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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: Thursday, July 03, 2003 11:01 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 1151
PUBYAC Digest 1151
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) RE: Order of the Phoenix
by "Anita Palladino" <apalladi@ansernet.rcls.org>
2) Re: Order of the Phoenix
by Inge Saczkowski <isaczkow@niagarafalls.library.on.ca>
3) Re: Order of the Phoenix
by Rjohc@aol.com
4) RE: Order of the Phoenix
by "Tamar Wolfe" <lobolocomal@hotmail.com>
5) Elves and the Shoemaker stumper thanks
by "DIANE ADAMS" <DADAMS@ci.monmouth.or.us>
6) Re: HP & Order of the Phoenix
by "Patricia Hull" <phull@slco.lib.ut.us>
7) library expansion projects
by Stacey Schultz <sschultz@elkhorn.lib.wi.us>
8) Fire Bringer Discussion
by Kerry Reed <kreed@wpld.alibrary.com>
9) Stumper-book about house with hidden passageways
by "Melanie Sperling" <melaniesperling@lycos.com>
10) Joan Lowery Nixon
by "Roberta Meyer" <roberta@effinghamlibrary.org>
11) Response to Stumper: woman who can knit everything
by "Monica Anderson" <m.anderson@vlc.lib.mi.us>
12) Re: Juvenile videos
by Jennifer Baker <jbaker93711@yahoo.com>
13) RE: Juvenile videos
by Tina Shelton <Tina.Shelton@cityofcarrollton.com>
14) Stumper
by "Kim Flores" <kimf@mail.sgcl.org>
15) RE: Juvenile videos
by Jeanne O'Grady <OGRADYJ@santacruzpl.org>
16) Turnover Rates by collections
by "Steven Engelfried" <sengelfried@ci.beaverton.or.us>
17) Children's Librarian I position in New York State
by rebecca stutzman <rastutzman@yahoo.com>
18) Pubyac quiz--5th round for R-S
by Jennifer Baker <jbaker93711@yahoo.com>
19) Books with Constitutional Issues - list
by "Cindy Rider" <CRIDER@vigo.lib.in.us>
20) Unattended kids in the library--was Weird rumor about libraries?
by "Linette Ivanovitch" <linette@missoula.lib.mt.us>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Anita Palladino" <apalladi@ansernet.rcls.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: RE: Order of the Phoenix
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:45:10 CDT
Getting mixed reviews - in general,it is summed up by my niece, "I guess
she's [the author] too busy with the movies now. This one just isn't as
good."
------------------------------
From: Inge Saczkowski <isaczkow@niagarafalls.library.on.ca>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Order of the Phoenix
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:45:19 CDT
I just finished it and also loved it. Goblet of Fire dragged for me,
another
Quidditch game!, but O of P rocked! I just don't think I can wait another
3
years!
------------------------------
From: Rjohc@aol.com
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Order of the Phoenix
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:45:27 CDT
For those who haven't read the latest Harry Potter it would be nice if
someone revealing plot would note "plot spoilers" in advance.
My 16 year-old son finished the book and told me that he thought Harry's
behavior was typical of an adolescent.
Robyn Hammer-Clarey
Teen Librarian
------------------------------
From: "Tamar Wolfe" <lobolocomal@hotmail.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: RE: Order of the Phoenix
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:45:35 CDT
Like you I had a funny feeling about Mrs. Figg in the first book, but then I
thought I was reading too much into it. I just love the way Rowling keeps
doing that, little hints here and there that you forget from one book to the
next. Which is why I am unhappy with the films, since they aren't catching
what are clues the clues keep getting left out.
------------------------------
From: "DIANE ADAMS" <DADAMS@ci.monmouth.or.us>
To: <PUBYAC@prairienet.org>
Subject: Elves and the Shoemaker stumper thanks
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:45:43 CDT
Thank you to all who knew about The Bootmaker and the Elves for a
fractured version of The Elves and the shoemaker. It is just what I
needed.
Thank you again.
Diane
Diane Adams
dadams@ci.monmouth.or.us
Youth Services Librarian
503-838-1932
Monmouth Public Library
fax: 503-838-3899
PO Box 10, 168 Ecols St S
Monmouth, OR 97361
------------------------------
From: "Patricia Hull" <phull@slco.lib.ut.us>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Re: HP & Order of the Phoenix
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:45:52 CDT
my whole family is reading HP5, including my married son and his wife.
We are all loving it. My husband mentioned that Harry was a little mean
in the first part to Dudley and my 11 year old son replied, "it's
about
time!" I absolutely love how the 15 year old Harry is learning to
understand girls through the tutelage of Hermione. It is very realistic,
(I have a 15 year old son).
------------------------------
From: Stacey Schultz <sschultz@elkhorn.lib.wi.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: library expansion projects
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:46:00 CDT
Hi all,
My library is currently undergoing an expansion project that is set to
be finished in April 2004. There has been discussion in the past about
library building projects and I was wondering about your experiences.
More specifically I would like to know how was your program attendance
during the project? Did you have to move programs off-site? What
were
other challenges you faced?
Please feel free to respond to me directly at
sschultz@lakeshores.lib.wi.us
Thank you for your time and help!
Stacey
Stacey Schultz
Youth Services Librarian
Matheson Memorial Library
sschultz@lakeshores.lib.wi.us
------------------------------
From: Kerry Reed <kreed@wpld.alibrary.com>
To: PUBYAC <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Fire Bringer Discussion
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:46:07 CDT
Has anyone used David Clement-Davies' title _Fire Bringer_ with a book
discussion group? My science fiction/fantasy group really wanted to
tackle it, so we are all reading it now for our meeting next week. I'm
loving it!
I have the universal question list on the Multnomah site, have done a
google search and visited the publisher's site. Now, I'm wondering if
anyone else can help.
Thanks in advance,
Kerry Reed
Youth Services Librarian
Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District
KReed@wpld.alibrary.com
847/446-7220
------------------------------
From: "Melanie Sperling" <melaniesperling@lycos.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Stumper-book about house with hidden passageways
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:46:16 CDT
Hello,
A patron asked if I could find a book for her that she read about 20 years
ago when she was in the 5th grade. In this book, a boy and a girl move
into
a house and find that it has hidden passageways. She said that there was
no
time travel but maybe it was about the Underground Railroad.
I know that this is vague, but if you have any ideas you may respond to me
offlist at melaniesperling@lycos.com.
Thank you,
Melanie Sperling
____________________________________________________________
Get advanced SPAM filtering on Webmail or POP Mail ... Get Lycos Mail!
http://login.mail.lycos.com/r/referral?aid=27005
------------------------------
From: "Roberta Meyer" <roberta@effinghamlibrary.org>
To: "PUBYAC" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Joan Lowery Nixon
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:46:25 CDT
Does anyone have a website where I can find an obituary for Joan Lowery
Nixon? According to PUBYAC, she died a couple days ago at age 76. I
have
done a Google search, but found nothing. I can't get to the Houston
Chronicle article without a subscription.
Thanks!
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: "Monica Anderson" <m.anderson@vlc.lib.mi.us>
To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org
Subject: Response to Stumper: woman who can knit everything
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:46:32 CDT
Hello!
In case anyone was wondering about the answer to this stumper:
>It's a picture book at least 10 years old about a woman who gets
>magical yarn and can knit everything she needs, including a house.
>The woman recalls it having an Eastern European folktale/fairy tale
>flavor (and a blue cover).
I received one response. Giny McConathy suggested "Daisy and Her
Needles" by Keith Balding. We don't own the book (and neither do any
neighboring libraries) but offered to get it through OCLC, but the
patron did not think it was the right one.
Monica Anderson
Youth Services Librarian
Grace A. Dow Memorial Library
Midland, Michigan
m.anderson@vlc.lib.mi.us
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------
From: Jennifer Baker <jbaker93711@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Juvenile videos
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:46:40 CDT
we do allow some PG films into the kids section if
they have a general child appeal (like Big Fat Liar &
Harry Potter). we have not had any trouble that i know
of. we don't include PG-13 though. for items that are
not rated, it just depends on who the intended
audience is.
~j.
=====
~jenniferbaker
fresno co. public library
"I may not be an explorer or an adventurer or a treasure seeker or a gun
fighter Mr. O' Connell, but I am proud of what I am." "And what is
that?" "I
am a librarian!"
~ Evelyn, The Mummy
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!
http://sbc.yahoo.com
------------------------------
From: Tina Shelton <Tina.Shelton@cityofcarrollton.com>
To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: RE: Juvenile videos
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:46:51 CDT
I have just changed my collection development policy to reflect the
inclusion of PG movies in the juvenile video collection. These videos are
typically ones that kids would see in the theater w/ their folks anyway.
Or
without. We have had budget problems so I did not get to purchase any PG
movies this fiscal year but I will next fiscal year which begins in October
2003. My policy statement explains the reasons for having PG movies in the
juvenile video collection & if you would like to see it, let me know & I
will e-mail a copy of it to you.
No problems as of yet.
Tina Shelton
Youth Services Librarian
Frankford Village Library
3030 N. Josey Ln #130
Carrollton, TX 75007
(972)466-4824
tina.shelton@cityofcarrollton.com
"Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings."
Heinrich Heine, from his play Almansor (1821)
-----Original Message-----
From: Ginger Sawyer [mailto:gingers@york.lib.sc.us]
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 10:20 AM
To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org
Subject: Juvenile videos
I was wondering if some of the other libraries allow "PG" rated movies
in
their Juvenile Video Collection. If so, are you having any problems with
parents.
Also, what do you do about videos that are not rated?
Thanks,
Ginger Sawyer
York County Library
Rock Hill, SC
gingers@lyon.york.lib.sc.us
------------------------------
From: "Kim Flores" <kimf@mail.sgcl.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Stumper
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:47:01 CDT
We've got a good stumper and we're hoping you all can help. Our
patron is looking for a picture book she says she found in our
library. She is only interested in the cover, which is a very
simplistic rendition of a red dragon, wrapped around a green tree
(the tree is shaped like a circle of green with a brown stem).
The colors are solid with a little shading and the illustration is
very simple, "almost like a coloring book" says the patron.
We've
searched our catalog, amazon and A to Zoo. Can anyone help?
Kim
kimf@mail.sgcl.org
------------------------------
From: Jeanne O'Grady <OGRADYJ@santacruzpl.org>
To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: RE: Juvenile videos
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:47:09 CDT
We distinguish between J and YA videos in our system. At most branches it
is just a labeling thing as all the J/YA videos are shelved together, but it
does give patrons (mostly parents of younger children) some guidance. the
kids don't look at the labels for the most part. YA videos are generally
those with PG ratings or popular unrated videos that seem to have content
for older kids like much of the anime.
Jeanne Kelly O'Grady
Youth Services Outreach Librarian
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Santa Cruz, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: Ginger Sawyer [mailto:gingers@york.lib.sc.us]
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 8:20 AM
To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org
Subject: Juvenile videos
I was wondering if some of the other libraries allow "PG" rated movies
in
their Juvenile Video Collection. If so, are you having any problems with
parents.
Also, what do you do about videos that are not rated?
Thanks,
Ginger Sawyer
York County Library
Rock Hill, SC
gingers@lyon.york.lib.sc.us
------------------------------
From: "Steven Engelfried" <sengelfried@ci.beaverton.or.us>
To: "Pubyac (E-mail)" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Turnover Rates by collections
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:47:18 CDT
We've been looking at the Turnover Rate of our Children's and YA =
collections (annual circulation divided by number of items in =
collection). The numbers are interesting, but would be more meaningful =
if we knew how they compare to other libraries. On the web I've found =
turnover rates for whole libraries and some state averages, but not a =
lot that gets to the level of Children's or YA Collection categories =
(like Picture Books, Juvenile Non-Fiction, Graphic Novels...). If =
anyone has come across a source for such numbers, I'd appreciate hearing =
about it. Or, if your library keeps these numbers and you can share =
your figures with me, that would be nice too. If I get figures from =
other libraries I can compile and share...
- Steven Engelfried, Head of Youth Services
Beaverton City Library
12375 SW 5th Street
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-526-2599 sengelfried@ci.beaverton.or.us
------------------------------
From: rebecca stutzman <rastutzman@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac listserv <PUBYAC@prairienet.org>
Subject: Children's Librarian I position in New York State
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:47:27 CDT
Job Announcement
Children?s Librarian I
Dynamic delf-motivated Children?s Librarian
sought by 187,000 volume Public Library with a
very active Children?s Department. Position will
require conducting Story Hours from Toddlers to
School Age, Vistits from school classes (
including on-line catalog instruction), Special
Event Programs, and a Very Busy Summer Reading
Program. The successful candidate must have a
strong commitment to public service, mastery of
children?s literature and successful experience
presenting Children?s Programs. An excellent
background in information and technology is an
important part of any library position today.
Interpersonal skills/ communication abilities are
essential. The successful candidate must also
have excellent Adult Reference Skills and will
work regular shifts at the Library Reference
Desk.
Duties include staffing the Children?s Room
including some evening and Saturday and Sunday
hours;presenting weekly programs and story hours,
instuction in use of the library, collection
development work in both book and multimedia
acquisitions.
ALA / MLS and New York State Public Librarian?s
Certificate required.
Send resume and letter of application including 3
professional and 3 personal references to:
Library Director, North Tonawanda Public Library,
505 Meadow Drive North Tonawanda, New York
14120-2888.
Civil Service application will be sent to all
qualified applicants. Salary Range $30,000-36,000.
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!
http://sbc.yahoo.com
------------------------------
From: Jennifer Baker <jbaker93711@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Pubyac quiz--5th round for R-S
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:47:35 CDT
IF YOUR LAST NAME STARTS WITH R or S please
respond now. i believe this is the last group so we're
nearing the end.
please copy the questions into a new message and
send answers to jennifer.baker@fresnolibrary.org.
you may notice that i've refined a few of the
questions based on previous responses.
thanks guys! it may take me a while to compile
results but i promise to post.
HAVE A HAPPY 4TH!
Pubyac Survey:
1. Do you work in a public library, school library
or something else (please designate)?
2. Which of the following age groups do you fall
into?
under 30
30-40
41-50
51+
3. If you work in a public library, how many
branches does your system have?
only one
2-5
6-10
11-20
21+
4. What's the size of your service population?
less than 20,000
20-50,000
50-100,000
100-500,000
500,000+
5. Are you or do you consider yourself a children's
librarian, young adult librarian, youth librarian,
support staff or some other specialty (please
designate)?
6. Are you a man or woman?
7. How long have you been in your current field of
work?
less than 5 years
6-10 years
11-20 years
21+ years
8. How do you use pubyac?
I'm a lurker--just looking for ideas
I occasionally respond directly to stumpers or other
requests
I will jump in on something that I think is really
important
You can't shut me up--I live for a good debate
9. What part of the country is your library in (i
realize i've probably left out some areas so if you
don't see what you would normally use pick the
closest)?
New England/Mid-Atlantic/Northeast
SouthEast
Deep South
SouthWest
MidWest
Pacific/Northwest
Outside of the US (please designate)
10. Are you the only person in your library (system)
that uses pubyac?
11. How long have you been using pubyac?
12. What is the name of your library?
=====
~jenniferbaker
fresno co. public library
"I may not be an explorer or an adventurer or a treasure seeker or a gun
fighter Mr. O' Connell, but I am proud of what I am." "And what is
that?" "I
am a librarian!"
~ Evelyn, The Mummy
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!
http://sbc.yahoo.com
------------------------------
From: "Cindy Rider" <CRIDER@vigo.lib.in.us>
To: <L533-SM@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU>,<LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>,
Subject: Books with Constitutional Issues - list
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
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Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:47:44 CDT
Thanks to all who submitted titles of fiction addressing constitutional =
issues for middle school and high school ages. "Nothing But the
Truth" by =
Avi was the most suggested title. Here's the list in case you are =
interested:
Nothing But the Truth (Avi)
Deals with first amendment rights (freedom of speech); a good read. =
Students, teachers, parents, and the national media become involved when =
ninth-grader Philip Malloy is suspended from school for singing "The Star =
Spangled Banner."=20
Oklahoma Young Sequoyah Award (a student's choice award), Horn Book Award =
Honor Book, ABC Choices.
=20
The Day They Came to Arrest the Book (Nat Hentoff)
Who would have believed that The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn could cause =
the worst crisis in the history of George Mason High School? Certainly not =
Barney Roth, editor of the school paper. But when a small but vocal group =
of students and parents decide that the book is racist, sexist, and =
immoral--and should be removed from reading lists and the school library--B=
arney takes matters into his own hands. When the Huck Finn issue comes up =
for a hearing, Barney decides to print his story about previous censorship =
efforts at school. He's sure that investigative reporting and publicity =
can help the cause. But is he too late to turn the tide of censorship?=20
Wrestling with Honor (David Klass)
The teen involved in this book is a student of history and government and =
refuses a drug test on these grounds.
Freedom to Dream (Cynthia Blair) Ballantine Books, c1987.
When fifteen-year-old Katy is in an accident, she wakes to find that =
instead of it being 1987, it is 1787, and she is about to help the =
Constitution of the United States be formed.
A Gathering of Days (Blos)
Maniac Magee (Jerry Spinelli)
Gr 6-10-- A mythical story about racism. It should not be read as reality. =
Legend springs up about Jeffrey ``Maniac'' Magee, a white boy who runs =
faster and hits balls farther than anyone, who lives on his own with =
amazing grace, and is innocent as to racial affairs. After running away =
from a loveless home, he encounters several families, in and around Two =
Mills, a town sharply divided into the black East End and the white West =
End. Black, feisty Amanda Beale and her family lovingly open their home to =
Maniac, and tough, smart-talking ``Mars Bar'' Thompson and other characters=
are all, to varying degrees, full of prejudices and unaware of their own =
racism. Racial epithets are sprinkled throughoutt the book; Mars Bar calls =
Maniac ``fishbelly,'' and blacks are described by a white character as =
being ``today's Indians.'' In the final, disjointed section of the book, =
Maniac confronts the hatred that perpetuates ignorance by bringing Mars =
Bar to meet the Pickwells--``the best the West End had to offer.'' In the =
feel-good ending, Mars and Maniac resolve their differences; Maniac gets a =
home and there is hope for at least improved racial relations. Unreal? =
Yes. It's a cop-out for Spinelli to have framed this story as a legend--it =
frees him from having to make it real, or even possible. Nevertheless, the =
book will stimulate thinking about racism, and it might help educate those =
readers who, like so many students, have no first-hand knowledge of people =
of other races. Pathos and compassion inform a short, relatively easy-to-re=
ad story with broad appeal, which suggests that to solve problems of =
racism, people must first know each other as individuals. --Joel Shoemaker,=
Tilford Middle School, Vinton, IA=20
Frindle (Andrew Clements)
When he decides to turn his fifth grade teacher's love of the dictionary =
around on her, clever Nick Allen invents a new word and begins a chain of =
events that quickly moves beyond his control.=20
To Be a Slave (Julius Lester) 973.0496L
A compilation, selected from various sources and arranged chronologically, =
of the reminiscences of slaves and ex-slaves about their experiences from =
the leaving of Africa through the Civil War and into the early twentieth =
century.
=20
Patricia McKissack has written a lot of biographies of famous African =
Americans in history. Many of these deal with discussions of
constitutiona=
l issues.
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit (Paula Danziger)
A middle school teacher gets suspended for refusing to recite the Pledge =
of Allegiance. Other issues are the way she dresses and her
non-traditiona=
l methods of teaching.
To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee)
The Handmaid's Tale (Atwood)
Go online to Bens Guide. It will tell you everything you need to know =
concerning the Government for every age group, in understandable language =
for your child.
Books by Jean Fritz
The play 1776
Burning Up (Caroline Cooney)
Free Speech for Me--But Not for Thee: How the American Left and Right=20
Relentlessly Censor Each Other by Nat Hentoff
Forged By Fire by Sharon Draper=20
Living the Bill of Rights: How to Be an Authentic American by Nat =
Hentoff=20
The Last Safe Place on Earth by Richard Peck=20
I Had Seen Castles by Cynthia Rylant=20
Cindy Rider
Vigo Co. Public Library
crider@vigo.lib.in.us
------------------------------
From: "Linette Ivanovitch" <linette@missoula.lib.mt.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Unattended kids in the library--was Weird rumor about libraries?
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Content-description: Mail message body
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:47:52 CDT
Hi--we took the age of 14 from Montana state law--that is the age that
legally in Montana a person is allowed to be responsible for someone
else's care. I also agree about older siblings watching younger
kids.
Actually, I think that older siblings, regardless of age, often make the
worst sitters! I know I certainly was much kinder to other children than
my
siblings when I was forced to babysit for them!
We have lots of babysitters who visit with young charges. Our biggest
problem is not older kids watching younger kids alone in the library.
Generally, it was very young children watching much younger children
while the parents use other areas of the library. Frankly speaking, 99% of
the time the parents dump the kids off in the kids department and park
themselves at an Internet station. We wanted something in place to reply
to the woman who told us, literally, that her toddler was NOT unattended,
because the five year old brother was watching him. If I had my 'druthers,
of course, no child would ever be out of arm's reach of a loving, caring
adult caregiver. But, alas, that will never be! And situations such
as the
one you described, and I described earlier, should NEVER happen! But
they do. Sigh.
Ironically enough, moments after I sent my post about the kid throwing up
all day at the library, left there by his considerate father who thought he
would benefit from our airconditioning, we had another doozy. I had three
young boys, ages from 8-11, come right after we opened to use the
computers. Two of the boys started to argue over a chair. I told
them to
settle their difference or find their grownup to help them settle down.
They were ok until their computer time was up. Then, they started rough
housing in the library, rearranging furniture, shouting, jumping off
bookshelves, etc. I told them to behave or they would need to stay with
their grownup.
One piped up that they did not HAVE a grown up. When I voiced
concern, and asked if we could call someone, the oldest boy claimed that
their mom would be outside and couldn't hear the phone. A few minutes
later, he told me that his grandpa was out in the parking lot in the car,
and
could he show me? I told him to let Grandpa know that he needed to be
IN the library with them. They left. I was pretty sure there was no
grandpa, so I watched out the window but did not see them. I looked all
through the library for someone who might be their mother, but found no
possibilities. I emailed our children's staff to ask if anyone knew these
particular boys, and to voice my concerns.
An hour later or so, a police officer came to my desk. Apparently, the
boys had left here and travelled many blocks away, and were caught
lighting a fire under a bridge, at a place known to be frequented by
vagrants. The officer was trying to track down their parents--the boys
could not remember where they lived, their phone number, etc. For a
time, they did not even know their own names.....
Later, another staff person told me that the boys had been ringing our staff
doorbell downstairs incessantly. She had told them to stop. They
rang it
again
and ran off. Another staff person told me a few days later that she was
pretty sure these boys lived out by her, several miles from town.
Their mother came in a few days later. I spoke to her to let her know what
had happened here. She blamed the whole incident on the friend her two
boys were with, and claimed she had been in the library the entire time.
If
she had been, I would really like to know why she had not come frantically
looking for them, more than an hour after they left the library!
Sigh. It is amazing so many kids live to adulthood in our society.
Linette Ivanovitch
YA Librarian
Missoula Public Library
Missoula, MT
On 2 Jul 2003 at 10:20, Jennifer Baker wrote:
> i think that policies that say kids of a certain age
> can be "attended" by older siblings are better than no
> clear policy at all, but even they have their
> problems. what is a 14 year old sibling expected to do
> if the younger child is injured or becomes sick? also,
> who said all 14 year olds are responsible?
>
> we recently had a little boy (probably about 9) who
> was left at the library. he and his brothers are a few
> of our "regulars". the younger boy had recently been
> in a bicycle accident and had stitches down the inside
> of his leg running about 8 inches. when he went to the
> bathroom he accidentally pulled the stitches out.
> although he wasn't bleeding to death, he was hurt and
> frightened. it took us several minutes to even find
> his brothers and once we did they called home and no
> one was there. when they finally got ahold of a family
> member they said they were very busy and would come
> 'as soon as they could'. after another 40 minutes
> passed i called them again myself and explained that
> the boy was in pain and scared. after getting the same
> response from them i told them that if it was too much
> trouble for them to come get their child i would be
> happy to contact the police to see if they could
> arrange to get him home. and whatta ya know, they
> showed up in less than 5 minutes.
> ~j.
>
> =====
> ~jenniferbaker
> fresno co. public library
>
> "I may not be an explorer or an adventurer or a treasure seeker or a
> gun fighter Mr. O' Connell, but I am proud of what I am." "And
what is
> that?" "I am a librarian!" ~ Evelyn, The Mummy
>
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End of PUBYAC Digest 1151
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