|
From: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and
Children" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
To: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and Children"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2001 11:01 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 492
PUBYAC Digest 492
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: [Fwd: Need worm activities]
by "Elizabeth Lai" <elai@tpl.toronto.on.ca>
2) stumper-orphans & gold fields
by Sushila Mertens <kidlit_2000@yahoo.com>
3) beach party
by "Marty Staton" <mstaton@ci.poquoson.va.us>
4) material selection policies and websites
by "Terri Norstrom" <tnorstrom@fremontlibrary.org>
5) Fish Book
by Jennifer Parker <jmpwel@yahoo.com>
6) Books with wheels
by "Linda Peterson" <lpeterson@bloomfield.lib.in.us>
7) More Harry Potter bargains!
by carrie@nysoclib.org
8) Do you know this School Library
by "Ginny McKee" <ginny1222@hotmail.com>
9) books for incentives
by BOGART Debra <dbogart@ci.springfield.or.us>
10) Stumper - emperor with cheese, mice, etc.
by Judy Wilson <juwilson@island.net>
11) Bamboozled
by "Children's Department" <children@wlaf.lib.in.us>
12) ALA's Response to the Government's Motion to Dismiss
by "Don Wood" <dwood@ala.org>
13) Pizza Song
by Jennifer Parker <jmpwel@yahoo.com>
14) Re: Open Mike Night Entertainment
by "Melissa MacLeod" <mmacleod@sailsinc.org>
15) code of conduct
by Sharon Anderson <sharonKA@showme.net>
16) survey results
by "Lisa Prolman" <lprolman@townofgreenfield.org>
17) Positioning the Public Library in the Modern State
by "Don Wood" <dwood@ala.org>
18) cool program idea!
by "Ruhama J. Kordatzky" <rkordatz@burlington.lib.wi.us>
19) Re: Arthur Party
by "Melissa MacLeod" <mmacleod@sailsinc.org>
20) Job Opening/Minnesota/Dakota County
by "Berni Couillard" <bcouilla@dakota.lib.mn.us>
21) Re: Arthur Party
by Library Lovers <LibraryLovers@calibraries.org>
22) MLS & Extinction? Follow the Money!
by "James B. Casey" <jimcasey@lib.oak-lawn.il.us>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Elizabeth Lai" <elai@tpl.toronto.on.ca>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Need worm activities]
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:31:10 CDT
make a "wormery" a narrow tank or glass jar to hold worms and
watch the =
way they make tunnels.
------------------------------
From: Sushila Mertens <kidlit_2000@yahoo.com>
To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org
Subject: stumper-orphans & gold fields
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:31:37 CDT
Early 50's? Patron remembers characters were orphans
lost in gold fields on some isthmus. Any ideas?
TYIA
=====
Sushila Mertens kidlit_2000@yahoo.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
------------------------------
From: "Marty Staton" <mstaton@ci.poquoson.va.us>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: beach party
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:31:55 CDT
I'm having a "Beach Party" for 6-10 year olds. Does anybody
have any 'tried
and true' beachy games or easy crafts they would share??
TIA!
Marty Staton
Poquoson Public Library
500 City Hall Ave.
Poquoson, VA 23662
mstaton@ci.poquoson.va.us
757-868-3063
757-868-3106 FAX
------------------------------
From: "Terri Norstrom" <tnorstrom@fremontlibrary.org>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: material selection policies and websites
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:32:15 CDT
Hello all!
We will be adding Net resources in our material selection policy.
Rather
than re-create the wheel, has anyone already done this? Would you be
willing to share either your wording, or resources you used?
Thanks in advance!
Terri
------------------------------
From: Jennifer Parker <jmpwel@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Fish Book
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:32:37 CDT
Thank you all so much for such an incredible and quick
response. The fish book I was looking for is called
Fish out of Water. I am on vacation this week but wil
pass this info along to the opatron next week. Thank
you all so much!
Jennifer Parker
jmpwel@yahoo.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
------------------------------
From: "Linda Peterson" <lpeterson@bloomfield.lib.in.us>
To: "PUBYAC" <PUBYAC@prairienet.org>
Subject: Books with wheels
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:32:59 CDT
There was a discussion a while back on board books with wheels being a =
choking hazard. I can't remember the name of the books. We just received =
a donation of books called Baby Fast Rolling Books and wondered if =
anyone has any experience with these?
Linda Peterson
Bloomfield-Eastern Greene County Public Library
125 South Franklin
Bloomfield, Indiana 47424
Phone: (812)384-4125
Fax: (812)384-0820
email: lpeterson@bloomfield.lib.in.us
------------------------------
From: carrie@nysoclib.org
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: More Harry Potter bargains!
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:33:15 CDT
If you work near a Scholastic Store, you can also find great Harry Potter
merchandise on sale. I bought posters for $2.50, and really nice key
chains, book marks and magnets for $1. They also have HP games,
puzzles,
wands, wizard's hats, journals, etc. at half price.
The sale ends July 16.
Carrie Silberman, Children's Librarian
New York Society Library
carrie@nysoclib.org
------------------------------
From: "Ginny McKee" <ginny1222@hotmail.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Do you know this School Library
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:33:37 CDT
We have a book from the White Haven Library/Junior Public Library.
There is
no indication of the state. Does anyone know what state or where?
I tried
to check the Internet but nothing turned up.
Thanks.
Ginny McKee
Children's Services
South Brunswick [NJ] Public Library
gmckee@lmxac.org
ginny1222@hotmail.com
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
------------------------------
From: BOGART Debra <dbogart@ci.springfield.or.us>
To: cavgrads97@yahoo.com, pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: books for incentives
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:34:04 CDT
Did any of you use books for summer reading incentives rather than toys or
tees? If so, can you recommend the best source for quality books at
low
prices? Thanks in advance, please send to my email below.
Debra Bogart, M.L.S.
dbogart@ci.springfield.or.us
Youth Services
Springfield Public Library
Springfield, OR
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can
change
the
world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."Margaret Mead
------------------------------
From: Judy Wilson <juwilson@island.net>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Stumper - emperor with cheese, mice, etc.
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:34:23 CDT
I have a library patron who remembers a cumulative children's tale in which
an emperor (maybe a king) gets some cheese only to be overrun with mice,
then cats, etc. I have had no luck finding this one. I have
checked A to
Zoo and Novelist. Any suggestions given will be much appreciated.
My
email is juwilson@island.net
Please let me know.
Judy Wilson
Area Librarian Nanaimo Harbourfront and Gabriola Island
90 Commercial Street
Nanaimo, B.C.
V9R 5G4
(250) 753-1154 Ext. 230
------------------------------
From: "Children's Department" <children@wlaf.lib.in.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Bamboozled
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:34:42 CDT
Thanks to Beverly, Christine, Mary Jane, Chandra, Carol, Jennifer, Susan,
Ann, Amanda, Ruhama, Gail and anyone else I've forgotten, who answered my
stumper about a grandfather and his mixed up house. It was Bamboozled
by
David Legge. Our copy is checked out, but I put a hold on it. I
almost
came up with the name myself. Right before I fell asleep the night I
posted my question I thought of The Great Bamboozlement - which is of
course a different book, but close. Thanks again.
Pam
West Lafayette Indiana Public Library
children@wlaf.lib.in.us
------------------------------
From: "Don Wood" <dwood@ala.org>
To: <ifaction@ala.org>
Subject: ALA's Response to the Government's Motion to Dismiss
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Disposition: inline
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:35:03 CDT
ALA's Response to the Government's Motion to Dismiss (PDF) can be found on =
the ALA CIPA Site at=20
http://www.ala.org/cipa/litigation.html=20
under "NEW (as of July 9, 2001)"
Or go directly to PDF:
http://www.ala.org/cipa/alacipabrief.pdf=20
__________________________
Don Wood
Program Officer/Communications
American Library Association
Office for Intellectual Freedom
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
1-800-545-2433, ext. 4225
Fax: 312-280-4227
dwood@ala.org
http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/
http://www.ala.org/cipa/cipalegalfund.html
intellectual freedom @ your library
------------------------------
From: Jennifer Parker <jmpwel@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Pizza Song
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:35:20 CDT
I am not sure if this is the Pizza song in question
but I foumd this on a children's song page called
kiddidles
the URL is www.kiddidles.com
On Top of My Pizza
Tune: On Top of Old Smokey
Written By: Unknown
Copyright Unknown
On top of my pizza
All covered with sauce
Could not find the mushrooms
I think they got lost
I looked in the closet
I looked in the sink
I looked in the cup that
Held my cola drink
I looked in the saucepan
Right under the lid
No matter where I looked
Those mushrooms stayed hid
Next time you make pizza
I'm begging you, please
Do not give me mushrooms
But just plain old cheese
Jennifer Parker
jmpwel@yahoo.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
------------------------------
From: "Melissa MacLeod" <mmacleod@sailsinc.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Re: Open Mike Night Entertainment
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:35:37 CDT
Here near Boston I contacted universities and ended up having 4 students
from Robert Pinsky's poetry class at Boston University come down for one of
our CoffeeHouses and it was absolutley wonderful. I recommend contacting
colleges and asking for the students to come. It is free and the students
love the chance to practice in front of a group. In addition, they tend to
be closer in age to those attending and their poems address issues closer to
their own concerns. I started with my group reading their poems, then the
college students read their poems, then we had a sharing session where the
college students mingled with our library's poetry group to swap ideas and
opinions. Hope this helps, Melissa MacLeod, Carver Public Library,
mmacleod@sailsinc.org
------------------------------
From: Sharon Anderson <sharonKA@showme.net>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: code of conduct
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:36:02 CDT
Oh ye wise ones,
I am working with a group of teens who are testing their wings and pushing
the limit as far as group behavior is concerned. They are good kids,
they
just seem to specialize in sniping and pushing each other's buttons (the
group dynamics include public school, private school, and homeschooled
teens, ages 13--16).
Would anyone be willing to share their experience(s) with similar groups.
How do you encourage acceptable behavior, address unacceptable behavior,
etc.? My gut instinct is to have the kids come up with their own
guidelines for acceptable behavior (reaffirming their sense of ownership
while upholding respect for others' feelings, etc.) From your
experience,
do written codes of conduct help? Please respond off list. I'll
be happy
to compile the results and share with the list. Thank you for your
input.
Sharon Anderson
------------------------------
From: "Lisa Prolman" <lprolman@townofgreenfield.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: survey results
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:36:22 CDT
Greetings all:
Here is the data from the filtering survey I conducted. Of the 16
people
who responded, 4 did no filtering at all, seven used cyberpatrol with
varying degrees of sucess (one is switching to SAM), one each reported using
IGEAR, cybersitter, websense, and sonicwall, and one offers supersnooper.com
as a search engine option. Of those who filter, most offered filters
in the
children's area only, although systems like IGEAR offer the ability to
filter based on age group.
Thanks to all who responded. The information is appreciated.
Lisa
--
Lisa Prolman
Assistant Reference/ILL Librarian
Greenfield Public Library
402 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
(413) 772-1590
lprolman@townofgreenfield.org
All things considered, insanity may be the only reasonable
alternative. -- saying from a button
--
------------------------------
From: "Don Wood" <dwood@ala.org>
To: <ifaction@ala.org>
Subject: Positioning the Public Library in the Modern State
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Disposition: inline
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:36:40 CDT
Positioning the Public Library in the Modern State: The Opportunity of the =
Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) by Joyce M. Latham
http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue6_7/latham/
"I believe that CIPA will be struck because of vagueness and
overbreadth, =
but I also believe that the authors of CIPA will use the Court's objections=
to draft another version and that we will be required to deal with =
"Grandson of CDA." I hope the Supreme Court takes the opportunity
=
presented by CIPA to address the role of the public library in this =
country, and to commit to the maintenance of a vigorous and robust =
intellectual venue that is open to all."
__________________________
Don Wood
Program Officer/Communications
American Library Association
Office for Intellectual Freedom
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
1-800-545-2433, ext. 4225
Fax: 312-280-4227
dwood@ala.org
http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/
http://www.ala.org/cipa/cipalegalfund.html
intellectual freedom @ your library
------------------------------
From: "Ruhama J. Kordatzky" <rkordatz@burlington.lib.wi.us>
To: "'pubyac'" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: cool program idea!
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:37:01 CDT
Hi everyone--
Yesterday in church, a local youth group came to share the events of a
recent missions trip they took to West Virginia, and did it in a unique
way. Instead of giving us a regular slide show, they did a human slide
show! (Any of you with teen groups needing an activity, this would
work
great!)
Basically they had two narrators who told us what was happening in each
"slide." Other members of the group were frozen in various
poses (with
props) to show what they did during the trip. The congregation had to
close our eyes between slides, and the narrators used a buzzer to indicate
when to close and then open our eyes.
A couple of things I would keep in mind--if you do this as a public
performance, keep the audience in mind--laying down or sitting on the stage
is hard to see--so keep your poses up high (as possible). If you do
need
an action shot to fully explain something (the youth group performed one of
their songs--called it a video clip), do it at the end, or else it will
disrupt the slide show.
It was a lot of fun to watch, and the teens looked like they had fun doing
it!
:) ruhama
Ruhama Kordatzky
Youth Services Librarian
Burlington Public Library
Burlington, WI
rkordatz@burlington.lib.wi.us
------------------------------
From: "Melissa MacLeod" <mmacleod@sailsinc.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Re: Arthur Party
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:37:23 CDT
Hi Jennifer - we had an Arthur party here at the library last summer and it
went very well. We began by playing the Arthur tape provided to us by PBS
while the kids were filtering in. We then read stories as a large group and
then had an Arthur trivia game (again as a large group). We then divided
into three groups, (because we had close to 50 children), one group played
pin the tie on Arthur (a staff member had drawn a large scale Arthur head
and torso and we hung it on the wall) while the second group made Arthur
crafts. We made Arthur and D.W. masks and bookmarks using colored card stock
and images I downloaded from the PBS website. The third group played Arthur
bingo. So, basically, for this setup or volume you need two tables and at
least two volunteers or other staff members. Junior volunteers were great
for this because they ran the bingo and the pin the tie on Arthur game. I
gave out paperback copies of Arthur series books for prizes. (I had a lot
that had come in from donations). Good luck and hope your program is a
success, the kids here loved it! Sincerely, Melissa MacLeod, Carver Public
Library, mmacleod@sailsinc.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jennifer Parker" <jmpwel@yahoo.com>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 11:14 AM
Subject: Arthur Party
> Hello Great Minds,
>
> I just wanted to get an idea of how many peope have
> had birthday parties for Arthur this year. We arew
> planning one this July 26. We are having two sessions
> and eachj session has 100 children signed up to
> attend. We are offering some games and will be
> playing an Arthur CD and in an other section we will
> be playing Arthur videos over and over again. We are
> also having pictures taken with Arthur I hope that the
> costume is not to hot because I will be Arthur for the
> day. Please let me know if you had an Arthur Parrty
> and if so how it went.
> TIA
>
> Jennifer Parker
> jmpwel@yahoo.com
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
> http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
>
------------------------------
From: "Berni Couillard" <bcouilla@dakota.lib.mn.us>
To: "'PUBYAC'" <PUBYAC@prairienet.org>
Subject: Job Opening/Minnesota/Dakota County
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:37:45 CDT
Children's Librarian (Librarian I)
Dakota County Library System headquartered in Eagan, MN, is seeking a
committed and creative Children's Librarian for their Galaxie Library
located in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Dakota County Library is a
suburban
system of 8 libraries and a bookmobile south of the Minneapolis/St. Paul
metro area. Galaxie is the busiest branch in the system circulating
over
800,000 items annually, 400,000+ in Children's materials. Summer
Reading
Club membership averages 1600-1800. This position is one of two
Children's
Librarians at Galaxie, and will require giving storytimes for various
age
groups, planning other children's programs, answering questions at the
children's and information desks, visiting schools, leading tours, etc. The
schedule may include day, evening and weekend hours.
Hiring range: $17.05-$22.61/Hour.
Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in any field PLUS six accredited graduate courses in
library science PLUS two years of full-time professional library experience
OR
A master's degree in library science or related field.
Public library experience is preferred.
Candidates must furnish documented proof (transcripts, certificates,
diploma, etc.) of post high school education.
Application process:
Dakota County Employment application forms may be obtained by visiting our
Career Opportunities website at www.co.dakota.mn.us
or by calling the
Employee Relations Department at 651-438-4280 or TDD (for the hearing
impaired) at 651-438-4618 or may be picked up at any Dakota County Library
branch. All applications must be received, not postmarked, by 4:30
p.m. on
July 19, 2001. Applications may be returned to the Dakota County
Employee
Relations Department, 1590 Highway 55, Hastings, MN, 55033-2372, or to
the
Information and Services Center in Apple Valley. Dakota County is a
Smoke-Free Environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed
to
diversity and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
Berni Couillard
Coordinator of Children's Services
Dakota County Library System
Eagan, MN 55123
phone 651-688-1527; fax 651-688-1530
bcouilla@dakota.lib.mn.us
Sandra Moe
Galaxie Branch Manager
phone 952-891-7054; fax 952-891-7048
smoe@dakota.lib.mn.us
------------------------------
From: Library Lovers <LibraryLovers@calibraries.org>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Arthur Party
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:38:10 CDT
Jennifer
___________________________________________________
Hope the below helps. Also I will be updating=20
ALA's Arthur site at the end of this month and would=20
love to include photos from your event or any other=20
Arthur events in Libraryland! =20
Send to:
Stephanie Stokes, ALA & Arthur Web
1980 Washington Street #107
San Francisco, CA 94109-2930
Arthur was the "Library Card Sign-up Month" Spokesperson
(hmmm Spokescharcter?) for Sept 2000. Arthur will be=20
back again this September 2001.
How to host an amazing Arthur=99 and D.W.=99 Library Card=20
Sign-up Event @ your library=99
http://www.ala.org/pio/librarycard/2001/event.html
ALA's Arthur site is at
http://www.ala.org/pio/librarycard/
Article: "Tips & Tricks for Costumes"
Remember costumed characters may need a special assistant to help handling
groups, reading stories, help seeing little raised hands and answering
questions.=20
An operator must have a capacity for pantomime as characters don't talk and
be a good "mover". A love of kids and the knowledge to deal with
them is
also essential.=20
Practice and experiment in front of a mirror in full costume. If you want
to engage someone else, watch them in action in costume first to see if
they know how to bring your character to life.=20
If an amateur is unused to a heavy costume, he or she may have to be
reminded to "drink plenty of water". Which then creates another
problem.
The costumed performers must be able to take breaks.=20
Check with the publisher they may have activities event kits and program
materials. Some have goodies that you can print out from their web site,
ideas, recipes, songs and etc. You can get this sent out at least a month
in advance. Confirm quantities.=20
-- "Tips & Tricks Storybook Character Costume Bookings"=20
http://www.ssdesign.com/librarypr/content/p121697a.shtml
=20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
=20
=09
At 10:14 AM 7/9/01 CDT, you wrote:
>Hello Great Minds,
>
>I just wanted to get an idea of how many peope have
>had birthday parties for Arthur this year. We arew
>planning one this July 26. We are having two sessions
>and eachj session has 100 children signed up to
>attend. We are offering some games and will be
>playing an Arthur CD and in an other section we will
>be playing Arthur videos over and over again. We are
>also having pictures taken with Arthur I hope that the
>costume is not to hot because I will be Arthur for the
>day. Please let me know if you had an Arthur Parrty
>and if so how it went.
>TIA
>
>Jennifer Parker
>jmpwel@yahoo.com
>
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
>http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
>
>
>
------------------------------
From: "James B. Casey" <jimcasey@lib.oak-lawn.il.us>
To: PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults & Children
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: MLS & Extinction? Follow the Money!
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:38:28 CDT
The root of the problem of Librarian compensation has
much less to do with the generosity of Public Library Boards,
than with the control of public money. Public Library
budgets -- whether in Sue Kamm's Los Angeles area
or Andrea Johnson's and my Chicagoland -- can only afford
to sustain salaries at a certain level and no higher. Quite often
there is simply not enough in the budget to even begin to think
about better wages for Librarians along with paying for materials,
heat, lights, etc..
Where does the local property tax money go? Of my own
property tax bill for $2,255.90, only $94.88 went to my Public
Library (about 4.2% of the total). Our Library is very well
funded when compared to most in Chicagoland and the $94.88
provides some 90% of our total revenue to sustain our $3.6 million
budget. But where does the rest of my $2,255.90 go? School
District 122 took $744.61 of that property tax bill or about 33%
of the total. What kind of salaries does School District 122 pay
to its teachers in that K-8 setting? Average Teacher Salary is
$44,617 and Average Administrator Salary is $81,228.
But their is also a Public High School District where I
live. That School District 229 receives $554.89 of my
$2,255.90 or some 25%. Average Teacher Salary at
this High School is $60,997 and Average Administrator
Salary is $83,567.
The neighboring School Districts 123 and 218 are also in
my public library service area and charge fairly high
property taxes. SD 123 Teacher Salary Average is
$39,766 and HSD 218 is $71,497. Administrators in
SD 123 earn an average of $75,949 and HSD 218
earn an average of $95,876. These are AVERAGES
and in the case of Teachers, for a 9 month contract
without evenings and weekends.
As I stated before, the $94.88 our Public Library receives
enables us to have one of the best funded libraries in the
South Suburbs. Yet the Salary Range for Librarians with
MLS here is $32,217.36 to $48,003.84. My own
salary is the highest (by far) in our Library at $75,889.
We obviously aren't competitive with the local school
districts in terms of compensation of professionals.
The comparisons are likely to be far more gross in
other communities where public library director's salary
might be less than half of that paid to a high school
teacher or school administrator.
Within the context of Libraries in Chicagoland --- and
perhaps across the USA --- our Library in Oak Lawn
is probably very well off and pays as good or better
than anyone might expect. Yet, Salaries for Librarians
will probably not be able to go demonstrably higher
with the schools controlling some 59% of every local
property tax bill. Schools have taken over 95% of all
of the E-Rate discount money. Public Schools receive
tens of billions of dollars in State and Federal Grants
where Public Libraries are lucky to get a few million
via LSTA or in State construction grants.
How have the Schools controlled such a preponderance
of public money? The school districts and teacher's unions
have convinced Legislatures and Taxpayers that Education
is THE most important local funding priority. At the same
time, the Public Education Establishment has been allowed
by us to DEFINE Education in such a manner that the role
of Libraries -- school libraries and public libraries -- in the
educational process has been marginalized in the name of
"Classroom Uber Alles".
Who is responsible: WE ARE!!!
That, in my opinion, is why Librarian salaries have been
pushed to the level where we are running out of qualified
people, why MLS programs have closed down by the dozen,
and to a large extent why our conception of Intellectual
Freedom is having to fight for its life (the schools filter without
a mini-second of hesitation).
James B. Casey --- My own views as a Public Librarian
and ALA Council Member.
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End of PUBYAC Digest 492
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