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

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

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 02:41:03 CDT

Subject: PUBYAC digest 201

PUBYAC Digest 201

Topics covered in this issue include:

1) Re: Harry Potter "cuss" word

by Marlyn Roberts <chaisegirl@yahoo.com>

2) best kids/YA periodicals

by Eric Norton <enorton@scls.lib.wi.us>

3) RE: cuss words in HP

by vmenor <vmenor@is2.dal.ca>

4) YA magazines for guys

by Angela Christianson <achristi@prairienet.org>

5) Re: Harry Potter lists

by Sandy Farmer <sfarmer@hpl.lib.tx.us>

6) RE: Harry Potter lists

by Ian McKinney <ianmck@tcpl.lib.in.us>

7) Re: storyhour tapes?

by Charles Schacht <schachtc@libcoop.net>

8) phonics materials

by "Elizabeth Buono" <ebuono73@hotmail.com>

9) Re: Summer Reading Programs: counting pages

by carmel <carmel@ulysses.sebridge.org>

10) Re: fantasy vs. science fiction

by "Melanie C. Duncan" <duncanm@mail.bibb.public.lib.ga.us>

11) RE: Storyhour tapes

by Julie Linneman <juliel@wichita.lib.ks.us>

12) YA Paperbacks

by sarahdentan@gurlmail.com

13) Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

by "Cathy Chesher" <cchesher@monroe.lib.mi.us>

14) Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

by Kim Kietzman <kkietzma@libby.rbls.lib.il.us>

15) Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

by HFL_LISA@stls.org

16) Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

by "Heidi Hink" <HeidiH@bethel.alaska.edu>

17) Re: storyhour tapes?

by vickyg@bville.lib.ny.us (Vicky Gaworecki)

18) Critcally approaching HP

by "Denise I. Matulka" <dimatulka@alltel.net>

19) Re: Wasn't I the one who said, enough HP?!?!?!

by BOGART Debra <dbogart@ci.springfield.or.us>

20) Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

by BOGART Debra <dbogart@ci.springfield.or.us>

21) Re: fantasy vs. science fiction

by "Lorie J. O'Donnell" <odonnell@borg.com>

22) Re: Favorite YA Paperbacks

by Susan259@aol.com

23) Harry Potter Programs

by "Cheryl Callavini" <CHERYLC@coj.net>

24) RE: Harry Potter booklists

by Anne Coppell <acoppell@auckland-library.govt.nz>

25) Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

by Marlyn Roberts <chaisegirl@yahoo.com>

26) Re: fantasy vs. science fiction

by "Beverly Kirkendall" <bkirkend@ci.hurst.tx.us>

27) Re: storyhour tapes?

by "Patricia S. Cheney" <cheneyp@libcoop.net>

28) school information

by "Karen Holz" <easternlibrary@smithville.net>

29) Re: Library Renovation

by Irene Gavasso <ireneg@linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us>

30) marshmallow wagon craft

by Inga Laurila <laurila@noblenet.org>

31) Wizard of Oz

by Bryce <Bryce@exchg1.palsplus.org>

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

From: Marlyn Roberts <chaisegirl@yahoo.com>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: Harry Potter "cuss" word

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Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2000 21:09:12 CDT

I don't want to give away too much here, but Cedric

Diggory says to someone "What the hell d'you think

you're doing?" (p.626)

I agree, if *those* are the cuss words it's a shame

the poor kid had to give up the book.

Marlyn

--- Tammy Daubner <tlvdinoh@hotmail.com> wrote:

> On page 561:

> "Damn leg", he said furiously. "Would've been here

> quicker...what's

> happened?..." Spoken by Mad Eye Moody, who is a

> paranoid, crotchety old

> wizard.

>

> There may have been another example, but that's the

> only one I could find.

>

> Damn shame to break a kid's heart over THAT four

> letter word. Like the

> average nine-year-old kid hasn't heard an adult

> utter that in frustration at

> one time or another. However, my apologies

> (sincerely) if I've offended

> anyone by using it here.

>

> Tammy Daubner

> YA Librarian

>

>

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at

> http://www.hotmail.com

>

=====

Marlyn K. Roberts

Children's Librarian

Codman Square Branch

Boston Public Library

chaisegirl@yahoo.com

__________________________________________________

Do You Yahoo!?

Get Yahoo! Mail – Free email you can access from anywhere!

http://mail.yahoo.com/

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

From: Eric Norton <enorton@scls.lib.wi.us>

To: Kidslist@scls.lib.wi.us, pubyac@prairienet.org, yalsa-bk@ala.org

Subject: best kids/YA periodicals

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Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2000 22:13:46 CDT

I am cross-posting this to several lists so please forgive me for any

duplications you may receive. The budget process is gearing up at my

library and our magazine subscriptions service will soon be asking about

our needs for next year so I am reviewing the subscriptions that we have.

To assist my decisions, I am hoping to get some lists of what people think

are the best or most popular magazines for children and young adults. I

will try to collate the results in a week or so. Thank you for your advice,

Eric Norton

enorton@scls.lib.wi.us

Head of Children's Services

McMillan Memorial Library

490 E. Grand Ave.

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin 54494

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

From: vmenor <vmenor@is2.dal.ca>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: RE: cuss words in HP

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Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2000 22:33:35 CDT

While I don't consider it to be a "cuss" word, some might consider "Can I have

a look at Uranus too, Lavender?" p.201 to be a bit of a problem.

Vanessa

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

From: Angela Christianson <achristi@prairienet.org>

To: pubyac <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: YA magazines for guys

MIME-Version: 1.0

Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2000 22:45:41 CDT

I have space to add 2 magazines to my young adult collection. I am

looking for magazines that are more focused towards teenage males. I have

plenty for girls.

The ones that I already have are:

Circus

Gamepro

Ninetendo Power

WCW Magazine

WWF magazine

What magazines do you have that are popular with teenage boys? Please

reply to achristi@prairienet.org.

I will post a list of responses in case anyone else is interested.

Thank you in advance,

Angela Christianson

###########################

Angela R. Christianson

Children's Librarian

Southeast Branch

Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library

achristi@prairienet.org

achristians@cml.lib.oh.us

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

From: Sandy Farmer <sfarmer@hpl.lib.tx.us>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: Harry Potter lists

Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2000 23:16:01 CDT

Another addition for the lists that I have not seen yet is Diana Duane's wizard

series that starts with So you Want to Be a Wizard. It is available in paperback

and on tape and I think it is still out there in hardback. These are also evil

fighting children who find out they are wizards at the library.

Sandy Farmer

Houston Public Library

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

From: Ian McKinney <ianmck@tcpl.lib.in.us>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: RE: Harry Potter lists

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 00:26:59 CDT

Title: "The History of Magic: Reading List for Hogwarts First- through

Third-Year Students.

In small print under the title: "Note: Most Muggle libraries carry a

selection of the books on this reading list. When dealing with Muggles, it

may be wise to ask for 'fantasy' books, for this is what most Muggles call

books dealing with the History of Magic. Also, most library staff members

will be glad to place a 'hold' for you; however, when you book comes in,

they are not generally willing to notify you by owl--at least not last time

I checked."

This is all at the top of an 8-page book-fold annotated list (annotations

taken more or less directly from the summary in the computer). With a

bright red cover!

Ian McKinney Tippecanoe County Public Library

Young Adult Librarian 627 South Street

(765) 429-0121 Lafayette, Indiana 47901-1470

ianmck@tcpl.lib.in.us

http://www.tcpl.lib.in.us/youth/

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

From: Charles Schacht <schachtc@libcoop.net>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: storyhour tapes?

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 00:28:24 CDT

I'd like to give this one an enthusiastic thumbs down; if I was a department

head interviewing candidates for a children's position there is no way on God's

green earth that I would consider someone who didn't feel comfortable doing

their own songs and fingerplays. Just about anyone who wants to can learn to

do these iimportant things pretty well, and they don't NEED to be perfect, just

fun! If you aren't interested in doing them/have NO confidence in front of

groups of kids, then I question whether you're in the right line of endeavor.

Now of course tapes can be a great learning tool for people with a limited

background - singing along with someone else is a great way to learn new

material - but do it until you don't need the tape anymore and then give the

kids YOUR version. We are incredibly important role models for kids AND

parents, and one of the things we need to model is that we (and by inferrence

they) can make our own fun without being dependant on tapes etc. I shall now

step down from my soapbox...

Chuck Schacht

Romeo Distsrict Library

Romeo, MI.

Nancy Bonne wrote:

> Hi, all...my daughter and family have just moved to a new town, and she

> took her two sons, 18 months and 5years to story hour at their new

> library. She was surprised when the librarian used tapes for all the songs

> and finger plays. She also read two short books. Do a lot of you use

> tapes in story hours? How do you manage the mechanical part without losing

> your audience? What are the advantages/disadvantages? I'd like to hear

> your views...thanks Nancy Bonne: bonne@noblenet.org

> Nancy Bonne

> Children's Librarian

> Beverly Public Library

> bonne@noblenet.org

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

From: "Elizabeth Buono" <ebuono73@hotmail.com>

To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org

Subject: phonics materials

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 00:28:31 CDT

Hello everyone!

I am sending this on behalf of one of my co-workers. We have kits we send

out to teachers (at their request) on different topics or concepts, and we

are trying to gather materials, in all different media, to get together a

phonics kit. We have a very old "Hooked on Phonics" kit that is missing

many of its pieces that patrons still request--our goal is to get enough

different materials to be able to discard the old Hooked on Phonics. Does

anyone have any favorites that they think work really well, or that patrons

seem to really like? We are open to any and all suggestions! Please send

replies to: <karen_y22@yahoo.com>

Thank you all in advance!

Elizabeth Buono

Children's Librarian

The Ferguson Library

1 Public Library Plaza

Stamford, CT 06904

<ebuono73@hotmail.com>

________________________________________________________________________

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

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

From: carmel <carmel@ulysses.sebridge.org>

To: "M. Neiman" <mellifur@tiac.net>

Subject: Re: Summer Reading Programs: counting pages

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 00:31:23 CDT

This summer we have counted number of minutes read instead of books and

this has been phenomenally successful. To go along with the NY State

"Discover Read 2000" theme, we give out star charts. These have pictures

of rocket ships, space men, and 7 stars to color in. For every 20

minutes a child reads,or is read to, s/he gets to color in a star. When

the chart is complete the child brings it back to the library for a

prize. The parent needs to initial the chart. The child can then start

on a new chart. After the 2nd chart they get their certificate and an

additional little prize. This has worked so well that the parents are

amazed at how much their kids are reading. Even the littlest ones are

interested in keeping up their charts. It has been a wonderful program

and I heartily recommend it. Prizes are a variety of inexpensive

trinkets from places like Oriental Trading.

Marilyn Schlansky

REed Memorial Library

Carmel/NY

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

From: "Melanie C. Duncan" <duncanm@mail.bibb.public.lib.ga.us>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: fantasy vs. science fiction

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:02:25 CDT

My library system classifies fantasy in the general fiction collection

which makes it difficult for fans of fantasy to find. They tend to head for

the science fiction collection then complain when they don't find the

fantasy title they want there.

Sincerely,

Melanie C. Duncan, M.S.L.S.

Reference Librarian, Washington Memorial Library

Christian Fiction columnist, Library Journal

Editor/Publisher, The Bookdragon Review (ISSN 1527-0157)

http://www.bookdragonreview.com

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

From: Julie Linneman <juliel@wichita.lib.ks.us>

To: bonne@noblenet.org

Subject: RE: Storyhour tapes

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:07:20 CDT

I have used recorded music during story programs, although I wouldn't say

I do it a lot. For our Nursery Rhyme Storytime (for children under two),

I occasionally bring a tape player, and at a given point in the program we

clap along/sing along to Raffi's "Baa Baa Black Sheep." We also get a

rousing response when we play Raffi's "Bumping Up & Down (in my little red

wagon)," during which we all bump up and down and pretend to fix it when

it's broken. Finally, I occasionally end the program by passing out two

spoons to everyone to hit together while we listen to "Aiken Drum" and

"Oats & Beans & Barley Grow," once again by Raffi (I do these two

consecutively, so that we only do the spoon thing once.) Now these

wouldn't all fall into the same program--these are three different

programs that I would do (i.e., "Baa Baa...," "Bumping Up..," and "Aiken

Drum"/"Oat & Beans..").

I have also used music during special Christmas programs (we put a sleigh

bell on wide red yarn or string and tied them--like a bracelet--and we

play a version of "Jingle Bells" or "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" while

the children shake along with their bell.)

However, I can say that I happen to love to sing, and I know that I can

carry a tune. So I'm not embarrassed to get up and sing without

accompaniment in front of people. But I know some people are. Even when

program trainers tell library staff that "It doesn't matter if you can

sing on-key, children won't mind, it's important to use music with kids

even if you can't sing well," it matters to them. It takes a lot of guts

to go a capella in front of a group of people.

For some, the alternative is that they wouldn't use music at all, but

that's kind of a sad choice considering how much music adds to children's

enjoyment of language and learning. [But if a person never used music, I'm

sure they could still do a great story program.]

I have not used tapes for fingerplays, and I'm not sure about when that

would be appropriate, or why one would need that. Maybe the person is

afraid of forgetting the words, or is a person who has trouble learning

rhymes, but I haven't seen many librarians who use it for fingerplays.

I guess the only thing that I would wonder about is variety. If they are

truly using recordings for ALL songs/fingerplays/rhymes, why not vary the

approach? It seems to me that each program could have something recorded,

but maybe not all.

I knew of one library that did an infant program with pre-recorded tapes

that they made from a variety of sources, so that they wouldn't have to

keep changing the tape. This minimizes the technical aspect, as you don't

have to fiddle with settings so much. Since I usually only use one

selection, or two from the same CD, fiddling with settings is minimal. I

wouldn't use two selections from a tape if I had to rewind during the

program.

Hope this helps.

Julie Linneman

juliel@wichita.lib.ks.us

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

From: sarahdentan@gurlmail.com

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: YA Paperbacks

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:11:15 CDT

In response for the person who was looking for good YA titles in paperback, the Popular Paperbacks Committee at ALA/YALSA puts out four lists a year of titles in paperback (full disclosure: I'm on the committee). You can find the 2000 lists at

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/poppaper00.html

older lists can be found at

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/index.html#previous

Good luck, and congrats on getting paperbacks into your collection!

-sd

________________________________________________________________________

--> get your free, private gURLmail account at http://www.gURLmail.com !!

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

From: "Cathy Chesher" <cchesher@monroe.lib.mi.us>

To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:15:15 CDT

OK, For those of you who missed it, the "cuss" word was damn. I originally

thought it was only spoken by adults, but someone else pointed out that Ron

said this too. I had forgotten that.

The father who does not want his son to read this book hasn't read any of

the Harry Potter books (I asked). He was just basing his decision on

hearsay (from the boy's cousin). The boy (my patron) said yesterday that

his dad said if he starts READING swear words he might start SAYING them!

There were MANY things I wanted to say in reply to that, but I said simply

"I'd be surprised if you did that".

Cathy Chesher

Adrian Public Library

143 E. Maumee St., Adrian, Michigan 49221

phone 517-265-2265

fax 517-265-8847

cchesher@monroe.lib.mi.us

-----Original Message-----

From: Lesley Knieriem <lknierie@suffolk.lib.ny.us>

To: Pubyac <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2000 8:26 PM

Subject: Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

>Ummm -- what "cuss" words? I know I read it fast, but did I miss

>something?

>(you can reply to me off-list if the word is too offensive for a public

>list)

>

>

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

From: Kim Kietzman <kkietzma@libby.rbls.lib.il.us>

To: Pubyac <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

MIME-Version: 1.0

Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:20:07 CDT

I guess my feeling is that Rowling would be the first to say that she

didn't write the book for 9 year olds...she has stated several times that

the content will mature with Harry, which is what I believe engages adults

- it's nice to reminisce about our own adolescence without going through

it again!

And, though usually a lurker, I have to state that I don't demean or

belittle what patrons choose to consider a great read (adults or kids), so

I'm a little tired of people arguing over whether or not I'm some sort of

literature heathen for loving these books so much. Life is too short and

stressful to allow others to decide for me what should engage, entertain,

and yes, dare I say, enrich me.

Whew - there, I'll go back to lurking again.

Kim Boynton Kietzman

Director of Extension Services

Rock Island Public Library

(309)732-7366

Opinions expressed are solely that of the author and do not necessarily

reflect those of the Rock Island Public Library.

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

From: HFL_LISA@stls.org

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:23:51 CDT

ANd of course no child has EVER made a Uranus joke...especially small

boys!

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

From: "Heidi Hink" <HeidiH@bethel.alaska.edu>

To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:27:43 CDT

I think the saddest part is that if the kid had only about 200 pages left to read, he'd already read the existing cuss words anyway. (I'm only about 150 pages into the book, but I've already seen 2 or 3 "damns.") If the dad was that worried about the language, his reaction was a little too late. Poor kid. Not only does he not get to finish #4, but his relationship with his blabbermouth cousin has probably been soured, to boot.

Heidi Hink

heidih@bethel.alaska.edu

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

From: vickyg@bville.lib.ny.us (Vicky Gaworecki)

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: storyhour tapes?

Mime-Version: 1.0

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:33:44 CDT

At 02:38 AM 7/20/00 CDT, you wrote:

>Hi, all...my daughter and family have just moved to a new town, and she

>took her two sons, 18 months and 5years to story hour at their new

>library. She was surprised when the librarian used tapes for all the songs

>and finger plays. She also read two short books. Do a lot of you use

>tapes in story hours? How do you manage the mechanical part without losing

>your audience? What are the advantages/disadvantages? I'd like to hear

>your views...thanks Nancy Bonne: bonne@noblenet.org

>Nancy Bonne

>Children's Librarian

>Beverly Public Library

>bonne@noblenet.org

>

>

Hi Nancy,

We've used tapes and more recently CD's in storytime for years and they

really add some fun. I set up my books and songs beforehand in the order I

will do them and then go to it. I'll read one story, then when I'm done I'll

say something like "And now let's sing a song together" or "Let's try this

fingerplay together to this music". I always make sure that my CD's and

tapes are ready at the correct spot and then I only have to turn around and

push a button. The kids love it and we can participate together.

Vicky Gaworecki

Baldwinsville Public Library

Baldwinsville, New York

vickyg@bville.lib.ny.us

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

From: "Denise I. Matulka" <dimatulka@alltel.net>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Critcally approaching HP

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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:37:58 CDT

I have recieved a multitude of responses regarding my comments about HP.

I would like to state a few things:

1. I do not INTENTIALLY dislike HP because the popularity--THAT is very

closeminded....

2. I have read all 4 HP books (and purchased all four for my niece and

nephew, because they requested them for gifts....)

3. I NEVER ( and would NEVER) share my critical assesments about HP with

children (I do with parents). I loathe Danielle Steel, my grandma loves

her and BELIEVES I do too.....Why, because I respect her reading choices

and keep her constantly apprised of new titles.

4. I think on a professional list serve critical assessment has a place

without generating anger (I have gotten quite a few angry repsonses,

bordering on rude...)

5. I am concerned that professionals are falling on the addage, "as long

as kids are reading..." I think that is why there are so many fluff

books out there....I DO NOT believe that Pokemon, WWF, the Olsen Twins,

etc...belong in the library via novelizations and this "as long as"

mentality has led to that ideal (PLEASE don't email about that comment,

I know that many do not agree with that....)

6. I never said everyone must read only quality literature...I love a

couple of Harlequins every once in a while. AND I love British

mystery!!! While I have an English degree, I certainly don't snub people

who think David Copperfield is just a magician....

7. I am glad HP is bringing families to the library. I think that the

idea that HP has created new readers is a fallacy.....As soon as HP is

out....statistics will go down again.....The same way some people only

come to the library to use the Internet.....When systems are down those

people certainly don't hang out and browse....

8. I think a "collective conscious" fighting technology and the

"supposed" end of books in the 21st century created the phenomenon, not

Rowling's talent--which, IF anyone would be truly honest, is ordinary.

THANK YOU to Harold Bloom for waking up a few adults concerning the

ordinary "genius" of Rowling....

Denise I. Matulka.....

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

From: BOGART Debra <dbogart@ci.springfield.or.us>

To: kscott@mf.lib.wi.us, pubyac@prairienet.org,

HAROLD Judy

<jharold@ci.springfield.or.us>,

THOMPSON Barbara

<bthompson@ci.springfield.or.us>

Subject: Re: Wasn't I the one who said, enough HP?!?!?!

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charset="iso-8859-1"

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:41:49 CDT

Thanks, Kifflie, I agree completely with you, and you said it more calmly

than

I could have! I personally love HP. I have created a five page bibliography

called "What to read while you are waiting for the next Harry Potter" and I

cannot keep enough copies of the bib made. Kids are using them and checking

off the titles they read.

I hope everyone who attempts to discredit Rowling's writing ability reads

Janet Maslin's review of the fourth HP in last week NY Times.

Debra Bogart

Youth Services

Springfield Public Library

Springfield, OR

>>> Kifflie Scott 07/19/00 10:54PM >>>

I've lurked here for well over a year, but haven't felt the urge to post

anything until now.

"Denise I. Matulka" wrote:

> But what guarantee is there that families

> will continue to come to the library after the HP blitz is over?

None at all. We will still have to work as hard as ever to promote our

programs and to provide quality materials to our patrons.

> I think

> that we are selling all the other truly wonderful authors and their

> books short--authors and titles MORE capable of generating duscussion

> than HP.

Well, what about all those "like Harry Potter" lists that people are coming

up with? If we can turn kids on to fantasy literature through Harry, I'm

all for it. In my day, Tolkien was all the rage. I'm not comparing

Rowling's work to Tolkien's by any means, but HP can be a gateway to fantasy

literature for a lot of kids who would never dream of picking it up

otherwise.

> HP can't even begin to compare to the rich trove of offerings

> from Joan Aiken (I know, I know! I keep harping on about her....but she

> is TRULY the genius, NOT Rowling, who, rather than being reminiscent,

> actually copies Roald Dahl's style).

We all have our favorites. I love Madeleine L'Engle's work, and I adore

Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series. Whether Rowling's style is

derivative or not is irrelevant to me. What matters is that she tells a

good story -- good enough to keep kids riveted to her books for hours at a

time. She's created a believable and intriguing fantasy world and can use

humor as well as suspense to keep her audience interested.

> There are numerous modern writers

> who I feel are being cheated because they did not have the media blitz

> of HP. Think about "Nappy Hair" by Carolivia Herron for a moment, people

> were afraid to discuss it and Horn Book hesitated to review it

> (editorial MAY/JUNE 1999), then the media got a hold of it and it sold

> 500,000 copies!

I hardly think the HP media blitz is anything like, say, Pokemon. HP caught

on through word of mouth and it's only in the last few months that the

mainstream media paid attention.

> We have to face it....HP is just like Beanie Babies or Pokemon...it is

> fad and it wear off, just like . To credit Rowling with bringing

> families is to the library is to discredit the last 150+ years of great

> children's literature and the wonderful writers who shared their stories

> with us...

I respectfully disagree. I don't see why kids can't enjoy HP and then go on

to Pullman or Tolkien or Baum or L'Engle or Lewis or whomever. HP is giving

us, as children's librarians, a fabulous opportunity to reintroduce kids to

fantasy. I don't see that as "discrediting" previous contributors.

As to whether HP is/will end up being a "classic," I think it's too early to

make that judgment. "Classics" stand the test of time. Talk to me in

fifteen or twenty years and we'll see how HP is doing. But I have a feeling

it will still be around, and it will still be popular.

Part of the excitement right now is that the series is still a work in

progress.

I, for one, am very pleased to see a children's author getting the attention

(and big bucks!) that usually go to adult writers like King and Grisham (not

that I don't love their work as well!). HP is a true phenomenon, and we

can't (and shouldn't) run away from it, but embrace it and benefit from it

if we can.

Speaking only for myself, and not for anyone else,

-Kifflie Scott

Assistant Youth/Reference Librarian

Maude Shunk Public Library

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

kscott@mf.lib.wi.us

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

From: BOGART Debra <dbogart@ci.springfield.or.us>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:45:28 CDT

Rowling keeps insisting the next book will have to be in YA-I think her

swear

words are a way of preparing the way. But I can't believe that parents would

object more to the swear words than to the darkness of the first chapter and

that whole theme. It's very interesting to watch this series "grow up".

Debra Bogart

Youth Services

Springfield Public Library

Springfield, OR

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

From: "Lorie J. O'Donnell" <odonnell@borg.com>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: fantasy vs. science fiction

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:49:02 CDT

Debra,

We have all of our fiction, with the exception of mysteries, shelved

together. I did purchase several sets of spine labels for the books,

including Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Sports, Adventure,

Horror, Humor, Romance (I think that's all). The labels on the books make

subject browsing much easier for the patrons and the librarians.

Lorie

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

From: Susan259@aol.com

To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: Re: Favorite YA Paperbacks

Mime-Version: 1.0

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:52:44 CDT

I just placed a ya pbk order using the Popular Paperbacks lists from YALSA's website: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/

Susan Smith

Youth Technology Specialist Librarian

East Branch

Arlington Library

Arlington, Texas

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

From: "Cheryl Callavini" <CHERYLC@coj.net>

To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: Harry Potter Programs

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 01:56:28 CDT

This has been posted on Publib, Pubyac, and Branch Coordinators

listserve. Please pardon any duplication.

In all the hoopla about Harry Potter Jacksonville Public planned and

successfully executed a program on July 8 with the books ready to

circulate. Never has there been such intensive activity by public and

non-public parts of this system.

Now, two weeks later, comes the kicker....we are having protests

about the promotion of witchcraft.

Did any of your libraries have a party/program? How did your public

react? Have there been any negative reactions?

We are not on a witch-hunt (no pun intended), but just want to hear

what other parts of the country are experiencing.

Margaret N. Smith

Library Services Coordinator

Cheryl Callavini

Senior Children's Librarian

Jacksonville Public Library

122 N. Ocean Street

Jacksonville, Florida 32202-3374

e-mail: Cherylc@coj.net

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

From: Anne Coppell <acoppell@auckland-library.govt.nz>

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

Subject: RE: Harry Potter booklists

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 02:00:06 CDT

Our list is called "Fly into Fantasy ... With Books like Harry Potter" and

is divided into 3 age groups on the same A4 sheet: under 9s; 9-12; and

over 12s. The sheet is A4 folded in half, like a brochure. It now has

another A4 supplemental sheet - of all those books we forgot about the

first time, and/or just purchased. With our waiting list for Harry being

over 300, meaning a wait of around 5 months for those at the end, we're

trialling a new PR/marketing idea and posting out the booklist to those on

the waiting list. We're hoping this has some spinoffs.

The list includes Patricia Wrede's "Enchanted Forest" chronicles, Dianna

Wynne Jones' "Chrestomanci" novels, as well as a few New Zealand classics

like Margaret Mahy's "Changeover" and Sherryl Jordan's "Juniper Game". For

the younger age group we've included the Tony Abbot "Secrets of Droon"

series and Mary Stanton's "Unicorns of Balinor". Also Alexander's

"Chronicles of Prydain"; Narnia; Diane Duane's "So you want to be a wizard"

and its sequels; the Redwall books; Tamora Pierce; John Bellair's "The

house with a clock in its walls" and its sequels; and Australian Emily

Rodda's "Deltora Quest" and the "Rowan of Rin" books. This is just a

sampling.

We hope the mailout works! Me especially, it was my idea!

Good luck everyone.

Annie

Annie Coppell

Teenage Services Librarian, Children and Teenagers' Section

Auckland City Libraries

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

From: Marlyn Roberts <chaisegirl@yahoo.com>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: Heartbreaking Harry Potter story

MIME-Version: 1.0

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 02:04:08 CDT

...and was the boy who mentioned the cuss words in the

first place named Draco?

<g>

Marlyn

=====

Marlyn K. Roberts

Children's Librarian

Codman Square Branch

Boston Public Library

chaisegirl@yahoo.com

__________________________________________________

Do You Yahoo!?

Get Yahoo! Mail – Free email you can access from anywhere!

http://mail.yahoo.com/

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

From: "Beverly Kirkendall" <bkirkend@ci.hurst.tx.us>

To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: Re: fantasy vs. science fiction

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 02:07:42 CDT

We currently have a genre section in youth and adult (but not young adult) for science fiction and mystery (adult also has one for westerns). In youth, I would prefer to put them in with the fiction with a myster or sci fi sticker to designate. (I am not sticker-happy as I think it can really go overboard, but....) My personal opinion is that kids in early elementary may show a preference for one type of literature, but many of their favorite authors write other genres. If the kids don't find them, they may be missing out on a new area of interest. I can make the argument the other way, too, but my preference, in a youth department, would to keep the fiction together regardless of genre. In fact, that is one of my missions: unite the fiction! (No, I will not be picketting...unless you think it might do some good!)

Beverly Kirkendall

Hurst Public Library

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

From: "Patricia S. Cheney" <cheneyp@libcoop.net>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: storyhour tapes?

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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 02:11:19 CDT

I use tapes for certain songs (Wheels on the Bus) and musical activities such

as rhythm sticks or bean bags. Not all of us are singers, or feel comfortable

singing in front of a crowd, and tapes can give a good background or back-up.

Before storytime, I just set the song up on the tape player, and put the player

within easy reach, and I don't usually lose anyone as I start up the music.

Fingerplays I do myself, but I'm not too proud to put some of them on 3" x 5"

cards, especially ones that I use only with a certain theme.

Hope this helps!

Patti Cheney

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

From: "Karen Holz" <easternlibrary@smithville.net>

To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>

Subject: school information

MIME-Version: 1.0

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 02:14:25 CDT

Hi,

My director and I are looking at asking the local schools to allow us to =

do a presentation to the teachers and the facility during an in-service =

day on our library and what we have to offer the students and the =

teachers. I was wondering if any of this group has done something =

similar, if so did you give out handouts, bookmarks, etc. How was the =

response and did it help with keeping them in touch with you when =

reports and projects were coming up. Please reply to me.

Karen=20

eastermlibrary@smithville.net

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

From: Irene Gavasso <ireneg@linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: Re: Library Renovation

MIME-Version: 1.0

Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 02:33:05 CDT

I second that. Don't do it. One of our branches had something similar

and it was a nightmare. Theirs was actually built as part of the stairs

to get to the lower level and was a real pain when in use and when it

wasn't. I don't remember how many children got hurt playing around in that

area.

Irene

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

Irene Gavasso..............................ireneg@linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us

Kitsap Regional Library....................Young Peoples Department

1301 Sylvan Way............................Bremerton, Wa. 98310

(360)415-6720

"The best thing about the future is that it

comes only one day at a time. Abraham Lincoln

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

On Tue, 11 Jul 2000 DAISYWAGES@aol.com wrote:

> I agree, don't do it. We have a story pit in our children's area. Built

> about 10

> years ago. It looks like a nice idea, but we have all the same problems.

> Kids

> running on the steps, kids making out in the corners, I could go on. Our

> steps

> go down and the librarian sits at the bottom. We would love to be able to

> close it

> off, but that's impossible. Georgia, Kern Co. Library

>

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

From: Inga Laurila <laurila@noblenet.org>

To: pubyac@prairienet.org

Subject: marshmallow wagon craft

MIME-Version: 1.0

Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 02:37:08 CDT

The library is doing this project next week and we don't have the

blueprints!

If anyone knows the specific way to construct these edible wagons, I would

appreciate the details. Please email me privately.

Thanks so much!

Inga Laurila

Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield Massachusetts

laurila@noblenet.org

North of Boston Library Exchange

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

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

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

Subject: Wizard of Oz

MIME-Version: 1.0

Content-Type: text/plain;

charset="iso-8859-1"

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 02:41:03 CDT

Hi! Is anyone planning on doing anything special for the Wizard of Oz's

upcoming 100th Anniversary? Maybe tie it into Children's Book Week?

I'm doing something in the fall, possibly in December. I was thinking of a

number of things, including a tornado in a bottle; stuff a scarecrow; Wizard

of Oz cut out characters in a shoebox, etc... I'd love to hear what other

people are doing. Thanks!

Richard :0)

PS- Sorry if anyone already asked this!

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

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

End of PUBYAC Digest 201

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