Agenda today

1. Agenda today • Pages and Stages - Origins and mission • Walking garden still in works – • new library in a different site • Chenoa Public Library and Chenoa • Our book clubs as outreach • Another day, another book (our future) • Advice and lessons learned • What about you?

2. Pages and Stages From your untamed, unquiet local librarian Sheryl Siebert at Chenoa Public Library

3. All about “MOI”

4. Pages and Stages gets started • Some people never give up on an idea – idea of books to help people even before directorship • As a child MY LOCAL LIBRARY SAVED ME – I escaped and became smarter & happier, kind librarian there • I only look like I’ve been a library director forever - 1 year • My journey and CIMADA – nonfiction books as therapy • different stages = different pages • for example -

5. Evolution of my pages • John Bradshaw on The Family - dysfunctional family • Co-dependence, self-esteem • Divorce survival • Women Who Run with the Wolves • Weight loss • Menopause (sorry men) • – Weight loss, Thought and habit control • - Leadership • - Change • - Back to weight control

6. From civilian to bartender • Or- how My Pages and Stages Help my Library – Let YOUR uniqueness shine • Uniqueness to grow our programs – idea person, not afraid of CHANGE, outsider • I have a natural empathetic skin – good for small library – didn’t know I’d be a bartender - but we do serve coffee

7. Pages and stages = books + outreach • Pages and Stages - name of our book outreach program • Pages and Stages Mission – to join our community and books for the purpose of improving health and happiness • Pages and Stages includes all our book clubs – it’s the main way we reach out • Includes author visits and other events • A success still in the making– no reading garden/path yet, book clubs with fitness still evolving – updates later

8. Chenoa Public Library District • Chenoa Library serves 2,074 people • - Not a growing town • - Library budget around $80, 000 • - Supportive historical society, churches and businesses • - No community center • - No exercise center • Yet a GREAT LIBRARY Yet – New Technology Center • Yet– Amazing citizens and community spirit

9. Pages and stages • How we show the value of the Library • to the Community • and • That the Library values the Community

10. Monday Morning Book club • Guess when we meet - 14 ladies of a certain age • Share your culture book choices this year • Want me to pick books – they have a few criteria -

11. Monday Morning Book club requirements • Fun book • Happy ending • No biographies • Variety • Not brutal • Not about food or with recipes • Fiction • Easy reading – no keeping characters straight • Surprise ending

12. You want me to write in a book? • My scandalous idea – • write a mini-review in the book • Let them be Reader’s Advisors • Staff reminds readers or writes their words • for them • Examples – 50 Shades, Nora Roberts The Witness Another great thing about a small library

13. There’s always next month • They don’t like the book ?– There’s always next month • Next month for us - • and Brooklyn

14. Teen book club • 13 year olds – scared our male off • They DO things – I ask questions while they DO things • - May baskets, Tea parties, Laughter Yoga • Meet them where they are - A Child Called It – 1st choice • Exercise with them- “Isn’t yoga one of those weird religions” • Chenoa’s Got Talent

15. Did you say this was a dress event?

16. Laughter Club http://www.laughterourbestmedicine.com/ Also check out Laughter Clubs

17. We always have tea after laughter yoga

18. grooming future book club members

19. Tuesday night travelers • These books were made for walkin’ • We walk and talk !!! • Name a bit more creative • Wine and Wit • 4 Members - smaller can be better • Patron wanted a night group

20. Course in weight loss book club • Idea had to percolate • Almost ready to start walking • - in talk stage

21. Working off Your Fine Book Club • Four participants so far – • It’s working and so are they • Instead of losing customers, we’re creating regulars • Our non-judgmental staff helps • our success • Teaching themhow to be good users

22. Furry Reading - Saturday Morning

23. Furry Reading – Dogs caught sleeping on the job

24. Furry reading - and fun

25. Furry Reading buddies

26. Book clubs in the works • History Book Club - requested by 2 users - hoping to see that elusive book club creature – a man • Meadows Nursing Home – we’ll read them books of their era, doing book cart now • Then we have our oh so likeable Takota –

27. Takota Book Club – or - I didn’t even know I was in a book club – or sneaking them into a book club

28. From Bartender to Simon Bar Sinister • My ultimate plot – Pages and stages future • Library events for non-readers

29. not Yet a success clubs • Laughter Yoga • Yoga, Tai Chi – local gymnastics center • Veterans involved • Vision impaired – doing more now • Into the community – books to the church

30. as Bob says – “We can do it…” • Join all of Chenoa in a big library/reading adventure • Karaoke or bingo in the library • City Read -– EDD grant – Community Technology Center • Planned labyrinth or reading garden – am I the only human who walks and reads? • Peace meals reads • More author visits • Music events + Music room in new library

31. Music and memories in the library

32. Our journey to the future • Building a new library or joining with grade school in future • More regulars as they trust me – We treat them like visitors to our home • From “Yoga is a religion” – to – “I’m looking for the new yoga magazine” • Learned people join groups at the library to socialize - few want to walk • I still have lots to learn

33. sparkling book club names • Ladies of the Evening • Feast for the Mind • Toward Justice and Mysterious Undertakings • Dog-eared Readers • American Experience Book Club – Mill Valley, CA - Fiction • The American experience operates under the idea that there is no single American experience, as notions of what it means to be "American" have changed over time, and as the intersections of place, gender, race, and class inform these experiences. Join us as we explore classics and undiscovered literary gems that speak to the issues of the constantly changing face of American Identity. Ka,MN

34. More Sparkling book club names • Guys Read Book Club – grades 4-6 Radical Readers • Freedom Readers Thriller Book Club • Real to Reel Book Club Forever YA Book Club • Quarter-Life Crisis Knitting Between the Lines • Shakespeare Reading Group Just Desserts Mystery • Geeks who Read Omnivorous Readers

35. My Lowly Worm advice • Be A Fun Library • Keep it fun and light no matter the subject – make them laugh , • don’t make them apologize for missing an event • Check your Chicken at the Door • Try the new - Courage for Laughter Yoga • There WILL be failed ideas or ideas people are not ready for (Tai Chi, Laughter Yoga) • Throw idea out and wait ‘til the desire builds or the laughter stops – • if it doesn’t work, so what? Don’t dis yourself. • Be Your Unique Self • Celebrate and use the uniqueness of your readers or community • Trend here - cake pans to loan • Celebrate being a small library

36. More Lowly Worm advice • Be Psychic - be aware of the need (A Child Called It and abused girl in teen club) • Forget the Numbers - Not about the numbers for small libraries • Some don’t like change - Plant the seeds and wait • Patience my dear – Allow ideas to have their time and flow naturally from desire of patron, but as Simon Bar Sinister would say, sometimes you have to create the desire • Chenoa Library - Doing big library things in an intimate way Another great thing about a small library

37. Your turn • Questions • What about you? • What have you always wanted to try? Contact Sheryl - chenoapl@frontier.com