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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: Friday, March 21, 2003 4:11 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 1061
PUBYAC Digest 1061
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: Annual leave at busy times
by Mary <mrc42@yahoo.com>
2) Re: Annual leave at busy times
by "Cindy Rider" <CRIDER@vigo.lib.in.us>
3) Re: Comic-book program
by Robin Shtulman <shtulman@erving.com>
4) Library card campaign
by Dennielle@aol.com
5) Re: Comic-book program
by Michele Hilton <scie1111@yahoo.com>
6) Summer Reading Publicity
by BOGART Debra <dbogart@ci.springfield.or.us>
7) teen summer program
by "Roberta Meyer" <roberta@effinghamlibrary.org>
8) Re: Annual leave at busy times
by Carol Hoke <hoke@mail.crlibrary.org>
9) Re: Electronic registration for Summer Reading Club
by Lynn <minorl@libcoop.net>
10) Toys and Literacy
by Deerr Kathleen <deerr@mcpl.lib.ny.us>
11) resources for families dealing with war related stress
by Judy Nelson <jnelson@pcl.lib.wa.us>
12) Pen Pals Program
by "Ann Hanson" <ahanson@cooklib.org>
13) Art Print in Minneapolis airport
by "Tobin, Renee" <Rtobin@ci.rancho-cucamonga.ca.us>
14) TAB's ( long list)
by "Lawrence Johnson" <johnson@soar.snap.lib.ca.us>
15) stumper about boy raised by coyotes
by "K Kowalchuk" <kkowalchuk@pmc.scdsb.on.ca>
16) Stumper: markers, etc.
by Sharon Castanteen <scastanteen@yahoo.com>
17) Wild west compilation (long)
by Susie Johnson <srrlys@neflin.org>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mary <mrc42@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Annual leave at busy times
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:12:29 CST
We are a small library and our various departments discuss WAY ahead of time
who gets what. It's a rule that no one can take both Thanksgiving AND
Christmas.
Mary Rogers
------------------------------
From: "Cindy Rider" <CRIDER@vigo.lib.in.us>
To: <pam.gravenor@ncc.govt.nz>,
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Re: Annual leave at busy times
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Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:12:37 CST
Within our department, we take turns for all holidays from year to year.
Cindy Rider
Young Peoples School Liaison Librarian
Vigo County Public Library
Terre Haute, IN
crider@vigo.lib.in.us
=20
http://www.vigo.lib.in.us
"If we didn't have libraries, many people thirsty for knowledge would =
dehydrate."
- Megan Jo Tetrick, age 12, Daleville, Indiana
------------------------------
From: Robin Shtulman <shtulman@erving.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Comic-book program
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:12:44 CST
How about making your own comic books?
On Wednesday, March 19, 2003, at 02:54 PM, Tina Sizemore wrote:
> Our library wants to do a combination adult/children
> comic-book program. We have some ideas for speakers
> (preserving your comic-book collection and the history
> of comic books for the adults; and a comic-book artist
> for the kids). I know other libraries out there have
> done something similar. Can I get some advice (do's
> and don'ts) and some ideas from you?
>
> Thanks!
------------------------------
From: Dennielle@aol.com
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Library card campaign
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Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:12:52 CST
I have been pushing for a while now for us to do a library card campaign and
it look like it's a go! I was hoping some of you would share
your ideas
you have used. It will be targeted to the kindergarten or 1st grade level.
Any sample handouts, packets, ideas, outcomes, mission statements
partnership ideas, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Please email me directly at danielleday@kclibrary.org
Danielle Day
Kansas City Public Library
311 E 12 St.
Kansas City, MO 64106
------------------------------
From: Michele Hilton <scie1111@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Comic-book program
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:13:01 CST
You might get in contact with your comic shop owner or with the comic shop
in your nearest urban center. We just had the local comic guru come in and
booktalk graphic novels for YAs and adults; he was fantastic. A comic shop
might also be able to put you in touch with local comic artists who
distribute their own work; they could give a workshop or talk about
independently producing your own comic. I hope you won't forget your teen
population in your programming. I'm sure they would love to learn about
preserving their comic collections and to have their passion for comics
reflected in the library's programming.
--Michele Hilton, SLIS student, Dalhousie University
Tina Sizemore <tina5652@yahoo.com>
wrote:Our library wants to do a
combination adult/children
comic-book program. We have some ideas for speakers
(preserving your comic-book collection and the history
of comic books for the adults; and a comic-book artist
for the kids). I know other libraries out there have
done something similar. Can I get some advice (do's
and don'ts) and some ideas from you?
------------------------------
From: BOGART Debra <dbogart@ci.springfield.or.us>
To: mmoore@nmls.lib.tx.us, pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Summer Reading Publicity
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:13:10 CST
Many people asked for a compilation of publicity ideas that I received
from
Pubyac, so here is a list of all that I have received. Thank you to those
who
responded.
Last summer in Arlington , Texas, the public library created and recorded
a
Summer Reading jingle onto CD They distributed copies of the CD to local
schools and asked them to play it over the loud speaker each time
announcements were played during the last 3 weeks of school, just to remind
kids about the SRC program.
The Wichita Public Library enters a *Summer Reading float* on a borrowed
flat bed truck each May in the local festival parade. Kids ride on the float
holding books, some in uniforms (sports uniforms, for example) or costumes.
Banners on the float advertise their Summer Reading programs.
One library has an artistic staff member who creates large foam core board
displays with all of the summer reading prizes, calendars, flyers, etc. They
take one to each of the local elementary schools where it is displayed in a
high traffic area, and one is also kept on display at the library.
The Fresno County Libraries distribute flyers and posters not just in
schools and libraries, but in local shops and offices, coffee shops, fast
food
restaurants, dental and pediatrician offices, laundry mats, etc. Bookstores
would be good ideas too!
The Blodgett Library in Fishkill, New York advertises that they are
air-conditioned, and that the Children*s Room makes a refreshing follow-up
to
a morning in the hot sun. They also schedule their grade school storytime to
coincide with the local day camp dismissal time.
They also use local teachers as *word of mouth*: at end of year
conferences
teachers share information about the Library*s summer reading program.
Summer Reading Program Publicity Ideas continued
The Tiffin-Seneca Public Library of Tiffin, Ohio, had their biggest
success
in reaching new library users during SRP by recording a six-minute video
that
was filmed in the library, using children, teen and
puppet actors. The video was shown repeatedly on the local public access
television station. The video was also shown at local schools. A volunteer
professionally edited the video for them.
The Ossian Branch Library of Ossian, Indiana, hangs a large banner across
Main Street during the month of registration for Summer Reading. The city
puts
it up for them.
The Rochester Public Library has a youth services staff of five who manage
to visit all the classrooms in Rochester, New York and present a silly skit,
usually wearing memorable costumes or accessories.
Several libraries also send librarians to speak at end of the year PTA
(parent teacher associations, also called PTO) meetings and district PTA
meetings.
The Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury, Vermont creates their own *Summer
Reading Big Book* out of oak tag or foam board, and bound by rings. The
cover
represents the summer theme, the next page has the reading log, bookmark,
etc.
and the rest of the pages highlight programs. Usually the book is 8 or 9
pages long, and rather than an all inclusive display, selected items are
highlighted as teasers to join the program. Large fonts are used to make the
Big Book readable from the back of a classroom. Makes a great prop to take
to
classroom visits or meetings, and works well as a visual aid for people who
are shy about speaking in front of a group.
Debra Bogart
541-726-2243
dbogart@ci.springfield.or.us
Youth Services
Springfield Public Library
225 Fifth Street
Springfield, OR 97477
"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: "Roberta Meyer" <roberta@effinghamlibrary.org>
To: "PUBYAC" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: teen summer program
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Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:13:17 CST
Forgive me if this has been discussed before.
I want to do a summer reading program for teens this year. We have
traditionally had our program geared toward pre-8 and generally have around
500 children registered. Last year, for the first time, we allowed adults
to sign up for summer reading. They set their own goals, and each week
that
they reached their goal, they put their name in a box for a drawing. This
group included our high school kids.
I am thinking of separating out our junior high and high school kids for
their own summer program. I'd be interested in hearing from others who
have
done this. What goals did you set for this group, or did you allow them to
set their own? What incentives did you offer that they were really willing
to work toward? Did you have special programs to get them interested in
coming to the library?
Please respond to me directly at mailto://roberta@effinghamlibrary.org
and I
will post results if there is interest.
Thanks so much!
Roberta
**********************************************
Roberta L. Meyer
Youth Services Librarian
Helen Matthes Library
100 East Market Ave.
Effingham, IL 62401
(217) 342-2464 x6
Fax (217) 342-2413
roberta@effinghamlibrary.org
"The Library is the Answer. What's the Question?"
------------------------------
From: Carol Hoke <hoke@mail.crlibrary.org>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Annual leave at busy times
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Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:13:26 CST
At 02:00 PM 3/19/2003 -0600, you wrote:
>My library employs about 40 staff, including many part timers. We are
>looking for a system of dealing with busy times such as Christmas and
>Easter, when too many staff want time off.
>Currently we use early deadlines for leave applications, and a method of
>prioritising applications. Although this is as fair as we could make
it,
it
>still doesn't work well for people who have to make travel etc bookings
much
>earlier than our deadline, and for people who hate to be that organised, or
>who have last minute changes to their plans.
>If your library uses a system which you feel works well for staff and the
>library, and might work with our number of staff, I would love to hear
about
>it.
>Thanks very much,
>Pam Gravenor
>Children's and Young Adults' Librarian
>Nelson Public Libraries
>Private Bag 41
>Nelson
>New Zealand
Our library is a union facility and so these work rules are contractual,
but I think they work out fairly well. Throughout the year vacation
selection is based on seniority, but the week of Christmas and the week
following are done by drawing among all who wish to have the time
off. Management has determined how many days/hours can be off during this
time period and only those winning the lottery up to that amount of time
are given the time off. It seems pretty fair (unless you don't get chosen,
I suppose!) and everyone has an equal chance to have the time off.
Carol Hoke
Programming Services Manager
Cedar Rapids Public Library
500 First St SE
Cedar Rapids IA 52401
319-398-5145, ext. 259
fax 319-398-0746
Hoke@mail.crlibrary.org
------------------------------
From: Lynn <minorl@libcoop.net>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Electronic registration for Summer Reading Club
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Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:13:35 CST
Marta,
I responded as best I could and "Yes" we can do this, it's exactly the
same
as the rest of our
registrations.
Lynn
pubyac@prairienet.org wrote:
> -------------< COMMENTS BY Kwitkowm >--------------
>
> Do you think it would be feasible for us? Do you think you can answer
some of her questions? Thanks, mk
>
> ----------< END OF COMMENTS BY Kwitkowm >----------
>
> Dear PUBYACers
> I know some of you out there offer electronic registration for Summer =
> Reading Club. I have some questions for you!
> *Do you transfer the information to a database?
> *How often do you receive updates?
> *Is it only on an in-house PAC or do you also allow outside registration?
> *Does the patron get any type of verification to show you that s/he has =
> registered?
> *Have you had any problems with information getting lost and/or being =
> compromised?
> Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to know the
=
> good, the bad, and the ugly!
> Thanks for your time and input.
> Beverly Kirkendall
> bkirkend@ci.hurst.tx.us
> Library Manager, Youth Services
> Hurst Public Library=20
> Hurst, TX
------------------------------
From: Deerr Kathleen <deerr@mcpl.lib.ny.us>
To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Toys and Literacy
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Content-Type: text/plain;
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:13:43 CST
Hi some of my colleagues and I are doing research for an article on the
value of toys and play in emergent literacy and the role of public libraries
in this area. We are looking for information on what libraries are already
doing or planning to do that incorporate play in their programs for parents
and young children (0-3yr) and preschoolers 3-5). We are already very
familiar with the Parent Child Home Program and Family Place Libraries and
would like to learn more about other programs that are out there. Please
respond directly to me at deerr@mcpl.lib.ny.us.
TIA
Kathleen Deerr
Assistant Director
Middle Country Public Library
101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach, NY 11720
(631) 585-9393, ext. 204
deerr@mcpl.lib.ny.us
------------------------------
From: Judy Nelson <jnelson@pcl.lib.wa.us>
To: "PUBYAC (E-mail)" <PUBYAC@prairienet.org>
Subject: resources for families dealing with war related stress
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Content-Type: text/plain;
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:13:52 CST
The Pierce County Library System has just posted a page for families and
care givers who are dealing with disaster and/or war-related stress.
We are a community with a large military presence and have added many items
speaking directly to military families.
http://www.pcl.lib.wa.us/ChildCope/TheThreatofWar.htm
Judy Nelson
Judy T Nelson
Youth Services Coordinator
Pierce County Library System
3005 112th St E
Tacoma, WA 984426
253 536-6500 ext 158
------------------------------
From: "Ann Hanson" <ahanson@cooklib.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Pen Pals Program
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Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:13:59 CST
I did a pen pal program once and it didn't work out as well as I had =
hoped.=20
I lined up willing partners at a variety of libraries around the =
country. I had a lot of success with other Children's Librarians =
wanting to participate, and I met many really nice people. Those =
libraries sent me a list of names and ages of children who were =
interested in participating. I then planned a craft program where the =
interested kids in my library could come and write their letters, make =
stationary, etc. This part of the program was very successful, the kids =
really enjoyed decorating the letters and envelopes for their new =
friends. Even at this stage of the program I had some problems, not =
with the kids but with parents who did not want to give out their =
child's address to a complete stranger. While I recognize that there is =
some potential danger in giving this information out, I thought that it =
was just a little unreasonable for parents to think that their child =
could have a pen pal without giving an address. As a compromise I =
agreed to only give the address of the library for the first "meeting"
=
and that after that they could decide about giving their home addresses. =
Once I had all of the letters together I put all of them into a big =
envelope and sent them to the libraries we had partnered with where they =
were distributed to the recipients.
More problems started a few weeks later when kids would come into the =
library and complain that their pen-pals had not responded to the =
letters they had sent. I felt responsible for making sure that it was a =
good experience for all the participants, but there was really nothing I =
could do to ensure that they would get a response. I had a really hard =
time explaining this to both children and parents (as a matter of fact =
the kids were more understanding than the parents). I am sure that the =
librarians on the receiving end distributed the letters, but kids being =
kids they did not always write back. This was a program that I did in =
conjunction with the Summer Reading Program and I was still getting =
complaints about it well into the next school year.
If I was going to do another letter writing program, I would provide =
kids with various resources (magazines, websites, etc.) to get paired up =
with pen pals, but not actually try to pair them up myself. I would =
stick to the letter writing/decorating and let them decide how they want =
to go about getting a pen pal.
Hope this helps.
Ann=20
------------------------------
From: "Tobin, Renee" <Rtobin@ci.rancho-cucamonga.ca.us>
To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Art Print in Minneapolis airport
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:33:02 CST
I did not save the original email but sometime ago someone posted a request
for information on an art print they saw at the Minneapolis airport. I
think I saw it in the latest Britannia catalog. If you go to
www.fields.com/britannia then
search "bookworm poster" you should find the
graphic. Hope it is the one you were looking for.
Renee Tobin
Senior Librarian
Rancho Cucamonga Public Library
------------------------------
From: "Lawrence Johnson" <johnson@soar.snap.lib.ca.us>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: TAB's ( long list)
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:33:10 CST
Here are the responses that I received about starting and managing a =
teen advisory board. I would also like to thank Ashley Larsen, Leah =
Rudolph, Peg Burington, Michele Mallette, Kate Brown and Kris Chipps for =
their wonderful advice. The information you all gave me will help me to =
start and run a successful TAB.
Lawrence Johnson, Jr.
Young Adult Librarian
Solano County Library
John F. Kennedy Library
505 Santa Clara Street
Vallejo, CA 94590
Telephone: 707-553-5354
Fax: 707-553-5567
E-mail: johnson@snap.lib.ca.us
-----Original Message-----
From: Larsen, Ashley [mailto:larsen@plsinfo.org]
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 6:15 PM
To: johnson@soar.snap.lib.ca.us
Subject: Teen Advisory Boards
Hi!
I've been running a teen advisory board at our library for about a =
year and a half. Our group consists of about 12 teens, mostly middle =
schoolers. They meet for an hour about once a month to plan programs =
for the library. Some of the ones they've done have been: a magic show, =
a teen movie night, a Harry Potter Party, and Games Day. =20
We have the advantage here of having a K-8 school across the street =
with a community service requirement for middle schoolers. This was a =
big plus in recruiting kids for the board, but I've found that the ones =
who stick with it are the ones who tend to be in the library after =
school anyway. I've also found (not surprisingly) that providing snack =
food at the meetings is essential. The most difficult aspect of working =
with this group has been scheduling meetings, because the kids have so =
many after school activities. =20
The meetings are fairly informal, sometimes even chaotic, but no =
matter how crazy they get, the kids always amaze me with their ideas. =
It's been a wonderful experience, and has drastically improved our =
relationship with our after school regulars. =20
Hope this helps! Good luck with your board.
Ashley
Ashley Larsen
Public Services Librarian
Woodside Library
3140 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA 94062
650-851-0147
650-851-2695 (fax)
-----Original Message-----
From: Leah Rudolph [mailto:leahrudolph@adelphia.net]
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 6:54 PM
To: johnson@snap.lib.ca.us
Subject: TAB
I started one last spring by first quizzing our local school =
librarians as to who would be a likely candidate to invite to =
participate (kids who loved to read and would be willing to =
participate). After I had about 8 names, I called the kids and invited =
them to a meeting to form a TAB for the library, suggesting we would =
conduct book discussions, do some minor fundraising with the Friends =
group, and whatever else they thought they would like to do to promote =
the library! We are a learn as you go group. I basically bring ideas
=
and guidance to the group and they make the decisions and carry out the =
activity. They range in age from 12-15 (7th-10th grade) and the group =
has grown with interest. I tried to have children represent all our =
local schools as well as home-schooled kids for diversity.
Activities we've done:
read to younger kids one Sunday last summer
ran a bake sale/cafe at the Friends used book sale
sponsored 2 successful book discussions for young adults
helped with the teen read summer reading program
helped set up a book exchange at the local teen center
I'm having a meeting in the next 2 weeks to see what they want to plan =
for this summer and I want them to help me with collection developement =
of our YA materials.
Leah Ducato Rudolph
Abington Community Library, Clarks Summit, PA
"We could learn a lot from crayons... some are sharp, some are
pretty, =
some are dull, some have weird names, and all have different =
colors...but they all have to learn to live in the same box." anonymous
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: Peg Burington [mailto:pburingt@mail.owls.lib.wi.us]
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 12:34 PM
To: johnson@snap.lib.ca.us
Subject: Teen Board
Having planned poorly attended programs, I came to the conclusion that
the only way to reach teens was to have their input. Rather than have
teens volunteer for a Teen Board, I wrote to activity directors,
teachers and Youth Ministers asking for nominations of teens who would
be interested in being a part of our teen board. I personally =
encouraged
teachers to choose students who may need us as much as we need them. =
We
encouraged nominated teens to bring a friend.
I've attached the letters I used for nomination and congraulations. I=20
sent one to every high school and middle school teacher who acts as an =
activity director, as well as Youth Pastors. I gained about 40 names =
and=20
had about 20 students come to the first meeting. Some of them have=20
stayed but many more have joined. We are now having monthly meetings=20
(from 17-20 attend), have changed our name to SLAG and have about 50 =
on=20
our mailing list. It's suddenly cool to come to the library!
Good luck!
--=20
Peg Burington
Assistant Director/Young Adult Coordinator
Waupaca Area Public Library
107 South Main Street
Waupaca, WI 54981
Phone 715-258-4414 Fax 715-258-4418
-----Original Message-----
From: Mallette, Michelle [mailto:MSMallette@city.surrey.bc.ca]
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 1:50 PM
To: 'johnson@snap.lib.ca.us'
Subject: TAG
Make sure you join TAGAD-L -- discussion group for TAG advisors. I did =
that,
took what they said to heart, and had an amazing 13 kids show up for =
the
first meeting. I went to the three high schools in our catchment, had =
the
teacher-librarians organize kids that thought might be interested to =
meet me
(about 10-15 at each school) and I gave them a powerpoint presentation =
on
what it was, what I expected, what they might do, and of course, =
promised
food (essential for afterschool meetings).
TAGAD-L -- read recent threads here:
http://www.topica.com/lists/tagad-l/read
Sign on to the list at http://www.topica.com/lists/tagad-l/
Good luck!
Michelle
Michelle Mallette
Youth Services Librarian
Strawberry Hill Library
Surrey Public Library
voice: 604-501-5844
e-mail: msmallette@city.surrey.bc.ca
-----Original Message-----
From: kchipps@ald.lib.co.us
[mailto:kchipps@ald.lib.co.us]
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2003 1:31 PM
To: johnson@soar.snap.lib.ca.us
Subject: teen advisory boards
Greetings -
I'm more than happy to tell you what we do and have done to start, =
hold on
to and increase a TAB group. My group has been in force for 4 years =
now.
We began very small, by letting some of our regulars know we wanted to
start one and we'd love to have their ideas known. We began with 5 =
teens;
this morning I had 23. We meet one Sat. a.m. each month for an hour, =
and
food/munchies are always served. Their job is to plan and present =
programs
to other teens in our area; I just become the adult in charge.
To get interest in the board, I put out flyers, which state what we do =
as
a board, when we meet, and benefits of membership (like community =
service
hours that many need for school, church, honors, Scouts; and the lure =
of
becoming a paid "page" when they turn 16, because we can
recommend =
them).
I also mention in the flyers that because we meet on a non-school day =
in
the morning, they get extra credit just for getting up and getting =
here!
Last year, we had a Tolkien Trivia night, a Rock and Roll Over Dead
mystery night, a Game Show night, and a =
Create-your-own-duct-tape-wallet
program. These were all planned and presented by this group.
They'd like to have programs twice a month; we hope for once a month. =
Some
programs have been cancelled because of low sign-ups. Registration is
always necessary so the presenters know how many they need to plan =
for.
I also try to plan some activities during the year that are just for =
the
TAB. I've taken them for a pizza party, and we've gone ice skating.
The first year can be hard, getting everyone together, figuring out
programs, getting space for those programs, and working with no =
budget,
but over time it seems to be easier. (Of those 23 I had this morning, =
10
were new.) Take a personal interest in them, their schools, their =
talents
(ie: have them head up an art contest if they're really into art or a
chess afternoon if they live and breathe chess - they'll have =
incredible
contacts). Give them your phone & email and tell them to ask you =
anything,
any time.
Hope this helps. Contact me if you have any other questions.
Kris Chipps
Teen Services
Smoky Hill Library
Centennial, Co. 80015
kchipps@ald.lib.co.us
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: Kate Brown [mailto:Kate.Brown@ci.benicia.ca.us]
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 10:26 AM
To: johnson@soar.snap.lib.ca.us
Subject: TABs
Hi -
I'm your neighbor in Benicia. We have a successful TAB and more teen =
volunteers than I can handle. I didn't start the TAB - that was the work =
of Charlotte my predecessor here - but I am working on growing it. My =
understanding of the our TAB's early days is that two teens, who were in =
paid positions as TAB coordinators, really helped to get it off the =
ground. They're both popular, charismatic and involved in a lot of =
school activities. Other kids came because they made it seem like a cool =
thing to do. They really promoted it. So all you have to do is hook one =
or two cool people and let them bring in their friends.
I'm keeping the TAB alive with lots of publicity. Every time I visit =
schools I talk about the TAB, it's on our web-page and on flyers for =
Teen activities. I announce the next meeting at all of our events. I =
call people before each meeting to remind them. I also call potential =
volunteers and say, "I don't have any volunteer slots available right =
now, but if you want to be involved in the Library start by coming to =
the TAB meeting." Then if they show I make room for them - even if it =
means going over my limit of 20 volunteers. Not all the volunteers come =
to the TAB meetings but there is some overlap.
Our Board is very loose. Our flyers say something like, "Come to one
=
meeting or come to all of them. No commitment is required. You won't be =
asked to do any additional work." At schools I mention the community =
service that college administrators like to see and stress that for one =
hour a month students can say they served on the Library's TAB and that =
sounds really good! I have rewarded people who have good attendance. I =
was going through old TAB agendas and sign up sheets when I realized =
that I had 5 people who had been to the last 5 out of 6 meetings. I made =
an announcement about that at the next meeting and gave them each a big =
candy bar.
Our meetings are very loud and fun. The meetings never last more than =
1 hour and I'd estimate we actually get about 20 minutes of work done. I =
have a topic for each meeting so it never feels like a waste of time - I =
always get some advice out of the meetings and I figure that's what =
they're there for - to advise me. Periodically I check with some of the =
quieter people and make sure they feel like they're being heard.
We have free Chinese food at all the meetings. This is getting =
expensive because I now get about 15 teens at the meetings. I'm paying =
about 60$ a meeting. I get that money from the Friends.
I have two coordinators (different people every 6 months) who run the =
meetings and do other event-related stuff. I'm in the fortunate position =
of being able to pay them min. wage for 10 hours a month. If I didn't =
have them I probably would have to have a president to run the meetings. =
I sure wouldn't want to do it. Some of these kids are pretty silly. I =
almost kicked my own son out of the last meeting!
Please feel free to e-mail or call me (746-4345) if you have some =
specific questions or just want to kick some ideas around. I'd also be =
happy to come on over and meet with you if you want. Also, do you have =
the videos from NSCLS "Youth Participation" and "Young Adult
Service =
Plan"? I found them both quite helpful. They're being cataloged for our =
Professional Collection so if you don't have them you can certainly =
borrow them.
Kate Brown
Young Adult Librarian
Benicia Public Library
------------------------------
From: "K Kowalchuk" <kkowalchuk@pmc.scdsb.on.ca>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: stumper about boy raised by coyotes
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 17:10:43 CST
Hello All:
Is anyone familiar with a picture book which features a man who was raised
by coyotes. A teacher recalls such a book but does not know the author or
title.
Please respond to kkowalchuk@pmc.scdsb.on.ca
------------------------------
From: Sharon Castanteen <scastanteen@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Stumper: markers, etc.
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 17:10:52 CST
Can anyone come up with a title of a story with a girl (named Bridget,
patron is pretty sure) who colored her body with markers , but they don't
come off, then she gets a white one which makes her invisible...she also
makes her Dad invisible.
I was so confident about this good-hearted group of librarians that I told
the patron I'd have an answer for her for sure!!!!
Thanks, Sharon
Sharon Castanteen
Director of Children's Services
River Edge Public Library
River Edge, NJ 07661
scastanteen@yahoo.com
------------------------------
From: Susie Johnson <srrlys@neflin.org>
To: PUBYAC <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Wild west compilation (long)
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 17:11:00 CST
Hi all,
Please, please, please forgive the lateness of this compilation, I guess
better late than never would apply here. I recieved many wonderful
ideas and suggestions for everything from books to crafts to
activities. You all are so wonderful and I really do appreciate
yourhelp. Just to let you know what I did at my presentation: I did
Meanwhile Back at the Ranch byTrinka Hakes Noble as a velcro story, then
I booktalked Hank the Cowdog by John Erickson. I presented the
sandstory of "How Rabbit Tricked Snake" and did a madlib on the
overhead
of "Home on the Range". I then had a group of other librarians
act out
Why Cowboys Sleep with Their Boots On by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton (this
was really cute and stole the show!). Finally I wrapped up by sharing
several different crafts and activities that could be done. My favorite
craft was a cowboy pullstring puppet (the kind with brads at all joints)
and my favorite activity was herding cows (keeping balloons with spots
taped on - paint flakes & sharpie doesn't dry - in the air with everyone
who touched the balloon recieving a Hershey's Nugget!) I ended
everything with the results of the "Guess how many gold nuggets are in
the jar" (ie yellow M&Ms - gold nugget candy was too easy to guess in
the size jar I had) . I had a foot-stomping good time and can't wait to
wrangle some kids this summer!!!
P.S. If you have any questions about the specifics of how I did anything
just e-mail me!
Thanks again - Yeehaw!!!!
Susie Johnson
Youth Services Coordinator
Suwannee River Regional Library
srrlys@neflin.org
RESPONSES:
Wild West Compilation
Renee Patterson
A few things...
This is out of print (of course) but had a bunch of neat western themed
paper chains if you can find it. Cowboy Paper Chains: A Complete Kit
Including 10 Pre-Cut Wild West Stencils by Stewart Walton and Sally
Walton
One we used that the kids had a lot of fun with was "the Wildest
Stagecoach Ride Ever." Everyone gets assigned parts, then, as the
story
is read, whenever their part/word comes up, they act out/yell out their
part. For
instance, every time the word "stagecoach" is read, everyone who is a
stagecoach has to jump up and turn around. We've used it with various
sized groups, and just assigned extra people. I've enclosed a version
of the
story, but you could certainly make up your own story along the same
premise if you wanted to do something like it.
This is the Wildest Stagecoach Ride ever!
Characters and lines:
Stagecoach - "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" (1-6 people)
Coach Driver - "Gidee-up you onery critters!" (1 person)
Bucking Broncos - slapping of thighs (as many people as you need!)
Gold - "oooh! ahhhh! (1-2 people)
Gambler - "Raise ya five" (1 person)
Cowboy - "Yahoo!" (1-3 people)
Guard - " Save the Gold!" (1 person)
Cactus - "OUCH, OUCH, OUCH! (as many people as you need!)
Bandits - "Stick em up!" (1-3 people)
Sioux City Sue - Screams (1 person)
Lone Rider - "Da, Da, Da Da, Da Datidida!" (1 person)
Story:
Pulling out of the little western town of Jackson Gulch, a Stagecoach
rolled along, as the Coach Driver reined his Bucking Broncos in sharply.
There was a big shipment of Gold in the Stagecoach.
There were many passengers, a Gambler, a Guard, and a Cowboy. Passengers
were shakin' and bouncin' along the bumpy road. The Coach Driver held
the reins tightly. The Guard Guarded. The Gambler talked with the
cowboy, as they passed the hot day in the Stagecoach. Suddenly, the
Stagecoach screeched to a stop. The Coach Driver had seen something! He
jumped down and ran through the Cactus and found a beautiful girl, Sioux
City Sue, tied to a stake. He began to untie her, but suddenly he heard
the Bucking Broncos galloping off with the Stagecoach.
"Its the Bandits!", cried Sioux City Sue.
They had tied her there to stop the Stagecoach. They were after the
Gold! The Coach Driver ran back through the Cactus in time to see the
Lone Rider gallop up. Whipping out his guns, the Lone Rider blasted
away, not at the Bandits, but at the sacks of Gold! He hit the sacks and
Gold Dust floated into the air, making the Bandits sneeze!
While the Bandits were sneezing, the Lone Rider and the Cowboys rounded
them up! The Lone Rider grabbed Sioux City Sue and told her, "I'll take
these varmits to jail and you and I can get hitched!"
But Sioux City Sue cried, "Oh no we're not! That may have been in the
old days, but we women won't stand for this kind of story any longer!
Besides, I'm a Lady Marshall in disguise and I'm arresting all of you
for bad acting!"
And that included, the Coach Driver, the Cactus, the Stagecoach, the
Gambler, the Guard, the cowboys, the Bucking Broncos, the Lone Rider,
the Gold, and the Bandits. The End.
Susan Dailey:
We have a book called "Kickin' up some cowboy fun : 130 activities for
cowboys and cowgirls" by Monica Hay Cook. We used it when planning
programs a couple summers ago. I remember making cuffs out of grocery
bags and I'm pretty sure the idea came from that book.
I also used an activity where I created several "brands." I
placed them
on a magnetic board and then had the kids guess which brand would belong
to which ranch, e.g. Lazy S was an "s" laying on it's side, Circle
W--a
circle with a "w" inside (obvious, huh?), Lone Star, etc. (I'm
not sure
if this idea came from the book or from deep inside my own little brain,
but it worked with preschoolers.)
Julie Ann Rines:
How about a lasso contest. Simple lasso; use an Ellison or Acucut
machine with a large circle cutter to cut
the center out of a paper plate (use brown if you can find them at a
local party store) punch a hole in the rim and tie on a length of string
or yarn or maybe a long shoelace. They can try to lasso empty tonic
bottles or
small stuffed animals. That could even be used at a fair or street
festival as a way to give out prized whatever they roped they got.
Margaret Borchers:
We did a western theme last year. I did a search on goolge.com using
"cowboy crafts" or "western crafts" and I got some ideas
there. For
programs: we had a horse come to the lawn outside the library for a
demonstration of tack, care, etc. The kids loved that. We did a cow
story/craft program. I had some kids do a dramatic reading of the book
"Little Red Riding Hat" . I had a cold campfire program.
We made fake
fires using red, yellow and orange construction paper. Then we roasted
(fake) marshmallows. Play cowboy music during this program.
Penny Bohlen:
Penny sent me 2 complete programs - Dude Ranch and Desert Life. Each
included finger plays, song suggestions, book suggestions and more. If
you would like a copy of either or both, please contact me at
srrlys@neflin.org.
Cora Ciampi:
How about tapping into your local Story Teller guild...look around until
you find one, they should be a wealth of knowledge. Also, a book rodeo
of some type would be fun. How about making a friendship quilt where
each
person has a square of muslin or white fabric and does whatever design
on it or just their name. It could be
put together with strips. Involve seniors in something like this.
Patricia Chaput:
A couple of years ago, I did a Wild Wild West Summer Reading Program
(7-12 yrs old)
My activities were:
- Code of the West /from The Cowboy's Handbook, Tod Cody
- Camp Doctor's Cure / see if the kids can decipher
what the doctor
is curing /see attached (e-mail me for
attatchment)
-Cowboy slang / from The Cowboy's Handbook / see
if the kids can
decipher what the cowboys are saying
- The Cattle Drive / a game from Kids Can Press Company
- What's Wrong / find pioneer or wild west pictures that have errors
ie.in the book Errata , a book of historical errors, or Eureka, a puzzle
book of invention by Hemesh Alles
- creat a totel pole
Mary Gonzalez:
Western ideas:
1. Lasso, rope, knots. Get inexpensive packing cord at the hardware
store that "looks like" rope, and teach them to tie some knots cowboys
might use. You might run the instructions off on a piece of paper for
them to each have something to follow. For a group activity, use a real
rope to demo in front. At the library, try to get some scouts or
scoutleaders to come in to "show them the ropes." That's a badge
activity. You might also advertise the program as meeting part a scout
badge activity, to get more scouts to come in that summer. I think the
kids would be satisfied with taking home the rope, but if you want to
make it a craft, give them each several (8-10) pieces of rope, and have
them glue the knots they tie to a piece of poster board. This can be
framed for a father's day present. They look very nice.
2. Bandanna program. http://www.FashionBandana.com/
is one bandanna
source. (Not cheap: $4.95
a dozen) If you put up a sign asking for cloth donatins, you might be
able to cut 22" squares yourself.
Demonstrate some of the "44 uses for a bandanna," most of which a
cowboy
or a pioneer would use, but all of which the kids could use. I've done
this with a class. Stand in front with your own bandanna, and ask them
to think of some of the uses a cowboy might have had for a bandanna.
Everyone does that with their bandanna. It is very fun to see everyone
with their bandannas tied around their neck, or covering their mouths
bandit style, or over their heads like a tiny kerchief. This was a very
popular activity, even though I took my bandannas home with me. 44 uses
for a bandanna can be found here:
http://www.backcountry.net/arch/cdt/99/msg00102.html
In Texas, I saw bandannas sold with a note saying "100 uses for a
bandanna," but I didn't buy that souvenir. There are actually 72 uses
on this list if you count them separately. Plus, I just saw them used
decoratively as a placemat, a napkin, a wall hanging, and a curtain
(tied to rod and combined with more), a headband.
3. Rock Barometer/ Weather Rock. This one's silly, but kids like silly,
and cowboys do have a sense of humor. Give everyone a rock. (Home Depot
sells beautiful small landscaping rocks in a big bag.) Glue it to wood
if you can, or posterboard. Have the kids write on the posterboard:
"Cowboy Barometer. This rock can predict the weather. If rock is wet:
rain. If rock is hot: sunny. If rock is white: snow. If rock is gone:
tornado." This works with a stick or a piece of rope, also.
4. Frontier Toys. Demonstrate a jacob's ladder, wooden ball and cup
game, checkers, marbles, tic-tac-toe, paper dolls, cornhusk dolls,
handkerchief dolls. Let them make a "Buzzer" with a button and some
string.
jump rope, hop scotch, marbles, I spy,
5. Frontier Games: croquet, cricket, nicky-nicky nine doors, hoop races
and bobbing for apples
Colonial games were still played by pioneers:
http://www.ctstateu.edu/noahweb/games.html
5. Food: Churn Butter by shaking whipped cream in a jar, make home made
ice cream.
6. Pioneer skills: crewel embroidery, knitting, weaving. For a large
group, try "finger weaving" with a short piece of yarn apiece. Learn
to
"piece" some quilt patterns by giving them cut pieces of colors of
construction paper to glue to a backing piece of paper. You can use
fabric for this, but it can't be cut into little pieces on a paper
cutter.
7. On-line activities:
http://memorialhall.mass.edu/activities/index.html
8. Gold panning kit
http://www.goldenpioneermuseum.com/Giftshop.htm
Stories: Bone Pickers
"The Bone Pickers"
When speaking to a 4th, 5th or 6th grade class, ask if they want a funny
story or a gruesome story. If they pick "gruesome," tell them
"The Bone
Pickers." They'll almost always pick a gruesome story, but they like
funny stories, too. For funny, I use Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith
Faulkner and/or Kat Kong followed immediately by Dogzilla, by Dav
Pilkey.
I told this to a class who lived close enough to Cahokia Mounds to
visit, so I began the story by asking them that: "Who has visited or
heard of Cahokia Mounds?" I told them what I was told on a tour, that
archeologists are not certain what the mounds were used for, but
excavation did reveal that a very tall pole once existed on top of the
tallest mound, and some buildings. (They know this because the soil is
discolored exactly where the bottom of the pole rotted in the ground.
That's how they know where wooden houses and fences were, also.) I'm
also part Choctaw, which is one reason I like this story, but I don't
think this story is affected either way by your nationality. It starts
with them feeling a little culture shock at another culture's burial
practices, but it ends with them feeling a kinship with all human
beings. (That's my purpose, anyway.)
You can begin by asking "Would you like to hear the story of the Bone
Pickers?" With this age group, almost everyone will say
"Yes!" very
enthusiastically. I tell the story solemnly and seriously, as all good
"spooky" stories should be told.You can begin telling the story as
it's
written in Talking Bones:
Secrets of Indian Burial Mounds by William O. Steele. Start with
paragraph 2: "It was autumn." Change it to present tense:
"Imagine
that it's autumn." Continue in present tense. (If interest flags,
which
it usually does not, you can show the very dramatic picture of the bone
picker and the burial platform on pages 40-41.)
When you get to "With his long nails he carefully scraped all the
flesh
from the skeleton, placing the clean white bones inside a cane chest."
Stop "reminiscing" and look right into the eyes of the audience.
Say,
"How big would that 'cane chest,' that basket, be?" (Let them
think for
a minute. Really.) They'll start too large, like our coffins. Remind
them that the basket will only hold bones, not a whole body. What's the
smallest basket that could hold a full-grown human? How wide? How
tall? How deep? (Everyone should be involved in answering and thinking,
showing you their answer with their hands. Help them figure it out by
saying, "What's the longest bone in the human body." (They will feel
and
look at their own body to answer this. This is very cool because they
are learning something they never knew about their very own body: How
big it is.) The femur is the longest bone. (Measure your thigh bone with
your hands, and then hold it up so they can see it. They should be
doing the same thing.) So the basket has to be this long. All the other
bones would be able to fit inside a basket that long? (They nod,
"yes.") How wide does the basket have to be? What's the
widest bone.
(Pelvis. That wide.) How deep.or tall.does the basket have to be?
What's the tallest bone, when all the bones in your skeleton are laid
out on a table? (The skull. How big is your skull? Let them measure
with their hands again, and show you.) That big. So now we know.
(Very
seriously.) Our basket will be this big: long enough for the femur, wide
enough for the pelvis, and deep enough for the skull. "Excavations at
Mound Builder sites have discovered houses that were built to hold these
baskets on shelves. How many baskets could fit on one wall of a Bone
House? Measure with me." (Measure with your hands a "skull's"
height
from the floor to an imaginary ceiling. 6 or 7?) Continue the story
from there, as it's written in Talking Bones.
Transition: "After placing the bones of the chief in a basket, the bone
picker sets fire to the platform."
I usually shorten the story in this way: Stop on page 42, after "A
member of the dead warrior's family speaks of his life with praise and
pride." There is a feast, and a dance. But.something else happens.
Twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, all "the people of the town
would gather around an upright pole on the ridge top. The bone pickers
of the various clans would bring out all the chests from the bone houses
and set them around the cry pole." Everyone who remembered a story about
the person who had died would share it. They believed the spirits of
the dead would come close and listen. "There's a beautiful picture in
this book that shows their elief."
(Show the picture on pages 34-35. Continue holding the picture up while
you end the story by saying solemnly, "Because they knew.that as long
as someone is still telling your story, you have not truly died." (Long
dramatic pause. Count silently to yourself to see how long the
"magic"
of the story will hold them "spellbound." Let THEM be the ones
to break
the spell. It's a magical moment. Of course, these are 4-6th graders,
so someone may make a noise almost immediately, to relieve the group
tension from being so "good" for so long, listening to a librarian. )
You might want to read "The Bone House People," pages 32-37 of Talking
Bones, so you are ready to answer some of their questions. You can
always just say, "We have this book, and many other WONDERFUL books
at
the library. Come and get them. They're free, and they belong to
you." You could also say, "The library is a little bit
like a bone
house. We write down the stories of people's lives, and keep them on
shelves, so that we can read them, and tell them to our children and
grandchildren, so that we won't forget them, or the things they did."
Linda Ackerman:
A few years ago I wanted to do something along the lines of "Shootout at
the OK Corral". We had a squirt gun battle out in the side yard.
Basically everyone brings their own squirt guns (or dishsoap bottle,
whatever is
available) and the idea is to get as wet as possible. It is now an
annual event, and one of the more popular summer programs. I have two
large containers of water for refills, and a wading pool and sprinkler
for the
littlest kids. When the water is gone the battle is over. (It never
occurred to me to worry that first year if the small kids might get hurt
or drowned with super soakers...it all worked out great cause the bigger
kids weren't the least bit interested in attacking small kids - I WAS
THEIR TARGET). We have a lot of fun with it every year.
Betsy Bybell:
I've done cowboys as a theme for storytimes before. Activities included
how many uses can you think of for a bandana, milking a pretend cow by
holding onto a rubber glove filled with water as the kids tried to
squirt water
through the pinholes in the tips of the fingers (water worked better
than milk since it didn't stain anything), singing a parody of I'm
bringing home a baby bumblebee, and having a brand round-up.
The words to the song are
I'm bringing home a baby coyote,
Won't my Mama be so proud of me!
I'm bringing home a baby coyote,
Awoo, woo woo.
I'm bringing home a baby rattlesnake,
Won't my Mama shiver and shake!
I'm bringing home a baby rattlesnake,
Brzz, brzzz, brzz (shake a baby's rattle for sound effects).
I'm bringing home some baby fire ants,
Won't my Mama get right up and dance?
I'm bringing home some baby fire ants,
Ouch, not in MY pants. (stomping on the floor)
For the brand roundup, I started with a short story about Old Jake the
ranch hand who was practically blind without his glasses. I used 3
simple outlines of cows - 1 with a black head, 1 with a black tail, 1
with a black
back - and 3 simple brands - Circle J, Square T, Triange A - on a magnet
board. Jake lost his glasses and the ranch boss asked him to put the
right brand on each cow. The kids helped with names and guesses as I
matched them in the story. Then a stampede happened and the 3 cows
scattered to the far reaches of the room (with help from teachers and/or
parents). I handed out copies of the 3 brands to each child. We pulled
on our boots, hats,
bandanas, saddled our pretend horses, threw our lassoes and held a huge
roundup as each child found where the cattle cutouts were hiding and
placed their paper brand on them.
The whole program was a huge success. Hope you get lots of good ideas.
Amy Wilson:
Here are several suggestions:
-- Guess how many gold nuggets are in the jar. Spray paint pebbles with
gold paint and put in a glass jar. The
winner can receive a prize.
--Make "wanted" posters for the kids. They could do a self-portrait or
take their picture with a camera. Use tea
bags to dye the paper. If someone smokes, have them burn the edges of
the paper for you before hand.
--Make a grocery bag vest. Any grocery store will give you the large
brown paper bags. Have the kids cut them
open and cut out arm holes. Cut fringe at the bottom of the bag.
--Make sheriff's badges by cutting stars out of cardboard and cover with
aluminum foil.
Gayle Byrne:
susie -last summer we did a western theme here at killingworth library
-what fun - here's some 'stuff' we did -
-the organization that we were involved w/for the adoption is Healthy
Planet 1-800-424-4422 or www.healthyplanet.com
- this is THE highpoint
of the program - for every 5 books read the children receive 1 vote on
which horse they think we should adopt (i had pictures of the 8 choices
along w/background
stories posted on the walls of the children's room - stories provided by
healthy planet) their "vote" is a paper horseshoe which they tape
alongside their choice - at the end of the summer we tallied up the
votes each horse
received to see who our adopted choice would be - i constructed a HUGE
corral out of refrigerator boxes for the wall in the children's room,
each reader received a paper horse(6 styles to choose from) to decorate
and cut out
and return it into the corral, each pre reader received a paper cactus -
as each child signed up for the program we gave the prereaders a cowboy
hat and badge, the readers got the poster, bookmark and reading log all
children get 1 vote for every 5 books read but the readers also get 1
ticket to be put in a decorated can for 1 of 8 prizes - because our
readers are 1-5 graders i was able to get older prizes such as the book
CLOUD, the video ERIN GO BRAUGH, the little horse that could, 2 movie
passes to hoyts cinema, free riding lessons at a local stable, a horse
floor puzzle, a horse game, 1 year subscription to 'young rider' - many
were donated to keep $ down -
believe it or not i'm thrilled to say that this whole prize thing is
taking a back seat to the adoption AND the good news is that no one
misses the little junky junks from oriental trading that we no longer
offer !! - for a little "hands on" i put together 2 ride-on horses -
hobby horse heads (yes, they sing and whinny and make great horse
noises), a horse saddle on a wooden sawhorse for the larger and a felt
pony saddle on a bale of hay for the babies, add a real cowboy hat and
size 11 mens cowboy boots and you've got the makings for a great ride
out on the praire!! anyway... as you can see, I can go on + on - it was
just great - have fun -
Beverly Little:
Here in New Hampshire we did SADDLE UP A GOOD BOOK in 1995. We had a
great time. We panned for gold, constructed a tunnel of boxes as a gold
mine, told stories around an electric campfire, made Kachina masks from
gallon ice cream containers...so many ideas, I'll send them as an
attachment. (If you would like the attatchment, please e-mail me at
srrlys@neflin.org)
Karen Knudson:
I assisted with a round up program at the Olympia Library some years ago
and we invited as many local groups to come and show their stuff. A
civil war reenactment group had kids "shaving" off lather (whipped up
with a brush) with popsicle sticks. A fur trappers association had kids
striking flints with tinder (or maybe they just demonstrated - and lit
the fire in their hands!) A wood carving group had parental permission
slips that needed
signing before kids tried using the tools. A museum had laundry scrub
boards. Someone did pony rides, another had stage coach rides. One
neighbor complained that the firing of the cannon was glorifying the
white men vs. the Indians, unaware that it was the civil war group. (It
was noisy - the kids loved it!) There was an antique piece of logging
equipment, that's often used in parades in Hoquiam with the logging
princesses riding it. It might have been a steam-driven log splitter,
and had an earsplitting whistle. This was mostly outside and one street
was blocked off for the block beside the library. Only the woodcarvers
were inside. We gave away wooden nickels that were stamped with the
library logo. (One nickel cost like 7 cents.) We had invited several
Native American groups, but it was the powwow season, and none could
come, although one did propose a table for making dreamcatchers. Hope
these ideas help. For a different storytime I had a pattern run off of a
horses head. We made a mane of fringed paper or paper bag and it was
ready to mount on a broom at the child's house for a hobby horse. I
understand one of the biggest draws at Disney Paris is the Wild West
Show, much of which might not be PC here, but delights European
audiences.
Eileen Rosenberg:
I've found some good craft ideas by searching the net under "cowboy"
or
"wild west" parties. It seems that most folks that throw this
type of
party aim them at the 2-6 year-old crowd so the crafts are pretty simple
but still fun.
There are things like making western style vests out of brown bags,
wanted posters, etc. There are also some pretty good books with usable
ideas. Some of the titles are; Cowboy Cooking by Gunderson, Wild
West
Days by King, Kickin' Up Some Cowboy Fun by Cook and Westward Ho! by
Carlson.
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End of PUBYAC Digest 1061
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