Two teens shared this with me and then I kept hearing the cannon everywhere. I love the song but can enjoy the rant.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Gamer Girl by Marianne Mancusi
I enjoyed this Young Adult book - check it out at your local library
Maddy has left her private school in Boston for her grandmother’s unicorn statue infested house after her parents divorce. Her mom and her former friends are too busy, her sister can’t understand and grandma helped to get her labeled “freak girl” on her first day of public school. Her only escape from this reality is an online fantasy game where she falls for the dashing and gallant, Sir Leo. Through a few like minded souls and a new manga club, she begins to find a way to enjoy reality again and find her real life knight.
Maddy has left her private school in Boston for her grandmother’s unicorn statue infested house after her parents divorce. Her mom and her former friends are too busy, her sister can’t understand and grandma helped to get her labeled “freak girl” on her first day of public school. Her only escape from this reality is an online fantasy game where she falls for the dashing and gallant, Sir Leo. Through a few like minded souls and a new manga club, she begins to find a way to enjoy reality again and find her real life knight.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Another library blog
This blog was forwarded to me recently and I have to share how true these laws are:
http://juralib.blogspot.com/2009/06/sixteen-laws-of-public-librarianship.html
http://juralib.blogspot.com/2009/06/sixteen-laws-of-public-librarianship.html
Monday, June 1, 2009
MLA 2009 Day 1 DLDS Update
After lunch and a lovely stroll on the beach, I went to the DLDS update. This was a whirlwind overview of all the Division of Library Development & Services did for Maryland libraries during 2008. I wrote copious little notes to myself but then was able to pick up the MAPLA Year End Update May 2009 which covered everything that my chicken scratch missed.
The website is http://www.maplaonline.org/DLDS/ and the file is found here http://www.maplaonline.org/DLDS/adobe/Update09.pdf
This was useful and informative and kept me thinking beyond my own library.
The website is http://www.maplaonline.org/DLDS/ and the file is found here http://www.maplaonline.org/DLDS/adobe/Update09.pdf
This was useful and informative and kept me thinking beyond my own library.
MLA 2009 Day 1 Legislative Challenge
After the opening session, I tried to go to Moving Reference Beyond the Desk but it was SRO out the door. Reexamining my conference program and seeing what was around, I walked into The Legislative Challenge: Library Advocacy in 2009 and Beyond. I had looked at this session originally and also recognized Natalie Edington inside so this session was it.
Most of the session was spent in discussing the MLA Legislative Panel and I learned a lot more about what our organization is doing to represent library interests. The panel includes representatives from MLA and various libraries throughout the state. They monitor legislation, give testimony, build relationships with elected officials, let the membership know what's going on and help coordinate advocacy efforts.
Denise Davis (Legislative Officer, MLA Legislative Panel) and Natalie (Assistant Legislative, Office MLA Legislative Panel) highlighted some of the items they addressed during the past legislative session most of which focused on budget cuts.
Next, Kristin Murphy and Lynne Bradley of the ALA Washington Office gave a brief overview of advocacy efforts on the national level. There wasn't a lot of time left in the session but they gave us a Checklist for Library Advocates:
Most of the session was spent in discussing the MLA Legislative Panel and I learned a lot more about what our organization is doing to represent library interests. The panel includes representatives from MLA and various libraries throughout the state. They monitor legislation, give testimony, build relationships with elected officials, let the membership know what's going on and help coordinate advocacy efforts.
Denise Davis (Legislative Officer, MLA Legislative Panel) and Natalie (Assistant Legislative, Office MLA Legislative Panel) highlighted some of the items they addressed during the past legislative session most of which focused on budget cuts.
Next, Kristin Murphy and Lynne Bradley of the ALA Washington Office gave a brief overview of advocacy efforts on the national level. There wasn't a lot of time left in the session but they gave us a Checklist for Library Advocates:
- Talk, talk, talk - keep saying it, don't hound/annoy but it takes time for messages sink in and mean something
- Keep informed
- Get to know your legislators & staff
- Work on handouts, newsletters, etc.
- Attend or host town hall meetings
- Use in-library events - real & virtual tours
- Lobby
- Press events
- Work with all types of libraries & supporters
- Build your network - before you need it
Not always a choice of funding this or that but how to fund both
Libraries are the most efficient use of taxpayer funds $1=$3.8return (didn't write down where this study was conducted but think is was in the Midwest).
MLA 2009 - Opening
The weather was much better this year and my conference began with a breakfast for the Maryland Library Leadership Institute. It was a wonderful way to start the day, Mimosa's, conversation and watching the dolphins swim! I wished more of my MLLI class was there but I did run into several more throughout the two days.
The opening session was captivating, with Paul Holdengraber from NYPL in a discussion with Elizabeth Cromwell and Darell Batson about the successes of the "Live from the NYPL" program. Although, everyone was quite intimidated by the sheer volume of NYPL's program and that we might not be able to even come close, there were lessons that we took away.
Here's my list:
The opening session was captivating, with Paul Holdengraber from NYPL in a discussion with Elizabeth Cromwell and Darell Batson about the successes of the "Live from the NYPL" program. Although, everyone was quite intimidated by the sheer volume of NYPL's program and that we might not be able to even come close, there were lessons that we took away.
Here's my list:
- Always look for ways to innovate and attract customers
- Don't be afraid to try
- Shoot for the moon and you'll at least fall in the stars (a wording from a previous experience but one that I needed to be reminded of)
- Do the unexpected
- A successful program is a bit of a chemistry experiment
Saturday, April 18, 2009
TheirSpace - November 13, 2008
Ok - last one to catch up with. This all day teen training had a variety of panelists.
First, Jamie Watson from Harford County showcased some books to help us connect with reluctant readers. Teens are like adults - special readers are a small number with popular readers the largest.
Reluctant Readers
Dormant - likes to read but too busy
Uncommitted - don't feel a need to read but will with a recommendation
Unmotivated - (largest number) reading is dorky - there are no good books - only read "boring" books required for school
Unskilled - truly has a tough time reading
Unmotivated and unskilled want to choose their own books but need a smaller/narrower choice set
Once a book becomes assigned in curriculum it becomes dorky & awful
Katie George at Howard County talked next about Teen Advisory Boards. She addressed the 40 developmental assets that apply to teen participation in libraries and went over the ladder of participation.
Non-participation
1. Volunteers are manipulated
2. Volunteers are decoration
3. Volunteers are tokenized
Participation
4. Volunteers are assigned & informed
5. Volunteers consult & inform
6. Staff initiate, share decisions with Volunteers
7. Volunteers lead & initiate action
8. Volunteers initiate, share decisions with staff
TAB's consist of 2 parts: communication and results
Communication - connectedness, meaning and control - take any one piece away leads to problems
connectedness + meaning = manipulation & abuse
connectedness + control = delinquency
meaning + control = fundamentalism
Effective communication leads to connections, discoveries, understanding and innovation
Results come from teens engaging in the process and having their accomplishments highlighted.
Next several counties presented ideas for teen book clubs.
Lee Farrell of Howard shared her Mother Daughter book club. She prepares ballots and a showcase of possible titles and one of their meetings is to choose the year's titles. They also assign a snack person.
Stefan Freed of Baltimore County shared his experience with a Parent Child book club to be more inclusive. He collected pages of title ideas with notes throughout his time running this club and had several newspaper articles written about his program.
Rachel Hannum of Cecil County shared her teen book club. She has had success with Book Hook
exclusively for 6-8th graders and conducted 3 times a year. They discuss one book every other week for two months. All books are paperbacks and the teens get to keep the books which are purchased by the Friends.
Rachel stresses:
it's not school - keep it relaxed
cater to your readers
offer confidentiality
begin with a silly ice-breaker
always read a short plot summary first
- jog memories and encourage those who didn't finish to talk anyway
ask questions that allow teens to talk about their lives
use multimedia
snacks
get feedback - listen to suggestions
Last came Elizabeth Rafferty and Bryon McDonald from Baltimore County who discussed how BCPL developed their gaming program. Elizabeth gave an overview of why gaming is important. She gave us a handout with lots of good stats and links. I'm working on getting this electronically so I don't have to type it as my fingers hurt from all these posts today. Hopefully, I'll actually get this up soon! :)
First, Jamie Watson from Harford County showcased some books to help us connect with reluctant readers. Teens are like adults - special readers are a small number with popular readers the largest.
Reluctant Readers
Dormant - likes to read but too busy
Uncommitted - don't feel a need to read but will with a recommendation
Unmotivated - (largest number) reading is dorky - there are no good books - only read "boring" books required for school
Unskilled - truly has a tough time reading
Unmotivated and unskilled want to choose their own books but need a smaller/narrower choice set
Once a book becomes assigned in curriculum it becomes dorky & awful
Katie George at Howard County talked next about Teen Advisory Boards. She addressed the 40 developmental assets that apply to teen participation in libraries and went over the ladder of participation.
Non-participation
1. Volunteers are manipulated
2. Volunteers are decoration
3. Volunteers are tokenized
Participation
4. Volunteers are assigned & informed
5. Volunteers consult & inform
6. Staff initiate, share decisions with Volunteers
7. Volunteers lead & initiate action
8. Volunteers initiate, share decisions with staff
TAB's consist of 2 parts: communication and results
Communication - connectedness, meaning and control - take any one piece away leads to problems
connectedness + meaning = manipulation & abuse
connectedness + control = delinquency
meaning + control = fundamentalism
Effective communication leads to connections, discoveries, understanding and innovation
Results come from teens engaging in the process and having their accomplishments highlighted.
Next several counties presented ideas for teen book clubs.
Lee Farrell of Howard shared her Mother Daughter book club. She prepares ballots and a showcase of possible titles and one of their meetings is to choose the year's titles. They also assign a snack person.
Stefan Freed of Baltimore County shared his experience with a Parent Child book club to be more inclusive. He collected pages of title ideas with notes throughout his time running this club and had several newspaper articles written about his program.
Rachel Hannum of Cecil County shared her teen book club. She has had success with Book Hook
exclusively for 6-8th graders and conducted 3 times a year. They discuss one book every other week for two months. All books are paperbacks and the teens get to keep the books which are purchased by the Friends.
Rachel stresses:
it's not school - keep it relaxed
cater to your readers
offer confidentiality
begin with a silly ice-breaker
always read a short plot summary first
- jog memories and encourage those who didn't finish to talk anyway
ask questions that allow teens to talk about their lives
use multimedia
snacks
get feedback - listen to suggestions
Last came Elizabeth Rafferty and Bryon McDonald from Baltimore County who discussed how BCPL developed their gaming program. Elizabeth gave an overview of why gaming is important. She gave us a handout with lots of good stats and links. I'm working on getting this electronically so I don't have to type it as my fingers hurt from all these posts today. Hopefully, I'll actually get this up soon! :)
Service that Works - November 20, 2008
Another training that I attended was this MLA sponsored one. Most of this training was a refresher of concepts and personality types that were explained in more detail in other trainings that I have taken. A few things that stood out:
Avoid no - tell the customer what you can do
Apologize for the situation that the customer finds themselves in not for policies
Think about what expectations are we promoting - unreasonable customer expectations?
Perception - customer's perception can change what the situation truly is
LEAP
Listen - ask questions to make sure you understand the problem -use eye contact, rephrasing, nodding, etc
Empathize - put yourself in the customer's shoes
Acknowledge - recognize the customer's feelings and that there is a problem; apologize for frustration, the situation, etc
Resolve - work with the customer to find a resolution - offer solutions and choices (here's what we can do, let's try...); engage them in solving the problem
When to walk away or get a supervisor - abusive language
Raised voice = you talk softer
Avoid - "Our policy..." or "You have to..."
Avoid no - tell the customer what you can do
Apologize for the situation that the customer finds themselves in not for policies
Think about what expectations are we promoting - unreasonable customer expectations?
Perception - customer's perception can change what the situation truly is
LEAP
Listen - ask questions to make sure you understand the problem -use eye contact, rephrasing, nodding, etc
Empathize - put yourself in the customer's shoes
Acknowledge - recognize the customer's feelings and that there is a problem; apologize for frustration, the situation, etc
Resolve - work with the customer to find a resolution - offer solutions and choices (here's what we can do, let's try...); engage them in solving the problem
When to walk away or get a supervisor - abusive language
Raised voice = you talk softer
Avoid - "Our policy..." or "You have to..."
YRead - October 25, 2008
I have been very remiss in posting as I realize that my last post was about the time I went to the YRead conference and never wrote anything up. This is a new bi-annual conference (Opposite to Books for the Beast) held at the Carroll Community College. I chose the multi-cultural track and read four interesting books. This conference is only a half day one and was too short in my opinion. We barely scrapped the surface of discussions and most of mine centered on how to incorporate the books into curriculum which didn't interest me.
Red Glass by Laura Resau
This story begins in Arizona when Sophie's family takes in a young boy who is the only survivor from a group trying to cross into the U.S. from Mexico. The boy doesn't speak so Sophie nicknames him Principito, or Little Prince, after the story he loves to listen to her read. The boy's remaining family in Mexico learn that the little boy is the sole survivor. Sophie, her Aunt Dika, a refugee of the war in Bosnia, Dika's boyfriend and his son and Principito go on a road trip to his village where he has to choose between Sophie and his family.
Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin
Karina is the daughter of a Haitian immigrant in New York. Her mother married "the Daddy" for stability but this all seems about to topple when he almost kills her older sister. Beatings are normal and deserved, abuse is covered up while fear and guilt are rampant. Will lies cover everything up or will Karina make her own normal life?
The Absolutely Ture Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
A very funny tale of heartache and isolation. Junior is an Indian living on a reservation until he is forced to see that hope doesn't just happen but you have to make it happen. He transfers to the miles away white school and fights to belong somewhere. Interspersed with Junior's brutally honest cartoons, this is a quick read covering issues from Indian rights, alcoholism, violence and despair.
In the Name of God by Paula Jolin
Nadia lives in modern day Damascus right in the middle of the struggle between Muslim and Western beliefs. She is a good religious girl but she struggles to figure out her path. Her brother can't get a job, her cousin is arrested and no one knows his fate, good Muslims are dying so Nadia begins to think of acting radically herself. How far will she go? What is right or wrong or justified?
Red Glass by Laura Resau
This story begins in Arizona when Sophie's family takes in a young boy who is the only survivor from a group trying to cross into the U.S. from Mexico. The boy doesn't speak so Sophie nicknames him Principito, or Little Prince, after the story he loves to listen to her read. The boy's remaining family in Mexico learn that the little boy is the sole survivor. Sophie, her Aunt Dika, a refugee of the war in Bosnia, Dika's boyfriend and his son and Principito go on a road trip to his village where he has to choose between Sophie and his family.
Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin
Karina is the daughter of a Haitian immigrant in New York. Her mother married "the Daddy" for stability but this all seems about to topple when he almost kills her older sister. Beatings are normal and deserved, abuse is covered up while fear and guilt are rampant. Will lies cover everything up or will Karina make her own normal life?
The Absolutely Ture Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
A very funny tale of heartache and isolation. Junior is an Indian living on a reservation until he is forced to see that hope doesn't just happen but you have to make it happen. He transfers to the miles away white school and fights to belong somewhere. Interspersed with Junior's brutally honest cartoons, this is a quick read covering issues from Indian rights, alcoholism, violence and despair.
In the Name of God by Paula Jolin
Nadia lives in modern day Damascus right in the middle of the struggle between Muslim and Western beliefs. She is a good religious girl but she struggles to figure out her path. Her brother can't get a job, her cousin is arrested and no one knows his fate, good Muslims are dying so Nadia begins to think of acting radically herself. How far will she go? What is right or wrong or justified?
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