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Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 16:01:44 -0400 (EDT)
To: pubyac-digest@nysernet.org
Subject: pubyac V1 #856
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Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 12:29:03 -0500
From: "Grace Slaughter" <gslaughter@bham.lib.al.us>
Subject: dream
I had a dream last night. My director took me aside and said that in
order to help the staff, she was disconnecting the netscape communicator
(remember this is a dream; it doesn't have to make sense). In my dream I
accepted this calmly but fretted/worried/obsessed about having to lose
PUBYAC!
Aarg!
I hope you are laughing with me! : )
grace
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:39:55 -0500
From: "Grace Slaughter" <gslaughter@bham.lib.al.us>
Subject: Re: nonprofessional vs. professional
ILefkowitz@aol.com wrote:
Noboby on the outside knows who has an MLS and who doesn't. It doesn't make a
hill of beans of difference to the outside world, just to us. But as someone who
worked two jobs and went to grad school at the same time, I am damn proud of my
MLS! Our profession is devalued enough, do we need to add to it by devaluing the
very credential that entitles us to our jobs?
I don't think this is a matter of devaluing our credentials. It seems more a
matter of valuing the knowledge and contributions of those
"librarians" who do
not have "professional" credentials. For instance, I know a Librarian
who has 19
years experience in this library. She helped organize the cooperative system
that this county still uses and currently serves as Chairman of the executive
board. She supervised the renovation/expansion of the current building, not
once, but twice -- an expansion of the children's area 11 years ago and a
complete enovation/expansion 2 years ago. She faithfully attends various council
meetings and fights constantly for library concerns (budget, budget, budget).
She
works hard to hire people who will deliver friendly efficient service to the
community. She hired me (who, yes, has an MLS and worked two jobs while earning
it) and has encouraged other department heads to work for their MLS (2 are
currently in school). This Librarian is my Library Director. She does not have
an MLS. Would you deny her librarianship because she does not have the MLS?
Would you disregard her experience and advice because her education credentials
are not like yours?
Pu-lease! Get a map and look at all the little towns that are just dots on the
map. There are public librarians all over this country who do not have an MLS.
They work hard at their profession because they are dedicated to excellence and
they love the library and community, not because they feel they deserve the job
because of their degree. What MLS person will go tell them they are not
professional?
Okay, okay, the original question was about what to call the part-time or
full-time subordinates...The system that I worked for before this position was
with a large municipal system. The Branch or Department Head had to have an MLS
and was the only Librarian. The Assistant Librarian position required a 4 year
degree. The Library Assistant position was described as a para-professional
position and required a minimum 60 credit hours towards a 4 year degree.
If we were concerned with titles and position, we could have worn tags that
stated such: Librarian, Assistant Librarian, Library Assistant, etc. We wore a
name tag that identified us as "Staff." We were more concerned with
providing
good service to our patrons so that they did not feel that they could only get
dependable results from the Librarian.
I've ranted enough! It may have been 3-cents worth...
grace
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 09:37:20 -0700
From: MEUCHEL Aimee D <Aimee.D.Meuchel@ci.eugene.or.us>
Subject: [none]
Eugene Public Library is opening its first branch early next year and we are
building our collection from scratch. We want to give our patrons the best
possible selection and choices.
To this end, I am assisting the branch manager in creating the collection
for the juvenile and young adult fiction collections. I have searched
through the Children's Catalog and the Middle and Junior High School
Catalog. I have also searched the web and printed out Patrick Jones 100
best paperbacks and Kay E. Vandergrift's 100 list for young adult materials.
Do any of you know of any other great resources on the web that would assist
me in building a great core collection for a small branch library (under
10,000 volumes total)?
Please send your responses to me directly and if there is a great interest
in the answers, I will post them to each discussion group. Thank you so
much for your time.
Aimee Meuchel
Reference Assistant
Bethel Branch
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 15:16:16 -0400
From: RoseMary Honnold <honnolro@oplin.lib.oh.us>
Subject: Re: Periodicals for teens
PlayStation Monthly and Nintendo Power also do well. You need a wrestling
magazine, a skateboarding magazine, a music magazine...
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 09:43:39 -0700
From: "torrie" <torrie@ci.burlington.wa.us>
Subject: RE: nonprofessional vs. professional
> My question to the listers - just curious - does anyone
> consciously consider education of their co-workers and themselves as
> part of their work day? That is, is theory raised and imparted such
> that those who did not go to school and hear of it from a classroom get
> imparted the cognitive issues and vice/versa - do people actually in the
> trenches spend time explaining why in theory something may be fine, but in
> practice is just doesn't work?
Okay, I'm going to slip my figurative neck into the virtual noose
and have a stab at this one. (This is the kind of thing that makes
people I meet at conference say, "Oh! You're THAT Torrie from
PUBYAC?")
On a day to day basis, my job is not about educating my
coworkers or patrons about the Theory upon which professional
librarianship is built. If I am asked, I will certainly give the best
balanced reply I can. Otherwise I am repulsed by the idea of
cramming professional librarianship down the reluctant throats of
the very people I must work with every day.
If there is a new service, change in policy, unusual situation,
etc. it's a different story. When those issues come up in a staff
meeting or organizational committee, and input is necessary, we
pool our resources. Those resources include the experiences and
opinions of classified staff, paraprofessionals, and professionals--
including library science Theory, and the relevant recent
publications in the profession. The MLS librarianship Theory that is
spoken of with such reverence or derision is a set of tools to be
used when needed. I hope we do not have to consciously try to
apply it to all mundane situations every waking moment of the day.
When the policies and procedures are in place, Theory is hopefully
already built into what we do.
Personally, I went to my MLS with a pretty broad classified
library staff background beginning with library page in high school.
I was originally out to get the piece of paper, because I already
knew "everything" about how libraries should ideally be run. (Okay,
I was still pretty young and cocky.) I learned more about more
kinds of librarianship and information storage and retrieval than I
could have imagined. There were different reasons behind the
evolution of some library practices than I had realized. My library
worldview got much broader, and I think I can now approach
problem-solving and unusual situations more creatively and with
more confidence because of that education. I recommend the MLS
based on my experiences, and not just because of title or payscale.
Oh, but how I went through electronic withdrawl after library
school! The wonderful CDROM products, the online fee-based full
text databases.... *wistful sigh* Someday Dialog and I will cross
paths again, and it will be a joyous reunion.... Is there a twelve-
step program to deal with the loss of expensive technology tool
access? *grin*
Torrie 8)
(All my own opinions...not my institution's...you know the rest.)
Torrie Hodgson, Mutant librarian from the center of the earth!
Burlington Public Library
900 E Fairhaven Ave
Burlington WA 98233
(360)755-0760 phone
(360)755-0717 FAX
torrie@ci.burlington.wa.us
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 10:53:40 -0500
From: "Linda Peterson" <lpeterson@bloomfield.lib.in.us>
Subject: Re: Costume suggestions, please
One year in college my daughter and her friend dressed as Thing 1 and Thing
2 from The Cat in the Hat. A blue tinsel wig, red sweatsuit and socks and a
white circle stitched to the front with Thing 1 written on it were all they
needed. Very simple!
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 10:03:32 PDT
From: "Sarah Smith" <sesmith5@hotmail.com>
Subject: Harry Potter Activities Kit
I don't know what I was thinking! I deleted the message from the librarian
who had received lightning bolt tattoos in a Harry Potter activities kit
from Scholastic. I tried calling Scholastic but they could not find this
item. They told me to find out what catalog it was ordered from. So, could
whoever received this item (Harry Potter activities kit w/tattoos) please
e-mail me directly at sesmith5@hotmail.com? It's probably a little late
since our program begins next week, but maybe I can get ahold of some
tattoos before the program ends. (We're reading the book aloud so it should
take several weeks.)
Thanks in advance,
Sarah Smith
Harrison Community Library, Michigan
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 15:39:29 -0400
From: RoseMary Honnold <honnolro@oplin.lib.oh.us>
Subject: Re: Web sites for sequels
www.amazon.com has a series link under the children's section
joseph mylee wrote:
> Does anyone know of good web sites that index the titles of children's =
> books in series? Please respond directly to me.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 21:26:06 EDT
From: Susan259@aol.com
Subject: Masks/Disguises
I am looking for stories, picture books, folk tales and the like that deal with
masks/disguises in some fashion.
Thank you in advance,
Susan Smith
susan259@aol.com
Children's Librarian
Woodland West Branch
Arlington Public Library
Arlington Texas
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 17:16:55 -0400
From: SCHAFFNERP@aadl.annarbor.lib.mi.us
Subject: RE: book topics
I would like a book on WOLVERINES. We get asked all the time, and there
are not any individual volumes available. . . (Note: this is, as you
may know, the U of M football team name; so here in Ann Arbor, the
question about the critter comes up often).
Paula Schaffner
Ann Arbor (MI) District Library
schaffnerp@aadl.annarbor.lib.mi.us
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:35:16 -0500
From: Karen Sutherland <ksutherland@bplib.org>
Subject: Re: Stumper: health books for kids
Hi!
Mayo Clinic has a health resource line on the web and also posts its health
letter - good and current information on many health issues.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 10:52:29 -0400
From: DHopke@Scholastic.com
Subject: Information about Harry Potter please
To whom it may concern:
I hope you can provide some information. I am a representative for
Scholastic Inc. A librarian called us about a Harry Potter activity kit
that she understood was free to librarians. She thought that was through
Scholastic. All the information she had about this is your E-mail address.
Can you tell me how this librarian can receive the activity kit? I expect
we'll hear from others also.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Diane Hopke
Scholastic Customer Service
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 19:59:10 EDT
From: Paulalef@aol.com
Subject: Re: mystery activities
We did this kind of program last summer and several year ago. Kids loved
hidden pictures and scavenger hunts. With the latter they were given perhaps
5 or 10 minutes to find everything in the room that began with the letter
"B", for instance. The one who got the greatest number of objects that
no
one else got was the winner. One little boy was having a great deal of
trouble with this, but finally won because his name began with "B",
which no
one else picked up on. He was thrilled!
We also did secret codes and the like. Very popular program!
Paula Lefkowitz
Parsippany (NJ) PL
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 20:21:41 -0400
From: Simpson <jsimpson03@snet.net>
Subject: Re: pirate songs or stories
We did pirates as our SRP theme in 1998. I did Pirate School as a
special program for kids ages 5-10 (using lots of YA volunteers.)
First, all the kids dressed up as pirates. We had eyepatches, newspaper
hats, and sashes for the kids to tie on, and cardboard swords. We sang
some sea shanties. I read the book "Pirate School", and then we
practiced acting like pirates (yelling "yo ho ho, saying "Aaargh!,
thrusting our swords, etc.) Then I gave them a pirate quiz - a multiple
choice test I made up with obvious answers. Ex: Finish this phrase:
"Yo ho ho and a bottle of--- (root beer, ink, Yoo-Hoo , rum). At the
end of the program, I handed out Pirate School diplomas. We had a lot
of fun!
Martha Simpson, Stratford (CT) Library
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 14:22:52 -0700
From: annelmay@mailserver.franklintwp.org
Subject: Re: mystery activities
How about solving a code? You can use your word processor to create a
simple cryptogram. If you use Microsoft Word, choose one of the fonts that
substitutes pictures for letters, like "Bon Appetit" or
"Wingdings". Type
a simple message using this font, and you have an instant cryptogram! You
can let kids figure it out for themselves, or give them clues. We had them
draw three letters out of a bag when we did it as part of our summer
reading program.
Anne Lemay
Franklin Township Library
Somerset, NJ
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 10:07:30 -0500 (CDT)
From: Robin Darland <rd13145@mail.cedarnet.org>
Subject: Chocolate Party Ideas
Salutations,
The youth department director would like me to plan and implement a
chocolate party at our library for 4-6 graders. I know some of you are
bursting with ideas for such an activity. Please respond quickly as the
party is scheduled for November 13. My ideas thus far are: a chocolate
ghost story, chocolate fondue, language of chocolate activity, candy bar
identification, and chocolate bingo. I have contacted the Hershey people
and plan on decorating with brown balloons and oversized homemade candy
bars, M & M's and chocolate kisses.
Have any of you ever put together a chocolate bibliography or how about
good chocolate websites?
I would appreciate hearing from some of you creative chocolate lovers out
there.
Robin Darland
Youth Librarian
Cedar Falls Public Library
rd13145@cedarnet.org
319-273-8643
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:22:34 -0700 (MST)
From: Carol Janoff <cjanoff@lib.ci.phoenix.az.us>
Subject: Re: mystery activities
We had a Nate the Great program last summer. It was really a treasure
hunt, combined with our library mascot - a big dragon (in costume) named
bookbreath. Nate the Great had to find the missing Bookbreath. We
planted clues around the library e.g. The next clue will be found near a
book about Tyrannosaurus Rex. One was on the copy machine, one with
encyclopedias, a biography, etc. They were in envelopes with a huge
dragon footprint on the front. We divided the kids into groups of 10-12
for searching, with at least one adult with each group, and took turns
searching. Those not searching made dragon paper bag puppets. I think we
all had a lot of fun.
Carol
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 02:14:59 GMT
From: "Rebecca Smith" <rsps@hotmail.com>
Subject: theory on the job
Sue Epstein wrote:
My question to the listers - just curious - does anyone
consciously consider education of their co-workers and themselves as
part of their work day? That is, is theory raised and imparted such
that those who did not go to school and hear of it from a classroom get
imparted the cognitive issues and vice/versa - do people actually in the
trenches spend time explaining why in theory something may be fine, but
in practice is just doesn't work?
- ------
When time allows and it seemed appropriate I have done this. I can't think
of any examples off hand. For what is worth, the two paraprofessionals who
I discussed this kind of thing with most are now both in library school.
(They need that peice of paper to advance and I hope they are finding it
worthwhile as well.)
*********
Rebecca S. Smith, MLS
San Diego Public Library
Branch Libraries Division
rsps@hotmail.com
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 14:43:51 EDT
From: "Elizabeth Buono" <ebuono73@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Halloween Storytime Craft
A couple of years ago I did made ghost "windsocks" with 3 to
5-year-olds for
Halloween--you need white lunch bags, orange and black streamers, and some
kind of ribbon (I used the kind they sell at card stores for making
bows--very thin).
You can have the kids draw faces on the bag--or cut out lots of eyes and
noses and mouths out of black construction paper, if you are feeling really
industrious--and then glue strips of the streamers on the bottom to hang in
the breeze. Before the kids got their hands on the supplies, I cut a small
hole in the bottom of each of the bags and taped a piece of the ribbon
inside so that the bags could hang--but if you have adults who stick around
and help during storytime, you might be able to save yourself that work.
They were very cute, and don't require lots of prep.
Elizabeth Buono
Children's Librarian
The Ferguson Library
1 Public Library Plaza
Stamford, CT 06904
<ebuono73@hotmail.com>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 19:24:39 -0400
From: Susan Lempke <SDLempke@compuserve.com>
Subject: Businesses wanting storytimes
Being very new to the "Supervisor" role, I'm not sure how to
respond when businesses ask me to send a librarian to do
programming, say, at the local mall for Halloween. I find
myself really balking. In the past, the supervisor accepted
anything that came along and just handled it himself, but
despite all the time and effort he put into it, his turn-out was
generally pretty low. I'd much rather put the effort into a Park
District offering, where they will pull in 80-100 people. I also
lean toward working with a fellow non-profit agency, rather
than a commercial establishment who clearly wants to make
a profit.
Obviously, businesses can be very good to libraries, especially
around summer reading prize time. Am I making a bad choice
in not doing whatever programming they want, if they give me
enough advance warning (which they never do, but that's another
story)?
Susan Lempke
<slempke@nileslibrary.org>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 14:41:48 -0400
From: Jill Baurichter <jbaurich@kenton.lib.ky.us>
Subject: RE: Halloween Storytime Craft
We are making bat hats from "175 Easy-to-do Halloween Crafts" by
Sharon =
Dunn Umnik (page 9).
The supplies you need are:
Two 9-inch paper plates
Small brown paper lunch bag (although we're using an orange one)
Scrap newspaper
Black paper
Yarn
Instructions:
1. Cut the center out of one paper plate without cutting through the =
rim. cut another paper plate from the edge to the center.
2. Pull the cut edges together to form a cone shape and tape. Glue the =
cone to the rim. Poke a hole on each side and add yarn for ties. (The =
hat ties under the child's chin).
3. Stuff a small paper bag with scrap newspaper. Fold down and staple =
the top of the bag. Cut a round hole in the bottom of the bag. Add =
glue to the rest of the bag bottom and press the bag onto the cone so =
the point of the cone is in the hole.=20
4. Cut wings, feet, eyes, and a mouth from black paper and glue in =
place.
It's really cute!
Hope this helps.
Jill Baurichter
Kenton County Public Library
Erlanger, Kentucky
- ----------
I am looking for an idea for a Halloween craft that is different than =
what I have done before
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 20:53:42 -0500
From: Bob Federspiel <spiel@execpc.com>
Subject: Re: mystery activities
I have done a Nate the Great and YOung Cam Jansen after school program!
The kids loved it! I wore a hat like Nates and carried a magnifying
glass. We each made a detective casebook out of stapled together
papers. Each child put his/her fingerprints inside as well as name, age
and any other "important info" We then went on a clue hunt. I had
about 8 clues hidden in the library. We divided kids into 3 teams
(about 6 kids/team) Each team is given an envelope with messages. Such
as (You will find me where the holiday books hide) Among the holiday
books would be a clue to the next hidden message. I used things easily
found in the library and left enough clues for each team labeled Team 1,
team 2 etc. The final clue can be a message to meet in the meeting room
for a surprise or a basket of something to take home: book marks,
candy, etc. We had the message lead them back to our meeting room for
hungry detectives and served the kids pancakes and syrup. (a Nate
Favorite!) They loved it! I've also with older kids, had the clues
spell out a message. One letter per location. The kids had lots of fun
and I try to do one mystery program a year due to its popularity. This
last year I also took polaroid photos for them to put in their
"casebooks". Hope you have a fun program! Tammy
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 07:59:31 -0400
From: Su Epstein <SuE@gfacademy.org>
Subject: RE: nonprofessional vs. professional
James Asbury wrote:
> Different animal entirely. This applies, "Well, we think this should
> work" definition of theory.
>
I guess I would disagree. Theory is an explanation - It is the
WHY - why we do something. ('This should work' is only application.)
For me theory involves the larger issues behind the practice. Thus, for
me, theory in fact involves being cognizant, i.e. thinking about things.
For example, the theory behind cataloging is to offer access (whether
that be patron access or machine readable access) and consistency. I
believe a good program (regardless of subject) teaches you how to think
or look at bigger and underlying issues.
I still hold that one doesn't need to go to school to
learn this skill, though it does need to be learned and not all people
posses it. I believe we are just conditioned by tradition to learn these
skills or believe we've learned these skills through educational
institutions.
I've known a lot of people without graduate degrees who
were far better thinkers than many with graduate degrees. I've also
seen a lot of people dismissed simply because they hadn't put in their
time in a classroom. My issue is the assumption that the graduate
degree is by necessity going to offer professionalism and thinking
skills. Maybe for some people, in some programs it does. But to
blankly accept the degree means professional and well trained or v/v no
degree means someone isn't, scares me.
(I personally like the suggestion (and I'm sorry I've
forgotten who said it) to certify librarians - librarian likeness -
maybe if you go through an accredited program the process is "easier"
or
facilitated, but ...)
Su
Su Epstein
Director of Library Services
Greens Farms Academy
Greens Farms, CT
>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:33:26 -0700
From: annelmay@mailserver.franklintwp.org
Subject: RE: nonprofessional vs. professional
> My question to the listers - just curious - does anyone
>consciously consider education of their co-workers and themselves as
>part of their work day?
Su,
Yes, all the time. Our library policies and practices aren't just
arbitrary, there is reasoning behind them. It isn't enough to say,
"Shelvers shouldn't answer patrons' questions"; I explain the theory
behind
the reference interview and how so often the question a patron asks may not
be what he/she really wants. Does this mean that the shelvers are ready to
do a reference interview? Not at all; but it does help them to understand
why the proper response is "Let me bring you to someone who can help you
find that information."
That's just one example of what I do every day to educate both staff AND
patrons.
By the way, the official title in our library for non-MLS positions (other
than shelver) is "Library Assistant", although we also refer to the
very
experienced, well-trained Senior Library Assistant in our department as a
paraprofessional.
I agree with those who think that non-professional is demeaning. In one
of my previous libraries, we referred to "certified staff" and
"non-certified staff", but people outside the profession have
misunderstood
this as well, thinking we were slightly off our rockers!
Perhaps the best solution is what I mentioned above: MLS and non-MLS. I
agree that it is confusing. Many people think the librarian is the person
who checks out their books, while those who are aware that there may be a
difference call us 'library teachers'.
As a profession, we do a poor job of marketing exactly what it is that we
do: the general public think we answer questions, check out books, spend
our work day reading whatever we like - and anyone can read stories to
children, after all! The reality is that, besides answering questions, so
much is done behind the scenes that is key to having a good public library:
collection development, collection maintenance, program planning, policy
writing, handling challenges to books, policies, etc.
If we don't explain it, how will they know? Sadly, they may see its
absence if they can't find appropriate materials to meet their needs.
Anne Lemay
Assistant Director/
Head of Children's Services
Franklin Township Library
Somerset, NJ
------------------------------
End of pubyac V1 #856
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