2024 Summer Reading Summit
Join us for the 2024 Summer Reading Summit, held in conjunction with Pop YS Con!
Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA 50010
Registration Fee: $20 (includes a box lunch)
About the Summit
With Summer fast approaching, it’s time to put the finishing touches on your plans for Summer Library Programming! The Summer Reading Summit is designed to help you do just that. We’ll talk about how to take care of yourself during this busy season, how to connect with patrons on the issues important to them (particularly teens), and best practices for programming for all ages not only in the summer, but all year round!
We’ll also feature examples of programs, crafts, and books for all ages using the iREAD theme (“Read, Renew, Repeat”). Going themeless or using another theme? There will still be a lot you can apply and contribute! Throughout the day you’ll have ample time to network with other librarians: sharing what you’re excited about for summer, and hearing others talk about programming, outreach, and more.
University of Iowa professor Dr. Jonathan Platt will deliver a keynote at the summit titled Young People and Mental Health: What do we know? What do we do?
At the end of this interactive summit, Janeé will leave newbies and seasoned pros alike feeling inspired and ready to take on Summer Reading and encourage patrons to Read, Renew, and Repeat!
Questions about the Summit? Contact Janeé Jackson-Doering
Full Summit Schedule
Time |
Event |
Facilitator |
| 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. | Keynote: Summer Reading Resilience: Making Summer Work For You | Janeé Jackson-Doering State Library of Iowa |
| 10:00 - 10:15 a.m. | Break | |
| 10:15 - 10:55 a.m. | Small Group Discussions | |
| 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Keynote: In-the-Bag Programming: Ideas You can Run with Any Time of Year! | Maryann Mori State Library of Iowa |
| 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. | Networking Lunch | |
| 12:45 - 1:15 p.m. | Small Group Discussions | |
| 1:15 - 1:30 p.m. | Break | |
| 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Keynote: Young People and Mental Health: What do we know? What do we do? | Dr. Jonathan Platt University of Iowa College of Public Health |
Keynote Information
Summer Reading Resilience: Making Summer Work For You
Let’s face it - Summer Reading can be both rewarding and demanding. Join Youth Services Consultant Janeé Jackson-Doering to learn about what makes youth librarians resilient during this busy season and how to avoid burnout. She’ll also share ways to make your Summer Library Program successful whether you’re using a theme or no theme and discuss what pitfalls to avoid.
In-the-Bag Programming: Ideas You can Run with Any Time of Year!
Having a set of standard, more “generic” programming ideas can help you be prepared for most any programming need. Use these prepared programs during any season, with any age group, in most any environment. Learn how to use a simple template to plan your own generic programs, how to best store your ideas and props, and how to modify such programs to fit with a given theme if needed.
Young People and Mental Health: What do we know? What do we do?
Adolescence is a period in life that is perhaps best described by change, which occurs across physiological, psychological, behavioral, and social systems. For some adolescents, negotiating such change may lead to mental health challenges. Recent trends have indicated that adolescent mental health patterns have changed compared with previous generations. In this session we will describe those changes, evaluate the proposed reasons for them, and discuss strategies to support the mental health of young people.
Presenter bio:
Dr. Jonathan Platt is a social and psychiatric epidemiologist who studies changes in the population patterns of mental illness and suicide across place and time, in order to identify key targets to improve mental health and reduce group disparities. He is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health.
