–Dr. Seuss

I don’t know about you but I loved Dr. Seuss’s books when I was younger. In fact, I still love them today. His silly rhymes and outrageous characters make everyone laugh and smile. But there are more to his stories than just rhymes and characters, there are important lessons to be learned about ourselves and life.

Today there are a number of ways that children are introduced to Dr. Seuss’s world . They can enter his world through storytimes, blockbuster movies (How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Horton Hears a Who), and theme parks (Isles of Adventures in Orlando). But recently I encountered a new way of introducing children to Dr. Seuss…through Dr. Seuss day!

At the local elementary school were I volunteer, the media specialist hosted an all day program that was devoted to Dr. Seuss and the entire school got into the spirit. Many of the teachers read Dr. Seuss books to their students all week. The cafeteria provided a breakfast inspired by Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs & Ham. All the children who visited the media center got whiskers drawn on their face and were given a Dr. Seuss bookmark. And the media specialist was dressed as the Cat in the Hat. The children loved it! As a result, we could not keep the Dr. Seuss books on the shelves. As soon as a book came in, another child checked it out again.

After seeing how successful Dr. Seuss day was, I plan on implementing a Dr. Seuss day at the library where I will be working!  How about you?

My collection of passport stamps

Originally uploaded by hjl

One of the things that I love about working with children in libraries is having the ability to do programming. I love coming up with ideas of activities that I can do with the children, and I love having the opportunity to flex my creativity muscles.  So sometimes I find myself daydreaming about the different kinds of programs that I would like to implement in my library when I become a children’s librarian or a media specialist.

Recently, I was daydreaming of the kinds of programming that I would want to do in a media center and I began thinking about fairtyales. As I thought about programming and I thought about fairytales, I remembered how one media specialist I shadowed had combined the two. The programs were engaging, and everyone was having fun.  Thinking back, I realized taht programming and fairytales are a programmer’s dream match.  There is so much that you can do with fairytales in children’s programming!

While I was thinking about programming and fairytales, I also began thinking about passports.  I thought perfect!  Programming, fairytales, and passports is the start to a great programming series! Wondering how these will all tie together?  Well…Fairytales are common in all cultures.  And interestingly enough, there are common fairytales to all cultures.  Fairytales, like Cinderella, can be found in cultures around the world with slight variations to a common plot.

So what does this have to do with passports?  Well, take a hand full of fairytales that have a couple of cultural variations and introduce them to the children.  Take the children around the world with fairytales!  For 3 to 4 weeks focus on one fairytale.   During that 3 to 4 week time period, each class/session should focus on 1 cultural version of the fairytale.  Read the story with children and then talk about it with the children.  You can also plan little activities that are related to that culture.  At the end of the class, the children can have their  passport stamped.  (I would recommend getting different stamps that represents an element of the story.  For instance, for Cinderella I would get a shoe stamp.)  By the end of the program series, the children should have visited a number of different cultures!  Its traveling around the world using fairtytales!

Old Irish Blessing…

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Happy St Patrick’s Day! Sláinte!

42-16342467

Originally uploaded by ear1117

As I was going about my day, I began reflecting on the stereotypes that society has about librarians. A common perception is that we are fuddy duddies, that we have buns (if you are a female), wear glasses, have perpetual stern expressions, and like to tell everyone to hush. I cannot say that this image is true of any librarian that I have met recently or of any of the future librarians that I am going to school with. In fact, I would say that librarians as a group are a diverse group of individuals with varying personalities and styles. So how do we break societies perceptions of us? Throw a party of course!

I think a great way to break mis-conceptions of us as professionals and to allow the public to get to know us is to invite them to a Meet the Librarian Party! Give the public an opportunity to meet their local librarians in a safe and fun atmosphere. Not only will this help break stereotypes about us as professionals but it also allows the public to become familiar and comfortable with us. As a result, they are more likely to come to us for help. Think about it…would you feel comfortable asking someone that you do not know and see as a strict person for help finding information or for a book recommendation? I do not think so.

So what would this Meet the Librarian Party look like? Well it would include the entire library staff, and fun little facts about the staff scattered throughout the room (maybe have a poster of each librarian with their background and some fun facts), and food, and games. It should provide the public and the library staff an opportunity to mingle and talk and laugh. And most of all it should be family friendly! Remember when throwing a Meet the Librarian Party that we want to let the public get to know us, but we still need to maintain our professionalism.

So go throw your community a party and invite them to meet you!

Did you know that at schools across the country, classes are battling with each other? Not only are classes battling with each other, but they are duking it out over a bunch of books? Thats right, books! You might think that battling over books is strange but it brings joy to my heart to hear about kids fighting over books! To know that kids are enjoying reading so much that they would go to war over it is exciting to me! What can I say, I am a future librarian!

Now I can see that I might need to clarify what is going on. To anyone who has never heard of this before, it can seem strange to hear about kids battling over books. So in a nutshell, Battle of the Books is a reading incentive program that has been designed to motivate kids in grades 3-12 to read quality literature. Member schools are provided a list of the selected Battle Books for that year. The children are then given most of the school year to read all of th required books on the list. Each class will then select a certain number of students to represent them in a quiz show tournament, where classes in the same grade level will compete against each other. The winners of the tournament may move on to battle at district and national Battle of the Books tournaments.

I was privileged to take part in a 3rd grade Battle of the Books at a local elementary school where I volunteer. It was an amazing experience for both the children and the adults involved. Personally, it was so encouraging to see the excitement that was occurring over books! The experience definitely convinced me to make Battle of the Books part of my media specialist programming, and I hope that you will consider including it too! I promise that your kids will reap benefits from this program while having fun! Everyone who participates in this program walks away a winner!

To learn out more about the Battle of the Books go to http://www.battleofthebooks.org/index.html

canadian blood services donation #5

Originally uploaded by oh_fiddlestix

A couple of months ago, I wrote about lending a helping hand. Today, I want to talk about another way that you can serve your community.  I am talking about lending a helping arm or, to be more precise, a helping vein. I am talking about donating blood

Donating blood is something that has grown very dear and personal to me. I had never thought much about giving until recently the need to give blood hit close to home. Someone close to me was in need of blood transfusions, and I was their blood type.  So I went to my local blood bank, and made a direct blood donation.  Giving blood for the first time turned me into a life-time blood donor.  I realized that my blood can be used to help a lot of people,  who might not live without it.  I am helping save someone’s mother, father, daughter, son, sister or brother.  I am helping give them a second lease on life.

Currently the blood banks are experiencing a shortage, and are in need of donations. People can chose to donate whole blood, platelets, or plasma. You can donate one or all three. The choice is really up to you. Give what you are comfortable giving.  But please give!  Your blood is needed!  You will be making the difference in someone’s life and the lives of those around them.

I know the though to donating can be scary, especially if you are scared of needles or are faint at the sight of blood. I know I was (in both categories)!  But I promise it is not as scary as it seems and it does not hurt that much.  If you are scared or nervous, I would recommend that you go with someone.  This will make the experience fun and enjoyable.  Even if you are not scared, I would say go with someone.  My first time, I went with my family and it really helped me get over my nerves.  Now my boyfriend and I go on donation dates.  We go early in the morning, get hooked up around the same time, and then go out for a nice lunch.  It has definitely been a bonding experience for us and they are some of my favorite dates.

So please go out and donate today!  You will be saving a life and changing your own!

Business handshake

Originally uploaded by solveigmalvik

Its getting to be that time of year! I am in my final semester at the University of South Florida’s School of Library & Information Science, I have just finished taking COMPs (and am eagerly awaiting the results), and am on my way to being a bona fide librarian. All that is left is to do is to find the job.

In my opinion, finding the job is the most overwhelming and stressful part of my entire graduate experience. It is worse than that final project that will determine my entire grade. It is worse than the stressful week I spent preparing for and taking COMPs. The job hunt is the beginning of my career! This first job has the potential to define what I will be doing for the rest of my life! And lets not forget that I need to earn an income to live.

So suffice it to say that I am at a major crossroads in my life. What do I want do? Do I work in schools, universities, public libraries, or for corporations? Where do I want to work? Do I look where I am or do I move? How do I make myself stand out from all the other graduating librarians? What is the best way to market me?

As I have begun the job hunting process, I have come to a few conclusions about the entire process and have created a few pointers that I now use to help market me. So here are my pointers for a successful job hunt.

1. The resume is important! It should be clean, concise, and grammatically free of errors. This is where you sell your experience and skills.

2. The cover letter is a way to share your passion and enthusiasm! This lets the employer know that you care about the job you are applying for. It also allows the employer to get to know you the person, giving a personality to your resume.

3. Pick references that know you well. Your references are your cheer leading squad. If they know who you are and are familiar with your work product and work ethic, they will be in a better position to sing your praise. And trust me, you want people singing your praises.

4. Include a portfolio of all the work that you have done in graduate school. You have worked hard in creating products that show your understanding and mastery of what you were being taught. Show it off! This will allow the employer to get a better understanding of what you are capable of doing.

5. When you go to an interview, dress professional. I would also recommend dress minimally. In other words, tone down the jewelry and any other accessories. Keep it simple, keep it clean!

6. Finally, do not forget to write a thank you letter. This is simple etiquette. Employers appreciate receiving the letter, and it leaves them with a good impression of you. You always want to leave the employer with a good impression!

Hopefully, these tips help you as you are looking for your job. I know that they have been helping me! In fact, I have gotten a couple of interviews this week! With any luck, I will be transitioning from a graduate student to a working professional in a couple of weeks!

To all of you who are job hunting, good luck! And to those of you have just found jobs, congratulations! What an exciting time of life this is!

Candles

Originally uploaded by nalicehillstrom

In honor of tomorrow, I would like to share a poem about the reason why I celebrate on Christmas Day.  Please enjoy Lucy Maud Montgomery’s poem The Christmas Night, and remember to thank the Lord above for the best present the world has ever received.  May God bless you and all of yours!  Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Night

Wrapped was the world in slumber deep,
By seaward valley and cedarn steep,
And bright and blest were the dreams of its sleep;
All the hours of that wonderful night-tide through
The stars outblossomed in fields of blue,
A heavenly chaplet, to diadem
The King in the manger of Bethlehem.

Out on the hills the shepherds lay,
Wakeful, that never a lamb might stray,
Humble and clean of heart were they;
Thus it was given them to hear
Marvellous harpings strange and clear,
Thus it was given them to see
The heralds of the nativity.

In the dim-lit stable the mother mild
Looked with holy eyes on her child,
Cradled him close to her heart and smiled;
Kingly purple nor crown had he,
Never a trapping of royalty;
But Mary saw that the baby’s head
With a slender nimbus was garlanded.

Speechless her joy as she watched him there,
Forgetful of pain and grief and care,
And every thought in her soul was a prayer;
While under the dome of the desert sky
The Kings of the East from afar drew nigh,
And the great white star that was guide to them
Kept ward o’er the manger of Bethlehem.
–Lucy Maud Montgomery

Originally uploaded byjonmatthew photography

May your week be filled with laughter and cheer, family and friends from afar and near, this is my prayer for you on this Christmas holiday!

In celebration of this magical holiday season, I would like to share with you one of the season’s most famous poems: Twas The Night Before Christmas! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
–Clement C. Moore

Old Video Camera

Originally uploaded by dyedude22

Are you wondering how to get your Young Adults (or teens) involved in the library? Wondering what you can do with them? Well how about book talking! I do not mean that you give book talks to the teens, I mean that you allow the teens to give book talks.

As I was exploring what YouTube had to offer in regards to book talks, I ran across a series of book talks done by the Appleton Public Library. The series was designed for Young Adults. What made it stand out in my opinion was that all of the book talks were by Young Adults.

This really struck me as a great idea! Sense these books are for Young Adults shouldn’t it be Young Adults who are sharing the books with each other? Won’t Young Adults be more likely to read books recommended by other Young Adults? And won’t allowing the Young Adults to give the book talks boost their confidence?

Here are a couple of examples that I ran across: Just Listen, Trickster’s Choice, and Artemis Fowl. If you click on the link it will take you to the YouTube video.

It is really easy to put together a book talk. All you need is a video camera (I would recommend a Flip) and some Young Adults that want to talk about the books that they have read. The Young Adults should read a book that they have chosen and discussed with the librarian, and then create their own scripts. The Young Adults can work alone or with a partner, whatever makes them comfortable. Then all that is left to do is record the book talk and voila! you have started your own Young Adult Book Talk series presented by Young Adults!