Children’s Book Character Visits

Max visits with children at the Kellogg Hubbard Library in Montpelier

Vermont children have enjoyed meeting Maisy, Amelia Bedelia, Curious George, and Rosemary Well’s Max in person. Costume Specialists lends character costumes for promotional use at schools, libraries, and bookstores. To use the costume, the library pays the shipping cost, usually $140.  See http://www.costumespecialists.com/childrens_book_characters.html# for a complete list of available costumes and information on how to request a costume.

Both Bennington Free Library and the Kellogg Hubbard Library in Montpelier have borrowed costumes from this company, and both have postitive feedback:

“We have been renting costumes for 10 years from Costume specialists.  It’s a great deal.  This week Frog and Toad visited our Library. 12 different classes came for an introduction to the library and to meet Frog and Toad.  We also had a party for the public. Over 100 people attended. I recommend this kind of programing highly.  A good deal for the buck.”  -Chris Poggi Children’s Librarian Bennington Free Library

“Just wanted folks to know that we had Max from Costume Specialists here for the week and he was a huge hit.  He cost us $140 which included shipping.  Fed Ex dropped him off two days early, and arranged to pick him up at the end of the designated time.  It was some of the best PR we’ve done.  I’ve included a few pictures.  It was well worth the money and effort.” - Jane Napier, Kellogg Hubbard Library

Max, outside the Kellogg Hubbard Library, Montpelier

Sharing on the Front Porch

Front porch somewhere...

Libraries around the state are using local networking on Front Porch Forum to spread the word. Victoria Tibbits at the Westford Public Library posts a half page announcement every week about what’s new. Linda Hall at the Solomon Wright Public Library in Pownal uses Front Porch to ask for volunteer barcoders, promote the library book club and announce the library’s museum passes.
Front Porch Forum operates on a community basis, a moderated forum just for Vermont residents.

Banned Books Week

Take a tip from Vermont librarians last year, and try an easy exhibit to celebrate Banned Books Week, September 25−October 2, 2010. For more information, see the official ALA link. Here’s a short list of some ideas.

Springfield Town Library, pictured above, went for brown paper bag covers and a challenge,”Don’t READ these books.”

The St Johnsbury Academy put together a display of banned/challenged books blocked with Police Do Not Cross tape. Several students and faculty checked out books from the display.

At the Waterbury Public Library, the display of books included red buttons with the message “I read banned books.” Any patron checking out a banned book was given a button to wear.

Marilee Attley at Brattleboro Union High School created a Caution banner with “Ideas inside” “May be eye-opening” to highlight Banned Books and about 10 titles with the reasons they were challenged.

The Rockingham Free Public Library created a circus poster frame for a live action display showing local people reading banned books.

Lending Expensive Equipment

The Department of Libraries recently added two Flip cameras to the circulating collection, like other libraries around the state. Some libraries giving patrons access to equipment such as cameras, Kindles, MP3 players, and CD players have patrons sign a form assuming financial responsibility for damaged or lost items in case.  Here are two examples of these forms from Dan Greene at U32 High School.

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