01-29-04 or 1330
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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, January 29, 2004 11:01 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 1330
Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Seeking books on father abandonment for a seven year old by Ford-Betsy@MonroeCounty-FL.Gov 2) Peer pressure stories by Mary Gilbert <m.gilbert@gomail.sjcpl.lib.in.us> 3) RE: Stumper - grandmother's soup by "Diana Cook" <dcook@rpl.regina.sk.ca> 4) Book Repair Supplies by "Wanda Maxwell" <wsm@pclibrary.org> 5) bookstores & libraries by Paula Schaffner <paula@saline.lib.mi.us> 6) waiting dog - librarians weigh in... by "Sheppard, Grace" <Grace.Sheppard@ottawa.ca> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Ford-Betsy@MonroeCounty-FL.Gov To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org Subject: Seeking books on father abandonment for a seven year old MIME-Version: 1.0 Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 19:28:01 CST Hello everyone! I have a patron looking for books for her seven year old son. The boy's father abandoned them when the boy was an infant and has had no contact with them since then. The mother has remarried and the boy has a positive relationship with his stepfather but he is currently experiencing problems regarding the abandonment. I searched our catalog, A to Zoo, and Amazon using terms like abandonment, divorce, single parent families (the last two thinking I might find something related). Books on divorce and single parent families aren't what she's looking for plus she's looking for something her son can read, not an adult book. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. I'll post a hit. Betsy Betsy Ford Children's Librarian Monroe County Public Library Key West, FL ------------------------------ From: Mary Gilbert <m.gilbert@gomail.sjcpl.lib.in.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Peer pressure stories Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 19:28:15 CST Hello, everyone: A patron asked me today about novels for a 4th grade girl dealing with being a "pleaser". She makes good grades and tries to be liked by pleasing her peers/teachers, but feels insecure. The mother is concerned that she needs models for confidence to be herself, rather than anticipate what others want her to say/do/be. I couldn't come up with a single title dealing with a girl who is a conformer that develops a sense of self. Considering how dominent peer pressure is in our culture, I was surprised that I couldn't come up with any books dealing with the issue. Does anyone know of stories that have to do with resisting peer (and/or adult expectations) pressure with an emerging sense of self? I'm looking for middle grade titles. I'll post the list of responses. Thanks! -- Mary Gilbert Children's Services St. Joseph County Public Library South Bend, IN ------------------------------ From: "Diana Cook" <dcook@rpl.regina.sk.ca> To: <cmholm@inlandlib.org>, <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: RE: Stumper - grandmother's soup MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 19:28:28 CST If anyone knows this, I would also like to know. Also--I am thinking of a tale of the man who thinks his house isnoisy, and the wise woman keeps telling him to add one more animal until the place is really noisy, and then he takes them away and it seems peaceful in his house now. No one can seem to remember the title of this or one of it's variants around here. Thanks! Diana dcook@reginalibrary.ca -----Original Message----- From: Cecelia Mestas-Holm [mailto:cmholm@inlandlib.org] Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 1:03 AM To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: Stumper - grandmother's soup Hi, I am not a member of this list but I'd appreciate any help. I have a patron asking for a children's story they read in 1970s-1980s. It is not Stone Soup. An Italian mother or grandmother is known for making a special soup. One day as she starts to cook the soup, she's interrupted at intervals by each member of her family. Each one asks that a specific ingredient be left out for various reasons. By the time dinner arrives, the woman places a pot of boiled water on the table because of the requests. I have checked Children's Catalog editions available to me - 1966, 1971, 1976 and 1991.Hoping this sounds familiar to someone, and thanks for any suggestions! Cecelia Holm, M.S.L.I.S. Inland Library System Riverside, California cmholm@inlandlib.org 909.369.7994 FAX: 909.784.1158 ------------------------------ From: "Wanda Maxwell" <wsm@pclibrary.org> To: "PUBYAC" <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: Book Repair Supplies MIME-Version: 1.0 Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 19:28:40 CST We are no longer using the following items to repair books. If you are = interested in purchasing any of them at a low low rate, please contact = me at wsm@pclibrary.org. The items are: 10 packages of CD protective = labels (5498); 2 cans of Spraylon Clear Plastic Spray; 1" single = stitched tape (unopened); 2" single stitched tape. The rest are double = stitched tape: 2 1/2" pkg opened; 2 1/4" pkg not opened; 7/8" pkg not = opened; 3/4" pkg not opened; 3/4" pkg opened; 1 3/8" pkg not opened; 1 = 1/2" pkg opened; 5/8" pkg opened; 3/4" pkg not opened; 1 5/8" pkg not = opened; 3 - 7/8" pkg opened; 2 - 7/8" pkg not opened; 1 3/8" pkg not = opened; 7/8" pkg opened; 1 1/2" pkg opened; 1" pkg opened; 5/8" not = opened; 3/8" pkg opened; 1/2" pkg opened; 1/4" pkg not opened. These = were purchased from Gaylord and Demco. Some of the packages opened have = not been used. Some are only a parcel package. I just hate to discard = these if someone can use them. I would sell them or even give some of = them away. Thanks Wanda Putnam County Library Cookeville Tn = wsm@pclibrary.org ------------------------------ From: Paula Schaffner <paula@saline.lib.mi.us> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: bookstores & libraries Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 19:28:54 CST I practice subversive librarianship in bookstores. Here's how it works: every other weekend or so, go to a local bookstore. Look at the shiny new books. When you overhear a perplexed customer talking to another perplexed customer (because no sales person is in sight, OR the sales person doesn't know the answer), casually say, "Excuse me, but I just saw that book over there." After they find the item, mention one or two other books that might also be appropriate. When the no longer perplexed customers exclaim over your extensive knowledge, admit that you are, in fact, a librarian. Then recommend at least two other possible books and say, "They are out of print, but I know they're available at the library." If the person says, "No, I already looked," you can mention ILL. This is what we have that bookstores can never offer: the truly deep backlist and OURSELVES. I frequently run into Saline District Library patrons in the bookstores. We're always glad to see each other and always end up discussing books and (of course) being overheard by other bookstore wanderers. Nine times out of ten, someone else will join the conversation and my patrons ALWAYS identify me as "our librarian." Good publicity for my library and for librarians (even on our days off, we go where needed!). As for bookstore storytimes--they make us look good. Because we don't have to sell anything, we can concentrate on providing the best possible age-appropriate experience for each child in attendance. We can enforce the "No unattended children" policies. We can avoid dangerously large groups. We can expect good behavior. And we can send people away with bags of books and movies and music FOR FREE. What a deal! That said, we DO need to make our collections attractive and our libraries inviting, so people will realize how wonderful we are. Paula Schaffner Saline (MI) District Library paula@saline.lib.mi.us ------------------------------ From: "Sheppard, Grace" <Grace.Sheppard@ottawa.ca> To: "'PUBYAC@prairienet.org'" <PUBYAC@prairienet.org> Subject: waiting dog - librarians weigh in... MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 19:29:09 CST Hello everyone, Here are the responses I received from Pubyac members about the controversial "The Waiting Dog" by Carolyn Beck. Thanks to all who sent their opinions. Grace Sheppard, Children's Librarian Cumberland Branch, Ottawa Public Library Grace.Sheppard@ottawa.ca ***** Hi Grace, I thought it was funny; but I too received staff complaints about the graphic content. I'm not sure that I would order it again; there hasn't been much interest, but often those "picture books for all readers" just don't circulate. I still don't find it offensive (and my dogs enjoyed it). Hope this helped. Laurie Harrison Riverhead (NY) FPL ***** Hi Grace, We found it very graphic also. We decided to put it in our Junior Fiction collection. Can you let me know what your overall response was on this book? Thanks Janet Coulas Children's Services Librarian jcoulas@post.library.on.ca Petawawa Public Library 16 Civic Centre Rd. Petawawa, ON K8H 3H5 ***** I hated this book, and I'm Canadian and a fan of her "Elliot" books. See my review on Amazon. I sent my copy back to the publisher and asked for a refund!! Inge Saczkowski ***** Hi, Grace - Here are the letter and my review. I found other reviews at CM (<http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/cm/vol10/no1/thewaitingdog.html>); Globe and Mail Nov. 15/03, p. D19; Toronto Star Nov. 9/03; Publishers Weekly Sept. 29/03, p. 65. The complaints here were that it was gross, violent and not appropriate for young children. Hope this helps, Andrea Andrea Gordon Manager, Children's & Youth Services Burlington Public Library 2331 New Street Burlington, Ontario L7R 1J4 gordona@bpl.on.ca <mailto:gordona@bpl.on.ca> ***** Where did it get a positive review? Everything I read about it was negative... as was my own reaction. I can see nothing worthwhile in a story about a dog fantasizing about eating a mailman, in *graphic* detail. Yes, there were some humorous turns of phrase. Yes, the illustrator is quite talented. But overall, I thought the entire book - story and art - was SICK. In my opinion, the author, illustrator, and publisher should be ashamed of themselves for trying to pass this off as humor. I will not be adding this to our collection unless a large number of patrons request it and our review board overrules my decision. If that's censorship, so be it. Becky Ann Smith Youth Services Librarian Logan Library Logan, UT bsmith@loganutah.org <mailto:bsmith@loganutah.org> ***** I have seen this book and really was turned off by it. I don't do the ordering at our branch, so I'm just speaking personally, but I didn't like it at all. The book is very graphic and the gore in it doesn't seem to serve any purpose except to be gratuitous. On one page in particular, you see the mailman's severed hand and there is wood under his nails, mirroring the scrapes on the door. It's really over the edge gross. There are other pages where organs are just laying around, or in the dog's mouth. I know other librarians who really thought it was hilarious, but I don't think it serves any purpose and I don't think it is even very well written. Hope this opinion helps! - Jennifer Allen County Public Library Dupont Branch Childrens Librarian I jnewton@acpl.lib.in.us (260)421-1315 (phone) www.acpl.lib.in.us ***** Grace, If I'm remembering this book correctly, it has a dog eating a mailman or something. We had a chance to add it to our collection through a book review group, but all three youth services librarians thought it was a bit over the top. It is gruesome and appeals more to an older sensibility that may see the book for satire (we hope). It seems our selector decided not to purchase this book for her own reasons. We never discussed this title with her and I noticed we don't have one copy in our 27 branches. I hope this helps rather than hurts your case. Cindi Carey Lacey, Washington ***** Grace, We don't have the book in our system. I looked up reviews on the BWI website. Publisher's Weekly and and School Library Jornal both warn about its graphic content. It sounds inappropriate for young children- my opinion, without seeing the book. SLJ recommends grades 3-5. Linda Anderson Nashville Public Library laanders@bellsouth.net <mailto:laanders@bellsouth.net> ***** It's funny that you mention this. I also got a complaint from a patron on this book. My staff read it and told me to take a look at it. I contacted the other branch managers in our system and had them read it. We all thought it was very graphic and quite nauseating. I have contacted our technical services department and they are going to take a look at it and decide what to do. If you don't mind, could you post an update to PUBYAC on the responses you receive concerning this book? I'm curious to see if other libraries are receiving complaints and what they are doing about it. You can also contact me directly if you wish. Thanks, Vicki Vicki Marsh Branch Manager South Oldham Library P. O. Box 365 6720 W. Hwy 146 Crestwood, KY 40014 (502)241-1108 Fax (502)241-1108 vmarsh@insightbb.com <mailto:vmarsh@insightbb.com> ***** This is interesting because one of my co-workers just came back from a workshop where the librarians there, too, felt it was to violent. These were primarily preschool readers. I've used the book out in 3rd grade and the kids loved it! My timing with the use was at Halloween and the teachers thought it great, too. I did not consider using it with kindergarten or 1st or even 2nd graders as I felt it might be too graphic and cause alarm. Hope this helps. Carol Carol Feldberg School Programs Associate Fountaindale Public Library District Bolingbrook, IL 60440 1-630-759-2102 Ext. 47 cfeldberg@fountaindale.lib.il.us <mailto:cfeldberg@fountaindale.lib.il.us> ***** Hello, Grace I did not purchase this book and just bounced over to Amazon to read the reviews and remind myself why. Both reviews posted there (PW & SLJ) warn that it is rather grizzly and not well-suited for younger children. The sticker on the cover ("Do you have the guts to read this book?") is mentioned in both reviews as a more than tongue in cheek warning. I did not find either of these reviews positive. PW seemed very discouraging while SLJ was cautionary and called the book "Additional." There are many times when I am willing to invest in a picture book that is intended for an older reader even though it fits into the general formant for an "Easy" book, but this wasn't one that seemed worth the objections I was sure would be forthcoming. I haven't actually had the book in hand, but your experience appears to bear out my concerns. Good luck, Stephanie Stephanie Robinson Borgman Juvenile Specialist Harris County Public Library Houston, Texas (713) 749-9000 sborgman@hcpl.net ------------------------------ End of PUBYAC Digest 1330 *************************
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