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Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 13:31:03 -0500 (EST)
To: pubyac-digest@nysernet.org
Subject: pubyac V1 #555
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Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 08:33:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Jodi Cohen <cohenj2@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us>
Subject: Re:
Ms. Bauer's seminar provided the spark I needed to move into children's
work.
Jodi Cohen
Principal Librarian
Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 08:33:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Jodi Cohen <cohenj2@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us>
Subject: Re:
Ms. Bauer's seminar provided the spark I needed to move into children's
work.
Jodi Cohen
Principal Librarian
Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 10:46:50 -0500
From: Tina Zubak <zubakt@clpgh.org>
Subject: RE: winter carnival activities
I recently had very young kids make mittens. Either you or they (tracing their
hands?) draw the shapes. They decorate them and glue them to yarn strings they
can wear around their necks. If you hace access to any kind of sloped area,
indoor sledding is fun. There's a new book out that's names something like The
Great, Big Snowman (it's out or I'd check it.) that is really adorable. Marvin
of the Great North Wooods is another of my favorites for 2-5 graders and it
could be booktalked. Tina Zubak
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 10:45:20 PST
From: "Anne Paradise" <anneparadise@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Parental Signatures for Internet Access?
He asked the young lady because it gave *him* a tickle to expose her to
the stuff- "Virtual flashing"!
Anne
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 19:19:09 -0600
From: Mary Driscoll <driscoll@scls.lib.wi.us>
Subject: Youth services plan
I need to come up with a "Service Plan" for our Youth Services
department.
Would any kind soul(s) out there be willing to send suggestions or examples
of your hard work? I'd appreciate any input!
Many thanks from the very plan-less,
Mary Driscoll
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 00:29:37 -0500
From: "Charm Net" <jamiew@charm.net>
Subject: Holiday themes
Another problem that I had was that as a very Anglo-Saxon Protestant, =
who am I to try to explain to children, who may be Jewish or Muslim, =
about Hanukkah or Ramadan or Kwanzaa or whatever? I really don't know =
anymore about it than what I read in the books - it would be like me =
presenting a half hour program on quantum physics or gardening! i did =
present a program this year, but only because it was requested by a day =
care center. Ordinarily I would stick with gifts, or snow or toys or =
something related in a way but not directly called a Christmas program.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 16:08:50 -0800
From: "Teresa Laubach" <TERESA@CI.TIGARD.OR.US>
Subject: Deposit Collections at schools
My library is considering depositing part of our collection in local schools. I
would like to know if anyone out there has tried this and what the results were.
I searched the archives but couldn't seem to find information specifically
related to deposit collections. Thanks so much!!
- --------------------------------------------
Teresa Laubach
Youth Services Specialist
Tigard Public Library
Tigard, OR 97219
teresa@ci.tigard.or.us
- ---------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 10:38:38 -0500
From: Tina Zubak <zubakt@clpgh.org>
Subject: RE: Library anniversary celebration
Something I didn't do but thought was a good idea when I heard about it from
another library is to run a contest to guess how many books were taken out your
first year of operation. I did have a party for our 100th. The best part was
having undecorated cakes which kids kid decorate with M&Ms and jelly beans.
I
did this free-form but I borrowed the idea from an arts organization that had
kids follow pictures (this is best with adult help). Otherwise I read birthday
books, we sang the birthday song and blew out candles. I could see having kids
design a birthday card to give to the library and putting them on display. I
did do a display of kids' books from the 1890s, too.
Tina Zubak
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 18:33:56 -0500
From: Stamford Library <slibrary@bcn.net>
Subject: patron "branding" of books
Our small community library is the "victim" of a book brander. This
patron makes a half-inch circle with spokes in black ink on the card
pockets of all the books she reads. Apparently my librarian predecessor
condoned this behavior. The library board has asked me to tell this
patron to cease her branding. Has anyone had this problem? Should I
write her a letter, tell her in person, say other patrons are
complaining? The board was happy when I said I'd e-mail PUBYAC to ask
for advice. Thanks.
Jennifer M. Ward
Stamford Community Library
Stamford, VT 05352
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 16:51:47 -0600 (CST)
From: Stephanie Smith <smsmith@ccs.nsls.lib.il.us>
Subject: Re: Summer Reading Woes
I personally think we should accept our professional status, and tailor
the program as we see fit for our community. Some of us who have
neighborhoods which are pretty low income/low reading skill, would tailor
our program differently than would someone from an affluent community
where ownership of books is an accepted fact.
I think being professsional in this situation means assessing our
community, keeping in mind that, as someone has already mentioned, we want
to promote the FUN aspect of reading, and try to reinforce accepted
standards of what it takes to keep reading skills up.
Steffi Smith
Zion-Benton Public Library
smsmith@ccs.nsls.lib.il.us
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 20:48:23 -0500 (EST)
From: Jeri Kladder <jkladder@freenet.columbus.oh.us>
Subject: Re: holiday thoughts
I was surprised to hear from my Orthodox Jewish clientele years ago that
they consider Halloween a Christian holiday and bemoan the fact that their
children are so thoroughly inundated with Christian holiday information
while there is so little bringing public attention to their own religious
holidays. Made me look at all holiday celebrations with a more open eye.
- - jeri
Jeri Kladder, Children's Librarian & Storyteller
jkladder@freenet.columbus.oh.us
Columbus Metropolitan Library
Columbus, Ohio
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 18:54:12 -0600 (CST)
From: Vicky Schoenrock <vschoenr@nslsilus.org>
Subject: Seating at children's tables
When we were on the same floor and next to the adult section, we had the
same problem of overflow...and there are some adults you don't want
hanging around the kids. (We have a few men with nothing to do but hang
around...) So I made signs for the tables.
These tables are reserved for children and their parents and educators
using children's materials. Other adults are asked to use the tables in
Adult Services.
Yes, we would ask them to move (and point to the sign). I saw adults
read the sign and sit down! Sometimes I would have to explain, as
tactfully as I could, that this was for the protection of children (their
children included.) I feel very strongly that the children's area should
be (as much as we can make it) a safe place for children.
Vicky Schoenrock, Children's Dept. Manager
Waukegan Public Library, 128 N. County St. Waukegan IL 60085
Phone: 847-623-2041 Fax:847-623-2092
vschoenr@nslsilus.org
"Fear less,hope more; Whine less, breathe more;
Talk less, say more; Hate less, love more;
And all good things are yours."
Swedish Proverb
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 08:45:10 -0600 (CST)
From: David Schmit <dschmit@gnofn.org>
Subject: Re: Summer Reading Woes
I think I'd rather take the middle ground instead of saying we decide or
that we're pawns of popular demand. For instance, I'm not a big fan of
incentives, but members of my Summer Reading Committee are, so we strike a
balance. We have smaller incentives or tokens and save our money for
programming. In other words, we compromise to, hopefully, improve the
program not cheapen it. Some parents, like some librarians, favor
incentives and some parents don't. I honestly believe that the majority
of parents are looking out for their children's best interests without
harming other children. Additionally, many parents would rightfully
consider themselves professionals by experience if not by education. They
deserve to be heard and considered.
As for complaints, I think they will always be with us. Our library
system has 8,000 children participate in the Summer Reading program and if
I didn't recieve at least one complaint, either from staff, parents or
kids, I'd pinch myself to wake up. For as many complaints we get, we
receive double in compliments. It can be frustrating, but you are doing a
great service for children.
Good luck this summer!
David Winkler-Schmit
New Orleans Public Library
dschmit@gnofn.org
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 13:33:09 -0600
From: DLHIETT <dlh@greennet.net>
Subject: program age limits
I am sure a lot of you have children's programs that specify age limits. Do you
strongly adhere to them and how so if you do. We have encountered a sad
situation where we may have to require birth certificates of Storyhour
participants to satisfy a disgruntled parent who is accusing other parents of
lying about their children's ages. Of course this parent did not complain to the
other parents but started this ruckus with the library when she could not get
her much too young child into the program. I am talking about a 12 week
Storyhour for 2 yr. olds. This child happens to be 21 months. Not only did this
parent accuse others of lying, she actually called the library and stated the
leader of the Storyhour was a friend of hers and said her child could
participate in the program which was found out to be totally false! Then she
sent her husband into the Library to plead his case of how advanced their child
was. Do you require proof of age or do you trust what the parents !
!
!
tell you? We are surely in a sad state when we need to require parents to
provide a birth certificate to sign their child up for a 12 week Storyhour.
Please share your policy on this. TIA
Deb
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 13:33:09 -0600
From: DLHIETT <dlh@greennet.net>
Subject: program age limits
I am sure a lot of you have children's programs that specify age limits. Do you
strongly adhere to them and how so if you do. We have encountered a sad
situation where we may have to require birth certificates of Storyhour
participants to satisfy a disgruntled parent who is accusing other parents of
lying about their children's ages. Of course this parent did not complain to the
other parents but started this ruckus with the library when she could not get
her much too young child into the program. I am talking about a 12 week
Storyhour for 2 yr. olds. This child happens to be 21 months. Not only did this
parent accuse others of lying, she actually called the library and stated the
leader of the Storyhour was a friend of hers and said her child could
participate in the program which was found out to be totally false! Then she
sent her husband into the Library to plead his case of how advanced their child
was. Do you require proof of age or do you trust what the parents !
!
!
tell you? We are surely in a sad state when we need to require parents to
provide a birth certificate to sign their child up for a 12 week Storyhour.
Please share your policy on this. TIA
Deb
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 12:27:27 +0000
From: "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us>
Subject: Re: Privacy screens
> My library is looking into installing privacy screens on our internet
> terminals in the adult area. I was wondering if any of you are currently
> using them, and what your experiences have been. I have only seen them in
> catalogs so far, so my experience is about as limited as you can get.
> Thanks.
We have a privacy screen in the Children's Room, and it is only
partly successful. If you are viewing the screen from an angle, the
screen appears black, but from a distance, where the angle is less,
you can see just fine. It also decreases the clarity of the image on
the screen somewhat, so people sometimes complain and try to take it
off. We keep it on despite these drawbacks for 2 reasons: 1) it
limits the number of people who can crowd around the computer and
thereby keeps the noise level down; and, 2) it does afford some
privacy, although it is by no means complete. When people ask why we
have the screens up, I say, "So when people bring up naughty
pictures, the little kids won't see them." This explanation seems to
satisfy most people. To be really honest, it seems to be more of a
butt-covering device than anything else, if your sole aim is to
prevent second-hand porn exposure.
Vicky Smith
Children's Librarian
McArthur Public Library
270 Main Street
Biddeford, ME 04005
(207)284-4181
vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 10:56:19 -0500 (EST)
From: "Mary Johnson (amk)" <mjohnson@wlsmail.wls.lib.ny.us>
Subject: printer problems
Hi - my name is Mary Johnson, and I'm the young adult librarian at the
North Castle Library in Armonk, NY - I've responded to the list a few
times, but I think this is only the second or third time I've posted a
question. You were all very helpful the previous times, and I'm hoping
you may again have some ideas...
Basically, we have a sticky situation nvolving a young adult patron. She
is a bright and charming young lady, and, like many YAs, she's attracted
to the internet - no problem there. However, she prints *a lot* every
time she goes on and has frequently walked out without paying, saying she
has. My library charges 25 cents a page for printouts from online
sources; the charge does strike me as a little high, but I won't go into
that question now. The problem is that this girl is not paying her
share, and is putting a greater burden on other kids who do pay; also,
what's worse, she's lying to us. I and other staff members have spoken
to her directly, and our director has ccalled her mother, with no
result. I'd like to know if others have faced similar problems and what
you have done about them. We've considered removing the paper from the
printers when we see her coming, but it would not be practical, and
besides, we cannot discriminate against her. To be honest, her not
paying doesn't bother me as much as the lying, manipulation, and other
game playing going on. What should be a minor problem is eating up staff
time and energy, and I'd like to find an elegant solution, if there is
one. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!
Mary Johnson (mjohnson@wls.lib.ny.us)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 09:20:29 -0500 (EST)
From: Nanci Milone <milone@noblenet.org>
Subject: Re: Parental Signatures for Internet Access?
Marilyn,
That is a great story. The answer to your question about terminals is
actually mixed. We have two terminals facing "outward" where passersby
can see the screens. We have four terminals facing a wall with limited
walking space behind them. I have found however, that people who look
up these "sites" don't much care if other people can see them. We have
had an equal amount of mishaps on the computers that can be seen by
others. We do periodically walk past the screens that can't be viewed.
For the most part, only walking by once has been enough to get folks to
change the site they're visiting. Only on rare instances have we had to
ask someone to stop what they were doing. On these instances, the folks
said okay and got out of those sites. My director is considering
turning those terminals around so that they are all facing out, but I
have been trying to talk him out of that. My feeling is that there may
be a teenage girl who wants to look up information on teen pregnancy or
birth control, and wouldn't feel comfortable doing that if the screen
could be seen. Or, there could be a parent who wanted to look up
information on her son's terminal illness and didn't want others to
know. There are a million situations like this - I'm sure you get the
picture. The point is, I do think people have a right to privacy in
their searching. I think we need to draw the line when a person's
searching makes others feel uncomfortable. The person looking at porn
on a terminal that doesn't face out, may not be bothering people who
can't see the screen, but there are others sitting next to him/her, as
well as others walking by.
Nanci
On Tue, 5 Jan 1999, Marilyn Zaruba wrote:
<snip>
> I have to relate a somewhat funny & also irritating event that occured
with
> one 35ish male patron. He had accessed some hardcore stuff "by
accident"
> according to him. He asked our young female college student to help him get
> out of it because he didn't want to upset the older ladies in the library.
> Yes, we older ladies with grandkids might be shocked down to our toenails
so
> it is better to expose a young, unmarried lady.
>
> Have a good day!
> Marilyn
> Mansfield Public Library
>
>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Nanci Milone | Peabody Institute Library
Young Adult Librarian | Peabody, Massachusetts
milone@noblenet.org | *North of Boston Library Exchange*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 09:07:54 -0700
From: Carolyn Groves <cgroves@will.state.wy.us>
Subject: Internet access for children and YAs
We are a resort town of apprx. 14,000 year round residents and several
thousand seasonal/visitor library users. We have 6 Internet computers for
adults, and two specifically for children and YAs (adults are not allowed to
use the children's and YA's Internet computers - we didn't want kids to come
in and see adults on "their" computers and be intimidated to ask for
time).
We allow one hour per person per day. We ask for first names to sign up
(which can be done in advance). We do not filter.
We do not require parental signatures, or that parents be present while
(older than pre-school) children/YAs are using the Internet computers -- we
thought that the latter would be unfair to kids who have 2 working
parents...or parents who don't want to come to the library. Our Internet
and Computer Use Policy is posted by each Internet machine. Besides the
regular disclaimers ("...some systems contain material that may be
considered offensive, illegal, and/or innacurate...") we have a section
called "Children's use of library computers" which
reads..."Pre-School
children must be accompained by an adult. We prefer that elementary age
children are also accompained by an adult. Parents/gaurdians must assume
responsibility for their children's use of library computers and the
Internet."
We have had children's/YA's Internet computers for about one year now, with
no problems. We have a YA home page with age-appropriate links, and are
working on our children's home page. We are planning a "Child safety on the
Internet" class for parents this spring/early summer. Our YA advisory board
is also interested in developing Internet Lessons for children and YA's - to
be taught by YA board members.
Carolyn Groves Winkler
Children's and YA Librarian
Emporia MLS student (grad. May 99!)
Teton County Library
Jackson, WY
cgroves@will.state.wy.us
------------------------------
End of pubyac V1 #555
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