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Date: Sat, 4 Sep 1999 14:22:25 -0400 (EDT)
To: pubyac-digest@nysernet.org
Subject: pubyac V1 #804
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 10:38:33 -0400
From: casseri@juno.com
Subject: Thanks for the TAB/teen volunteer and another question
Dear all,
Thank you to all those people who sent out replies for my Teen Advisory
Board/Teen Volunteer question. The suggestions and comments that you
sent are very much appreciated and will be very useful to me. I
apologize to those on YALSA-BK who were not happy with my bringing this
up on a Book Discussion listserv. However, since I did get responses
from some of you on that listserv, I needed to send my thank you out
there, too. If I didn't send the tabulations out to anyone who had asked
for it, I apologize. Please send your request to me, and I will get it
out to you after Sept. 21 (see below).
Now I have a different kind of question. This is a question from a
friend who works in a NYS Supreme Court Library. She has a number of
patrons who come in with their children to get information. These kids
are incredibly bored in there, and she would like to provide some books
in a reading nook for them that deal with government and the law. For
example, she mentioned books about divorce, how the government works, and
laws in general. I am doing some searching of my library resources, but
I wondered if any of you have any recommendations of favorite books on
this topic.
I will be out of town from September 4th through the 21st, getting
married and going on my honeymoon, so I won't be able to respond for a
while, and will be canceling my listserv subscriptions. Please respond
directly to me. I will compile a bibliography for those who are
interested after that time.
Thank you to all who will respond, your help is greatly appreciated.
Rosemarie Casseri, soon to be Grainer
Rosemarie Casseri, Reference/Young Adult Librarian
Olean Public Library, 134 N. 2nd St., Olean, NY 14760
716/372-0200; casseri@juno.com
___________________________________________________________________
Get the Internet just the way you want it.
Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month!
Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 09:42:53 -0500
From: "Sean P. S. George" <sgeorge@stcharles.lib.la.us>
Subject: RE: hand made memo pads
Having worked at Kinko's for a while in library school, I know that =
there is a particular kind of glue for padding, but I don't remember =
what it's called, who makes it, or where you can get it. I would =
suggest visiting your local Kinko's and asking them.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Sean George
Youth Services Coordinator
St. Charles Parish Library
sgeorge@stcharles.lib.la.us
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 08:54:00 -0500
From: Judy Stewart <stewartj@clpgh.org>
Subject: Madeline
I know it is Madeline's 60th anniversary, but does anyone know of a website
with activity/trivia/ideas? I tried the publisher, did a search, etc, couldn't
find much of anything about 2 months ago.
Judy Stewart
CLAV-Harrison
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 11:59:07 EDT
From: LaceyDport@aol.com
Subject: YA programs on gravestones?
I'd be most interested to hear from anyone who has done a young adult program
on gravestones, their symbolism, traditions of epitaph wording, that sort of
thing. The program might also include lessons in gravestone rubbing
(especially if the library's town/city has a historic graveyard nearby) or a
scavenger hunt (with prizes perhaps) at the graveyard, e.g., find the oldest
stone, find an old stone which mentions a birth date, find a stone with a
poem. If anyone has done such a program, what worked, what didn't work, what
was the turnout and age group?
I began wondering about the possibilities of doing such a program when I
recently started a personal project of recording gravestone information from
our local historic graveyard, which is in desperate need of TLC and
preservation. (The oldest stone dates back to 1685). Currently, the graveyard
seems neglected and has become a popular hangout for teens, and I worry about
more gravestones being tipped or broken.
Perhaps a program would cultivate respect among teens for the wonderful
history and stories behind the old gravestones? Or would some adults worry
that such a death-oriented, "morbid" topic would encourage goth teens
in an
unhealthy way?
Please reply to me (Rebecca) directly at LaceyDport@aol.com
Thanks in advance!!
Rebecca Verrill Smith
Simmons GSLIS student
"The end of childhood is when things cease to astonish us." --Eugene
Ionesco
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 11:02:47 -0400
From: "K. Borchers" <kborch@clc.lib.oh.us>
Subject: RE: Library Teen Websites
Thank you to everyone who helped me find some really cool YA library sites!
Here are a bunch that were recommended:
Directory of Public Libraries With YA Sites
http://www.suffolk.lib.ny.us/youth/vname.html#A-C
Has a very big list to explore!! THE place to go.
Teen Hoopla
http://www.ala.org/teenhoopla
Multnomah County
http://www.multnomah.lib.or.us/lib/outer/
Haverill PL
http://www.haverill.com/library/TCC
San Francisco PL
http://206.14.7.53/EDC/teenpage.htm
Villa Park
http://www.villapark.lib.il.us/yserv.tphome.htm
Sacramento PL
http://www.saclib.org/teens/default.asp
Danbury Library
http://www.danbury.org/libraryteens
Tippecanoe County PL
http://www.tcpl.lib.in.us/ya/teenscene.htm
Here are some that I liked, based on design or something catchy (there are many
more good ones out there...)
Burlington PL
http://www.bpl.on.ca/bplteens/frames.html
Canton PL (Mich)
http://www.metronet.lib.mi.us/CANT/ya
Carnegie Library of Pittsburg
http://www.clpgh.org/ein/ya
Fairfax County PL
http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/library/teens
Hamilton Library
http://www.hpl.hamilton.on.ca/teens.htm
Laramie County
http://library.cheyenneweb.com/kidsya/youth.htm
Ogden Farmers
http://www.ogdenny.com/Library/Teen/teenpage.htm
Richmond PL
http://www.rpl.richmond.bc.ca/teen
Springfield-Greene County PL
http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/teens/teens.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 08:35:17 -0700
From: "Carol A. Edwards" <edwarc@pon.net>
Subject: Re: Free Expression Network: An Appeal to Reason
So Chuck,
Do you remove the Greek myths, 90% of history, the Bible, and the Grimm
fairy tales from your collections so they aren't available to children?
While I somehow doubt it, these are full of some of the most violent images
I have run into and to me are evidence that people-- of all ages--and for
all time have struggled with the challenge of living and understanding
violence in their world. Bettelheim discusses in "Uses of Enchantment"
how
the violence in fairy tales is useful to children in learning about their
feelings and their world.
Making decisons for other people about what is "good" for them and
what
they can have available to them, in terms of stories, information, ideas,
is censorship. Practice it for yourself and your own loved ones, but in the
public arena of librarianship this offends me.
You can laugh and bang your head, but my reaction is inevitably going to be
negative to your wanting to protect children by limiting their choices.
While I think your motives are admirable and I sincerely accept that you
believe that what your are doing is for their own good, the consequences of
the "paternalistic self righteousness" of the process is unacceptable.
The
next man or the next woman might think that would give them the right to
not let me or my kids have access to Shakespeare, Chris Lynch, Bee and
Jacky, Great Gilly Hopkins, Red Scarf Girl, Draw Me a Star (by Eric Carle--
seriously challenged recently by a parent as indecent) etc. What I'm saying
is you don't have the right to decide for me- or my kids. Decide all you
want for yourself. Advocate all you are able for parents being careful in
their choices for their own kids. But make plain your are not going to
protect their kids for them. Because you can't. If you try and take that
one on you are leaving librarianship behind and embarking on a whole other
task.
Carol Edwards
edwarc@pon.net
- ----------
> From: Charles Schacht <schachtc@libcoop.net>
> To: pubyac@nysernet.ORG
> Subject: Re: Free Expression Network: An Appeal to Reason
> Date: Thursday, September 02, 1999 6:47 AM
>
>
>
> Dana Estes wrote:
>
> > You are correct but as I have said before I am a firm believer that
> > simulated violence does not lead to real violence. You, like so many
other
> > people have been railroaded by the government and fanatical religous
> > groups into believing that the world would be a better place without
TV,
> > music, video games, movies, or books.
>
> I don't know whether to laugh until my sides hurt here or bang my head
against
> the wall in disbelief; I suppose I could alternate between the two...
Last time
> that I looked, recognizing that a certain type of media has the potential
to do
> harm to a certain audience was not quite the same as believing the world
would
> be better off without it. If I didn't LOVE books and music I would never
have
> decided to do what I do. Hey - I even love the Simpsons. I'm just
encouraging
> people to contemplate possible consequences of the "let's make
everything
> available to everybody at all ages" approach. Media has power, and I
respect
> that power; therefore am I cautious of providing some types, especially
violent
> visual images, to children indiscriminately.
>
> Chuck Schacht
> Romeo District Library
> Romeo, MI.
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 12:08:34 -0400
From: "Part Time Kids" <ptimekids@euclid.lib.oh.us>
Subject: TV
Look, if TV is bad because it takes the place of real-life interaction,
that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad in small doses. Tiny doses, all
right. But the interaction with the real world that children get
depends on a lot of things--like, for instance, how long they sleep. If
you have a sleeper, you might want every waking moment used in physical
and social interaction. But if you are blessed with a baby who sleeps
about five hours a day, the TV isn't reducing interaction--at least, not
useful interaction. It might reduce the number of times you shriek, "I
have to get some rest! You're driving me crazy!"
Bonita
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 09:12:43 EDT
From: "Janette Alley" <janettelibya@hotmail.com>
Subject: YA policy
Dear pubyac'ers:
We are in the process of updating our YA policy. The current policy is 1
paraggraph and was written in 1995. Is there anyone who would be willing to
share a few "must haves" that are in their existing policy?
Thanks in advance... please respond to: jalley@martin.fl.us
Janette Alley
Reference Librarian
Martin County Library System
Blake Library
Stuart, Florida
jalley@martin.fl.us
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 11:38:50 -0500
From: Karen Sutherland <ksutherland@bplib.org>
Subject: Re: Free Expression Network: An Appeal to Reason
Hi!
I think that no one objects to freedom of information. The problem is exposing
young
children to material content that is suitable for adults, and some of that is
not
suitable for
adults....but if an adult wants to fill his or her mind with garbage he is
constitutionally free to do so.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 16:08:53 -0400
From: RoseMary Honnold <honnolro@oplin.lib.oh.us>
Subject: Re: Free Expression Network: An Appeal to Reason
or at least drink continually :)
Kirsten Edwards wrote:
> On Tue, 31 Aug 1999, RoseMary Honnold wrote:
>
> > It is my belief that knowledge is not a harmful thing. Being aware
helps us be
> > better prepared. Childhood has been romanticized and its real purpose
as a
> > training period to become capable, productive and sensible fellow
human beings
> > is tossed aside in favor of a sheltered, protected, useless period of
learning
> > "harmless" nonsense. This is just my opinion, of course.
>
> But a *little* knowledge is a dangerous thing. Drink deeply or not at all
> from (wisdom's?) spring. Or to put it another way, air-brushed babes in
> Playboy *aren't* real women, but how do you know this?
>
> But you're dead on about childhood...
>
> Just a thought...
>
> Kirsten A. Edwards "It's 1999, of course they have a list of them
> kirstedw@kcls.org on the Web, everything's on the Web these days,
> when I was in school, we would have had to walk
> to the LIBRARY and find a bunch of DEAD TREES
> glued together on a DUSTY SHELF, and it would
> have been OUT OF DATE ANYWAY!" - C.K. Davis
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 16:56:28 -0400
From: RoseMary Honnold <honnolro@oplin.lib.oh.us>
Subject: Re: Free Expression Network: An Appeal to Reason
well, you know, I have deleted the emails that led me to post that, so I can't
say for
sure or copy and paste lines to respond to individually, but having worked with
some
very conservative patrons and librarians, it is more than the graphic violence
and
pornography that they want to censor.
Charles Schacht wrote:
> >
> >
> > On Tue, 31 Aug 1999 13:33:44 RoseMary Honnold wrote:
> > >It is my belief that knowledge is not a harmful thing. Being aware
helps us be
> > >better prepared.
>
> I don't know anyone who has maintained here that knowledge IS a harmful
thing; I
> thought the issue under discussion related to the advisabililty of exposing
children
> to
> realistic, graphically violent visual imagery, which as far as I can see
doesn't
> have a whole lot to do with knowledge or information.. Did I miss
something?
>
> Chuck Schacht
> Romeo District Library
> Romeo, MI.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 16:07:03 -0400
From: Charles Schacht <schachtc@libcoop.net>
Subject: lost address
A male children's librarian just sent me a fine response to the current
discussion re violence and media; I was looking forward to responding
but pushed the wrong button and wiped out his message. Please get back
to me with your email address - my apologies.
Chuck Schacht
Romeo District Library
Romeo, MI. 48065
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 17:45:36 -0500
From: DLHIETT <dlh@greennet.net>
Subject: RE: community outreach
Greetings,
I am planning an outreach program for this fall. I would like to visit =
the local pre-schools once a month and read the children a short story =
and leave the schools with an assortment of approx. 15 picture books. =
Has anyone done this before? What works and what doesn't? I would =
appreciate any and all suggestions. =20
Thanks in advance.
Deb
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 18:41:09 -0500
From: "Mary J. Soucie" <mjsoucie@htls.lib.il.us>
Subject: Teaching the Internet to k-6 grades
Dear Netters,
Hi! I have a library that is looking for tips to teach children how to use
the Internet. Do you have any tried-and-true suggestions? If you have
"cheat-sheets", tips or any great sites you would be willing to share
please send them to me- my fax number and/or address can be found below.
If you send directly to me I will compile a hit (asap).
Thanks so much for your expertise and help 8-),
Mary
- --
Mary J. Soucie
Youth Services Consultant
Heritage Trail Library System
405 Earl Road
Shorewood IL 60481
815-729-3345 x110
815-725-0930 Fax
mailto:mjsoucie@htls.lib.il.us
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 17:09:11 -0700
From: JCOOK@STOCKTON.LIB.CA.US
Subject: California Library Association Trading Post
For California Librarians:
It's that time of year again, when you dust off all the great
ideas you had and programs you presented for children and
young adults in 1999 to showcase at CLA's annual Trading Post.
Sponsored by the Children and Young Adult Services Section,
the Trading Post is a long time staple of CLA's annual
conference. This year it is scheduled for Saturday
November 13 from 2:30-3:30 in Palm Springs (location not yet set).
If you would like to highlight your library's activities,
please mail, call, fax or e-mail at the addresses
listed below, by November 1. Displays often include Summer Reading
programs/calendars, pictures of library remodels or activities,
brochures highlighting library programs, information
about library/school activities, and library
staff to answer questions about their programs.
If you plan to participate, please bring at least 100 copies of
items to be distributed. Access to electrical outlets is
limited, so let me know asap if that will be a problem.
While most of the activities highlighted are for children and
young adults, many librarians, directors, friends and trustees
attend the program, so interest is not limited to programs
for youth.
Thanks for considering participating. I look forward
to hearing from you by November 1.
Jane Cook
- ----------------------------------------------
Jane Dyer Cook
Children's Services Resource Librarian
Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library
605 N. El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA 95202
209.937.8312 209.937.8683(fax)
jcook@stockton.lib.ca.us
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 18:05:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kirsten Edwards <kirstedw@kcls.org>
Subject: Re: Free Expression Network: An Appeal to Reason
On Thu, 2 Sep 1999, Charles Schacht wrote:
> I don't know anyone who has maintained here that knowledge IS a harmful
> thing; I thought the issue under discussion related to the
advisabililty of exposing children to realistic, graphically violent visual
> imagery, which as far as I can see doesn't have a whole lot to do with
> knowledge or information.. Did I miss something?
Well, sure. This is classic stuff, Chuck. "The knowledged of good &
evil". Or to put it another way, the knowledge that the world is full of
bad things - images of war, hatred, pain & cruelty show up all over the
place from Jerry Springer through the evening news to sitcoms where
violent and abusive language (nearly always couched in jokes) presents a
one-sided view of "what's out there" when the child grows up. Or as in
the case of kids facing realistic graphically violent *lives*, right now.
Despite that, I agree with you about TV violence. I suspect it's far
"safer" to "expose" your child to the local hanging (they
used to take
picnic lunches & bring the whole family) than a TV shoot 'em up. The
former has stink and flies and blood and groans and is going to give
everyone a far fairer picture of what violence means than the sanitized
but fascinating images that flash by and look so cool.
FWIW, When I finally tracked down what was behind the furor - a group of
celebs like ex-President Carter writing a joint letter to Hollywood asking
Hollywood producers to excercise some civic-minded self-restraint, I was
appalled at ALA's reaction.
This is what democracy is all about, folks. Not the armed
might of the government forcing people to think/read/write in the One
Governmentally Approved Way, but free citizens arguing in public fora
about how they want to live and structure their society. Not violence or
the threat of violence, but simple persuasion. I mean, even if Carter et
al. were completely out to lunch, isn't that the way you'd want them to
behave?
And ALA's freedom-to-read folks are *miffed*?
That's why voices such as yours, Chuck, are so valuable. Even though my
principles don't synch with yours at all points, you keep on challenging
them politely and reasonably - making me think about why I believe what I
believe and if my foundations (philisophically speaking) are as sound as I
imagine them to be.
'Tchau!
Kirsten A. Edwards "It's 1999, of course they have a list of them
kirstedw@kcls.org on the Web, everything's on the Web these days,
when I was in school, we would have had to walk
to the LIBRARY and find a bunch of DEAD TREES
glued together on a DUSTY SHELF, and it would
have been OUT OF DATE ANYWAY!" - C.K. Davis
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 1999 09:26:25 -0700
From: Carol Kubala <ckubala@freewwweb.com>
Subject: I got my library card today stickers
I'd also like to thank all those who respnded to my question of where to
find these stickers. I thnk it's amazing that both Cheryl Marcotte and I
were looking for them. Cheryl posted the supplier which I quote here.I
ordered them immediately/ Once again, thank you all.
I Got My Library Card Today" stickers can be purchased from the
Rivershore
Reading Store.
Pack of 100 for $15. (a bit expensive :/ )
Phone: (309) 788-7717
Address: 2005 32nd St. Rock Island, IL 61201
Carol Kubala
Columbia/S.B. Little Free Library
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 1999 09:04:59 -0500
From: "Brenda S. Evans" <chroom@seidata.com>
Subject: CD ROM GAMES
Hi,
I am having a hard time with some of our CD ROM games. Our system is
protected by Fortress, and I believe, because of this some of our games
do not work on our pentium computers. I recently bought the American
Girls' game, Carmen Sandiego Junior Detective, Carmen Sandiego Math
Detective, and Carmen Sandiego. None of them work on our system. Does
anyone have a suggestion of how I could get them to work, or what our
problem could be? Also, does anyone have suggestions of good games that
are compatible with security systems?
We are going broke buying nonfunctioning CD ROM games.
Thanks.
Brenda Evans
Madison-Jefferson County Public Library
40 West Main Street
Madison, Indiana 47250
(812) 265-2744
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 4 Sep 1999 09:53:24 -0400
From: Karen Laird <klaird@worthington.lib.oh.us>
Subject: k-2 storytimes-- very long
Wow! Lots of people interested in hearing the responses, so here is a
copy of everything I received.
Hi, Karen. I've been doing a program designed for that age group for a
number of years -- At my library it's done every other Saturday morning
during the school year (in the summer it's done during the week -- but
we
have at least 2 different days and times offered). At our branch the
program is offered on Friday afternoons during the school year.
I usually do at least 2 stories during the time, sometimes 3. I
use
mostly picture books, but most are longer stories then I would use for a
preschool program. The Banza by Wolkstein, Island of the Skog by
Kellogg,
Strega Nona by DePaola, etc. We almost always do a craft or activity.
Sometimes the crafts are individual things they can take home, sometimes
group projects that are displayed in the library. One program involved
books about art, including Art Dog, and the kids are made a giant
splatter
paint mural that we hung in the children's room, with a picture of Art
Dog
next to it. We've made our own play dough, made "snow" from Ivory Soap
flakes and used it to make snow scenes. We often include games and
songs --
circle games like Hokey Pokey still work for this age, and silly songs
like
On Top of Spaghetti, Do your ears hang low, etc.
Our attendance varies from year to year. But the average is
somewhere between 12 to 30 kids for each storytime. It's one of my
favorite
programs to do -- no criers, most kids are by then more used to being
with a
group, and the participation in the both and stories and crafts are
great.
Hope this helps!
Pat Vasilik
Children's Coordinator
Clifton Public Library
Clifton, NJ
vasilik@palsplus.org
I ran a K-3 storytime several years ago, in my previous job. It was 45
minutes long. It ran every other week for twelve weeks (six storytimes).
For the first 30 minutes I read aloud. I would read one ongoing chapter
book (which I finished by the end of the last session), sometimes also a
picture book, jokes and riddles, (and invited kids to share their own),
poems. The last fifteen minutes I either had a craft for kids to make
and
take, or I had a video presentation of a book, like Dr. DeSoto, or
Corduroy, which was longer and had animated or live action. This is one
of
those experiences I hope to repeat in the future, and was very well
received.
Sincerely,
Karen Lucas
Youth Services Librarian
Madison Public Library
608-266-6345
kglucas@scls.lib.wi.us
a partner in providing library services to children
karen, this is something i've been thinking about doing - a storytime
for K-2. Please share on the list or forward responses to me. My thought
was to do 2 or 3 longer picture book types (this age group is good to
use some picture book fairy tales) and then to do stretches or
"camp-type" songs in between that you can't do with the preschoolers.
So, I'd be interested in hearing what other people say.
thanks,
mary schrader
oakland (CA) public library
bills@sirius.com <mailto:bills@sirius.com>
Hi! I received your e-mail from another member of my department. I
have
done an afterschool K-2 program for the past year. I try to remember
that
the kids have been in school all day and probably don't want to be
involved in a project that is too intense. My program runs between 45
minutes and an hour. We usually begin with a game to allow time for
every
one to get there. Hot Potato, Bowling with Pringle Cans and Tennis
Balls,
Basketball with bean bags and an empty box, Simon says, Telephone, and
anything involving the parachute are usually big hits. This fall I plan
on trying out some dances (the Hokey Pokey, The Chicken Dance, The Bunny
Hop) that could be fun but won't get them too out of control. After our
game, we usually have an easy craft. We usually do paper plate crafts,
color cut and paste, and painting with colored tissue paper. If crafts
get too difficult or involve any excess of effort, they get frustrated
and
tend to give up. While they are doing their craft, I read a book or
two.
I try to keep them short and fun so that they are interested in hearing
the story while the craft occupies them (so that the wiggles don't set
in). The Dumb Bunnies, Jimmy's Boa and most other Steven Kellogg books,
Martha Speaks, and Weird Parents (which they all related to).
When I first took over the program last year, I would make the program
very systematic ... first we play the game.. next we read the story..
then
we do the craft. But it was really dependent on how the kids were that
day. Sometimes we'll play for 20 minutes (They LOVE legos) and other
times we play for 10 to avoid screaming or wrestling matches. I try to
be
flexible and do what they want to do that day.
Also, We made a group project last year. They all colored slips of
paper
from the Richard Scarry's Biggest Make-it book Ever and we made a paper
chain that was displayed behind our desks in the Children's Department.
They weren't sure about making something they weren't going to take
home,
but really enjoyed seeing it every time they came in to get books for
the
next few weeks.
I hope this has helped!
- -Shannon Gallagher
- ---
Shannon Gallagher
Fountaindale Public Library District - Bolingbrook
(630) 759-2102 x58
mailto: sgallagher@htls.lib.il.us
We have a great program for children in K-1 called "Anything Can
Happen!" Day.
It runs for 45 minutes (usually runs over into an hour though) and we
take a registration of 25. The schedule follows our story hour schedule
as far as dates/length of session. Usually 7-8 weeks. I have a staff
member who was an elementary school teacher who does the program. She
selects a theme for each week and selects three or four stories that fit
the theme. She sometimes does a simple craft that is theme related, but
not every time, and they play games and do other activities like simple
creative dramatics, call-and-response stories, chalk board stories etc.
She is not a puppet-person, so no puppets. Sometimes they have a little
snack, or they make something edible to take home, if it relates to the
theme. She tries to have an activity that moves them around as well. She
sets up in various corners of the room, so they sit here for stories, go
over there to play the game, etc. Children in an afterschool situation
need to move around and this helps burn some of the pent-up energy! The
children love it. We always have a few 2nd grade "graduates" who want
to
know if they can sign-up again! Oh yeah, I know she gets ideas from
Instructor Magazine and CopyCat and Pack 'O Fun. I usually budget around
$20/session for supplies. Have fun!
Karen Sonderman
Taylor Library
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
sonderka@oplin.lib.oh.us
Dear Karen,
Here are a couple of GREAT books with programs outlined in them! I'm
using them now.
I'm A Little Teapot!, compiled by Jane Cobb; Black Sheep Press,
Vancouver, British Columbia; ISBN: 0-9698666-0-7
Library Story Hour From A to Z, by Ellen K. Hasbrouck, The Center For
Applied Research In Education, West Hyack, NY; ISBN: 0-87628-895-6
Mother Goose Time, by Jane Marino; H.W. Wilson Co.; ISNB: 0-8242-0850-1
Good Luck,
Linda Snodderly
Garrett Public Library
Garrett, IN.
Dear Karen,
I just recently started my part-time position as a Children's Library
Assistant at the end of June, so I am certainly not the voice of
experience but did have the chance to do a few weeks of storytimes and
am currently planning the upcoming fall session. Here we have three age
groups: "Young Family" which includes children 18 months to 5 years,
with a parent/caregiver remaining with them during the storytime,
"Preschool" for ages 3-5 years (another librarian does this age group)
and also an "After School Special" for ages 6-10 (although we rarely
get
the older kids). So although your age group doesn't exactly match ours,
I can tell you that we do three shorter stories, since the rule of thumb
is about a five-minute attention span (slightly longer for the After
School Special). After the first two stories, we usually do a little
song accompanied by some sort of movement and then a short flannel board
rhyme or puppet rhyme, etc. After the third story we do a craft. For
the younger kids, we usually do a simple, "fail-proof" project often
with the pieces being pre-cut and portioned out in easy-to-distribute
tiny margarine tubs. The older kids may be able to handle more of their
own cutting and may have more creative freedom. Session are 30 minutes
long or 45 minutes for the After School Special. For the two younger
groups, we always open the session with the same song and end the
session with the same "good-bye" song. For the older kids, who may not
get into the singing and puppets, etc., magic tricks are always a hit or
maybe a simple experiment (for example, an alka-seltzer tablet in a film
canister during our rocket theme). I've also tried stories where you
draw as you tell them and had the older kids draw along with me. It
went over o.k. but seemed a challenge to some of them! I'm also looking
into audience participation stories for the older kids as well (see
Crazy Gibberish by Naomi Baltuck). Right now, I am planning a different
theme for each week since its all new to me, but could also do an
umbrella theme so all eight weeks are somehow connected by a common
thread. Once advantage to an umbrella theme is that the same song or
rhyme can be used repeatedly every week for all eight weeks. This seems
to be a source of comfort and confidence for the little ones as they
have something "familiar" each week. I hope this helps to give you an
idea--but believe me, I'm still in the trial-and-error stages myself!
Good Luck!
Kathy Gasi
Children's Library Assistant
Morley Public Library
mlkidsrm@oplin.lib.oh.us
In response to K-2nd programs:
I have done a program mixing books and music together for kindergarten
through second graders. We read books that incorporated music, action,
rhythmn singing, and/or instruments. At the end of the storytime we made
simple instruments to take home. It was alot of fun.
Some books we used were:
She'll Be Comin' Around the Mountain by Tom Birdseye
Dinosaur Stomp by Carol Shields
Baby Rattlesnake by Te Ata
Mama Don't Allow by Thacher Hurd
My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman
Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Officer's Ball by Wong Yee
Pickin' Peas by Margaret Read MacDonald
Going to the Zoo by Tom Paxton
We made:
toliet paper roll kazooks
Paper bag maracas
Tambourines with paper plates
guitars using shoeboxes and rubberbands
We read about two or three books, danced to one song, played one or two
instruments, and made a craft.
Other good books to use in this program would be:
Snake Alley Band by Elizabeth Nygaard
Charlie Parker Plays Bebop by Chris Raschka
Twist with a Burger by Linda Lowery
Miss Mary Mack: A Hand-Clapping Rhyme by Nadine Westcott
The Banza: a Haitian Story by Diane Wolkstein
Cumbayah by Floyd Cooper
The Hippo Hop by Christine Loomis
Sing, Sophie by Dayle Ann Dodds
Hush by Minfong Yo
Hope this helps,
Jeanenne Robinson
_______________________________________________________________
Hi Karen,
We do a fun club during the school year for ages 5 and up. the cut off
age
seems to be about 9 on its own. The kids all come from different
schools,
different families and different skill levels. Last year was my first
year
and I made a few mistakes. Some of the crafts I picked were a little too
complicated. I found that not all of them could use scissors well. Not
many
knew to use a smaller piece of paper instead of cutting something out of
the
middle of a big piece. I soon found that simpler was better. Things like
stacks of newspapers and masking tape. Turn them loose and let them
create
large sculptures. If I made an example, they would make the same thing
so I
tried to encourage imagination and creativity whenever I could. I let
them
take the crafts in the direction they wanted as long as it wasn't
disruptive. and if someone wasn't crazy about that particular craft,
there
was always paper for drawing.
One craft that went over really well was modeling clay. I bought a
couple of
pounds at a local art supply house and stood at one table peeling off
pieces
and handing them to the kids. They fashioned whatever they wanted.
They
didn't care that it was no frills brown. It is good to have some pieces
of
sturdy cardboard for them to carry their work home on, newspaper
covering
the tables and lots of utensils (toothpicks, Popsicle sticks, forks,
rocks
etc) to make designs. Paper towels are good for hand cleanup.
Another big hit was "pencil toppers" I bought some cool pencils, had
some
chenille sticks (fancy pipe cleaners), feathers, beads, google eyes and
wire. Wrap the chenille around the pencil eraser and fashion into an
alien,
a star, a squiggle, whatever. Fancy it up with beads, eyes, feathers
etc.
The kids love this and it's really funny to watch them wiggle when you
write. Cheap and you won't believe how long the craft can last!!!!
As for stories, I tried to pick some that went with the craft in some
way
(if not, ones I really liked). This is a chance to read those funny ones
that are just a bit long or complicated for preschool storytime. I made
it
very clear from the beginning that the kids had to sit for the story
first
before they could do the craft. I found the separation to be best
because if
you are reading while they are doing the craft, they can't pay attention
to
either one. and invariably someone will need help and you are stuck
stopping
the story in the middle.
This year, I'm thinking of having the kids make simple
nametags/necklaces
that I can laminate so I can learn their names better. Then each new kid
will make one as we go. They'll leave them in the room and pick them up
every week.
Last year we had the luck of having filmstrips at our disposal. I tried
to
have one movie day each month. It gave me a break from the crafts and
the
kids got to see how a projector works and were exposed to some good
movie/literature : ) (make way for ducklings, office buckle and Gloria,
etc.) This year the resource is not at accessible and I'll miss it.
Be sure to take some notes about each program after the fact. Note the
craft
and how it worked, what book you read, how many kids showed up, etc. It
will
make it MUCH easier next time.
If you have any questions, let me know.
GOOD LUCK!!
ann
PS During the Summer our fun club turns into special programs with
visitors,
puppet shows and films. Summer is crazy enough without planning a craft
each week.
Ann Minner
Youth Librarian
Pleasant Hill Branch
Austin Public Library
ann.minner@ci.austin.tx.us
I have been doing a K-2 storytime for years and it is really fun! I
basically do a pre-school storytime but with harder books and more
sophisticated fingerplays or songs - like you would do with Girl Scouts.
I
call it "Stories After School" and run it on Mondays from 4:00- 4:30
on
a
drop-in basis.
The themes I choose are more school-oriented, and older-kid oriented,
like
"What does the teacher so after school?" or "Let's have a
sleepover!"
I get 15 - 20 kids each week, and advertise it as an alternative to
watching
"Wishbone" re-runs. The older kids are easy because they are more
"socialized" than the pre-schoolers.
Robin Benoit
Fairport Public Library
1 Village Landing
Fairport, New York 14450
716-223-9091
rbenoit@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us
Last year I did a series of programs I called Story Circle. It was very
well received and a lot of fun for me too.
The program was basically like this: I did this program once a month.
Each month we focused on different storytelling techniques. One month it
was draw-and-tell stories, another it was making simple puppets for
storytelling--like that. I used Valerie Marsh's books heavily for ideas.
I read some stories, booktalked others. We played some games, made the
storytleling props and used them during the program. The kids loved it.
I did not have a theme each time, although I could have. I found this
easy structure was great for me because I could add ideas as I found
them.
I don't know if this helps you. But we had a lot of fun with it.
Susanna Holstein
Elk Valley Library
Charleston WV
pkb00700@alpha.wvup.wvnet.edu
Hi, Karen,
I am now working as a young adult librarian, but for my fieldwork I
worked in children's services and did storytimes for that age group. I
play the violin so for one storytime I picked out books about string
instruments and played my violin inbetween stories. I actually did that
as a sub children's librarian also. It is a great way to expose them to
music and story at the same time. If you don't play an instrument there
are a lot of cool CD's and CT's out there. I am a big fan of
interdisciplinary learning. Can you tell? Hope this is helpful.
Rosalie Olds
YA Librarian
King County Library System
Hi!
I started one years ago at my former library, Piscataway Public
in NJ. It
lasted 45 minutes. We did several stories around a theme, and included
some dramatics or games. Folktales were just about the most popular
type
of story.
Other successful activities were "Draw a Monster Relay", (during
a theme
of "monster" stories) which was accompanied by music; reading/acting
out
short plays; and games (especially active or dramatic ones).
Unfortunately, I lost my favorite games resource book when I
moved from
that library to this one two years ago!
Of course, there was also the year we had a group that sat
quietly and
attentively to stories, hanging on every word, but turned into wild
things
during ANY activity! That year, we spent most of our time reading to
them!
Our group size was about 15 - 18 kids. We did find that the
kindergartners can't read yet, and the second graders can, so the gap
was
rather wide until spring, when more of them read. It makes a difference
for some activities. Also, kindergartners in the Fall may not have had
a
group experience (unless they've been to preschool or to library
storytimes), so their social skills can be very different from the
second
graders. The storytime was called "Hodgepodge", and ran for six weeks
after school. I believe it has now become a monthly program instead,
and
is called the "Once A Month" club. Ages were changed from K-2 to
Grades
1-3 while I was still there.
Different communities have different needs: we just can't get
that group
to come to story programs in my current library! Instead, we have a
successful family storytime every Wednesday evening, and a nursery rhyme
program every Thursday evening. Best of luck to you with this program.
Feel free to email with questions.
Anne Lemay
Franklin Township Library
Somerset NJ
I did a program for a year I called "Stories and More" that was for
Grades 1-3,
so it was approximately the same thing. We met Sat morning for an hour.
Let
me see if I can give a few ideas:
We used Marjorie Priceman's How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World -
used
apples as the theme and made apple suncatchers ( large black
construction paper
shape of an apple - cut out center and put piece of red cellophane in
between
to "sandwich" - then hang) - also have made apple treats - cut two
apple
wedges
- - spread with peanut butter and line up mini marshmallows - the red skin
is the
lips and the marshmallows are the teeth - kids loved it. Also could use
the
story of William Tell. Could also serve Applesauce. Around here the
schools
do a lot with Johnny Appleseed so I stayed away from that.
We had a "Souper Douper Saturday" - I used the "Martha
Speak's" book,
got
alphabet soup pasta and photocopied an illustration from the book on
card
stock, let them color it and use the pasta to form their own words that
the dog
was saying, glued to a "balloon" on the illustration. Other soup
programs I've
done Bone Button Borscht, Stone Soup, there are lots of soup stories.
You
could then serve a little soup. January is National Soup month and it
could
also go with the Super Bowl motif.
In Feb I did a Valentine's theme and used "Somebody Loves You Mr.
Hatch", a
story I love. I gathered up all the rubber stamps I could find,
glitter,
doilies, etc. and let them make Valentines for someone.
I did a "spin-a-yarn Saturday" and had a lady from a local spinner's
club come
and demonstrate carding wool and spinning. I took a ball of yarn and we
tossed
it from kid to kid and each one had to add to the story to spin an
original
story. I like Mr. Nick's Knitting to go with that one.
Also I like "Araminta's paint box" - about traveling west. It might be
a
little too old for your group but a neat story. Passed out water colors
and
let them paint on paper towels and "framed them".
I did a "frog Frenzy" theme - we folded those little origami jumping
frogs -
just use an index card - I have directions ifyou need them - lots of
frog
stories. I think I used "The Frog Prince Continued", or maybe Frog and
Toad
are Friends, along those lines.
I hope this gets you started. Would you mind sharing some of the ideas
people
send you?
THANKS!
Judy Stewart
Community Library of Allegheny Valley
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
On our end, I only have the first one planned so far. The name of our
group is "Mystery Club" (not my choice). We are going to interpret
"mystery" pretty broadly, including things like mysteries of nature
and
science, pourquoi tales, etc. My first meeting will be the mystery of
"Why do we say that?" We will take sayings such as "It's raining
cats
and dogs" and "Letting the cat out of the bag", give some
background
information on where the saying came from, and share a story featuring
the animal mentioned. I plan to use these books: Farmer Brown Goes
Round and Round (Sloat); The Ant Bully (Nickle); Kat Kong (Pilkey);
Hooway for Wodney Wat (Lester). Joe Scruggs has a song called "Ants in
My Pants" (CD called Late Last Night) that we will probably use, and I
may end up by playing Simon Says. Thanks again to everyone who
responded. Good luck!
Karen Laird
Children's Librarian
Northwest Library
klaird@worthington.lib.oh.us
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