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Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 18:49:38 -0500 (EST)
To: pubyac-digest@nysernet.org
Subject: pubyac V1 #511
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 14:33:38 -0500
From: "Babette C. Wofter" <wofterba@oplin.lib.oh.us>
Subject: Wanted: Poetry Ideas
Dear Pubyacers:
I am going to speak to a group of graduate students on ways to use
poetry in the classroom. The class is for teachers of grades 4-8. I
have used poetry alot but much of my material is going to be most
appropriate for the lower end of this age range. Can anyone offer good
books, activities or suggestions for the sixth through eighth grades? I
have some ideas for haiku, sports poems, "gross" poems, reader's
theater
poetry, and some poems in picture book format (i.e. Slugs, The Cremation
of Sam Magee) I'm planning to search the web and also go through
several resource books. Just thought I'd pick your brains for anything
you may have tried. Thanks in advance!!
Please e-mail your response directly to me at wofterba@oplin.lib.oh.us
or fax at (740) 342-4204.
Babette Wofter, Youth Services Coordinator
Perry County District Library
New Lexington, Ohio 43764
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 06:43:10 -0500 (EST)
From: bf455@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bonita Kale)
Subject: teacher cards
Teacher cards: In our library, they are an extra card you can get that
carries enhanced borrowing privileges. You can get books, audios, and
nonfiction videos for 6 weeks, with certain exceptions (Such as that they
have to be from our agency; we won't lend out other agengcies' stuff for 6
weeks. And we don't let a whole section be depleted--no fair taking out
all our books on the Civil War.) I believe the limit is 50 instead of 30
items (I don't know why we have such a low limit on cards; everyone else
seems to do 50).
And homeschooling parents can get them too.
I'm going to check out pubyac at work; I seem to have missed a lot by
skipping a few digests at home. In our library (one of the
no-parents-in-preschool-storytime ones), the parents can actually peek in
during the story time without opening the door. We do have a poster on the
window, but it doesn't block the view entirely. The preschool story hour
is limited to 25 kids, so it's easy to pick out your own--and, of course,
the librarian is the BIG person up front.
We have more problems with parents who aren't around when story time ends
than with parents who want to come in.
Big kids in the library: This is a problem, because they're patrons too.
However, if you're thrown out in our library, you don't come back later.
If you do, you're thrown out again. It helps that we have a security
guard, and also, that the police station is about a block away. But we
(and I don't mean me, I mean the people whose job it is) do actually send
out anyone who tries to come back after being sent out once. They don't
need to make trouble again to get sent out again. I think this helps. A
bit.
Our main problem is the kids gathering to smoke and talk in front of the
front door, where people have to run the gauntlet of smoke and language to
get in. Some find it very intimidating. The security guard and police
have shooed them away many times, and it's not as bad now as it was.
What I think we should do is put up a bunch of walls or something off to
the side--something that doesn't look as if you'd be allowed to sit on
it--sort of a modernistic half-sculpture. The kids would be all over it,
and away from the door.
Bonita
- --
Bonita Kale
bf455@cleveland.freenet.edu
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 01:15:15 -0500
From: aparadise@juno.com (Andrew Paradise)
Subject: Re: YA party with movies
Sounds like a good program- let us know how it goes! I would also
suggest that the film version be the best available and that studentsa
discuss the changes/interpretation of the asaptation. (Not formally like
a class- but as part of critical interest).
Anne
"Librarian (like Stewardess, Certified Public Accountant, Used Car
Salesman) is
one of those occupations that people assume attract a certain deformed
personality."
Elizabeth McCracken *The
Giant's House*
Anne (and Andy} Paradise, Librarians-- anne@gary.lib.in.us or
aparadise@juno.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 23:05:10 -0500
From: "Mary K. Chelton" <mchelton@pop.erols.com>
Subject: teens
Mary, has anybody taken the time to sit down with the kids and find out
what they are interested in? Is there no place else to go in town? Are
they interested in something other than "assignment help?" Have you
asked
them to help you with anything? Does anybody know their names or who they
are? It may be time to recast your services for YAs more broadly or go to
outside authorities with the problem. Obviously, the way it is going, they
will delight in driving you crazy shortly. There are some excellent models
in the two EXCELLENCE IN LIBRARY SERVICES FOR YOUNG ADULTS books published
by ALA, and some interesting insights in Patrick Jones' CONNECTING YOUNG
ADULTS AND LIBRARIES.
Mary K.
Mary K. Chelton
Associate Professor
Graduate School of Library & Information Studies
Queens College
254 Rosenthal Library
65-30 Kissena Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11367-1597
Voice: (718) 997-3667
Fax: (718) 997-3797
Home: 35 Mercury Ave.
East Patchogue, NY 11772
Voice: (516) 286-4255
"Until we extend the circle of our compassion to all living things, we will
not ourselves find peace." Albert Schweitzer
Don't buy puppies in pet stores! STOP PUPPY MILLS!
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 22:19:11 -0600 (CST)
From: Sarajo Spurgeon <spurgeon@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu>
Subject: Re: The Double Diamond Triangle Saga
Carol,
I'm not familiar with this particular series, but TSR is the company that
makes Dungeons & Dragons. They have a number of books series, most of
which I believe are spin-offs from their games. I can't vouch for the
quality or content of this series, but I did really enjoy the first two
trilogies in their Dragon Lance world when I was in middle school.
You can see what they say about the series on their Web page at:
http://www.wizards.com/Catalog/TSR/doublediamond.html
They say that they are geared for readers 12 and up...and all the ones
they have listed are 96 pages long.
HTH!
- -Sarajo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarajo L. Spurgeon
Graduate School of Library and Information Science
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Graduate Assistant--Central Reference Services
spurgeon@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Mon, 23 Nov 1998, Carol Hoke wrote:
> Has anyone heard of this series? I have a patron suggestion for it and she
> says that she saw it at Barnes and Noble and it will appeal to Animorph
> series followers. It is published by TSR, Inc. which is a subsidiary of
> Wizards of the Coast, Inc. I have not heard of either of these publishers.
>
>
> Titles include:
>
> The Abduction by J. Robert King
> The Paladins by James M. Ward and David Wise
> Easy Betrayals by Richard Baker
>
> Any information anyone has would be appreciated.
>
> TIA,
>
> Carol Hoke
> Children's Services Manager
> Cedar Rapids Public Library
> 500 1st St. SE
> Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
> Hoke@crpl.cedar-rapids.lib.ia.us
> 319-398-5123
>
>
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 19:09:52 -0500 (EST)
From: VASILIK@palsplus.org
Subject: Request for Internet parental permission forms
Dear Pubyacers -
My director has asked me to see if anyone on the list has a
permission form that they use in connection with kids using the Internet.
Our Board of Trustees wants us to develop one that parents will have to
sign before kids can access our public Internet stations. I think they have
in mind something that absolves the Library of responsibility and reminds
the parents that it is a parental right and responsibility if they wish to
restrict use.
If anyone has such a form I would really appreciate a copy. You
can send by snail mail or Fax, or e-mail, whichever is easier. If you would
like me to send postage, just e-mail and I'll send out a stamped envelope.
My address is Clifton Public Library, 292 Piaget Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07011.
My fax is 973-772-2926 and my e-mail is:
vasilik@palsplus.org
TIA for all your help!
Pat Vasilik
Clifton Public Library
Clifton, NJ
vasilik@palsplus.org
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 16:00:06 -0500
From: Susanna Holstein <pkb00700@alpha.wvup.wvnet.edu>
Subject: Re: Toddler.preschool storytimes and parents
Again I will speak as a parent who is also a librarian. I continue to be
concerned with the position taken by several libraries that parents not
be in the storytime room with their child. I do not know you, I have no
idea what your child management skills are, what your tolerance level
is, what training you have had in child care, child development. I do
not know if your library screened your background when you were hired.
You, on the other hand, do not know my child. you do not know that a
loud voice will frighten him into tears, that bears are not cute to him.
You do not know that even if he is moving about the room, he is still
listening to the story. How can you assume that he is better off in
storytime without his parents?
Do you have early childhood education and development training? Are your
activities going to be age-appropriate? How do you know without
training? When my child goes to school, I at least have the assurance
that the teacher has this background and training, that the teacher's
background has been investigated. I am still uneasy, because I do not
know the teacher's tolerance level, or their discipline methods. I have
been in and out of hundreds of classrooms, as a student teacher,
substitute teacher, volunteer, and librarian. I have seen and heard
some frightening things. Why then should I have confidence in a
librarian/library staffer who may or may not have professional training
in dealing with children?
Libraries traditionally do not assume the role of "in loco parentis."
So, if I am not allowed in the room with my child, and the librarian
cannot legally act as parent, who parents the child for that period of
time? This is a legal issue as well as an policy one.
Susanna Holstein
Speaking as parent, librarian, and grandparent
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 14:48:03 +1300
From: "Nagelkerke, Bill" <bill.nagelkerke@ccc.govt.nz>
Subject: Young Adult Services
We are currently looking at reviewing the strategic directions for our Young
Adult Librarian position. At present this position has a network
responsibility (one Central Library and 15 community libraries; pop.
c350,000) to promote and develop services to young adults 13-18 through
collection development and maintenance for all these libraries, outreach to
schools, displays, support of colleagues, production of booklists and other
publications, shelving the YA collection at the Central Library. Clearly a
lot of tasks across the very wide age range, with expectations from the
Central Library that she should also be providing across the desk service
for those young adults who use the library's information services. I would
really like to get an idea, particularly from library systems of a similar
size which have a Young Adult Librarian, if any of you have managed to
contain the focus of the position and what you have identified as
priorities. I'm inclined to suggest that our YA Librarian focus on the
recreational interests of YAs in the 12/3 -15/16 age bracket, since all
front line staff, in their day to day roles, serve young adults' information
needs. Thanks for your help.
Bill Nagelkerke
Children's and Young Adult Services Co-ordinator
Canterbury Public Library
Christchurch
New Zealand
DDI (03) 372 7885
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 22:01:13 PST
From: "Dawn Imada" <dawnimada@hotmail.com>
Subject: Books about Countries and States
Hi Pubyac Subscribers,
What is your opinion about the following new series?
State Facts and Symbols Series by Emily McAuliffe
(Grolier Publications, 24 pages each)
Picture a Country Series by Henry Arthur Pluckrose
(Franklin Watts, 32 pages each)
Look What Came From Series by Miles Harvey
(Franklin Watts, 32 pages each)
I checked the EBSCO magazine index, the Ingram TIPS list, and
Amazon.com, and couldn't find any book reviews for these series.
I would appreciate your feedback.
Sincerely,
Dawn Imada
dawnimada@hotmail.com
dawn.imada@ci.sj.ca.us
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 17:37:23 +0000
From: "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us>
Subject: Re: Snow closures
We close for snow only when it's really, really awful, which means
that we're frequently open when the schools are closed. The decision
to close is pretty subjective: we close if the director feels
sufficiently alarmed by driving conditions on his way to the building
(he drives over very early on snowy days to test it out). We then
have a phone tree to notify staff of the closure. Staff are paid as
if they worked, the rationale being that it's not their fault the
library closed, so why penalize them?
Because of this policy, we have had some problems with greed. For
instance, if Employee Awas on vacation when the library is closed due
to snow, Employee A often tried to claim an extra day of vacation
because Employees B-Z got lucky. After some discussion, we decided
that snow closures fell into an "Act of God" category, and if you
were on vacation when the library closed, that was just tough;
likewise if the library closed early after you'd worked a full shift
but some of your colleagues who were on the night shift got half
days.
Some of our staff live farther away from the library than others, and
it's conceivable that some of them may not want to risk driving in,
but that's never happened, so no policy has been developed. We have
no "essential personnel only" policy.
Vicky Smith
Children's Librarian
McArthur Public Library
270 Main Street
Biddeford, ME 04005
(207)284-4181
vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 13:00:00 -0500
From: CV Childrens <cvjuve@oplin.lib.oh.us>
Subject: Hit on Clifford Program Ideas
Thanks so very much to all the people who responded with suggestions for
our Clifford program. (Torrie, Christine, Marge, Phyllis, Caren, Kate,
Roberta, Susan, Faith, and anyone I missed).
I waited so long to post because I wanted to see how our program fared. We
offered the program from 4:00-5:00 p.m. and again from 7:00-8:00 p.m. We
had a total of 280 participants. We had three main areas: one area where
everyone could meet Clifford (and get a hand stamp and a bookmark); one
area with activities [pin the tail on Clifford, Clifford bean bag toss,
Clifford sniff test (different odors on cotton balls in film canisters,
with them guessing), and a Clifford coloring table (color sheets and
mazes)]. Outside the area where people waited to meet Clifford, we also had
a "Match Wits with Clifford" table--participants could try to match
various
dogs with their owners (literary, tv/movie, etc.); we had two big sheets of
butcher paper where kids could write their answers under the headings
"Clifford is as big as" and "Clifford is as red as"; and we
had someone go
around to the people waiting to do Clifford riddles and have them play
"Clifford Says" (doggie obedience school). Everyone seemed to have a
blast!
Here are other suggestions received:
Make floppy dog ear hats from paper
Clifford book-biter bookmarks
Talking puppets (from Folding Paper Puppets by Shari Lewis)
Scholastic Giveaways
Goodie bags decorated to look like Clifford (paper eyes and ears with drawn
noses and mouths)
Autographs (paw prints on paper)
A giant library card w/ Clifford's signature (respondant used it as part of
a skit)
Have the kids decorate a card for Clifford
Sing songs (Bingo; How Much is That Doggie, etc.)
Have bones with Clifford riddles on them
Bone-shaped cookies
Stamps (Clifford, paw prints, etc.)
Clifford cut outs to put together
Take photos of kids w/ Clifford
Use red yarn and felt to make dog ears
If anyone has additional questions, I'd be happy to share.
Thanks again to all those who contributed ideas! What a wonderful group!
Marsha R.
Marsha Rakestraw, YA Specialist
Washington-Centerville Public Library
111 W. Spring Valley Road
Centerville, OH 45458
cvjuve@oplin.lib.oh.us
or
rakestma@oplin.lib.oh.us
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 21:55:39 -0500 (EST)
From: Jeri Kladder <jkladder@freenet.columbus.oh.us>
Subject: Re: Parents in Storytime
I would like to put in a plug for Jim Gill's presentation to librarians.
He was fabulous at explaining all of the educational, psychological, and
developmental advantages for doing what he does. He is full of tips on
how to use his music. He just visited Columbus (Ohio) and presented to
the Children's Services Librarians of Columbus Metropolitan Library and
the Media Center Specialists at Columbus Public Schools. What a wonderful
time we had! And...he has very valid reasons for including significant
adults in the story and music sessions with children.
It really isn't up to us to decide when a child is ready to be separated
from his or her parent or caregiver. If librarians have trouble with
distracting adults during storytimes it is important to lay the ground rules
for adult behavior as clearly as they do for children. It is insulting to
children
to demand a level of behavior that is not expected equally from adults.
Jeri Kladder, Children's Librarian & Storyteller
jkladder@freenet.columbus.oh.us
Columbus Metropolitan Library
Columbus, Ohio
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 8:16:27 -0500
From: "Grace Greene, Childrens' Services Consultant"
<GGREENE@dol.state.vt.us>
Subject: summer reading program
Vermont's summer reading program themes are chosen by all of the children's
librarians in the state. This year we are doing humor, and the theme is,
"Library Laughs."
Grace Greene
Children's Services Consultant
Vermont Department of Libraries
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 09:45:33 -0800
From: "Karen Brown" <BrownK@ci.monterey.ca.us>
Subject: How do you do it?
1. Does anyone have any standards for shelving youth books, that is how many of
each type should be done in an hour? If you answer about shelving picture books,
please include the degree of alphabetization; we use the first three letters.
2. Does anyone have a collection development policy or Internet policy statement
on the selection of links for the library website?
Karen Brown
Youth and Extension Services Manager
Monterey Public Library
625 Pacific Street
Monterey, California 93940
831-646-3744
brownk@ci.monterey.ca.us
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 13:56:00 -0800
From: BOGART Debra S <dbogart@ci.springfield.or.us>
Subject: RE: cd-rom advice
Learn resources to refer them to. Family PC magazine is a wonderful source
of reviews and ratings for all computer related media, for example. Family
Life and Family Fun run monthly columns with reviews. etc.!
Debra Bogart
Youth Services
Springfield Public Library
----------
From: Lyn Persson
To: pubyac@nysernet.org
Subject: cd-rom advice
Date: Monday, November 23, 1998 7:31AM
Here is another request. A patron is looking for good CD-ROM software
which will help her 5 year old with letter recognition. <snip>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 10:22:12 PST
From: "steve webber" <mstomper@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Complaint about YA novel
I worked for the library system in question, at a branch with a similar
clientele, and I can confidently state that it is not library policy to
do what this trainee did. I'm sure the supervisor will take appropriate
action when he/she is aware of the situation. I wouldn't intentionally
direct a patron to something that I suspect would cause trouble if the
parents found out, but I wouldn't presume the parents' authority either.
I hope this was just a novice mistake.
Steve Webber, Children's Librarian
Mt. Pleasant Branch
DC Public Library
"...go to a library and educate yourself."
- ---Frank Zappa
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 10:47:00 -0500
From: SCHAFFNERP@aadl.annarbor.lib.mi.us
Subject: keeping up with multimedia
It's definitely a challenge to keep up with everything. My own method is to
try ONE of a series (JumpStart, for example) and then occasionally ask patrons
if they have favorite CD-ROMS. Reading reviews in SLJ and Booklist can provide
at least familiarity with titles. We also subscribe to FamilyPC and Children's
Software Review, both of which are available to patrons in our Parent
Collection.
I do the same with videos and music. Read reviews, try to listen to/watch a
representative thing, and ask patrons their opinions. (our patrons are very
willing to share opinions!!!) Of course, I read ALL the books. . . (Well, maybe
not.)
Oh, dear--that should be Children's Software REVUE.
Paula Schaffner
Ann Arbor (MI) District Library
schaffnerp@aadl.annarbor.lib.mi.us
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 15:20:43 -0500 (EST)
From: "<Lesley Knieriem>" <lknierie@suffolk.lib.ny.us>
Subject: Re: video access to teen patrons
No, you're being rude. My library doesn't restrict R-rated
videos, and I would oppose it if it did, primarily since this would be
putting selection in the hands of a commercial agency (the MPAA ratings
board) instead of the librarians'. I do not support restricting minors'
rights to information in ANY way. But to pretend that minors do not have
different degrees of sophistication, and *different legal status* (this is
is important, because it is completely out of our hands) from adults, or
that this very real difference will disappear in eyes of our patrons by
the application of a little heavy-handed sarcasm, is foolish. If a
librarian were to take such an approach, any sensible parent would
respond "Screw you, I'm off to Blockbusters!" thus depriving their
child of *any* of the videos or other materials in the library.
Making fun of patrons' legitimate concerns will merely turn them
against the library and librarians. More helpful would be to discuss
the parents' concerns, discuss *why* the rating system is not
appropriate for libraries (the old "false sense of security" argument
works very well; explain that the R rating is less often applied to
graphic violence, language, doesn't apply to documentaries and foreign
films, etc., so a concerned parent would need to supervise their
children's selections anyway) Our job is to provide them with information
and knowledge, guide them to the most appropriate materials, and safeguard
their access to those materials. It is not to stuff our politics down
their throats or exercise our wit at their expense.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Lesley Knieriem ~
~ YA / Reference Librarian (516) 549-4411 ~
~ South Huntington Public Library fax (516) 549-6832 ~
~ Huntington Station, NY 11746 lknierie@suffolk.lib.ny.us ~
~ ----------------------------------------------------------------- ~
~ "It would almost seem as if human delusions become more ~
~ unreasoning and abject in proportion as their subject is of ~
~ greater importance." -- P. T. Barnum, HUMBUGS OF THE WORLD ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Tue, 24 Nov 1998, Bill B. wrote:
> >I for one am in favor of limiting R-rated movies
>
> >Dawn Rutherford
> >Children's and Young Adult Librarian
> >Carl B. Roden Branch
> >Chicago Public Library
> >rutherfo@chipublib.org
>
> Great! But why only do this with teenagers. Shouldn't we also restrict
> access by Jews? After all, if a Jewish patron checked out "Schindler's
> List", he might find it disturbing. Jews should only be allowed to
check
> out R-rated movies if they have permission from a responsible gentile.
> And what about blacks? Do you want blacks checking out "Do the Right
> Thing"? It might give them ideas. And certainly women should not be
> allowed to view R-rated movies without their husbands' concent. It might
> corrupt their virtue. ("Thelma & Louise" would certainly be a
bad
> influence!)
>
> Bill
>
> P.S. In case you can't tell, I'm being sarcastic.
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 12:19:17 -0500
From: "Jennifer Lyle" <jlyle@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us>
Subject: RE: cd-rom advice
Lyn,
It is tough to know all the CD-ROM games. Since we have a computer in-house
for the kids to use I get to see their reactions to certain software. I am
in charge of collection development for the CD-ROM. Even so it is sometimes
tough to do gameplayer's advisory.
Try to take home one or two CD-ROM games a month and try them out at home.
Unless a game really excites me, I will usually play it for a couple of
hours and be done with it. However, I just couldn't stop playing Muppet
Treasure Island until I won! It was too much fun. Finding games you can
enjoy will make it worthwhile for your own entertainment.
Happy playing!
Jennifer Lyle
Children's Librarian
Fairport Public Library
jlyle@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 09:10:00 -0800
From: Maya_SPECTOR@CITY.PALO-ALTO.CA.US (Maya SPECTOR)
Subject: Parents at storytimes
We used to do our preschool storytime in a small room. I mean SMALL.
We couldn't have fit all the parents and kids in. We let parents in if
they really wanted to be there or their kids needed them, but mostly it
worked just fine. I'd often look back and see one peeking through the
window to check on her child. Now, we do our programs in a larger room
and leave it up to the adults whether to be there or not. One of the
biggest problems with the adults is that they sit and talk to each
other. Not only is it rude (to me) but it sets a bad example. Many of
them are nannies, not parents. They don't seem to get it, not even
when we nicely tell them they can feel free to go in another area to
converse. It certainly makes storytime a lot less fun for me!
Maya Spector
Palo Alto Children's Library
maya_spector@city.palo-alto.ca.us
------------------------------
Date: 24 Nov 1998 10:28:02 -0500
From: Jennifer Pepper <Jennifer.Pepper@state.me.us>
Subject: [none]
I have just received Pubyac issues 508 and 509 this morning, so I
apologize if my comments are a bit late.
I must agree with Melissa Kornosh's opinion that Lisa Payton's
personal attack on Annie Leon was inappropriate and unprofessional.
Ms. Leon clearly stated in her original message that she offers
storytimes both for children who are ready to be apart from their
parents and those who are not. Why Ms. Payton would take this to mean
that Ms. Leon thinks she knows better than a child's parents what is
best for that child, is beyond my understanding. Furthermore, as Ms.
Kornosh pointed out, this list is for librarians to share their
varying viewpoints on issues for the benefit of everyone, and we
hardly encourage that participation by making nasty little remarks
about each other's character whenever we disagree.
I also respectfully disagree with Ms. Payton's statement that spending
every possible moment at a child's side (including the time he is
attending school!) will result in that child knowing "that their
parent has done everything they possibly can for them, and they will
come to the parent and share their life experiences." While this may
be true for some children (and Ms. Payton of course has the right to
decide if her own child is one of them), certainly many children would
be more likely to withdraw emotionally from a parent who felt the need
to be a part of every moment of their lives. Children are people,
too, and they need privacy, independence, and a sense of self-esteem
that can only come from knowing that they can accomplish things on
their own, without Mom or Dad standing by.
Of course, I understand that in today's world parents must sometimes
be overprotective, and given the horror stories we all hear every day
on the news, I can certainly understand the hesitation of a parent to
leave their child with another adult - particularly when that child is
only a toddler. But there is a difference between taking precautions
for a child's safety and needing to be with him every minute to make
sure that he is safe. Perhaps it was best put in the old proverb:
"Children are like soap; if you hold them too tightly, they slip
away."
Please understand that the above are my opinions, and not an attempt
to tell anyone else that I know more about their child than they do.
After all, what is this list for if not to share our opinions?
Jennifer Pepper
------------------------------
End of pubyac V1 #511
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