HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-26; Library Board of Trustees; ; SUMMER READING ADVENTURE REPORT 2020ITEM #6
Meeting Date: August 26, 2020
To: Library Board of Trustees
From: Sheila Crosby, Interim Deputy Library Director
Sarah Dana, Interim Deputy Library Director
Staff Contact: Marsha Weeks, Senior Librarian, marsha.weeks@carlsbadca.gov
Subject: Summer Reading Adventure Report, 2020
Recommended Action
Receive presentation. No action needed.
Executive Summary/Discussion
Senior Librarian Marsha Weeks christened this “A Summer Like No Other,” which certainly sums up the
2020 Summer Reading Adventure. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program’s usual in-person
programs, teen volunteers and youth oral reports were not possible, so the Summer Reading Adventure,
which ran eight weeks from June 15 to August 9, took place in a completely virtual format. Fortunately,
the Carlsbad City Library was well-positioned for this transition to all-virtual as this was the third year
that Beanstack, an online registration and tracking tool, was used.
To provide more engaging digital experiences for youth participants, several Children’s Division
employees created interactive stories, escape rooms and adventure games for children while Bilingual
Services Division staff created an escape room for teens. Children’s Division staff also recorded several
unique children’s programs available on the City of Carlsbad’s YouTube channel, in addition to the
weekly Virtual Family Storytime program which is broadcast live on the Carlsbad City Library’s Facebook
page Wednesday mornings. Programming for adults included live-streamed musical performances and
author panels, which were popular with this audience.
Knowing that reading rewards could be delivered curbside helped with the engagement level of our
young readers. Adult participants were pleased with their completion reward, an insulated travel cup
with the Carlsbad City Library logo on it.
Next Steps
None.
LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ITEM #6
Fiscal Analysis
A significant decline in spending took place during the 2020 Summer Reading Adventure as performers
charged for only one virtual program—or cancelled outright—as opposed to three in-person programs
normally held across the library locations. The cost for all children’s and teen performers this year was
under $2,000 compared to last year’s total of $6,800.
Public Notification
Public notice of this item was posted in keeping with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for
public viewing and review at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting date.
Exhibits
• Infographic for Summer Reading Adventure 2020
2020
1,882
Rewards Collected Curbside
36,340
Items Checked Out
Summer Reading Adventure
June 15 - Aug. 9
1,194
Summer Readers
481
Program Finishers
491,957
Minutes Read
5,847
Activities Completed
50
Library Programs
1,214 10,558
Participants Total Views
“Thank you so much for your
hard work and creative efforts in
continuing the Summer Reading
Adventure!...We hope you know
that we are so grateful for all the
work you do to make reading
accessible to all.”
-Parent of child participant
www.carlsbadlibrary.org
ITEM #6
(Carlsbad
City Library
• • • • • • ~~~~~~
Imagine Your Story
2020 Virtual Summer Reading Adventure Review
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2020 Virtual Summer Reading Adventure
•Theme = “Imagine Your Story”
•June 15 –Aug. 9
•For all ages at all Carlsbad City Library locations
•Developed by staff from the Children’s,
Reference, Bilingual Services, Literacy Services
and Community Relations divisions
*Imagine
StOX'9
COVID-19: A Summer Like No Other
•Program changes
–Cancelled Summer Reading
Volunteer Program for teens
–Dropped youth oral reports
–Switched to all virtual programs
–Dropped sign-up rewards
–Removed bonus reading levels
•Limited Friends book reward inventory
•Reduced local business partners
–Friends of the Carlsbad Library
–San Diego Air & Space Museum
–San Diego Children's Discovery
Museum
–San Diego Natural History Museum
–Islands Restaurants
•No options for in-person
promotion—limited social media
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COVID-19: A Summer Like No Other, But…
•Third year online in Beanstack
–Familiarity for returning readers and staff
–Already vetted, no new contract approval
–No new system configurations, training or unplanned costs
•Use existing curbside service for fulfillment of reading rewards
–Reading rewards curbside pick-up began June 22
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Virtual Programs
•Facebook livestreams and videos
–Virtual family shows and storytimes
–Virtual concerts for adults
•YouTube prerecorded videos
–Baby Rhyme Time
–Mindful Movement
–Storytime Theater
•Zoom
–Virtual Summer Reading Author
Adventure series
–Read and Play Summer Club for kids
–Book clubs for tweens, teens and
adults
–Magic show for teens
–Virtual Teen Advisory Board (TAB)
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Digital Experiences
•Staff-created interactive, engaging
and educational experiences
–186 activities in Beanstack across the
five reading programs
–Interactive stories for children
–Escape rooms and adventure games
for children and teens
•Keeping readers and staff engaged
Imagine Your Story: Mystery in Carlsbad
■ I
The Bremen Town
Musicians
by Danielle Julian
2020 Virtual Summer Reading Adventure Statistics
•Registration: 1,194 (-72%)
•Minutes read: 491,957 (-74%)
•Finishers: 481 (-59%)
–2020: 72% of active participants
completed the program
–2019: 46% of active participants
completed the program
•Learning activities completed:
5,847
•Rewards collected via curbside
service: 1,880
•Virtual programs: 50
–1,214 live participants
–10,558 total views
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2020 Virtual Summer Reading Adventure Praise
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To: Librarian Library <librarian@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Thank you! (SRA)
Dear Library Staff,
Thank you so much for your hard work and creative efforts in continuing the Summer Reading Adventure! My
son is four and a half and is truly enjoying his second experience in completing the reading challenge. I can
only imagine that during this crisis, it poses extra work and energy on your staff and as a parent, and teacher,
I am greatly appreciative. From the online system, to holds and pickups, and rewards-it has been working
seamlessly for us. He was delighted that his reward books were even wrapped as a present and it felt like a
very special treat in the middle of summer at home. We can't wait to get back to the library when it is safe to
do so, but in the meantime we hope you know that we are so grateful for all the work you do to make reading
accessible to all.
With gratitude,
My 6 yr olds have been loving it too! Thank
you so much to all those who work at the library.
____ I wanted to thank you all for running the Summer
Reading Program ... I enjoy my travel mug and the bag! I started 2
courses on Great Courses, and enjoy the chance to stretch my
brain a bit more. Acom gives a nice addition for something to watch. Like · Reply -Message 1w Edited
Like · Reply · Message -1d
2020 Virtual Summer Reading Adventure Praise
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Questions?
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