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Date: Sun, 2 May 1999 11:49:02 -0400 (EDT)
To: pubyac-digest@nysernet.org
Subject: pubyac V1 #688
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Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 12:44:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Christine E. Swanson" <cswanson@tln.lib.mi.us>
Subject: Re: Dr. Laura
I've heard the next episode of Frazier will poke a little fun at the good
Doctor. I've never watched Frazier, but I think I'll tune in this week!
Christine Swanson
Youth Services Head Librarian
Brighton District Library
cwanson@tln.lib.mi.us
810/229-6571, ext. 209
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Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 12:45:04 -0500
From: Carol Hoke <hoke@crpl.cedar-rapids.lib.ia.us>
Subject: Re: cd rom computer
> it is
>especially frustrating when parents will let their 4 year old sit
>there and play while they run off to the adult section and the child
>isn't even supervised.
Do you have a policy which indicates that children under a certain age need
to be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult while in the library
(which to me means they stay with the child, not do their own thing)? If
not, you might want to talk to your director about such a policy.
>i would love some feedback from libraries that have these cd rom
>computers or had them and got rid of them (if anyone).
>what kinds of policies do you have concerning your cd rom computer?
>what do you do about the noise level?
>only one computer and 5 or 6 kids huddling around it?
>do you see that it distracts from quality reading time?
>suggestions about what we should do?
>
>elaine
Sign up for 30 minutes or an hour or whatever might be a good way to
control who gets to use the computers when. I know this takes staff time,
but you seem to be investing some time in controlling the kids who use the
computer anyway and trying to reduce the noise. We allow kids to sign up
for 1 hour time slots a maximum of 2 times per day. (We do let them
continue if no one else wants to use the computer, however. I'd just as
soon the computers are used as that they sit empty.)
Have you thought about headphones for your computer? We do that with one
of our which has very loud programs on it with sound levels that are
difficult to adjust. Maybe with no sound going into the room it would make
it quieter and reduce the number of kids huddling around the computer since
they could only see and not hear what is going on. Headphones do raise
some other problems thought of cleaning them after each use, but it might
be something to consider
Carol Hoke
Children's Services Manager
Cedar Rapids Public Library
500 1st St. SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Hoke@crpl.cedar-rapids.lib.ia.us
319-398-5123
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 12:44:18 -0500 (CDT)
From: Maria Wegscheid <mwegsche@libby.rbls.lib.il.us>
Subject: Re: your mail
Someone posted:
> An MLS also socializes you, so that you don't make the glaring error a
> non-MLS employee of a Wyoming library made in disclosing Theodore
Kasynski's
> reading habits to the press.
To actually further support this point, it was not an employee of the
libary who disclosed this information. I quite clearly remember that the
Library Director posted to several lists saying that it was a *volunteer*
who had disclosed Kasynski's reading habits. This was in violation of
their policy and their volunteer training. The volunteer was, I believe,
let go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 10:11:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jeani Littrell-Kwik <jeankwik@kcls.org>
Subject: teen teasing
I've been lurking on PUBYAC for a few years now and have been driven to
post in response to the calls to treat outcast teens with respect. I think
that one of the strongest messages that can be sent to students who
tease and make fun of those who are different while at school is for a
school employee to step in and stop the teasing. When school employees
say nothing the activity is being condoned. Cruel teasing begins at a
young age in elementary school, so if the no-tolerance policies being
applied to guns and weapons on school grounds were applied to
harassment, too, then maybe a culture of respect can be created. I am
pleased that school districts are finally being sued for not stopping the
bullying and harassment of students--if only for the reason that this
will push schools to be aggressive in putting a stop to this. Finally,
while students may know better than school employees that a student is
about to go over the edge, I refuse to believe that school employees do
not know who is being "picked on".
Jeani
Jeani Littrell-Kwik
YA Librarian
Des Moines Library
King County Library System
Des Moines, Washington, U.S.A.
e-mail: jeankwik@kcls.org
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 14:54:58 -0400
From: "Deborah Brightwell" <dbright@ci.coppell.tx.us>
Subject: Re: RE: Dr. Laura...
The librarians and I here at the Coppell Public Library checked out Dr. Laura's
web site yesterday. She does have some critical remarks about the ALA and their
suggested web sites lists. We think that when Dr. Laura advocates boycotting
public libraries unless they use filters on the internet and says don't bring
your kids here to storytime, but go to the bookstore storytimes, she is really
wanting people in the bookstores so they can have an opportunity to buy her
books. Just kidding! Actually the librarians and I here used to like to listen
to Dr. Laura before she got so pompous. We liked her programs better when she
concentrated on how men and women managed to screw up their lifes with daily
regularity. In any case, here at our library, we support the free exchange of
ideas and opinions, and her opinions (books) can be found on our shelves right
along with all the stuff she doesn't like to much. And for free.
Debbie Brightwell
Children's Librarian
Coppell Public Library
Coppell, Texas
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 23:05:09 -0700
From: "Steven Engelfried" <stevene@co.deschutes.or.us>
Subject: puppet stages
Having enjoyed and learned from many of Walter's puppet shows, I always pay
attention to his recommendations. I think his most important point is there
are many ways to do puppet shows. Arm rests and seats may be unthinkable
for a true professional puppeteer, but many people who do puppet shows in
libraries are not professionals. They're beginners, or maybe they do one
show a year. When you don't do them very often, the physical demands of a
simple thirty minute show can be surprisingly great. When you're at the
point where you're still worried about keeping your voices straight and not
forgetting your lines, it's nice to not have to also deal with an aching
back or shoulder pain. Walter's prop shelf idea for holding puppets is a
great boon to beginners...again, you get to concentrate on the story and not
worry about reaching for puppets. Many children's librarians are daunted
by the thought of a puppet show because they recognize the skill and talent
that goes into a production. I like to reassure them that you can do a
successful show without being an expert, as long as you practice and plan.
Steven Engelfried, Children's Librarian
Deschutes Public Library
601 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97701
ph: 541-617-7072 fax: 541-617-7073
e-mail: stevene@dpls.lib.or.us
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 13:28:21 -0700
From: "Keeney, Scott" <SKEENEY@ci.albany.or.us>
Subject: RE: cd rom computer
Several policies and procedures help us implement our two very popular
workstations:
two fifteen minute turns, total, per day, strictly enforced,
with small clipboard signup sheets adjacent to each
workstation
parents help little kids
no "games" are offered; only "educational" software is
available; no Killstation or Lameboy type games are
offered
staff knows how to operate, especially enter and exit, every
application, and are comfortable enforcing our rules
the workstations are both within six feet of the Children's Desk
chair
we turn either or both off whenever we have storytimes, tours,
unstaffed moments (!), or abuse
we are firm when we say turn down the sound, or noise.
And yes, computer playstations, workstations, and gamestations
in Children's Rooms detract from reading, but they also draw children to
the room, and to the library; they offer rudimentary computer
instruction and familiarization for the hugely underestimated percentage
of homes without computers in America; they create a socialization
center and knowledge-sharing focus for kids to gather around; and if
the applications are chosen with collection development care, they offer
educational tools of great variety, allure, and worth.
Scott Keeney
Children's Librarian work 541-917-7591
Albany Public Library fax 541-917-7586
1390 Waverly Drive SE
Albany OR 97321 skeeney@ci.albany.or.us
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 15:20:50 -0400
From: JMason@Scholastic.com
Subject: RE: Why 20 minutes?
I am commenting here as the publisher of "Read to Your Bunny" by
Rosemary
Wells! I think the only reason why these literacy campaigns use "20
minutes" as their slogan is that asking parents to read aloud to their
child
20 minutes every day seems like a reasonable expectation. Fifteen minutes
doesn't sound very much. Thirty minutes sounds a bit too long for the busy
parent to commit to. So they settled on the concept of reading aloud for 20
minutes. I don't think there's any specific research as to the exact length
of time - just that regular reading aloud to your kid is a very beneficial
thing to do. (Note, we are talking about parents reading aloud to young
children - not children reading on their own - although the same reasoning
might apply.)
John Mason, Associate Marketing Director
Scholastic, 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999
Phone (212) 343-7607 Fax(212) 343-7604 email: jmason@scholastic.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: joslund@colosys.net [SMTP:joslund@colosys.net]
> I have been searching for research to explain why many literacy
> advocates and programs recommend that kids read *20 minutes*
> per day over a period of time to improve literacy.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 14:53:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: Charlene Noll <hslkids@yahoo.com>
Subject: Intergenerational programs
Hi All!
I am currently working in a children's room on Long Island,where
we have studied our demographics and found that we have a large
population of sr. citizens using the library and a growing (thank
goodness), population of young families with children filling our
children's room. We would like to bring these two populations together
through intergenerational programming. Has anyone attempted this type
of program, what was involved,and was it successful? Thanks so much for
your input.
Charlene Noll - hslkids@yahoo.com
Hillside Public Library, New York
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 1 May 1999 17:02:01 -0500 (CDT)
From: Jenifer Wagner <jwagner@dakota.lib.mn.us>
Subject: Plum Nellie Jones
One of our users is looking for a book that was read to him in 1965 by his
fourth grade teacher. He said it was a collection of interconnected short
stories with an on-going character named Plum Nellie Jones (or Plum Nelly
Jones or Plumnellie Jones). He'd really like to know the title and
author. Please reply direct to me.
Jenifer Wagner
e-mail jwagner@dakota.lib.mn.us
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 01 May 1999 10:02:06 -0700
From: Mary Ann Gilpatrick <magilpat@walnet.walla-walla.wa.us>
Subject: Re: Dr. Laura...
This basically proves she is in league with the Family Friendly Folks et. al.,
which we kind of guessed anyway.
- -- Mary Ann G.
t. My impression of the whole situation is that she really has it
> out for ALA!!! What have others heard?
> Ann-Marie
> Ann-Marie Biden, Youth Services Librarian
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 01 May 1999 09:52:02 -0700
From: Anne <sailors@i-2000.com>
Subject: hate site on the web
Before the tragedy in Colorado, the Simon Wiesenthal Center had
released a CD-ROM Digital Hate 2000, about the proliferation of hate
sites on the web. The report scared me, the murder of 13 at Columbine
High School scared me even more.
I would like to know whether any of you have had experience with
children or teens accessing such sites in your library. If so, what
course of action have you taken? Thank you.
This message was also posted to YALSA -L, I apologize for any
duplications.
Anne Weinlich Mitenberg
Oceanside Library,
Oceanside, NY
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 11:33:21 -0400
From: Sharon Bandhold <sbandhol@northnet.org>
Subject: Establishing a Foundation
Hello, PUBYACers!
Our municipal library has been bequeathed a substantial amount of
money to expand our business resources and hire at least a part-time
Business Librarian. This is not a question that is highly appropriate
for PUBYAC, but this is my primary listserv, so here goes: Can anyone
in libraries of similar types tell me in what way(s) their library has
set up a foundation? Any info of any kind, including sources, would be
appreciated. Please respond to me directly and I will compile results
for PUBYACers if there is enough interest. TIA.
Sharon Bandhold
Head of Children's and Young Adult Services
Plattsburgh (NY) Public Library
(518) 563-0921, ext. 29
sbandhol@northnet.org
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 10:57:49 -0400 (EDT)
From: Cognato <rcognato@suffolk.lib.ny.us>
Subject: Young adult Computer policy
We have just put a computer in our young adult section with research
databases and word processing programs. The computer was configured so the
Internet can not be accessed. We now have to come up with a policy with
regard to what age or grade do we allow on this machine. Should we start
with 5th grade or 6th grade up to 12th grade? How long should the young
adult be allowed on the computer? We also must have
a parent sign a consent sheet first. We already have consent sheets for
the adults and children. I am tired of sign in sheets and consent. Does
anyone else have these policies also? Any suggestions on a more manageable
policy? I have looked into a software package from a company called
Computers by Design which may eliminate sign in sheets and waiver
sheets.It also can put time limits on each session.
Is anyone using this software on their patron computers? Do they recommend
it?
Thanks Robert
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 07:46:15 -0400
From: kskellen@mail.gcpl.public.lib.ga.us (Kendra Skellen)
Subject: RE: cd rom computer
The childrens computers that we have hold 5 cd rom educational game
programs. We have headphones on the computers. Two headphones for each
computer. We have no noise this way at all. We clean the headphone daily
with a lysol type product. Everything is educational. Nothing is just a
game game. There are two computers in the childrens area now, with two
more on their way to make it four. The computers are very popular. We do
not set a time limit for most of the children are not in the library long
enough to spend more than 15 minutes on the computer. We often have two
children who do not even know each other sitting at the same computer
sharing the activity. We still have alot of book reading going on in the
area. When we do a storytime, we shut the monitor off so that no one is on
the computer. No complaints so far.
Kendra Skellen
Librarian II - Programming and Outreach
Gwinnett County Public Library
1001 Lawrenceville Hwy
Lawrenceville, GA 30025-4707
770-277-6011
(fax) 770-822-5379
kskellen@mail.gcpl.public.lib.ga.us
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 20:37:44 -0500 (CDT)
From: georgi3@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Pages: Ages, Hours, Responsibilities
I am a fairly new full-time children's librarian trainee in a public library
serving a community of about 25,000. Recently we lost half of the pages in
the children's dept. (okay, 2) which caused us to reevaluate our page
situation. I personally felt that we did not have enough page hours (40) for
a dept. our size - 38,000 volumes. These are my opinions, not necessarily
the opinions of the library or of fellow staff members.
I tried to find out if there were certain guidelines recommending a certain
number of page hours according to the size of the community or library dept.
If I go by what various children's dept. heads in the area say, this number
varies widely. Another factor is whether the pages are adults or teenagers.
And of course, if their responsibilities differ then so do the hours needed.
I have also searched Library Literature to see if there was anything
published on this topic. I really couldn't find information printed during
the 90s on this topic that was geared towards public libraries.
If I can get some feedback from various youth services librarians on the
topics of page hours per size of collection and/or community as well as on
the issue of adults versus high schoolers, maybe I can get a better handle
on what could be appropriate for our library. Possibly we do have enough
hours: maybe we ask them to do too much, or could they just be ineffective
pages due to poor training or lack of motivation?
Thanks in advance,
Georgi Curcio
East Islip Public Library
Long Island New York
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End of pubyac V1 #688
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