Story Time Kits

We all know that finding time and enough staff can both be a daunting task. Given the lack of both, we need to learn how to capitalize on the time that we do have. Story time is a popular program for children that is shared by the majority of libraries. Anyone who has prepared for a story time knows that it takes time to plan the program. I'm suggesting that by creating story time kits libraries will have an easier time planning and presenting a program.

The Plan

If you're part of a library system have each branch put together one themed story time kit. Breaking up the work will not only mean spending less time on the task, but will also result in a variety of kits being made.

If you are not part of a library system, create kits when you can. After a period of time, they will add up.

The Kit

Each kit should contain the contents it would take to present a story time. Themed kits would be a great way to start putting kits together. Kits could contain books, songs, flannel board stories, puppets, puppet shows, craft ideas, etc. stored in a labeled tote would make it easy for staff to locate. All staff would have access to a list of kits to request from.

The Purpose

The purpose of each kit would be to provide the library system with options to choose from for story times and not have to worry about finding time to create a whole new story time. Kits could travel from location to location saving staff time while increasing the story time programming options. If a library system is able to work together to share resources, everyone (staff and patrons) would benefit from it.

Does anyone already create kits for their library? What is your process for creating and sharing them?

Outreach is One Key to Successful Programming

According to Judith and Burt Boyce, "outreach is the only means by which library services can be effectively distributed over rural areas where the population necessary to provide the public financing of quality information service is so dispersed that a single location facility will not be accessible to large portions of the population contributing to the service. Rural areas are served by national information agencies, state information agencies, the libraries of colleges and universities, and by local public libraries-all using outreach methods. " (112)

Works Cited
Boyce, Judith, and Burt Boyce. "Library Outreach Programs in Rural Areas." Library Trends 44.1 (1995): 112-128. Web. 16 Sep 2009. http://www.ideals.uiuc.edu/handle/2142/8010?mode=full.

I agree that outreach is a great programming method for rural libraries. Think of all the possibilities! Visiting schools, festivals/fairs, nursing homes, providing home bound service to those unable to come into the library, etc. Outreach is key to not only providing services outside of the library building, but also acts as a source of spreading the word that the library is actively involved in the community. Getting out into the public to get your library noticed will increase chances of more people coming into the library at zero cost to you. Since many rural libraries are open a limited number of hours, how about doing outreach while the library is closed? This is just one suggestion that may be useful to libraries with limited staff.

Mimi Cirillo of the Burlington County Library in New Jersey shares her thoughts on why serving the rural areas is so important...

Cirillo tells a Cherokee story: When a boy trained a wounded eagle to fish, his cousin asked him why he let the eagle leave uneaten fish on the rocks where forest animals could grab them? Why not bring the fish home to his family? The boy replied, My family knows how to fish. Says Cirillo, There are many, many people who need to learn to fish so they can choose how to live.

Works Cited
"Rural Lives." Library Journal 131 (16 Mar. 2006): 41. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Kanawha County Public Library, Charleston, WV. 11 Sep. 2009 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=20053024&site=ehost-live