On Tuesday May 4 a group of library staff will be visiting the Denver Children's Museum and the Anythink Library in Brighton. Posts by participants to follow.
Just a short post tonight as it's been a long day. It wasn't a bad flight until we had to circle a few times and wait our turn to land. Apparently this was due to wind and planes had to line up on certain runways. Some turbulance as we came in was not too fun. After landing, collecting bags, getting the rental car, lunch at Chipotle, and getting a little lost we finally made it to the Denver Children's Museum.
Anne met us for our tour. What a fun place. Great look to the building outside and lots of great spaces inside. I especially liked the art room with lots of paintings hanging to dry and great little stools for young artists to sit on. They also had a train room with wooden train sets and another room with little tool benches. Big fun to be had there building stuff. Another room catered to younger children with sort of a forest design and had fun crawling and climbing spaces.
I hope to post some photos tomorrow and also tell a bit about our visit to the Anythink library in Brighton.
Yes - ditto on the toughness of traveling. Sorry I'm a day late, but we've had quite the hustle and bustle of traveling, navigating, and absorbing a lot of exciting, cool, and useful information.
I know there are quite a few of us who are blogging so I don't want to blog everything - I'll just pick some of favorites.
My first comment is on more of a random note. I thought Denver would be this picturesque Alpine scene with snow, christmas trees, etc. I was shocked to see - no snow, open flat plain with grass (where are the trees), massive spaces, long stretches of openness until a restaurant or hotel complex, and wind that rivaled Rancho (I thought we were special). I feel spoiled in CA where everything is convenient and right night to you. I can't imagine bundling a child up in the snow and driving them far a way to a library.
On to comments about what we saw ... First up - Denver museum. LOVED IT! Very Impressed. Definitely A rating (better than pretend city - also in A range).
Overall - I thought the space was very attractive, well designed, great flow, selective choice exhibits that are very appealing. everything in the museum was very clean (they paint, fix things, and steam clean carpets every night).
Favorite exhibit - hands down was the nature room (gross motor play!). Kids were able climb, crawl, burrow, and explore. There were ADORABLE squirrel costumes where he children could dress up as squirrels. Great use of space. this was the number one room where I saw parents PARTICIPATING with their children and not sitting off to the side. They had many types of play (love it) - dramatic/pretend with teh costumes, gross motor, fine motor (art activities w/ plate rubbings and nature puzzles). The nests for the young children were just adorable.
Big surprise - the storage space. we asked Anne about there total sq. ftg. and she said she had to get back to us. These people have storage galore and NEED it. every floor had rooms, with more rooms, cubbies, and shelves for props, cleaning supplies, tables, chairs - and even and observation room (I'm sure Wess will blog about that - so I'll stop there).
I was really, really impressed. Not only with design, execution, operation, but also the professionalism and courtesy of Anne who answered every question we had and then some. They were truly an open book and happy to share any info.
Oh - ok - one more thing. I just LOVE our new metal "baker cart" wire storage racks for our family place stuff. The museum actually designed there vet exhibit using them!
Oh boy - I'm getting long. Ok - so after the amazing museum experience (BTW - I had a wonderful time with my travel companions - you guys really helped make this trip! Lots of laughing, great ideas, and energy - Thank you!) - we headed to the Brighton Library. It was interesting. Always neat to tour another library. I wasn't blown away. I was more impressed by Michelle's description of them then the actual museum.
The building was lovely (traditional, warm, craftsmen vibe).The staff very nice (not many of them). Neat new ideas they're trying out. There ideas don't seem to have been fully brewed. Everyone had a lot of great questions for them. I think I like some of there theories more than actual practices. I definitely think they should have percolated the ideas a bit more, fleshed them, and had them iron clad before implementation.
Ok ... I'll hand over the "mic" to someone else. I'll post photos next. Thanks for reading the blog!
I must agree with Angelica, this trip was a lot of fun! Lots to see in only one day!
The Denver Children’s Museum was amazing! I think anyplace you walk in and see a fire truck with its flashing lights, you know its going to be fun! I really liked the “Ready Vet Go” exhibit with all the stuff animals, x-rays, lab coats, etc. Everything was so well organized and staff was not picking up after them! The parents and children were really good about following the rules of play (which I think Angelica took a picture of a sign posted). I LOVED the art room! It was so simple, with easels and tables but it just inspired creativity. I think I may be the only one, but I was excited about their bubble room! It’s still under construction and will be unveiled in a week, but from what I saw I think it will be a lot of fun. My favorite and Anne said a museum must was the grocery store sponsored by Whole Foods. As Anne best put it, “Every Children’s Museum must have one! They are always the most popular.” I hope we get the pictures up soon, I can’t wait to talk to everyone about that!
Brighton Library was for me a whole new library experience. I do like the concept, I think it gives an easier alternative that seems less intimidating to patrons. But overall, I think it is a work in progress. There seem to be a lot of little details that we asked about that have not been worked out. I had a conversation with Michelle this morning and it also appears they are doing a non-incentive SRP as well. I will be very interested in seeing the numbers from circulation to SRP this time next year to see how their system progresses.
Overall, a great trip! Now that I have some flying experience time to plan my next vacation… :)
I'm working on the photos. I think they might be too big to load? I'll post to I drive and send out hyperlinks.
Isabel hit the nail on the head - GREAT signage.I thought the bubbles were ok - bubbles are always cool - just thought that everything else they did was so great - the bubbles could have been better.
I love Denver Children's Museum - maybe in part because my first experience there was with Linda J, her daughter, and her two grandaugters...
I love that it looks very polished and professional. There is definitely an organic approach to exhibits and education and everyone there is really dedicated and knowledgable. I also think that individually, each exhibit had a lot to offer and had a very different experience. My faves were the baby space (so cute), fire truck, and art room. I guess there are more, but I have to prioritize...
They also have a vortex machine there for a little fundraiser. We were looking at some today to add to the library!
Our trip to the Denver Children’s Museum was fun and insightful and I wish I had more time to play in the exhibits. There is an incredible amount to talk about so I will start with our drive. Although the signs inside the museum are cute and succinct there could be some large signs that help direct visitors to actual children’s museum. The street that leads to the museum has a toll booth which seems to be used for Aquarium visitors. This was kind of misleading and looked more like a parking lot thean a street. That is probably why we took the scenic route and circled downtown Denver a few times prior to actually entering the museum (that is another story).
The building itself is painted in birght primary colors and the façade looks like large shipping containers you would see at shipping ports in Long Beach (pictures are posted on the I drive). During our visit Anne explained that the building was built specifically for the museum and that they are currently trying to raise funds for expansion.
Upon entering, the gift shop and eatery are located in the front of the building and as a consumer one thing I look for are price points. The food was geared towards healthy choices and the prices seemed very reasonable. I can say the same for the gift shop. It didn’t seem like the museum was trying to make millions on food and gifts simply because they are destination point. The prices are reaosnable and I wouldn’t feel like I was being ripped-off if I took my family.
More Signs
Next to the front desk there is also a plastic display case that houses informational literature regarding play and learning at the museum. These are seperated by age and have suggestions for activities to try at the the museum and activities for parents to interact with their children at home. There are also large LCD displays much like the one at Archibald (but bigger) hanging from the ceilings which have an updated list of events. One thing I can say about the signage at the museum is that it seems very effective. I observed a few parents picking-up brochures and another parent who looked at a large LCD screen when an announcement for a prorgam was made. I think the LCD screens may be linked to a computer at the front desk where staff can control the content as necessary.
Overall the exhibits look well kept and fun. I climbed a few trees, bounced on a musical bridge and pulled root vegiatbles at The Center for the Young Child (village) for ages 1-4. The materials they used are soft and accomodating for young children who may fall or bounce off walls. Even the icky bin looks fun as Isabel found out (she reached in). It is a basket placed on the wall and out of a child’s reach. The museum uses a basket for the icky bin to discourage people from throwing trash into it.
Next to the village is the CMD Fire Station No. 1. This exhibit (as Anne stated) is the most popular. It is the first exhibit a person can see when walking into the museum and it is based around a large fire truck where children can wear a fire coat, push and pull knobs and ride on the truck. There is a siren, maniquin firefighter in full fire fighting gear, a fire hose that kids can shoot targets with and a phone station where kids can learn how to dial 911. Anne stated that the fire fighter maniquin is placed in the exhibit so children will become comfortable with seeing a fire fighter and not be scared if an actual fire occurs in there home. Angelica thought the siren was a little noisy but I thought it was great to see little boy run to the truck and yell “fire, fire” when the siren went off.
The Assembly Plant is interesting. In this exhibit donated recyclables are sanitized and made available for use in the construction of various art projects. There are stations with many tools such as hammers, pliers, and a vice grip for children to use. It seems a bit dangerous for children however a sign is posted stating the use of tools and there are stationary seats for parents at each station. Anne said that there have been very few major emergencies at the museum (I think she said two in the last 4 years she has been working there) and this brought up the discussion of whether parents in different communities have differing parenting styles (strict, hands-off, care free, etc.). The environment and ambiance obviously play a part in how children act and this was also taken into consideration.
One of the most amazing aspects of the exhibits (and museum in general) is the use of natural light. I think our group loved how large windows illuminated almost every exhibit space. This made the museum feel open and natural, almost like spending the day at the park. The views from the museum were also nice as roller costers, trees and other views added to the experience. At one time the museum planners also incorporated a bird feeding area on a window sill however birds entering the building became a problem and they stopped use of that particular ledge.
My favorite exhibit in the museum is the Will It Work exhibit and Observation Station. This is also where the vortex resides which brings in approx. $600-$800 per month (we definitely need one for each library). In this exhibit ideas, prototypes of exhibits are tested and observation of children and parents interacting with the exhibit can be viewed through a two-way mirror. The room has microphones and disclaimers that are placed at the entrance and on doors in the exhibit room. The Observation Station also has speakers and a sound recorder so that researchers can listen to the interactions and review them later if necessary.
Anne stated that the room was recently used in an observational study by staff from a number of different children’s museums. The room could also function for other events or for storage and this made the room invaluable to have.
Overall I loved the use of space in the museum. A vacant wall was turned into a magnet board (for both parents and children). A small corner space that was in-between the art room and dance/rehersal space (wear children could dress-up like a ballerina or put on tap shoes) was used for a small puppet stage. Every nook and cranny was painted or decorated and it matched the exhibits seemlessly. From light switches to door knobs and cloud painted ceilings it was the attention to detail that really made the exhibits feel both natural and well cared for. One thing I have learned from many succesful organizations (including RCPL) is that cleanliness and maintanence = a welcoming atmosphere and pride in our organization. The Denver Museum also has this sense of pride.
A Few Fun Facts
* The Denver Children’s Museum opened in 1973
*According to Anne The Denver Children’s Museum spends approx. $35,000 in marketing per fiscal year
*The museum is currently converting a gazebo in the Center for the Young Child into a nursing station
*Target Tuesday and other sponsored free nights and admissions account for 30% of museum visitors
*The museum employes approx. 38 FTE and 45 PTE
*Museum staff positions include: -Fundraiser -Public Relations -Front Desk -Volunteer Coordinator -Grantwriters -Educational Manager -Anne Kluesner is the Family Learning Manager and has a background as a Preschool educator
Just a short post tonight as it's been a long day. It wasn't a bad flight until we had to circle a few times and wait our turn to land. Apparently this was due to wind and planes had to line up on certain runways. Some turbulance as we came in was not too fun. After landing, collecting bags, getting the rental car, lunch at Chipotle, and getting a little lost we finally made it to the Denver Children's Museum.
ReplyDeleteAnne met us for our tour. What a fun place. Great look to the building outside and lots of great spaces inside. I especially liked the art room with lots of paintings hanging to dry and great little stools for young artists to sit on. They also had a train room with wooden train sets and another room with little tool benches. Big fun to be had there building stuff. Another room catered to younger children with sort of a forest design and had fun crawling and climbing spaces.
I hope to post some photos tomorrow and also tell a bit about our visit to the Anythink library in Brighton.
Renee
Yes - ditto on the toughness of traveling. Sorry I'm a day late, but we've had quite the hustle and bustle of traveling, navigating, and absorbing a lot of exciting, cool, and useful information.
ReplyDeleteI know there are quite a few of us who are blogging so I don't want to blog everything - I'll just pick some of favorites.
My first comment is on more of a random note. I thought Denver would be this picturesque Alpine scene with snow, christmas trees, etc. I was shocked to see - no snow, open flat plain with grass (where are the trees), massive spaces, long stretches of openness until a restaurant or hotel complex, and wind that rivaled Rancho (I thought we were special). I feel spoiled in CA where everything is convenient and right night to you. I can't imagine bundling a child up in the snow and driving them far a way to a library.
On to comments about what we saw ... First up - Denver museum. LOVED IT! Very Impressed. Definitely A rating (better than pretend city - also in A range).
Overall - I thought the space was very attractive, well designed, great flow, selective choice exhibits that are very appealing. everything in the museum was very clean (they paint, fix things, and steam clean carpets every night).
Favorite exhibit - hands down was the nature room (gross motor play!). Kids were able climb, crawl, burrow, and explore. There were ADORABLE squirrel costumes where he children could dress up as squirrels. Great use of space. this was the number one room where I saw parents PARTICIPATING with their children and not sitting off to the side. They had many types of play (love it) - dramatic/pretend with teh costumes, gross motor, fine motor (art activities w/ plate rubbings and nature puzzles). The nests for the young children were just adorable.
Big surprise - the storage space. we asked Anne about there total sq. ftg. and she said she had to get back to us. These people have storage galore and NEED it. every floor had rooms, with more rooms, cubbies, and shelves for props, cleaning supplies, tables, chairs - and even and observation room (I'm sure Wess will blog about that - so I'll stop there).
I was really, really impressed. Not only with design, execution, operation, but also the professionalism and courtesy of Anne who answered every question we had and then some. They were truly an open book and happy to share any info.
Oh - ok - one more thing. I just LOVE our new metal "baker cart" wire storage racks for our family place stuff. The museum actually designed there vet exhibit using them!
Oh boy - I'm getting long. Ok - so after the amazing museum experience (BTW - I had a wonderful time with my travel companions - you guys really helped make this trip! Lots of laughing, great ideas, and energy - Thank you!) - we headed to the Brighton Library. It was interesting. Always neat to tour another library. I wasn't blown away. I was more impressed by Michelle's description of them then the actual museum.
The building was lovely (traditional, warm, craftsmen vibe).The staff very nice (not many of them). Neat new ideas they're trying out. There ideas don't seem to have been fully brewed. Everyone had a lot of great questions for them. I think I like some of there theories more than actual practices. I definitely think they should have percolated the ideas a bit more, fleshed them, and had them iron clad before implementation.
Ok ... I'll hand over the "mic" to someone else. I'll post photos next. Thanks for reading the blog!
Hi everybody!
ReplyDeleteI must agree with Angelica, this trip was a lot of fun! Lots to see in only one day!
The Denver Children’s Museum was amazing! I think anyplace you walk in and see a fire truck with its flashing lights, you know its going to be fun! I really liked the “Ready Vet Go” exhibit with all the stuff animals, x-rays, lab coats, etc. Everything was so well organized and staff was not picking up after them! The parents and children were really good about following the rules of play (which I think Angelica took a picture of a sign posted). I LOVED the art room! It was so simple, with easels and tables but it just inspired creativity. I think I may be the only one, but I was excited about their bubble room! It’s still under construction and will be unveiled in a week, but from what I saw I think it will be a lot of fun. My favorite and Anne said a museum must was the grocery store sponsored by Whole Foods. As Anne best put it, “Every Children’s Museum must have one! They are always the most popular.” I hope we get the pictures up soon, I can’t wait to talk to everyone about that!
Brighton Library was for me a whole new library experience. I do like the concept, I think it gives an easier alternative that seems less intimidating to patrons. But overall, I think it is a work in progress. There seem to be a lot of little details that we asked about that have not been worked out. I had a conversation with Michelle this morning and it also appears they are doing a non-incentive SRP as well. I will be very interested in seeing the numbers from circulation to SRP this time next year to see how their system progresses.
Overall, a great trip! Now that I have some flying experience time to plan my next vacation… :)
~Isabel
I'm working on the photos. I think they might be too big to load? I'll post to I drive and send out hyperlinks.
ReplyDeleteIsabel hit the nail on the head - GREAT signage.I thought the bubbles were ok - bubbles are always cool - just thought that everything else they did was so great - the bubbles could have been better.
I love Denver Children's Museum - maybe in part because my first experience there was with Linda J, her daughter, and her two grandaugters...
ReplyDeleteI love that it looks very polished and professional. There is definitely an organic approach to exhibits and education and everyone there is really dedicated and knowledgable. I also think that individually, each exhibit had a lot to offer and had a very different experience. My faves were the baby space (so cute), fire truck, and art room. I guess there are more, but I have to prioritize...
They also have a vortex machine there for a little fundraiser. We were looking at some today to add to the library!
Getting There
ReplyDeleteOur trip to the Denver Children’s Museum was fun and insightful and I wish I had more time to play in the exhibits. There is an incredible amount to talk about so I will start with our drive. Although the signs inside the museum are cute and succinct there could be some large signs that help direct visitors to actual children’s museum. The street that leads to the museum has a toll booth which seems to be used for Aquarium visitors. This was kind of misleading and looked more like a parking lot thean a street. That is probably why we took the scenic route and circled downtown Denver a few times prior to actually entering the museum (that is another story).
The building itself is painted in birght primary colors and the façade looks like large shipping containers you would see at shipping ports in Long Beach (pictures are posted on the I drive). During our visit Anne explained that the building was built specifically for the museum and that they are currently trying to raise funds for expansion.
Upon entering, the gift shop and eatery are located in the front of the building and as a consumer one thing I look for are price points. The food was geared towards healthy choices and the prices seemed very reasonable. I can say the same for the gift shop. It didn’t seem like the museum was trying to make millions on food and gifts simply because they are destination point. The prices are reaosnable and I wouldn’t feel like I was being ripped-off if I took my family.
More Signs
Next to the front desk there is also a plastic display case that houses informational literature regarding play and learning at the museum. These are seperated by age and have suggestions for activities to try at the the museum and activities for parents to interact with their children at home. There are also large LCD displays much like the one at Archibald (but bigger) hanging from the ceilings which have an updated list of events. One thing I can say about the signage at the museum is that it seems very effective. I observed a few parents picking-up brochures and another parent who looked at a large LCD screen when an announcement for a prorgam was made. I think the LCD screens may be linked to a computer at the front desk where staff can control the content as necessary.
Exhibits
ReplyDeleteOverall the exhibits look well kept and fun. I climbed a few trees, bounced on a musical bridge and pulled root vegiatbles at The Center for the Young Child (village) for ages 1-4. The materials they used are soft and accomodating for young children who may fall or bounce off walls. Even the icky bin looks fun as Isabel found out (she reached in). It is a basket placed on the wall and out of a child’s reach. The museum uses a basket for the icky bin to discourage people from throwing trash into it.
Next to the village is the CMD Fire Station No. 1. This exhibit (as Anne stated) is the most popular. It is the first exhibit a person can see when walking into the museum and it is based around a large fire truck where children can wear a fire coat, push and pull knobs and ride on the truck. There is a siren, maniquin firefighter in full fire fighting gear, a fire hose that kids can shoot targets with and a phone station where kids can learn how to dial 911. Anne stated that the fire fighter maniquin is placed in the exhibit so children will become comfortable with seeing a fire fighter and not be scared if an actual fire occurs in there home. Angelica thought the siren was a little noisy but I thought it was great to see little boy run to the truck and yell “fire, fire” when the siren went off.
The Assembly Plant is interesting. In this exhibit donated recyclables are sanitized and made available for use in the construction of various art projects. There are stations with many tools such as hammers, pliers, and a vice grip for children to use. It seems a bit dangerous for children however a sign is posted stating the use of tools and there are stationary seats for parents at each station. Anne said that there have been very few major emergencies at the museum (I think she said two in the last 4 years she has been working there) and this brought up the discussion of whether parents in different communities have differing parenting styles (strict, hands-off, care free, etc.). The environment and ambiance obviously play a part in how children act and this was also taken into consideration.
Exhibits cont.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most amazing aspects of the exhibits (and museum in general) is the use of natural light. I think our group loved how large windows illuminated almost every exhibit space. This made the museum feel open and natural, almost like spending the day at the park. The views from the museum were also nice as roller costers, trees and other views added to the experience. At one time the museum planners also incorporated a bird feeding area on a window sill however birds entering the building became a problem and they stopped use of that particular ledge.
My favorite exhibit in the museum is the Will It Work exhibit and Observation Station. This is also where the vortex resides which brings in approx. $600-$800 per month (we definitely need one for each library). In this exhibit ideas, prototypes of exhibits are tested and observation of children and parents interacting with the exhibit can be viewed through a two-way mirror. The room has microphones and disclaimers that are placed at the entrance and on doors in the exhibit room. The Observation Station also has speakers and a sound recorder so that researchers can listen to the interactions and review them later if necessary.
Anne stated that the room was recently used in an observational study by staff from a number of different children’s museums. The room could also function for other events or for storage and this made the room invaluable to have.
Overall I loved the use of space in the museum. A vacant wall was turned into a magnet board (for both parents and children). A small corner space that was in-between the art room and dance/rehersal space (wear children could dress-up like a ballerina or put on tap shoes) was used for a small puppet stage. Every nook and cranny was painted or decorated and it matched the exhibits seemlessly. From light switches to door knobs and cloud painted ceilings it was the attention to detail that really made the exhibits feel both natural and well cared for. One thing I have learned from many succesful organizations (including RCPL) is that cleanliness and maintanence = a welcoming atmosphere and pride in our organization. The Denver Museum also has this sense of pride.
A Few Fun Facts
* The Denver Children’s Museum opened in 1973
*According to Anne The Denver Children’s Museum spends approx. $35,000 in marketing per fiscal year
*The museum is currently converting a gazebo in the Center for the Young Child into a nursing station
*Target Tuesday and other sponsored free nights and admissions account for 30% of museum visitors
*The museum employes approx. 38 FTE and 45 PTE
*Museum staff positions include:
-Fundraiser
-Public Relations
-Front Desk
-Volunteer Coordinator
-Grantwriters
-Educational Manager
-Anne Kluesner is the Family Learning Manager and has a background as a Preschool educator