. Also, when programming for children with disabilities, it might help to alter your speech a little. Many children view their surroundings in different ways, and the visual and verbal cues you receive from them may be different than those that you’re used to. Simple language and easy-to-follow directions, such as “first we’re going to sit down and then we’re going to hear a story,” help children know exactly what’s coming next.

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TIP #3 - Programming Ideas

Sensory storytimes, special outreach programming and disability-specific programs are typically designed to address the unique needs of kids with disabilities. A benefit of many of these programs, according to the Webjunction article, is that “parents of a child with disabilities may feel that fellow parents are less likely to pass judgement of their family than in an inclusive program.” Since inclusive programming is usually designed to meet the needs of everyone regardless of ability, one possible drawback for those who don’t participate in these programs is that they may miss the chance to learn from other children their own age, including learning about other’s differences and “building friendships across those differences.” Will Wagler of the Seattle Public Library (SPL) in Seattle, WA, launched the “Sensory Story Times” program with the help of then-children’s services librarian Jennifer Bisen in 2013. Now occurring every Saturday at alternating branches, the program is designed at the developmental level of a preschooler and is open to parents, caregivers and children 10 and under who are either on the autism spectrum or have sensory issues. SPL’s Sensory Story Time lasts about 20 minutes with extra time dedicated to stretching with TheraBand exercise bands, running in and out of an Ikea circus tent or simply talking to other children. “One of the best things I heard [from a parent] was that this was the first storytime a kid sat through all the way and didn’t wander off,” said Wagler to School Library Journal. “And we were like, ‘Yay! Success!’” Read to Rover, Reading Paws, Paws to Read and other canine-related reading programs are another popular way to help children with disabilities. These programs enable kids to practice their reading skills by reading to therapy dogs. The Fletcher Library in Hendersonville, NC, works with Therapy Dogs International to provide dogs that children can read to. According to The Huffington Post, the initiative provides a safe space where children who have difficulty reading or those with learning disabilities or anxiety disorders can exercise their reading skills. Michelle Sheppard, whose 8-year-old daughter, Adriana, participates in the program, told the Associated Press, "They bring this calmness and this peace to the children. It’s just amazing. Just a short amount of time has such an impact in those moments that they share." Library assistant Elizabeth Klontz started the program to inspire confidence in children who struggle with reading.

SPRING 2016

PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AND GIVEAWAYS

G N I D A E R R E M UM S M E T I L A N O I T O M PRO S Y s A m e t W I t A e E B V t I s e B &G

The items you give away during your summer reading program have an important job – they serve as reminders of the services you provide and can even act as effective elements of your overall marketing plan. If the items you give away are unique, functional and have a long shelf life, you’ll be able to offer fewer prizes since quality definitely trumps quantity. Need some ideas on items that have staying power? Read on for our suggestions.

Think Seasonal

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Celebrate reading success with items that your patrons can immediately use this summer. Branded beach towels, Frisbees, sunglasses, beach balls, squirt guns, and pool floaties are great items to pass out to patrons of all ages. Chances are they’ll see plenty of use this summer at community pools, beaches and lakes, which is great for exposing others to your logo, summer reading program and library in general. However, one item you might want to steer clear of would be reusable tote bags since they are very popular giveaway items. Your patrons may already have a stack of them that they use regularly.

Classics That People Love Gift cards, umbrellas, ear buds, mobile chargers, reusable water bottles, T-shirts with your library’s clever summer reading slogan on them, coupons for free food and, of course, books are summer reading prizes that almost never get stale to patrons. Combining a few of these items into one prize makes them a highly valued, sizable prize for a mid-level achievement during your summer reading program. Activity or craft kits are other popular items since they let patrons use their creativity to make or learn something new.

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Generally, big prizes give patrons something to shoot for throughout the summer. They can be especially helpful to younger patrons since keeping their eyes on the prize literally may urge them to read more often. Whether you choose to enter readers into a drawing each time they reach a specific reading level or offer a chance at a cool prize with each book read, prizes like tablets, e-readers, gift baskets full of donated items, tickets to sporting events, gift cards and more make great larger items to offer that can help drive participation.

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Save the Big Stuff

Skip the Small Stuff

Items like pens, pencils, notepads, bumper stickers, stress balls, key chains and small tchotchkes like paperweights have a very limited shelf life, unless they’re super unique according to Tim Somers, owner of Bizarre Marketing, LLC. These items may get used a few times, but more often than not they provide low staying power in the lives of your patrons. Save your cash to spend on items that have more staying power or pack a bigger promotional punch.

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PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AND GIVEAWAYS

Space Them Out

In a School Matters website blog post, author Stephan Krashen discusses ways to increase interest in summer reading. Questioning why public libraries offer rewards during their summer reading programs at all, he states that "research consistently shows that rewarding people for activities that are inherently pleasurable can result in less interest in doing the activity.” He goes on to say that rewards can send the message that nobody would read without a bribe. How can you combat this sentiment? Instill a lengthy amount of space in between your prize periods or levels. By offering fewer little prizes in favor of a few more quality prizes that are spaced out throughout the program, you can minimize that “I read, now I must be rewarded” mentality.

Point Test Before You Purchase

Is it cost-effective?

Is it an intriguing item they can use in some way?

}

You want this item to attract attention to your summer reading program but not chip away at your budget. However, an exception to this rule is a unique item of premium quality that you’re thinking about handing out. It might be better to save up for these higher priced items to give to select summer reading levels rather than give cheaper items to everyone at every stage of the program.

Pens, notepads, bookmarks and small toys are pretty standard summer reading items, yet their shelf life (the time before the item is tossed out, recycled, lost or given away) is relatively short. Chances are if the item is something unique and durable that can be immediately used, there’s a bigger likelihood your patron will get your money’s worth from it.

Is it branded to your library?

You’ll want to make sure there’s a way to incorporate your logo, name or tagline into all of your giveaway items. That way, when patrons use them, it might remind them to take another trip to visit soon. Also, if someone else sees the item, it’s extra publicity for you!

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SPRING 2016

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

By Amy Lappin, Deputy Director of Lebanon Public Libraries, Lebanon, NH

Protecting Patrons’ Online Privacy:

When the Lebanon Public Libraries set up a Tor relay in the summer of 2015, they never imagined they were about to be in the middle of a national internet privacy debate with the Department of Homeland Security contacting their local authorities.

Testing Out Tor in the Lebanon Public Library Lebanon, NH is a city of approximately 14,000 people boasting two wellsupported libraries. Since his arrival in 2013, IT librarian Chuck McAndrew has made major changes to the way the libraries operate including converting all patron and staff computers to Linux, offering Chromebooks to patrons for in-house use, and moving all computers to open source office software. After reading an article about radical librarianship on Boingboing.net by Library Freedom Project director Alison Macrina, McAndrew became interested in getting the Lebanon Public Libraries even more involved in protecting online privacy rights.

“The Tor network (Torproject.org) is a group of volunteer-operated servers that allow people to improve their privacy and security on the Internet.”

He and Macrina met at a workshop she presented to NH librarians. Macrina later asked if McAndrew’s library might be interested in participating in a pilot program with the Tor Project, running either a Tor relay or exit node. Some academic libraries were involved with the project, but a public library in the United States had yet to participate. The Kilton Library in West Lebanon was a good

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fit because they had a demonstrated commitment to online privacy, a forward-thinking board of trustees, and most importantly, the inhouse technological resources to make it work. As the Tor Project explains on its website, Torproject.org, “The Tor network is a group of volunteer-operated servers that allow people to improve their privacy and security on the Internet.” A message is sent through a series of relays so the receiver of the message can’t tell where it originated. The more relays out there, the more difficult a message is to trace. The commitment of public libraries to intellectual freedom and access to information, along with technological resources, make them a natural fit to host Tor relays and exit nodes.

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TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

“While keeping its users anonymous has many practical and positive applications.”

At their June 2015 trustees meeting, the Lebanon Public Libraries board voted unanimously to partner with the LFP, and the relay was installed shortly after the vote. Once it was up and running, it was business as usual until about a month into the project, when Lebanon Libraries’ director Sean Fleming was contacted by the city’s interim manager. She had been contacted by the Lebanon Police Department, who had received a call from the Portsmouth, NH police, who had received a call from the Department of Homeland Security. They wanted to know what the library was up to. The following day, Fleming, McAndrew and library board chair Fran Oscadal met with the city manager and representatives from the Lebanon PD. In an amicable conversation, Fleming offered to shut down the relay until after the library board’s September meeting when the board would consider public comment. While keeping users anonymous has many practical and positive applications, including keeping dissidents or journalists in foreign countries anonymous and keeping the whereabouts of a person locally who needs protection safe, a Tor relay can also be used for illegal activities. As McAndrew told one reporter, “We understand that law enforcement has their perspective. They engage with criminals every day. It makes sense that they would tend to see the criminal element. As librarians, we have a different perspective. We’re concerned about intellectual freedom, privacy and the freedom to read. When law enforcement approached us, we understood where they were coming from, but we’re coming from a different place. The vast majority of people out there are good people and we shouldn’t base our policies on the lowest of the low.” The week before the September meeting, Fleming and McAndrew were navigating discussions with local and national press as well as receiving emails and phone calls from the public. Both were pleasantly surprised to discover that while they received 74 emails from supporters of the project, only one was in opposition. Although always welcome, members of the public rarely attend LPL’s trustees meetings. However, that night, over 50 people came out to support keeping the Tor relay running. After listening to public comment, the board let their June vote

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stand; the relay was back on that evening. In the meeting, board chair Oscadal concluded, "With any freedom there are risks. It came to me that I could vote in favor of the good or I could vote against the bad. I'd rather vote for the good because there is value to this.” The Lebanon Public Libraries have now become a Tor exit node and made the Tor browser an option on public computers at both libraries. To capitalize on the online privacy rights discussion, McAndrew offers a series of online self-defense classes for patrons including how to choose strong passwords, how to prevent websites from tracking you and lessons on email encryption. Additionally, he is willing to talk to other librarians about these classes and share curriculum.

As a programming tie-in, the library screened Citizenfour, the 2014 Academy Award winning documentary about Edward Snowden and offered flash drives pre-loaded with the Tails operating system to people who came to the movie night. McAndrew loaded up 35 flash drives and purchased the one-time performance rights to the film. The number of flash drives ready to be given away seemed optimistic as they rarely get more than a dozen people to the occasional film series. Over 100 people came to see the movie with standing room only, making the entire event a huge success, especially after the national publicity the project had received.

Interested in learning more

Libraries who are interested in learning more about the Tor network or who would like to host a relay or exit node can contact Alison Macrina at the Library Freedom Project via email at alison@libraryfreedomproject.org. Chuck McAndrew is also willing to share the experiences of the Lebanon Public Libraries. You can email him at chuck.mcandrew@leblibrary.com. SPRING 2016

SUMMER BOOK QUIZ

summer? Stuck in a reading rut or wondering what books to pick up this

Pass out this quiz or use it as inspiration for a huge quiz bulletin board to help steer patrons toward book styles that would best suit their preferences.

Directions: Read each statement and circle the number that best describes how you feel.

I read for entertainment. Strongly disagree < 1 2 3 4 5 > Strongly Agree

Mysteries keep my attention longer than any other type of story, regardless of whether it’s a part of a show, movie, book or article. Strongly disagree < 1 2 3 4 5 > Strongly Agree

When I walk into the library, I always check out my favorite authors to see if there’s anything new. Strongly disagree < 1 2 3 4 5 > Strongly Agree

4 I have a summer reading list already. Strongly disagree < 1 2 3 4 5 > Strongly Agree

Please copy to give to your patrons 12 SPRING 2016

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SUMMER BOOK QUIZ

I appreciate imagination, drama and unusual storylines.

I regularly ask friends for book recommendations.

Strongly disagree < 1 2 3 4 5 > Strongly Agree

7 I prefer to read something that’s been on a bestseller list or is a popular book.

8 I prefer fiction over fact. Strongly disagree < 1 2 3 4 5 > Strongly Agree

Strongly disagree < 1 2 3 4 5 > Strongly Agree

I find history to be a little bit boring. It doesn’t really hold my interest.

I love following a character through multiple stories, situations and scuffles.

Strongly disagree < 1 2 3 4 5 > Strongly Agree

Answers: Score 10-20: Get Lost in a Real-Life Story You’re practical and intelligent, so you prefer to keep your reading on the intellectual side. You’re also a fan of learning exactly what happened, so an autobiography, witness account or survivor’s tale might be just the book you’re looking for this summer.

Score 21-30: Pick Up Some Heated History You’re drawn to stories that are based in truth yet have an element of fiction. You might be interested in a particular time period or era of history, yet appreciate a dash of creativity when it comes to real or imaginary characters who lived during these years. Historical fiction may be a good place for you to start searching when it comes time to choose your summer reads.

Score 31-40: Scan the Bestseller Lists If a book is buzzworthy enough, you’re bound to read it. You like staying on top of book trends, yet aren’t partial to just one type of story. Check out the bestseller lists to see what everyone else is reading this summer and give a few of the critically acclaimed ones a shot.

Score 41-50: Pick Up Something Fictional and Fun It seems that plot twists, multiple characters, made up worlds and strange creatures do not deter you from any fictional story. In fact, you may believe “the more, the merrier!” If this is the case, be sure to check out popular fantasy series to get lost in the land of make believe.

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GIRL POWER

Parallel Lives of Female Literary Characters Young heroes and heroines of the past have paved the way for many of the contemporary stories that children love today. In fact, sometimes you can even tell a modern day character is based on a previous one. We took a look at some of our favorite female characters and discovered many parallels between them, leading us to suggest that if patrons like one, they may also like the other. Celebrate Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s History Month this March by showcasing your favorite female powered books and movies from both past and present.

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GIRL POWER

If you liked Nancy Drew,

If you liked The Hunger Games, you might also like: Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld First published in 2005, the Uglies series has been floating around in development as either a TV show or a movie idea for quite some time. These four books were best sellers before The Hunger Games hit the market, but both series talk about a futuristic, dystopian world where a strong young girl chooses her own destiny. While the entire Hunger Games series is covered under your MLU license, rumors of what will happen with the Uglies are still floating around the internet.

If you liked Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, you might also like: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson The characters Libby Day of Dark Places and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’s Lisbeth Salander are both very adept at figuring out just who’s guilty of what crimes. Both of these books have dark themes and a woman in peril who relies on the help of a male friend to help her figure out the truth of their surrounding situations.

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Both of these books feature a sharp, young female protagonist. While Nancy Drew is all about solving local mysteries in her series, the tale of Harriet focuses more on what happens when someone grabs a peek at your diary and reads what you think of them. Both books are classics for pre-teens and have recent movies that can be shown as well.

you might also like: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

If you liked the movie Mean Girls based on the book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman you might also like: The Gossip Girl TV series based on the books by Cecily von Ziegesar The Gossip Girl series, the book Queen Bees and Wannabes, the movie Mean Girls and the Gossip Girls TV show all take turns at dissecting what it’s like to be a teenage girl struggling with popularity, boys, self-identity and much more. The main characters use their charm, looks, cleverness, money and social status to get where they want to be in life.

If you liked The Fault in Our Stars, you might also like: A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks Keep the tissues handy with these titles. Both of these books and their corresponding movies focus on surviving illness while being young and in love. Both heroines of these stories may have life threatening illnesses, but that doesn’t stop them from living out their hopes and dreams.

If you liked The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares, you might also like: The Babysitters Club series by Kristy Thomas With a large, well-rounded female character list, each book in these two series unites a group of friends over more than just friendship. Through sharing a pair of pants or an afterschool job, these books cover issues girls may be facing like dating, academic pressure, family stress and more while making memories to last a lifetime. SPRING 2016

GIRL POWER

If you liked Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games series,

you might also like: Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird Classics in their own genres, both Hermione from the Harry Potter series and Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird share a unique intelligence and thoughtfulness while spending most of their time with the opposite sex instead of their own gender. Both characters face challenges that help them learn that although humanity has a great capacity for evil, it also has a great capacity for good.

you might also like Meg Murry in A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

If you liked Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter Series,

Both Katniss and Meg are seen as troublesome in the eyes of their superiors as they try to save the lives of the ones they love. In a battle of good versus evil, they both try to avoid being victims of the governing philosophies that threaten their willpower and ultimately their lives.

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These films and shows are all covered by your MLU license!

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GENIUS MARKETING

Genius Marketing Points You May Be Missing

Sometimes when you’re deep in the process of creating a marketing plan or fine-tuning a new idea, it can be tricky to see things from the perspective of your audience. By broadening your view to include not only the big picture but also the little things that make your library unique, it helps you hone in on many of the important key words, phrases or ideas that may be at the top of your patrons’ lists. It also humanizes your brand and let’s your library’s story shine. After all, as CEO and Founder of Marketing Nuts, Pam Moore states, “Your customers are human. Your partners are human. Your employees are human. Even your social media fans and followers are human. [Don’t’] be afraid to let your human show.” Here are some ways you can help your patrons get a better understanding of what your library offers and who’s at the helm. LIBRARY.MOVLIC.COM/MAGAZINE

SPRING 2016

GENIUS MARKETING

Share any happy endings

In a Prezi presentation on marketing ideas by Tina Thomas, director of marketing, communications and the fund development division at the Edmonton Public Library, and Jeremy Graybill, marketing and online engagement director at the Multnomah County Library, they stressed sharing the special stories that happen because of your library. One story they shared in their presentation involved a woman who used a meeting room as a makeshift airline cabin to practice for her flight attendant exam. The librarian on call used to be a flight attendant, so she was able to pass on some insider tips. Thanks to the library, the woman ended up passing her exam with a perfect score! These types of human interest stories not only brighten the days of those who see them, but also stress how the library helps solve real life problems.

Everyone loves the word free!

"These types of human interest stories not only brighten the days of those who see them, but also stress how the library helps solve real life problems."

Never underestimate the word free. Whether you’re plugging your movies, magazines, ebooks, physical books, programming or events, the word free is a huge attention grabber. Plus, emphasizing how easy access is – literally just one click away – can help motivate the community to check out what your library has to offer. If you’re playing up the word free in any of your promotional efforts, make sure to follow up your statement with clear, specific directions on exactly how they can get access to your free stuff. “Stop by the multimedia section!” and “visit this link to download ebooks now” are two examples of easy directions that won’t confuse potential patrons and tells them exactly what to do or where to go.

Embrace color coding

Bright, bold endcaps make it easy for patrons to see what section they’re in and what section they’re looking for. Plus, it gives you a chance to coordinate your branch’s inside to your external branding activities. Color is a form of non-verbal communication, and different colors can signify different emotions. For example, orange can be the color of social communication and optimism, while yellow connotes intellect, cheerfulness and psychology. Eco-friendly related green can mark balance and growth, while blue’s calming effect often is used to signify trust or peace - one reason why it’s used in so many hospitals and healthcare organizations. Red creates a sense of urgency, which is why it’s used in so many promotional emails, warning signs and sales communications.

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Show off your star talent

Are you part of an awesome team that you’re really proud of? Highlight the talent you have on staff to really showcase where they shine. Is someone an expert on anime? Do you have a resident tax superstar who works for the library? How about someone who is a videogame master? Showcase these diverse personalities and strengths on your staff pages, bulletin boards, nametags and other places where you mention your staff. Encouraging coworkers to be active on social media on behalf of your library is another huge help when striving to become more personable as an organization. It benefits your library by giving your content more reach, shows off the awesome things the library is doing for community and familiarizes patrons with the names, faces and interests of your staff.

Keep it fun

When patrons get to know the real personalities that work behind your library’s desk, they’ll begin to build stronger relationships with your staff. By coming across as friendly in every message and avoiding industry speak, you’ll achieve your goal of appearing relatable, welcoming and warm. Injecting a sense of humor in something that can be a little dull is also a way to spice up content, programming ideas and more, especially if no one expects it. Also, poking a little fun at yourself, like a blog post on programming ideas that didn’t pan out or a few funny coworker snapshots on your library’s social media accounts, shows your library doesn’t take itself too seriously. According to a HubSpot blog post on humanizing your brand, author Corey Eridon states, “If you don't take yourself too seriously and even make fun of yourself from time to time in a manner that isn't too self-deprecating, you remind your audience that you're just like them.”

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P ro g ra m m i n g Q & A :

SUMMER READING DANCE

Naperville Public Library’s Summer Reading Dance for Teens

We recently spoke with Kiersten Doucette, Teen Services Librarian at the Naperville Public Library in Naperville, IL, about last year’s hit summer reading “kickoff” dance. Get inspired to host your own kickoff event for teens by reading how the program started, how they advertise and much more. CIO: Tell us about your super successful summer reading kickoff dance. How did you create this program? KD: Our annual summer reading program kickoff dance for teens is held at the Riverwalk Amphitheater, which is an outside venue on the DuPage River, right across the street from the Nichols Library. A DJ plays music, leads group dances and takes requests. The name of the dance changes each year based off of the summer reading program theme. Last year, the summer reading program slogan was “Every Hero Has a Story” so the Teen Advisory Group chose to call the dance “Heroes and Villains: Teen Dance @ The Riverwalk.” They thought it would help encourage teens to come in costume. This event was first created by a team of three teen librarians in 2011. Because the program was so successful that first year, we have continued to have it every year since then. CIO: Incorporating the official summer reading theme is a brilliant touch, and the idea of hosting a dance for summer reading in general is something unique. How did you come up with the idea for this dance?

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KD: According to Teen Services Librarian Stacey Costabile, the teen librarians wanted to have a big event that would be both fun and affordable to celebrate the summer reading program. As they were brainstorming, they came up with the idea of having a dance with a DJ because they believed that this would be the type of event that would really attract teens! They thought the dance would get greater exposure if it was held outside, and they remembered that the Naperville Park District allows the library to rent the Riverwalk Amphitheater for free. They decided that this would be the perfect location to host a dance. CIO: Teens can be a tough audience to reach, and your location sounds perfect for attracting the attention of those passing by. What do typical attendance numbers look like for this event? Did you receive any feedback from last year’s attendees? KD: When people hear the music, they will stop by to see what it is all about. This gives us the opportunity to talk up the reading program, other events we host and library resources in general. Having an event like this where we are imbedded in the community helps spread the word about the library to a large number of patrons that we might not normally reach.

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SUMMER READING DANCE

As far as attendance goes, the first year we held the dance, there were over 100 teens who attended the event. Each year, attendance has grown, and this past summer, there were over 1,000 participants! As the numbers show, the dance has definitely proven to be a successful way to engage our teenage patrons. Each year, they will bring their friends to the dance, and we will hear them say something to the effect of “I didn’t know the library did things like this!” It ends up being a good way for us to hook our teens. We also have a table at the dance with summer reading program information and summer event guides that we hand out. While most people assume that the library has a reading program for children, many people do not know that there is also one for teens and adults.

booked Sounds Abound, a local DJ company, and they provided a DJ at a discounted rate. The Naperville Park District also allows the library to use the Riverwalk Amphitheater for free. In the past, the dance has been partially funded by the Naperville Special Events and Cultural Amenities Fund (SECA), but last year it was not. Lastly, the Teen Advisory Groups at the library always help us with the event by coming up with ideas for the name of the dance, getting the word out to their friends about the event and by helping us run the event.

CIO: Wow, that’s quite an attendance record! How far in advance do you need to start planning an event that huge?

KD: The dance is advertised on the website, on social media and in the summer event guide. The teen librarians also talk about it at local schools when promoting the summer reading program. This is an event that our teens look forward to every year, and word of mouth has been one of the best ways to promote the dance. Furthermore, since the dance is held in a public place, a number of people simply find out about it when they hear the music from the DJ!

KD: The three teen librarians, Stacey Costabile, Alison Colman, and myself, start planning the dance about six months in advance. First, we work with the adult supervisors to establish a date for the dance. Once we have the date, we then book the Riverwalk Amphitheater and work with the marketing department to schedule the DJ. Next, we talk to the Teen Advisory Groups about a theme for the dance and ask them to help promote it among their friends. We also purchase glow necklaces to hand out, as well as light drinks and snacks for event. CIO: Does this dance require volunteers or donations? If so, how do you attract these? KD: We are able to host this event with the help of both volunteers and sponsors. Our marketing department LIBRARY.MOVLIC.COM/MAGAZINE

CIO: It sounds like you’ve got quite a few great resources to help your dance maintain its level of success. What about advertising and promotional efforts? What do you typically do to spread the word?

CIO: After more than 5 years of running this kickoff event, you’ve most likely run into a few snags along the way. What challenges or issues have you overcome in the past? KD: One of the biggest challenges that we faced last year was the weather! The week of the dance, we found out that there was a 100% chance of thunderstorms predicted for the day of the dance. While we could have hosted it inside the library, it is more fun to have the dance outside since

it increases the visibility of the event. Luckily, our marketing department was able to work with the DJ to reschedule. Originally, we had also wanted to actually sign teens up for the summer reading program at the event, but the Wi-Fi ended up not working that far away from the library. Instead, we handed out reading logs and program information. Another challenge we face each year is that there really isn’t a good way to limit this event to just teens because of its location and the pedestrian traffic. People of all ages end up stopping by for a dance or to sit and listen to the music. Rather than “policing” the dance, we have decided to embrace the fact that it is enjoyed by everyone, which has ended up contributing to its success. While teens are still the core participants, adults and children also show off their dance moves. We typically have the dance from about 7:30-9:30, and have found that as it gets later into the evening, the families clear out and leave the dance floor to the teens. CIO: Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us on your awesome summer reading program. Any final thoughts on the future of this program? How about for anyone looking to hold their own kickoff dance? KD: I hope that it continues to be a successful event that teens love! I also hope that it continues to be an event that opens up a dialogue with our community about library services. I think you need to challenge yourself to think outside the box about your neighborhood and population to see what types of resources you may be able to leverage in order to host an exciting event where the community may be happily surprised to see the library!

SPRING 2016

BOOK - TO - MOVIE

READ IT. SEE IT. L VE IT. START A BOOK-TO-MOVIE CLUB AT YOUR LIBRARY! ENCOURAGE PATRONS TO READ A SELECTED BOOK, THEN PLAN A MOVIE EVENT AROUND THE MATCHING FILM. THIS PROGRAM WORKS WITH ANY AGE GROUP

TEENS 22

Based on Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins Rated PG-13

SPRING 2016

Based on the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine Rated PG

Based on Mary Poppins by Dr. P. L. Travers Rated G

Based on The Man Who Walked Between The Towers by Mordicai Gerstein Rated PG

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Based on Aschenputtel by the Brothers Grimm Rated PG

CHILDREN

AND OFFERS A CHANCE TO DISCUSS SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO.

Based on Insurgent by Veronica Roth Rated PG-13

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Based on Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Rated PG

Based on Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer Rated PG-13

Based on Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill Rated R

Based on American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle Rated PG-13

PET-FRIENDLY FINDS

ADULTS

BOOK - TO - MOVIE

Based on Babe: The Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith Rated G

Based on Stuart Little by E.G. White Rated PG

For more information, programming ideas and to view additional ideas for your book-to-movie club, visit

library.movlic.com

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THESE MOVIES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SPRING PROGRAMMING!

Based on The Adventures of Milo and Otis by Mark Saltzman Rated G SPRING 2016

COMMUNITY

r u o Y e r a Sh h t i w y r o t S Readers e h t s s o r ac ! y r t n u o C half Reach more than libraries of all U.S. public n to with a submissio azine! Check It Out mag

Ever dreamed of seeing your library’s story in print? Good news – we’re seeking programming ideas, staff development strategies and industry news to feature in future issues.

This is the perfect opportunity to: • Share success stories from your library • Promote your library in a national magazine • Inspire other libraries with affordable programming ideas that are easy to plan, promote and staff • Contribute tips on fundraising, successful processes, proactive plans and more

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HOROSCOPE

FUN, GAMES & C NTESTS Your Library Horoscope for the Month Pisces (February 19 – March 20): The end of this challenging time is coming to a close just like in Herman Melville's Moby Dick. Keep an open mind and lean on loved ones around you to help boost your spirits until it’s clear skies ahead.

Aries (March 21 – April 19): Something cultural is great for your sudden curiosity about the world around you. Embrace it with an independent movie showing at your library, trip to a museum or tasting from a unique restaurant you haven’t tried. Taurus (April 20 – May 20): Be confident, my friend! This month is all about power so when you’re thrust into the spotlight, try to enjoy every moment. It might seem challenging at first, but you’ll get the hang of it soon, just like Jordan Belfort in the book The Wolf of Wall Street.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20): Tread lightly toward the end of the month, Gemini. There might be an unresolved issue that pops again, just like Voldemort in the Harry Potter series. Yet, with a little negotiation, you might be able to smooth things out to your advantage. Cancer (June 21 – July 22): It’s time to recognize your entire skill set, not just the ones you think others value the most. Channel Nelson Mandela in Invictus and put your greatness toward a new project. Don’t be surprised by the positive outcome!

Leo (July 23 – August 22): Congratulations! You’ve been working toward locking down a key partnership and the other party knows exactly how you feel. As long as the pros outweigh the cons, take a chance and dive in. Your patrons will thank you.

Vigo (August 23 – September 22): Your sense of adventure is soaring this month, so when you get the opportunity to do something you’ve never done, take it. For you, this month is all about making your own way and facing the unfamiliar like the climbers in the book Into Thin Air.

Libra (September 23 – October 22): Remember, Libra, pampering isn’t a crime. This month put the focus on you and your agenda just like in Elizabeth Gilbert’s novel Eat, Pray Love. A few of those around you might be dragging you down, so relish the chance to reconnect with what makes you feel the best. Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): You’re always the one giving advice and, right now, your input is in high demand. The strong, silent type might soon be bending your ear for some advice on what to do in the midst of pouring his heart out. Refer him to something helpful on your shelves. Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): Harness your focus and don’t let the distractions pull you away from what you’re working on. Your ambition is impressive, although it might be increasing your stress levels a little. Remember to pause and refuel your tanks. Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): You’ve got friends in all sorts of places which can actually help put all of that daydreaming to fantastic use. With the motivating angle of Mars this month, you could really make major strides toward a long term goal, especially when it comes to library initiatives. Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): Release the feeling to control an impossible situation this month. It’s time to roll with the punches a little and compromise to the best of your ability. The good news is that this feeling won’t last long, so before you know it, you’ll be back on the same page in terms of programming ideas and goals.

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