At the Ramapo Catskill Library System’s Annual Meeting on September 6, the Florida Public Library was announced as the winner of the 2024 RCLS Member Library Young Adult Program of the Year for its Check It Out Teen Box Box program.
Sparked by a New York Library Association youth programming session, the library’s “Check It Out Teen Book Box” was born. The boxes are geared towards teens in grades 6-12. Every other month the library would feature a themed box filled with surprises and a snack. Each box also included a book curated just for each reader. Teens had to complete a registration survey that assisted staff in selecting appropriate titles. Since the books are selected by library staff based on the teens’ interests, it was a great way for teens to read books based on their favorite genres, or to branch out and try something new.
Every bi-monthly box spotlighted a new theme. The library kicked off the program with a sports & hobbies theme. The “kick-off’ box was stuffed with all sorts of goodies such as headphones, notebook/pen, stickers and a special decorate your own cookie. Also included in each box was a rating card so staff could make better selections for each reader. Other box themes included Earth Day, “I Can’t Wait for Summer,” Manga/Anime, Spoooktacular Book Box and Winter Holidays.
Advertising for the boxes included flyers, videos on both our library and teen Instagram pages and Facebook. A sample box was also on display in the Teen section of the library. The also partnered with the local middle and high school Librarian to help introduce the box to a larger audience. The box was on display in the school library and she made sure to highlight it to her students.
“Teens are an audience that we struggle to get in the library,” comment Library Director Meg Sgombick. “Since the teens have to come to the library to pick up and return their boxes we saw some new faces in our teen section,” added Sgombick.
For more information about the library and its upcoming Fall Programs, please visit www.floridapubliclibrary.org or call (845) 651-7659. The library is located at 4 Cohen Circle in the Village of Florida.
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