2015 Spring LATI Amy Lingelbach Program Proposal

Program Description: Book Club for Boys will be a summer book club for boys going into grades 4 or
5 in the Fall. They will meet every two weeks throughout the summer. Books will be decided in the
Spring, and there will be a list available both on-line and in paper form with the titles and dates. During
the 1 hour program, there will be about hour of book discussion and then approximately 1 hour for a
STEM tie in activity that would go along with the book. For example, I have chosen these books for
possible use:
Frank Einstein and the Electro-finger by Jon Scieszka- STEM create robot or electro-finger on 3-D
printers
Poop Happened by Sarah Albee- STEM- design a new type of toilet
El Deafo by Cece Bell- STEM- re-create a scene from the story using the video recorder, green screen,
and use the mac computers to make an i-movie.
My Near Death Adventures (99% true!) by Alison DeCamp- STEM- bring old sheets from home- go
outside and create a survivor tent and discover ways to survive in the wilderness.
When Life Gives You O.J. by Erica Perl- STEM- using empty plastic juice or milk containers, design,
create, and decorate your own pet dog.
Need for the Program: Since there is still a gender gap between boys and girls when it comes to reading
and self-image with regards to boys, a fun reading and STEM program for boys will hopefully build selfesteem and enthusiasm for the love of reading. Between Emmorton Elementary School, Abingdon
Elementary School, and Ring Factory Elementary School, there are 991 boys enrolled, which accounts for
51% of the schools population. Currently, there are not any reading/STEM programs taking place
specifically for boys within HCPL.
Potential Partners: Emmorton Elementary School, Abingdon Elementary School, and Ring Factory
Elementary School. Depending on the STEM activity chosen, we might potentially ask for help from
Aberdeen Proving Grounds, or Harford Glen Environmental Center.
Steps Necessary to Implement Program
Decide on books/create discussion questions/finalize STEM project tie in/gather supplies needed
for activities
Create flyers to be handed out to boys at the above listed schools during Summer Reading Book
Talks by the librarians. (They will be left with the teachers to hand out.)
Secure location within the library to hold the book club- including Innovation Lab- book times to
make sure lab is available.
Send in program request for the Headlines and Happenings magazine.
Evaluation: There will be program evaluation cards available, program statistics, and verbal feedback
from the boys who participate in the club, as well as their caregivers.
Library Mission: The Abingdon Avengers Book Club for Boys ties in with the mission of HCPL to
provide access to information and promote the love of within the community. Further, this program will
provide a dynamic and enriching experience for these boys. The goal is for the boys to discover and
maintain the love of reading, and have the opportunity to participate in STEM activities that will keep
them excited to read and wanting to come back to the library.

2015 Spring LATI Amy Lingelbach Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Janine M. Lis
Harford County Public Library
(o) 410 273 5600 x2256 (m) 443 252 0623
lis@hcplonline.org
HCPLonline.org
The Abingdon Avengers Summer Book Club for Boys!
(Belcamp, Maryland May 27, 2015)
Harford County Public Library is pleased to announce the summer book club targeted for
boys entering 4th and 5th grade in the Fall, The Abingdon Avengers. Boys will read a predetermined book, participate in a book discussion and then partake in a STEM activity
related to the book that was read. There will be a total of 5 programs taking place every
two weeks at the Abingdon Branch.
Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County,
Maryland. The library serves over 191,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an
annual circulation of over 4.1 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to
connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.

###

Social Media: I will use Facebook to help promote the program and I would begin this
approximately 2 weeks before the program is scheduled to start.
At this time, it is too late to get this program in for this summer. I am hoping we might be able
to implement this program for the Summer of 2016.