Better serving teens through school library-public library collaborations

In this practical guidebook, experienced librarians--a public librarian and a school librarian--share advice and ideas for extending resources, containing costs, and leveraging capabilities between school and public libraries, offering insights and strategies to overcome today's economic challenges.

The current economic crisis has had a drastic impact on both public and school libraries. As budgets shrink, resources become scarcer, and the job of the librarian becomes harder. The conundrum of doing more with less challenges even the most seasoned professionals whose institutions face service cutbacks, disappointed patrons, and possible job eliminations or closures. This book asserts that a collaboration between school and public libraries can effectively serve the needs of two populations--teens and the community at large--while minimizing the cost to do so.

Better Serving Teens through School Library-Public Library Collaborations offers thought-provoking advice and ideas for practical use in real-world libraries. The authors provide step-by-step guidance for those who wish to start, strengthen, or extend a partnership with colleagues at a sister library, covering topics ranging from teen advisory boards and collaborative programs to homework help and professional development. Veterans in the field, as well as beginners, can utilize the wealth of tools within--including worksheets, timelines, and checklists--to leverage the capabilities of other agencies tp fortify both their own and their institutions' value.

• Series Foreword p. xv
• Preface p. xvii
• Acknowledgments p. xix
• Introduction p. xxi
• What We Can Do NOW! p. xxi
• Purpose of This Book p. xxii
• Scope p. xxiii
• Format and Style p. xxvi
• Closing p. xxvii
• How to Use This Book p. xxviii
• References p. xxviii
• Further Reading p. xxviii
• 1 What Is Collaboration, Why We Should Do It, and How to Get Started p. 1
• Reaching Out p. 2
• Discussion Topics p. 3
• Definition p. 3
• Assignment Alerts p. 5
• Benefits of Collaboration p. 9
• Expertise p. 9
• Artwork p. 9
• Strengths p. 14
• Sharing p. 14
• Saving Money p. 14
• Obstacles to Collaboration p. 15
• Facilities p. 17
• References p. 17
• Further Reading p. 18
• 2 Professional Projects p. 19
• Get Acquainted Meetings p. 19
• Local Committee Work p. 20
• Special Committee Work p. 21
• Letters of Support p. 23
• Teens as Community Volunteers p. 24
• Regional Collaborations p. 25
• Ideas for Collaboration p. 26
• Mobile Devices Petting Zoo p. 27
• References p. 28
• Further Reading p. 28
• 3 Programs p. 31
• Special Event Programming p. 31
• Influential Teens p. 34
• Finding Programming Ideas p. 35
• Passive Programming p. 35
• Counting p. 36
• Pop Culture Trivia Quizzes p. 37
• Active Programming p. 37
• Craft Clubs p. 38
• Babysitting Clinics p. 38
• Creative Writing p. 39
• Internet Safely Programs p. 40
• Marketing Your Programs p. 41
• Cross-Promotion p. 44
• Budgeting p. 44
• Evaluating Programs p. 45
• References p. 45
• Further Reading p. 46
• Programming Idea Websites p. 46
• 4 Celebrate Reading! p. 47
• Resources for Program Planning p. 48
• BookUp p. 48
• GUYS READ p. 49
• National Ambassador of Young People's Literature p. 49
• The Exquisite Corpse Adventure p. 49
• Figment Write Yourself In p. 50
• Book Trailers p. 50
• Virtual Author Tours p. 51
• Challenges and Censorship p. 51
• Mock Awards p. 52
• Booktalks p. 52
• Displays p. 53
• Book Clubs p. 54
• Reading Promotions for Boys p. 54
• References p. 55
• Further Reading p. 56
• 5 Summer Reading p. 57
• How It Too Often Works p. 58
• How It Could Work p. 60
• Student Assessments p. 61
• Special Tips and Solutions p. 62
• Unfunded Mandates p. 64
• Timeline Problems p. 64
• Format of the Lists p. 66
• Annotate It! p. 66
• ISBN p. 67
• Marketing p. 68
• Book Fairs p. 72
• References p. 72
• Further Reading p. 73
• 6 Author Visits p. 75
• Funding p. 75
• Sponsors p. 76
• Grants p. 77
• Selecting Your Author p. 77
• Whom Do You Contact? p. 78
• Facilities p. 80
• Meals p. 80
• Travel p. 81
• Housing p. 81
• Program Format Options p. 85
• Virtual Author Visits p. 86
• Books p. 87
• Benefits to Students p. 88
• Benefits to Schools and Libraries p. 88
• Marketing p. 89
• References p. 90
• Further Reading p. 91
• 7 Poetry Slams p. 93
• Collaboration Opportunity Missed p. 94
• Collaboration p. 94
• Teen Advisory Service Project p. 95
• Song Lyrics p. 95
• Poetry Contests p. 96
• Local Poets p. 97
• Poetry Workshops p. 98
• Readings Versus Slams p. 98
• Fee-Based Program Alternatives p. 100
• Marketing p. 101
• References p. 102
• Further Reading p. 103
• 8 Technology and Social Networking p. 105
• Social Media p. 105
• Facebook p. 108
• Twitter p. 110
• Moodle p. 111
• Blogs p. 112
• Pinterest p. 113
• Texting p. 114
• YouTube p. 114
• Skype p. 115
• Online Bullying p. 115
• References p. 116
• Further Reading p. 117
• Educational p. 117
• Pure Entertainment (Some Suitable for Your Preteens) p. 118
• 9 Homework Help p. 119
• Assignment Alerts p. 120
• Enhancing Communication p. 121
• Homework Help Centers p. 122
• Setting up a Homework Help Center p. 122
• Decisions p. 123
• Space p. 123
• Hours p. 123
• Materials and Equipment p. 124
• Supervision p. 124
• Homework Clubs p. 125
• English as a Second Language p. 125
• Library Staff p. 125
• Library Volunteers p. 126
• Current Teachers p. 126
• Retired Teachers p. 126
• Peer Tutoring p. 126
• College Students p. 127
• Concerned Parents p. 127
• Organizational Structure p. 128
• Initial Versus Ongoing Costs p. 128
• Judging the End Result p. 128
• Marketing the Center to Parents p. 130
• Term Paper and Writing Clinics p. 131
• References p. 132
• Further Reading p. 132
• 10 Teen Advisory Boards p. 133
• Getting Started p. 136
• Selection p. 136
• Initial Meeting p. 137
• Meeting Regularly p. 139
• Give Them a Reason to Join p. 140
• Displays p. 141
• Programming p. 141
• Service Hours p. 142
• Collection Development p. 144
• Benefits p. 145
• Advocates for Your Library p. 146
• References p. 147
• Further Reading p. 147
• 11 Budget/Finance p. 149
• Funding Overview p. 149
• Working Together p. 151
• Funding Sources p. 151
• Document Your Needs p. 152
• Local Support Groups p. 152
• Local Foundations p. 154
• Saving Money through Inter-Library Loan p. 154
• Volume Discounts p. 155
• Just Do It! p. 155
• References p. 155
• Further Reading p. 156
• 12 Grants p. 157
• Donations Are an Easy Form of Grant p. 157
• The Process p. 159
• Show Me the Money! p. 161
• Four Steps of Writing Grants p. 162
• 1 Rationale p. 162
• Measurable Objectives and Evaluations p. 163
• 2 Research: Creating a Budget p. 165
• 3 Revision: Building a Support Team p. 165
• 4 Evaluation p. 166
• Publicizing Your Grant p. 167
• Finding Foundation Grants p. 168
• Institute of Museum and Library Services and Library Services and Technology Act Grants p. 170
• Letters of Support and Appendices p. 170
• Analysis of the Unsuccessful Grant p. 171
• Grant Reports p. 171
• References p. 172
• Further Reading p. 173
• 13 Resource Sharing p. 175
• Sharing p. 176
• Field Trips p. 177
• Special Collections p. 178
• Team Teaching p. 179
• ACT and SAT Prep p. 180
• Curriculum Changes p. 180
• Homeschooled Students p. 181
• Dual Enrollment p. 181
• Dropouts p. 182
• Mock Elections p. 182
• Exams p. 183
• References p. 183
• Further Reading p. 184
• 14 Professional Development p. 185
• Webinars p. 185
• Staying Current p. 186
• Professional Organizations p. 187
• Personal Learning Networks p. 188
• Professional Learning Communities p. 188
• Conferences p. 189
• Other Options p. 190
• Learn from Your Local Colleagues p. 190
• Presenting p. 191
• Topics p. 194
• Focus p. 195
• Handouts p. 195
• Practice, Practice, Practice! p. 195
• Evaluations p. 197
• Have Fun! p. 198
• References p. 198
• Further Reading p. 198
• 15 Reporting Your Success p. 199
• Meeting Goals p. 200
• SWOT Analysis p. 201
• Evaluation p. 203
• Forms of Evaluation p. 205
• Quantitative p. 205
• Qualitative p. 207
• Report Tips p. 208
• References p. 212
• Further Reading p. 212
• Appendix A Reading Calendar Month-By-Month p. 215
• Appendix B Listing of State and Provincial Library Associations p. 227
• Bibliography p. 237
• Index p. 249