|
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: Thursday, August 23, 2001 1:17 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 533
PUBYAC Digest 533
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Sno-Isle Regional Library System Employment Opportunities for the
by Valerie Worrell <VWorrell@sno-isle.org>
2) ColorMarq Library Labeling System
by Bonnie Janssen <bjafrm@yahoo.com>
3) Teen art exhibition
by Carol Hopkins <chopkins@idaho-lynx.org>
4) Re: Fwd: Re: Shelving underrated
by "Carol Feldberg" <cfeldberg@fountaindale.lib.il.us>
5) Compilation of advice for a new school librarian.
by "Rosemarie Grainer" <rgrainer@oleanlibrary.org>
6) more info on VALUETALES
by "Gayle Richardson" <Gayle.Richardson@spl.org>
7) Foreign Paper Money as Prizes
by "James B. Casey" <jimcasey@lib.oak-lawn.il.us>
8) insistent parents
by "Kristin Hawksworth" <khawksworth@roselle.lib.il.us>
9) computer speakers
by bkworm@mindspring.com
10) I did a very sucessful bedtime story time and I would like to pas
by "Keener, Lesa" <LKeener@acmail.aclink.org>
11) Looking for Kid-friendly Free E-mail accounts
by Ginnie Hoover <ginnie@lfpl.org>
12) Easy Readers defined compilation
by "Christine Tyner" <Ctyner@gptx.org>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Valerie Worrell <VWorrell@sno-isle.org>
To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Sno-Isle Regional Library System Employment Opportunities for the
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:10:39 CDT
Sno-Isle Regional Library System is accepting applications for a Librarian -
Adult Services position open at the Lynnwood Library (24 hrs/week) in
Washington State. Job #0180 Closes 08/31/01. For more information and to
obtain an application on this employment opportunity, please visit our
website at www.sno-isle.org/jobs
<http://www.sno-isle.org/jobs>
or contact
our Jobline at (360) 651-7040.
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Sno-Isle Regional Library System is accepting applications for a Public
Services Assistant I position at the Lynnwood Library (20 hrs/week) in
Washington State. Job #0182 Closes 09/04/01. For more information and to
obtain an application on this employment opportunity, please visit our
website at www.sno-isle.org/jobs
<http://www.sno-isle.org/jobs>
or contact
our Jobline at (360) 651-7040.
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Sno-Isle Regional Library System is accepting applications for a Public
Services Assistant II - Technical Liaison position at the Mountlake Terrace
Library (32 hrs/week) in Washington State. Job #0184 Closes 08/31/01. For
more information and to obtain an application on this employment
opportunity, please visit our website at www.sno-isle.org/jobs
<http://www.sno-isle.org/jobs>
or contact our Jobline at (360) 651-7040.
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Sno-Isle Regional Library System is accepting applications for a Public
Services Assistant I - Substitute position at the South Region Libraries (No
Guaranteed Hours) in Washington State. Job #0183 Closes 09/14/01. For more
information and to obtain an application on this employment opportunity,
please visit our website at www.sno-isle.org/jobs
<http://www.sno-isle.org/jobs>
or contact our Jobline at (360) 651-7040.
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Sno-Isle Regional Library System is accepting applications for a Librarian -
Children's Services position at the Arlington Library in Washington State.
Job #0181 Open Until Filled. For more information and to obtain an
application on this employment opportunity, please visit our website at
www.sno-isle.org/jobs <http://www.sno-isle.org/jobs>
or contact our Jobline
at (360) 651-7040.
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Sno-Isle Regional Library System is accepting applications for a Managing
Librarian III position at the Lynnwood Library in Washington State. Job
#0157 Closes OPEN UNTIL FILLED. For more information and to obtain an
application on this employment opportunity, please visit our website at
www.sno-isle.org/jobs <http://www.sno-isle.org/jobs>
or contact our Jobline
at (360) 651-7040
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Sno-Isle Regional Library System is accepting applications for a Managing
Librarian II position at the Marysville Library in Washington State. Job
#0167 Closes OPEN UNTIL FILLED. For more information and to obtain an
application on this employment opportunity, please visit our website at
www.sno-isle.org/jobs <http://www.sno-isle.org/jobs>
or contact our Jobline
at (360) 651-7040.
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Sno-Isle Regional Library System is accepting applications for a Librarian
Children's Services position at the Lynnwood Library in Washington
State.
Job #0169 Closes 08/24/01. For more information and to obtain an application
on this employment opportunity, please visit our website at
www.sno-isle.org/jobs <http://www.sno-isle.org/jobs>
or contact our Jobline
at (360) 651-7040.
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Thank You
Valerie Worrell
Human Resources
360-651-7004
------------------------------
From: Bonnie Janssen <bjafrm@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: ColorMarq Library Labeling System
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:11:23 CDT
I am wondering if anyone is using this system of
labeling the call numbers? It is a spione labeling
system that uses horizontal color bars that form a
visual image of the call numbers for non-fiction books
and the letters of the author's last name for fiction
books. I'd love to hear any experiences with it --
does it help the shelving go faster? If you have
picture book bins --how does it work? also have you
found the additional expense to be worth it?
Thanks for any info you can give me
Bonnie Janssen, Alameda COunty Library
bjanssen@aclibrary.org
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
--0-2136494600-998505780=:32687--
------------------------------
From: Carol Hopkins <chopkins@idaho-lynx.org>
To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org
Subject: Teen art exhibition
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Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:11:51 CDT
Hello PUBYACers!
My library is thinking about putting on a teen fantasy art exhibit furing
Teen
Read Week. No one on the staff here knows anything about creating or
running
such an event. Has anyone out there done this kind of event before?
What
are
some helpful hints to run a successful program? Any list of dos and
don'ts?
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Feel free to email me off list to the email address listed below.
TIA,
Carol Hopkins
chopkins@idaho-lynx.org
Nampa Public Library
Nampa, Idaho
------------------------------
From: "Carol Feldberg" <cfeldberg@fountaindale.lib.il.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org,
"kkrenz" <kkrenz@lib.az.us>
Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: Shelving underrated
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:13:06 CDT
I usually would put two cents worth in on this subject but had to agree
with this response. I have always felt shelving books was one of the most
important job duties in the library. Without books and other library
materials in their correct place and on the shelves, patrons will not be
checking out. It is also a great way to keep familiar with your
collection.
Carol Feldberg
School Services
Fountaindale Public Library
Bolingbrook, IL
-----Original Message-----
From: kkrenz <kkrenz@lib.az.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 11:52:32 CDT
Subject: Fwd: Re: Shelving underrated
>
> >From: Laurie Magee <magee@AXP.WINNEFOX.ORG>
> >To: pubyac@prairienet.org
> >Subject: Re: Shelving underrated
> >X-edited-by: pyowner@pallasinc.com
> >Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2001 10:06:40 CDT
> >Reply-To: pubyac@prairienet.org
> >Sender: owner-pubyac@prairienet.org
> There have been so many comments on this and I just bit my tongue.
> (maybe I
> should say fingers on the keyboard).I haven't responded in writing to
> PUBYAC for ages, but felt I had to this time. I have always felt that
> as a
> supervisor of any sort you should never expect staff
> to do something you are not willing to do yourself. I served many
> years as
> a school librarian where I was often the only staff member,
> "professional"
> or otherwise, and I had to shelve most of my library's books.
When I
> began
> work in a public library, I took it upon myself to start shelving some
> books because they needed to be shelved, and because I felt this was a
> good
> way to get more acquainted with the collection. Another
staffmember
> chided
> me on this because it was "beneath me as a professional
librarian". I
> assured this individual that I was very happy to be a professional
> librarian but did not feel that helping with shelving demeaned that
> position in any way. I actually never had a lot of time to spend on
> shelving and it certainly has never been my favorite activity but I
> think
> your staff and patrons will think more of you if you are willing to
> pitch
> in when needed. By the way, I also prefer to think of the word'
> professional 'more as a descriptive word than a noun!
> Just giving my say,
> Kami Krenz
> Arizona Braille and Talking Book Library
> Phoenix, AZ
>
------------------------------
From: "Rosemarie Grainer" <rgrainer@oleanlibrary.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Compilation of advice for a new school librarian.
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:14:13 CDT
Dear all,
Here are all the little tidbits
of advice that I received from my
query on advice for a former YA librarian turning elementary school
librarian. I am going to just cut and paste, but thanks go out to each
person who took the time to respond to me. I will be printing up this
compilation and bringing it with me to my new (new to me, that is!) school
library. Thanks again for all your advice and good wishes. I'm
sending
this out for any new school librarians that might want a little boost.
I will be signing off after this,
so that I can finish up at the
Olean Public Library and get ready for my new job at the Little Valley
Elementary School. I hope to sign back up shortly. These lists
are a
wonderful resource.
Rosemarie Grainer
Jennifer Rice recommends:
Reference:
Lands and Peoples from Grolier. Must have for those
country reports!
***********************
Donna Gilliland's advice is:
You might want to look at the archives for LM_NET a listserv for school
librarians. The address is:
http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml.
You might also
consider subscribing by sending a message to listserv@listserv.syr.edu.
Don't put anything in the subject line. In the body put subscribe
LM_NET
(your first and last name). Be aware that it's a VERY busy list
especially
during the school year, but it is much loved by school librarians around the
world (over 8,000 subscribers).
************************
Billie Esser suggests:
You say that you have grades K-6..in many schools, 6th
graders are in middle school...I would encourage you
to include YA materials for those older kids.
The former librarian at my school only purchased
materials that were deemed 9-12 as she believed those
were most appropriate books for the building. What
she failed to remember is that just because someone is
in the 6, 7 or 8th grade doesn't mean they read at
that grade level...they could read higher (and
frequently) at a lower grade level....so, just make
sure you have YA for those students are academically
and intellectually ready for them.
**************************
Linda Allen recommends:
As a former K-6 public school librarian, I think it is important to have a
good, updated selection of books that support the school curriculum. Ask the
teachers what themes, research projects they teach and order books in those
areas. Other than that, a well rounded literature collection for the
children, and don't forget to order your favorite books that you like to
read aloud to kids.
***************************
Colleen Hall's advice that has me smacking my head, since I know how well
they do
at the Olean Public Library!!:
I have also been both a school and a public librarian. On set I have
found
indispensable, if you can afford it, is Grolier's "Natures
Children". Kids
eat them up and they can be read for pleasure as well as used as an
information resource. They are great for teaching index and table of
contents when you need to as they are clearly laid out. I also did a
really
fun project with kindergartners teaching them the basics of
"research" using
this series.
*****************************
Marcia Schaffer suggests:
Well, I am not a school librarian but I work closely with our local
elementary school librarians. We have a great book, 57 Games to Play
in
the Library or Classroom that has several 'learn while you play' type
games. We use them a lot. Good luck!
****************************
Amy Healey's comprehensive wonderful advice is last:
Good luck with your new job! I went from being a public librarian to
being
a high school librarian 3 years ago -- and I love it. A subscription
to
LM_NET is a must, but I'd get it in digest form and delete it without
reading it on busy days -- it is A LOT of messages. If you can, join
AASL
and your local school librarian's association.
The Elementary School Library Collection is an expensive but vital resource,
with books listed in order of budget and priorities. (This is the
Baker and
Taylor information from Title Source II)
Elementary School Library Collection: A Guide to Books and Other Media,
Phases 1-2-3
by Homa, Linda L. (Edt)
Binding: HardcoverISBN: 087272123X
List Price: 139.00 (USD)
Estimated Discount Price: 143.95 (USD)
Pub Status: Apply Direct Pub Date: 2000/08/01 Product Type: BOOK
Edition/Vol: 22ND
Publisher Imprint: Brodart Co
Publisher Distributor: Brodart Co
The national standards for school libraries is a book called Information
Power which you can read about on the ALA web page (and order online) at
http://www.ala.org/aasl/ip_products.html
I don't know what the NY state standards are. The Illinois School
Library
Media Association has published a book with easy to use standards based on
Information Power, which we found to be a very helpful self-evaluation tool.
That, too, can be ordered online at www.islma.org,
though they are currently
updating their web site. The book is called Linking for Learning:
the
Illinois School Library Media Program Guidelines.
You might also want to look at the Profiles for Technology Literate Students
at http://cnets.iste.org/profiles.htm.
There are lots of example of information literacy curricula You might
want
to check out http://www.big6.com
There are links from the AASL page http://www.ala.org/aasl
to other sources
of information. There is also http://www.iasl-slo.org/linksiasl.html
School
Librarian Resources on the Web from the International Association of School
Librarianship and http://www.libertynet.org/lion/lessons.html
Librarians
Information Online Network Lesson Plans & Teaching Activities for School
Librarians
*************************
Rosemarie Grainer, former Reference/Young Adult Librarian
Olean Public Library, 134 N 2nd St., Olean, NY 14760
716-372-0200; Fax 716-372-8651; rgrainer@oleanlibrary.org
"So many books, so little time." - unknown
------------------------------
From: "Gayle Richardson" <Gayle.Richardson@spl.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: more info on VALUETALES
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Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:14:38 CDT
I guess I am not alone in starting to get requests for this series =
produced in the late
1970's and early 1980's. The reason is--the author, at least of the
first =
books, is none
other than Spencer Johnson, author of the humongously selling WHO MOVED MY =
CHEESE? My last inquirer told me that he mentions the series in his
new =
book, so=20
that's why the queries are coming in. This same patron called the =
publisher, who said
Mr. Johnson is rewriting them and they are going to be re-issued.
An OCLC search under keyword VALUETALES will bring up more titles than you =
ever want to know about.
Hope this saves some work for some folks out there.
Gayle Richardson Seattle Public Library
------------------------------
From: "James B. Casey" <jimcasey@lib.oak-lawn.il.us>
To: PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults & Children
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Foreign Paper Money as Prizes
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Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:15:00 CDT
An incentive which can be used any time during the year and
which will create much interest is foreign paper currency.
It is possible to purchase large, very colorful foreign
banknotes from countries like Peru, Argentina, Yugoslavia,
Poland, Cambodia, Indonesia, People's Republic of
China, and even some of the newest countries ---
Macedonia, Slovenia, etc. ---- for only a few cents
each. One dealer in these items is Steve Eyer,
http://www.eyersworld.com/
has a good selection of
foreign banknotes in packets of 100.
One program I developed around banknotes was to
ask kids to take an outline map of a country
(Facts on File), color the map, identify and locate
the capital and find one fact about the country in
a World Almanac or Encyclopedia. For doing this,
the Kids received a banknote from that country.
They wanted to collect all five countries offered
and soon the walls of our Children's Department
were covered with the most attractively colored
maps.
Jim Casey -- My own views as a public librarian.
------------------------------
From: "Kristin Hawksworth" <khawksworth@roselle.lib.il.us>
To: "PUBYAC (E-mail)" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: insistent parents
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Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:15:21 CDT
Hi all -
I am struggling with a recurring problem and perhaps some of you out there
can relate and/or offer your advice.
Most of our programming, aside from "family events", has some sort
of age or
grade restriction attached to it. Obviously, we do this because the
program
is designed for the attention spans, interests, etc. of that particular age
group. But there are always one or a few families who balk at these
restrictions. I.e. "my 18-month old is extremely gifted - I just
know she'd
be great in preschool storytime" OR "Why can't I bring my 2nd
grade cub
scouts for an intricate kite-making program for grade 5 and up?"
The latest
example is a Harry Potter sleepover event that we've scheduled for October.
We've set the age at grades 3-6, mainly because of the limits of our staff,
ideas for programming for that night, wanting to keep it to one or two peer
groups, etc. etc. I have one persistent and angry mom who already is
campaigning for her 2nd grader to attend. I spoke with her at length
last
night, but she does not agree with my logic, and is now lobbying the library
director. I understand that her child loves Harry Potter, as I am sure
that
many people both older and younger than our targeted age group for this
program do, and that her child is interested in the program, but at what
point can I draw the line? Do we always have to accommodate the
squeaky
wheels??
My question really is, how do you deal with patrons who insist on this sort
of special exception? How do you explain, so that they understand, the
rationale for setting age restrictions for programming? It seems to me
that
in each situation, the patron feels like we are singling them out or picking
on their child, how do I make them feel differently?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Kristin Hawksworth
Roselle Public Library
Roselle, IL
------------------------------
From: bkworm@mindspring.com
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: computer speakers
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:15:52 CDT
Dear Collective Mind,
I have a problem with the speakers on my children's game computer. The
ones
plugged into the computer have a volume control. Often when I set it
at an
appropriate level, a child (or mom, unfortunately), just turns up the
volume. I don't feel that you should be able to hear a game all over
the
children's department (which is a small area), especially when some moms and
dads are actually making an effort to read with their children. Of
course,
I turn the volume down, but I am getting tired of this game. I don't
want
to go with headphones because of germs, the frequency of breakage, and
theft. Is there such a thing as speakers with no easily accessible
volume
control? Perhaps speakers with volume control in a locked box, or
"smart"
speakers with volume control in a password-protected software program?
I am
not that old (32) but I swear children today are even deafer than my
generation of boob-tubers! Thanks for your help.
Mary Jones
Huntsville Public Library
Huntsville, AL
------------------------------
From: "Keener, Lesa" <LKeener@acmail.aclink.org>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: I did a very sucessful bedtime story time and I would like to pas
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Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:16:12 CDT
Nap storytime
The biggest bed in the world-Lindsey camp
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed-eileen Christelow
Good Night princess Pruney toes
The very noisy bed-diana Hendry
I won=92t go to bed-ziefert
For a quick craft I made acolor sheet of a cat sleeping on a bed and =
the
children put star stickers on the sheet themselves.
------------------------------
From: Ginnie Hoover <ginnie@lfpl.org>
To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>,
Subject: Looking for Kid-friendly Free E-mail accounts
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:16:32 CDT
Hi everyone! Are any of you aware of a free kid-friendly e-mail account,
similar to Hotmail or Yahoo mail? We teach a Girl Scout computer class
here
at LFPL, and one of the components is showing the girls how e-mail works.
We do NOT want to have them sign up for their own e-mail account, but our
plan is to set up a generic account that they can all log into during the
program and send a message from just to see how it works (we would change
the password after each program). However, I am not comfortable with
the
Yahoo or Hotmail accounts because of all the junkmail that they have, and
links from the account to things we would rather not expose these girls to
during the program. Any suggestions?
Ginnie Hoover
Louisville Free Public Library
Louisville, KY
ginnie@lfpl.org
------------------------------
From: "Christine Tyner" <Ctyner@gptx.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Easy Readers defined compilation
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Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:16:56 CDT
The following is the compilation of the responses I received to my query =
about defining the limits of Easy Reader collections. There's some great =
stuff in here! Thanks to all who responded. I tried to keep contact names =
with the responses for others' use. You are all a great help!=20
***
I agree that easy non-fiction should be kept with the children's non-fictio=
n,
not the Easy Reader section. Easy non-fiction has a broader audience
than
emergent readers alone. Emergent readers will look in non-fiction if
the =
subject
interests them but information seekers with higher reading levels will
=
not look
in the Easy Reader section (although those books could be of benefit
to =
them).
Children also engage in informational text in a different manner and
with
different skills than they do with fiction, as do we all. It's not
just =
the
sheer number of books that causes libraries to separate adult fiction
=
from
non-fiction!
David Kondo
Reading and Homework Help Program Co-ordinator
Toronto Public Library
***
Our library does have easy reader but we also have J2-3 to cover those =
easy
chapter books that are harder than easy reader but really are not
ready =
for
Juvenile fiction, such as the Stepping Stone books.
Tina Hager
Youth Services Librarian
Carrollton Public Library
***
We use the same terms and have much the same problems. It helped us when =
our
new Branch director and our new Youth Services Coordinator dictated a
few
terms. All non-Fiction must be in Non-fiction by Dewey. (Locally we
have
added a red sticker to indicate easy to read) We put the sound box
series
type of books in Easy Readers, but basically the only books called
Easy
Readers are the ones designated so by the publishers, ie I can read,
Easy-to-read, etc. A picture book (also called J Easy in our system)
is a
picture book that can be read by early readers and so is shelved with
the
easies not the readers. We are very strict with our Tech dept. and
with
ourselves. We still have changes to be made, but this helps. We took =
samples
of real easy readers and showed them what we meant by publisher series
of
easy to read. Hint...most of them are the same size and shape.mm
***
We just went through a definition process with our "easy reader"
books, as =
we
are in the process of migrating to a new automation system and need to
=
think
about our collections, etc. It is a good time to make changes in =
terminology. We
have had problems with patrons and staff using the word Easy to
describe =
"E"
fiction picture books, books for emerging readers and here, within the
=
emerging
readers a subset. We shelve the beginning readers and the phonics
books =
under
the heading "Easy Reader" with a call number prefix ER.
Within ER we have =
a
label on those books that are phonics based, such as the Moncure books
=
and
anything that has a limited vocabulary. We call these "Word
Books". We =
also have
a label for the *true* beginning to read books, such as Marshall,
Lobel, =
etc.,
which is "Easy Reader". Any non-fiction is given a dewey
number and =
shelved with
the *regular* juvenile non-fiction, including Magic Schoolbus, DK, =
Mathstart,
etc. One way I have instructed tech services to distinguish books that
=
belong in
the ER section is book format- size and number of pages (although this
is =
not
always true, especially with the "word" books.). Generally
easy readers =
have 64
pages and are a certain size. We are now going to call the books with
=
call
number prefix E picture books, as that is what they are format wise.
We =
want our
patrons to know that the content of those books includes books for the
=
baby,
toddler, preschooler and the school-aged child. We felt that calling
them =
"Easy"
scared the parents of 2nd graders and kept those kids away from good =
books
(Janell Cannon, etc.) and the flipside was that parents of
preschoolers =
get
upset that some books are not "appropriate" for their 4 year
old. The ER =
books
we will call Beginning Readers. I've probably told you a lot more than
=
you want
to know, but since I have been milling this around just this very
week, I =
have a
lot to say. Hope this helps. Good luck, Tanya
***
I read your description of which books and series you consider ER and =
which
should be J FIC or J Non-fic....and that is exactly how we
handle those
specific series for the most part. What we did is give our Tech
Services
Dept. a list of series titles that should be cataloged ER, which would
be
JFIC and which would be under their non-fiction Dewey Class. In some =
cases
we split up series by level. Generally in most series, level 3 or
maybe
higher would be placed in J or JNF.
If a non-fiction title (say about frogs) gives facts about that topic,
=
then
it is JNF. If it is just a story type thing, or very basic info (frogs
=
are
green, frogs jump, etc.) and it is ER format, with few words, low
level
vocab. then it would be ER.
In our system the Magic School Bus and MathStart books are cataloged
as
picturebooks (E).
Kristin Lane / Youth Services
San Bernardino County Library
104 W. 4th St., San Bernardino, CA 92415
voice (909) 387-5737 fax (909) 387-5736
e-mail klane@lib.sbcounty.gov
***
Your situation sounds very similiar to the one I faced 4
years ago as I started my current job. Here is how I
defined my Easy Reader section: fiction only (just
like you I felt
the Easy Nfiction belong with other non-fiction so
even slow readers could find something on the topic
they were
interested in). To differeniate between what I call
"Early Chapter " books like
Redfeather,etc., and some of the upper
level beginning readers like the Commander Toad
series, I asked books written in chapter
format be classed J
Fiction. This has worked out fairly well with only an
occasional bad call that has to be changed.
If you can talk to your
cataloger and get him/her to understand what your
rationale is and can work out an agreement, I
think your
frustration level will be much less. I hope you have a Tech.
Services/ Cataloging Dept. with a cooperative
attitude.
Good luck!
Debra Lodge
Children's Services Coordinator
Dorchester County Library,SC
***
As you said, EZ readers are books for new readers to practice their skills
w/o feeling overwhelmed. We have the fiction EZ readers in a
separate
section. They each have a small red dot on them. The EZ
non-fiction =
books
are shelved w/the non-fiction. These have a small red dot as
well. That
way they are w/the subject and parents know they are at an easier
reading
level.
Good luck--Meghan
***
This is a messy area for all of us.
We define it as emergent books up to 3rd grade.
Most have the I Can Read size, however, we do include
Moncure's books and some very small beginning readers.
If a book says 2-4 level, it moves into J Fiction.
These include Step into Reading like Junie. B Jones,
Magic Treehouse, Marvin Redpost.
Nonfiction is even trickier. We have take 1
sentence/page books like Pebble/ Capstone and made
them Readers. More than a few sentences with usually
sophisticated vocab goes to nonfiction.
Many beginning readers, and boys especially like
nonfiction. So if it turns them into readers, we want
to make it easy to find.
Other libraries in my county want to have the
nonfiction easy readers designated Nonfiction and also
Readers. I feel this is pushing the categories up.
Hope this helps.
Sushila Mertens
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Sushila Mertens kidlit_2000@yahoo.com
***
I agree with the narrower vision of easy reader that you seem to have.
At our library (and at most in our system), easy readers are fiction
only and include books that emerging readers can read themselves.
These include Rookie Readers, Hello Readers, Sound Box books, and the
like. We put a special sticker on them and shelve them after the
Easy
Childrens Books (picture books meant to be read by aa adult to a
child).
Our Easy Nonfiction books are separated from the regular juvenile
nonfiction. EZNF includes the Magic Schoolbus, True Books and
the like.
We interfile the transitional books (or bridge books) with the J
fiction. To make it easier for parents to find, we put a bright
green
dot on the spine. Our criteria for the dot is large type,
controlled
vocabulary, some pictures and under 90 pages. Redfeather and
Stepping
Stone books fall in this category.
Occasionally, we run into problems, such as the older Magic School Bus
Chapter books, which can be JNF, JF (bridge), EZNF or EZRDR. We
mostly
go by instinct in these cases. Where would our patron be most
likely
to find the book?
I hope this helps you.
Cindi Carey
Lacey, Washington
***
We've been through the same situation that you're going through, trying to
establish collections that best suit the needs of our patrons.
Our Easy Reader collection houses obvious titles like Henry &
Mudge, Frog
& Toad, etc, the Hiilert books, and the Wolcott books -- and
all of =
those
publishers' series like "Real Kids Readers", "Hello
reader" "Rookie
Readers". So far we've elected not to put any early
nonfiction here.
We've also established a "transitional" shelf - housing the
kinds of
sereis you mentioned : also Cam Jansen, Meg Mackintosh, Herbie Jones,
Jenny Archer, Magic Tree House etc etc.
Good luck!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Mary D'Eliso, Children's Librarian
Monroe County Public Library
mdeliso@monroe.lib.in.us
Bloomington, Indiana
***
Our easy reader section contains only fiction and they
must have be defined by the publisher as a book for
beginning readers. In other words they must say
--"Step into reading", "Ready to Read", "I
Can Read"
or "beginning to read" somewhere on the cover or in
the description of the book. "Stepping Stone" books
and other beginning chapter books are not included
because they are not meant for the beginning reader --
they are meant for readers who can read well and are
stepping up into chapter books. We do not include
joke books or beginning science books because we only
have fiction in our easy reader section. I hope this
helps.
Maggie Shanley
Radford Public Library
Radford, VA 24141
***
Hi Christine! The library I used to work in had the
same problem. I was constantly butting heads with the
cataloging department about what did and didn't belong
in "Easy Reader." We finally set up definitions for
all of our collections that determined things like
format, function and audience. Since our Nonfiction
collection was defined to serve children of all ages,
including beginning readers, nonfiction picture books
and readers were shelved there. So the "Easy Reader"
section was set as a fiction collection.
This is an section from our collection development
document that we used to define our collections:
B. Easy Readers
Goals:
*To provide fictional books for children who are just
beginning to read independently.
*To provide functional materials for the Kindergarten
through early 3rd Grade reading levels which will
foster the transition between picture books and
chapter books.
* Books of the following format(s) have been defined
as meeting such purposes: typically 65 pages or less
in length, with short, simple sentence structure;
large type, wide spacing and additional white space.
These books generally have a limited vocabulary and
illustrations which reinforce the text but do not
"tell the story."
The thing that we stressed to our catalogers and
anyone else who was curious is that readers are
different from other books because the serve a
specific function and format that other books do not.
We also included phonic books like the Moncure series
in this section because even though they did not have
a plot they follow that function. A nonfiction reader
is somewhat different because it has two functions,
that of a regular reader and introducing a nonfiction
topic. So technically they would be appropriate either
place *DEPENDING* on how you define your nonfiction
collection. Since ours covered all ages up to 12 we
felt they were more appropriately placed in the
nonfiction collection interfiled with books of the
same topic for all children. However, I have seen it
done many ways successfully: interfiled by author in
the "reader" section, separate like we did, or
together in the reader section but not
interfiled--nonfiction titles at the end.
Finally, some nonfiction readers are somewhat
borderline. Like one that's about dogs but not
terribly informative. In cases like these, I would
follow the CIP. If it offers a nonfiction number, I'd
go with it. But there are always exceptions. It really
comes down to how good your relationship is with your
catalogers and whether they trust you to develope the
collection in a way that suits your customers.
Concerning easy chapter books, my new library has a
special section for these all together: "In-Between
Books" It includes Junie B. Jones, Suzy Kline's book,
Cam Jansen, etc. But in my old library we interfiled
them in the regular chapter book section and marked
them with pink tape on the spine for easy access.
These you can define by age group. There's a little
bit of overlap depending on individuals' reading
levels but for the most part I've always said that the
easy chapter books were for kids in 2-4th grade. I
would show your catalogers a couple of books as
examples: Nate the Great=3Dreader / Junie B. Jones=3Deasy
chapter book. Or even get a couple of the Cam Jansen
readers and chapter books side by side and show them
the difference in format/function. That might help.
Good Luck!
Jennifer Baker
Fresno Co. Library, CA
formerly of Lewisville, TX
***
I agree with you on all of your definitions of a beginning
reader. (My beginning reader collection has about 5,000 titles
and
6,200 items, for comparison purposes.) Our beginning reader collection
consists of all fiction at the levels you described, the phonics-based
stuff, and the "math readers" (not picture books).
To make finding
things easier for kids, we have the poetry, nonfiction, and riddles
all
shelved with the nonfiction. We use about the same guidelines as
you
do, giving our tech services specifics about which series (and levels
within series) go where. If you feel you need to quantify your
standards or have something in print to show the staff, you might be
interested in a book we use that describes the Guided Reading
principle.
The local schools use this system, explained in "Guided Reading:
Good
First Teaching for All Children" by Fountas and Pinnell,
published by
Heinemann.=20
It sounds complicated, but
really isn't once you see the
pictures in the books: The authors assign books levels ranging from A
to
P, reproducing pages from real readers and giving very brief
descriptions of what makes a book fall under which level.
We
basically go up to L in our beginning reader collection; all other
fiction books go into other collections. You may also wish to
use this
book for specific wording for your collection development manual.
We're
fortunate to have goddesses of flexibility working as catalogers, so
they're great about asking when they're unsure and bringing in titles
for me to look at and "make the call." =20
This next part is just to
amuse you, not to make a statement or
anything. We changed the name of our collection to
"Beginning Readers"
from "Easy Readers" a few years ago after a funny incident.
I was
helping an 8-year-old girl find the easiest beginning readers for her
6-year-old brother. After I showed him one that was too hard,
she said
indignantly, "Why do you call these easy readers? They're not
easy if
you can't read!" I admitted that she was right, then after
laughing
hysterically in my office, ordered new signs. Good luck with your
project-- it sounds like you're almost there. =20
Catherine Mau
Catherine Mau
Head of Young People's Services
Barrington Area Library
http://www.barringtonarealibrary.org
505 N. Northwest Highway
Barrington, IL 60010
847.382.1300x250
mailto:cmau@barringtonarealibrary.org
***
We've begun to separate out the DK Readers, Let's Read and Find Out, the
Saunders-Smiths, and the True Books (and all the other easy nonfiction
series like these) into a "Primary Nonfiction" collection.
And I believe
the cutoff reading level for our Easy Readers is 3.2.
Hope this helps,
Andrea Johnson
ajohnson@cooklib.org
***
We have an easy reader section which does not include non-fiction titles =
or
beginning chapter books. We put the readers that our non-fiction
with =
our
non-fiction and our beginning chapter books are interfiled with the
rest =
of
Junior fiction. These books all have a bright orange spine label
=
"Beginner
Chapter Book" so people can find them. Our easy readers all have
a Demco
spine label sticker as well. I hope this helps.
***
Christine Tyner
Children's Librarian
Betty Warmack Branch Library
Grand Prairie, TX=20
ctyner@gptx.org
ph 972-237-5773
fax 972-237-5779
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