The inaugural summer reading summit brought together 120 library staff at the Salem Public Library. We shared and learned about summer reading programs – everything from outreach to programming to collecting data. I enjoyed the opportunity to hear about innovations and to bounce ideas off my peers.

With eight sessions, an idea fair, and an Oregon Authors Fair, there was no way to see everything! In the morning, I attended “The Library Express Bus,” a session by Jana and Yeli from the Hood River County Library District. The Library Express Bus was born out of a desire for better service to the community of Odell, which has no public library and no public transit to the nearest library. Over four years, Jana and Yeli iterated on the program with Ready to Read grant funding, developing a program where kids and families can take a rented ski bus to the library every summer Saturday. Teens hired from the community manage the bus pick up, drop off, and help with activities at the library. Once the bus arrives, kids experience a mixture of structured and unstructured activities and, of course, can check out books.
This program exemplified thinking outside the box. Library staff saw an opportunity for the community and decided to use their grant funding on something new! They gave themselves several years to learn and change the program. Their most recent change? Opening with partner reading as a prelude to story time. In fact, they are looking for resources for “reading buddy” programs. If you know of any, please reach out to the Hood River County Library District.

In the afternoon, I attended a panel on “Keeping Track: The Why, What & How.” Four library staff shared the many ways they log – or don’t! – registration, participation, and completion. This session showed there’s no one right way to do it. Google Forms, Beanstack, paper forms, Microsoft Access, and pom poms have all helped libraries keep track of summer reading in a way that works for them. Some of these options were familiar and some were new to me. Barratt from the Oregon City Public Library shared that she passes out three reading logs to every participant. I had never thought about a reading log being more than just one piece of paper!

I attended the Summer Reading Summit for ideas on how to revamp our summer reading program and reading logs. I certainly came away that! I also developed a better understanding of Oregon libraries and their many summer activities. For that, I thank Greta Berquist and the State Library of Oregon, the Salem Public Library for hosting, and everyone who volunteered their time to make the event a success. Don’t miss Greta’s folder of resources from the summit. Stay tuned for news of a second Summer Reading Summit in September 2021.

All CSD members are welcome to attend the next CSD board meeting:

Friday, Sept. 27
4-6 p.m.
Salem Ale Works
2315 25th St SE
Salem, Ore.

Followed by the CSD Fall Social!
​6-8 p.m.

If you're already coming to town for the Summer Reading Summit, join us Friday night! Please send agenda items to csd@olaweb.org

Get ready to be inspired, re-energized, and committed to Summer Reading in your library! Head to Salem Public Library on Saturday, Sept. 28 to celebrate all things summer. This is your chance to join fellow youth librarians from across Oregon to learn, network, and support each other as we work to ensure all Oregon kids have a positive and meaningful summer library experience. This event will be free and open to any public library staff in Oregon who work in some way with Summer Reading. Register here: Summer Reading Summit Registration
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For libraries sending staff from more than 50 miles away, up to two rooms for Friday and Saturday night lodging will be available for free on a first-come, first-served basis. We suggest signing up as soon as possible. Sign up for a hotel here: Hotel Sign Up 

Yes, it’s the throes of Summer Reading! But take five minutes now to mark your calendar with dates for these upcoming CSD events!

Summer Reading Summit
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019
Salem Public Library
Registration opens in July!

Mock Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Workshop
Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020
Location TBD (tentatively Portland-area)
Send email to csdmock@olaweb.org if you’re interested in being on the workshop committee! You also can nominate books for the committee to consider.

Spring Workshop + Lampman Award Lunch
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Location TBD

The people have spoken!

Thank you, CSD members, for voting in Bryce Kozla (WCCLS) and Stephanie Goodwin (Jackson County Library) as incoming co-chairs, and Nicole Newsom (Multnomah County Library) as CSLP Rep. Nicole, Stephanie, and Bryce will begin their terms Sept. 1, 2019.

​Thanks also to Dena Chaffin (Silver Falls Library District) and Hilary Evart (Lake Oswego Public Library) for your willingness to run for CSLP Rep.

The ballot is open for CSD's 2019-2020 Board of Directors! Cast your vote any time between now and Wednesday, June 19.

Candidate Profile: Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Rep
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Nicole Newsom, Multnomah County Library    

Experience
I've been on MCL's Summer Reading Planning Committee for 5 + years. I use CSLP resources every year and purchase some CSLP's incentives and other materials each year.     

Candidate statement
I am interested in this position because I hope to see CSLP become more equitable and inclusive in the materials and resources that are created and shared with libraries. From tattoos that may be too light in color to show up on darker toned skin, to lists of books that could be more representative of youth in our communities, I see that CSLP is doing some work towards equity and inclusion, but I think much more can be done. I have been learning and practicing tools for equity, inclusion and social justice in library work for 2+ years and I would like to contribute to this work with CSLP.    

If you could be any children's book character, what character would you be?
Excellent Ed by Stacy McAnulty.                 

Don’t forget to vote before Wednesday, June 19!

The ballot is open for CSD's 2019-2020 Board of Directors! Cast your vote any time between now and Wednesday, June 19.

Candidate Profile: Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Rep

Hilary Evart, Lake Oswego Public Library

Experience
I am a relatively new, and very happy, children’s librarian currently working in a permanent part-time position. I am also the administrator of a philanthropic foundation in Portland where I organize, manage, and assist both non-profit applicants and the foundation Trustees in the funding of charitable work. My previous career was with Guide Dogs for the Blind, where I trained scores of dogs and taught hundreds of people with vision impairments in partnering together as travel and life companions. My final role there was as Manager of Client Education. Some traits I claim are enthusiasm, reliability, and honesty. I’m a mom of two grown kids, a lifetime library user, and ready to draw upon my varied experiences and skills if chosen as your CSLP representative.    

Candidate statement
I’d like to help optimize the CSLP resources that are intended to make summer reading programs both easier and richer for librarians. My main goal would be to represent accurately the full range of Oregon libraries in articulating requests, giving feedback, asking questions and conveying answers to and from the national organization- basically acting as a conduit with a voice. The hope is that my tendency to engage and be curious would be useful, and also that my colleagues would ultimately trust me to speak for them.    

If you could be any children's book character, what character would you be?
Sal from One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey.

Don’t forget to vote before Wednesday, June 19!

The ballot is open for CSD's 2019-2020 Board of Directors! Cast your vote any time between now and Wednesday, June 19.

Candidate Profile: Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Rep

Dena Chaffin, Silver Falls Library District    

Experience
More than 20 years working in libraries for Portland Public Schools, and almost three years working at Silver Falls Library District in Silverton, Ore.    
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Candidate statement
I am passionate about making connections between our libraries and the youth/teens that we all serve.  Our work and excitement are what makes them our future adult users, and lifelong learners. I want to bridge the gap between schools and public libraries and CSLP is a great way to involve both, by opening doors for future relationships as a team.    

If you could be any children's book character, what character would you be?
Emily Pig in Yummers by James Marshall.
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Don’t forget to vote before Wednesday, June 19!