Several weeks ago, Carol Foreman, our children's librarian, came up with a bright idea. Why not make a library video to advertise this year's Summer Reading Program? She broached the idea to a local teacher (Karen Woods) and to a local parent/library volunteer (Laurel Iakovakis). Just a few weeks later, with the friendly and thoroughly professional assistance of the Arapahoe Community College, we've GOT a library video.
Most of the video involved children from the Academy Charter School. They wrote charming, sometimes very funny book reviews, memorized their own scripts, and put on some first class performances. They not only promoted their favorite books, they also get in a couple of plugs for the Douglas Public Library District.
They even let me be in the video -- twice (yet another advantage to being the boss). First, I got to introduce it. The ACC producers, at the suggestion of the kids in the studio audience, "beamed" me onto the set to say a few words. When I showed the final product to my daughter -- library shot, a silhouette of singing blue specks, then, suddenly, ME -- she said, with awe in her voice, "Daddy, how did you DO that?"
"Practice," I told her smugly. "And besides, I read a lot."
Second, I got to do the voice-over at the end of the piece. I talked about some of the things the library has got planned for this summer. To keep things interesting, the TV people put up some occasionally hilarious footage.
In some ways, it's kind of ironic: using a video to push books. But the way I see it, we'd be fools not to take advantage of every advertising tool at our disposal. We're not just pushing puffery here; we've got a product that stands for something.
The theme for this year's program is the same around the entire state of Colorado: Caught in the Book Web. So you'll probably see all kinds of (non-scary) spider art this summer. The idea is obvious: get caught up in books, and you'll find it hard to get out again. We hope.
The kickoff for this summer's program, at all of our branches, will be Sunday, June 12. Each of our branches will be open from 1 to 5 p.m.
Our Summer Reading effort is underwritten this year by our friends at TeleCommunications, Inc., and the Highlands Ranch Foundation. In addition to the usual book lists and prizes, the library will be providing a gaggle of unusual programs.
Here are the ones we'll hold not only at each of our branches, but for the first time ever, at our satellite libraries in Cherry Valley, Larkspur, and Roxborough.
HERPETOLOGY: Guided by the Colorado Herpetology Society, come get an up-close-and-personal view of some of your favorite reptiles and amphibians.
DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S K-9 UNIT: These 4 legged critters will thrill you with their skill and abilities. Come join us and meet the dogs of the K-9 unit.
DOG OBEDIENCE: Bring your own dog and learn the basics in obedience, or just come and watch. Also, we'll have a demonstration using the "smartest" dog in the world -- the Border Collie.
BEETLES, BUGS, BUTTERFLIES AND BOOKS: Take a closer look at the amazing little world of insects and their relatives. Explore with the Butterfly Consortium and see live spiders, scorpions, centipedes and other arthropods.
We'll also be having some other programs that we couldn't schedule for every location. Among these are CUTUPS CARRY ON (all ages); DREAMCATCHER (ages 5 and up); JUST FOR FUN: a preposterous play and silly songs (all ages); BUGS AND BEASTS (ages 3 and up); and SPIDER STORYTELLING (ages 5 and up). To find out which of these will be appearing at your branch, pick up one of our new calendar/bookmarks.
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