HIT: SEC: Library Literary Cafe

[Vicki Sherouse <sherouse@MARSWEB.COM>]

Well, things are moving along and I have all the permissions to go ahead.  I
am going to do two days to accommodate more classes.  For entertainment I
have the following:  the drama classes are going to do Dr. Seuss stories as
skits, a teacher has memorized "Howl" and some other Beat poets so he will
do 2 periods, a student is giving a list of kids who play guitar, I have
gotten wonderful support from the local authors to come read,  the
speech/debate coach has some kids who do oral interp. lined up, and our own
creative writing students. If I don't have enough lined up by mid-week I am
going to call the creative writing department at University of Montana (in
our town) and try to get some students to read.  The biggest problem will be
getting the 220 socket for the espresso cart!

Several people forwarded great ideas below:



I've been doing a "Poetry Coffee House" during National Library Week(also
National Poetry Month) the past couple of years.  We've provided the decaf
coffee, tea, punch & cookies; students & teachers have provided the poetry
readings.  Some classes come with poems preselected, some browse through the
books I set out for them.  The first year I bought a bunch of "little
magazines"
but they weren't read much. I still put them out.  We play soft music.  I'm
still trying to get some live music. I tell them the teacher must approve
the
poems read! We've had some read original poetry & some recite from memory.
Also
a lot of Silverstein. It's been quite popular -- no problem so far filling
the
time slots -- some classes come for the entire block, some just for half.
The
students love the refreshments. We use library fine money for this.
I like your ideas; maybe I'll try to incorporate some of them this year.


.  I do an afterschool coffee house a few times a year where the food is
free and poetry, improv group, acoustical guitars, etc., are encouraged.  I
would love another name besides coffee house.

Cheryl B. Adams, Media Generalist
Patuxent


We sponsor coffeehouse@thelibrary every few months.  We offer free hot
chocolate/cappuccino to all high school students during our homeroom time.
 Student musical groups perform in the background, sometimes we have
poetry readings, books are on display.  The students really appreciate the
change of pace.

Vicki, a public library I knew used to do a cafe thing at street fairs
and called themselves, "Cafe la Bibliotheque" (my spelling may be off!
check your French Dept! ) Great Idea! patty

We did something similar last April to celebrate School Library Media
Month and it was a great success!! Ours was a one-day event. We called it
"Thanks-a-lotte" and we coordinated it through the social studies
department. I set up all the new books all over the media center so kids
could browse. We set up a schedule - our media center isn't huge so we
could only accommodate a certain number of kids at one time. We didn't
charge for the hot chocolate - each student got a hot chocolate and a
cookie - teachers got coffee. The PTO helped us fund it and it was a
wonderful success. We got everyone through - administrators were impressed
- and it was a nice promo for our Media Center.

We could have used a few more volunteer - it's quite a bit of work and
preparation - buying cups and chocolate and cookies and napkins, etc but I
say go for it! And good luck!




Vicki Sherouse, Librarian
Sentinel High School
Missoula, Montana
sherouse@marsweb.com

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