Published bi-weekly by Read to Me, a service of the Idaho Commission for Libraries
In this Issue:
Welcome
Do you have spring fever? It must be the 70 degree weather we had in Boise earlier this week. It's a great time of year to take a break, eat your lunch outside, work in the garden or take a walk.
According to the Woodlands Junior School in Kent, England:
"May is named after the Greek goddess Maia. The month is a time of great celebrations in the northern hemisphere. It is the time when flowers emerge and crops begin to sprout. The Anglo-Saxon name for May was Tri-Milchi, in recognition of the fact that with the lush new grass cows could be milked three times a day. It was first called May in about 1430. In Britain, as in most parts of western Europe, May day--or Garland Day--marked the end of the harsh winter months, welcomed the beginning of Summer, and optimistically looked forward to the bright and productive months. In rural areas, it was a major annual festival and was celebrated throughout the country, especially on the first of May, with music, dancing and games. Find out more about May day in England here."
So, take time to smell the roses (or whatever is blooming in your garden) and enjoy the merry month of May!
Meet Anna Warns
Anna Warns started her library career at the Boise Basin District Library, where she worked for three years. Now she’s a Youth Service Library Assistant 1 at the Ada Community Library. Anna enjoys her job so much she’s decided to make it her career and is currently pursuing a MLS Degree. “I want to have an impact on people’s lives and I think this makes a difference for kids and teens. You can also be fun and crazy and you don’t get weird looks!” she added.
Anna designs and implements after-school programming and presents storytimes, music and movement programs, special family programs, and works on some of the teen programs. She is a member of SPLAT, the Special Projects Library Action Team, so she’s been doing presentations on emerging technology and loves “spreading the gospel of SPLAT with other members of the Idaho library community.”
Speaking of emerging technologies, Anna lists launching Ada Community’s MySpace page as one of her biggest successes. “It’s been a great way to let our patrons know we want to be where they are. More teens and younger adults see us there and know that our library staff knows more than books. It’s been good publicity for us,” she said. She’d love to see other libraries check out the site at http://www.myspace.com/ada_community_library, leave comments and “Friend” them. In addition to seeing other librarians try new technologies and see the positive aspects of these trends work with patrons, Anna enjoys turning kids onto great books and the feedback she gets from them when they come back to tell her they loved a storyhour or a special book she recommended.
This is a busy time for the eight youth services team members at Ada Community. Anna says she is currently working on plans for some MySpace safety classes for parents and one for teens (incorporating some tips on creating a cool page), working on summer reading outreach, including six elementary school visits planned for May, and planning special Arbor Day and Harry Potter events in addition to all the regularly scheduled programs and other library duties.
Anna is a big manga fan and also enjoys reading some graphic novels. Her favorite author as a child was Elizabeth George Speare, author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond and others. Currently some of her favorite young adult authors are Cynthia Voigt, E. R. Frank, and Holly Black. She is currently reading Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith and she just finished Cantarella by You Higuri.
When she’s not working, Anna enjoys riding her bike on Boise’s greenbelt, watching movies and hanging out with friends. She plays the occasionally video game and is also involved in a role playing gaming group that gets together weekly. She’s also a regular contributor to the SPLAT blog, so be sure to check out her posts at http://splat.lili.org.
Library to Library
The Oneida County Library received $10,000 from the Nell J. Redfield Foundation to help supplement the library’s budget for bestsellers and nonfiction books. The library also received $2,500 from the Idaho Community Foundation to enhance its youth section. The funding will buy shelving and materials for the young adult section of the library. “The new area for teens will provide a cozy corner for youth to gather and have internet access on their own computer, play board games such as chess and checkers, do school research and just find a quiet place to read,” Library Director Kay Caldwell said. (Idaho Enterprise)
Random ideas from various libraries:
- Use blow up pool toys (alligators, etc.) for library décor. Hang with fishing line. They are bright, fun and flatten down for easy storage.
- One school used bean bags in the school’s colors to make the space more student-friendly.
- Another library used a jungle theme for its décor and spray painted rope green to look like vines.
- Low on space? Move your holiday books to storage (if you haven’t already done this) and move your encyclopedias to the back of the library to allow more books to be displayed face out.
Cheers to thoughtful kids! The library shelves at Rimrock Elementary School in Ammon are a little fuller thanks to the efforts of several students. Sisters McKinzie and Kassidy Magleby, along with neighborhood friend Kiley Nelson, spent the summer making bracelets to sell to raise money for the school's library. The girls made $175, and that was matched by their father, Brett Magleby and grandfather Dennis Stevens, bringing the total to $525. The girls went shopping for books on sale, including nearly 100 books at the Book Outlet. The girls' mother said their previous library had more books. Rimrock is in its first year of existence and only had 8,000 books. Before launching their effort, the students checked to see what kinds of books were lacking. (Post Register)
Young Adult Corner
Great YA Ideas from Texas
The Texas State Library has a great web site with tons of ideas about "Young Adult Library Services, Collections, and Programs" at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ya/index.html.
We're sure they won't mind if Idaho libraries borrow as many good ideas as possible. They've even got an "old" Summer Reading Manual for teens titled "Operation: Top Secret!" It includes a Young Adult Reading Club and eight programs for teens on topics including espionage, spies, thieves, codes, mysteries, private investigators, strategic games, and superheroes. Thanks to our friends in the Lone Star State for putting all these resources in one place!
Book Look
We recently attended the Region 5 & 6 ILA Spring Conference in Rexburg and had the chance to hear Marlene Mabey, an adjunct in the English Department at BYU-Idaho. Marlene shared her enthusiasm for great reads from two perspecitves, as a teacher and as a mom. She brought "Books with Hooks" that she uses for teaching. These same books have also been reviewed by some tough critics--Marlene's five children. Here are a few recommendations she had on her handout:
Picture Books
Unbrella, by Scott Franson. Roaring Book Press, 2007 (Preschool - 2nd grade)
A little girl opens an umbrella on a snowy day--and the sun shines out from inside and flowers spring from the frozen ground! Jump ahead to spring, where the magical un-brella provides snow for snow angels and sledding across the green grass. Newcomer Scott Franson's accomplished clever visual storytelling artwork showcases imagination, exploration--and a little bit of magic.
Wolves, by Emily Gravett. Simon and Schuster Books, 2005 (4th grade and up)
Rabbit borrows a book on wolves from the library. He learns the facts and encounters a real live wolf. Yet the story is more than that: The author has a great sense of humor! The reader is left to guess what happens to the rabbit when he actually meets the wolf... "The author would like to point out that no rabbits were eaten during the making of this book. It is a work of fiction. And so, for the more sensitive readers, here is an alternative ending." Then the wolf and the rabbit have jam sandwiches together and are friends forever. The final pages are letters to G Rabbit including an overdue book notice. Watch for plays on words and other tricks.
John Muir: America's First Environmentalist, by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Stan Fellow. Candlewick Press, 2006 (4th-7th grades)
From the meadows of Scotland to the farms of Wisconsin, from the swamps of Florida to the Alaskan tundra, John Muir loved the land. He was a writer, a scholar, an inventor, a shepherd, a farmer and an explorer. He was particularly devoted to the high cliffs, waterfalls and ancient giant sequoia trees that, through his influence, were set aside as one of the first national parks in America--Yosemite. And it was his commitment to wilderness everywhere that compelled him to found the conservation group, the Sierra Club. Amazing illustrations.
Beginning Readers
Martin Bridge: Ready for Take Off, by Jessica Scott Kerrin, illustrated by Joseph Kelly. Hyperion Books, 2006. 234 pages. (2nd - 3rd grades)
Typical life for a young boy, whose experiences include a mean bus driver and then her nice sub who tells riddles, tending a neighbor's hamster who dies, and a model rocket launch. Humorous and fast paced, just right for beginning chapter book readers.
Chapter Books
The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives, by Michael Buckley. Scholastic, 2007. (3rd grade and up)
For Sabrina and Daphne Grimm life hasn't been a fairy tale. After the mysterious disappearance of their parents, the sisters are sent to live with their grandmother--a woman they believed was dead! Granny Relda reveals that the girls have two famous ancestors, the Brothers Grimm, whose classic book of fairy tales is actually a collection of case files of magical mischief. Now the girls must take on the family responsibility of being fairy tale detectives. Their first case? Trying to stop Jack's giants (from the beanstalk) from destroying their new hometown.
The Road to Paris, by Nikki Grimes. New York: G Putnam's Sons, 2006. 153 pages (4th - 6th grades)
Paris and her brother Malcom have survived abusive home life and then more abusive foster homes. But now Paris is sent to the Lincoln's by herself. She is afraid but finally finds a real home. She makes friends, discovers her singing talent and learns to keep "God in her pocket." Resiliency of the human spirit and faith in others and God are the themes in this story of a girl discovering her place. (2007 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book.)
Gossamer, by Lois Lowry. Walter Lorraine Books, 2006. 140 pages (4th - 7th grades)
Readers first meet the dream-givers as they creep around a dark house in the middle of the night, where an
old woman and a dog named Toby are sleeping. Littlest was very small, new to the work, energetic and curious. Fastidious was tired, impatient, and had a headache. Littlest is soon paired with a new partner, Thin Elderly, who is a much better guide and teacher than Fastidious was. They are benevolent beings who visit humans (and pets, too) at night. They handle objects, gather memories, and give them back in the form of happy dreams that comfort and help those they're assigned to. The dream-givers' counterparts--the strong and wicked Sinisteeds--inflict nightmares and sometimes travel in frightening Hordes. Lowry acknowledges evil in the world, yet still conveys hope and large measures of tenderness.
Upcoming Events
Looking ahead, save these dates:
May 31, 2007: Deadline to apply for the 2007-2008 Read to Me First Book program. First Book is a national nonprofit organization with a single mission -- to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. The program provides a book a month for a year for each participating child and workshops for families. In addition to the 12 books each child receives, another program goal is to provide library cards and contact with librarians for at-risk children. Applications for new and returning libraries to participate in the 2007-2008 project year are due in May 31, 2007. See http://libraries.idaho.gov/firstbook for more information.
June is National Audiobook Month. The Audio Publishers' Association celebrates June as a month to raise awareness of the audiobook industry. If you are like many readers who also enjoy the occasional audiobook, you might want to learn more about this celebration at: www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA158122.html
National Fishing & Boating Week - National Fishing and Boating Week (NFBW) is an annual, national celebration of fishing and boating coordinated by Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF). Coinciding with most state’s free fishing days, NFBW occurs the first full week of June - this year. For more see www.rbff.org/page.cfm?pageID=11
June 14 – Flag Day. This is a day for all Americans to celebrate and show respect for our flag, its designers and makers. Our flag is representative of our independence and our unity as a nation. For more information about Flag Day and Flag facts go to www.holidayinsights.com/other/flagday.htm
June 18 - Father's Day. This holiday was inaugurated in the early 20th century to complement Mother’s Day in celebrating fatherhood and parenting by males, and to honor and commemorate fathers and forefathers. Father's Day is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide, and typically involves gift-giving to fathers and family-oriented activities.
June 21 – First Day of Summer. In the United States and the rest of the northern hemisphere, the first day of the summer season is the day of the year when the Sun is farthest north (on June 21st or 22nd). This day is known as the Summer Solstice. Check out this web site for some great summer craft ideas http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/summercrafts/a/aa053199.htm.
For some additional miscellaneous days and dates to celebrate, (i.e., Donut Day, Egg Day, National Yo-Yo Day, Fly a Kite Day, etc.) go to www.theteacherscorner.net/calendars/june.htm.
Author’s Birthdays:
June 6 – Cynthia Rylant (born in 1954). Rylant grew up in West Virginia. She loved comic books, cats and dogs, pajama parties, and the Beatles. Some of her works include The Relatives Came, Waiting to Waltz, Henry and Mudge and the Forever Sea, for more visit www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-rylant-cynthia.asp.
June 12 - Anne Frank (1929-1945). Annelies Marie “Anne” Frank was a European Jewish girl (born in Germany, stateless since 1941, but she claimed to be Dutch as she grew up in the Netherlands) who wrote a diary while in hiding with her family and four friends in Amsterdam during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. She is the author of The Diary of a Young Girl, depicting life during the Holocaust in Germany. Visit www.annefrank.com .
June 15 - Brian Jacques (born in 1939). Author of Redwall, Mossflower, Rakkety Tam and more. www.redwall.org
Summer Reading News
It's official. The Fred Meyer Foundation has awarded the Idaho Commission for Libraries a $15,000 grant for "Books for Summer Readers." This month ICFL will be purchasing paperback books from Scholastic and shipping them to libraries who have registered online. In order to be eligible, a library must have turned in a summer reading report form last summer or fall. If your library had a summer reading program but did not turn in a report, you can email Peggy with your participation figures from 2006 summer reading and still qualify. Books will be mailed in early June, and quantities will be based on 2006 participation numbers.
There are some great resources on the web for the 2007 theme "Get a Clue." Check out:
Random House Publishers has some great educational resources including Teachers Guides with book extension activities, including Nate the Great, A to Z Mysteries and others.
Ideas for Nate the Great - Kid Detective:
Print a copy of the Teachers Guide.
Display Nate the Great books or other mystery titles.
Some fun activities include:
CSLP member Stephanie Stokes from California shared these resources:
School Zone
Promoting the School Library to Administrators and Teachers
(Note: This is an excerpt from an article titled "Direct and Indirect Promotion of the School Library," by Bonnie Speas. The entire article can be found at http://www.pnla.org/quarterly/index.htm in the Winter 2007 issue, p. 10. The article also contains tips on marketing library services to students and the community.)
The school library is (or should be) an integral part of a school’s educational program. The library is a place where students can learn to enjoy reading, conduct research, and evaluate information. “By helping students master information literacy--which is essential to mastering curricular content, critical thinking, and problem solving--the library media program makes a unique and indispensable contribution to their learning (ALA, 1998, p. 49). Studies have found school libraries can make a difference in student success. One study reported 15 percent higher scores for students with a good library program (Helen, 2005).” The school library is essential to every long-term strategy for literacy, education, information provision and economic, social and cultural development” (Teacher Librarian, 1999,p. 24). Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of this important role a library makes to education, nor are they aware of the benefits the library can have in their own lives.
School library media specialists have many responsibilities that take them out of the library. They are teachers, managers, mentors, technologists, and researchers. Another unseen duty of the librarian is that of a marketer. Librarians themselves may find they get so busy with all the operational tasks before them that they neglect this important element of their job. Promoting the school library is a hidden, but just as important task of a school librarian. If librarians want the library to be appreciated and used to its potential, they must promote all it has to offer. Marketing the library can be done directly through advertising and promotional techniques and indirectly through the services and atmosphere offered in the library. “When the librarian markets the library, no one can be left out” (Burkman, 2004, p. 43). Librarians need to market to administrators, teachers, students and the community. Marketing to each of these groups is done in different ways because each of them has a different connection with the library.
Administrators
Administrators of the school include the school board, members of the school district, and building administrators. It is important for all of them to feel a connection with the library and believe in its importance to the education process. Baule and Bertani (2000) state, “If your board of education and your school district administration are not fully aware of what you do, they cannot be fully supportive” (p. 47). Administrators are busy people who might never enter the library during the entire school year unless invited. Because they are not directly involved with library operations, it will take effort on the part of the librarian to market the library program to them.
Burkman explains that, “Unless an administrator has been a librarian, he will not know what you do unless you tell him” (p. 42). One of the best ways to make the administrator aware of what happens in the library is through data reporting. Burkman feels data should include circulation, student usage, class usage, collaborative projects, and library schedules. If available, include statistics comparing scores of classes that use the library versus classes that do not. Administrators need to be provided budgeting reports as well. If they can see how the money is being used, they may be more willing to support additional funding. Baule and Bertani suggest other methods of marketing to administration including, hosting district board meetings, inviting them to visit the library, and sending them library publications. Finally, Baule and Bertani suggest getting out of the library, meeting administrators, getting involved, and speaking up about the importance of the programs you offer. If the administration is convinced of the benefits of the library, they will serve as advocates, which can mean additional funding, staff, and support.
Teachers
Teachers are also important, but busy members of the school community. Teachers are vital to the success of the library program. “It takes teachers and librarians working together to create a solid learning environment” (Burkman, p.42). Collaboration with teachers should be a regular occurrence in the library. Teachers need to not only hear about the programs available, but be willing to get involved and involve their students as well. Time will be one of the biggest challenges in marketing to this group. In addition to the time barrier, Helen (2005) suggests that teachers are used to working on their own and they often do not know what the library has to offer. Burkman adds that teachers often have preconceived ideas about what the library can do for them. With effort and effective marketing, librarians can break through these barriers.
There are a number of ways to market the library to teachers. The librarian needs to be flexible and willing to go and meet individually with teachers. Ask for teacher suggestions and request their input on book selections. A library newsletter is another way to connect. Memos about library events, new books, or suggested Web sites can be placed in the teachers’ boxes. Invite teachers to come to the library. “Create a reason for staff to come to the media center,” including AV equipment, computers, reading material, and a coffee pot. When the staff feels welcome and have a reason to come they will become more receptive (Anderson, 2004, p.21). Librarians should attend staff and department meetings with teachers and be prepared to share ideas. Librarians can offer to host these meetings as well. Yoke suggests going one step further and hosting an open house with refreshments, displays, handouts, and a follow-up after the event. “These informal interactions will help pave the way to building the kind of professional relationships you need in order to successfully collaborate with your faculty” (Yoke p. 44). If teachers are aware of how the library can enhance their teaching, if they feel welcome, and if they know their students will benefit from the use of the library, they will get involve and even promote the library to others.
Know the Numbers
Pollster Louis Harris has conducted an independent study to determine the effectiveness of the First Book model. This study, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, surveyed 2,564 individuals over a 14-month period. The results of this study are compelling:
- First Book works for children. More than half of the children — 55 percent — reported having an increased interest in reading. Additionally, the number of young people demonstrating a "high interest in reading" nearly tripled (increasing from 23 percent to 61 percent) after receiving books from First Book.
- First Book works for local programs. 78 percent of the mentors, administrators and professionals running community-based tutoring and mentoring programs estimated that the "impact of First Book books on a child's desire to read" was "very important."
Over 50 Idaho public libraries have participated in the Read to Me First Book program since 1997. It's a great way to get more books into the hands of children and make the library connection with families. Applications for new and returning libraries to participate in the 2007-2008 project year are due in May 31, 2007. See http://libraries.idaho.gov/firstbook for more information.
A Closer Look at Library Websites
Idaho librararians have an opportunity to create new websites this year by participating in the "e-branch in a box" project supported by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and many attended training last fall.
Over 50 youth services librarians signed up for the website incentive and have pledged to reach more children this summer by having summer reading information online. The Scoop will be profiling a few libraries over the spring and summer as more summer reading websites come online.
In February at the Read to Me meeting, Dylan Baker from the Ada Community Library shared some ideas for making your website more interactive 
and appealing to kids and teens. Here are some basics to include for summer reading:
- Who can participate (age groups, etc.)
- Where, when and how to register. Consider allowing summer readers to register online or have printable registation forms that may be downloaded, filled out and brought in or mailed or faxed to the library.
- Rules for participation -- reading logs, contracts, incentives, etc.
- Contact person for more information
- Sponsor list. Your web site is a great place to thank your sponsors. You can list their names, logos and what they contributed.
- Use colorful graphics. Consider using a special template created by ICFL web designer Eric Hildreth. If you would like to use this template, drop Eric an email request.
Dylan also shared some more advanced ideas:
- Provide printable activity sheets. The CD that came with your summer reading manual includes several activity sheets already in PDF format.
- Provide a FAQ about your summer reading program. See an example from the East Baton Rouge Parish Library.
- Post photos on your website or create a FLICKR (www.flickr.com) account to host your library's photos. Make sure to get permission from parents if you are taking photos of kids.
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For more photo fun, try these ideas:
It's all about the books:
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Blog Book Reviews. Use reviews from staff or patrons. Use a form (paper or web- based) to get uniform reviews. Link titles to your online catalog. If you’re not using the “e-Branch in a Box”, try Blogger or MySpace.
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Books-o-Meter. If you have an overarching goal (reaching a certain number of participants or hours read), keep your patrons updated about how close they are to reaching it.
Internet Scavenger hunts. Here are two different formulas to try:
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Just Your Site: Hide content/graphics in various pages on your site. This is easier to manage, since you control the playing field.
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The Whole Enchilada (Entire Internet): A list of questions that are answered on other websites. This can have a more educational/informative focus.
If you try any of these fun things on your website, email Peggy or Stephanie and we'll feature your site in The Scoop.
Tips & Tools
Grants for Books Available
If your library is located in a rural area and serves a population of under 10,000, has a limited operating budget (usually under $40,000) and an active children's department, you are eligible to apply to the Libri Foundation for a "Books for Children" grant. The Libri Foundation matches local grants of $50 to $350 on a 2-to-1 ratio. Librarians then select books for their libraries from a list of more than 700 award-winning and classic titles provided by the Foundation. The next deadline is August 15th. To download an application and guidelines, visit www.librifoundation.org.
Harry Potter Deathly Hallows heavily promoted at libraries
Get ready, Harry Potter fans. On June 2—seven weeks before the release of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – a Knight Bus will depart from New York City and travel to 40 libraries in ten major cities to promote the seventh and final book in the blockbuster series. As part of a multi-million-dollar marketing campaign based around the theme “There Will Soon be 7,” a replica of the bus that appears in the books will visit select public libraries, where fans will be invited to hop on and share their thoughts about the series. Video clips of the comments will be available for viewing at www.scholastic.com/harrypotter.
In connection with the campaign, Scholastic, Rowling’s U.S. publisher, has announced a record-breaking first printing of 12 million copies of Deathly Hallows, scheduled for release at 12:01 a.m. on July 21. The first printing breaks the record held by the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which had a 10.8 million-copy first printing in 2005 and sold 6.9 million copies in the first 24 hours.
Libraries interested in joining Potter mania can do so from April 17 to July 7, when Scholastic plans to launch a “7 Questions of Harry Potter” campaign. One question will be released every two weeks. These are big questions that fans hope Rowling will answer in this final installment.
Scholastic will also send table-top easelbacks and millions of collectible bookmarks printed with one of the seven questions to libraries nationwide. Libraries will receive a five-foot corrugated promotional piece featuring Deathly Hallows cover art and a countdown to July 21. Scholastic also will distribute millions of temporary tattoos. Downloadable materials can be found at www.scholastic.com/harrypotter.
News Beyond Idaho
Illinois libraries held a variety of family programs when the state celebrated Family Reading Night last November. Here are a few highlights:
"Puppy Tales" The Norris City Library's program featured Clifford the Big Red Dog. Families made a craft project of big red floppy dog ears, baked cookies in the shape of dog bones, and read Clifford stories. Each child recieved a Clifford book or other "dog" book.
"Cinderella" The family literacy program at Kaskaskia College in Germantown discussed the Cinderella story. Families then watch a movie of the story where the highlighted words were read to the families on the screen next to a traditional folktale picture. Families then illustrated their favorite part of the movie and compared it to the traditional folktale.
"Family Reading Treasure Hunt" Christopher House in Chicago used a pirate theme. As families arrived, they heard a pirate story and each received a treasure map leading them to different rooms with literacy activities. The families collected stamps from each room, which led them to a treasure chest with books for each child, reminding them that reading is the greatest treasure of all.
"Wizard of Oz" The Warsaw library hosted a fairytale evening with a focus on the Wizard of Oz. Families came dressed as their favorite fairytale characters, a scarecrow read stories, and a yellow brick road led families to three activity stations where parents and children shared books, made a craft, and decorated and ate gingerbread cookies. Each family went home with a bag of reading goodies.
"Bedtime Stories from Around the World" The Nauvoo library partnered with a grade school to sponsor an event at the school. Families wore their pajamas and visited a variety of booths of different countries. Bedtime books were given away as door prizes.
(Source: Illinois Literacy, Spring 2007)
Talk Back: We welcome your feedback on anything in The Scoop. Just e-mail Peggy or Stephanie and we'll print your comments in The Scoop.
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