HIT library opening

[Elena Rodriguez <erodrigu@PEN.K12.VA.US>]

Thanks to all of you who wrote and gave me tip on a a new
library celebration - I was asked to post a hit, so here goes:

from gerry solomon:

I have opened two new media centers, and these are some ideas I
have used for a "grand opening":

- invite a local storyteller to do sessions
- have a ribbon cutting for each class - tie a variety of
decorated ribbons around pillars or something.  Invite each
class in to cut "their" ribbon, then cut the
ribbon in 6-8" lengths that the students can keep as bookmarks
- throw a party:  make one or more pinata "champagne bottles"
filled with candy to "break" on the circ. desk; have someone play a piano in the
background, cut a cake etc. Use streamers for decorations.
- use a "cruise" theme for orientations.  Classes (primary
anyway) don paper life vests, receive "passports" and tour the various "locales"
(areas of the library) etc.

from richard shook:
specially printed bookmarks or other souvenirs;
make it more than one day:  invite staff, other building, other
librarians (public & special too), parents, school board;
show power of Net with Greetings from around the world;
have a poetry/story reading done by outsider;

from carla derrick:
 How about having greetings and congratulations from around your state come in b
 y
e-mail, print them out and have them posted and labeled as an example
of the broad reach of e-mail.

from anne hird:

One of our librarians here in Providence just had a great open
house at which she arranged new books by broad subject areas on the
library tables and provided coffee and pastry for teachers. Teachers turned
out in force and many left lists of books that were then delivered to them
after the open house ended.

This doesn't help with kids' activities, except that the
students can help set up, as it turns out a good exercise in categorizing and
identifying subject areas. Also, you might have a few students
as "guides" for the teachers.

Thanks for all your good thoughts -  you were great!

Elena
;-)
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Elena Rodriguez                                        Library Media Specialist
Gunston Middle School     2700 S. Lang Street               Arlington, VA 22206
703 358-6957                FAX 703 358-6910             erodrigu@pen.k12.va.us
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