Let Grow Details

The Let Grow campaign begins Monday. Since I won’t be in, I set up the raffle boxes, slips, and a prize box at the display table next to Borrower Services. Information about Let Grow, with a QR code to the website, is on the prize box table.
BorSer staff just need to give each participant a prize. The slips are with the raffle boxes. If prizes run out, another box is in my office.  There are already 57 participants signed up!

Pay It Forward Tutors

We have two teen tutoring groups as we end the school year that are earning service hours. One is through Meghan M. and they know to come to the Ref desk to sign in for their hours. They only do these sessions on Saturday afternoons, and it is almost over.

The second one is through Michelle, and it’s called Pay It Forward. They know to come to the GF desk to check in. There is a labeled binder at the desk they use to sign in and out. Please hand them the binder to do so. They come in during school days.

If you have any questions, please see Michelle or Meghan.

Social RX

The library has joined the organization SocialRx, formerly known as Art Pharmacy, to help medical providers connect patients with programs and events at a variety of institutions, including libraries.  We won’t know who is participating when they come into the library; this is all anonymous.  I’ve attached a reference sheet along with the information document that Amy shared with Town Department Heads.

All that staff need to know is that this organization does the following: 

WHAT IS SOCIALRX?

SocialRx (formerly Art Pharmacy) is a national social prescribing platform that connects healthcare providers with community organizations such as libraries, arts centers, and cultural institutions to support patients facing mental health challenges, social isolation, and loneliness.

The concept is called a “social prescription”: instead of (or alongside) clinical treatment, a doctor or care team refers a patient to community-based activities and programs. Research shows that participation in arts and culture programming can support mental health and reduce isolation.

Per Desiree: Non-pharmaceutical “prescriptions” are gaining attention, for example, the author of The Connection Cure was recently interviewed in the Friends Speaker Series

If patrons are interested in this service, they need to speak with their medical providers. 

Reminder-Outside Organization Events

We’ve had several calls today about a Reading Neighbors Event happening here at the library. We no longer have a separate calendar for outside events on the website.

To find information about an external organization’s event held at the library, check the Today at the Library schedule, which is located at each service desk. If they are looking for a future event, feel free to search Reserve on CommunicoInstructions for searching are here. For more detailed information, direct questions back to the organization running the program.

 

Adult Book Club Books

Adult Book Clubs will return in September. Studio 64 is an RPL book group, and Fact or Fiction is patron-facilitated but we help them with getting books and promotion.

At Andrea’s direction, these will be displayed for patrons on the pedestals in front of the Borrower Services desk, next to other reader advisory items and Friends Speaker Series titles.

Please point patrons to this area, or send them to Reference if they have questions.

Thank you!

What to do with your great program photos

If you take photos at your programs that can be used in future social media, newsletter, or for other promotion – you can upload them to a dedicated folder on our shared staff drive! The trail is: Reading Public Library Staff>Photos & Graphics for PR…

Folders are set up by year and month. When you upload your photos please label them with the program name. You can create a folder within the month to drop them in as well – that helps keep things organized. For example, in June’s folder Lucy set up a folder for Summer Sizzler photos (thank you!). It doesn’t matter if it’s a big program like Sizzlers, feel free to use this spot for just a few photos as well.

You’ll also see a folder called Staff & Museum Photos – if you’re out and about enjoying a museum pass and you’d like to share the experience – add the photos there (please label them). These can be used that’s for Librarians in the Wild posts or in the newsletter.

Any questions, suggestions? Let me know.