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Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 16:03:22 -0400 (EDT)
To: pubyac-digest@nysernet.org
Subject: pubyac V1 #374
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 08:55:20 -0500
From: Michelle DiGiacomo <mdigiacomo@ci.sat.tx.us>
Subject: thank you for snow in July crafts
I want to thank all of you who sent craft ideas for my "Snow in July"
program.
We had a great time!
I did use the crumpled paper snowballs (they loved crumpling) for a
snowball fight (I had marked out two snowforts with masking tape on the
floor). In fact, they had so much fun, we had to do it twice.
Then we made marshmallow snowmen (marshmallows, graham crackers, pretzel
sticks, m&m backing bits, mini chocolate chips, and a can of frosting.
Oh yes and sprinkles because children love sprinkles).
Even my teens loved making the snowmen. They were my helpers, and they
did a great job .
Thanks,
Michelle Di Giacomo MDiGiacomo@x1.ci.sat.tx.us
Children's Librarian
Cortez Library
San Antonio, Tx
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 12:23:50 -0400
From: Robin Works Davis <rgwd@sprynet.com>
Subject: Weighing SRP Books
Lori Pullman, Children's Librarian from the River Forest Public Library
in Illinois, posted her idea about weighing books as a method of
counting books for the SRP. What a great idea!! I'm hoping to include
her idea and other unique SRC tabulation techniques in the write up of
the national survery of summer reading clubs I will be doing starting in
August. (You may have seen or responded to the preliminary survey posted
here on PUBYAC) Does anyone else have a unique method they use that they
would like to share?? Please post to the list!
Robin Davis
Youth Services Supervisor
Farmer's Branch Manske Library, TX
rgwd@sprynet.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 17:03:16 -0500
From: Paula Lopatic <paulal@alpha1.rpls.lib.il.us>
Subject: dragonfly program
Hello, Everyone,
I'm looking for ideas to flesh out a program about dragonflies for
children ages 6 to 10. I'm going to use the book "Dragonfly's Tale" by
Kristina Rodanas (Clarion Books, c1991). Has anyone made a dragonfly craft
with children or played a dragonfly game (I don't know what that would
be?!?!?) Are there other stories you would recommend? Please respond to
me at paulal@alpha1.rpls.lib.il.us. Thanks very much.
Paula Lopatic
Vespasian Warner Public Library
Clinton, IL
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 09:20:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: Vailey Oehlke <vaileyo@nethost.multnomah.lib.or.us>
Subject: Re: Internet Homework Fun
One of the approaches that we've found successful is to create a scavenger
hunt which relies on sites from our Homework Center website
<www.multnomah.lib.or.us/lib/homework>. For instance, we recently produced
a scavenger hunt for several 2nd and 3rd grade classes using the modern
Egypt sites listed on our Homework Center. The kids really got into it.
A word of advice, in the interest of your sanity: avoid sites from which
the students can click to hear a national anthem.
Vailey Oehlke Voice: (503)736-6047
School Corps Librarian Pager: 599-1784
Multnomah County Library Fax: (503)248-5441
205 NE Russell, Portland, OR 97212
e-mail: vaileyo@nethost.multnomah.lib.or.us
On Thu, 9 Jul 1998, Mary Moody wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> I will be doing a workshop entitled "Homework Fun on the
> Internet"
>
> Has anybody got any ideas of how to share homework sites yet make the
> experience fun? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Mary Moody
> Children's Librarian
> Vigo County Public Library
>
>
>
> \o/ \o/ \o/ "Let everything that hath breath Praise the Lord!"
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 14:18:54 -0400 (EDT)
From: bf455@cleveland.Freenet.edu (Bonita Kale)
Subject: summer reading--10 hours too much?
>From: jwall@norby.latah.lib.id.us (Jan Wall)
>Now the ponderings and an irritating anecdote:
>I've always liked the idea of counting time, since it seemed fair to me. But
>it really isn't. We dropped our requirements to 5 hours this year in
>response to a plea from the parents of preschoolers that it took them
>"forever" and they had to read "hundreds" of books. So
now, the preschoolers
>and beginning readers are happier, but the older kids are breezing through
>in a day or two.
We do ten hours, and the older kids -still- breeze through. We let them do
as many sheets as they want; more sheets doesn't get them more chances in
the drawing, but each sheet gives them another star on their name on the
window.
How can ten hours take "forever"? It takes exactly ten hours. If the
parents aren't willing to put in ten hours reading to their preschooler
over the summer, then they don't have to sign up, right?
If there are reading children in the family, we tell them that a half hour
spent reading to the little one counts for both little and big.
>
>Or do I have to let go of the notion of "fairness" and designing a
>"cheat-proof" program?
Yes, you pretty much do. A cheat proof program would be important if this
were an exam at school, but it isn't one.
Bonita
>
- --
Bonita Kale
bf455@cleveland.freenet.edu
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 09:09:03 -0700
From: torrie@ci.burlington.wa.us (Torrie Hodgson Children's Librarian)
Subject: Re: Inexpensive hourglass
>I've been reading with interest the comments on Summer Reading Programs
>using time as the marker for rewards and enticements. Does anybody know
>of a source for inexpensive old-fashioned hourglasses that could be given
>out at SRP registration? You can't rush an hourglass? Maybe, just maybe,
>the kids will get so wrapped up in their reading that they forget to stop
>when the sand runs out. - jeri
Why not have your staff and community save 2-liter pop bottles until next
summer and make hourglasses? You would have to experiment with rice, beans,
etc to see which material fell sufficiently slowly and evenly. Then you
could have a craft time to kick off the summer reading season.
(Hmmm.... now I'll have to go and look and try this out. Maybe there's a
better or smaller way to accomplish this....)
Torrie Hodgson 8)
Torrie Hodgson, Amazon librarian from the avocado jungle!
Burlington Public Library
900 East Fairhaven Ave
Burlington, WA 98233
Phone (360) 755-0760 Fax (360) 755-0717
torrie@ci.burlington.wa.us
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 14:57:13 -0400 (EDT)
From: P Hay/PPLC <hayp@snoopy.tblc.lib.fl.us>
Subject: hello/goodbye songs
I am soon to be a Reference/Youth Services Librarian at a small public
library. The community is mostly older people and there is at present
one preschool storyhour each week and occasional special programs.
I am interested in opening and closing storytime rituals/songs/poems. I
checked the archives and found one ("Here is my book, I open it
wide..."
and a reference to a hello/goodbye song. Would any of you please share
your rituals/songs with me? Thank you!
Patty
Patricia Hay
hayp@snoopy.tblc.lib.fl.us
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 10:23:14 -0500
From: Helen Mabrey <hmabrey@ci.eau-claire.wi.us>
Subject: Parents' Brochure
I would like to announce to the Pubyac membership the availability of a
parents' brochure that a local (Eau Claire, WI) network of parents and
representatives from the school district, the public library, the
university, the technical college, Head Start, and other social service
agencies collaborated on for two years to produce. The brochure was
developed with at-risk families in mind, but is useful for parents from all
backgrounds.
The copyrighted brochure (8" by 8 1/2" step-brochure with 16
flaps--done
with red, yellow, green, and blue paper, with appealing graphics) is called
"Bright Beginnings: A Guide for Families of Young Children Birth to Nine
Years." It is suitable for posting on the refrigerator for easy access.
The brochure outlines developmental stages for various age groups and
suggests easy activities to to do with children at mealtime, bath time, and
bedtime as well as at the grocery storie, laundromat, playground, etc., to
promote developmental growth. Each activity is coded with one or more
symbols (such as a heart to represent health, safety, self-respect, etc.)
to indicate the related areas of child development. One of the pages
lists helpful local telephone numbers, including the public library (of
course!).
Other communities might find the brochure useful as a model of a networking
project or with modifications (insertion of a list of appropriate telephone
numbers)for direct use with parents. The brochure could be used by
librarians, family literacy staff, teachers, and agencies who work with
families. Supplies could be left for pick-up in key
locations--laundromats, physicians' waiting rooms, and wherever parents
spend time.
For a sample of this brochure, please send $1, plus a self-addressed
business envelope stamped with 55 cents postage to Connie Russell, Eau
Claire Area School District, 500 Main Street, Eau Claire, WI 54701.
Brochures in quantities over one are $2 each, plus 10% for shipping and
handling. A check or a purchase order must accompany the order. The
school district is selling the brochure in order to raise funds for
additional brochures to distribute locally. The first printing went fast!
I do not have a quantity of brochures, so please use the above contact.
Ms. Russell told me that she will report to her office weekly until school
resumes. If you questions about the brochure, please feel free to contact
me. My telephone number is 715-839-2897.
Helen Mabrey, Head
Children's and Circulation Services Division
L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
400 Eau Claire ST Eau Claire WI 54701
Telephone: 715-839-2897 Fax: 715-839-3822
E-mail: hmabrey@ci.eau-claire.wi.us
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 18:57:13 -0700
From: "Pat Lambirth" <lambip@capecod.net>
Subject: Re: Storytime for grades 1-3
Why not call it a "Book Discussion" or "Book Review"? Read
the story then
talk about it - which I am pretty sure you do already. I know I do with my
preschoolers.
Pat Lambirth, Children's Librarian
Sturgis Library
Barnstable, MA
>Hello - I've answered several of you directly but have not posted to the
>list until now. I'm hoping someone out there has done a separate storytime
>for 1st-3rd graders. This has gone over big during SRP, and I want to
>continue it through the school year. However, a lot of the kids have
>commented that they don't like the name "storytime" because that's
for
>little kids. Any real-life stories or good suggestions for what to call
>it?
>
>Kim Kietzman
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 07:44:34 PDT
From: "Kimberly Bears" <kimbat@hotmail.com>
Subject: Storytimes for Grades 1-3
Hi Kim,
This is Kim in Londonderry, NH. I do an afterschool program for
children in Grades 1-3 called "After School With Authors." Once a
month
we focus on a popular author or illustrator of both "upper" and
"lower"
level picture books that work well with that age group. I usually do
2-3 stories, a true/false quiz activity or some sort of participation
activity about the author or illustrator, and a craft activity that
coincides with one of the books we've read.
Technically it is a storytime for that age group, but they don't know
that. It's been very popular and I will offer the program again this
year. It meets once a month for an hour. Last year we did Harry
Allard, Eric Carle, Jan Brett, Tomie DePaola, Patricia Polacco, Susan
Jeffers, and Bill Martin Jr. It really is a lot of fun! I've also
learned a lot about some popular authors and illustrators preparing for
this program, too. Hope this helps. Have a great day!
Kim Bears
************************************************************
Kim Bears Phone: (603) 432-1127
Head of Children's Services Fax: (603) 437-6610
Leach Library E-mail: kimbat@hotmail.com
276 Mammoth Road
Londonderry, NH 03053
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 21:46:53 -0700
From: druthgo@sonic.net (Dr. Ruth I. Gordon)
Subject: Rainier Beach Library--Seattle
Bobbie Daniel's message about how a major problem--which might have become
worse without ***co-operative*** outside intervention and help, is one of
the most hopeful I've ever read about problems and possible solutions.
Amid all the discussion and hints about summer reading, hers (I trust I am
correct about gender) is the most important.
I hope that this will be written up in School Library Journal or some such.
It's important; it's encouraging; it can give hope to the beleaguered.
A question: you state that the branch is a distance from central
administration. Did no headquarters person show up: head of branches?
coordinator of service to children? library director? A negative response
to this bodes poorly for administration, I fear. I have always felt that
those in administration (and for a time I was one of those bodies), no
matter the trade, business, or profession, should spend some time every
week--or if possible, every day, in the trenches. Careful planning can
help accomplish this. So--someone else attends the Lions' (or Wolves, or
whatever) luncheon and presents a different pov.
Rah on all of you--and many thanks.
Big Grandma (gadfly)
Then again, Seattle is more progessive and perhaps ore co-operative than
other places. But change can occur.
==================
"You may not be able to change the world, but at least you can embarrass
the guilty." Jessica Mitford (1917-1996)
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 10:02:16 -0700
From: "Michael Chunn" <Chunndaddy@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Halloween Title
Our Library is planning a Halloween at the Library. We are inviting local
business, scouting, and clubs to decorate a large box to look like a house.
The theme will be up to them. It can be a traditional spooky, or a
storybook house. We will invite the children of our city to trick or treat
at each little house.
I go blank when I try to come up with a title for this event. HELP! If
anyone has any suggestions I would be appreciate it.
Roni Chunn
Beezus404@hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 08:27:46 -0400
From: Regan DeFranza <defranza@northnet.org>
Subject: Home, house theme slogans
To all on the list:
I was asked to post a composite list of "home" theme slogan
suggestions.
Here it is…
Thanks again for all of the great ideas!
"Give a Book a Home" "Book Sweet Home" "Home Sweet
Books"
"Bring it all home-with a book" "Book a home-at the library"
"A Book is a friend for life" "Books-a home companion"
"Bookin' a home" "There's no place like---a book!"
"Books bring you home again" "Come home-with a BOOK!"
"Home Alone with a BOOK!" "Have You Hugged a Book Today?"
"Home, home with a Book" "Bookin' It Home" "Cookin' and
Bookin'"
"Homeward Bound-with BOOKS!" "Books take you home again"
Demco slogan: "Read Around the House?" "Where Book Worms
Live"
"Home is a book" "Build your home with books"
"Reading home" "Bricks of books" "With a book you're at
home everywhere"
"Home is where the book is" "Your House, My House." "We
read in our house"
"There's No Place Like Home for Reading"... "Books: A Home Away
from Home"
"Raise the Roof: Read!" "Bring the World Home!"
Two graphic ideas were suggested: One is of a child walking, carrying
books toward his/her house; one book is open, and out if it comes a trail of
*stuff*: kittens and aliens and rocket ships and bicycles and elephants
and vegetables, etc. etc.
The second is a house, but the roof has popped off, overflowing with
*stuff.*
An idea to go with that… each library that has the space does a mural,
using the popped roof house, and kids get to draw something on the
mural from a book they read.
And from Martha Simpson:
I wrote a unit on Houses and Homes in my book, SUMMER READING CLUBS
(McFarland, 1991). I did call it "At Home with a Book." There are
several ideas for activities listed. Hope this helps. Martha Simpson,
Head of Children's Services, Stratford (CT)
To develop this theme for my libraries I will start with ideas from Martha's
book and also "Raising the Roof: Children's Stories and Activities on
Houses"
by Jan Irving and Robin Curie (Teacher Ideas Press, 1991)
Thanks again for all your help.
- --
Regan DeFranza, Youth Services & General Consultant
North Country Library System
22072 County Route 190 P.O. Box 99 Watertown, NY 13601
phone: 315 782 5540 fax: 315 782 6883 email: defranza@northnet.org
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 23:17:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: Filtering Facts <burt@northwest.com>
Subject: PORNOGRAPHERS USE LIBRARY TO ATTACK COMMUNITY STANDARDS
PORNOGRAPHERS USE LIBRARY TO ATTACK COMMUNITY STANDARDS
http://www.filteringfacts.org/arizona.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 13, 1998
Contact: David Burt
David_Burt@filteringfacts.org
503 635-7048
Lake Oswego, Or --- Can unfiltered Internet access at your local public
library really pose a threat to your community's ability to protect children
from pornography? The pornographers think so, according to a legal motion
filed in Phoenix, Arizona pleading that the material they were making
available to children was no worse that what children could view via the
Internet at the Phoenix Public Library.
The anti-pornography group Enough is Enough has been warning communities of
just this possibility. A recent EIE thought piece titled "A Trojan Horse in
the Local Library?" made the following prediction:
"Astoundingly, some libraries have become the Trojan Horse to bring
hard-core pornography into their communities. There is scarcely a public
library in the country whose selection policy would extend to a Hustler
magazine or a Deep Throat video. But many libraries are hooking up to
unfiltered Internet access that brings in illegal obscenity and child
pornography."
"That Trojan Horse is the very real threat of the erosion of community
standards and harmful to minors laws until they are meaningless", says
David
Burt, President of Filtering Facts.
The publisher of a pornographic Arizona tabloid called the Beat was recently
arrested for distributing his tabloid in sidewalk vending machines where
they could be accessed by minors. He offered as his defense in a motion to
dismiss the case that the Phoenix Public Library "has materials available
for minors which are infinitely more graphic than Defendant's newspaper."
The defendant,
Beat publisher Jerry Evans, has even bragged that "all the porno lawyers
are
supporting me".
Burt offered this advice, "Communities need to be aware, as 'all the porno
lawyers' are, that if they allow their local libraries to offer free access
to obscenity and pornography, they are putting their ability to restrict
sexually oriented businesses, and their children's health, at risk."
*****************************************************************************
David Burt President, Filtering Facts
Website: http://www.filteringfacts.org
E-Mail: David_Burt@filteringfacts.org
Phone/Fax: 503 635-7048
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 17:00:42 -0600
From: roberts@panet.panet.pa.sk.ca (Marlyn Roberts)
Subject: A plea for help
Hi, everyone.
I'm starting a book discussion group for 8- & 9-year-olds and am trying to
come up with a name that will attract them. I seem to be a little
brain-dead though; perhaps a result of the extreme heat and humidity.
Can all of you wonderfully imaginative people out there help me with some ideas?
Much appreciated,
Marlyn
************************************************
MARLYN K. ROBERTS
Assistant Director
John M. Cuelenaere Public Library
Prince Albert, SK
S6V 1B7
e-mail: roberts@jmc.panet.pa.sk.ca
Ph. : (306)763-8496 ext. 32
Fax: (306)763-3816
************************************************
************************************************
MARLYN K. ROBERTS
Assistant Director
John M. Cuelenaere Public Library
Prince Albert, SK
S6V 1B7
e-mail: roberts@jmc.panet.pa.sk.ca
Ph. : (306)763-8496 ext. 32
Fax: (306)763-3816
************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 23:21:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: Filtering Facts <burt@northwest.com>
Subject: One Librarian's Story By Heidi Borton
This is a true story by a librarian who resigned after 10 years at the King
County (Wash.) Library rather than carry out the library policy of providing
pornography to children:
One Librarian's Story By Heidi Borton
http://www.filteringfacts.org/borton.htm
I didn't intend to become an activist. Or to resign from a position that I
found to be both intellectually and emotionally satisfying. But after almost
ten years as a librarian in a large library system, I recently resigned. The
reason for this decision: I could not in good conscience support an "equal
and open access" Internet policy. What this policy means in fact and
practice is that librarians must sit silently by while any and all library
users access pornography and other information of a defamatory nature which
materials selection policy would disallow as a valid use of materials
budget. The conventional wisdom is that the brave new world of the Internet
is an uncontrollable medium, therefore we have no possibility of controlling
what is accessed once we provide access. Filters, admittedly an imperfect
solution, are dismissed as unworkable, and in fact a whole new apologetic of
reasons for providing unrestricted access to the Internet has developed
amongst library leaders and is being touted as the position of authority in
library periodicals. I am glad that David Burt and a few library systems
have braved intimidation and threatened lawsuits by the ACLU in order to at
least attempt some measures that bring a sense of sane responsibility to
this issue.
A year and a half before I resigned I asked our Library Board to consider
the ramifications, both legal and ethical, to providing unrestricted
Internet access to all ages. Subsequently the system decided to install the
Bess filter on our children's terminals. In fact, this was a good move; at
least then when the newspapers reported on the issue they could laud the
fact that we cared about children (though they never saw the kids accessing
porn at adult terminals). Some librarians protested even this move. Sad as
it may seem there are those who think there is nothing wrong with
pornography being viewed by children, young adults, or adults. Isn't it
strange how we always talk about the power of information to change lives,
and then discount that viewing defaming and demeaning words, pictures and
sound can have any significant influence on someone's behavior?
The precipitating incident leading to my resignation came in November 1997.
It was a usual Saturday; we were busy and a little short-staffed. A phone
call came in and was referred to me by one of our library assistants. The
caller identified himself as a fourteen-year-old. He wanted to know if the
library allowed him to access pornography (his term) on our library
computers. At that point I knew I had a choice. I could either "hide"
the
truth or tell him the truth. I chose to tell him what the library policy
was: that he could access whatever he wanted to, provided it wasn't illegal
child pornography. He then replied that he just wanted to see pictures of
"naked women". He also went on to ask a very logical if shocking
question:
If the library allowed him to view these porn Internet sites why didn't the
library also subscribe to certain hard-core magazines? At that point I told
him that he would have to speak to the library manager who would be in on
Monday.
On Monday I spoke with the manager and with the head of the library system,
confirming that I had stated library policy correctly. I was told that I
had. Immediately I realized that I could never violate my own sense of
morality in this way again. Whatever library policy was, it was wrong to
give a fourteen-year-old (or for that matter a forty-year-old) access to
smut in a publicly funded and supported institution.
I hope that my story will encourage other librarians who feel the same way
as I do to speak up and not be intimidated. I hope and pray that more sense
of responsibility will be shown by library administrators and those that are
helping libraries to become Internet access points. Let's have some written
policies that encourage (dare I say demand) a certain level of behavior in
order to have access to the Internet, that require parental permission, that
authorize the use of filters. Let's openly publicize our policies and expose
ourselves to some public scrutiny. Let's try to do the right thing, not just
what is "politically correct".
*****************************************************************************
David Burt President, Filtering Facts
Website: http://www.filteringfacts.org
E-Mail: David_Burt@filteringfacts.org
Phone/Fax: 503 635-7048
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 15:38:06 -0600 (MDT)
From: Lu Benke <lubenke@libsys.ci.fort-collins.co.us>
Subject: Summer Reading and Research
The recent thread about SR ponderings has me wondering if I am
alone in wishing we had easier access to research on the best ways to
encourage reading. Wouldn't it be great if each year as we planned SR we
looked at ways to improve based on what recent reading research says about
the process? I say this knowing that I don't do this myself--other than
taking a course once a decade, reading an occasional book or article on
the topic, and looking without success for available conferences or
workshops on the topic. My excuse is that I don't have time. Yet I know I
expect my children's teachers to both read and apply research on how
children learn and keep abreast of recent trends. Shouldn't we be doing the
same when it comes to reading research and our library programs?
The implications for what we do are unlimited. Writing activities
as another way to fill SR requirements? Whole language research says yes.
What ages to target for our programs? Recent research on cognitive
learning in the first year is a compelling reason for lapsits over even
the more traditional and accepted programming. Reading readiness research
has implications for everything from storytime props to whether we use all
upper case letters when making out preschool storytime nametags (Don't. It
confuses prereaders.) Then there is Alfie Kohn's book which challenged us
to look at what research is really saying about the use of SR incentives.
Recently, we ILLed a book on the research behind the effects of
VOLUNTARY reading programs (Sorry, I don't have the citation here; email
me if you want me to find it for you.) It was most encouraging that we
are on the right track with our SR program emphasis on the fun of reading
and the freedom to choose what you read. But it also challenges us to
think through whether we want to be party to large day care centers or
summer school classes that turn the SR program into part of the
curriculum and make joining the program and reading the required time
obligatory. (Indeed, how would we prevent them from doing this?)
In this year's SR, we switched from counting books or time, to
counting just time. As we did, we called the school district's reading
research specialist and asked her opinion about the particulars. Because
of her input, we felt more confident the 5 hours per each of two prizes
was realistic and consistent with what was appropriate for older as well
as younger kids. Because she reminded us of the importance of parents
modeling reading in the home, we included a "fun" question on the
reading record that involved the child asking his or her parent what they
like to read. I got the impression we were just scratching the surface on
what we could do to tailor our SR to what really works to promote reading.
Don't get me wrong. I think we do excellent jobs at understanding
what children need to feel encouraged and nurtured as readers. And I don't
think school methods for teaching reading should be adopted by public
libraries. (I think we do it better in some ways! And the research I HAVE
read mostly bears out what many of us have been doing for years.)
But this isn't nearly enough, I fear. It's like telling funding
agencies we're too busy and need more staff; their reply is frequently
"Prove it with statistics, not anecdotal accounts." Is this why we get
passed over when politicians talk about agencies that should be supported
in their efforts to encourage young readers? Perhaps if we had the time
and access to reading research, we could both improve our programs and
prove to the powers-that-be that we are doing it right.
Lu Benke
Media and Children's Services
Fort Collins Public Library
201 Peterson Street phone: 970-221-6678
Fort Collins, CO 80524 fax: 970-221-6398
lubenke@libsys.ci.fort-collins.co.us
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 98 17:36:48 -0500
From: Lynn Linton <llinton@ncsl.dcr.state.nc.us>
Subject: Lynne Cherry
- -- [ From: Lynn Linton * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --
I would really like to invite Lynne Cherry to my library for an author
visit. I'm in the process of contacting her publisher. Have any of you had
her as a guest or seen her at an appearance? Please contact me directly.
Thanks a bunch.
Lynn Linton
Children's Librarian
Iredell County Public Library
Statesville, NC
llinton@ncsl.dcr.state.nc.us
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Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 08:30:33 -0700
From: Rae Kozloff <alib2@sos.net>
Subject: New book mentioning pubyac
Our library director mentioned to me yesterday that he was reading a new
mystery in
which the author mentions pubyac! Apparently one of the themes is
illiteracy, and one
of the characters either reads or tells stories in a library. So in
case some of you are
interested in reading it, the book is "Liar : an Irene Kelly mystery"
by
Jan Burke.
Rae Kozloff
Anacortes Public Library
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Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 10:18:01 -0400
From: bwilliams@brdgprtpl.lib.ct.us (Bina Williams)
Subject: RE: harassment by public
Sounds like you might benefit from one of Transform's workshops on Model
Customer Service Behaviors. Check with your state library association about
whether they offer these workshops. They are from the same people who do
the Effective Reference Performance workshops (Nancy Bolin and Ralph Gers
are the leaders.)
The training helps us to be in a better frame of mind to deal with all
patrons, especially those cranky ones. SOmetimes, you can disarm people's
wrath by your behavior in terms of b eing welcoming and then thanking them,
even when they are complaining about something.
If you follow these guidelines, it actually makes the friction dissipate,
and stress levels will go way down....
Bina Williams
Bridgeport (CT) Public Library
- ----------
From: Silvia Macor
Sent: Friday, July 03, 1998 6:46 PM
To: pubyac@nysernet.org
Subject: Re: harassment by public
Hello, Pubyacers! I have been following with amusement the discussion on
harassment by teenagers and ways to keep our decorum. I have often thought
of writing a book entitled "Things I Wish I Could Say to Harassing, Crabby
Patrons but Can't because I Need My Job." I had to keep all my cool once
when a patron told me "You know what you can do with this date due
receipt."
This was in response to a change from date due cards to date due receipts.
Many responses came to mind but I simply said: "Have a nice day." I
found
that there are several ways to deal with unpleasant patrons:
1. ask another person on the staff to interact with them. If there is bad
karma between you and a patron, ask another librarian to handle their
needs.
2. two or three is better than one. Why should you be the heavy? Ask
another
librarian or librarians on the staff to accompany you on your mission to
quiet a noisy bunch.
3. I have often found that it is best to let an angry patron vent for a
while but if you have had enough and you are tired of being a whipping boy,
call for reinforcements by simply saying: " I think it's best that I get so
and so to help you." Usually by the time the cavalry comes the patron has
calmed down and is quite reasonable.
My husband often kids me that I have a stress-free job and I feel like
biting his head off because after a tough day I don't want to answer any
more questions, I don't want to answer the phone and I certainly don't want
to hear that. But I love my job and as a children's librarian I can
honestly
say that my youngest patrons are a joy.
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Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 10:44:48 -0400
From: Janet Eckert <jeckert@wmrls.org>
Subject: Summer program photos on the web
Dear fellow PUBYACers,
This summer, you can visit Massachusetts libraries in a matter of seconds
[maybe minutes : ) ] by taking a look at the Massachusetts Regional Library
Systems Unlock the Mystery - Read! Summer Web Site
http://www.wmrls.org/sum98.html
Librarians throughout the commonwealth are sending us photos of their
summer programs and decorations. Our site will be changing weekly. Hope
that you visit us soon (and often)!
Sincerely,
janet eckert
western massachusetts regional library system
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Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 15:43:10 -0600 (MDT)
From: Leslie Hauschildt <lhauscht@jefferson.lib.co.us>
Subject: Bingo stories, the end result
A while back I asked PUBYAC to let me know if anyone knew of any stories
about the game Bingo that I could use for a storytime. It turned out that
(apparently) there are NO childrens books that have Bingo as part of the
story! We ended up using games in general as our theme (listing of the
titles we used is at the end of this message, for those who are
interested).
I would especially like to thank Torrie Hodgson, Nadine Lipman, and Karen
Wendt for their enthusiastic and thought-provoking replies - altho we
didn't do any actual bingo at the storytime, their ideas on how to use
that concept for a storytime were great (I will forward them to anyone who
asks).
*****
For those who wondered why in the world I was interested in stories about
Bingo for children who would logically be too young to play Bingo
themselves - a little bit of background information. During June and July
we have Wacky Wednesdays - in addition to our regular storytimes on
Tuesdays and Fridays. This past week the WW activity was Bingo, and I was
just trying to find a tie-in if possible.
There are no age constraints or sign-ups required on our activities for
Wacky Wednesdays, and we often have participants from ages 4 to 11. As it
turned out, we had 14 participants this week, ranging in age from 3 to 10
(I'd guess). The little ones, who of course couldn't do it all by
themselves, had either an older sibling or a parent there to help them
play and a good time was had by all. In fact, the three year old was one
of the winners! Also - I was pleased and impressed by the way all
the children seemed to grasp that they were looking for a match of a
letter and a number, and by the way they were patient while the younger
ones were helped to look for it!
*****
Books About Games That Were Used:
Hide and Snake
I Unpacked My Grandmother's Trunk
Jeremy's Tail
Octopus Hug
Playing Marbles
Pork and Beans
Rumble in the Jungle
Snap
Cheers -
Leslie Hauschildt
Childrens Librarian - Villa Library
Jefferson County Public Library
lhauscht@jefferson.lib.co.us
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End of pubyac V1 #374
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