Warning for migraine sufferers - take your pills before entering this library

Margaret's report

Centereach Public Library underwent a major renovation which expanded the facility to 77,000 square feet. Unfortunately, the ceiling lights consisted of rows upon rows upon rows of fluorescent lighting which was threatening to trigger a migraine. During our tour, several people commented on feeling claustrophobic.

Heather and I took lots of pictures which we'll share with you all when we can upload them. Some of the shelving in the adult area had wheels which was cool, but most of the shelving was industrial gray metal. The children's area featured a nice area with plenty of well used toys and comfy seating for parents. A giant praying mantis sculpture was propped up on children's nonfiction shelf - if I were a little kid I'd totally avoid that area! It was pretty realistic and about 6 feet long! Merchandising was almost nonexistent. Children's shelving consisted of low shelves, but every countertop was empty.

A major component to the Family Place designation is having a Parent/Child workshop. The workshop is geared to children ages 1 - 3 years old and lasts 5 weeks. Each session lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes, requires a specialist to offer informal advice, a librarian to facilitate and a
paraprofessional to help out with various toy or art stations. Each week focuses on a certain topic such as language development and music. Parents and children have an hour to interact with the toys and ask the specialist any questions. The last 15 minutes of the session, the librarian starts circle time and ends the session. Family Place Libraries provide at least one Parent/Child workshop per year to be considered a Family Place.

Around 10:15 am we went into their meeting room to observe the last half hour of their workshop. There were 3 staff people, the musician and 8 families. The room had at least 20 different types of toys ranging from puppets, a seesaw, fingerpaint station, blocks, rings and tunnel. We knew that this session was the last week of the 5 week workshop focusing on music. I wondered why there were only 8 families attending.

At the end of the day all of us were pretty spent. Heather and I mulled over how we are going to add the Parent/Child workshop to our exisiting programming lineup.

Early on the Third Day...

Margaret summed up yesterday nicely. The best part of this program has been the time we've been able to spend conspiring, I mean, brainstorming about different programs and services that interest us. Interestingly, we're learning there is a wide range of definition for a "Family Place Library".

Pennsylvania's participants were sent using an LSTA grant that seems to offer "blanket" Family Place training. During our dinner last night (I'll fill you in on the food in a separate post), we learned that Pennsylvania is requiring participating libraries to send their Director and Children's Librarian and covering the costs, however, there doesn't seem to be much follow up. Apparently a very large library in a neighboring town has done little to nothing in the way of "Family Place" modelling, so our counterparts (and we) are wondering what exactly does this designation/model mean. Other participants already have the designation and said they were only at the training to fulfill the "requirement" but their "family place" amounts to a playscape in the children's room. According to the facilitator, a playscape is a "McDonald's style gym (their description)". So I came away from dinner not fully understanding what this all means for us, since we're already doing far beyond what even Family Place requires.

During the day, we all toured the Selden branch and, at 3:30pm, there was almost no one in the library. The children's librarian who lead the tour said school schedules have been changing, but strangely, we saw no families (and very few adults) in the building. I can't imagine our libraries like that. The "Family Place" space was interesting but surprisingly modest considering it's at the headquarters and presumably what they use to demonstrate the possibilities for other libraries (pictures will follow). It was interesting to hear over dinner how many of the participants were not impressed with the Selden facility, however. Most participants said their children's areas were far more child friendly and welcoming (I'd agree the Selden location was not the showpiece, but we should be seeing that at Centereach, today).

Programming was the biggest surprise for me as the Middle Country System only offers it's storytimes monthly! While Margaret and I were explaining how we do 20+ storytimes per week, our facilitators were talking about doing 3 month session/1 per month Infant, Toddler, Preschooler programs. We were floored as were the other participants! We asked how well the children remembered the routines, what attendance was like...the facilitator was surprised, "No the parents and children remember the routines..." I guess it's possible, but these must be some amazing families.

So as we look forward to going to the Centereach Library, here's where I'm at:

1. What does/will the "Family Place" designation do for us? This has been a question for me since before we started, and I'm not sure I can answer this yet. I have high hopes for today.

2. We were told there's a "Children's Museum" at today's location. I'm hoping for something really cool and interesting and to get lots of ideas from the coordinators.

3. I'm really looking forward to getting back and working with Margaret and the rest of the Library to experiment with some of the things we've been thinking about.

Second Day

Margaret's report

We spent the day learning about infant brain development and programming. I don't have all the stats with me (left the giant notebook with the training materials in the classroom) but the level of brain activity in infants from birth to 5 years is pretty impressive. From birth to 5 years old, a babies brain has trillions of neural connections going on - how many zeroes is that?

One key element in early child development and the library is the parent or caregiver as the architect or engineer for their baby's brain development. The librarian's primary audience is the adult who works with the child. Since the Family Place stresses the family unit, the librarian is the guide for the adult to sustain the baby's development. Ideally, the caregivers learn the storytime songs, fingerplays and behaviors and reinforce their babies learning outside of the library.

They outlined the components for an ideal 2 - 4 year old play environment in a library:
1. dramatic play area
2. construction
3. language arts
4. music
5. expressive art (children explore materials but not create a craft)
6. science
7. small motor skills
8. gross motor skills

They shared storytime programs they do on a monthly, not weekly, basis. Yes, most of their programs are offered on a monthly basis. One librarian asked if the babies remembered from month to month the songs or fingerplays offered in the program. The presenter said yes. A primary component to a child's learning is repetition. Having a monthly program seems at odds with the entire concept of repetition as key to a child's learning process. They publish a 5 month programming schedule. I have to see if they offer any weekly storytimes.

A few programs which I think would be fun to try out is a Circle Time, utilizing a parachute and variety of materials, music, and a Create and Learn program featuring homemade games and musical instruments for parents.

Food update (since Robert is interested)

Selden Library is providing breakfast, lunch and dinners (except for tonight.) Yesterday's breakfast spread had a variety of bagels, danish, fruit, yogurt and coffee and tea. Lunch was a variety of wraps (I had one with dry chicken), some good salads and fruit. We had dinner in Port Jefferson at a nice hotel by the water called Danford's Inn. They gave us a choice of salmon, chicken or prime rib - I went for the prime rib and potatoes. What I noticed is that everyone ate so fast! I think I was halfway finished when everyone at my table (except for Heather) was scraping up their last forkful. Do people from the eastern states eat faster than Californians, or were they just starving?

Today we had the same breakfast options and lunch options except they had another type of sandwich made with ciabatta bread (no dry chicken today - yay.) Dinner was our choice today (got a voucher for repayment tomorrow - sort of odd.) Most of us went to an Italian restaurant across from the library. The food was quite good. I had mahi mahi served with roasted potatoes and tomatoes. One person had mussels in a coconut sauce, which she said was good. For dessert I ordered cannoli. I've never had cannoli before, but expected it to look like rolled up crepes with stuff inside. They brought me 3 flat cookies with the filling on top of each "cookie" drizzled with chocolate -looked good but really didn't have any flavor. I should have ordered the gelato!

Day 1

I flew into JFK last night with no problems. I was surrounded by women who had taken off their shoes during the flight – but at least their feet didn’t stink - bleh! I met up with Heather at baggage claim, rented our car (a weird looking full size car because they were out of economy size) and found our way out to our hotel in Centereach, Long Island with a minor bump or two! The hotel's nice and sells Munchos - one of my favorite snacks.

Today’s session was at the Selden Library. It’s a modern looking and nice library in a rural neighborhood. 15 of us are taking the Library Place training. Marci Byrne and Kathleen Deerr introduced and presented the program. They outlined what makes a library a Family Place Library. My understanding is that a Family Place Library offers programs and services focused on the family unit and a Parent/Child workshop. They stressed making partnerships with community groups and discussed how to use a library needs assessment to provide family centered services and programs. The most valuable part of the workshop was brainstorming with Heather on possible coalitions.

One interesting partnership which intrigued me was the Shots for Tots program. The Selden Library and the Dept. of Health collaborate on offering shots for children which brings in a segment of the population that usually never entered the library. One of the visiting librarians asked if the kids associate the library as a place where pain was inflicted. Marci said they never had any kids throwing fits when they returned to the library, and since the shots were given in a more soothing environment, they were less scared of getting the shots. (This reminded me of an example used in the Infopeople workshop that I went to last week, Experienceology, where the children's dental office decorated in a jungle theme with video games and kid friendly decorations and animals, to make them feel less afraid of going to the dentist.)

There are some really cool library folk from Pennsylvania, Colorado, New York and Virginia. Kim and Dottie, are acting co-directors from a library in PA with a really long name that starts with an N and I can’t remember the name right now – it’s late! During dinner another librarian from PA mentioned that John Grogan, author of Marley and Me, is visiting her library for free. Dottie’s eyes bugged out of her head because they booked him for $18,000!

Tomorrow’s session focuses on infant brain development. I expect this topic to help me round out our Bouncing Babies storytimes and possibly make some changes.

The Mystery of the Bicycle Path Revealed...

So the mysterious bicycle path to which Margaret was directed, is actually a street named -- you guessed it -- Bicycle Path. Nice. Just don't get us started on the directions we were given... We'll share our lovely "Heather drove around NYC with a defunct GPS but Margaret and her map saved the day" stories when we return.

As for the conference, we discussed assets development and collaboration with community partners today. While I think we are way ahead of the curve on these things, it was nice to have a moment to brainstorm with Margaret about potential people, places and things to target when we return. Not to mention the whole slew of new programming ideas we were conspiring, I mean, thinking of suggesting.

Some of todays highlights:

As usual, it is interesting to see what other libraries are doing and contrast ours. We're almost always ahead of the curve, but it's good to be reminded of where we are.

Offering immunization clinics and health check-ups in the library has been successful at several of the libraries.

One of the most interesting things to come out of this day is to learn about the types of participating libraries. There's one in Central Pennsylvania that serves only 7,600 people, but they've sent two staff members to this training. They're definately making this program a priority for their library.

Tomorrow, we're going to see the Family Place model in action at the Selden Library. Should be interesting...

Finally in NY!

After an interesting past few weeks, Margaret and I are finally getting to see the Family Place model in practice. With everything we've seen and done at both libraries, I'm very eager to find out how this program will enhance our existing service model and push us forward.

Now about that bicycle path...Apparently, the path to this training isn't always a direct one! I'm currently in the baggage claim at JFK with about 8 hours to go before Margaret arrives. That's what you get when your ticket gets mixed up. So I'll be doing my best Tom Hanks wandering around and trying not to get in any trouble. I'm still debating whether I should brave the 40 degree weather and see some of NY during my wait. Sit in a comfortable chair and prep for what promises to be an interesting and informative conference or tour a world class city? Hmmm, everyone should have such problems!

-- Heather

Bicycle Path?

Family Place Training Institute

Before my journey to Long Island, I took a look at the directions to one of the locations I'll be visiting during the Family Place Training and it literally says "make a left onto Bicycle Path..." I'll keep you updated whether or not I have to go off-roading to reach the Middle Country Public Library Selden Building which is hosting the training. I'll reach JFK at 6pm on Sunday, then make my way eastwards using the GPS on the rental car as my guide to reach the Holiday Inn in Centereach, Long Island. Hopefully they'll have good wi-fi, so I can easily add to my blog during my 3 and a half day institute.

The Family Place coordinator sent a prelimary packet and on-line curriculum which I completed today. During the last couple of weeks Archibald reopening excitement, I admit I let the pre-assessment work sort of slide but got most it done - whew! Most of the material explained the history of the Family Place movement and how the Middle Country Public Library started this trend towards early learning programming, education and environments in 1996. Currently, the Family Place Libraries network includes more than 220 sites in 24 states and will continue to grow.

The Rancho Cucamonga Public Library has most of the ingredients for what makes a great Family Place Library - our children's services are awesome! We'll be the first library in the San Bernardino County to have the Family Place designation (correct me if I'm wrong Renee.) I spent many years as an adult services librarian and am a fairly new children's librarian, so I'm learning a very great deal. Having the opportunity to travel to Long Island for the Family Place Libraries Training Institute is a really unique opportunity. I work for such a great organization! I am very excited to be heading down the Bicycle Path and seeing where it leads!

- Margaret