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Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 13:20:04 -0500 (EST)
To: pubyac-digest@nysernet.org
Subject: pubyac V1 #632
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Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 17:16:43 -0500 (EST)
From: Cathy Sullivan Seblonka <cathys@uproc.lib.mi.us>
Subject: internet access restriction
Hello. Please excuse the cross posting. I hope you can advise us on an
issue that recently developed in our library.
A woman with a 16 year old daughter recently asked us to restrict her
teenager from using the Internet at the library. it seems the girl has
been giving out her name and address to men on-line. They then call or
visit the girl's home.
We do sympathize with the woman, but do not see how we can realistically
restrict this girl's use of the Internet or if we can legally do so. We
don't restrict use of the Internet at our library other than banning
people for misconduct on occasion, but that is usually for a short period
of time.
It seems it would be very easy to circumvent restrictions placed on this
girl's use of the Internet: false ID, having a friend sign up for her,
etc. We do not want to make promises we cannot keep. Perhaps the mother
is not telling us the truth in the first place. What if the girl needs to
use the Internet for homework or other reasons? What happens when she
turns 18 and still lives at home?
Has anyone else experienced this problem? How did (do) you handle it?
Please respond to the address below. Thanks.
Cathy Sullivan Seblonka
Youth Services Coordinator
Peter White Public Library
217 N. Front St.
Marquette, MI 49855
(906) 228-9510
fax (906) 228-7315
e-mail: cathys@uproc.lib.mi.us
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 21:15:16 -0500
From: ahendon@dorsai.org
Subject: re: buying Harry Potter
I think the original posters are talking about the second Harry
Potter book that hasn't yet been published in the US.
Alison
> Just an FYI -- I was reading all of these messages and wondering how did
> I get it so easy? On Monday I went to the local BORDERS here in Michigan
> (Metro Detroit) and bought myself a hardcover copy for the library. Am I
> missing something? ;)
>
> ERIN
Alison Hendon
ahendon@amanda.dorsai.org
"Though my soul may set in darkness,
It will rise in perfect light,
I have loved the stars too fondly
To be fearful of the night...."
- Sarah Williams, "The Old Astronomer to His Pupil"
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 14:06:38 -0500
From: Charles Schacht <schachtc@lcm.macomb.lib.mi.us>
Subject: Re: ACTION NEEDED ON S. 97
pubyac@nysernet.org wrote:
> Why is it that the argument of filtering boils down to an assumption
> that those who choose NOT to filter want to view pornography? I want to
> view, privately, information on colon or breast cancer which often gets
> filtered. I don't need a librarian telling me which information is
> allowed. I don't need anyone to tell my children what is socially
> acceptable either; I'm quite capable of doing that.
You are clearly an exemplary parent - if everyone in the parenting business
were equally concerned and conscientious there would be no problem here.
Unfortunately, the reality is far different; we see continually and must
deal with many, many older children and teens who have obviously not been
raised by someone like you and who clearly have no concern at all for what
is or is not offensive in a public setting, especially a public setting
frequented by small children. I am not a big proponent of filters, but I
feel it is part of my job to maintain a child safe and friendly environment
here. Which means that patrons whose initerests seem to be primarily
prurient need to pursue them elsewhere, not on our terminals. If you're not
going to filter, your choices are 1. a lot of staff supervision or 2. an
atmosphere that you are often not going to be proud of/comfortable with. We
have decided that option 1 is the least worst alternative. Some degree of
In Loco Parentis comes with the job, whether we like it or not.
Chuck Schacht
Romeo District Library
Romeo, MI.
Who speaks for himself, not his institution.
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Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 14:20:23 -0500 (EST)
From: Sally Warburton <swarburt@vsla.edu>
Subject: Family Reading Nights
Hi all,
I do an evening preschool story time which seems to be evolving
into a school-age storytime. Those of you who do family nights -
how do you plan for the various ages. I am not really interested
in a book discussion group at this time but more a story time
format but using books and activities that appeal to a wide range
of interests. Most weeks my youngest is a 3-year-old with the
oldest being 3rd grade. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Sally
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Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 14:18:42 -0500
From: GCLS Webmaster <gloucester@gloucester.lib.nj.us>
Subject: outreach to alternative high school
In our county there is a new alternative high school run by the county
dept. of education. This school serves students who for some reason are
not able to function in a regular school - some with behavior
problems,others just needing individualized attention. Classes are very
small. They have few resources, and there was an article in the local
paper about how the teachers have difficulty getting enough materials to
use. They have no school library. I was considering suggesting that we
apply for a grant that would enable our library (a county system) to
serve this school in some way, maybe with month-long loans and delivery
service. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of project?
Please respond to npolhamus@hotmail.com if you have any suggestions or
advice.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 16:58:41 -0500
From: Babette Wofter <wofterba@oplin.lib.oh.us>
Subject: Ellison/Accu-Cut Machines
I recall some discussion on the pros & cons of purchasing an ellison
machine or an accu-cut machine, but did not follow it. Does anyone have
a real preference? I have access to numerous ellison dies, but
understand that the accu-cut machine will work with those too. Which to
buy? Any suggestions????
Please reply directly to me.
Thanks!
Babette Wofter, Perry County District Library
wofterba@oplin.lib.oh.us
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Date: Fri, 12 Mar 99 12:16:04 MST
From: smorris@denver.lib.co.us
Subject: Harry Potter #2
Okay, time to 'fess up. When I orginally posted my question about
purchasing Harry Potter books, I wasn't forthcoming enough.
First of all, the second in the series (Harry Potter and the Chamber
of Secrets) is available in England and on the Amazon.uk site. Should
we take advantage of the electronic medium to quickly meet the demand
of young, dedicated readers?
It seems that this international way of buying the book is raising ire
in the publishing industry. A few people, including Jen at Suffolk
(NY) Public Library, have seen the article in the March 15 Publisher
Weekly. Apparently, the American publishers have called for
bookstores to "cease and desist" from purchasing and selling the
non-American published version. Legal issues, etc, etc..
So do libraries purchase it? Your call I suppose. According to OCLC
ten libraries have the British version. We just thought we would find
out what others were doing or thinking of doing about this.
Thanks for you responses.
Sharon Morris
Selection Librarian
Denver Public Library
smorris@denver.lib.co.us
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Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 14:39:34 -0500 (EST)
From: "Mary Johnson (amk)" <mjohnson@wlsmail.wls.lib.ny.us>
Subject: The internet in public libraries
Bonita and espicer had interesting things to say about the internet in
libraries. As queasy as misuse of the internet makes me, I believe
espicer is right; we have no business filtering the internet in public
libraries. To do so does, in fact, show mistrust for patrons and a
certain arrogance on our part - even assuming filters did exactly what
they were supposed to, which they often don't. My own opinion is that a
filtered terminal *may* be ok in te children's room, but only if tha's
the individual library's decision (not some government agency) and if
there are unfiltered terminlas elsewhere in the building.
Bonita, why shouldn't we offer interenet access in libraries? It's
undoubtedly true there are some parts of the internet (e-mail and web
design, f.e.) that work much better from home - and I'm no fan of chat
rooms. *But*-
The internet interests young adults and draws them into a place with
books in it!)
It's a fine source of information. With an interenet connection, patrons
can access the catalogs of the New York Public Library and other research
libraries throughout the world, major museums, ERIC, Medline, and other
professional resources, the IRS, the library of congress, etc. Of course,
it'll never replace books, nor should it - but aren't we in teh
information business?
Finally, libraries are bastions of democracy. The majority of people in
this country still do not have home computers, and so would have no
access to the net if we didn't provide it.
That's all I wanted to say, really. Thanks for your comments - and sorry
for the length!
Mary Johnson, YA librarian, North Castle Library, Armonk, NY
(mjohnson@wls.lib.ny.us)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 17:42:02 -0800 (PST)
From: Kirsten Edwards <kirstedw@kcls.org>
Subject: RE: Harry Potter
On Fri, 12 Mar 1999, Julie Linneman wrote:
> don't have to wait for the North American release. I'm not sure that we
> can do a lot about individuals who use their own credit cards to buy them,
> and if I'm a tourist in England, I may choose to buy a Harry Potter book
> while I'm there. But to involve a library in circumventing the publishing
> process seems unfair.
Possibly, but it's legal, isn't it? Our primary duty *isn't* to the
publishers, but to the people who produce the documents
(books/info/what-have-you) and those who want to be connected to 'em (aka
our patrons). When you circumvent publishers who've bought U.S. rights by
quite legally purchasing the book from the publisher in the U.K., the
author still gets royalties & the patron gets the book.
I find that it provides an economic incentive for local publishers not to
sit on their hands. If the movement to buy through amazon.co.uk (to name
one source) is powerful enough, more U.S. publishers will be motivated to
simultaneously publish - or lose big money. Think of it as market forces
in action within a free society.
Kirsten (can you guess I'm libertarian :-)
kirstedw@kcls.org
------------------------------
Date: 13 Mar 99 08:17:38 PST
From: Carol Exner <crexner@netscape.net>
Subject: Re: [Open-ended art vs. craft]
Dear Andrew and all,
A bit ago, inspired by the discussion of art vs. crafts, I tried several
"art days" at my branch. The parents didn't quite understand (Now
you're
doing what? Using only yellow? To do what??) but the kids loved it! They
didn't want to stop. The colors brought out themes: boats and ocean and homes
(!) for blue; sunny scenes for yellow and so on. HOWEVER: I did not plan on
having enough help and the times I used paint just got out of hand. I'm
taking some time off from the project, but I got some Eagle Scouts to take on
the building of art easels for me and my boss said O.K.!! Art Days were a
wonderful experience. Come to it with open-ended expectations as well and
everything will be just fine.
Carol Exner
Parkwood Branch, Durham (NC) Co. Library
Andrew Finkbeiner <ANDREW@rockford.lib.il.us> wrote:
A while ago, we had a discussion about the relative merits of art and
craft in library programs. I wanted to draw your attention to an
article in the January 1999 issue of Young Children, "Why Do Some
Teachers Resist Offering Appropriate, Open-Ended Art Acticities for
Young Children?" by Chris Mulcahey Szyba (pp. 16-20). I hope you can
get a hold of this beautiful value statement. It is very readable,
colorful and clear and it may shake you up a bit.
Andrew Finkbeiner
Rockford (IL) Public Library
andrew@rockford.lib.il.us
Visit our new website at http://www.rpl.rockford.org
____________________________________________________________________
More than just email--Get your FREE Netscape WebMail account today at
http://home.netscape.com/netcenter/mail
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 23:22:40 -0500
From: katherine heylman <kheylman@apk.net>
Subject: Re: pubyac V1 #628, Internet in library
Bonita -- I can't imagine the library without the internet. What about
all the stuff we can get in Ohio through Oplin that we can't get on our
home computers, at least not without paying some pretty stiff fees?
Also, the various data bases -- poetry index, etc. Sure beats looking
up a catch-word in Granger and then trying to find the right book that
contains the poem you want. I've been retired for 13 years, but I still
sub -- and it's astonishing what quantities of information I can find
for people using the internet. For example, I found two or three
articles on hercipan (I forget the spelling), a new breast cancer drug
that a patron wanted to know about. To find those same articles, she
would probably have had to go to a medical library -- and may or may not
have been able to dig them up.
Oh well, if you think you might be a techniphobe, I guess that makes
me a technophile. So we balance each other out. Cheers!
Kate Heylman
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 22:10:24 -0500 (EST)
From: Jeri Kladder <jkladder@gcfn.org>
Subject: Re: Program planning
Vicky,
Interesting question. I think we are always planning for
storytimes...like whenever we look at the new picture books and folktales
we are constantly on the look-out for good ones to use for storytimes.
Whenever we wander through a flea market or discount store we are looking
for possible props. Everything that goes into my waste basket or recycle
bin runs through my preschool story hour filter first. Can't I use this???
I think, though, that the question is really two-fold and I would
like to draw the distinction between planning and preparing. Planning
means deciding what materials to use, seeking out fingerplays, flannel
stories, selecting the Raffi and Greg & Steve and Jim Gill songs to play,
picking themes, crafts, and take-home materials. I think that takes place
over a period of several days or weeks, depending upon how far in advance
you plan your programs, and whether you run a series or if each program is
free-standing.
The other aspect of preschool story time presentation is the time
it takes to prepare. That means going over the stories so you know them
seamlessly, cueing up the audio tapes, setting up equipment, arranging or
rearranging your story hour room from its last use as a meeting space or
whatever. Once you have a repertoire of stories, learning them seamlessly
for presentation becomes faster but the physical preparation of room and
material set-up never shortens. (It is also necessary to count time spent
putting everything away after the program too!)
If you think you aren't getting enough attendance for the time
spent, how about inviting local day care centers to attend your public
story hours? That way you will be assured of an audience. There were
times in another job when I would only have one or two attendees were it
not for the invited day care. I had several in my area and I booked them
once a month so I knew which one was coming and when. Blanket invitations
for every week would have swamped me with too many at one time.
Eventually the character of my neighborhood changed and I had
enough kids with stay-at-home moms so I just moved the invited day cares
to a different time slot or a different day. That way I ended up doing 5
programs with the same material and felt I was really getting my time's
worth of planning and preparation.
Remember, it isn't the fault of the few kids who come that there
aren't enough attendees to justify your planning/preparation time. They
still need you! Good luck! - jeri
Jeri Kladder, Children's Librarian & Storyteller
jkladder@freenet.columbus.oh.us
Columbus Metropolitan Library
Columbus, Ohio
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 12:10:07 -0800
From: Theresa <tgormle1@uswest.net>
Subject: re: key chain cards (long)
Big thanks to all who responded to my question about key chain library
cards. Opinions seemed to vary on this one, but all of the input will
help us in deciding whether or not to carry these specially sized
cards. I had a few requests to post the info. I received, so here it
is:
Thanks again,
Theresa Gormley
Youth Services Librarian
Whatcom County (WA) Library System
tgormle1@uswest.net
(360) 384-3150
From: gochnm@mont.lib.md.us
We have offered key chain library cards for free to those who want to
replace their standard size card. (Normally, the county requires us to
charge a $1.00 for a new card.) Many people love them including
children
who use them when bike riding, walking or jogging and don't carry a
wallet but do their keys.
Laser scanners read them around the key rings but scanner wands can be
more dificult if the customer has a lot of keys.
There isn't a place to sign one's name, so if a card is lost there needs
to be a way for cards and keys returned in the mail to get the keys back
to the customer. Sending printouts to a centralized location to match
the
keys with old numbers, name and address seems to be the only way to deal
with this issue. Since once a library card is replaced with a new
number,
there is not a link to match the old number with the customer's name.
So far they seem to hold up and I don't find that they are lost or
stolen
any more frequently the other cards.
____________________________________________________________________________From:
galer@mont.lib.md.us
Mark Gochnour forwarded his responses (above )to your questions to
me to
complete since I am the person who orders the key chain cards for the
Department.
When we initially started offering key chain cards we ordered them
from
Vanguard ID Systems, 436 Creamery Way, Suite D, Exton, PA. 19341
1-800-323-7432, Marnie Masiello is the saleswoman with whom I dealt.
Since our County's procurement office says we have to go out for bid
on
anything over $3000, we did eventually put out a bid on the cards and
our
current vendor is Credit Card Systems, Inc., 180 Shepard Avenue,
Wheeling,
Illinois 60090 1-800-747-1269. Michael Kapustka is our contact
person. We
currently purchase 25,000 cards at one time and the price we pay is
$2249;
the cards are 30 mil thick.
The only points I would add to Mark's comments are that 1) we have
found
that the key chain cards do not work well in self charge machines; they
have
to be "manipulated" by customers so the laser reads them. 2)We receive
on
the average one to two cards & keys a week which are returned in the
mail to
us since we chose to print the Drop in any Mailbox, Postage Guaranteed
message on the back. Since we began offering the service in July, 1997
we
have had 37 keys and keychain cards returned which we were unable to
match
up with their owners, and another 83 cards whose owner's names were
still in
our database and to whom we could return keys and cards. 3) If you put
the
postage guaranteed message on the back, be prepared to assign someone
who
will do the followup. 4)We hope with our new computer vendor SIRSI to
be
able to retain and search for old keychain card information so that all
the
lost keys can be returned "home." I have a pile of keys that probably
mean
something to their owners but I just don't know how to get them back.
Those
owners whom I am able to reach are absolutely delighted with the postage
back service even if the call is coming many months after they lost
their
keys. Key owners do seem to value the service we are providing.
Please let me know if you would like a sample of our card and a copy of
the
contract we have signed with Credit Card Systems Inc.
From: mellifur@tiac.net
I can't answer all of your questions, since I'm not on the circ desk.
But I
can tell you that my library started to offer a choice between the
credit-card sized plastic cards and the key cards. Some people, both
adults
and children, like having the key cards. Some can't stand them. The
biggest
problem we had, though, was that the bar codes rubbed off! From what I
recall being reported at a staff meeting, the company swears that this
was
just a bad batch and that this has not been a problem in the past. All I
can tell you is that we stopped issuing the key cards until they could
send
us a new batch. Those just came in this week, so it remains to be seen
if
we have the same problem.
There is a place for a signature, but it isn't big enough for little
kids
(and some adults!) to sign their entire names. Some of the littlest kids
can barely get their first name in the space. But I've seen that on the
larger cards, too. I think much of that depends on how much small motor
control they have, how good/bad their penmanship is (adults, too!), and,
of
course, how long the name is.
From:<ldebra@bellsouth.net>
Our library offers patron a choice of standard credit card type
or key chain type. It was decided from the beginning that unless a
kid was old enough to drive, they would not be offered the choice. I
don't know how equitable this is but there have been no complaints.
Adults(&driving teens) choose the key chain type roughly 60% of the
time. There's no problem with wanding them, & there's no place to
sign but the usual"promise to be responsible..."is signed on the
application. I love the fact that people can generally FIND their
keys whereas the card type always seems buried somewhere deep in their
wallets. Some people do respond with "Give me the standard, I don't
need anything else on my keychain". We had these about 1& 1/2 yrs.
and none have worn out yet. All & all, it's nice to be able to offer
the choice.
From: Nancy Weir <NWeir@oxford.lib.mi.us>
We do not have the key chain library cards at Oxford Public Library but
a
nearby library (Independence) does. One of there patrons came in our
library
and applied to use computers etc. for each one of these things we put
stickers on the card which could become a problem with the small cards.
We
were able to fit two on with out covering to much up. I really liked the
key
chain card and sure the young people do too but if you have stickers to
put
on it could be a problem.
From: espicer@accn.org
Theresa--We have offered the key tags as a $2.00 option for a library
card for the last couple of years. Our standard cards are free. Guess
which ones patrons most often want? :-) I've been toying with the idea
of either dropping the fee to $1.00, or cancelling it altogether. Folks
who are frequent users of the library, and those who are apt to run in
without their purse, really like them. We haven't had any trouble with
them wearing out or breaking--they read under the scanner just fine! We
have not encouraged young people to get them because we use a different
colored card for those under 18, and we ordered only one color of key
tag. Ours came from Gaylord, I believe (they were ordered just before I
started at the library)--we provided the artwork, and they made up the
tags with barcodes. No, there's no room for a signature, or much of
anything else! With adults, at any rate, they are much easier to hold
on to. I don't remember ever replacing a lost one!
From: Susan Anderson-Newham <snewie@yahoo.com>
I spoke to Circulation (and we have a very non whiny staff) and they
hate the little key chain cards. Here are their reasons.
1. The cards get lost in people's wallets when they don't put them
on their key chains.
2. When they do put them on their key chains, they can't find their
keys and it takes up time in the check out line.
3. The holes on the cards break and then they have to carry them in
their wallets and then they can't find them (see #1)
4. They are easily lost and replaced a lot more often than the
larger cards.
5. KCLS has decided not to order any more.
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End of pubyac V1 #632
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