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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: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 20:05:07 CDT Subject: PUBYAC digest 185 PUBYAC Digest 185 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? by Maggi Rohde <maggi@intranet.org> 2) Re: Need help fast! by "april winchester" <apriljunewinchester@hotmail.com> 3) RE: Summer Reading Prizes by "Susan Graf" <susangraf27@hotmail.com> 4) stumper: girl in Old West traveling theatre troop by Tammy Williams <sackett@rivercto.net> 5) Stumper - Wind by Zaklina Gallagher <zgallagh@dcc.govt.nz> 6) Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? by Dawn Sardes <dsardes@clsn1269.cumberland.lib.nc.us> 7) [Fwd: Christian Fiction or propaganda] by "Lodge, Debra" <ldebra@bellsouth.net> 8) criteria for teens to evaluate children's picture books by "Jeanne Schmitzer" <jeannes@usit.net> 9) Fair Labor Standards Act by "Doering, Nancy" <doerin@sosmail.state.mo.us> 10) RE: Egyptian Crafts by "Doering, Nancy" <doerin@sosmail.state.mo.us> 11) Re: Egyptian Crafts by toni whiney <whitneto@oplin.lib.oh.us> 12) RE: Egyptian Crafts by "Drabkin, Jane S." <jdrabkin@pwcgov.org> 13) Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? by "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us> 14) Re: Do you keep library application forms? by "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us> 15) Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? by "Tamara Butler" <tamara_r_butler@hotmail.com> 16) Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? by "Beverly Kirkendall" <bkirkend@ci.hurst.tx.us> 17) Family literacy by Sally Goodroe <sgoodroe@hcpl.net> 18) Re: Do you keep library application forms? by Christine Hill <chill@willingboro.org> 19) Help with a program by Kim Flores <kimf@mail.orion.org> 20) Folktale Stumper by "Heather" <heather@elgin.net> 21) Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? by Tom Stuart <tstuart@wls.lib.ny.us> 22) Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? by Mark Gochnour <gochnm@mont.lib.md.us> 23) Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? by "Mary Johnson (amk)" <mjohnson@wls.lib.ny.us> 24) Re: Fair Labor Standards Act by "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us> 25) Storytellers/message (long) by Julie Linneman <juliel@wichita.lib.ks.us> 26) RE: Summer Reading Prizes by "andrea " <juvserv@dialup.customnet.com> 27) Harry Potter Article by Esther Lewenstein <famous99@yahoo.com> 28) RE: [Fwd: Christian Fiction or propaganda] by JDICKEY <JDICKEY@cuyahoga.lib.oh.us> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Maggi Rohde <maggi@intranet.org> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 08:29:15 CDT
On Wed, 5 Jul 2000, Tamara Butler wrote: > The Left Behind series presents an interesting situation. If patrons > request and want these books, then why would a public library not > provide them? If we truly believe in no censorship of any form, then > why do we as librarians fight tooth and nail to keep other > controversial books, such as the Harry Potter series, and then balk at > carrying the Left Behind series because of its contents. I haven't read the Left Behind books, but from the comments it sounds as though people are reluctant to provide these books because they're not very well written. Where do you draw the line between quality and popularity? -Maggi Rohde, University of Michigan alumna ------------------------------ From: "april winchester" <apriljunewinchester@hotmail.com> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Need help fast! Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 08:48:48 CDT
My 15 year old son personally subscribes to Dirt Bike (dirt motorcycle magazine) Dirt Wheels (a four-wheeler magazine) and Car Action (remote control car magazine). We get the Dirt Bike and Dirt Wheels at my library and they hardly stay on the shelf. But I am in a rural area. Good Luck!! ------------------------------ From: "Susan Graf" <susangraf27@hotmail.com> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: RE: Summer Reading Prizes Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 09:00:18 CDT
I, too, have followed this thread with interest. I know that my system would not work in some of the larger library system settings, but we have about only 450 sign up for the program. We have four program per week: a preschool storytime, Game Day, Special Guest program and a crafttime. We usually have 30 to 60 kids at the first three (week day) programs and 80 to 120 at the Saturday craft program. In the past I have solicted prizes from local businesses and distributed them at drawings held on Saturday. However, some families won big prizes each week and others, many others, never won a prize. We gave the children a numbered ticket every time they visited the library--after each Saturday's drawing we tossed all of the tickets and started again. This year we received cash donations from our local firefighters, teamster and police unions, as well as the Emblem Club (wives of Elks). I contacted local groups, such a the Nevada Mining Association, for small give aways. >From bookmarks to coloring books, rulers & pencils to xeroxed games, we give everyone who attends a program a prize. We are trying to encourage coming to the library and not being the Book Police with the kids and parents. I can't imagine a program for 10,000 kids--but we have solicted books for our kids through the Starbucks donation program, book drives in higher income areas for partner schools in our lower income service area, and purchasing books in bulk from Orchard Press (I understand Scholastic and Bookman are also good sources). Susan Graf Family Services Librarian North Las Vegas Library District North Las Vegas, NV ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Tammy Williams <sackett@rivercto.net> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: stumper: girl in Old West traveling theatre troop Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 09:11:58 CDT
On another list I'm on, someone asked about a book - this is all the info I have - it was probably out in the 70's or 80's. She's promised eternal gratitude if someone could tell her the title<g>. >>P.S. - the book I mentioned involved a girl in the old West whose mother >>dies, and who joins a travelling theatre troop (at one point she has to >>do a Victor/Victoria and, as a boy, play a girl onstage <g>) doing plays >>in the frontier areas, including Colorado...if anyone has read this and >>knows the title or author, please let me know. > >That *was* almost all I recall about it. Set in the old west, not the >far west...there was a piano player guy who joins the theatre troop, >too, and turns out to be the heroine's father. Tammy Williams sackett@rivercto.net Children's Services Consultant Northwestern Regional Library Elkin, NC ------------------------------ From: Zaklina Gallagher <zgallagh@dcc.govt.nz> To: "'PUBYAC'" <PUBYAC@prairienet.org> Subject: Stumper - Wind MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 09:23:46 CDT Please can PUBYAC find the answer to this one - A picture book, about 10-15 years old?, the book is about the wind going around and looking in the windows in various houses. The wind talks to a boy who is sick in bed and can't go out and see things for himself. In one of the rooms the wind looks into, the chairs are nailed up high on the walls because the tide comes into the room and the people don't want to get their feet wet. We have tried A-Zoo and various other resources but feel it's one you have to have read. Please respond directly to me at my e-mail address below. Thank you, in anticipation. Zak Zaklina M. Gallagher Young Adult Librarian Dunedin Public Libraries PO Box 5542, Dunedin Ph: +64-3-4743626 Email: zgallagh@dcc.govt.nz WWW: http://www.CityofDunedin.com
------------------------------ From: Dawn Sardes <dsardes@clsn1269.cumberland.lib.nc.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 09:35:26 CDT
When I notice kids with the Left Behind books, I make suggestions to other Christian and survival themed books. Last year, I did weed one truly horrible Christian series. I can't remember the name right now, but they were set in WW2 Germany and were about two very young Christian teens outwitting the Germans to save Jews. They provided an unrealistic image of just how efficient a killing machine Nazi Germany was, and trivialized the Holocaust, which I did find offensive. The Jewish characters were stereotyped and one-dimensional. /-------------\ / The Very Best \ | Place | \ to Start! / \ /---------/ \/ \\\|/// ( O O ) --------------oOOo---(_)---oOOo---- Dawn Sardes Teen Services Librarian Cumberland County Public Library North Regional Branch Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone: (910) 822-1998 ext. 231 ----------------------Oooo---------- oooO ( ) ( ) ) / \ ( (_/ \_) ------------------------------ From: "Lodge, Debra" <ldebra@bellsouth.net> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: [Fwd: Christian Fiction or propaganda] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 09:48:02 CDT Message-ID: <396416C6.5D24@bellsouth.net> Date: Thu, 06 Jul 2000 01:19:02 -0400 From: "Lodge, Debra" <ldebra@bellsouth.net> Reply-To: ldebra@bellsouth.net X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01C-BLS20 (Win95; U) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: pubyac@prarienet.org Subject: Christian Fiction or propaganda Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit As librarians we select based on a set of criteria for what is and isn't acceptable for our collections(not the same as censorship).I have no problem with Evangelical Endtimer Christians presenting their views, what I find disturbing about LEFT BEHIND-THE KIDS is that it presents and promotes an intolerant view of those who don't share the same apocalyptic vision.I especially have a problem with this sort of emotional terrorism being directed at children. As far a "no censorship in any form", I have to ask when was the last time you saw LITTLE BLACK SAMBO on a public library shelf? This is a cherished childhood favorite of many adults in the South. I had a grandfather just a few weeks ago lamenting that we didn't have the original (I had shown him SAM & THE TIGERS and LITTLE BABAJI). He let me know he didn't think much of political correctness, he wanted the original book.I guess he went away thinking that Bannerman's LITTLE BLACK SAMBO is a banned book and his rights have been violated because he pays taxes too. All sarcasm aside, I think we all "censor" in some way when we reject books that are overtly insensitive to the feelings of others, especially children. I'm all for having "offensive" books in my collection but I draw the line at books that are hurtful. When the LEFT BEHIND series tells children that they will go to hell or be left behind and abandoned if they don't subscribe to the the type of Christianity presented in these books, I think the line has been crossed into harmful material.Just my humble opinion, not my library's. Debra Lodge ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne Schmitzer" <jeannes@usit.net> To: "PUBYAC" <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: criteria for teens to evaluate children's picture books MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 09:59:53 CDT Hello all, I work with quite a few teens who are parents. Something I would like to try with them is to have them evaluate children's books and create lists of favorites for lap reading, teaching concepts, etc., etc. Hopefully this will help teen parents to know what is out there and available to their children, and may help encourage them to read to their children. Does anyone have some good ideas on simple criteria for the teens to look for in evaluating children's books? Or other ideas along these lines? Thanks for all your input, Jeanne jeannes@usit.net Putnam County Library Cookeville, TN ------------------------------ From: "Doering, Nancy" <doerin@sosmail.state.mo.us> To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'" <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: Fair Labor Standards Act MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 10:11:25 CDT Oops! I meant Hear! Hear!--yesterday was a very stressful day. Which brings me to my next question for all you fellow pubyac-ers in the USA: With regard to the Fair Labor Standards Act (US federal law) how are your librarians with MLS degrees classified--exempt or nonexempt? Please answer as soon as possible because on Monday a begin a much-needed vacation. My colleague here also belongs, so she can keep track of answers while I am gone, but the curiousity will kill me on vacation. Thank you so much. I appreciate all your comments. Nancy Doering
Nancy Doering Youth Services Librarian Wolfner Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped P.O. Box 387 600 W. Main Jefferson City, MO 65102-0387 TELEPHONE 573-751-8720 FAX 573-526-2985 "Any opinions expressed are my own" ------------------------------ From: "Doering, Nancy" <doerin@sosmail.state.mo.us> To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'" <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: RE: Egyptian Crafts MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 10:23:04 CDT The November/December 1997 issue of Copycat Magazine has some neat King Tut crafts--a booklet, a pyramid model, and a face mask. Nancy Doering Youth Services Librarian Wolfner Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped P.O. Box 387 600 W. Main Jefferson City, MO 65102-0387 TELEPHONE 573-751-8720 FAX 573-526-2985 "Any opinions expressed are my own"
-----Original Message----- From: Jason R. Long [mailto:MT_JASON@DAYTON.LIB.OH.US] Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2000 9:01 PM To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org Subject: Egyptian Crafts
Greetings! I'm doing a YA program on Egypt in October and was wondering if anyone knew of some resources where I can get craft information. I was hoping to have the teens decorate their own sarcophagus's, but if anyone knows of other craft ideas, those are welcome too. Feel free to share any advice you might have if you've done this type of program before. (ie: What worked, what didn't work, etc...)Thanks in advance! Thanks, Jason Long MT_JASON@DAYTON.LIB.OH.US Miami Township Branch Library, DMCPL ------------------------------ From: toni whiney <whitneto@oplin.lib.oh.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Egyptian Crafts MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="------------D9BC5A3D240B5E8FFB14145F" Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 10:34:53 CDT
--------------D9BC5A3D240B5E8FFB14145F Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In response to your request: Hart, Avery and Paul Mantell. Pyramids! Williamson Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-885593-10-4 50 Hands-on Activities to Experience Ancient Egypt. Fister, Nancy and Charles Olexiewicz. Make History Ancient Egypt. Lowell House Juvenile, 1996. ISBN 0-7373-0153-8 Re-create authentic jewelry, toys, and other crafts from another place and time. Honan, Linda. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt: Projects and Activities That Bring the Past to Life. John Wiley & Sons, 1999. ISBN 0-471-29006-8 These are great sources for activities. As part of our summer reading program, we have a local 6th grade teacher present a program and craft each year. The crowd is always large! This week we are making Scarab Seals from page 22 of Make History Ancient Egypt. The clay is available through an Indianapolis, Indiana company. E-mail me if you would like the information. Toni Whitney Ashland Public Library Ashland, Ohio Jason R. Long wrote: > Greetings! > > I'm doing a YA program on Egypt in October and was wondering if anyone > knew of some resources where I can get craft information. I was hoping > to have the teens decorate their own sarcophagus's, but if anyone knows > of other craft ideas, those are welcome too. Feel free to share any > advice you might have if you've done this type of program before. (ie: > What worked, what didn't work, etc...)Thanks in advance! > > Thanks, > Jason Long > MT_JASON@DAYTON.LIB.OH.US > Miami Township Branch Library, DMCPL ------------------------------ From: "Drabkin, Jane S." <jdrabkin@pwcgov.org> To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'" <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: RE: Egyptian Crafts MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 16:55:48 CDT Last year we did an a number of Egyptian theme crafts. Using a hieroglyphics kit, kids stamped their own cartouches and they did a bead craft making beetle keychain much like Egyptian mummies. We also did an "Eat Like an Egyptian" program and let them sample Middle Eastern food. ------------------------------ From: "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 17:10:45 CDT
> On Wed, 5 Jul 2000, Tamara Butler wrote: > > The Left Behind series presents an interesting situation. If patrons > > request and want these books, then why would a public library not > > provide them? If we truly believe in no censorship of any form, then > > why do we as librarians fight tooth and nail to keep other > > controversial books, such as the Harry Potter series, and then balk at > > carrying the Left Behind series because of its contents. > > I haven't read the Left Behind books, but from the comments it sounds as > though people are reluctant to provide these books because they're not > very well written. Where do you draw the line between quality and > popularity? > > -Maggi Rohde, University of Michigan alumna I dunno, but I would ask folks to reflect, when they're rejecting a book because of low quality, on whether they carry mainstream series fiction that is not reviewed and is of questionable quality--Goosebumps spring to mind, but of course there are plenty of others.
Vicky Smith Children's Librarian McArthur Public Library (207)284-4181 270 Main Street http://www.mcarthur.lib.me.us Biddeford, ME 04005 vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us ------------------------------ From: "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Do you keep library application forms? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 17:21:45 CDT > From: Beth DeGeer <bdeg@bartlesville.lib.ok.us> > One of our Library Board members (he's a lawyer) has suggested that we keep > library card applications (we currently toss them when a card is > successfully issued) so that we have a record that the an adult has signed > the application and acknowledges that a library card brings with it access > to the internet. > > Does any other library do this? Do you see a need to do it? Thanks for any > info you can provide. We keep our card applications for the very reason you state above--record of parental & borrowers' signatures--and also to have a paper back-up to refer to in case of inaccurate data entry. To make this a fairly easy proposition, our applications are all catalog-card sized and we keep a medium size catalog cabinet at the circ desk. We do not have to deal with thousands of floppy 81/2 X 11 applications. Hope this helps. Vicky Smith Children's Librarian McArthur Public Library (207)284-4181 270 Main Street http://www.mcarthur.lib.me.us Biddeford, ME 04005 vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us ------------------------------ From: "Tamara Butler" <tamara_r_butler@hotmail.com> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 17:34:15 CDT Maggi, Boy, if we only bought books that are of a high literary quality, we would all be weeding out half of our current collections. I guess I don't really think the reluctance to carry these books is totally due to a concern for quality because I don't hear many complaints about buying Danielle Steele's or Jackie Collins' books. My real point in this discussion is that librarians need to be very careful about allowing personal feelings to interfere with their desire to meet the needs of their patrons. For example, most of the adult Left Behind books have been on the NY Times top ten bestsellers list, so I assume most libraries would buy them as they would any other bestsellers. I know this is a complicated issue, but I believe it is important. Thanks for listening. Tamara Butler ----Original Message Follows---- From: Maggi Rohde <maggi@intranet.org> Reply-To: pubyac@prairienet.org To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 08:29:15 CDT
I haven't read the Left Behind books, but from the comments it sounds as though people are reluctant to provide these books because they're not very well written. Where do you draw the line between quality and popularity? -Maggi Rohde, University of Michigan alumna
________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: "Beverly Kirkendall" <bkirkend@ci.hurst.tx.us> To: <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 17:45:54 CDT <<Where do you draw the line between quality and popularity? >> I was just starting my education as a librarian just after the Goosebumps series made its way on to library shelves. Seems to me I remember this same arguement then. Did it have an agenda? Some seemed to think so. Did my library have the series? Of course it did. I have read the Left Behind series, both adult and juvenile. Personally, I enjoyed the adult books.The juvenile series is disappointing, but I didn't expect it to be great literature. I expected it to be enjoyed by the kids (who were asking for them; parents were, too.), and the series is. The kids who read the books love them, and we can't keep them on the shelves. Will I replace them when they wear out? Probably not because they aren't classic. But in the mean time...... Beverly Kirkendall Youth Services Hurst Public Library ------------------------------ From: Sally Goodroe <sgoodroe@hcpl.net> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Family literacy MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 17:57:08 CDT Dear Pubyacers, We have a fairly active ESL and basic literacy tutoring program for adults and are wanting to incorporate more information and encouragement for family literacy along with it. I know that often adults think all children's books are easy to read (not so). Even what we consider beginning readers may not be especially easy for new adult readers, I understand. Does anyone out there with an adult literacy program distribute lists of recommended trade books for new adult readers to read to their kids? And since ESL students may not read well in their own language, any recommendations for books that are easy to read in Spanish? The trick, of course, is to choose books that are also great books as well as easy to read... You may reply to me directly. Thank you, as always!! sgoodroe@stic.lib.tx.us -- Sally Goodroe, Children's Specialist Harris County Public Library, Houston 8080 El Rio Street, Houston, TX 77054 713-749-9031 FAX 713-749-9090 ------------------------------ From: Christine Hill <chill@willingboro.org> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Do you keep library application forms? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 18:10:41 CDT Yes, we also do this, but only for children's applications,since we take people to court for more than $50 worth of overdue books and parents are responsible for their children's overdues. We designed the application so that they can be filed with relative ease. 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 ------------------------------ From: Kim Flores <kimf@mail.orion.org> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Help with a program MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 18:21:53 CDT I'm doing a program about lions and would like some suggestions for fun activities to do with the elementary age crowd. Our library mascot is a lion and he will be attending the festivities. I plan to read some stories and provide some facts about lions but could use your ideas about crafts and activities. Please send directly to me and I will compile a list. Thanks, Kim Flores Midtown Branch Library-Springfield MO kimf@mail.orion.org ------------------------------ From: "Heather" <heather@elgin.net> To: <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: Folktale Stumper MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 18:32:47 CDT An area storyteller is looking for a "How the" folktale. It chronicles how the tigers got its stripes but may not be titled as such. Here are the details that she remembers. An old man lives in a treehouse. There is a flood. The tiger initally tricks the old man and wants to eat him. However, the old man ends up tricking the tiger when he rescues him from the flood on the raft. He ties the tiger down then the sun beats down and dries up the water and the tiger is left with stripes from the ropes. If anyone has an idea where this story originates or remembers it from a single book or a collection, I would very much appreciate some "leads". Thanks you so much, in advance, for your help. Heather Robinson heather@elgin.net St. Thomas Public Library, St. Thomas, Ontario CANADA ------------------------------ From: Tom Stuart <tstuart@wls.lib.ny.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 18:43:55 CDT Maggi Rohde asks: >I haven't read the Left Behind books, but from the comments it sounds as >though people are reluctant to provide these books because they're not >very well written. Where do you draw the line between quality and >popularity? I don't think that there is such a line. Quality and popularity are among (many) criteria for selection/evaluation. It seems to me that Tamara Butler urges applying criteria consistently, not just when it stacks the collection in a way we find comforting. I think that is a good idea. Tom Stuart <tstuart@wls.lib.ny.us> ------------------------------ From: Mark Gochnour <gochnm@mont.lib.md.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 18:55:23 CDT Hear! Hear! Censorship can work both ways. That is the point of the first Amendment Rights. I was asked to review the Left Behind (YA) series for my library department. The YA series is taken out of contest,was very episodic, and poorly written. I recommended that we not purchase them because I believe that they don't make much sense without having read the adult series which I have enjoyed immensely. However, they were purchased anyway. Taking Revelations and other references from the Old and New Testament and tying them together with "real" people albiet in a fictional setting enables the reader to visualize the sequences of events which are written there. In a way, the series is the reverse of historical fiction. Speculative but not science fiction. Mark S. Gochnour, M.L.S. <gochnm@mont.lib.md.us> Agency Manager Poolesville Library Montgomery County (Maryland) Dept. of Public Libraries The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of my organization. ------------------------------ From: "Mary Johnson (amk)" <mjohnson@wls.lib.ny.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Christian fiction or propaganda? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 19:06:59 CDT Well said, Tamara! We do need to include all viewpoints in public libraries, even those we personally disagree with. I haven't personally had demand for this series - but I did have a lot for Stine when I started out, so I bought them even though I didn't care for them much! And I find it necessary to include "Mein Kampf" in our collection because of its historical importance, though that's *really* a piece of viscious trash. Best wishes- Mary Johnson, YA librarian, North Castle Library, Armonk, NY mjohnson@wls.lib.ny.us ------------------------------ From: "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Fair Labor Standards Act MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 19:20:47 CDT
As I understand the Fair Labor Standards Act, the possession of an MLS should have nothing to do with whether an employee is exempt or non-exempt (from overtime compensation for hours worked over 40, which is what I'm assuming you're talking about). The critical distinction is whether an employee fulfills an administrative function. So a supervisor or department head is generally considered exempt while an MLS-holder who is not a supervisor would be non-exempt. There's lots of stuff on the Internet on this--one page I found is: http://www.flsa.com/Exempt.htm . Good luck Vicky Smith Children's Librarian McArthur Public Library (207)284-4181 270 Main Street http://www.mcarthur.lib.me.us Biddeford, ME 04005 vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us ------------------------------ From: Julie Linneman <juliel@wichita.lib.ks.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Storytellers/message (long) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 19:32:29 CDT I have been following the thread about "Christian fiction or propaganda" with interest, but in the meantime, I have run across an interesting situation that I would like to hear from others about. We hired a local storyteller, who happens to also be a teacher to do a couple of children's programs for us this summer, based on the recommendation of a staff member. (The staff member tells stories professionally and runs a local storytelling group.) I went to the program, and I must say that she was good at telling stories, but I was a bit uncomfortable with the content. Her stories were all intended to convey a moral message. The first story was a didactic tale about a sad mouse who didn't like it when the other mice called him names. The second story was "David and Goliath," a Biblical story, complete with embellishments about David picking up the rock of faith and the rock of wisdom, etc., and how "David was obedient to God," and how David prayed for God to give him the victory. (I am a Christian who has taught Sunday School, and it had much in common with the weekly Bible lessons we use with preschoolers.) The next was an adaptation of Bear Hunt, except the words had been changed to tell about "Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad," how she was not afraid and she freed a lot of slaves. (Never mind that the children may or may not have known who Harriet Tubman was or what the Underground Railroad was.) The next was an African folktale about why it is important not be lazy. After the program was over, I spoke briefly with the presenter. She thanked me for inviting her and said that she hopes she will be invited back again next summer to tell even more stories. Afterwards, I thought about the times I have observed the tellers from this group. We hired another teller from this group two years ago, and she also did a Bible story (I think it was Noah's Ark). A third teller from this group acts as a library volunteer, doing a twice a month storytime at a library that has no children's librarian and no other storytimes. (These programs were at her request--she used to own an African-American bookstore, and after it closed she apparently asked the Library Assistant who runs the branch in her community if she could continue doing her programs there; she was already doing them regularly when I came, although up to that point the library had not promoted them as a library program because the director was unsure if her programs might not be religious in nature. I went to observe them, and while she certainly makes sure that every story has a stated moral tacked on, they were not exactly religious. Previously the director had heard of one time when kids were writing letters to God during one of her programs. She told me that she does not believe in promoting holidays during her programs--she is Muslim--which I told her is not a problem for us, we would never require someone to do a holiday program--but she states that she wants all of her stories to promote morals and ethics, and she assured me that she would not in the future be doing any religious programs, so the library now lists her program with the others.) I guess my squeamishness is whether other librarians have any feelings about the appropriateness of Bible stories during library programs. No one has ever complained, but with all the furor over public prayer, where people often don't feel comfortable in a secular situation where the direction takes a decidedly religious turn, where do libraries stand on programming? Does anyone have programming policies that address content issues? Has anyone else encountered situations where performers used storytelling as a platform to advance certain agendas? Please be kind in responding. I try to be fair in selecting storytellers, and we all know how difficult it is to try to develop local storytelling talent and to provide opportunities for them to practice. But on the other hand, my initial impulse is to hire other storytellers whose programs fit my idea of library programming better. I am concerned as to whether there are those who would be offended by it (most of our community is Christian, a few are Muslim or Jewish, all of whom accept the Bible stories as part of their cultural heritage; but of course, there are going to be some atheists and Hindus and Buddhists and Scientologists, etc.--would they be offended? Would Christians be offended if a storyteller told stories about Hindu gods or Buddhists told moral tales of their faith? And where does storytelling end and preaching begin?) I might add that I am a Christian--so it isn't that I object to Bible stories in principle. Quite the contrary, but I wonder about the appropriateness of using a book that is considered by many to be more than just a book of stories as a book of stories? When I asked other staff members, they thought maybe I am just overly sensitive, and they had no problems at all with bringing kids to a storyteller at the library and hearing Bible stories included, as long as that was not the whole program, even with the parts about the "message" of the story included (i.e., the reward of being faithful to God). [They were not children's librarians.] And I guess that is ultimately what I am wondering--am I just highly sensitive to this, in which case I can just learn to ignore these fear impulses when a storyteller goes in this direction? Or are these impulses a warning sign that this is a performer who is out of touch with the goals of library programming? As a side note, I might mention that I don't even do "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear," because I am uncomfortable with the line about say your prayers. (I once had a boy in my Sunday school class who came to my preschool storytimes--he inevitably would ask to sing "Jesus Loves Me" during storytime and do "Five Little Monkeys" at church; I'd have to say, "Let's wait for Thursday to do that," or "Let's wait and do that Sunday!"--I finally quit teaching because I worried I was confusing some kids...I know, I know, I'm the one with the problem...) Just wondered if other people have come across anything that would shed light on this issue. Sorry it's so long.
Julie Linneman juliel@wichita.lib.ks.us ------------------------------ From: "andrea " <juvserv@dialup.customnet.com> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: RE: Summer Reading Prizes Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 19:43:24 CDT Please tell me there are some librarians that are THRILLED with their summer reading program enrollment...my is 45 and I'm psyched, especially because the school library is having summer hours this year for the first time!!! Just had to put forth my SMALL library!
Andrea Terry Libby Memorial Library Old Orchard Beach, ME ------------------------------ From: Esther Lewenstein <famous99@yahoo.com> To: YALSA-BK <yalsa-bk@ala.org>, pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Harry Potter Article MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 19:54:15 CDT Despite the fact that I've been saying I'm sick of Harry, I've also found that I'm somewhat addicted. This morning I discovered an interview with J.K. Rowling in Newsweek. It's available on the net at http://www.msnbc.com/news/428200.asp?cp1=1 If that link doesn't work just go to newsweek.com it should be available there. Esther ===== Esther Lewenstein Brooklyn Public Library Kings Highway Branch 2115 Ocean Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11229 718.375.3037 x136 e.lewenstein@brooklynpubliclibrary.org __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ From: JDICKEY <JDICKEY@cuyahoga.lib.oh.us> To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'" <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: RE: [Fwd: Christian Fiction or propaganda] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 20:05:07 CDT What if the book is Annie on My Mind? Books that portray positive views of gays/lesbians are FEARED by parents who feel exposure to such books will warp their children. Yet we defend their inclusion in our collections (and rightly so). Maybe some of the kids, while eagerly reading "Left Behind", will find themselves turned off by the intolerance promoted. We just don't know. If my budget were very limited, I might reject the series IN FAVOR of books of higher quality. Other than that, I think the "buy because patrons want them" criterion applies. By the way, there are copies of "Little Black Sambo" in my library system. They are in non-circulating (reference) collections, probably held as somthing of historical significance. Janet @/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\/^\^/^\/^\^/^\^/^\^/^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\@ Janet Dickey, YA assistant Cuyahoga Cty. PL (suburban Cleveland) <jdickey@cuyahoga.lib.oh.us> ************* Anyone's Guess (grades 6-9) and InvestiCats (grades 3-5) Mystery Kits http://dbldog.com/ <doubledog@core.com> @\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/@ ------------------------------ End of PUBYAC Digest 185 ************************ |
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