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Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 18:25:20 -0500 (EST)
To: pubyac-digest@nysernet.org
Subject: pubyac V1 #513
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 15:53:57 EST
From: Kabil@aol.com
Subject: Re: pubyac V1 #510
We are planning to renovate our children's room--Does anyone have any
suggestions that might be helpful--concerning definite dos and don'ts??Things
that should definitely be included??considered??thanks for your input.
K.Gaines--kabil@aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 17:01:07 +0000
From: nclune@cwmarsmail.cwmars.org
Subject: Re: Wanted: Poetry Ideas
Hi! I ran a workshop last year for a group of 5th graders. We took
William Carlos Williams' poem about the plums (look in any anthology
and you should find it) and I told them that they would each do their
own version of the poem. I wrote the poem large and put it
on an easel and underlined certain words, then had the kids plug
in their own....then whoever wanted to read his/her poem. It was a
great success! The poems were so very different.
Have you looked at Kenneth Koch's Rose, where did you get that red?
Hope this helps.
Nancy Hayes Clune
Lawrence Library
Pepperell, MA
nclune@cwmars.org
978-433-0330
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 14:22:47 -0600 (CST)
From: Carol Leeson <cleeson@nslsilus.org>
Subject: RE: Parents in Storytime
We have three age levels of storytime at our library. The Lapsit is for
children 18 months up to two years, this program is designed to involve
parent and child together. We ask that there is one parent for each
child, although this session our morning group has two sets of twins.
I've filled in and observed the regular presenter with one of the four
twins on her lap (obviously we wouldn't do this unless parent, child and
presenter were all comfortable). The second group is for two year olds.
This group requires that a parent attend with the child and asks that
older siblings be left at home. We have found that the presence of older
children sway the focus of the group. Younger children are allowed. The
third group is for 3-5 year olds and the parent is not invited in the
room. In some cases we allow a parent to sit with the child the first
time. Our activity room is very small and we could not possible have 25
children and adult presenter and even half of their parents in the room
at the same time. We do offer two daytime and two evening storytimes for
which there are no age restrictions. We hope that this meets the needs
of those families that have multi-age children or for older children that
want Mom, Dad, Grandma to sit with them. The open story times often have
to be held in an alternate room that is not available often enough for
the regular pre-school story time.
>From the parent's perspective. My son is 3 1/2 years old. We are
currently reading Daniel Pinkwater's "Wempires" at home each night and
other recent favorites have included Galdone's "Tailypo" and
"Moss Gown"
(I don't remember who wrote this interpretation). I work full time and
have a lengthy commute as does his father. We get about 2 hours of
quality time together each evening. I have taken him to storytime at our
local library as well as tried to have him participate in a Park District
Class. He does not want to go into a group by himself. He needs more
time to have interactive activities with his father and I. I do not
believe that this makes a toddler class more appropriate for him. Were
we residents in the library I work at, we could choose to come to an open
or family story time as opposed to a registered preschool storytime. We
are lucky that our local library is set up in such a way that the
preschool storytimes are held in the children's area and that I can work
it out so that he sits in the back row and I can sit behind him. He then
feels that I am with him and yet it is not disrupting to the group.
I understand that all libraries do not have the staff to be able to offer
the variety of programming that we do. By the way we have 4 two year old
programs, 4 preschool programs, 2 lapsit programs and 4 open programs per
week. We also offer monthly programming for 1st-3rd grade and are
starting to offer regular programming for 4th-5th grade. Our YA
committee offers programming for 6th and up.
Sorry for the long post, but this has been gnawing at me since this
thread started.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Carol Leeson
Head of Youth Services
Mount Prospect Public Library
10 S. Emerson
Mt. Prospect, Il 60056
(847)253-5675
cleeson@mppl.org
The opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect those of the Library.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 17:18:50 -0500 (EST)
From: "M. R. Seymour" <mrohde@si.umich.edu>
Subject: Keeping track of PUBYAC bibs?
I'm curious if anyone, perhaps the list moderator, has been keeping
track of/archiving the bibliographies offered on this list? (Or should I
be keeping track of them, myself?)
-Maggi
*Moderator answers:*
All postings to PUBYAC are automatically archived in the Nysernet gopher
archives, which is searchable. And long long ago when these bibs started
to be compiled, I started to change any subject heading of a message that
included a lengthy list of books. I add "BIB:" (no quotes) to the
beginning of the subject line. So you should be able to search on that 4
character string and pull up everything that has BIB: in it.....Yes, I
just tried it and it works pretty good. Of course, if people reply using
the same subject heading, that BIB: gets into the mix, so some might be
comments on a certain bibliography.
Please note that the archives are on a GOPHER. Your web browser has to be
able to support gopher technology. This is old technology, very basic.
I've been getting notes from people saying they can't get into the
archives, and it's related to the browser they're using. For example, if
you use PINE e-mail, at the prompt you should just be able to type
"gopher nysernet.org" and then wend your way to the PUBYAC archives.
If
you have web access, use the PUBYAC Web page to get to the gopher
archives.
Having said this, I want you to know that I'm working slowly to get
the archives (which are vast...VAST) moved to a system that can be
searched on the Web, possibly using one of the Web search engines.
Remember that everything about PUBYAC is gratis--we exist because
Nysernet is hosting us free, Pallas provides a free e-mail account and web
site, and I do the moderating. Nothing moves fast when you're trying to
get stuff for free. However, things are changing a bit which might make a
few things a tad easier. So, hang in there for a few months, and things
might be quite a bit different for us.
Also, to give y'all a long heads up: sometime in the next month, PUBYAC
will experience a temporary hiatus in transmission. For about 24-48
hours, we will not be able to e-mail out anything. I will give you very
long and repeated notice about this to make sure you don't miss it.
Pallas is moving a server from one state to another, and that affects us
greatly. The weird thing about this is that I will be able to communicate
with you, but you won't be able to send anything to the listserve.
(Actually that's the reverse of what usually happens.) But it will be
short, so don't worry. I'll let you know when this happens.
Shannon VanHemert
PUBYAC Moderator
pyowner@pallasinc.com
PUBYAC Web page: http://www.pallasinc.com/pubyac
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 17:18:20 -0500
From: bwilliams@brdgprtpl.lib.ct.us (Bina Williams)
Subject: Grades 1-3 program
Hi-- I am about to start a program for grades 1-3 called Reading Explorers.
I want to do reading to the kids and activities/ crafts. A mother who
helped us finally do this is interested more in activities to get the kids
to be better readers.
Do any of you have any ideas of "live" reading activities? I know that
Joyful Noises might be fun. Or maybe rhyming things or magnetic poetry.
Thanks for your infinite wisdom... I will assemble responses for you!
Bina Williams
Bridgeport (CT) Public Library
Bwilliams@brdgprtpl.lib.ct.us
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 10:09:51 -0800
From: DriftWood Public Library <driftwoodlib@wcn.net>
Subject: parents at storytimes
In response to Bonita Kale's library that has a policy that kicks children out
from story time if they need or want their parent with them--
how sad.
What message are you sending to parents and children? that libraries are
friendly? that libraries are compassionate and understanding? that libraries
exist for children?
I'm very sorry for the children and parents in your community.
Jill Heffner
driftwoodlib@wcn.net
Lincoln City, Oregon
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 17:40:14 -0500
From: "Dana Campbell" <danac@siuslaw.lib.or.us>
Subject: Parents wanting music ratings
I have a parent searching for a source that reviews and rates music....seems her
children are starting to select cd's that have caused her some concerns.
I have located www.screenit.com on the internet but they are no longer writing
music reviews.
Does anybody know of an internet site or a great print source that I can refer
to this patron?
Please respond directly. I'll post the suggestions if there is interest.
Many thanks.
Dana Campbell, Youth Services Librarian
Siuslaw Public Library
PO Box A
Florence, OR 97439
(541) 997-3132
danac@siuslaw.lib.or.us
!
!
!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 17:01:21 -0600
From: oneil <oneil@asbank.com>
Subject: Parents in Story Time
As a former day care center owner and a story hour programmer for twenty
years, I feel that the decision should be made by the parents rather
than the librarian who does not know the individual child.It might be
easier to have only secure , independent children in a story hour and no
parents, but then you are not meeting the (valid) needs of some of the
patrons.Children usually don't need a parent with them for more than a
few times, but they can feel very threatened by being left before they
fel comfortable with the situation.
I handle parents in the room by expecting them to help - with crafts(
maybe cutting out lots of bunny rabbit ears), songs,and to serve as a
model for participation stories.This usually helps the parent feel more
comfortable with the situation since then she knows what is going
on.These parents usually become my friends for life and the biggest fans
and PR agents for the library story hour program.Also , after a few
times, they are comfortable enough to go pick out books while the
program is going on.After this good beginning, these parents and their
children will probably become life time supporters of libraries!
Also, attendance at a story hour with their child is a wonderful way for
parents to become familiar with good books and other age appropriate
activities for children.
Sally O'Neil
Story Hour Coordinator
St Landry Parish Head Start
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 17:40:24 -0600
From: Lisa Payton <ufj000@mail.connect.more.net>
Subject: Re: Complaint about YA novel
Is it O.K. to ask a YA patron if they discuss their choices with their
parent(s)? Would it be appropriate to suggest they talk to their parent(s)?
At 10:22 AM 11/24/98 PST, you wrote:
>
>
>
>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
>
>
>
Lisa Payton, Director
Puxico Public Library
PO Box 65
Puxico MO 63960
573-222-3855
ufj000@mail.connect.more.net
"and I am unanimous in that"
Mrs. Slocomb
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 16:23:04 -0800 (PST)
From: Ralph Huntzinger <ralphunt@kcls.org>
Subject: Re: copyright and the web
Karen, et. al.
Internet and computer presentation technology do not change copyrights.
It does makes it more confusing and easier to misuse items. Best advice I
heard (last Saturday, in a day long copyright workshop for law librarians
plus 4 public library folks) was to assume you were publishing it in a
magazine. However, a magazine usually has "staff or a procedure" who
check for proper rights and clearances; web publishers (you and me) often
don't have the time or resources. When in doubt, find the copyright
owner, the license agreement, or create it yourself.
On the good side, there is a lot of clip art that comes with
reproduction rights, generic "public use" graphics and clip art, and
digital cameras/scanners plus "draw/paint" programs that allow anyone
to
create original material.
Ralph Huntzinger
King County Libray System
On Fri, 20 Nov 1998, Karen Cole
wrote:
> Does someone know what is correct copyright procedure when making web
> pages. What can (e.g. graphics) or can not be copied and put into a web
> page or powerpoint presentation. Thanks karen Cole
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 19:27:36 -0500 (EST)
From: Robin Del Guidice <guidicr@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us>
Subject: Adults in Storytimes
I have been watching this discussion and wasn't going to get involved -
but find I can't help putting in my 2 cents worth. Early in my career
(late 70's) I had a very different opinion than I do now about adults in
storytimes. At that time, this was an opportunity for children to have a
group experience away from Mom. Few children were in daycare and this was
a good transition to either a nursery school experience or kindergarten.
The theory was kids would learn to listen in a group, try to spread their
wings a little, learn to love books and have a great time. Times change,
however, and with an increasing number of working Moms, more children in
daycare settings and less time for parents to spend quality time with
their kids, storytime has become a wonderful way for them to share an
experience. Of course, the whole safety issue has also reared its ugly
head and many parents feel more comfortable not leaving their children
with strangers - even if it is the librarian who we all now is harmless. I
think we have to respect their feelings. And as long as we have them -
what better way to model how to make books fun. So many adults don't know
the traditional stories or nursery rhymes, aren't familiar with good
children's books and haven't the foggiest idea how to read aloud to a
child. I think storytime presents a perfect opportunity. One caveat,
however, I always expect that parents of toddlers (ages 18 mos - 3 yrs.)
will sit with their child and participate. Children learn by watching and
mimicking and what better way to learn that stories are fun than watching
your parent having fun. Parents of kids over 3 are welcome to sit at the
back but I expect them to be quiet and listen. I have been known to stop a
storytime to ask an adult for their cooperation.
Sorry this is so long winded - but that's my thinking.
*******************************************************************************
Robin Del Guidice "Many things we need can
Youth Specialist wait, children cannot...
Collection Support Services To them we cannot say
Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library tomorrow, their name is
guidicr@scfn.thpl.lib.fl. today."
Gabriela Mistral
*******************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 18:16:43 PST
From: "annie leon" <annie_leon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Young Adult Services
We have a Young Adult specialist (one in a dept of 6 MLS youth
specialists), in a large Regional within a system of 32 branches (You
asked regarding size) Your outline of duties seems very comprehensive.
Since we work as a training ground for new Youth Services librarians in
our area of the county, all of our staff is capable of handling any age
group--eg. the YA person also can handle a storytime and does bookmobile
duty in quarterly rotation with other staff. She also serves at the YS
reference desk in the daily rotation. However, her outreach, collection
development, and programming duties are YA. She runs the teen volunteer
program and orientations(we range between 40-80 depending on the
season), runs regular programs like Teen's Night Out (a bi-monthly
themed social,sometimes open-mike), and mentors the Teen Advisory Board
in program-planning and special events.Organizing YA programs and
volunteer-training/supervision is time-intensive and sometimes
requires a lot of personal contact (eg organizing phone-trees and
working the phones to drum up support and participation for a
TAB-sponsored event). However, it pays off in teen involvement. Our
teens are just great and do so much for us in return--we love having
them around--and They love having someone special who is responsive to
their needs.
Anne Leon, Dept Head
Youth Services, North Regional/BCC Library
1100 Coconut Creek Blvd
Coconut Creek, FL 33065
>From: "Nagelkerke, Bill" <bill.nagelkerke@ccc.govt.nz>
>To: "'pubyac@nysernet.org'" <pubyac@nysernet.org>
>Subject: Young Adult Services
>Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998
>
>We are currently looking at reviewing the strategic directions for our
Young
>Adult Librarian position. At present this position has a network
>responsibility<SNIP>
>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, <SNIP> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 21:01:17 +0000
From: rdhall@mail.cinetwork.com
Subject: Arthur (Aardvark) Program Ideas (LONG)
Below are the responses I have received concerning Arthur Programs. Thank
you, Sharon & Elaine for taking the time to type these into the computer to
send to me and for faxing or mailing other items. We anticipate a full
house. I did purchase the large poster from Demco, the 2 dolls and
bookmarks for display. I also have a large display with all the new videos
and audio packs and books for the big day when we open our new facility. I
am currently planning 3 different Arthur programs (for toddlers ages 2-3
years old, storytime ages 4-6, and a schoolage storytime) In addition to
the below crafts, children will make their own Arthur glasses and will be
served Arthur cookies they can decorate.
- ----------
I have had two Arthur programs (ages 3-8 years old.) We read Arthur
stories, talked about real aardvarks, wrote letters to Arthur (& sent them
to
Marc Brown), made sandwiches using a Mickey Mouse cookie cut-out (looks just
like Arthur), I dressed as Arthur (glasses, yellow sweater, made ears,
etc.,) sang the
theme song, played a tic tac toe with the characters, made an Arthur doorknob
hanger, and made Arthur (paper) puppets. Sources I used included the PBS web
site (for graphics of the charachters) and also a packet sent out by WGBH
outreach last year. The phone number of the person to contact about the
packet is
(617) 492-2777. Both of the parties (one a few weeks ago and the other in
June) were the two programs where I personally had the most fun. Also, one
edition of _Mailbox_ had an Arthur unit. I also think I saw something on
PUBYAC awhile ago about Arthur ideas- maybe it is in the archives. Hope this
helps!
****************
Sharon Julian-Milas
Children's Librarian
Whitehall Public Library
(412)882-6622
- -----------
We got the Idea for our Arthur Carnival from PUBYAC. I am sending you the
emails that went back and forth describing the games, etc and where we got
the posters and the supplies we bought. We did find that the donut shaped
magnets were too strong and we had so many tangles of line because of
them. Don't use them. Any way I hope this gives you some ideas. Write
if you wnat more info. We did download coloring sheets from Marc Brown's
website. elm
The Arthur items from Demco have been submitted for Wes to order. I have
purchased the fish stickers for the juice lids and have put them on the
juice lids. You will want to check to see if the magnets will pull the
stickers off. If this is so, then the stickers will need to be taped on
with magic mend tape.
Still need to purchase: round, donut shaped magnets for the end of the
fishing poles, swimming pool, fish crackers, small cookies, small cups to
put the goldfish crackers in, paper plates for Make a Plate of Food for DW
the Picky Eater.
Books will need to be put on hold.
ACTIVITIES PRIZES
Fishing goldfish crackers
fish stickers on juice can lids
caught with magnet strips
Sticks w/ strings and magnets
Bow-ties bookmarks
pin the bow tie on Arthur
red ties and magic tape
Feed Pal cookie
Pal (picture on box)
dog biscuits
Chicken Pox sticker
red dots on Arthur poster
small pencils & paper
Find Pal's ball ball
swimming pool w/ rice
small balls
Postcard
card stock
Arthur stamps
ACTIVITIES PRIZES
FISHING WITH ARTHUR goldfish crackers
24 poles with magnets
lids with fish stickers
pool
Steps:
1 Inflate the pool
2 Scatter fish disks over the bottom of the pool
3 Fill small cups half full with Goldfish crackers
4 Be careful not to remove tape until you hand the pole to a child,
magnets easily get tangled!
Instructions:
24 children may fish at once
1 Suggest that they keep elbows bent, to avoid hitting with sticks or
tangling strings
2 Let them know how many fish they must/can catch to get treats
3 Give small cup with Goldfish crackers
PIN THE BOWTIE ON ARTHUR bookmarks
(2) posters or Arthur
red paper bowties
double sided tape
Steps:
1 Hang poster (both if large crowd is anticipated; they can form 2 lines)
2 Put small strip of tape on center of paper tie
3 Have bookmarks to give one to each child who attempts
Instructions:
1 Ask child to close eyes, turn in a circle
2 Child tries to pin the bow tie in place under Arthur's chin
FEED PAL cookie
2 dog houses
1 large box of dog biscuits
Steps:
1 Place the dog houses at different distances
2 Place a line on the ground/floor/grass
3 Have cookies close by ( glove for helper)
Instructions:
1 Each child is given a dog bone to toss when he steps up to the line
2 Each child who attempts ( you can set number of tries) get a cookie
3 Whole bones cAN be returned to the box for the next program
4 Broken bones are to be put in a large plastic bag and sent along; they
will be sent to the Humane Society
COUNT Arthur's Chicken Pox sticker
Arthur poster with red dots (58 at last count)
small pencils & paper
Steps:
1 Cut apart individual stickers (plastic bags sent along to first
locations)
2 Mount poster at a height and/or distance
Instructions:
1 Provide each participant with a piece of paper and a pencil
2 Everyone who turns in a paper get a sticker
3 Check slips for "winner" ; whole sheet of sticers to person who gets
closest
FIND FRANCINE'S BALL ball
Tub with styrofoam peanuts
bag of small balls
Steps:
1 Open bag and distribute balls throughout container
2 Each child gets to keep the ball they find ( 1 per child)
POSTCARD TO ARTHUR'S FRIENDS
card stock
Arthur stamps
stamp pads
Steps:
1 Cover a table with paper, set out stamp pads, stamps and several short
stacks of "postcards"
2 Each child can prepare 2-4 postcards, which they take home
1. Arthur's chicken pox needs a person to gather the guesses and hand
out stickers.
2. Fishing needs a person to untangle lines and pass out cracekrs.
3. Pal's bone needs a person to hand the kids the bones and hand out
the cookie when the kids are done.
4. Color sheets and stamping needs tables and a person to monitor the
station.
5. Find Francine's ball needs a person to keep the packing peanuts in
the container and to make sure that the kids only take one ball.
6. Pin the bowtie on Arthur has 2 posters so you can set one lower
than the other for the smaller kids. You need at least one person to hand
the kids the bowties and the book mark prize.
Elaine Lesh Morgan, Youth Librarian Rockwood Branch Library
Multnomah County Library 17917 S.E. Stark St.
(503) 248-5396 fax (503)248-5178 Portland, OR 97233
elainem@nethost.multnomah.or.lib.us
- -----------
Hello again-
WGBH is the public TV station in Boston....I gave you some wrong info about
the Arthur unit, however. It wasn't in _Mailbox_ but in the Nov/Dec 1994
issue of _Copycat_. If you send me your fax number I will send the Arthur
puppet pattern. It is just a picture of Arthur that you color, cut-out,
and glue to a brown paper bag. The doorknob hangers were made of craft
foam and I copied a picture of Arthur that the kids colored and glued on-
if you want a rough diagram, I'll send that too. Also, I will send a
little diagram for the kids on how to draw Arthur themselves. I forgot to
mention that we also played another game- Marc Brown puts his children's
names in the Arthur book and I had the children find the names (you need
lots of copies of the books for this one.)
I work for a smaller library that shares space with the community's business
offices and a large community event room. The way I handle the age
differences & groups is by having the parents stay with the children and by
color coding the kids by their nametag. I had 60 children at the last
party that were in three color groups. THen, I divide the activites up
with help of volunteers who man the different activity stations. That way,
instead of 60 kids doing the same thing, it is only 20. The groups can't
go to the next activity until I ring a bell. It works out very well. I
don't know how many people you are expecting or if you have a definite time
period (mine are always about 2 hrs. long.)
Let me know- I can either fax or mail this info to you.
****************
Sharon Julian-Milas
Children's Librarian
Whitehall Public Library
(412)882-6622
Anne & Roger Hall
Berea, Kentucky
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 22:00:20 -0000
From: "Erika" <eseeger@suffolk.lib.ny.us>
Subject: Internet Policies
Hello All,
I am writing a paper on Public Libraries and their Internet Policies =
and if and where you post them. I am also interested in knowing if you =
have a permission slip and what that says. If you do have an internet =
policy do you post it and where. Anything that you can contribute will =
be very appreciated. Please e-mail me privately at =
eseeger@suffolk.lib.ny.us
Thanks Again!!
Erika Seeger
Children's Librarian Trainee
Patchogue-Medford Library
Patchogue NY 11772
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 00:16:28 -0500
From: "Andrea H. Mandel" <mandel@voicenet.com>
Subject: Re: Parents in Storytime
What about a parent who leaves her child for storyhour (a suspected ADHD 4 year
old!)
and then doesn't pick them up until 1/2 hour after story hour is over!)
Andrea Mandel
Marple Public Library
Broomall, PA
mandel@voicenet.com
Jeri Kladder wrote:
> 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.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 03:01:09 -0500
From: aparadise@juno.com (Andrew Paradise)
Subject: Re: Request for Internet parental permission forms
We have a draft Internet policy and parental permission slip which have
not yet been formally approved by the Board. I will be glad to share
when they are. They were drafted by the Internet Committee and the
Children's Council from several examples and vetted by the library's
attorney.
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: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 03:07:23 -0500
From: aparadise@juno.com (Andrew Paradise)
Subject: Re: Parents at storytimes
Try what I say to kids- "Let's all use our audience manners- keep our
hands and feet and voices to our selves so everyone can enjoy the
program". I have also used sing-alongs and puppet plya etc with the
caregivers participating. (Admittedly most of my experience recently has
been with day cares or mixed-age groups). Good luck.
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: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 08:00:31 -0500 (EST)
From: bf455@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bonita Kale)
Subject: parents in story hour
You know, I notice something here that I feel is a mistake. It's a mistake
that many of the parents at our library seem to make, too.
It's a sort of overestimation of the importance of story time. I mean,
life is not over if you miss the registration for story time! And if
you're not ready to be without your parents, fine, you aren't ready for
preschool story hour (the way it's structured in our library). So what?
This is not Harvard, people! This is a half-hour of fun once a week--nice,
but there are other kinds of fun, too. A kid is not deprived by growing up
without story time.
Bonita
- --
Bonita Kale
bf455@cleveland.freenet.edu
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 11:00:29 -0500 (EST)
From: "Mary Johnson (amk)" <mjohnson@wlsmail.wls.lib.ny.us>
Subject: Re: Toddler.preschool storytimes and parents
Susanna, I agree with Maya - perhaps the biggest problem we've had with
parents attending storytimes is their rudeness (talking as te librarians
tell stories). Of course, the majority of parents are *not* rude, and we
have, so far as I know, no hard and fast rule barring parents from the
room. The only firm rule of that kind that I know of is that they should
*stay* in if they go in. In general, our children's librarians have
encouraged parents to come with their babies and toddlers. The 4s and 5s
sometimes do better without the parents there, I believe, but of course
it depends on the child.
As to some of your other points: you say you don't know the librarian,
his/her training and abilities, or how she/he interacts with your child.
I understand your need to know these things, and am not trying to be
antagonistic - but why don't you know? Are you a frequent visitor to the
library? Have you observed the librarian interacting with your child at
the circ desk? Or helping him with a question? Have you *talked* to the
librarian to share your concerns about scary themes? It's perfectly
possible to get a feel for a person's wisdom, patience and understanding
of children in general and your child in particular without directly
asking about their training. In fact, most librarians do have to
understand something about child development and readiness levels - they
are professionals, after all. And a certain level of trust is necessary
for healthy interactions, isn't it? Just my two cents - I feel public
librarians in general, and youth services staff in particular, give some
of the best service to te public you can find, and they're too often
taken for granted. That's why I'm going on at such length. Hope this
helps - Happy Thanksgiving!
Mary Johnson, YA librarian, North Castle P.L., Armonk, NY
(mjohnson@wls.lib.ny.us)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 08:09:26 -0800
From: drabkin <arcanis@sirius.com>
Subject: storytime controversy
Thank you, Jennifer Pepper, for voicing the thoughts of many of us.
I'd add, that as a long-time children's librarian, mother, and grandmother,
I know very well that there's no better way to lose a child than to smother
him or her with overly solicitous attention.
(Hysterical overparticipation in a child's life is a sure sign of a parent
who needs very badly to get a life for herself, and it can border on a form
of psychological abuse, the refusal to allow the child to form an
independent personality and express needs and interests separate from those
of the parent.)
Parents need to decide *with* their child -- not *for* their child -- when
the child is ready to experience programs such as storytimes on their own.
BTW, I've done storytimes without parents (in a library with huge
attendance and a small storyroom) and with parents (in libraries with
enough space) and find advantages and disadvantages in both.
Without parents -- those children formed listening skills more easily and
participated more readily in songs and fingerplays, and meanwhile, the
parents, who had been asked to remain in the building within reach (and who
could look through a window if they wished to see what was happening in the
story room) formed, on their own, a support group to discuss various
parenting issues e.g. twins, disabilities, childcare.
Storytimes with parents -- very young parents who have never experienced
many traditional rhymes and stories are as interested as their children,
while older parents enjoy watching their children's enjoyment. I think
it's very important for the teen moms, especially, to come to storytime.
They're still children themselves, and watching them listen open-mouthed to
stories we take for granted is almost heartbreaking. They've missed out on
their own childhood, and storytime is giving them a small bit of what they
haven't had. Anyone thinking that it's presumptuous of us to say that
we're modeling storyreading to parents has been living a very insulated
life in a very privileged part of the country!
Not all parents have been read to -- not all parents know what makes a
children's book pleasant for the child to hear or enjoyable for the parent
to choose -- not all parents are even aware that children too young to
speak properly are still old enough to enjoy language and art together in
book form.
Most adults coming to storytime these days are not parents, though -- they
tend to be child-care providers in home day-care situations, who bring
small groups.
Marian Drabkin
Richmond Public Library
Richmond, CA
arcanis@sirius.com
Jennifer Pepper said:
> I must agree with Melissa Kornosh's opinion that Lisa Payton's
> personal attack on Annie Leon was inappropriate and unprofessional.
> <snip>
> 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.
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