Grant to help librarian market her wares
By Jennifer Meyer, Times Staff Writer – Omaha, NE
12/12/2006
Racked with worry about your reluctant reader? Parents have reason for concern – research shows that middle-school-age boys read less and score lower on standardized reading tests than girls. Intelligence rarely factors in, the experts say.
It’s commonly known that a boy’s notion for motion, his need to speed often overrides parental pleas to read, so Joni Wilder, assistant director of the La Vista Public Library appealed to the La Vista Community Foundation for funds to hook the guys into making regular hikes to the library.
Wilder’s plan is to visit La Vista elementary schools and promote a parent-son book club. She’s currently compiling a list of paperbacks with guy-appeal for a discussion-activity hour once a week at the library.
Her 2007 marketing-the-library strategy also aims to lure some competitive spirit by starting a chess club for upper elementary and middle school boys and girls.
Bob Woodward, Ralston’s resident chess expert, will be there to teach the game’s basic skills and strategies with Wilder slipping in a few books about chess. She will also use the $500 of motivation money from the foundation to purchase board games and invite parents and children to regular family game nights.
The full article can be read here.
Good for the librarian. I hope more would do the same,