Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could plan to do as an alternate to having a Summer Reading Club this summer? I have had what I thought was great success with Summer Reading Clubs but decided to have a Winter Reading Club with Preschoolers and Home Schoolers in January and it is continuing to go on into February which is depleteing the portion of the Library Budget designated for Reading Clubs.( I have awarded them with gifts cards to our local Christian Bookstore with a value based on their reading efforts) And by the way, it has been more successful than any of the Summer Reading Clubs I have ever had! They have read beyond any of our expectations which has in turn more than tripled our circulation records for the winter months! Any ideas would be appreciated! Thanks! Amy Gamble
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We use small toys from Oriental Trading Company, too, and that has been successful in previous years. We posted the "top" readers names in the Sunday bulletin, which thrilled the parents.
Martha Jo Dendinger
Amy Gamble > Martha Jo DendingerFebruary 10, 2010 22:27
Amy,
We have had the best success in increased circulation by giving out gift cards, too. However, this summer will be our first without gift cards for a couple of reasons. We are moving to a new building and aren't sure of the date so that will give us less bookwork to deal with. Since we are moving, we have determined to be as budget conscious as possible since we don't know what unexpected expenditures might occur. So this year for rewards, we will be giving "toys" from companies like Oriental Trading and Kipp. Sugarless gum is another prize the children enjoy a lot. I expect our circulation will be reduced due to the lack of gift cards but it's only one summer. I love summer reading because we get students from the public school who do not stay in Christian Literature throughout the year.
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Martha Jo Dendinger
We have had the best success in increased circulation by giving out gift cards, too. However, this summer will be our first without gift cards for a couple of reasons. We are moving to a new building and aren't sure of the date so that will give us less bookwork to deal with. Since we are moving, we have determined to be as budget conscious as possible since we don't know what unexpected expenditures might occur. So this year for rewards, we will be giving "toys" from companies like Oriental Trading and Kipp. Sugarless gum is another prize the children enjoy a lot. I expect our circulation will be reduced due to the lack of gift cards but it's only one summer. I love summer reading because we get students from the public school who do not stay in Christian Literature throughout the year.