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From: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults & Children" <pubyac@prairienet.org> To: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults & Children" <pubyac@prairienet.org> Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 00:01:11 CST Subject: PUBYAC digest 63 PUBYAC Digest 63 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Pets in the Library by Karen Bortner <karenbor@kcls.org> 2) Re: Pets in the Library by "Kathryn R. Hamper" <krhamper@yahoo.com> 3) Re: Internet & Middle Schoolers by "Dale Buck" <DBUCK@cml.lib.oh.us> 4) Summer Reading Club Flyers by "Tatar, Becky" <bltata@aurora.lib.il.us> 5) Harry Potter: great literature or wasteful fluff? by Amy Lilien-Harper <alilien@flvax.ferg.lib.ct.us> 6) Re: pets in the library by "Catherine E. Ingram" <ceingram@starbase1.htls.lib.il.us> 7) Re: thanks for input! by Amy Cherry <amylcherry@yahoo.com> 8) Re: New Steig Book by Martha Jackson <marthajack@freewwweb.com> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Karen Bortner <karenbor@kcls.org> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Pets in the Library MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 17:52:46 CST Hi All: I read a few, but not all of the Pets in the Library postings. I just wanted to share our experience here and a note of caution for libraries with rabbits, mice, gerbils etc... First Tukwila library is a small 2 room school house nestled in a small neighborhood. For several years we had a wonderful cat, Tigger. She was a joy to many patrons here and several still ask about her 1 year after her retirement. We did have patrons who were allergic and were unable to comfortably use our site during her tenure here. Although I love our pet dearly, that was uncomfortable for me. We would put her out (there's a park out back) when that occured, but it was still a concern for service. We are a very quiet branch, but after a few years the constant attention from the children especially, began to wear on Tigger. I returned from a 3-week vacation to find her hair falling out and the vet had put her on tranquilizers. I immediately called the former manager of the branch and Tigger retired from public service. The second concern regarding pets is rabbits, gerbils, mice, hedgehogs and several other small animals like this carry simonela. Children with suppressed immune systems are not even allowed to handle these animals or clean their cages. Many do not realize these animals carry this and do not have children wash after handling these pets. I would never feel comfortable having a patron allergic to a rabbit stay on the other side of the room, I would if we had to have the pet, remove the pet to my office for that group. I don't want children to have their use and access restricted because a bunny is cute. It just doesn't seem fair. I love animals, and I loved having a library cat, but I wouldn't do it again. Karen
Karen Bortner karenbor@kcls.org Children's Librarian Foster & Tukwila Libraries King County Library System ------------------------------ From: "Kathryn R. Hamper" <krhamper@yahoo.com> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Pets in the Library MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 17:54:50 CST I have to get in on this discussion, because I used to visit a wonderful public library as a child which had many library pets. It was a public library in Boundbook, NJ, (Boundbrook Public Library perhaps) and they had pets spread around the children's room that you could pet with parental observation. I remember guinea pigs, turtles, and rabbits, and they may have had a snake or some other reptile. I always looked forward to my library visits as a child, and it was always an adventure!
===== Kathryn R. Hamper krhamper@yahoo.com Information and Library Studies Student University at Buffalo __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ From: "Dale Buck" <DBUCK@cml.lib.oh.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Internet & Middle Schoolers Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 17:56:31 CST We use to have internet terminals in our youth serivces area that were filtered. We no longer do. We had enormous trouble with our middle schoolers (in particular) somehow getting around those filters. Even our computer experts couldn't figure out how they did it. They would leave the computer room with naked pictures displayed on the screen and a smalll child would walk in and come back out screeming! Besides this, we had computers constantly locking up (because they would try to get around the filter), inappropriate material displayed and copied, and smaller children (ages 3 - 8) wanting to "play" and not having much they could do on the internet. We eventually went to the computer CD ROM games and books run from a central location. (so the children were not handling the disks.) Our children, teens, and parents were very pleased with this change because the games were much more fun and educational. As far as time, it's about 75 to 25. 75% DON'T watch their time because it goes by so fast! We do a lot of telling kids their time is up even on the CD ROM game computers. Anyone can use the internet terminals in the adult area; even elementary and middle school age children. This area has more staff to monitor them and quite a bit of the time there is no abuse of our policy; which is pretty much like yours except we have no parental permission at this time. To clarify our position; the youth services area computer room was pretty secluded and the adult area computers are right out in the open where every can see. We have one terminal with a filter because of the "Dr. Laura" controversy and that terminal is rarely used because the search capacity is so limited. Dale Buck Southwest Public Libraries ------------------------------ From: "Tatar, Becky" <bltata@aurora.lib.il.us> To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'" <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: Summer Reading Club Flyers MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 17:58:14 CST We have been doing an 8 page booklet for our Summer Reading Club for the last 5 years. While we feel it is pretty good as it is, we are wondering if anything can be done to spiff it up, change it, etc, to make it more eye catching and appealing. If any of you out there have flyers/booklets that you produce listing your Summer Reading Club levels, promotions, and programs, would you be willing to send us a copy? Our Summer Reading Club coordinator would be very happy. If you can, please send them to: Tracy Ellsworth Summer Reading Club Aurora Public Library 1 E. Benton Street Aurora, IL 60505 Thanks in advance! Becky Tatar Unit Head, Periodicals/Audiovisual Aurora Public Library 1 E. Benton Street Aurora, IL 60505 Phone: 630/264-4100 FAX: 630/896-3209 e-mail: bltata@aurora.lib.il.us www.aurora.lib.il.us ------------------------------ From: Amy Lilien-Harper <alilien@flvax.ferg.lib.ct.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Harry Potter: great literature or wasteful fluff? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 18:00:04 CST
I think that Safire is missing the point. Do most adults REALLY READ Beowolf? Well, some of them do. but a lot of them read Stephen King, Danielle Steele and Harlequin romances. I think with those choices Harry Potter isn't the one "dumbing them down." Not to mention the fact that comdeming anyone for ANY kind of reading is insulting. I don't care what you are reading, reading is still a worthwhile pursuit. So while we are at it, perhaps everyone should stop watching any television that doesn't edify and read any books that don't edify. I think our circ stats will go down. I also belive that Harry does have appeal for adults, and he does have multiple levels of interest. Also, implying that a children's book award is lesser than an adult book award is insulting. Probably in fifty years someone else will be saying that Harry Potter is worthwhile and some modern books isn't. I do think that Harry has good things to teach us, and that there is a lot of important meaningful meat to his stories. Maybe it should become a "classic" and maybe it shouldn't, but there are a lot more kids reading Harry Potter and learning to love reading through that act, than there are kids voluntarily picking up Huckleberry Finn. Incidentally, on the sexism issue, I think that the fact that Harry is even FRIENDS with a girl at his age goes against stereotyping. And there are plenty of boys at Hogwarts who are just as awed and puppydog eyed over Harry's fame as Ginny is. But really, when all is said and done it is still just one of many books out there, it is most enjoyable and if it gets our kids reading, and learning to love it, all I can say is Kudos to Ms. Rowling! I will get off of my soapbox now. --Amy Lilien-Harper (all of the opinions here are of course my own and do not reflect in any way upon my employers.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amy Lilien-Harper Harry Bennett Library Turn of River Branch of the Ferguson Library Stamford, CT alilien@ferg.lib.ct.us "If a cluttered desk signs an empty mind of what then is an empty desk a sign?" --Albert Einstein ------------------------------ From: "Catherine E. Ingram" <ceingram@starbase1.htls.lib.il.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: pets in the library MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 18:02:08 CST
I just re-read my note and wanted to add (since some people were upset) that Hamlet got left in his ball ONCE by accident! We were all upset! It, of course, never happened again. My point, was to show what can happen and hopefully to make people think about some of the problems that can arise. The hampster and fishes are well treated and enjoyed by children. However, I would ask that anyone who is thinking of adding an animal really consider issues of care, placement (kids can see but not disturb), exersize, and changes in staff. (Our problem with Hamlet being left in the ball happened with a temporary summer worker- not that excuses matter). p.s. Pets for home should also have the same issues addressed! cei ------------------------------ From: Amy Cherry <amylcherry@yahoo.com> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: thanks for input! MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 18:04:02 CST We had a botched one. The event was to be held in the parking lot and it rained that day! But check with your local health department, the police department, and the hospital. Our local hospital gives out car seats when newborns are discharged and have lots of information about carseat safety. --- LaMorte <tlamorte@suffolk.lib.ny.us> wrote: > > Dear fellow pubyacers, > Thank you so much for the overwhelming response to > the "pet" > question. There were about 20 or so responses, most > of them favorable. > We haven't decided what to get yet. > Next question..... the director would like to > present some type of > program where a speaker who is knowledgable on car > seat safety comes in to > speak to parents about choosing a good one, etc. > Anyone ever done this or > have any info? Thanks in advance, again. > > Sincerely, > Teresa LaMorte > Deer Park Public Library > Deer Park, NY 11729 > tlamorte@suffolk.lib.ny.us > > ===== Amy Wells-Cherry Paducah Public LLibrary amylcherry@yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ From: Martha Jackson <marthajack@freewwweb.com> To: <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: Re: New Steig Book Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 18:05:52 CST >Hello, all! >Has anyone seen the new William Steig book, Made for Each Other? I have >a standing order, Steig is on my list, & this book came. The card kit >classifies it as "Easy", but tech services & I are at a loss as to where >it really should be placed, If anywhere. My co-workers & I are have a >problem not only w/content, but w/illustrations. I don't want to >censor, but don't think this book is appropriate for young children, >perhaps any children. I'd like some feedback to see if I'm >overreacting. Your opinions would be appreciated. Due to the fact that >I'm way over budget, I haven't been reading any reviews lately, so I >don't know if it has been reviewed. (Plan on tracking it down this >afternoon). >Thanks! >Kathy Kathy, That book was sold to me (I'm a buyer at a bookstore) as an ADULT book. We are selling it as a Valentine's Day book for adults. I can't see that children would understand it or particularly like it, and I don't believe it was written with them in mind at all! Martha ------------------------------ End of PUBYAC Digest 63 *********************** |
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