Houston Public Library

Kids will be kids! We spend a lot of time asking them to put their shoes on the boot rack, pick up and put away the games they have been playing with, put their garbage in the trash can... There are days when we feel like we are glorified babysitters! And so we launched the Star Bucks incentive program. We created simple little forms about the size of a business card (see photos). When we notice a child doing something good - like putting her shoes on the rack, or cleaning up after himself, we reward them with a Star Buck! When any child has collected five Star Bucks, they can then use them to "purchase" an entry for a prize draw. Puzzles, Lego, magic kits, books, games... fun stuff that kids will like.

It didn't take long for the kids to catch on. We do not give them a Star Buck every time they do something good - just often enough for them to keep doing it. And we try to reward individual kids for doing different things.

We did not advertise what kinds of things the kids needed to do to earn a Star Buck. We wanted the behaviors to come from them rather than be dictated by us. Once a few kids started receiving the Star Bucks, they quickly started "policing" their peers and encouraging them to follow suit.

We had a few prizes to start out with, but we are now seeking donations from businesses to help sponsor the prizes. In exchange we offer public acknowledgement of the business and invite a representative from the business to present the prize. There is no set time between prize draws. Once there are a sufficient number of entries (about every 2 or 3 months) we hold the draw and make it a bit of an event. That way it is easier to coordinate with prize donors to be there.

Connecting with patrons - and non-patrons - electronically is fast becoming a must for libraries. One great way to do this is by posting a series of podcasts. The sky's the limit for content. Feature your library's services or programs and use the podcasts to promote them. Or host a StoryTime type podcast and have fun reading bedtime stories. Busy parents might just thank you when they need a night off once in a while. You could just read stories for fun, too!

You can invite local "celebrities" to share their stories, or partner with local businesses or organizations to be featured - NOT as advertisements! - with a chance to tell their stories to the community.

There are literally endless possibilities. At HPL we are doing a 10-post series called The Raven's Next Chronicles that is featuring local people reading their original short stories or poems or performing music they have written. We are partnering with local schools and the college as well as inviting the general public to submit their work for this project.

It's not as difficult as you might think. All you need are: an iPhone or Android phone, a free app called Voice Recorder Pro, a YouTube Account, Movie Maker (Windows) or Garage Band (Apple), a name for your podcast and a logo or graphic to brand your series with.

It's all kinds of fun to do! And with a little bit of practice, you'll be podcasting like a pro!

Below is a link to a sample podcast. (The actual series is still being produced.)

Games for Grownups is a monthly evening program where adults can gather for some kid-free time and play board and card games. It's pretty simple and easy to facilitate. We set up tables around the library, set out some games, some pop and chips and let people choose what they want to play. We get couples and singles attending. Groups of friends arrive to challenge each other, or mix with new people.