I have a great book to share. It is called, “Mammal Tracks Life-Sized Tracking Guide” and is available through Heartwood Press. (www.heartwoodpress.com) It is $19.95 plus shipping and can be signed by the authors. It is really neat and has a lot of WILD animals in it.
Just thought I would pass this along!
The 2008 summer templates are loaded into your web sites. Justin Harris from Evanced offers these steps:
There are templates available for this years’ theme. To apply them to one of your programs please do the following:
1. log in as an administrator.
2. click ‘system maintenance’
3. click ‘style sheet settings’
4. select your desired program
5. click the drop down box and select one of the new templates name 2008_kids, 2008_teens, 2008 adults. (see screenshot below)
6. click ‘save’ and your all set
7. you should now see the new images and new color scheme for this year.
Templates can be imported and exported! We can share our creative genius now!
Your homepage can have a different look. It can stay as tabs or you can change it to a list of links or to a drop down box!
You can offer multiple logging to your participants! In one program, kids can log both books and hours or any combination!
Reviews are printable, searchable, and can be formatted!
Prize management is simpler to use this year; the choices are clearer. Included is a project based management system (choose “manual”)
At the recent round table discussion held at NMRLS on February 27th, ideas were getting pretty wild as everyone is beginning to plan for Wild reads at your library and X-pect the Un-X-pected!
JoAnne from the Peabody Institute Library in Danvers reported that the Mountain Mushers will be presenting their program at 23 plus libraries this summer! JoAnne has coordinated all the library visits with Harry of Mountain Mushers. Other programs will include the ever popular Spoon Man, the Penguin Lady, a reptile show from the Museum of Science.
Clare from Amesbury is also going wild with some of the same programs like the Penguin Lady. Clare is relying on a lot of local talent such as someone who has been involved in wildlife rehabilitation. Both children and teens will be reading for the Merrimack Feline Rescue Society.
Keep reading →
Today (January 11) is the deadline to order Summer 2008 “Wild Reads at your library” and “X-Pect the Un-X-Pected” incentive items from JanWay. NMRLS member libraries that submitted orders to NMRLS for posters, bookmarks, certificates, and reading records via the NMRLS Online Summer Reading Program Order Form by the November 23rd deadline will receive these materials free of charge as a member library benefit. Those of you who ordered such materials will be getting a verifying email from me in a week.
In addition, all the NMRLS member libraries who ordered the materials will soon receive a password to access the online activity manual and clip art. Please note that you can purchase a paper copy of the activity manual and the CD version of the clip art – this exact same material is available free of charge to participating libraries via the online format.
Please do contact me if you require additional information about our upcoming summer reading program.
Mark your calendars for the following workshops!
Friday January 18, 2008
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Summer Reading Program Orientation
Is 2008 going to be your first summer reading program? If so, come to this orientation which will focus on Wild Reads at your library. In this workshop, there will be plenty of discussion on how and what to plan for. Even if 2008 is your second or third summer, this orientation will offer a lot of helpful tips and strategies!
Location: NMRLS, Danvers
Thursday February 7, 2008
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ReadsinMa Training
Wednesday February 13, 2008
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ReadsinMa Training
Tuesday March 4, 2008
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ReadsinMa Training
Monday March 17, 2008
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ReadsinMa Training
Learn how to use the Evanced software to manage your summer reading program. Explore tips and strategies on how to best use the program!
ReadsinMa is an online reading software program that is available free of charge with grant funding provided by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. ReadsInMa is web-based and enables the library to streamline in-house processes such as registration, reader reviews, statistics and reports. ReadsInMa is ideal for for summer reading programs for all ages.
This workshop is hands on in the computer lab: participants will learn how to set up their own pages with their own specifications.
Location: NMRLS Training Lab, Danvers
Wednesday February 27, 2008
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Summer Reading Program Roundtable
Need more ideas for your 2008 Summer Reading Program? Share your ideas on Wild Reads and X-pect the Un-X-pected at your library and grab a few from this roundtable. Bring samples, handouts, etc. Let’s really get wild with this summer program!
Bring your ideas on programs, displays, and events!
Location: NMRLS, Danvers
It’s time to order your paper materials for the 2008 Statewide Summer Reading Program “Wild Reads at your library”!
Please use the online order form.
It’s going to be a Wild Summer!
Ellison die cuts - set of 4 wild animals
Dog sled program - JoAnne has coordinated 15 libraries in the Northeast to have this program next summer! more details to follow!
refrigerator box - “reading cage”
Performers: Wingmasters, Mass Audubon, Rainforest Reptiles, Curious Creatures
Stone Zoo, Wolf Hollow - coupons
Where the Wild Things Are
A Gene “Wilder” Film Festival
Jumanji
Kipling
edible zoo cars with animal crackers
puppetry - making and using
orienteering program - finding one’s way in the wilderness
EMS program
Rockport - Publicity on the Annual StoryTrain ride made the front page! Great photos of the Junior Friends and of the performers. Jane had a successful summer reading program, loved the theme. The wrap up party had Wilmore the Wizard. Little known secret: Jane plays the accordion!
Newburyport - Donna had a great turn out for her programs. Attendance varies, but most of her well planned teen programs are well attended.
Danvers - Highlights included Daisy the Pig, a Museum of Science program, and Spoon Man! A lot of programs seem to come recommended from JoAnne.
Keep reading →
Kate Gove of West Newbury shared her successful use of the Evanced program this past summer. She had some 246 online registrations with over 3000 books logged. She found kids who were away and on vacation used the program to stay connected and engaged in the program. She did everything to make it easy for the patron to use. She found the simpler the requirements the better. Some folks still wanted paper and she was able to provide but always mentioned sponsorship of Waste Management!
Cathy DeWitt of Georgetown faced the challenge of being in temporary quarters and then closed and then moving! Her kids just logged hours. Out of some 140 registrations, 62 were online. She created a bookmark to give out with clear instructions of how to log on. The kids really liked having their own web page!
Keep reading →
The sounds of summer are far behind us and now we face cooler temperatures and falling leaves. Before all sounds leave us and if you participated in the Statewide Summer Reading Program, please fill out the 2007 Catch the Beat Evaluation at http://www.nmrls.org/surveys/srp07_eval.htm
We try to keep the evaluation as short as we can but it seems we always need to know more about something!
This year we debuted the ReadsinMa online summer reading program at readsinma.org. If you used this program at all, we are interested in your responses to the evaluation questions.
Please do complete this evaluation! We need the statistics and we need the information to continue to present and manage a Statewide Summer Reading Program for you. The deadline to do so is September 28!
