MURRAY LIBRARY TEEN SERVICES DEPARTMENT Rethinking Summer Reading

Why do we have summer reading programs?

Goals for 2013 and Before Get teens to read Get teens to come to the library Increase registration and finishers

Talking with the Teens I hate reading I don’t read I don’t like books Reading is stupid I’m not a nerd Reading is boring I’m not the kind of person who reads I don’t have to read during the summer I won’t sign up for a reading program Who reads?

Reading Trends for Teens Fewer books, more digital reading Constant social interaction through print: texting, snapchat, instagram, fanfiction, facebook, google+ Computer time= Reading time Despite rise in digital reading, teens do not identify as readers, and dislike both reading and libraries Teens view libraries as places for children and adults

2014 Goals Change perception of reading in teen population Change perception of libraries in teen population Increase registration and finishers

Why Do Teens Hate Reading?

Lack of Control

It Only Counts if an Adult Writes or Publishes It

How Do We Fix it?

We’re Adults. Let’s Validate. We changed our tracker to reflect our new goals Audiobooks, manga, and online stories count We added vlogbrother youtube videos to sell intellectualism We included social media and social interactions surrounding books We hosted more events

QUALITATIVE ANSWER: WE DON’T KNOW QUANTITATIVE ANSWER: YES Did it Work?

Let’s Talk Numbers

Other Methods We Used to Increase Participation

Let’s Talk Book Talks

How Our Book Talks Work We reached 1150 number of teens through presentations at their school less than two weeks before school ended We signed teachers up for the presentation through a fusion of participation with school librarians and contacting the teachers directly We formatted the book talks by switching off between book talking and showing book trailers We advertised for the program at the beginning of the presentation

Registration Dates

The When is as Important as the Why Instead of choosing dates that reflected when teens in our local school district were out for summer break, we simplified Teens could sign up any time in June, July, and August This allowed our booktalk audience to come to the library when the program was still fresh in their mind

We Added Two Parties

Life-Sized Game Party We had 60 Participants Clue game worked best due to partnership with the high school theater department Other games included: Plants vs. Zombies, Foosball, Angry Birds, Hungry Hungry Hippos

Marshmallow Gun Fight Used PVC pipe from life- sized Foosball Bought T’s from plumbingsupply.com We held the fight outside, and it rained… a lot We still had 30 participants

Teen Sign-Up Sheets and Prizes at the Children’s Desk

Different Prizes

Marketing at Existing Programs

Creating Relationships