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From owner-pubyac@nysernet.org Fri Aug 1 00:25:14 1997
From: Gilbert Crawford <gcrawfor@sparc.hpl.lib.tx.us>
ubject: Houston, TX - Communications Specialist
This position has been posted to several list serves. Please excuse
duplication.
Houston Public Library
ALL PERSONS INTERESTED
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Public Information Office
PN# 62459
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Exciting, fast-paced environment that publicizes library services, involving
issues of education and recreation, freedom of information and access for
all. Assists in the production (including design) and dissemination of
internal/external communications including calendars, brochures, press
releases, fliers, reports, and other printed materials. Writes, edits and
proofreads copy for printed materials. Reports to Public Information
Officer. Assists PIO in media related activities. Active in development
and maintenance of HPL Web site. Maintains database of media contacts.
Works closely with Graphics designer, Marketing, Development and Programming
personnel. Works with a variety of people: system-wide library employees,
volunteers, community contacts and City of Houston personnel. Performs other
special projects and duties as required.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Must be able
to use a computer to access/input information. Must be able to move freely
throughout the library system. Occasional very light lifting, (up to 20
pounds) may be required.
MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Requires Bachelor's degree, prefer Journalism, English, Communication or
Library Science majors, or a Bachelor's degree with closely related skills
and knowledge, including composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Requires six months related experience or comparable internship.
PREFERENCES
Prefer experience with Windows 95, Microsoft Word, Access database, and
PageMaker in PC environment. Experience in desktop publishing, graphic
arts, printing, or photography a plus. Must be able to handle multiple
projects and meet deadlines, with enthusiasm, creativity and attention to
detail.
SALARY INFORMATION
Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate's
qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this
classification. The minimum to midpoint of this salary range is:
Salary Range - Pay Grade 15
$811 - $1095 Biweekly $21,086 - $28,470 Annually
OPENING DATE July 30, 1997
CLOSING DATE Open Until Filled
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applications are accepted and must be received by the Human Resources
Department during posted opening and closing dates shown, between the hours
of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 500 Jefferson, 15th floor. TDD Phone Number
713/759-0838.
Reference PN# above on your application/resume.
OUT-OF-TOWN applicants may submit a resume to:
Ralph Patterson
Human Resources Manager
Houston Public Library
500 McKinney
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713/247-3558
Fax: 713/247-1266
E-mail: rpatters@sparc.hpl.lib.tx.us
First consideration will be given to those applications with a resume
attached. For additional information, visit our website,
http://sparc.hpl.lib.tx.us
An Equal Opportunity Employer
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From owner-pubyac@nysernet.org Fri Aug 1 00:25:16 1997
From: Caes <caes@pacificrim.net>
ubject: View From Saturday vs. Watsons Go to Birmingham
The children's librarians in my region will be talking about this year's
>Newbery winner, _A View from Saturday_, at a meeting in September. I
>would appreciate any hints <snip>
>Carrie Schadle
<Snip>. One notable staff member felt that [A View from Saturday] was a
terrible Newbery choice because she had a
>hard time caring about characters that one met so briefly and out of
context. <Snap>
>Torrie Hodgson
One interesting way to discuss "A View from Saturday" might be to
compare it
with the honor book, The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963. " The Watsons.."
is the first work of children's literature I've read in a long time that
fills both categories; "children's" and "literature."
Usually, if a book's
for children, it's not literature, and if it's "lit a rit chah," it
sure
isn't for children. ( Newbery committee members who read and discuss books
for months seem to forget that if it isn't a good read the first time
around, it's not a children's book. Kids won't read a boring book twenty
times to wring the meaning out of it.)
The title of "The Watsons..." is terrible, and so, at first glance, is
the
cover. It looks like something you ought to read because it will be good
for you, like medicine. Instead, it's a hilarious, heartbreaking, warm
family story, with three-dimensional characters who are convincingy alive.
When I was halfway through it, I found myself looking fondly at the black
and white snapshots on the cover as if they were actual photographs of the
characters. "Yes, that's Mama all right, and Dad. You can see in his face
how he likes to goof around. Oooh, Joetta is so cute!"
If I were a teacher, I'd have fun teaching this book. So much is shown,
rather than told. The 4th grade narrator's voice rings true. This is a
book where sleeping Joetta drools on her brother's leg; and where, after
Kenny cries, boogers have to be wiped off his face; and where Kenny loves
inhaling the "baked on smell" of his little sister after he unwraps
her
from her too-heavy layers of winter clothing. This is a book where older
brother Byron is a bully and a bad boy and loves his family absolutely --
something that is never stated, but demonstrated over and over again -- and
of course all three kids snipe at each other every chance they get.
This is a book where not everything is solved or resolved, or even overtly
explained; where issues are addressed without seeming forced or preachy;
and where events are so real, you honestly don't know what's going to happen
next. Is Mama really going to burn Byron for playing with fire? She's
talking in a scary, Snake Lady voice; Joetta's pleading with her to spare
Byron; Kenny's fascinated -- is she planning to set Byron's hair on fire?
His clothes? -- and Byron's not even trying to get away. He's so scared, his
own hands are holding him down. At least, that's how it looks to Kenny...
Kids have been loving this book, and white kids almost never read anything
with black kids on the cover. They always want to read about kids exactly
like themselves. Well, about the Watsons they're saying, "You feel like you
know these people. You really want to know them."
Your discussion group could look at the unchildlike dialogue, boring,
predictable plot, and smug, cardboard characters of the Newbery medalist,
and discuss how this luminous honor book blows it out of the water. That's
my suggestion.
Catherine
caes@pacificrim.net
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From owner-pubyac@nysernet.org Fri Aug 1 00:25:20 1997
From: druthgo@sonic.net (Dr. Ruth I. Gordon)
ubject: Re: Elizabeth Martinez
A matter, perhaps, of interest to PUBYACers who are ALA contributors to the
general enrichment of Elizabeth Martinez and the gradually developing
poverty of ALA.--Big Grandma
>Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 18:04:50 -0700
>To:ALACouncil
>From:druthgo@sonic.net (Dr. Ruth I. Gordon)
>Subject:Re: Elizabeth Martinez
>
>>Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 18:03:31 -0700
>>To:lgregory@ala.org
>>From:druthgo@sonic.net (Dr. Ruth I. Gordon)
>>Subject:Re: Elizabeth Martinez
>>
>>This is another interesting action of the ever-so-generous-and bountiful
>>[Executive?] Board in its release of the Executive Director a bit early.
>>Since the Executive Director has been granted large amounts of dollars
>>(garnered from the membership, by and large), and granted by the
>>very-so-generous Executive Board over a few years, may one ask of
>>President Ford and the Executive Board if the now-retired Executive
>>Director (E. Martinez) will be docked salaries, rent allotments, and
>>other 'goodies' for the days she is not serving in the position for
which
>>she was hired--and re-hired at very generous terms?
>>
>>.Has some arrangement been made for E. Martinez returning funds to ALA
>>and US--the paying members?
>>
>>--Or, are we being taken once again.
>>
>>Ruth I. Gordon.
>>C-a-L-elect
>>
>>>ALA President Barbara J. Ford asked that the following message be
>>>posted on the Council Listserv.
>>>_____________________________
>>>ALA Executive Director Elizabeth Martinez has completed her work
with
>>>ALA today, July 31. During her three years with ALA, Elizabeth
Martinez
>>>has provided visionary leadership to the Association, its members
and its
>>>staff. The Association will enjoy the fruits of her leadership into
the
>>>future as we move forward with ALA Goal 2000, the Spectrum
Initiative,
>>>the Fund for America's Libraries, the Office for Information
Technology
>>>Policy, the expanded Washington Office presence and vital new
projects
>>>in areas ranging from literacy to technology.
>>>
>>>Ms. Martinez is now anxious to focus on new opportunities. For that
>>>reason, the Board has agreed with her request to advance the end of
>>>her tenure from August 15 to July 31. Please join me in thanking her
for
>>>an exciting three years and wishing her well in her future ventures.
>>
>
==================
"You may not be able to change the world, but at least you can embarrass
the guilty." Jessica Mitford (1917-1996)
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From owner-pubyac@nysernet.org Fri Aug 1 00:25:19 1997
From: Gallucci <lgallucc@suffolk.lib.ny.us>
Subject: Response to R. Metcalf, The Tin Drum
Dear Pubyackers,
I'm new to the listserv and would like to add my comments to the
Tin Drum controversy.
I have to say that I rarely speak up unless something REALLY
annoys me, and this attack on this foreign film does just that. I am a
lover of foreign films and have travelled and lived in Europe. It is my
understanding that Americans and Europeans have two very different views
on what is obscene, sexually explicit, etc.
It is my experience that Americans are very uncomfortable with the
European view. For example,topless bathing is acceptable on many beaches in
Italy, Germany and France, while in America one could be arrested for
indecent exposure. Children up to the age of nine are permitted to bath in
the nude in some places in Germany. Again in America, this would be a
problem.
So if we start from here, we start with great misunderstanding.
The judges in the Cannes festival didn't have a problem with the film in
its entirety. Artistically it is sound.
I have a lot of experience with censors from working as a young
adult librarian. The thing I always have to remember is that censors are
trying to do a good and natural thing -- protect their children. They get
overzealous and try to protect everyone else's children too, and that is
when it becomes our problem. I have full confidence that the ruling will
be overturned once the hysteria is over.
The thing that bothers me is that while it will be over for the
rest of us, it will not be over for the people in Oklahoma. I've often
wondered if the people in my home town protested the Tin Drum, and no one,
I mean NO ONE who pays taxes to our library countered, would it be
censorship to remove it from the shelf? Or am I just confusing the idea
that libraries represent all points of view with the idea that a library
is a conglomeration of the viewpoints of the local community?
Or maybe this is exactly what libraries are supposed to be doing,
by representing all points of view, encouraging discussion of both sides
of the conflict, with the first amendment there to ensure that once it's
all over, we are still able to have all viewpoints co-exist. Maybe
resolution isn't the point -- maybe what's going on is the point.
Well, that's more like a quarter's worth rather than two cents.
Whatever the outcome, it's certainly interesting.
* ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** *
Laura Gallucci, M.L.S. Port Jefferson Free Library
Young Adult Librarian 100 Thompson Street
lgallucc@suffolk.lib.ny.us Port Jefferson, NY 11777
(516) 473-0022
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From owner-pubyac@nysernet.org Fri Aug 1 00:25:18 1997
From: "Kimberley Walker BTB BWTR Mkt WALKERK - BTMAIL" Subject: NO
SUBJECT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BAKER & TAYLOR REFUTES HAWAII LIBRARY CLAIMS OF CONTRACT
July 24, 1997--Charlotte--Baker & Taylor officials today challenged the
Hawaii
State Public Library System (HSPLS) contention that B&T had defaulted on its
outsourcing contract, and charged State Librarian Bart Kane with trying to
cancel the contract out of "political necessity."
In a strongly worded letter to Kane this week, B&T outlined in detail how it
complied with its obligations under the outsourcing contract, reinforcing its e
arlier position stated in letters delivered to Kane in March. B&T also
respond
ed to these same concerns in its response to the findings of the Board of Educa
tion Blue Ribbon panel, which were released in June.
"This outsourcing contract has turned into a political football, and Bart
Kane
wants to use Baker & Taylor as a scapegoat to cover its fatal flaws in the
HSPL
S outsourcing model and the failure of the HSPLS to meet its own obligations un
der the contract," said Arnie Wight, senior vice president of Baker &
Taylor.
"HSPLS and the other state agencies involved have ignored the facts and
have al
leged 'defaults' that simply do not exist as an excuse to cancel the
contract,"
said Wight. "We intend to challenge the termination of this contract on
these
false grounds, and if necessary we will take legal action to seek compensation
from the state if they adhere to their decision to cancel the contract for con
venience."
"We have substantial documentation proving that the most troubling issues
with
the outsourcing contract-including alleged delays in shipments and problems wit
h book selection-can be attributed directly to decisions made by the HSPLS staf
f or failures by the HSPLS to provide information to B&T as required under
the
contract. The contract was a failure because HSPLS and its leadership were unp
repared to carry out their responsibilities."
Wight said Baker & Taylor had made every effort to work with the HSPLS and
the
Hawaii Board of Education to modify the contract or to cancel it in a manner th
at satisfies both parties and provides the best outcome for Hawaii's library pa
trons. B&T officials met with HSPLS staff and representatives of the
attorney
general's office as recently as July 11 to work out a resolution.
Unfortunately, HSPLS was unwilling to work with B&T to reach a reasonable
resol
ution, and on July 11 issued a letter lising additional alleged defaults. Even
though that letter allowed B&T ten days to "cure" these alleged
defaults, Kane
announced to the media almost immediately his intention to terminate the contr
act.
"The fact is there are no defaults to cure, and Mr. Kane knows it,"
said Wight.
"We will prove--in the courts if necessary--that this is a wrongful
terminati
on of the contract. In doing so, we will expose the multitude of problems that
can be attributed directly to HSPLS management and its administration of the c
ontract." Wight added, "We acknowledge the state had a right to end
the contra
ct for its convenience even though Baker & Taylor is not in default.
However,
the State will have to honor its obligations because Baker & Taylor will not
ta
ke the fall for HSPLS."
In correspondence with the HSPLS and the Board of Education over the past nine
months, B&T outlined a number of specific problems with the outsourcing
model d
esigned by HSPLS, and provided numerous recommendations for improving the model
and the operations of the contract. Wight said all of these concerns and reco
mmendations were ignored. He said B&T has exhaustive documentation and
factual
data that will prove that HSPLS was involved in and approved the decisions tha
t are now being called defaults.
Wight said Baker & Taylor, which has successfully implemented other
outsourcing
contracts, remains committed to the concept of outsourcing, and intends to co
ntinue working with other library customers to determine the unique requirement
s that will support the needs of the library patrons while creating a more effi
cient and cost-effective system.
-###-
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From owner-pubyac@nysernet.org Fri Aug 1 00:25:48 1997
From: Schmidt <mschmidt@suffolk.lib.ny.us>
Subject: undersea science fiction
Thanks to all who assisted with my stumper about science fiction titles on
a third grade level with an undersea setting and/or with whales, dolphins,
fish as characters (whew!). Your suggestions (some may be older or more
fantasy):
Lampfish of Twill by J. Lisle
Crisis on conshelf ten by Monica Hughes
Dolphin island by Arthur C. Clarke
The hydronauts by Carl Bienville
Evil under the sea: a Miss Mallard mystery by Robert Quackenbush
Lucky star by Isaac Asimov
Oceans of Venus by Isaac Asimov
Undersea trilogy by Williamsib and Pohl
Secret ocean by Betty Ballantine
Ring of endless light by Madeline L'Engle
Whalesong by Robert Siegel (sic)
Danny Dunn on the ocean floor by Jay Williams
Hope that this helps someone else.
mschmidt@suffolk.lib.ny
Mary Schmidt
Children's Services, West Babylon PL, NY
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From owner-pubyac@nysernet.org Fri Aug 1 00:26:00 1997
From: Susan Cormier <scormier@connix.com>
Subject: Large print books for children
Does anyone know of publishers who do large print books for children or
young adults? I am aware of only one, Chivers, and would like to buy
titles from more that one source.
Thanks for your help!
--
Susan Draper Cormier
Children's Services Consultant and
Acting Director, Willimantic Library Service Center
860-456-1717 or 1-800-253-7944
FAX 860-423-5874
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From owner-pubyac@nysernet.org Fri Aug 1 00:25:59 1997
From: "Chris Owen" <christopher.owen@vuw.ac.nz>
Subject: Introduction
Hi all,
I just read a message from someone who lurked a year before posting
their first message. Since I just penned my first reply, after
barely a week on the list, I thought I'd introduce myself to the
invisible masses.
I'm a student of the MLIS programme at Victoria University of
Wellington. My particular area of interest is services to Young
Adults - an areas which receives no attention in the formal
coursework.
As part of the research component of the degree I'm going to be
asking teenagers what they think about the Young Adults areas. I
would be interested in hearing from any Young Adult librarians who
have carried out user research - particularly using focus groups.
I'm as much interested in the process as the results: problems you
encountered, results that surprised, whether the exercise was
worthwhile or not.
Thanks in advance,
Chris
--
Chris Owen
christopher.owen@vuw.ac.nz
--
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From owner-pubyac@nysernet.org Fri Aug 1 00:26:15 1997
From: Maria Wegscheid <mwegsche@libby.rbls.lib.il.us>
Subject: prairie fiction and oral history fiction
Please excuse cross posting.
I have a teacher who is looking for fiction for seventh grade students.
She would like a book set in the prairie. I have Prairie Songs by Conrad,
The Cave by Karr, My Antonia by Cather, Oh, Those Harper Girls by Karr,
The Borning Room by Fleischman, Bull Run by Fleischman, My Daniel by
Conrad, and Mr. Tucket by Paulsen. Any other suggestions?
More difficult:
Same teacher is looking for fiction that demonstrate the importance of
knowing your family history. This particular class does a genealogy
assignment right before the holidays and she wants to fire them up. So
far, I've come across: Over the Water by Casey, Toning the Sweep by
Johnson, and the Glory Field by Myers. Any more?
Thanks in advance for your help. I'd be glad to summarize for the list.
Maria J. Wegscheid
Bettendorf (IA) Public Library
mwegsche@libby.rbls.lib.il.us
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From owner-pubyac@nysernet.org Fri Aug 1 00:26:25 1997
From: "Tricia A. Segal" <tsegal@coil.com>
Subject: Stumper: Blubber sequel?
Hello, I have a patron who is sure a sequel to the book Blubber by Judy
Blume was written. I have not been able to find any such book and I was
wondering if you know if it even actually exists. The patron said it
deals with the same character who goes to a camp to lose weight. I
thought maybe a different author may have written a similar book which may
be what the patron is thinking of. Any info would help.
Thanks,
Tricia Segal
Youth Services Librarian
Eastman Branch
Cleveland Public Library
tsegal@coil.com
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From owner-pubyac@nysernet.org Fri Aug 1 00:26:39 1997
From: Port Washington Public Library <pwlchild@lilrc.org>
Subject: stumper
Hi!
We had a request for a picture book that is about an angel and rabbits.
Patron said its definitely not a B. Potter title. Also, what about a
title about a rabbit and ballet shoes (possibly from the 1960's).
Anyone have any ideas?
Thank you,
J.Simon
Children's Dept.
Port Washington P.L.
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