Are there any librarians on the board?

I noticed that a lot of the participants go from library to library, and I thought it would be fun to organize a Library Crawl next year. Participants would get a passport initialed at the libraries they visit. (Like a bar crawl, but with plot bunnies instead of beer.)Those who get a certain number of initials would be entered into a grand-prize drawing. The Library Crawl could be a great way to cross-promote our NaNoWriMo programs.

If you're interested email me at skovac [at] cslibrary.org or reply to this thread.

Thanks,

Sarah Kovac

*waves* I'm a librarian at Warrenville, and that sounds like the world's greatest plan. I love it.

Hi neighbor! Bloomingdale would be interested in participating!

I'm not a librarian (yet), but I do work the Ask Us desk at Indian Prairie. I'll have my MLIS next summer, so I can't guarantee where I'll be in November, but I'm happy to participate wherever I am!

I think a regional write-in passport is a great idea, Sarah. We have to give a little thought as to what the library stamps would be/look like and how to give them. I have been the main liaison to the Naperville Public Library, working with Lisa West there (continuing the good work that Mary Bannon began so many years ago). Catherine (Cee-Bee) has been working with Denise Murray at the Woodridge Public Library. Angie Baugher offered write-ins at the Eola Library (part of the Aurora Public Library system) but, alas, we couldn't find volunteers to host this year. I cc'd you and all of the librarians I know in my reply to Julie Keating and Christine Sporleder (ckspores).

Frank (fdahlman) has been working with the Helen Plum Library in Lombard; we'll have to see if they are interested in continuing next year.

Some thoughts (just off the top of my head):

• We could come up with a unified passport design to use, something as simple as a customized pocketmod or possibly a hipsterPDA with custom cards from each library (collect them all). The best hipster PDA's, in my humble opinion, have been the ones where each card contains something useful to writers (e.g., a foldable sign that they can use to show they are a NaNoWriMo participant, writing advice, plot twists). We've given out hipsterPDAs to participants in years past (this year we gave out idea rings); to make this work at a library level, participating libraries would need to come up with a design and print out 3x5 index cards.
• If we went with a pocketmod, we could go the inexpensive route with the write-in host initialing the appropriate page for the library or possibly get special stickers made up and printed.
• We could leave pages available/empty for the coffee shop write-in hosters to use.
• All librarians are very welcome to come to our this-year's TGIO to discuss this idea over our pot-luck lunch! This is 11:45 am-3 pm, Saturday, December 7th in rooms BC of the Naperville Municipal Center. The following year, perhaps we could have some kind of ceremony where people are recognized for their passport completions.

Note that while NaNoWriMo is trademarked, Municipal Liaisons are authorized to create printed material using the name and logo (as long as we include the disclaimer). As long as we are involved in the planning of this passport program, I imagine we can extend that privilege to participating libraries.

--Tim

Hi everyone! I'm currently watching our writers busy at work at the Downers Grove Library. This is our first NaNoWriMo year, and we're really excited.Definitely interested in participating!!

Those are great ideas! I like the using hipster PDA and recognizing the "winners" at the TGIO party.

I won't be able to make it to this year's TGIO party. Tim, maybe we can chat about it at tomorrow's write-in?

I like the idea of the PocketMod. Maybe we could make it look like a Passport and each library would have their own stamp or design? Maybe a sticker (lots cheaper/easier). Like you said, the coffee shops could each have their own stickers as well, though if we wanted writers to "win" it mightmake more sense to have designated shops or write-ins, instead of empty pages.Whenever all of the pages are initialed and/or have stickers, the writer wins!

Sure, Sarah! I will try to arrive early tomorrow so we can do that.

--Tim

Hi there,

Glen Ellyn Public Librarywould love to participate in a librariespassport program next year. We are really enjoying meeting and working with writers this year. This, our firstyear, we have giveaways for participants at our Tuesday night write-ins-- GEPL flash drives.

Iso glad that NaNoWriMo in libraries has become a trend!

Mary Kay