Please excuse multiple postings.

At our recent summer reading program wrap-up meeting one of our branch managers reported that her branch’s statistics this year were lower than previous years but more accurate because this year they based their count on the number of prize slips entered for the final prize drawing, one slip having been issued for each book entered into the log.  This lead to a discussion of the methods used to count the total number of books read for the summer reading program.  Our goal is for all four libraries in our system to use the same method.  In the past, some have used circulation statistics, but this does not yield a true count because it also includes juvenile books checked out by staff for use in programs, juvenile books checked out  by adults for other purposes, and juvenile books checked out by kids who don’t sign up for the program.  Collecting logs at the end of the program does not yield an accurate count because some kids don’t turn in their logs.  One branch has been keeping a running total for each member of the summer reading program on a card kept on file at the library.  This yields a more accurate count but is more work for staff and volunteers at the summer reading desk, particularly on program days that are just naturally more hectic.  This year we used Evanced only for our teens, and then only as an option, and the general feeling is that we want to keep a paper log based system as there is more personal contact with the patrons than using an online system.  Also, the teens who participated in the online system tended to not log in the books they read after they signed up. 

So, my first question:  What method do you use to count books read during the summer reading program?  Do you feel this method provides an accurate count of books?

My next question concerns teen programs.  Branches reported that teen programs were not well attended and they don’t want to offer them  in the future.  But in looking at our statistics, a total of 28 programs were held with a total attendance of 248 teens.  I realize that some programs were more well attended than others, but considering that we had a total of 148 teens registered for the summer reading program system wide, the program attendance figures don’t seem bad, averaging almost nine teens per program.  What do you consider to be successful attendance at a teen program?  Do you find that attendance is better in the evening than during the daytime?  What types of programs have been the most popular?

Thank-you for taking the time to answer my questions.