Teaching Kitchen

Several of you have inquired with KBA about acquiring a "teaching kitchen" for your library for indoor and outdoor programming use. We have found a good option to fit many of your needs. This would be an excellent Friends of the Library purchase or a good donor option for many. 

The Charlie Cart is currently located in 11 public libraries across the U.S. The company ships twice a year in the spring and fall. They are taking orders now for their Fall 2018 shipment, which they expect to ship in September / October 2018. The total cost is $10,000 and includes the mobile kitchen, tools/equipment, appliances, curriculum and training, as well as a flat shipping and handling rate. 

Library Grapples with Need to Change...

Like many libraries today, the Indianapolis-Marion County (IN) Public Library (IMCPL) is grappling with changing and evolving into a 21st century library while having to cut back at the same time. Take a look at this Indy Star article to find out how IMCPL is handling things.

A few interesting ideas that came from the article include:

IMCPL -- When administrators took note of the large homeless population using the Central Library, they partnered with the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention to set aside a quiet room for the group to conduct outreach. The group also visits the Central Library a few times a week to look for people they know are homeless and might need services.

Darien Public Library (CT) -- Many who were employed in the New York City financial market lost their jobs, so the library started an early-morning program called "Monday at Seven." Every week, when these professionals would normally be heading off to work, the library opens early and lets them gather there for coffee, bagels and networking.

Hall County (GA) -- The agricultural-based community voiced the need for a new farmers market, so one library branch donated a location and extra hands for setup. On days the market is open, that branch has seen door counts double, and administrators said library card sign-ups have increased.

Library Construction, Preservation, and Training Funding

Public and academic libraries will receive a slice of the $20 million in grants that the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded for 319 humanities projects, including traveling exhibitions, research fellowships and faculty research, the preservation of humanities collections, and educational programs for libraries, museums, and archives.

Find out more. Check out the Library Journal article from 12/28/09, "NEH Grants Support Library Construction, Preservation, Training."

Get it Loud in Libraries

A friend and colleague Stewart Parsons has been integral in the "Get It Loud In Libraries" initiative, a campaign run by Lancashire County Council in the UK. They have been putting on gigs in libraries for four years now, but the Juliette Lewis show has been the most popular so far. Check out this article.

Board and Card Game Ideas for Teens

Here is a great list of board and card game ideas compiled from the YA-YAAC listserv. I thought this might be helpful to those of you looking for ideas.I hope it helps.

YA-YAAC Board and Card Game Ideas

Hasbro Information & Jackson (MO) Jr. High

Many have been inquiring about the Hasbro games and Monopoly tournament that I mentioned in my Fall workshops. Mary Pensel, the truly creative librarian at Jackson (MO) Junior High School, was kind enough to share her information with me so I could share it with others.

If you go directly to the Monopoly website there is a downloadable "Tournament Guide" that will give you the scoop. For further inquiries try contacting Hasbro. I have additional contact information from Mary if you need it. Let me know. Thanks, Mary!