Monday, March 23rd 
Breakout Block Four 
10:30am – 11:20am EST

IN FREADOM to Read: Join the Movement, Tell Your Friends 

  • Presenter(s): Bee Gray-Chemey & Kyle Hickman 
  • Session Description: There is a brief presentation where we share updates from the Taskforce. Then, we will have some scenarios for participants to consider and collaborate on, to assist with practice in requesting that five friends sign up to receive information from and volunteer opportunities with IN FREADOM. 

Diverse BookFinder 

  • Presenter(s): Cetoria Tomberlin 
  • Session Description: In this session I will introduce attendees to the Diverse BookFinder, a "resource for librarians, educators, parents, book creators, and publishers who seek to create collections in which all children and young adults can see themselves and each other” reflected in the books they read." During the session I will give an overview of the database, demonstrate how to use it, and discuss my own experience being a volunteer coder. 

A Facilitator’s Gude to Immersive and Interactive Games 

  • Presenter(s): Julia Kilgore Session Description: In a community where transportation can be difficult to come by how does one entice youth and families to come to the library? By creating immersive and interactive gaming experiences! You’ve heard of Life-size Candy Land but have you thought about making your own life-size board game and making it even more interactive than a simple roll of the dice? How can you take a simple scavenger hunt and transform it into an immersive experience fit for all ages? How does one take simple group games and modify it to generate fun, interactive adventures for multi-age programming? From Pokemon Olympics, Life-size Mario Party Games, and interactive department-wide board games, to interactive scavenger hunts, we see how the Anderson Public Library has brought youth and their guardians/caregivers alike through its doors with these highly catered experiences that have wowed audiences. Learn what makes these programs appealing and how to create your own. This session will help attendees identify the hallmarks of a good interactive, immersive game-based program and what it takes to get buy-in from the patrons we serve. 

Picture Books are Perfect for Middle School and Beyond: Meeting State Standards 

  • Presenter(s): Jennifer Sniadecki 
  • Session Description: Although you should read stories to babies for developmental growth, picture books are a FORMAT that includes fiction and nonfiction for ALL ages. Picture books have complex plot lines and/or information that are meant for older learners, too. Upper elementary and secondary educators can teach vocabulary, setting, theme, and multiple perspectives using picture books. Grades 3-12 share common state standards and picture books' shorter length are PERFECT for your units of study.