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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: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 00:01:15 CDT

Subject: PUBYAC digest 171

PUBYAC Digest 171

Topics covered in this issue include:

1) Re: Funniest Reference Question Request

by Donna Worth <dworth@mtlib.org>

2) motivating staff re SRC:LONG

by Granny Sue <pkb00700@alpha.wvup.wvnet.edu>

3) STUMPER answered :)

by "Rebecca Friedmann" <rfriedmann@hotmail.com>

4) Re: Harry Potter face painting

by SJPBrophy@aol.com

5) Funniest Reference

by Donna Scott <scottd@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us>

6) Re: Storytelling Workshop

by Christine Hill <chill@willingboro.org>

7) Funniest reference question/answer

by Bryce <Bryce@exchg1.palsplus.org>

8) Re: summer reading

by "S. Fichtelberg" <sfichtel@infolink.org>

9) Re: summer reading

by Inge Saczkowski <isaczkowski@niagarafalls.library.on.ca>

10) children's word processing program

by "S. Fichtelberg" <sfichtel@infolink.org>

11) funny reference questions

by "Mary Seratt, Sr.Manager, Main Children's" <SERATTM@MEMPHIS.LIB.TN.US>

12) Re: Summer Reading Prizes

by Mary Vanstone <mvanstone@tln.lib.mi.us>

13) funniest reference question

by MKARNOSH@Browardlibrary.org

14) Re: Funniest Reference Question Request

by Susan Broman <susbro@yahoo.com>

15) Re: Harry Potter face painting

by "MARSHA QUARLES" <mquarles@hotmail.com>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Donna Worth <dworth@mtlib.org>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: Funniest Reference Question Request

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:34:07 CDT

I guess this would be classified as a directional question rather than a

reference question but anyway, a patron entered the library and wanted

to know where we kept our basement. Do you suppose basements are kept

somewhere else depending on where you live?

My all time funniest patron incident was when a woman was exiting the

building and set the off alarm. When she was asked to step back and

pass her books around she got very huffy and exclaimed "I'll have you

know I'm a registered California beautician!"

Donna Worth

Jefferson County Library System

Whitehall, MT

------------------------------

From: Granny Sue <pkb00700@alpha.wvup.wvnet.edu>

To: PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults & Children

<pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: motivating staff re SRC:LONG

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:37:33 CDT

Thanks to those of you who sent information about successful Summer

Reading presenters at your libraries. As soon as I am sure all replies

are in, I'll compile for this list. I have not received a reat deal of

input on this so far.

Now I have another question, one that has been on my mind for some time

(two actually, but related).I am wondering what you think motivates

staff to really support and promote the program, to give their all in

making a program really great and energetic. How can we get staff

buy-in? Often folks seem to look at the minimum requirements, not at

what the maximum they could do to make the program the best possible.

What kind of incentive do you think staff need to really get involved?

The second part of this question is: what do you think would encourage

parents to get excited about summer reading, register their kids, and

bring them to the library regularly during the summer? We know how

excited the kids are about the program when we promote it at their

schools, but they must depend on their parents in order to participate.

What have you found to be most effective in motivating parents to do

this? What do you think would work? If you are a parent, what would

motivate you?

And that brings me to another related question. Why do you think parents

will take their kids to storytimes at book stores and fast food places,

but not to storytimes at the library? What is more attractive about the

commercial venues? What is it we are not offering or not doing to

attract these people?

I'd appreciate your thoughts on any part of all this.

Please reply to pkb00700@alpha.wvup.wvnet.edu

Thanks

Susanna Holstein

Elk Valley Branch Library

Charleston, WV

 

------------------------------

From: "Rebecca Friedmann" <rfriedmann@hotmail.com>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: STUMPER answered :)

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:38:39 CDT

Thanks to the more than a dozen of you that knew the answer to my stumper

was Eleanor Cameron's THE WONDERFUL FLIGHT TO THE MUSHROOM PLANET! I

included my email address in my original posting so as not to clog the

in-boxes of PUBYAC subscribers, but since everyone posted the answer to the

list, I'll just thank you all collectively-- you know who you are :) Thanks

again! Below is my original posting:

>Dear collective brain,

>I have very little to go on with this patron's stumper, yet she >seemed

>indignant that we didn't know it immediately! Here's what we >know:

>It is a chapter book in which 2 boys are confronted by a man with a >very

>large head, and here (she says) is the key: he is approximately >their

>size. Together they go off to Mars! The patron was born in >1961 and says

>she read it in the late 60s, but we don't know if it >was new at the time

>or not. Help! Does this ring a bell for anyone?

>Thanks in advance!...

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and

can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

--unknown

"Imagination is as important as knowledge. Share yours with

others."

--unknown

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose."

--Dr. Seuss

************************************

* Rebecca Friedmann, MLS *

* Children's Librarian *

* West Chester Library *

* 7900 Cox Rd. *

* West Chester, OH 45069 *

*(513)777-3131; (513)777-8452 [fax]*

* rfriedmann@hotmail.com *

* rfriedmann@mail.mpl.lib.oh.us *

************************************

________________________________________________________________________

Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

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From: SJPBrophy@aol.com

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: Harry Potter face painting

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:39:46 CDT

Don't forget the scar! How about a wand or a cauldron? There are the house

animals - lions, badger, eagle and the easiest of all the snake. The sorting

hat might not be too difficult either.

Sandra Brophy

------------------------------

From: Donna Scott <scottd@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Funniest Reference

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:40:54 CDT

One of my favorites, from many years ago, was the child

(about 5th or 6th grade) who came in and asked for "The

Reader's Guide to Prehistoric Literature". Think about

that for a while!

Donna Scott

Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library

Tampa, FL

------------------------------

From: Christine Hill <chill@willingboro.org>

To: Deborah_Dubois@freenet.richland.oh.us

Subject: Re: Storytelling Workshop

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:42:03 CDT

Take a look at A Piece of the Wind by Patricia McKissack and Ruthilde Kronberg.

It is both a collection of stories to use in religious education and a how-to.

Christine M. Hill

Willingboro Public Library

One Salem Road

Willingboro, NJ 08046

chill@willingboro.org

My new book! Robert Ballard: Oceanographer Who Discovered the Titanic, Enslow,

1999

Deborah Dubois wrote:

> I have been asked to do an all-day workshop on storytelling for deacons.

> Storytelling basics mainly and how they can use it in their preaching. I

> would like to have them do an assignment beforehand and do some actual

> storytelling in the workshop. Does anyone have a suggestion as to activities

> or resources I should use in the workshop? I would greatly appreciate any

> help! I have the standard storytelling handbooks, (Bauer, August House

> manuals, Baker). Any other ideas?

>

> Thank you very much!

>

> Deborah L. Dubois, A.M.L.S.

> deborah_dubois@freenet.richland.oh.us

------------------------------

From: Bryce <Bryce@exchg1.palsplus.org>

To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'" <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: Funniest reference question/answer

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:43:23 CDT

Hi! I'm enjoying reading these and wanted to send in one of mine.

A few weeks ago, a girl came in and asked me "When was the war of Bunker

Hill?". She explained that when asked about her birthday, her teacher said

that she was born on the same day as Bunker Hill. I knew that the Battle of

Bunker Hill took place during the Revolutionary War, so I grabbed the

encyclopedia and looked it up. I told her, "The Battle of Bunker Hill was

on June 17, 1775". The girl replies, in all seriousness, "My God, my

teacher's really old!" :0)

Have a great week!

Richard

Richard Bryce

Senior Children's Librarian

West Milford Township Library

973-728-2823

"So many things have made living and learning easier. But the real things

haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the

most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures and to be cheerful

and have courage when things go wrong"- Laura Ingalls Wilder

------------------------------

From: "S. Fichtelberg" <sfichtel@infolink.org>

To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: Re: summer reading

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:44:43 CDT

We don't have any requirements either in terms of number of books or number

of hours spent reading. It's up to the children to read as much as they

like. Up until this year we gave out small prizes (from US Toy and Oriental

Trading) for every 10 picture books or 5 fiction or non-fiction books. This

year we switched to minutes and will give out the prizes for every two hours

spent reading/listening.

Susan

sfichtel@infolink.org

------------------------------

From: Inge Saczkowski <isaczkowski@niagarafalls.library.on.ca>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: summer reading

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:47:19 CDT

We have 2 levels: One for Read-to-me which reguires 10 books to finish

(prizes and bribes allround) For the Summer Reading Club, finishers also

need to read 10 book, but to make up the discepancy between a Grade 1

reading and a Grade 7 reading, we count books as "extra" of they are over a

certain length. Books over 150 pages counts as "2 books read", 200 as 3

books read, 250 as 4 books read, etc. This works really well for the older

kids and it motivates them often to read "great, big classic" books. Our

bar might be set a little low, but we would like all kids to participate and

enjoy recreational reading, it's not just a program for good readers. Once

registered and paid ( an initial $2.00 charge) they can read through the

program as many times as they like ( we call it free refills). We have

great success with this.

------------------------------

From: "S. Fichtelberg" <sfichtel@infolink.org>

To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: children's word processing program

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:49:39 CDT

 

Can anyone recommend a word processing program for children ages 8-12? =

I have Creative Writer and Microsoft Works, but I am not really thrilled =

with either. Thanks.

Susan

sfichtel@infolink.org

Woodbridge Public Library

Woodbridge, NJ=20

------------------------------

From: "Mary Seratt, Sr.Manager, Main Children's" <SERATTM@MEMPHIS.LIB.TN.US>

To: PUBYAC@PRAIRIENET.ORG

Subject: funny reference questions

Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:54:42 CDT

My two current favorites are:

1) A teacher who was doing a unit on "Folklore Around the World" asked

where she could find our collection of Antarctic folktales. (actually,

I'm not sure yet if this one is funny or pitiful!) We had to explain

that before you could have folk tales, you had to have some FOLKS!

2) A young teen asked, "Is the reason you don't have any photos of

Roger Williams (founder of the Baptist church in Rhode Island, in the 1600's)

is that he was too ugly?" (yep, a real mirror cracker!)

Mary Seratt

Memphis/Shelby Co.Public

serattm@memphis.lib.tn.us

disclaimers, etc. etc.

------------------------------

From: Mary Vanstone <mvanstone@tln.lib.mi.us>

To: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults & Children" <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: Re: Summer Reading Prizes

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:56:26 CDT

I too am very opposed to giving prizes for reading - Read Alphie Kohn's

Punished by rewards for my reasoning- so at Brighton we do not give out

trinkets, count books read or pages or minutes. I simply ask the children

to write down what their favorite book was that they read each week of our

summer reading program and then they get to choose a book to keep from our

collection of donated books. What better way to encourage reading than to

hand out books, and to use our dollars to bring in really wonderful

performers who motivate children to read? This is my own opinion and

does not necessarily reflect upon anyone else who works at the Brighton

Library.

------------------------------

From: MKARNOSH@Browardlibrary.org

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: funniest reference question

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:58:03 CDT

 

A couple years back, I had a patron come to my desk and ask (in

heavily accented English) for a book about "the seesaw man that

invented syllables".

Don't ask me how my brain did it, but after looking at her blankly

for a moment, I said, "Oh! You need a book about Sequoyah and the

Cherokee Alphabet!" As soon as the patron saw the picture of

Sequoyah on the front cover, she snatched up the book with a huge

smile and danced all the way out to the check-out desk, so it must

have been the right one!

Melissa Karnosh

South Regional/BCC Library

Broward County, FL

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From: Susan Broman <susbro@yahoo.com>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: Funniest Reference Question Request

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 12:59:50 CDT

Along the lines of the biography oral report, I had a

couple of girls come rushing in late on a Saturday looking

for books about famous cheerleaders.

Susan Broman

 

 

 

=====

*Susan Broman*

susbro@yahoo.com

 

 

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------------------------------

From: "MARSHA QUARLES" <mquarles@hotmail.com>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: Harry Potter face painting

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 13:05:49 CDT

how about a simple lightening bolt?

marsha quarles

prince georges county library, md

 

 

>From: "Look, Lin" <llook@mail.contra-costa.lib.ca.us>

>Reply-To: pubyac@prairienet.org

>To: "'PUBYAC--DO NOT ERASE'" <PUBYAC@prairienet.org>

>Subject: Harry Potter face painting

>Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 19:25:08 CDT

>

>Racking my brains for one more Potter activity for the program, my boss

>suggested face painting. I immediately thought of a snitch. Also came up

>with a broom. Any other simple (can be done by the non-artistic)

>decorations? I thought of a star and an owl (which might be something of a

>challenge), but maybe the great collective brain can think of more relevant

>yet easy items (no basilisks, unicorns or Dementors, please!)

>

>Many thanks,

>Lin Look

>Contra Costa County Library System, CA

>

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End of PUBYAC Digest 171

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