Library Sneakers- Kindergarten Tour at the Library!

Do you have kindergarten classes visit your library? When I first came to La Crosse a specialized 2nd grade tour was already in place. You can read all about them on Bryce's blog. It was developmentally perfect for 2nd graders, and it really helped build our relationship with each individual school and their library media specialist.

After helping with 2nd grade tours when I first joined the team, we realized that adding Kindergarten to the mix was the next step in solidifying our relationship with the schools. Plus, this way we get to see a child at least two times during their first three years of school!

First, we contacted each school and asked for their school roster. This allows us to look up each child, see if they have a card, waive any fines, and send home a library card application if they need a card. Our goal is that every kindergartner will have an opportunity to get a card they can actually use by the time they leave our tour. Of course, this doesn't always work if caregivers don't sign the form or bring it back.

For scheduling the tour, we send out a mass email to each library media specialist and ask them to respond with 3 dates and times that work in the month of January or February. Since all of the second grade classes visit during this time too, we scale our programming way back during these two months to accommodate all of our tour friends.

When the kindergarten class comes, we gather in our programming space and talk about what the library does and what it means to be a library sneaker. We emphasize that ONLY kindergartners in La Crosse get to call themselves library sneakers and that it is a very special honor. We also share the "prizes" they get for returning to the library.

If they return one time and say they're a library sneaker at our service desk, then they get a very special Library Sneaker tote bag. Again, ONLY kindergartners in La Crosse get this tote bag. If they return a second time and say they're a library sneaker then they get their very own Pete the Cat bookmark. This is a perfect transition into us reading our very favorite book Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Kindergartners are usually shrieking with excitement at this point.

After reading Pete the Cat we break into our three groups for the next section of the tour. Each group gets to do all three parts, and we rotate every 7-9 minutes. One group gets a room tour, one gets a super secret tour, and one gets to hear another favorite book.

The room tour is fun because it's a chance for us to show them where they can find books best suited to their tastes in the room. It's also a chance for us to talk about the library desk and how we love to help people find good books and movies. We simply look for a certain shoe and sing "I love my ____ shoe" as we dance over to the right section. The librarian in charge of this tour is always the head dancer or head sneaker depending on their preference.















The super secret background tour is well loved by everyone because the kids get to see how a book drop works, and we tell them that everything they see is secret. ONLY kindergartners in La Crosse get to go on the super secret tour. Really it's just a quick walk through circulation and talking about how our process works, and then it's time to switch spots again.

For the additional story, we started using The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak. I know some people have had storytime misses with this one, but our groups love it. I start by explaining that I've never read the book before but Miss (whoever else is doing part of the tour) said that I would really like it, so I thought we would try it. I act really surprised of course during all the ridiculousness, and I also follow my fingeralong the words as I read them. This has really helped the kindergartners make the connection that I have "no control" over what I'm saying. Plus, they're learning all about that print awareness!

Out of everything we do, The Book With No Pictures is the thing the kids remember when they come back to visit us. Their caregivers have heard all about it, and they have to read it or even go out and buy a copy themselves.

For my librarian friends who like stats- this is what our current year looked like: 53 students already had a library card. 429 students did not have a library card at all. They were all sent home a library form, and 260 of them returned it. That's 60% of students that now have a brand new library card!!! 45 students had fines on their card. 21 of them were over $10, which means their card has been blocked. For these cases a personalized letter was sent home from our circulation manager explaining the situation and inviting the family to visit the library and speak with her so they could work something out. The other 24 students had fines under $10 and we just waived them completely. Last year we saw over a 30% return visit from our kindergarten friends.

So, if you don't give specialized tours then please consider it. If you have any questions, want to read the scripts we use, or just want to pick my brain then contact me!

WLA 2014 - ALL THE THINGS!

I had a fabulous time swooping into the Wisconsin Dells (Wisconsin's own little Las Vegas) this past week. I would highly reccommend that everyone go and check their state association out. While I love ALA, it's really lovely to go to a conference where the majority of people you meet are within driving distance. It's also really refreshing to see how many amazing things are happening in your very own state! We have some amazing people in Youth Services in Wisconsin. Go join the Youth Services Section if you're already a WLA member. If you're not, then definitely become one. If you don't live in Wisconsin, then just move here. Totally worth it, I swear.



The safari-themed hotel really helped set my mood for the conference. For the record, I am not being sarcastic. I truly loved the outrageous hotel. I know people thought it was outlandish (it was) and over the top (absolutely), but I loved it. I loved the stupid lobby music, all the little shops, restaurants, and tourist trap places. I would go to the Dells on a monthly basis if I had the vacation time! So there.





I had the pleasure of presenting two different programs while at WLA. I was lucky enough to present with some of my favorite colleagues Linda and Sara. We decided to be as ridiculous as possible and Sara made up a Chuck Norris themed presentation. I'll include the slides because they're amazing. Unfortunately, you'll literally get nothing from the slides other than laughs. We did give really great information though and you can get all the info about our tours FIELD TRIP ADVENTURES! here  here and here. Sara is a genius with slide decks.

Don't Go On Tours: Go On FIELD TRIP ADVENTURES! from Brooke Elizabeth

Next, I presented with two lovely women, Tiffany Meyer and Ann Hardginski, about preschool programming. We wanted to encourage people to break out of their storytime ruts, and try new things! Throughout the presentation we talked about a variety of different programs and our crowd had great questions. The slides are included below. If you have any questions about a specific program email me and I will forward it on to the right presenter.

UnStorytime: Programming for Preschoolers from Brooke Elizabeth

Dinosaur VS. The Library – Preschool Tour

In case it wasn't obvious, I really love my job. I love storytimes and watching little minds develop, but I also really enjoy working with preschoolers. All those personalities that are starting to develop and interacting with this age group makes my day so much more interesting.

Every year, my library offers a preschool tour that they theme around a book character. We invite local preschools to come visit us to hear a story and get a tour of our room. In the past we've done Dogs Colorful Day and Pete the Cat. This year we decided to use Dinosaur VS. The Library by Bob Shea. If you haven't read this book, please go do so immediately. I'll wait...

Isn't is AMAZING?! My lovely coworker Sara from Bryce Don't Play suggested the book and once I had it in my hands I knew it would make a great tour. I was right.

First, our group comes into our storytime room and we say hello, talk briefly about why the library is the coolest place in the city, and then we read Dinosaur VS. The Library. Yes, of course we all must roar together as we read this book. Yes, it is hilarious to have 20+ preschoolers roaring at the top of their lungs.

Next, we split the group into two. We explain to them before the split that they'll all get to experience both parts, but some still get upset. Just smile and start dancing to distract them. One group stays in the boat and gets another story read to them. You could read another Dinosaur book, but I usually just choose whichever picture book is my favorite at that moment (Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett is my current favorite). We'll usually do an action rhyme or two as well since they're pretty fidgety by this point.

The other group gets to go on our room tour. Now, you may be thinking, "A room tour? That's so boring." No. It's the most wonderful thing ever.We start the tour by saying, "Dinosaur loves roaring, but he figured out that you have to be a little quieter in the library to experience all of the cool things!" then we tell them that Dinosaur's friends need some help staying quiet because they are so excited to be in the library today.

First, we go to pictures books where Cow is hanging out. Also, he's dancing. Of course, we all have to dance with him, but then cow starts getting really loud. So we all gently remind him to quiet down.

Next we go to non-fiction where the Chick is singing. We start singing too, the chicks get a little too excited... you get the picture.

Then, to the Reading Boat where Owl is stomping. We ask, "Do you think you are supposed to stomp on the reading boat?" Sometimes they say yes, because it genuinely does look like a place made from stomping. We explain that while the reading boat looks like a great place to stomp and run and jump, it is actually made specifically for reading. Then, we remind them that they can always ask us for help to find a book for the reading boat.

 Finally, we stop at the desk where turtle is too shy to ask a question. We all tell Turtle how nice the librarian is and the librarian on desk just so happens to have a book about turtles at the desk!

Then, we bring the group back together and read one last story. If the class still has time we let them explore the room independently until it is time for them to leave.

We are not a "shushing" room by any means, but this is a great tour because it gently reinforces some best practices for using the library. For most preschoolers this is the first time they've ever been in our library and it can definitely be overwhelming. Since we've been "blessed" with a huge boat in our room, we want to make sure we have their attention to really show the room during the tour. By incorporating Bob Shea's brilliant book into the tour we have their attention the entire time. Thanks Bob!