|
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 23:24:07 -0500 (EST)
To: pubyac-digest@nysernet.org
Subject: pubyac V1 #604
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 19:37:06 -0500
From: bwilliams@brdgprtpl.lib.ct.us (Bina Williams)
Subject: RE: snow globes
Do you mean Moth crystals like MOTHBALLS? Aren't they toxic for little ones? Or
do you mean plastic/glass moths?
Bina Williams
Bridgeport Public Library
Bwilliams@brdgprtpl.lib.ct.us
- ----------
From: Lorie J. O'Donnell
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 1999 10:35 AM
To: PUBYAC
Subject: snow globes
Thanks to all for the info on snow globes. We used 3/4 corn syrup to
1/4 water in toddler size baby food jars. Glitter anfd plastic heart
confetti along with moth crystals made for a very pretty valentine
gift.
Thanks again!
Lorie
- --
***************
Lorie J. O'Donnell
odonnell@borg.com
"All that is comes from the mind; it is based on the mind,
it is fashioned by the mind. " from The Pali Canon
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 09:06:43 -0600 (CST)
From: Maria Wegscheid <mwegsche@libby.rbls.lib.il.us>
Subject: Re: Ya Murder in Library
As a matter of fact, we had a ya murder mystery in the Library just last
Friday night! My Teen Advisory Board was the cast. Our script was from
DoubleDog Press, http://lochnet.com/doubledog/main.htm. I heard about
them here on pubyac.
We did make some changes to the script; the script called for the killer
to be an alcoholic, and we didn't feel that was necessary or prudent. Our
murder weapon was changed from a rope to a large unabridged dictionary -
our victim was hit in the head with it. (The kids liked that touch, they
thought it was funny.)
All in all, though, I thought the DoubleDog kit was excellent. They had
every piece of evidence necessary, and they even gave sample press
releases and planning timetables. And it's possible to do the whole
mystery party without a cast, which is great for those small libraries
with no staff.
We actually finished the mystery a little earlier than I though we would,
so, as with all teen programs, make sure you have lots of food!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maria J. Wegscheid
Bettendorf (IA) Public Library
mwegsche@libby.rbls.lib.il.us
Views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent those of the
Bettendorf Public Library.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 16:43:34 -0700 (MST)
From: Lu Benke <lubenke@libsys.ci.fort-collins.co.us>
Subject: Fair Labor Standards and Children's Departments
What would we do without PUBYAC? Once again I am facing an issue I feel
certain others of you have faced and come up with creative solutions.
Could you comment?
We have recently been told we are to strictly follow the Fair Labor
Standards in any work done by any of our non-librarian staff either at the
library or at home. This means that no work is to be taken home unless it
is approved by the supervisor and the staff is paid for it. No staff other
than librarians and administrators may volunteer their time at home or at
the library.
I understand this to mean that our programming staff (2/3 non-librarian)
cannot take storytime books home to read over, create flannelboard stories
while watching tv, or sew puppets unless it is on pre-approved work
time, preferably in the library.
I find it hard to believe that the many creative non-MLS people who work in
children's departments are able to follow these guidelines. And as I
understand them, there is no way for staff member and supervisor to
agree to override this protection even for special situations. In fact, I
have been told that staff and supervisor can be reprimanded for not
following the guidelines. Liability issues are behind all of this, I
am sure, and taking advantage of staff is a legitimate concern.
This presents morale and logistical problems for our staff, particularly
those who create programs. They love doing little things at home to make
their programs better, from knitting figures to go along with a special
story to creating crossword puzzles to go along with a visiting author
program. There is no way the library could pay them for the hours they
spend doing these things because they come up on a rather spontaneous
basis. In fact, these projects are not usually essential to bare-bones
programming; they are things our creative staff want to do to make the
program extra-special. Sometimes these off-work projects only make it
halfway before it is realized it won't work/it is too time consuming/a
better idea prevails. But being able to do them definitely adds to the
satisfaction of their jobs.
Have any of you faced this problem? Have you come up with a solution?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Lu Benke
Lead Librarian, 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: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 09:40:28 -0600
From: "Vollrath, Elizabeth" <evollrat@uwsp.edu>
Subject: Poetry Contest
Hi,
Has anyone had a poetry contest? I'd like to have one for National Poetry
Month involving older children and teens and would work with the schools.
If anyone has flyers or guidelines to send me to help me out, I'd appreciate
it. Thanks.
Elizabeth Vollrath
Portage County Public Library
1001 Main St.
Stevens Pt., WI 54481
(715) 346-1290
Fax: (715) 346-1239
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 10:22:53 -0600
From: "Jim Maroon" <storypage@usa.net>
Subject: Re: Filtering childen's computers
>Has any other library addressed this question? If so, what decisions were
>made? I believe this is such a sensitive issue, any feedback you have
would
>be of help. Please respond to me directly.
I have already responded in detail to Natalie's question privately, but I
want to address the underlying premise of it publicly.
I'm a little uncomfortable with the premise that all filtering is somehow
bad or against library ideals. It is unfortunate that this issue has become
that polarized, where people are so concerned about it that questions like
Natalie's need to be addressed in this fashion. I guess I would suggest that
we begin to look at the issue a little differently, and explore ways to give
parents what they want while at the same time protecting the First Amendment
rights of others by offering parents the option of filtered access in the
children's department. Parents who want to grant their children unfiltered
access can sign them up in the computer lab.
- --Jim Maroon
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 10:09:00 -0700 (MST)
From: Elena Rosenfeld <elenar@info.jefferson.lib.co.us>
Subject: ALAWON v8, n15 - E-RATE: TERMINATION & FILTERING BILLS (fwd)
The filtering and e-rate battles continue!
Members of the various Legislative Committees are trying to continue
forwarding important legislation news to the listserves. I apologize for
any possible duplication.
**This does not reflect the opinion of the Jefferson County Public Library**
Elena Rosenfeld elenar@jefferson.lib.co.us
Head, Children's Services (303)936-7407 (voice)
Jefferson County Public Library (303)937-1980 (fax)
Villa Branch
455 S. Pierce St
Lakewood, CO 80226
- ---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 11:41:46 -0500
From: "ALAWASH E-MAIL (ALAWASH E-MAIL)" <ALAWASH@alawash.org>
To: ALA Washington Office Newsline <ala-wo@ala1.ala.org>
Subject: ALAWON v8, n15 - E-RATE: TERMINATION & FILTERING BILLS
ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 8, Number 15
February 18, 1999
In this issue:
[1] E-Rate Termination Bill Introduced by Rep. Tancredo
[2] Filtering Bills Linked to E-Rate Introduced by Rep. Franks
[1] E-Rate Termination Bill Introduced by Rep. Tancredo
On February 10 Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) introduced H.R. 692, a
bill to terminate the E-Rate. Tancredo's bill was co-sponsored by
14 other representatives listed below. If your representative is
among the sponsors, please relate to him your support of the E-
Rate program. Let him know about the services your library is
providing or plans to provide to your community as a result of the
E-Rate. Tell him what your library and his constituents would
loose if the E-Rate is terminated.
According to Tancredo's "Dear Colleague" letter of January 26, the
E-Rate should be terminated because "millions of dollars are
available to schools through a number of existing federal programs
to improve technological capabilities." (See ALAWON, v8, n11,
January 28, 1999.) In fact, the E-Rate program is the only
program that helps defray the ongoing cost of providing
telecommunications in libraries as well as schools.
COSPONSORS OF H.R. 692
St-Dst Pty Representative Phone FAX
AZ-3 R Bob Stump 225-4576 225-6328
AZ-4 R John Shadegg 225-3361 225-3462
AZ-6 R J.D. Hayworth 225-2190 225-3263
AR-4 R Jay Dickey 225-3772 225-1314
CA-4 R John T. Doolittle 225-2511 225-5444
CA-19 R George P. Radanovich 225-4540 225-3402
CA-39 R Edward R. Royce 225-4111 226-0335
CO-6 R Tom Tancredo 225-7882 225-7885
IN-6 R Dan Burton 225-2276 225-0016
NJ-3 R James H. Saxton 225-4765 225-0778
NC-10 R Cass Ballenger 225-2576 225-0316
NC-11 R Charles H. Taylor 225-6401 226-6405
TX-5 R Pete Sessions 225-2231 225-5878
TX-13 R William M. Thornberry 225-3706 225-3486
WI-6 R Thomas E. Petri 225-2476 225-2356
[2] Filtering Bills Linked to E-Rate Introduced by Rep. Franks
Rep. Gary Franks (R-NJ) has introduced two versions of filtering
and blocking legislation in the 106th Congress, H.R. 368 and H.R.
543. Both pieces of legislation require filtering and blocking as
a condition of universal service funding, or the E-Rate.
The Safe Schools Internet Act of 1999, H.R. 368, was introduced on
January 19. It states that no universal service assistance may be
provided for any school or library unless it provides
certification of filtering or blocking of material deemed to be
inappropriate for minors. The legislation currently has two
cosponsors, Reps. Ronnie Shows (D-MS) and Michael Oxley (R-OH).
In particular for libraries, it states: "A library that has a
computer with Internet access shall certify to the Commission
that, on one or more of its computers with Internet access, it
employs a system to filter or block matter deemed inappropriate
for minors." Under this system, a library that changes or ceases
to employ blocking or filtering would be required to notify the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) within 10 days of making
any change. The legislation calls for local determination of what
is inappropriate for minors by the library or other authority
responsible for making the required certification.
The Children's Internet Protection Act, H.R. 543, was introduced
on February 3. It is identical to S. 97 by Sen. John McCain (R-
AZ). (See ALAWON v8, n7, January 22, 1999.) Franks also has the
support of Reps. Charles Pickering (R-MS) and Michael Oxley (R-OH)
as cosponsors for H.R. 543. This bill calls for withholding the
E-Rate from schools and libraries that fail to implement a
filtering or blocking technology for computers with Internet
access.
Unlike H.R. 368, in H.R. 543 libraries with only one Internet
accessing computer would be eligible to receive assistance even if
they employ no filtering or blocking technology. Such a library
must, however, certify to the FCC that it employs a reasonably
effective alternative means to keep minors from accessing material
on the Internet that are deemed to be harmful to minors.
Additionally, H.R. 543 would require certification with the FCC of
compliance with the law through filtering or a certified
alternative within 30 days of enactment or within ten days of a
library or school making the Internet available. For any changes
to means of controlling access or number of computers accessing
the Internet strict notification of the FCC would be required.
H.R. 543 also includes a penalty for failure to comply. Any
school or library failing to comply would be liable to repay
immediately the full amount of all universal service assistance it
received under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
ALAWON readers may recall that in the last Congress, Sen. Conrad
Burns (R-MT) and others proposed alternative language to require
local Internet use policies rather than blocking or filtering
software. ALA and others argued that, if there were to be any
federal legislation passed in this arena, the local control
approach was preferable. Advocates are now working to see if such
an alternative can again be introduced in the Senate or the House.
Emphasizing control at the local level through local use policies
(LUPs) would be consistent with the need to have all such content
and curriculum decisions made at the local level.
******
ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the
American Library Association Washington Office. All materials
subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be
reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with
appropriate credits.
To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo
[your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to
http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send
the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org or go to
http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALAWON archives at
http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon.
ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403,
Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478
toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web
site: http://www.ala.org/washoff. Editor: Lynne E. Bradley;
Managing Editor: Deirdre Herman; Contributors: Phyllis Albritton,
Mary Costabile, Adam Eisgrau, Carol Henderson, Peter Kaplan,
Claudette Tennant and Rick Weingarten.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 09:15:04 -0800
From: torrie@ci.burlington.wa.us (Torrie Hodgson Children's Librarian)
Subject: Re: Filtering childen's computers
If I understand correctly, this children's room computer does not
currently offer children access to the Internet, filtered or unfiltered.
Its primary purpose is one of access to CDROMs and other reference material.
Like you say, you are adding one more resource to a reference computer that
just happens to be an online resource rather than on CD.
We have two public access computers--each technically has access to
the Internet and access to word processing software through the LAN.
However, each terminal is configured to do one thing--one for typing, and
one for Web access.
Our reasoning is this: we don't have as many people needing the
typing capabilities, but those who do need it need to spend longer than the
30 minutes we allow for Internet surfing. We also do not require a special
agreement to be signed or a library card to access the word processing
program.
By contrast, the Internet computer requires a signed parental
permission/use agreement for kids and a plain signed use agreement for
adults. Right now our access is restricted to library card holders,
according to policy. They are allowed 30 minutes of access, up to an hour
if nobody is waiting.
Both computers are very busy all day, and we really like this
arrangement.
If I were in your place, I would ask yourself and your director to
decide what the primary purpose of the children's room computer is. If it
is to provide specific reference sources, it should only have those specific
resources regardless of media. If its primary purpose is to provide access
to the Internet and other broad-scope online media, then by all means
provide the Internet access.
I would worry about ignoring your current Internet policies for the
children's room as regards filters--if it isn't in your official policy you
might be dinged for age discrimination. Also, is the PC designated for
children's use, or is it for general use? Any time you add another PC with
Internet access, your clientele will seek it out whether or not they have
any other connection with the children's room at all.
Just because the Internet could be accessed by a PC, I don't think
you are required to provide that access. Our PCs could access the command
structure of our circulation system, but I don't provide patron access to that.
Hope it helps! Those statements with "I" are out of my own little
head, and are not my library's fault.
Torrie 8)
Torrie Hodgson, space librarian from the dark side of the moon!
Burlington Public Library
900 East Fairhaven Ave
Burlington, WA 98233
Phone (360) 755-0760 Fax (360) 755-0717
torrie@ci.burlington.wa.us
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 12:32:00 -0500 (EST)
From: Monica Anderson <mand@vlc.lib.mi.us>
Subject: Dial a Story
Since there have been some recent questions about Dial-a-Story (and a
comment that info on this topic isn't appearing in the archives), I
thought I'd share what I know with the group.
My libary system just purchased the Winsor Dial-a-Story cassette system
to replace the old 8-track system that died for good last year. I can't
give you any information as to how well I like it, since one of the
machines didn't work when we got it. (We ordered 2 systems so that
children in outlying areas don't have to call long-distance to our main
branch.) One machine appears to be fine, but we've decided not to launch
the "new and improved Dial-a-Story" until both machines work.
The company is:
Winsor Dial-a-Story
310 Ravinswood
Peoria IL 61615
(309) 692-3888
The complete system includes a machine (the Telematic II for $545), a
promotional packet ($12) and 52 cassette tapes ($533) for a total price
of $1095. I'm not sure the promotional packet was worthwhile -- we won't
be using it -- but I don't know if you can order the machine and starter
set of tapes separately. Winsor also sells additional story sets for
$51.25 for a set of 5 tapes.
I ordered the system on January 13 and received it on February 5, so it
took over 3 weeks to get. They won't send me a new machine -- they're
planning on fixing the one I'm sending back (at the library's expense
BTW) so I don't know when I'll get it back and get Dial-a-Story started
again.
Monica Anderson, MILS
Youth Services Coordinator
Bay County Library System
mand@vlc.lib.mi.us
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 13:01:02 -0500 (EST)
From: NS_LISA@DAYTON.LIB.OH.US
Subject: Murder in the Library
Last year, there was quite a flap about a murder hosted at the Centerville,
Ohio public library (a Dayton suburb). Groups like Parents of Murdered
Children regularly protest these - they feel that such programs trivialize
murder and violence, making it some kind of game. You may want to float this
idea by some community groups to see if you will have any negative reaction.
Or change it to another type of crime to solve. Who stole the card catalogue,
for example, or a painting normally displayed.
Lisa Loftin ns_lisa@dayton.lib.oh.us
Children's Librarian (937) 227-9514
DMCPL - Dayton, Ohio
The opinions expressed here are my own, etc.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 13:35:08 -0500 (EST)
From: "Barbara A. Lewis" <blewis@tln.lib.mi.us>
Subject: Braille and bowling
Hi everyone,
This is a long posting, but in a nutshell it tells of an opportunity to
help a segment of the youth population that's on the verge of illiteracy.
If you're interested, curious, or love to bowl, please keep reading. If
not, then you will want to move on to the next posting at this point.
The kids I referred to above are those that are blind. As you know most
blind children today are mainstreamed into regular school systems which is
mostly good. One of the negatives, however, is that most schools can't
afford braille books. A typical Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew, for instance,
costs about $90 in braille. Consequently, many blind children are getting
all their information via audio tapes and are not even learning
braille--and if they can't read, they can't write. It's amazing to me
that in this country a whole group of kids is being rendered illiterate
because of a lack of affordable books.
There is a non-profit organization where I live (Livonia, Michigan) called
Seedlings Braille Books for Children which is committed to producing
high-quality, low-cost materials in braille. The average Seedlings
braille book sells for $10 although the cost to produce it is
substantially higher. Seedlings is only one of three or four
organizations in the whole country producing braille materials for kids
and the only one, I believe, committed to keeping its prices so low.
Anyway, Seedlings is having its annual fundraiser, a Bowl-a-Thon, on March
21. Besides the regular Bowl-a-Thon here in Michigan there is also a
"Bowl Where You Are" feature which allows bowlers all over the country
to
participate. It's really very simple: (1) The bowler selects a specific
date, time, and place to bowl for Seedlings; (2) In the weeks prior to
bowling, the bowler gets sponsors to pledge money. Those who pledge can
choose to either pledge a certain amount per pin (3 cents for instance) or
a flat amount of money such as a donation of $10 or $20; (3) After
bowling, the bowler collects all the pledges and sends the money to
Seedlings by Monday, April 12. All checks should be made payable to
Seedlings Braille Books for Children; (4) There are prizes available to
thank each bowler for his/her time and effort.
If you would like to obtain a pledge form, find out more about the
Bowl-a-Thon, receive further information about Seedlings, or get one of
their free catalogs, you can contact them via email at Seedlink@aol.com or
by snail mail at P.O. Box 51924, Livonia, MI 48151-5924. Their phone
number is 1-800-777-8552.
If you've stayed with this post all the way to the end, thanks for your
patience. Any assistance you can provide to help this worthy organization
will be greatly appreciated by a lot of kids who are missing out on the
joys of reading. Thanks again.
Barbara Lewis
Head of Children's Services
Livonia Civic Center Library
32777 Fiue Mile Rd.
Livonia, MI 48154
blewis@tln.lib.mi.us
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 11:37:44 -0800 (PST)
From: janw@norby.latah.lib.id.us (Jan Wall)
Subject: Hawaiian party
Hello to all -
I am TIRED of winter (even though it's been pretty mild - by our standards
at least!) so we're having a Hawaii party. ("An" Hawaii party?)
I have activities but am stuck for treats. I'd like to serve some kind of
finger food (e.g. cookies, bars, etc.) rather than any type of food that
needs forks and plates. Any ideas for fairly quick treats? I'm anticipating
about 50 kids and don't want to spend either a lot of time or money (since
it probably will come out of my time and my pocket).
Also - our collection seems to have a dearth of Hawaiian stories. I will
probably tell "Punia", but are there some "must have"
stories or books that
should be in our collection?
Last question - has anyone seen hula hoops anywhere? I thought they would be
easy to find, but have had no luck locally.
TIA!
BTW - my apologies to esteemed colleagues from Hawaii. This won't be
authentic - it more properly should be titled a "tropical" party, but
that
somehow doesn't have the same ring!
Jan Wall
Youth Services
Latah County Library
110 South Jefferson
Moscow ID 83843
208-882-3925 fax: 208-882-5098
email: janw@norby.latah.lib.id.us
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 99 12:30:17 PST
From: "" <edwarc@mx.pon.net>
Subject: Re: [YA book reviews]
I don't often get involved in these discussions, but I have to say that I think
that literature is NOT about giving people what they need, it is about
reflecting the world around us. If there are teens with problem parents and
dysfunctional families there will be books about that. I don't see the problem.
I know they exist because I've been seeing them in my library. It's only when we
think books are going to revamp the world because someone reads them that we run
into trouble. That's the argument censors use consistently. I think kids are
pretty astute about finding the reading that meets their criteria. Provided they
have sufficient choices.
It wasn't too many years ago that I thought everyone else's family was like the
Austin's(L'engle) and I thought there was something wrong with mine. But, as a
friend reminds me, everyone is dysfunctional in their own way. ;) Maybe not, but
it reminds me that my reality and everyone else's is different, and books should
be of sufficient variety to reflect that diversity.
I totally agree with something Marc Aronson said somewhere(??) that a book
focused on a message is the kiss of death. Well, he said it far more elegantly
than that. But I have found any book with positive or negative
"Messages" for kids is bound to be literature that bores me to tears.
I personally am glad that so many good writers have bothered to write books for
young adults that reflect the present world we all live in and that make me
think. Read "When Hope and Fear Collide" by Levine if you want a great
discussion about how the kids entering college now have a different experience
base and outlook than previous generations. Fascinating stuff.
Carol Edwards
Sonoma County Library in Santa Rosa, CA
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 13:46:42 PST
From: "Suzanne Crowder" <suzy99@hotmail.com>
Subject: homeschooler programs
Hi all! Some homeschool parents in my community are starting
(restarting) an association and I have been wondering how I, as a public
children's librarian, could have some programming for them. does anyone
have any ideas that worked, or didn't?
Susie Crowder
Marion County Public Library
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 16:50:31 -0500 (EST)
From: "<Lesley Knieriem>" <lknierie@suffolk.lib.ny.us>
Subject: Mehndi
Please excuse the cross-posting, but I can't remember which list I
recently saw the discussion of programs on mehndi (henna tattoos). I
would like to do such a program, but my Board is nervous and wants to see
reports from libraries that have already done this. You may send
responses to me privately so we don't clutter up the list.
Thanks so much!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ 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 ~
~ ----------------------------------------------------------------- ~
~ "I was stained by deeds, fettered by sins, tortured by sorrows, ~
~ bound by bitterness, burdened by troubles, until he granted lore ~
~ to me ... The glorious gift that the mighty King measured out ~
~ and poured into my mind, unbound my body, unlocked my soul, ~
~ revealed the clear light, and opened the art of poetry." ~
~ -- Cynewulf, ELENE ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 14:20:21 -0800
From: "Carrie Eldridge" <celdridge@sanjuan.lib.wa.us>
Subject: research on learning for young children
I heard recently on Good Morning America (or was it the Today show) that
research is showing just how important learning is the first four years of
life. Kids brains are very open to all kinds of learning - like an empty
vessel. And the reason it's harder as we get older to learn is that we get
'filled' up. I would like to get a look at some documents or journal
articles on this. If this is really the way research is taking us - I
would like some articles to show to mothers at my lapsit (toddler) group.
I will post the information.
Carrie
Carrie Eldridge
San Juan Island Library District
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-2798
360-378-2702
celdridge@sanjuan.lib.wa.us
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 15:07:27 -0800 (PST)
From: Kirsten Edwards <kirstedw@kcls.org>
Subject: RE: YA book reviews
On Wed, 17 Feb 1999, BOGART Debra S wrote:
> Chuck-I think many of us agree with you, if not about VOYA at least about
> the seemingly arbitrary priority placed on dysfunctional families.
> Personally I think this may be why so many boys this age (middle and high
> school age) have turned to the fantasy/scifi genre. Our patrons; my son ,
> his friends (all of whom are top students); clearly prefer this genre with
> its many humourous books (Terry Brooks, Eddings, Aspin, David Duncan, even
> Orson Scott Card, have great senses of humor!)
Considering that I've just finished (and will rave review btw) an SF
series about a young torturer, I don't think SF & fantasy are all
humorous or even light-hearted. On the other hand, although Steven
Donaldson praised EXCHANGE OF HOSTAGES, it's no Donaldson Award-winner for
bleakness and atrocity. It's a surprisingly hopeful book.
One of the advantages most genre fiction seems to have is a commitment to
story. The readers expect - no - demand it, and all innovation and
experimentation pretty much has to fit within the framework. I also find
that much of the grim fiction is untrue - as are the really super-sweet novels
euphemistcially called "wholesome" - because they don't tell the whole
story. Daytime eye & nighttime eye are both neccessary for wisdom. Maybe
the struggle to make the unbelievable (Life as a child genius saving the
world from aliens, the emotional difficulties of a teen Utah Raptor &etc.)
keep the genre grounded.
I don't know. It's my favorite - from LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS to HOWLS'
MOVING CASTLE - so I'm probably rather biased.
Kirsten Edwards
kirstedw@kcls.org
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 16:06:50 -0800 (PST)
From: Kirsten Edwards <kirstedw@kcls.org>
Subject: Re: Internet filters
On Tue, 16 Feb 1999, Walter Minkel wrote:
> Kirsten & folks-- One thing that I've seen is that a great many
> conservative parents truly trust neither their own children nor those of
> other kids who might be using the Net when their kids are around. Picture
> a twelve-year-old boy who is pretty computer-savvy, & who will be
coming
> into the library with his friends after school. His parents want to be
> certain the library stations are filtered & un-toggle-able, because
with
> toggling, these kids will simply toggle the filter "off" &
head out to
> Cyber-BabesXXX, right?
Let me play Devil's advocate - or at least use one of the commoner
counter-arguments - by saying that some pro-filter-the-library-computer
types argue that kids and young teens can *accidentally* end up a some
disgustiong sites (try typing .com instead of .org by mistake) or can pull
up lists of stuff of which even the descriptions are pretty gamy (this
happens fairly frequently) or pulls up an okay-sounding site that belongs
to some hate-group.
It's the emotional equivalent of imagining your 8-year-old turning the
corner behind BABAR et al. and finding himself at the headquarters of
Aryan Nation & Co.
Hence the resonance with which the "I want my child to be safe" cries
in
general. Maybe I'm giving people too much credit (the libertarian bias
there) and it's a make-believe argument for the reality you propose: "I
don't trust my 12-year-old NOT to go to penthouse/forum/twins.com the
minute my back is turned." I'm sure there are people who are raising kids
to be toddlers and not adults some day.
But I completely agree with you that everyone - librarians and the society
they serve - is better off on the principal that lets people - including
kids who are old enough to start asking & looking - to make their own
choices. Even if the kids' choice is as simple as whether or not to obey
his parents.
It just seems reasonable that in a market-driven economy the pressure to
find and create the tools people want is pretty strong. Can't librarians
be a part of that pressure? A tool that lets individuals set their own
filters sounds pretty good to me: It would answer my hypothetical
counter-argument & be a way to say "yes, we can help you do what you
want".
Kirsten Edwards
kirstedw@kcls.org
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 17:41:59 -0800
From: "Carrie Eldridge" <celdridge@sanjuan.lib.wa.us>
Subject: VOYA criticism
I have reviewed for VOYA for a number of years and have not been instructed
on any editorial slant ever. We receive guidelines and we fill out an
'interest' sheet. That's it! I think you are talking about 'what' is
being published in the YA field. Perhaps you should send your comments to
publishers or better yet to YA authors. Having said that I do have a lot
of parents who ask for 'positive' books and also get complaints from
students about the over abundance of 'downer' YA titles. So I look for the
positive or more up-lifing titles so I can pass on them as suggestions.
But just when I have regretted buying a particular gruesuome title some
young person will tell me how much they liked that book!
You never know, do you? People (and YAs) are not all cut from the same
cloth and they do like different things. That's what makes libraries so fun!
Carrie Eldridge
San Juan Island
Carrie Eldridge
San Juan Island Library District
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-2798
360-378-2702
celdridge@sanjuan.lib.wa.us
------------------------------
End of pubyac V1 #604
*********************
|