Hughes Carnegie Center Meeting

August 29, 2005

Plymouth Congregational Church, Rm 201N

In attendance: Reta Cosby, Joyce Steiner (Lawrence Public Library Youth Services Coordinator), Cathy White (Ninth Street Outreach Center), Hans Fischer, Vikki Jo Stewart (State Library of Kansas Special Projects Director), Barbara Watkins, Jan Dicker, and Nancy Hiebert

Joyce reviewed and elaborated on the issues and activities described below in her “Read for A Tot outline. We discussed helping with the involvement of the City Commissioners and  local celebrities and suggested inviting Karen Swisher, the Haskell president and Bob Hemenway, the KU chancellor, to join the celebrity reading group.

 HCC members also offered to help with the translations project.

Vikki Jo mentioned a state activity of reading by military personnel via webcam and a blind youngster who would read from a braille text.

The group discussed the issue of how to screen volunteers for this project.

Vikki Jo stressed that the goal is to encourage young children to read.

Barb suggested that we should find ways to include children with disabilities sin our reading activities.

Jan recommended adding a big book format and books on tape.

Barb suggested that we seek small grants to cover costs of purchasing large numbers of books (this may not work because the number of books available is dwindling (is less than 3,000 now) and we may need to move more quickly.

Vikki Jo reports that there are 226,000 preschooler sin Kansas and 6,923 in Douglas County. She is helping host the author of No Matter What, Debi Gliori, the week of Nov. 16-18.

Jan said that Altrusa might help provide books.

Nancy will contract Borders and Bill Dan to possibly help with buying books. She  is also working on a possible stationary design.

Reta has done extensive ground work in partnering with senior centers and day care centers—see her list of contacts below. She suggests involving retired teachers and librarians in reading to the various groups.

Hans will work with Bruce Flanders and Joyce to create a memo of understanding on how the HCC will partner with the library on this project.

Our next meeting will be Sept. 12 at Plymouth Congregational Church.

Joyce’s Suggestions from the Public Library:

Read to a Tot—No Matter What

No Matter What by Debi Gliori is the book chosen for Kansas Reads… to
Preschoolers --  One State, One Book project for 2005!   Governor Kathleen
Sebelius, Honorary Chair, helps Christie Brandau of the State Library of Kansas highlight the importance of reading to  preschoolers  the week of November 14-20, 2005!

Check out the website:  kansasreadstokids.org.

motto: "Read to a Tot, No Matter What!"

The project goal is to highlight the importance of reading to children -- birth to five.  According to the Kansas Action for Children, that's 226,453 children!   The challenge is to involve all Kansas children between the ages of 0 –5 years in the reading of one book. 

• Read to a Tot—No Matter What Celebrity Night

Would love to bring in author, governor, and state librarian

Local celebrities: Mayor Highbarger, Commissioners Rundle, Hack, etc.

            School Board, Success by 6, etc.

• Read to a Tot—No Matter What Multi-lingual Festival

Translate “I’ll always love you, no matter what” into as many languages as possible. Have people help teach how to say it and send home an attractive handout with the various translations.

· Ask the City Commission to declare November 14-20, Children's Book Week in Lawrence.  

· Invite preschools and home day care providers to visit the library for special storytime with reading of this book.

• Read this title in all our regular storytimes:

Library Storytime, Tuesday & Friday 10:30 a.m.

Toddler Storytime, Tuesday & Friday 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Thursday Evening Storytime, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Books & Babies Storytimes, Weds. 9:30, 10:00, 10:30 a.m. & Thurs. 7 p.m.

Other ideas

• Check with local service organizations (Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, etc.) to see if they will partner with you and buy some books.  

Harcourt half price hardcover  $8.00

Scholastic paper $4.95

• Have volunteers visit preschools and daycares to read book

-Screen volunteers?

-How to organize?

Reta’s Suggestions for HCC involvement

HUGHES-CARNEGIE CENTER FOR LITERACY

KANSAS READS TO KIDS PROJECT

NAME FOR PROJECT

THEME

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

DAY CARE C ENTERS

Ballard Center                          Michelle Scott/Chip Blazer                    842-0727

*Brookcreek Learning Center   Esther                                                   865-0022 Ext.201

Children’s Learning Center       Holly Turner                                         841-2185

LaPetite (Clinton Pkywy)          Carol                                                    843-6445

*Raintree                                  Leanna                                                 843-6800

SENIOR RETIRMENT HOMES

Windsor of Lawrence               Michelle                                               832-9900

*Brandon Woods Ret. Comm.  Carol Kellog                                        838-8000

Druray Place (LaPetite)            Monica Peters                                      841-6845

*Babcock Place                       Gail Sigurdson                                      832-1692

Clinton Place                            Renita                                                   841-1000

Dads to Kids                            Mike Caron - Douglas County Jail

EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER

Personally contact a Senior Group and Day Care Center to set time and place of reading.

Assist Seniors with ideas for reading event.

Work out transportation with the “T” for Seniors to Day Care Centers

CONTACT PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

Douglas County Jail

Lawrence Public Library

Ninth Street Outreach Center

GROUP STATIONARY

Send information to participating groups

Send followup letter of the date, time and place of the event.

Send “Thank You” letters after the presentation.

ACCESS TO BOOKS

CONTINUED PROGRAMMING WITH GROUPS

END OF PRESENTATION GET-TOGETHER