Cambridge Libraries

•Cambridge Libraries has four locations and serves a

community of 130,000 people with 45,000 card holding

library members.

• Cambridge Libraries on average are visited by over

330 school classes per year.

•Approximately 8000+ students are given the

experience of becoming a library user.

Value? Priceless!

Support not Competition! We are NOT classroom teachers

We are NOT Teacher-LibrariansWe are NOT replacing the school library

• We ARE offering access to a wide range of curriculum support materials that the school library cannot afford to provide

• We ARE displaying new leisure reading materials from comics to the latest chapter books

• We ARE showcasing the ASKON databases for student research

• We ARE training students to perform basic catalogue searches• We ARE giving students library cards & FREE replacement

cards

Establishing Teacher Relationships

Relationships MatterSpend time cultivating relationships with teachers by contacting

them regularly with library special events and promotions that may interest their students (Let’s READ, Author Visits, Poetry Contest, Learn|Create Workshops, Gallery Exhibits and Summer Reading Club)

Returning Teachers Teachers who are committed to introducing their students to the

public library will return monthly, seasonally or yearly based on their proximity to the library location and need for curriculum support materials.

Flexible Schedules Teachers will need flexibility when booking regular library visits.

Afternoon time slots work well with public libraries whose preschool programming occurs in the morning time slots. Staff are available to accommodate class visits from 12-2 most days.

Online & Offline ConnectionsWhich is more effective?

Online Publicity

Principal direct emailsTeacher emails listsOnline PDF BrochuresOnline Request Form Method: Blind Copy ListsDistribution ListsSingle Copy emails

Cost: Staff hours

Offline Publicity

Print flyersPrint Information PackagesPrint Brochures

Method: Mailed using Canada Post or School Board Courier Route

Cost: In-house printing, ink, paper, postage. Staff hours: Design, print & compile.

Online Communication

• Attention Principal Foote - please forward this email to your Grades 2,4 & 6 teachers• • Grades 2, 4 & 6 Teachers;• • Looking for a class trip destination with current curriculum links that enhance your teaching objectives?• Cambridge Libraries & Galleries offer half day Learn|Create Workshops that focus on active learning for your students. • Students will enjoy participating in library activities designed to encourage reading while exploring the relevant unit of study. • The art component involves a studio session where students will gain an understanding of design from a professional art instructor while completing

an art project. • • Go online for more information: • • Grade 2 Teachers – 2 Celebrate Canada Workshop: Traditions and Celebrations• Grade 4 Teachers – Quest 4: Medieval Culture & Society • Grade 6 Teachers – Eagle Eye 6: First Nations Peoples• • With an affordable $4.00 per student fee, flexible schedules and close locations ,Cambridge Libraries & Galleries are ready to provide your students

with an opportunity to Learn|Create! • • Contact: • • Sandra Sydor • ssydor@cambridgelibraries.ca• Student Services • Cambridge Libraries • 519-621-0460 • • • •

Use hyperlinks in your email – attachments and PDF files are often blocked by school board networks.

Send emails to principals with

a request that they forward to

their teaching staff

Keep the form simple -- this should be the EASY button! QR Code links to this page

Class Visits – Content & Delivery

Learn|Create Workshop

Library Component: Tour of the Department =10 min Curriculum based activities = 30 min Library Cards & Membership Guidelines= 10 min Book Selection and Check-out =10 min

Gallery Component: Art instruction and art project = 1 hour

Library Visits – Unit of Study

Project Prep

Tour of the Department =10 minUnit of Study PowerPoint =20 minResearch Activity =10 min Library Cards & Membership Guidelines=

10 minBook Selection and Check-out =10 min

Library Visits – Reading Rocks

Reading Rocks

Tour of the Department =10 minFiction based PowerPoint presentation &

Reading Activity = 20 minOPAC Training =10 min Library Cards & Membership Guidelines=

10 minBook Selection and Check-out =10 min

Community Partnerships

Public Library Author Eventsfor Elementary Students

Promote the complete experience:

Author presentation, library orientation,

library cards & book selection!

Author Events as Promotional Tools

An Author Event can be used as a

promotional tool for library visits. A visiting poet

compliments the Poetry contest and

SLAM

Public Library Author Eventsfor Elementary Students:

Increase class visits Cambridge Libraries during the winter months.Partner with core area schools to give their students the opportunity to listen and learn from award winning Canadian authors.Connect with new teachers who may not otherwise visit the library with their class. Establish the library as a community resource for materials and events. Provide a FREE event for 12 classes of 20 + from public, catholic, private and home schools. Support Canadian authors and promote their books.

Young Readers – Young Riders History:

The program started because teachers were indicating that a lack of money for transportation was the main reason they were not visiting the library.

How could the transportation costs be lowered for visiting classes? Cambridge Libraries Children’s Coordinator contacted Thunder Bay

Library to get details of their established transit program. A proposal was written for a partnership with GRT in conjunction with

KPL and WPL. Chief Librarian Greg Hayton brought the proposal to Waterloo Regional Chair who encouraged GRT to pursue the idea. Cambridge, KPL, WPL & GRT worked diligently to make the program a success.

GRT was interested in the partnership 1. Increase ridership during slow times 2. Introduce future riders to the benefits of mass transit 3. Public relations opportunity.

An established partnership

:Libraries & Galleries

Learn|Create

Workshops

School Outreach

Principal Connections

• The email sent directly to the principal was the most effective way of communicating with the principals. The response rate from the Catholic School Board e-letter had an 80% return rate with 12 of the 15 schools requesting the Cambridge Libraries partner with them at their JK Orientation events.

• The public school board e-letter was also sent to the

principals with a response rate of 48% with 11 of the 23 public schools requesting the Cambridge Libraries attend their JK Orientation event.

• 66% of Cambridge Schools invited Cambridge Libraries to attend their JK Orientation events.

JK Orientation OutreachJK Outreach 10 Minute Presentation Content:

Showcase Pre-K Reading Materialso Beginner Reading collection - supports emergent readerso Reader Styles: Phonics, phonetic awareness, and whole language approacho Book-CD kits (Active listening skills)o Picture books (First Day of Kindergarten Theme – shared experience) , Board Books,

Parenting collection

Library Membershipso Free for all students of Cambridge schools

Programso Free Drop-in summer programs that include songs, rhymes, finger-plays, crafts, and a

story read aloudo Summer Reading Club – a reading incentive programo Social opportunities to practice listening skills, taking turns, sitting in groups and peer

interactions.

  How the Library helps “stimulate learning”

o Taking neighborhood trips & making your local library a destination o Provides a wide variety of reading materials o Educational Programs that children can attend independentlyo Experiences for parents and children to share together

 

JK Orientation Outcomes • Positive principal feedback with invitations to return next year

• JK outreach provided an evening to connect with families that are were not regular library users. Many were interested in getting library cards for their children and finding out more information regarding the summer programs and reading incentive club.

• The JK Orientation events were an excellent time to establish and strengthen relationships with area principals. Arriving early to set-up allowed valuable time to network with teaching staff and principals regarding what the library offers on an ongoing basis for teaching staff at the elementary level.

• Parents from the JK Orientation nights often visited the library the next day to get a library card for their child and select materials. Many families were seen over the summer period continuing to use their memberships and active members of the Summer Reading Club.

Special Event Outreach•Attend school functions that include parents. •Family Literacy Day events that combine students and their parents for literacy based activities.•Include program, collection and library card promotion.

For more Info:

ssydor@cambridgelibraries.ca