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How to Develop a
Club Library
"A library is more than a room full
of books," declares Ann Abdoo, a Board member of the
SuAnne Big Crow Boys & Girls Club and former librarian
of 30 years.
When the Pine Ridge, South Dakota Club began
planning for a new building, Ann led the charge of
fundraising and developing the used book collection into an
organized, state-of-the art library.
After collaborating with Club staff and other Board members,
Ann drafted a purpose and scope that became a more defined
plan as the process of setting up the library evolved. Once
the goals of the library were established, she was better
equipped to organize the Club's used book collection, develop
a new book list, conduct fundraising efforts and put together
the organizational plan for how the library would operate.
"Once the room started to look like a ''real library"
and community members saw it was being managed and someone
was taking care of it, they would offer to help with funding,"
Anne explains.
The library now has over 2,000 volumes and a searchable,
computerized card catalog. Anne did extensive research to
expand the titles appropriately for Club members. The collection
is aligned with BGCA's core programs and has a Native American
specialty.
"In support of the BGCA Character and Leadership program,
there are biographies on Native leaders such as Chief Red
Cloud and Crazy Horse as well as leaders like Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. For the Education & Career program, there is
a range from Lands and Peoples encyclopedias to sample resume
books," Ann describes.
The Club is also lucky to have a staff member with library
experience. Karen McCreary has been managing the library since
October 2003 and is creative in designing programs to get
members involved with the library. She has designed an award
program for reading, book discussions, monthly themes and
story time sessions with younger members.
She aims to help the youth discover what books can to do
for them. This can lead to more entertainment than they anticipate.
"We have a book on playing card games so now we have
a group learning how to play 'Crazy Eights' and 'Go Fish'
using the rules from the book," she details.
The Club is also working with the South Dakota Public Library
System to participate in the national Summer Reading program.
The state has an inter-library loan system that serves rural
and underserved areas and the Club is hoping to become part
of the system.
"Ultimately, I am constantly trying new ways to encourage
our members to explore the library and grow to love books,"
she concludes.
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