1.
How the Library Meets the Needs of Parents with Young Children Elise Blas Andrea Gubser Becky Corning Juliann Brant

2.
Tools <ul><li>Data Gathering </li></ul><ul><li>Observations </li></ul><ul><li>Survey </li></ul><ul><li>Focus Group </li></ul>

3.
Pikes Peak Library District Cheyenne Mountain branch <ul><li>Colorado Springs suburb </li></ul><ul><li>Population: 49,056 </li></ul><ul><li>6.9% age 5 or under </li></ul><ul><li>30% circulation children’s media </li></ul><ul><li>Storytime, toddler time, Paws to Read, Reading Buddies, SRP </li></ul>

4.
Jefferson County Public Library Arvada Branch <ul><li>Population: 104, 766 </li></ul><ul><li>5.8% is 5 yrs or less </li></ul><ul><li>New library 2006 – extensive comm. analysis done </li></ul><ul><li>Mother Goose, Age based storytimes, SRP </li></ul>

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

6.
Laramie County Library System Cheyenne (WY) <ul><li>Population: 53,011 </li></ul><ul><li>6.5 % >= 5 yrs. </li></ul><ul><li>43% circulation is E, ER, J books & media </li></ul><ul><li>Offer lapsit storytime & preschool storytime </li></ul><ul><li>New location 2007 </li></ul><ul><li>Kinship Project </li></ul>

8.
Lap Sit Observation <ul><li>Intimate Atmosphere </li></ul><ul><li>Short Stories and Fun Songs </li></ul><ul><li>Developmental Toys </li></ul>

9.
Parents’ Thoughts <ul><li>Appropriate for Attention Span </li></ul><ul><li>Good Balance of Stories and Songs </li></ul><ul><li>Free </li></ul>

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

11.
Survey – How does the library meet the needs of parents with young children? <ul><li>Rank the libraries importance in the following areas </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Developing literacy skills </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Developing a life long love of reading </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>A fun, safe place to meet other families </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Computer use </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Help in Parenting </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Reference </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Do you know the children’s librarian? </li></ul><ul><li>The children’s librarian has helped me choose age appropriate titles for my children. T/F </li></ul><ul><li>Would you attend age appropriate storytime? </li></ul><ul><li>Additional comments: </li></ul>

12.
Survey <ul><li>Given in person </li></ul><ul><li>4 times on 4 days </li></ul><ul><li>21 completed </li></ul><ul><li>Candy incentive </li></ul>

17.
Focus Group 3 participants with 6 children Dinner, drinks, free play <ul><li>Storytime attendance </li></ul><ul><li>Program times </li></ul><ul><li>Likes vs. dislikes </li></ul><ul><li>Age specific storytime </li></ul><ul><li>Librarian interaction </li></ul><ul><li>Reference use </li></ul><ul><li>HIP use </li></ul><ul><li>Media use </li></ul><ul><li>Computer usage at the library </li></ul>

18.
Summary <ul><li>All branches have great circulation numbers for Children’s books, movies, music, etc. </li></ul><ul><li>Storytime is well used and enjoyed by everyone in attendance. </li></ul><ul><li>Parents show their enjoyment of the library by sharing it with their children. </li></ul>

19.
Suggestions <ul><li>More PR outside the branch. </li></ul><ul><li>Alternate contact info: email, FaceBook, MySpace, etc. </li></ul><ul><li>Continue family storytime and add age specific class for those wanting it. </li></ul><ul><li>Offer an early literacy class for parents. </li></ul><ul><li>Provide a flyer at the checkout area with early literacy tips. </li></ul><ul><li>Have storyteller give a “tip of the week” literacy/parenting skill before starting storytime with kids. </li></ul><ul><li>Compile and provide a list of useful pod casts for parents. </li></ul><ul><li>Stay up to date with needs of community. Regularly solicit feedback. </li></ul><ul><li>Create a parents blog for book reviews, title suggestions, parenting advice etc. </li></ul><ul><li>Promote the role of the librarian. </li></ul><ul><li>Provide coffee at the library for parents. </li></ul><ul><li>Have enough staff trained to work with children and their parents. </li></ul>