Signed, Sealed, Delivered...We're Done!

Silver streamers and accu-cut shapes have been taken down from windows and walls, planets and rocketships have been removed from ceilings, and the lunar/meteorite samples have been boxed up and been shipped back to NASA. Yep, I think we’re done with summer reading--except that we’re going to ask you to certify it by filling out the appropriate forms to conclude the official count of your busy summer--the State’s summer evaluation forms. If you hadn’t received the link via a Massyac email, the links to both the ReadsinMa.org evaluation and the standard Summer Reading Program evaluations are:
Summer Reading Program and/or the ReadsinMa.org Program.

Everyone should fill out the Summer Reading Program Evaluation and if you used the online program, please be sure to fill out the latter survey; either (or both) need to be completed by September 18th. What's next will be the awarding of the Bruins prizes that have been randomly drawn. We do have the winner of the grand prize winner, (big cheesy grin) but in a few days the regional & grand prize winners will be officially announced by Celeste Bruno of MBLC. Just so you know, nearly 7,000 kids elected to sign up online to be included in the Bruins drawing. Wow! How cool is that? So keep a look out for any electronic mail that should happen to arrive carrying the announcement. And again, thanks for your hard work and participation and we are looking forward to Going Green in 2010! Woo hoo!

Rock on!

With summer reading programs over for most, a number of you wanted to end your programs with a bang--offering a presentation of your own using notes & NASA's in-depth handbook that was shipped along the lunar and/or meteorite samples. I have to admit, I wasn't sure if anyone wanted to engage an audience to talk about the Apollo Missions outside of a craft activity but there were a few librarians who attended Rick Varner's workshop who put on their NASA-emblazoned shirts and hats and talked 'shop'. I happened to attend one program where Children's librarian Margaret McGrath & Outreach librarian Sharon LaRossa from the Plymouth Public Library both not only shared the history of the rocks and the significance of the loan but also Mrs. LaRossa's personal account of her trip to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor's launch this past June. It was a captivating presentation--especially as the inter-generational audience was asked to share their own memories of the news of the Apollo Launch some 40 years ago.

And while Margaret was overheard by some that this year's theme moved her out of her comfort zone before she began her powerpoint presentation, but you wouldn't know it. Plymouth's Children's librarian kept the interest of the audience and even answered a few questions that might have intimated most Arts & Humanities graduates.

Further down the Cape & Islands another librarian held a captive audience. Deborah MacInnis of Edgartown Library also demonstrated that hobbies do come in handy when you are serving the public. Edgartown Public Library has it's on 'resident astronomy fan' working as a children's librarian. Between the Summer Triangle glow-in-the-dark chart and Alien craft activities, Deborah also facilitated a program featuring the loan samples and I'm sure her personal account of meteorite history--the story behind her photo of Comet Hale Bopp's appearance in her backyard in 1997 also added a special element to her presentation.

The above is just a small report of the exciting workshops, presentations and programs that our region has offered to the public. When we meet this fall during the Roundtables I'd love to hear what responses you received this year with such a dynamic (and dramatic--remember the Perseids shower) summer reading theme. Granted an evaluation of the program will be submitted to everyone but for others who had the samples if you be so kind as to share how many people attended the showing of the rocks, whether or not you saw an increase in participation from 'non-users', etc., I'd love to hear during a meeting or if you want to send me an email, that will be fine. I am hoping that this theme turned out to be a great introduction to families who hadn't visited their library in a while or some instances and I hope not many, those who've NEVER visited their neighborhood library.

Publicity abounds!

The Press apparently loves our 2009 summer reading theme! How about you? I hope you are having fun as much as these kids are. Here's the latest in newspaper articles celebrating our Starship Adventure:

Herald News
Brockton Enterprise
Patriot Ledger
Wicked Local--Hanover
Wicked Local--Plymouth


I know I could be missing other news story so if I have overlooked your library's article, please add a link below.