How the Library Meets the Needs of Parents with Young Children Elise Blas Andrea Gubser Becky Corning Juliann Brant

Tools Data Gathering Observations Survey Focus Group

Data Gathering

Observations

Survey

Focus Group

Pikes Peak Library District Cheyenne Mountain branch Colorado Springs suburb Population: 49,056 6.9% age 5 or under 30% circulation children’s media Storytime, toddler time, Paws to Read, Reading Buddies, SRP

Colorado Springs suburb

Population: 49,056

6.9% age 5 or under

30% circulation children’s media

Storytime, toddler time, Paws to Read, Reading Buddies, SRP

Jefferson County Public Library Arvada Branch Population: 104, 766 5.8% is 5 yrs or less New library 2006 – extensive comm. analysis done Mother Goose, Age based storytimes, SRP

Population: 104, 766

5.8% is 5 yrs or less

New library 2006 – extensive comm. analysis done

Mother Goose, Age based storytimes, SRP

Douglas County Library System Neighborhood Library at Roxborough 80125 zip code, rural Denver sleeper “town” Population: 5,500 - 9.2% is 5 yrs. or under 15% circulation = Children’s E and Board Books Storytime, evening programs, SRP, Bark for Books

80125 zip code, rural Denver sleeper “town”

Population: 5,500 - 9.2% is 5 yrs. or under

15% circulation = Children’s E and Board Books

Storytime, evening programs, SRP, Bark for Books

Laramie County Library System Cheyenne (WY) Population: 53,011 6.5 % >= 5 yrs. 43% circulation is E, ER, J books & media Offer lapsit storytime & preschool storytime New location 2007 Kinship Project

Population: 53,011

6.5 % >= 5 yrs.

43% circulation is E, ER, J books & media

Offer lapsit storytime & preschool storytime

New location 2007

Kinship Project

Lap Sit Observation Intimate Atmosphere Short Stories and Fun Songs Developmental Toys

Intimate Atmosphere

Short Stories and Fun Songs

Developmental Toys

Parents’ Thoughts Appropriate for Attention Span Good Balance of Stories and Songs Free

Appropriate for Attention Span

Good Balance of Stories and Songs

Free

Survey – How does the library meet the needs of parents with young children? How many children under 10 do you have? What are their ages? What children’s programs do you participate in at the library? Storytime Evening programming Summer Reading Program Fall Reading Program Spring Reading Program Bark for Books How often do you check out material from the library? Daily Weekly Monthly Hardly ever What material do you generally borrow? Children’s books Adult books Help In Parenting books Children’s dvd’s Adult dvd’s Children’s cd’s Adult cd’s Books on tape Children’s magazines Adult magazines LeapPads

How many children under 10 do you have?

What are their ages?

What children’s programs do you participate in at the library?

Storytime

Evening programming

Summer Reading Program

Fall Reading Program

Spring Reading Program

Bark for Books

How often do you check out material from the library?

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Hardly ever

What material do you generally borrow?

Children’s books

Adult books

Help In Parenting books

Children’s dvd’s

Adult dvd’s

Children’s cd’s

Adult cd’s

Books on tape

Children’s magazines

Adult magazines

LeapPads

Survey – How does the library meet the needs of parents with young children? Rank the libraries importance in the following areas Developing literacy skills Developing a life long love of reading A fun, safe place to meet other families Computer use Help in Parenting Reference Do you know the children’s librarian? The children’s librarian has helped me choose age appropriate titles for my children. T/F Would you attend age appropriate storytime? Additional comments:

Rank the libraries importance in the following areas

Developing literacy skills

Developing a life long love of reading

A fun, safe place to meet other families

Computer use

Help in Parenting

Reference

Do you know the children’s librarian?

The children’s librarian has helped me choose age appropriate titles for my children. T/F

Would you attend age appropriate storytime?

Additional comments:

Survey Given in person 4 times on 4 days 21 completed Candy incentive

Given in person

4 times on 4 days

21 completed

Candy incentive

Focus Group 3 participants with 6 children Dinner, drinks, free play Storytime attendance Program times Likes vs. dislikes Age specific storytime Librarian interaction Reference use HIP use Media use Computer usage at the library

Storytime attendance

Program times

Likes vs. dislikes

Age specific storytime

Librarian interaction

Reference use

HIP use

Media use

Computer usage at the library

Summary All branches have great circulation numbers for Children’s books, movies, music, etc. Storytime is well used and enjoyed by everyone in attendance. Parents show their enjoyment of the library by sharing it with their children.

All branches have great circulation numbers for Children’s books, movies, music, etc.

Storytime is well used and enjoyed by everyone in attendance.

Parents show their enjoyment of the library by sharing it with their children.

Suggestions More PR outside the branch. Alternate contact info: email, FaceBook, MySpace, etc. Continue family storytime and add age specific class for those wanting it. Offer an early literacy class for parents. Provide a flyer at the checkout area with early literacy tips. Have storyteller give a “tip of the week” literacy/parenting skill before starting storytime with kids. Compile and provide a list of useful pod casts for parents. Stay up to date with needs of community. Regularly solicit feedback. Create a parents blog for book reviews, title suggestions, parenting advice etc. Promote the role of the librarian. Provide coffee at the library for parents. Have enough staff trained to work with children and their parents.

More PR outside the branch.

Alternate contact info: email, FaceBook, MySpace, etc.

Continue family storytime and add age specific class for those wanting it.

Offer an early literacy class for parents.

Provide a flyer at the checkout area with early literacy tips.

Have storyteller give a “tip of the week” literacy/parenting skill before starting storytime with kids.

Compile and provide a list of useful pod casts for parents.

Stay up to date with needs of community. Regularly solicit feedback.

Create a parents blog for book reviews, title suggestions, parenting advice etc.

Promote the role of the librarian.

Provide coffee at the library for parents.

Have enough staff trained to work with children and their parents.