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.
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Ok, about the food. Last night I ordered steamed vegetables and potatoes, forgetting steamed = soggy/limp veggies on the East Coast. Salt is in everything and I'm getting tired of picking through my lunch for stuff. The pad thai on Sunday in Manhattan was great but there was so much salt! By Monday morning, my eyes and my ankles swelled. Very pretty!
And yes, I would like cheese with my whine. ;-)
-- heather
One more thing: I remember Michelle mentioned in the Fit for Life posts that a Family Place person was against doing crafts with very young children. Apparently the reason is that you do not want to set an expectation of a structured, finished product but rather want the children to explore the materials you give them and permit them to create their own project. They also argue against displaying children's work as it gives them the idea that art is not a process but a product. -- heather
3:30 on a weekday and no children in the library? Sounds like pergatory to me. I went with my cousin the librarian to a library in Las Vegas a few years ago to visit its museum gallery space. After the gallery we walked through the library and it was the same situation--at 3:30 pm on a weekday during the school year there was no one there. How odd.
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