This past year I have been taking part in a variety of fantasy sports leagues for the first time. I started with a fantasy baseball league last spring and now I am hooked. I learned that in addition to being very fun fantasy leagues are often free. So why not create some sort of library program around a fantasy league for the teens in the library.

This would be a very easy thing to do. You can find these leagues through a variety of sources such as Yahoo, ESPN, CBS, as well as a host of other places, and as I mentioned above, many of them are free. The librarian would have to establish the league and act as commissioner, which means they control the league settings and rules. Then it is simply a matter of getting an email address for any teen that wants to play and inviting them to join the league. This is all that is necessary to have a fun ongoing program throughout the season of whatever sport you are using.

There is however a lot more that could be added to make this even more fun. The commissioner can choose any type of draft they want for the league. This could simply be an automated random draft. However it can also be a live draft. Live drafts can take two forms. One has nothing to do with computers, the players would all simply meet together and choose their fantasy players and then the commissioner can send in the information. Perhaps the best way, however, is an online draft. All the players simply need to log on to the fantasy league at the same time and they can participate in the draft. The computer will automatically pick the best available players for anyone who can’t find the time to get to a computer during the draft. So why not host a live draft using the computers at your library. Invite everybody in the league to come in and draft their players live. You could offer food, and even have sports magazines and books available for people to use for research.

One other thought would be to have a local professional athlete come in for the event. I live in Michigan, so I think it would be great to have one of the younger players on the Tigers come in to talk about what it is like to become a major league baseball player, or their experience playing in the World Series. This athlete visit could be great before or after the draft. It would be even more fun if you could somehow convince the athlete to take part in the fantasy league, although I would admit this idea might be a little far fetched.

These are just a few of many great ideas that could surround a fun fantasy sports league for your library. It could be a great opportunity to draw in some high school athletes who, do to time constraints, are often hard to get into the library. If anybody out there has used a fantasy league for programming please leave me a comment as I would love to hear about it. I hope to try this in the spring for the next baseball season and more ideas would be very helpful.

Teen Read Week is officially upon us. Today many of you will be hosting programs or beginning weeklong promotions. While you’re doing that you can check here to continue reading about what other libraries will be doing. Here are a few more TRW plans I have received over the last few days.

Margaret, a Youth Services Librarian in Algonquin, IL writes:

I just started my professional career when I started at the Eastgate Branch of the Algonquin Area Public Library District about six weeks ago! I did not have a lot of lead time to put together a program, and am just beginning to develop contacts in the community. Fortunately the YA librarian at the main library is very helpful, and has many wonderful programs that can be promoted during TRW. So I got creative. I am making several displays, one of them a magnetic poetry display for teens to play with, which will tie in to promoting Eclectic Café, our monthly poetry group. In addition, a handful of books used in the TRW display will be secretly marked (in the item record) so that when they are checked out, the circ staff is notified to give the patron a prize: Gift certificates to Best Buy! In addition, the Teen Advisory Board is running a contest for teen programming ideas, with prizes (Barnes and Noble Gift certificates) for suggestions that get selected. I am putting out a ton of literature directed at getting teens active at the library—promoting the TAB, poetry night, etc. And my book display will feature books that promote other activities, like volunteering, yoga, crafts, study skills, activism, cooking for teens, etc. The graphic artist at the library made up special posters and flyers as well. It’s not much, but maybe next year when I get to know the kids better, or with the help of the TAB, I will do some programming.

Karen, a librarian from St. Louis Co Library, MO wrote in saying:

At the Jamestown Bluffs branch of the St. Louis Co Library we are having Dragon Fever! All week the teens have a Drawing Contest. The teens pick up an application and design a dragon. It can be funny, serious, or unusual. Use imagination and have fun! They can win a dragon prize.

Mon Oct 16, at 7pm
The teens will come and paint and design a pewter dragon to take home. Registration is required with a limit of 20. Age 12-18
Sat Oct 21, 2pm
Teen Week presents “Dragonheart“. This movie will make you believe! The last dragon and a disillusioned dragon slaying knight must cooperate to stop an evil king. (103 min) Starring Dennis Quaid and Sean Connery. Refreshments and door prizes. Ages 12-18. Sign up at the desk.

It sounds like we have a whole lot of very different and creative ideas out there that will be employed this week. I am very impressed by the variety programs, promotions, and ideas I have received over the last week or two and I have more yet to post. Good luck to everybody with the beginning of the weeks events. If you haven’t already read them feel free to go back and look at the ideas in the original post and updates #1, #2, and #3, and stay tuned for more ideas.

Here are a few more of the wonderful TRW ideas, which some of you have sent in to me. If you haven’t read the original post that started this off check it out here.

Phyllis, a High School Media Specialist writes:

“I will be giving one point credit slips for each time a student accomplishes one of the five tasks. The student needs to sign his/her name to the slip and turn it in to me.

1. Every time a book is checked out he/she will receive 1 point.

2. All the adults in school will be on the lookout for anyone reading anything that is not a class assignment. When a student is found, the adult will give a one point credit slip.

3. When a student recommends a book and fills out the form to tell me why he/she wants a friend to read this book, a credit slip will be given.

4. There will be a “Who Am I” Contest. I will put up the poster of Q’orianka Kilcher. Every entry will receive a credit slip.

5. I have started two new sections in the library, a new books display and a book’s of interest to teen’s area. Any student that can discover the two new things will get 1 credit slip.

The following Monday I will have the slips tallied and will be handing out prizes. The more entries one makes the bigger the prize.

Last year the students enjoyed when I did “Find the Book”. I gave clues each day in the daily announcements and I had the clues printed in the library. I gave five clues for each book. Each day was a different book. When the student found the book I gave a bookmark.”

Judy Nelson, a librarian at the Pierce County Library in WA and current president of YALSA sent us a press clipping for her library that says:

“Suburban Times

Oct. 5, 2006

Teenagers get active @ PC Libraries

Teenagers Get Active @ Your Pierce County Library, is the theme for this year’s national teen read week at all Pierce County Libraries, Friday, Oct. 13-Saturday, Oct. 21.

“Reading can be active, and with many teens the more they are active, the better readers they are or can become,” said Judy Nelson, coordinator of youth services for Pierce County Library System. “We want to get teens in the libraries and reading. With fun, interactive activities we hope to bring them in.”

This year’s teen read week is all about getting active—a combination to get kids reading and healthy. Pierce County Library plans to get teens musical, literary, drawing and physical. All libraries will highlight teen reading throughout the week and eight libraries will offer free programs.

Get musical —Lakewood Pierce County Library, 6300 Wildaire Rd. S.W., Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.—Bloodhag in concert. This regionally acclaimed heavy metal band’s music encourages reading.

Get literary — University Place Pierce County Library, 7315 27th St. W., Suite D, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m.—Panel discussion with teen book club. Local author Randall Platt will meet with University Place teens to read and discuss their favorite poems. Participants are encouraged to bring their favorite poems, songs, jokes and other writings to read and discuss.

Refreshments will be offered at all programs. Registration may be required for some programs; teens should contact library branches for details.”

Thanks again to all who have contributed to this series by sending in their TRW plans. There are more posts yet to come so stay tuned, and if you have an idea you want to share send a short blurb to me at jberns89@gmail.com. If you haven’t already read them check out the ideas in the original post and updates #1 and #2

I’m just finishing up the second day at Book Expo 2006. Back hurts. Feet hurt. And everything else you can name. However, I had to hop onto an internet terminal to tell about some highlights from the numerous author signings.

For a chuckle, check this out: Stephen Baldwin writes Spirit Warriors 

Also funny was Christopher Moore’s reaction to being told to STOP talking to readers and to START blindly sign as many A Dirty Job copies for the waiting multitude. (Review coming soon.)

A very long line for a signed copy of the 25th anniversary edition of Bunnicula! Fear the bunny!

Amongst the many appreciative and enthusiastic authors, Obert Skye was, by far, the coolest. Not only did he sign his advance reading copy of Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret (due out in September) for my Teen Advisory Group, but he also signed a hardcover copy of the The Gateway to Foo, and gave away handy-dandy canvas bags with the Leven Thumps logo and mulitple bookmarks. Obert was sincere and eager to have teens respond to his work through his website. So, Thank you authors for a memorable experience, and especially to OBERT SKYE!!! YOU ROCK!!!