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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: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 11:01 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 1198
PUBYAC Digest 1198
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Yu-Gi-Oh!
by STACI <STACI@mail.selco.lib.mn.us>
2) Re: funny questions
by LGD <gabeny13@yahoo.com>
3) Lapsit jazzing up!
by RElmo74@aol.com
4) stumper: Orange Oliver catshort story
by Helen Mochetti <helenlido@yahoo.com>
5) New Member
by "Kim Crotty" <KimTchr65@adelphia.net>
6) Re: Lemony Snicket compilation (sort of) (long)
by "Becky White" <bwhite@acpl.lib.in.us>
7) Need autumn/harvest theme books
by Susan Fisher <sfisher@lib.williamson-tn.org>
8) RE: programs on Ancient Egypt
by v talbert <valerietalbert@yahoo.com>
9) developmentally disabled adults
by Judy Looby <jrlooby@yahoo.com>
10) STUMPER: juv series about an alien
by mskerkavich@wepl.lib.oh.us
11) ?Japanese Folk/Fairy Tale
by "Shari Haber" <shaber@mcls.org>
12) Puppet Stages
by Christy Jones <xyjones3@yahoo.com>
13) RE: Three Investigators Stumper--Thanks!!
by Sallywilms@aol.com
14) The New Librarian - humorous anecdote
by "Lori Karns" <Lori.Karns@mail.co.ventura.ca.us>
15) Stumper
by Carol Hopkins <CarolH@ci.puyallup.wa.us>
16) Re: funny questions
by "Jennifer Salt" <jennifersalt@hotmail.com>
17) Re: Jennifer Baker's 'touchy question'
by MzLibrary@aol.com
18) RE: outreach
by Carol Hopkins <CarolH@ci.puyallup.wa.us>
19) Re: touchy question
by Dawn Sardes <Dawn.Sardes@euclidlibrary.org>
20) Re: touchy question
by Wanda Peterson <wandasway2003@yahoo.com>
21) Subject: Re: Where is the biography section?
by Jennie Stoltz <jstoltz@esls.lib.wi.us>
22) Get Science Program
by "HOW Rebecca Smith" <howrs@llcoop.org>
23) touchy question
by "Karen-Marie Allen" <KMAllen@glendaleaz.com>
--------------------------------------
From: LGD [mailto:gabeny13@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:50 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: funny questions
Well dressed woman with teenager daughter. Very nice looking, well kept
etc. Ask about a book...tell her it is by so and so and is on the shelf in
the fiction. She starts over and then comes back and looks at me and
says...."so..um...how does this alphabet thing work??" I just
looked and
said, Well, like the... alphabet. "Oh, says the
woman..."that's like an a
to z thing, right?
--------------------------------------
From: RElmo74@aol.com
[mailto:RElmo74@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:50 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Lapsit jazzing up!
I used to do lapsit at the library where i worked.
I used a lot of the Palma smiley material and as a base for teaching.
She has people that do workshops with her material. She also has a web site.
Just put Palma smiley in the search. How her material is christian relative
,
but you can use a lot of her ideas in teaching and tell stories in public.
some schools use it in preschool and kindergarten.
Rita Russell
Gallatin, Tn
--------------------------------------
From: Helen Mochetti [mailto:helenlido@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:50 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: stumper: Orange Oliver catshort story
We are looking for a short story published in a collection of children's
short stories, probably the '70's, about a cat named Orange Oliver that kept
falling down and bumping into things. Turned out he needed glasses. This was
the favorite childhood story of our patron's daughter, who also discovered
she needed glasses.
Have checked through short story index.
Helen Mochetti
Helen
helenlido@yahoo.com
--------------------------------------
From: Kim Crotty [mailto:KimTchr65@adelphia.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:50 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: New Member
Hi Everyone,
I apologize for this email but I am new to this and I am really enjoying =
reading all the questions, answers and ideas being shared. There are so =
many that I want to keep, I was wondering if there is a simple way to =
archive emails. I've just been saving them but my email inbox is =
getting huge! I've now started printing them out as well. Please let
=
me know if there is another way to save some of this great info.
Thanks,
Kim Crotty
Millcreek Township School District
Erie, PA
--------------------------------------
From: Becky White [mailto:bwhite@acpl.lib.in.us]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:50 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Lemony Snicket compilation (sort of) (long)
Thanks Mary, I'm still carrying around a folder of ideas for a Lemony =
Snicket addition to our booklist webpages. It would be good to have one =
up before the November program. I don't quite understand the inclusion =
here of the The Midwife's Apprentice =AF unless it would be "If you
like =
Lemony Snicket because you love to read about bleak childhood experiences =
. . ." !!
Becky
--------------------------------------
From: Susan Fisher [mailto:sfisher@lib.williamson-tn.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:51 PM
To: PUBYAC
Subject: Need autumn/harvest theme books
I'm looking for "Halloween alternative" books for my toddler group,
since most Halloween books are too scary for them. Any suggestions of
autumn/harvest books for ages 18-35 months?
--
Susan Fisher
Bethesda Public Library
4905 Bethesda Road
Thompson Station, TN 37179
615.790.1887
fax: 615.790.8426
sfisher@lib.williamson-tn.org
--------------------------------------
From: v talbert [mailto:valerietalbert@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:51 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: RE: programs on Ancient Egypt
No Egypt program is complete without a mummy. Here
are two sites that show the process on a chicken:
http://www.geocities.com/sseagraves/ancientegyptlessonplans.htm
classroom activities on Ancient Egypt--good
instructions on mummifying a chicken
http://library.thinkquest.org/J003227F/howto.html?tqskip1=1&tqtime=0903
more chicken mummifying instructions
Valerie Talbert
Aberdeen Timberland Library
Aberdeen, WA
vtalbert@trlib.org
--------------------------------------
From: Judy Looby [mailto:jrlooby@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:51 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: developmentally disabled adults
We have had groups of developmentally disabled adults coming to our library
for many years. Some of them are more severly handicapped than others.
Some sit in the adult area and some come to the children's area. Some will
check out materials, but for others, it's just an outing. I can't imagine
saying anything to them about staying in the adult area. Yes, they are
loud. And to young children they might be a little scary. But I
think a
lot of them enjoy being around children, and I think it's good for the
children to be around them. We have a separate room for programs, so we
don't have that problem, but I still think the adults have as much right to
be there (in the children's area) as the children do. I hope you can find
a
way to work it all out.
Judy Looby
Charleston Public Library
Charleston, IL
--------------------------------------
From: mskerkavich@wepl.lib.oh.us
[mailto:mskerkavich@wepl.lib.oh.us]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:51 PM
To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org
Subject: STUMPER: juv series about an alien
We have a patron who remembers reading a series of books in the early '60's.
She lived in Detroit, Michigan at the time.
She remembers this series for middle-school readers that involved a short,
bald alien who had been befriended by a group of children, and that the
books were humorous. I know this is not much to go on, but any suggestions
as to what this might be?
Thanks!
Michelle M. Skerkavich
Children's Librarian
Willowick Public Library
263 E. 305 Street
Willowick, Ohio 44095
440/943-4151 ext.116
--------------------------------------
From: Shari Haber [mailto:shaber@mcls.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:51 PM
To: "Difficult library reference questions list"
Subject: ?Japanese Folk/Fairy Tale
A patron is looking for a Japanese folktale in which, according to the
patron, a "maiden is abducted by a troll in rice fields." The story is
at least 35 years old. (We imagine that he means an ogre or a goblin
(or, maybe, an "oni"), since trolls do not seem to occur in Japanese
folklore.) It may have had pen and ink illustrations.
We've checked several story collections by Uchida, and googled away, but
found nothing right on target. Does this ring any bells with anybody?
TIA.
Shari Haber
MCLS Reference Center
shaber@mcls.org
--------------------------------------
From: Christy Jones [mailto:xyjones3@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:51 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Puppet Stages
Hi Pubyacers,
Another favor to ask.
My library is in the process of constructing a new
building. We are planning on including a built in
puppet stage. We would like to make the puppet stage
a magical space that fits the whimsical style of the
proposed children's library.
I was wondering if any of you, who had puppet stages,
could give input on your likes and dislikes concerning
your stage. Also, if possible, it would be wonderful
if you could include photos of your puppet stages.
Please respond to me off list at:
cjones@faylib.org
Thank you so much,
Christy Jones
Children's Librarian
Fayetteville Public Library
--------------------------------------
From: Sallywilms@aol.com
[mailto:Sallywilms@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:52 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: RE: Three Investigators Stumper--Thanks!!
I am astonished at the number of people who too time from their busy days to
personally respond to my stumper about three boys who solved mysteries and
had
a headquarters in a bus in a junkyard. Not only did a plethora of people
respond with what MUST BE the series (Alfred Hitchcock and the Three
Investigators), but you also took time to delve deeper into the series,
writers, etc.
Your enthusiasm thrilled me. You know who you are, and Thank You.
I am ashamed to tell you that I am still not familiar with the series--must
be my troglodyte lifestyle, or lack thereof. Our library doesn't own any
of
this series, but I am getting a few from another branch--we have forty-some
titles; just not at our library!!
I phoned the patron and left a message, but have not heard back. I'm sure
I
will, though.
The old refrain--you people make us look good!
Gratefully
Sally Williams
--------------------------------------
From: Lori Karns [mailto:Lori.Karns@mail.co.ventura.ca.us]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:52 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: The New Librarian - humorous anecdote
Those of us who have used the system of signing the date cards to check out
books, may relate to this story sent to me by my sister...
The New Librarian
The new librarian decided that instead of checking out children's books by
writing the names of borrowers on the book cards herself, she would have the
youngsters sign their own names. She would then tell them they were signing
a "Contract" for returning the books on time.
Her first customer was a second grader, who looked surprised to see a new
librarian. He brought four books to the desk and shoved them across to the
librarian, giving her his name as he did so.The librarian pushed the books
back and told him to sign them out. The boy laboriously printed his name on
each book card and then handed them to her with a look of utter disgust.
Before the librarian could even start her speech he said, scornfully, "That
other librarian we had could write."
--------------------------------------
From: Carol Hopkins [mailto:CarolH@ci.puyallup.wa.us]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:52 PM
To: 'PUBYAC@prairienet.org'
Subject: Stumper
Hi there you wonderful people!
I have another stumper from a patron's childhood. She remembers a
particular picture book from the 70's or earlier that she wants to find.
Here is the description she wrote out for me:
"Young boy and father travel like gypsies from town to town. the
father is
a flame/sword swallower who becomes ill and can no longer perform. The boy
tries ot perform like his father but cannot. So, he begins to draw how
their dream house/life would be like. As he draws, passerbys are drawn to
his beautiful imaginings and begin to drop coins and flowers into his hat.
When he is done with this drawing he looks up to find all these gifts, which
he happily brings back to his father... I want to say the boy's name is
Pepino or Pepone or Popone or some such name but I'n not sure."
Of course my patron cannot remember the title or author. If this sounds
familiar to anyone please contact me at carolh@ci.puyallup.wa.us
and I will
pass on the inforamation.
Thanks for your help!
Carol Hopkins
Puyallup Public Library
Puyallup, Washington
--------------------------------------
From: Jennifer Salt [mailto:jennifersalt@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:52 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: funny questions
John:
At least you got the patron to take what you had to offer. A few years ago,
I had a grandmother come in who wanted photos of Washington and Lincoln, so
she could teach her granddaughter why she had off from school. (This being
around President's Day.) We found her a photograph of Lincoln, but she
refused to accept a reproduction of a portrait of Washington. Remained true
to her conviction that there _was_ photography in Washington's time. She
returned to the library the next week, however; so I guess she didn't hold
this against us.
--Jennifer
>From: John_Maunder/Pittwater_Council@pittwater.nsw.gov.au
>Reply-To: pubyac@prairienet.org
>To: pubyac@prairienet.org
>Subject: funny questions
>Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 20:59:02 CDT
>
>I remember a few weeks ago there was an amusing thread about the strange
>questions and requests we receive. Well, I finally had one that I thought
>was worth sharing......a patron (probably 50's) came in and asked me for a
>colour photograph of William the Conqueror! He went away slightly
>disappointed with a photocopy of a black and white photo of a painting.
>
>You can only try...
>
>John Maunder
>Pittwater Library Service
>Sydney, Australia
>
--------------------------------------
From: MzLibrary@aol.com
[mailto:MzLibrary@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:52 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Jennifer Baker's 'touchy question'
I had this problem in the library about six months ago with the same
situation. One patron in her 50's wanted to rock right at the opening to
our
children's room. (We have a 70's style open floor plan, not a separate
room
or space
that many libraries have.) The caretakers come to browse and pay very
little
attention to the disabled or challenged patrons. "Doris", the
patron, would
cry and moan and, very frankly, my parents were uncomfortable and the young
patrons were distressed. She would sometimes demand hugs from parents and
children alike.
I agonized over this and finally asked one of our older circulation clerks,
who these patrons are very familiar with, what to do. She quickly asked
"Doris" if she would rock in a chair in another, more vacant section
of the
library.
It hasn't been a problem since.
I empathize because I feel responsible for the comfort of everyone in the
children's room and have worked really hard to make it a friendly, wonderful
place. I felt that with weekly visits from "Doris" that they would
avoid the
library which is the exact opposite of what I have been trying so hard to
guard
against.
Charlotte Rabbitt, Children's Librarian
http://www.mrsrabbitt.blogspot.com
Peterborough Town Library
Peterborough, New Hampshire
"Oh, magic hour when a child first knows it can read printed words!"
from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
mzlibrary@aol.com
crabbitt@townofpeterborough.us
http://townofpeterborough.com/library
--------------------------------------
From: Carol Hopkins [mailto:CarolH@ci.puyallup.wa.us]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:52 PM
To: 'pubyac@prairienet.org'
Subject: RE: outreach
Hi Nancy!
Most daycare providers must do some sort of continuing education class in
order to get their license renewed. You could arrange to give continuing
education credit to all who attend your class at the library.
Hope this helps,
Carol Hopkins
Puyallup Public Library
--------------------------------------
From: Dawn Sardes [mailto:Dawn.Sardes@euclidlibrary.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:53 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: touchy question
As the sister of a developmentally disabled adult, I think the idea of
asking this group to leave the area is heart-breaking. They are members of
your community as much as any parent or child. If a new family moved into
your community who looked, dressed, or worshipped differently from the
majority population, would you ask them to leave because having ________
(insert: Jews, African-Americans, Moslems, Deaf people, etc.) nearby made
them uncomfortable?
Due to shaking and spasms, my brother's table manners are pretty bad, but I
have never been asked to remove him from a restaurant so other diners can be
more comfortable.
People who are uncomfortable around representatives of diverse groups need
to be educated, not accommodated.
My brother has the intellectual ability of a six-year-old. The children's
department is the appropriate place for him. It has the resources that he is
able to comprehend.
I think the need here is for compassion and tolerance. Maybe you can even
try a storytime on the topic. There is a book called "The Blue
Rose." I
remember reading it to my own children to help explain why their Uncle Jimmy
was different. I also remember a picture book about a cat with three legs
who is rejected on a farm due to the other animals being uncomfortable. I
wish I could remember the title now, but it was excellent too. Maybe
someone else on the list knows it?
Dawn Sardes
Teen Services Librarian
Euclid Public Library
Dawn.Sardes@euclidlibrary.org
216-261-5300, ext. 138
"Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the
general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the Structure of a
government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public
opinion should be enlightened."
>From the 1796 Farewell Address of George Washington, 1st President of the
United States
--------------------------------------
From: Wanda Peterson [mailto:wandasway2003@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:53 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: touchy question
As both a Children's Librarian and a former Direct Care worker with severely
mentally challenged adults, I implore you NOT to kick these disabled people
out of the children's room simply because the sight of them makes other
people feel "uncomfortable".
People with mental disabilities are all too often doomed to spend their
lives confined in a group home, with little or no stimulating contact with
the outside world, simply for that reason - when their caregivers try to
take them out for a change of pace and scenery, they are made to feel
unwanted by the looks and comments of insensitive people. You say that the
children are uncomfortable with the presence of handicapped people. I
assure you, from many years of experience, that children take all of their
cues on how to feel towards the handicapped from the adults around them.
When adults are being mature, calm and compassionate, I have never seen a
child express anything but kindness and comfort toward the mentally disabled
they meet. But when the adults stiffen or stare (or worse, shake their
heads or make disparaging comments), the children immediately perceive a
disabled person as someone undesirable or scary.
Please see this as a wonderful opportunity for you to teach these children,
through your own example, that disabled people ARE just people too,
deserving of tolerance and kindness. It is a lesson the kids will take
with
them for the rest of their lives. As you say, the disabled people are
doing
nothing to cause disruption. Their caregivers undoubtedly feel that the
children's room is more comfortable for them than the adult room, given that
they have the mental ages of children, despite their physical age. They
are
more likely to respond to the setup and decorations of a chidren's room, and
certainly the books there would hold their interest best.
You say that you only rarely see them reading the books. Have you
approached the group and offered to help the caregivers find materials that
might interest their charges? Perhaps they could use help locating books
with simple stories and interesting pictures. If the disabled adults are
capable of communication, please make sure to talk to them directly. Ask
them what they are interested in. Do some research into the topic and see
what experts suggest as helpful materials for this group. After all, they
are your patrons, too - why should they be marginalized simply for a
condition they have no control over?
Please welcome these disabled adults into your children's room and make them
feel a part of the library community. It will be not only a kindness to
them, but to the children who will see you being tolerant and kind, and
realize that handicapped people are not scary or less important than anyone
else.
Wanda Peterson
--------------------------------------
From: Jennie Stoltz [mailto:jstoltz@esls.lib.wi.us]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:53 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Subject: Re: Where is the biography section?
Well, I could see that moving the biographies in the adult section might
work (although I also know a LOT of adults who like to read only biographies
and would be very upset if they had to browse around by subject) but with
the number of kids who do biography assignments each year, it would be a
nightmare for us if we went and split the biographies up. Currently we
catalog the adult biographies in 921 but I went even further
"backwards" in
the children's biographies and catalogued them according to the DDC 20 (I
think) where the biographies are broken down by types of people, for
example, all the kings/presidents/rulers are together and all the EXPLORERS
are together and all the writers are together. It seems to work very well.
The only biographies we do not shelve in the biography section are the
sports biographies, those are actually in the sports section.
And don't get me wrong, I'm all for change. I went and retroactively
reassigned the entire 500 area when the DDC 21 came out because they had all
these lovely new numbers for the animals. I just think that many, many,
MANY people enjoy reading biographies and specifically ask for that
ction. - Jennie
Jennie J. Stoltz
Children's Coordinator/Webmaster
Frank L. Weyenberg Library of
Mequon/Thiensville, Wisconsin
"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who
cannot read them." - Mark Twain
--------------------------------------
From: HOW Rebecca Smith [mailto:howrs@llcoop.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:53 PM
To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org
Subject: Get Science Program
OOPS!! I was having trouble with my email this a.m. and just realized that I
didn't send the responses--sorry--here they are!!
Hi all,
Here are the responses that I received about Steve Belliveau. Sounds like he
has a great program although a bit on the high side for a small library like
ours. I can't wait to have him someday!! I also included a couple of
responses that had suggestions for programs that may be useful to you.
I saw Steve Belliveau do his science act at a school in Evanston, Il. He =
was AMAZING!! I'd definitely hire him. After I saw him I thought to =
myself who can I pass his name along to because he made the principle of =
science so cool and fun.
Brooke L.M.Roothaan
Outreach & Children's
Lincolnwood Public Library
4000 West Pratt Avenue
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
847-677-5277 x234
847-677-1937 FAX
We had him in 2001. It was interesting. There was a lot of audience
participation. When we booked him, I believe his fee was about $400.
Nikeda Webb
Youth Services Coordinator
Wilmington Public Library District
201 S. Kankakee St.
Wilmington, IL 60481
815-476-2834
815-476-7805 fax
nfwebb@wilmingtonlibrary.org
Visit the world @ your libraryT
We have had Steve twice. He puts on a good show, with a good mix of
information and humor. He does have a very straight-faced style of humor,
and works best with 10-up, I'd say. He's very professional and reliable.
--Susan Lempke
You might want to try a great group called "Mad Science". They
do science
shows on the level with Bill Nye the Science Guy or Mr. Wizard, very
interesting and interactive. Not prohibitively expensive, lots of fun. We
have had them the past 2 years for Summer Reading; there are several themes
they use to showcase science in an interesting way. This year they did
movement/motion, and brought a hover craft (powered by a leaf blower) the
kids could ride on. Fun!
Their e is madscience.org there is a group in Shelby Township (not
sure
how close to you), contact for this particular group is
madscioakland@yahoo.com.
Good luck and have fun!
Marci W. Saucier
Youth Services Librarian
St. Charles Parish Library
P.O. Box 949
105 Lakewood Drive
Luling, LA 70070
985-785-8464
msaucier@stcharles.lib.la.us
Becca,
Have you considered doing a simple science program of your own? I've done
quite a few using the experiments from the Exploratorium website and the
kids love them - they're easy to do - they're hands on science - and the
website explains the principles behind the experiments so that you don't
have to have a huge knowledge of science to do a program. I've done these
both as a sit-down lab type program where I place all the things needed for
all the experiments at each person's place and run them step by step through
each experiment, and as a station type program, where I place everything
needed for an experiment at a table and have a "local expert"
(read teen
volunteer) to explain how to do the experiment.
I know it's crazy, but please call me if you need help, I'd be happy to
share ideas with you.
I'm here this evening (until 8pm, and Saturday 9:30am-5pm, and Sunday
1pm-5pm) Call if I can help with ideas.
Thanks
Jacque Viol
Youth Librarian
Kent District Library Cascade Branch
2870 Jacksmith Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 647-3850
Thank You to all who responded:)
Becca Smith
Youth Services
Reynolds Township Library (HOW)
215 E Edgerton
P O Box 220
Howard City, MI 49329
(213)937-5575
--------------------------------------
From: Karen-Marie Allen [mailto:KMAllen@glendaleaz.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:53 PM
To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org
Subject: touchy question
Hi Jennifer,
You have a terrific opportunity to extend your services to yet more patrons.
I think the caregivers of disabled adults initially found our youth
department a better choice than the adult department because we do have
youthful patrons who talk in loud voices and the occasional shriek can be
heard when one of these little folks is told by parents that they must leave
the train set or the computers.
We initially started programming for disabled teens when a local high school
special education teacher asked us to provide "community based
instruction"
for her high school students, many of whom have Downs Syndrome and related
conditions. I did the first ramped up storytime because I had worked with
special education students as a school librarian and was therefore
comfortable with the audience. I want to stress that I have no special
insight into these kids but I am comfortable working with them. The next
month another youth librarian was scheduled to provide the program. She is
an experienced children's librarian but had many concerns about her ability
to "get it right." She did realize however that she could control the
quality of the storytime she presented and that the teachers and aides
would respond to kids needs as appropriate. After her initial program, those
of us who were working that day, talked through her experiences and helped
her to define the successful parts of the program and the things she might
do differently the next time. We also agreed that it might be okay for kids
to vocalize or even sleep if that was what they needed to be doing at the
moment.
We have continued to informally "debrief" with one another after each
session and now rotate these storytimes among our staff of five. Despite a
more sophisticated agenda and a curriculum component, our "storytime on
steroids" still relies heavily on picture books and is based on our theme
of
the week. We have explored fables and fairy tales, learned about
biographical reference while celebrating the life and career of Bill Peet,
examined illustrator's styles and after learning about the poured paper
techniques of Denise Fleming, tried our hands at papermaking. Focusing on
individual countries, has enabled us to examine atlases and the non-fiction
collection. After reading Indonesian folktales, students used crayons and
tempera paint to create their own batik postcards. We have learned about our
own state through flannel board stories, interactive songs about Arizona,
storytelling of historical events and reading books by local authors such as
Susan Lowell. We easily stretch our existing storytime into a new shape that
fits these special teens and adults.
The payoff for this type of programming is that we, who were fine serving
individual disabled patrons, are now delighted to see groups. We now serve
several high school and elementary school groups as well as adults in
respite care programs. Sometimes we look out to an audience of silver haired
and bald individuals. We now feel comfortable approaching caregivers if
autistic patrons have been vocalizing for a really long time and can invite
them take a book or toy and step outside to the patio to regroup as it were.
We aren't so concerned about being politically correct because the warmth of
our welcome is evident. Jennifer, you will be thrilled with the response you
get from these patrons. Focus on their abilities and you will be blessed
with a crowd that enjoys your presentations and develops a
love for the library. Remember, no special knowledge is required but it
helps to have a buddy so please feel free to email or call me. Best wishes.
Karen-Marie Allen
Youth Reference Supervisor
Foothills Branch Library
19055 N. 57th Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85308
Tel. 623.930.3869
End of PUBYAC Digest 1198
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