Tag Archive for: joplinpubliclibrary

Teen Space at the Library

Since we recently welcomed our NEW Teen Services Librarian to Joplin Public Library, we wanted to remind our patrons about the Teen Department at the Library.  Our young adult materials are housed in this area, along with computers, a quiet study space, homework help, an art wall, take- home kits, and other resources specifically designed for teens.  Patrons outside of the 12-18 range are welcome to actively browse and check out materials from the Teen Department, but gathering in the space is reserved for patrons aged 12-18 years old.  Having this space reserved for them is meant to show teenagers that they matter to the Library, and allow them to explore, create, and participate in the Library.  

Why a Teen Department?

Everyone, no matter their age, needs a safe space they feel welcome.  After school and recreational centers aren’t as common as they once were, or may present a financial barrier to those needing them.  A Teen space in the public library not only encourages reading and lifelong learning, but is  also where teens can relax, pursue their interests, hang out with friends, and just be themselves.

According to the American Library Association, a teen-only space can: 

  • Indicate to teens that the library cares about their unique developmental, recreational, educational, and social needs. 
  • Enable teens to be themselves in a teen-friendly environment. 
  • Help teens feel more at ease in the library.
  • Help contain noise levels that may be distracting to other patrons. 
  • Contribute to the safety and well-being of teens while in the library.

Wait, JUST Teens?

Most, if not all, adults understand that just hanging out in the Children’s Department without a child is not allowed, and that children are not allowed to roam the adult areas unaccompanied by an adult.  Yet many adults seem to think it is fine for them to sit in the teen section, read their book, surf the web, or work.

Why do adults want to use the space in the library specifically designated for teens?  Some see the teen space as unoccupied and decide it is a good, quiet place for them since other adults are occupying the adult section where they want to sit.  Some do not understand that teenagers, seeing an adult ignoring library policy, may not feel comfortable using the space designated for them.

Just as teens will avoid a designated teens-only space if it is being used by adults, they will not use the space if children occupy it.  Older children ages 9–11 (sometimes called tweens) often want to imitate teen culture and engage in teen activities. They may feel the Children’s Department is “too young” for them, even though our Children’s Department has spaces dedicated to this age group.  If older children are allowed to gather in the designated teen space, the library has, in effect, developed two children’s spaces: one for younger children and one for older children—with teens having no space just for them.

 

What Space Can I Use?

Joplin Public Library is filled with many other spaces to be used by the public.  For adults, we offer meeting rooms that can be reserved, study/quiet rooms, reading and relaxing spaces throughout the reference area, and tables, chairs and other comfortable areas in Local History and the Post Art Library.

Children and families should check out the many areas of the Children’s Department.  While we do have areas dedicated to babies and toddlers, we also have areas suited for older kids and early tweens.  The Department features play areas, reading nooks, tables and chairs and a Family Computer Room as well.

Libraries are for everyone, and JPL strives to ensure that all our patrons have access to spaces designed for them to feel comfortable and safe. 

Coming Soon: Summer Reading 2024

Pollinator Garden Buzz!

Summer Reading is OVER!

Joplin Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program began May 30th and will run through July 23rd, with the theme “All Together Now”. 

No Library card is required to participate in the Summer Reading Program; however, for the third year, the Joplin Public Library is extending the offer of a free Summer Reading Library card to EVERYONE! No matter your age, or where you live, you are eligible for a free JPL card to be used from May 30 through July 31. You may check out physical items from the Library including books, DVDs, and more – AND – you can use the card to access our digital resources. As always, Joplin Public Library cards are always free for in-city residents of Joplin, simply bring a recent piece of mail and your photo ID to the Library to register.

The JPL Summer Reading Program is a free program designed to keep the public reading, learning, and discovering all summer. After sign-up, children, teens, and adults alike will participate by tracking the minutes they read or listen to their favorite materials (books, magazines, newspaper, audiobooks, etc) on a paper gameboard that is handed out in the Library, or on the easy, free, and fun “Beanstack” app. Goals for each age group are set accordingly, and are very achievable. Adults will allow pre-readers to participate by tracking the amount of time spent reading to the young child. As participants achieve their reading goals, and complete fun and interactive self-moderated activities, they will earn prizes, plus, entries into generous grand prizes giveaways that are made possible thanks to many local sponsors! All participation is self-guided and completely optional.

Another aspect of the Summer Reading Program is fun, educational, and theme-based Library-hosted events. Summer events include the Library’s regular child-friendly programs – storytimes, lego club, dog day afternoon reading times, and books clubs – but families can also enjoy special programs courtesy of nationally known speakers who will visit Joplin. The list includes The Fishin’ Magicians, Will Parker, Jay & Leslie’s Laughing Matters, Mad Science, and Fire Dog!  Teens will have several chances to connect thanks to partnerships – one with the Missouri Department of Conservation for an escape room program and two others with the Library’s Makerspace, which will allow teens to test out their creativity and undertake random acts of kindness. Plus, traditional offerings of chess and anime/manga will remain on the slate of events.  New to the lineup for adults are monthly opportunities for yoga, a crosswords and coffee, and an anime/manga meetup. The public is invited to participate in the variety of programs, as desired. Find the comprehensive calendar of events here: https://www.joplinpubliclibrary.org/calendar/

Registration for the Summer Reading Program is ongoing, visit joplinpubliclibrary.org/summer-reading to sign up today!

NEW Virtual Tour

Have you ever been unsure of where to go as you entered the library?  Are you using the same resources over and over because you don’t know what else we may have to offer?  Our NEW virtual tour is for YOU!  We hope this tour will allow you to find your way in the library, and encourage you to learn more about all the amazing community resources we provide!

Iconic Joplin

The Library’s Teen Department has participated in an exciting opportunity highlighting local history research and STEM skills. Iconic Joplin is a contest in which teams of 12-16 year-olds study a Joplin-area landmark and recreate it in LEGOs. It is an official event of Joplin’s Sesquicentennial celebration this year.

Thirty teens divided up into six teams which worked together over the next four months. The teams kicked off their work in December 2022 by getting to know each other, selecting a landmark, formulating an initial plan for their build, and creating a mini-build to symbolize their group. As they researched their sites, teams had access to local history resources including primary source material to help them. On the construction side, teams had an option to consult with an expert (engineer, architect, LEGO master, etc.).  Teams had the option for a site visit, where appropriate. Each team also had a modest budget they could spend on specialty LEGOs for their build.  

The Joplin Public Library was one of three local sites hosting Iconic Joplin teams along with the Joplin History & Mineral Museum and the Creative Learning Alliance, our local STEAM center. Host sites partnered to provide space, staff assistance, and guidance during the eight Saturday sessions it took to create the builds. 

The six landmarks chosen ranged from historic to contemporary buildings to geographic features of the area. One of the teams hosted by the Joplin Public Library portrayed Grand Falls, a picturesque waterfall that was a recreational hotspot at the turn of the 20th century, and utilized both light and motorized elements to create the falls. Another Library team picked our new building as a contemporary landmark, depicting it cutaway-style to showcase both the exterior elements and interior decor. Teams from the Joplin History & Mineral Museum also used cutaway-style builds to recreate their landmarks, Crystal Cave (a mineral-rich underground cave/recreational spot) and the garage apartment site of the infamous 1933 shootout with Bonnie and Clyde. Teams working at the Creative Learning Alliance built Joplin’s Union Depot, a transportation hub for the area, and the Olivia Apartments, a historic building which had burned prior to recent renovations.

The teams’ completed builds went on display to the public April 13 at Joplin’s Spiva Center for the Arts. The LEGO landmarks will be available for viewing there through May 13.  The public is invited to vote for their favorite Iconic Joplin build; brief videos about the builds along with voting are available at https://tally.so/r/3q4lK7 The contest will culminate in an awards ceremony on June 8 to present prizes for people’s choice, technical skill, authenticity, and creativity.

An adventure which has been much more than just piecing plastic bricks together, Iconic Joplin has provided opportunities for teens to explore their community, creativity, problem solving, and analytical skills. 

Iconic Joplin is the creation of local entrepreneur, Lisa Nelson, who envisioned a way to provide teens with opportunities to build STEM skills while creating ties to their communities. Nelson’s venture, Landmark Builds, was born while constructing LEGO sets with her teenage son and was developed through the Idea Accelerator program of Builders and Backers.

MLA Conference 2022

In an effort to better serve our patrons, Library staff are continually learning and growing in their fields. Recently, several Joplin Public Library staff attended the Missouri Library Association Conference, held in Springfield, MO. The focus of this year’s conference was reconnection with a goal of envisioning what is next for libraries, engaging staff, and empowering patrons.

Each staff member was able to choose which lectures to attend with choices like Performers Showcase, Library Outreach 101, Readers Advisory, and more! JPL’s Library Director, Jeana Gockley, was a featured presenter. Her talk, “From the Ground Up: Creating a Friends of the Library”, was well attended.

Another highlight from the conference was that Christina Matekel-Gibson, JPL’s Children’s Librarian, was awarded the Patt Behler Call-to-Conference Award. The Patt Behler Call-to-Conference Award is sponsored by the Youth Services Community of Interest (YSCI) and is offered to introduce working librarians to the activities and programs of Missouri Library Association (MLA) and YSCI and to encourage involvement and on-going participation in the professional activities of those organizations.

In speaking about the conference, Matekel-Gibson said, “I enjoyed being able to connect with librarians from all over the state to share ideas and celebrate our mutual love for libraries and literacy. The opening keynote with Marlene Chism about moving from conflict to connection was especially impactful!”

Each staff member is excited to put into practice what they have learned, and are already looking forward to next year’s conference!

 

New Penworthy STEAM Kits Announced

Joplin Public Library has added twelve STEAM and phonics kits to their collection, thanks to a Missouri State Library-funded grant. These kits are geared toward children and teens, and library cardholders can check out one kit at a time for three weeks.

Four kits will be housed in the Teen Department and can be checked out at the Teen Desk or Reference Desk, and eight will be housed in the Children’s Department and can be checked out at the Children’s Desk.

The STEAM-to-GO kits contain high and low-tech toys and games from Penworthy books that are designed to foster hands-on learning. Available STEAM kits include: Money, Math, and Economics; Letters and Numbers; Yoga for Mindfulness; Tot Game Night; Green Energy; Building and Design; Explore the Outdoors; and Family Game Night. Available phonics kits include: Ready, Set, Kindergarten; Biscuit Phonics; Pete the Cat Loves Preschool; and Little Critters Phonics.

STEAM-based learning is foundational in helping children and teens develop a variety of skills, including problem-solving, collaborative learning and critical thinking through hands-on learning. Though the Library currently offers select STEAM kits, this grant allows the Children’s and Teen departments to meet the needs of more families in more diverse ways.

This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

For information on these kits or to reserve one, visit the Library’s catalog at https://www.joplinpubliclibrary.org and search “STEAM to go,” or contact the Children’s or Teen Departments (417-623-7953).

Young Artists Gallery Exhibit

We’re glad to partner with Post Art Library for the inaugural exhibit of our Young Artists Club!

Open to children through age 12, the Young Artists Club meets monthly to learn new art techniques and make artwork. Exhibited here are their self-portraits, which they learned how to create in April.

Join us on Friday, May 13th from 4pm-5pm for the Young Artists Gallery closing reception.

For more information about the Young Artists Club, visit the Children’s Library or call 417-623-7953 x 1035.

Art in the library is curated by Post Art Library.

PAL Holiday Tea to feature The Opus 76 Quartet

This year, we’ve partnered with Post Art Library and Pro Musica to bring The Opus 76 Quartet to the library for the annual PAL Holiday Tea!

Join us on Saturday, December 4, 2021 for one of two performances:

  • 10-10:45AM: Enjoy a delightful morning Bach-a-Bye Baby performance featuring author/narrator Leia Barrett in a new musical take on the classic tale of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.”
  • 2-3:00PM: Enjoy an afternoon performance of classical string quartet favorites. Specifically, A. Dvorak: Quartet No.12 in F Major, “American,” Op.96 and The Danish String Quartet: Selections from Woodworks. At the end of this performance, PAL will give away their take-home Holiday Tea kits while supplies last.

From its hometown of Kansas City, The Opus 76 Quartet has become recognized in journals worldwide for its entertaining and energetic interpretations of the classics. Which is to say we are very excited to welcome them to our library!

These programs are free and open to the public. Registration not necessary.

PLEASE NOTE: in an effort to offer safe programming, masks will be required for all attendees ages 2 and older (per CDC guidelines), regardless of vaccination status.

The 2021 PAL Holiday Tea is a partnership between Post Art Library, Pro Musica, and Joplin Public Library. For more information about this event, contact PAL Director Jill Halbach at 417-623-7953 x1041 or jhalbac@postartlibrary.org.