Published bi-weekly by
Read to Me, a service of the Idaho Commission for Libraries
In this Issue:
Welcome
Teen Read Week is less than a month away (October 14-20). Not only is it a time to plan special activities for teens at the library, but it is also a time to honor librarians who work with teens. Make time to read for the fun of it is the message for the week. If you don't have an active program at your library, here are a few ideas from the Teen Read Week wiki to try. For more, visit the wiki.
Adapted from "50 Ideas for Teen Read Week" by Pam Spencer Holley
- Extend the library's hours
- Add more paperbacks to your collection
- Host an Open House with food and volunteers to explain teen activities
- Establish a Teen Advisory Group
- Design and set up a website/blog/MySpace location
- Host a night/afternoon of gaming
- Sponsor a teen photo contest [ex. Potentially Funny Situations]
- Give away books
- Have a Scavenger Hunt
- Hold a contest for "Which book would you save from a fire?"
- Display photos of teens reading
- Decorate a bulletin board filled with book title suggestions from teens
- Organize a paperback and/or comic book swap
Do you have a great idea you are going to try at your library? Send it to Peggy or Stephanie for The Scoop and we'll send you a free book.
Meet Cathy Ensley
Cathy Ensley is currently the Youth Services Manager and Web Manager at the Moscow Public Library, part of the Latah County Library District, where she has worked for the past five and a half years. Cathy has been in the library field for seven and a half years. She came to it late, after being a WIC nutritionist, an English 101 instructor, a bookseller, and a writer for the Washington State University Foundation. She started working in a library pretty much by accident, but knew immediately that she had finally found the work that most fully meshed with her deepest interests.
Moscow Public is the district headquarters for Latah County’s seven branches. Part of Moscow’s building is an original Carnegie Library. The library celebrated its centennial in 2006. During the school year, Cathy provides Lapsit, Toddler and Preschool storytimes each week. Outreach Manager, Betsy Bybell, does one storytime each month at about twelve preschools and daycares in Moscow. The library continues serving these age groups in June and July. In addition, Cathy was in charge of Summer Reading programs for children ages 6-10, and she also provided a series of You Never Know programs for youth ages 10-12.
Cathy does all youth programs at the Moscow Library. Each year, several classes come to the library for tours and instruction. She generally does one or two evening outreach type programs, geared to adults, each year. She buys all youth materials for the district and manages the website, which ICFL's web developer Michael Samuelson designed for them in 2006, about a year before the Drupal software became available! Cathy is deeply interested in young adult literature. She reviews one YA novel for School Library Journal each month, and reads as many YA novels as free time at home permits. Last summer Cathy offered a five-week series of Family Scrapbooking programs on Saturday mornings. Since then, she's offered a couple of scrapbooking evenings.
What attracted Cathy to library service for children/youth was her love of books in general and youth materials in particular. And, she adores children. "I have a lot of creative energy that I need to use every few days, if not every day, or I start to wilt," Cathy says. She continues, "Youth services is a perfect fit." When asked about her favorite thing about her job, Cathy replied, "There’s something new every day. Libraries are in a constant state of change and, should that not be enough for me, I can (and do, continually) develop new programs, or new facets to existing programs.
On the subject of books, Cathy shares, "My favorite author is Anne Brashares and her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. It’s about four teenaged girls who come from decent homes, and who do not have any particularly horrible problems, except for Bridget, who lost her mother. No graphic sex. No drugs or alcohol. Yet they are very compelling stories about friendship. Teens also love them!" 
As a child, Cathy was a huge Laura Ingalls Wilder fan. Interestingly, she read them all again when she was 30 and found them boring. One of Cathy's recent reads was Every Crooked Pot by Renee Rosen, which she reviewed for School Library Journal. "It’s a first novel, and it is very, very good, she says, but adds, "I wouldn’t put it in the YA section, because of the graphic sex. Better as an adult novel."
Cathy's favorite flavor of ice cream is black walnut. When not working at the library, she works 18 hours/week at writing. She is currently writing her sixth book (she is as yet unpublished), a YA novel set in 1967, in Seattle, where she grew up. Cathy says, "It’s the first time I’ve used my own life as story fodder. With any leftover time, I’m working on my scrapbooking. I have pictures that span 100 years. Or I’m playing with one or more of my four grandchildren. Or I’m taking in a movie with my friends. Or bicycling. Or riding behind my husband on our motorcycle. Or planning weekend trips in the RV-7 (a two-seat airplane that flies 200 mph) that my husband has been building since 2001 and is on the verge of completing. We’re avid fliers who’ve been deprived of an airplane since 2003, when we sold our Maule. It’d been in the family since 1977, just before the birth of our second child."
Cathy ended with praise for The Scoop, "Many, many thanks to everyone who puts together the Scoop. I think you’re doing a fantastic job!!!! I read it faithfully, and I am always delighted when I open my email and find a new Scoop." [Thanks, Cathy.]
Library to Library
First day at new library sets records!
The first day of full operations at the new Coeur d’Alene Public Library on Monday, September 10 was a real record setter, according to Library Director Bette Ammon.
The parking lot at the new library was full throughout the day Monday, as patrons filled the building on it first day of full operations. She estimated that about 100 people were waiting for the doors to open at 10 a.m. and that throughout the day 1,200 to 1,500 entered the building to use the services or just to take a look at the newly completed facility.
“We checked out nearly 2,300 items,” Ammon said. “On average we checked out around 500 items per day at the old library. Of the items checked out Monday, 542 were checked out at our self-check stations. Our total self-check for the entire month of July was 316.”
She said the library staff issued 163 new library cards Monday when the average at the old library was about 10 new cards per day.
“I am astounded, amazed, and so very, very happy and proud of the staff and community,” Ammon said.
[Editor's Note: We can't wait to go see the new library! We heard from everyone who has visited so far that it is absolutely beautiful and that everything in it is top of the line. Congratulations to all the staff at Coeur d’Alene Public Library!!!]
How Buhl Public promotes story hour (and plugs the six early literacy skills!)
We thought this was such a great newspaper article that we wanted others to copy it!
It's time for Preschool Story Hour at Buhl Public Library
The Buhl Public Library will begin the 2007 - 2008 Preschool Story Hour on Wednesday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the library.
Mary Beth Welch and Louise Nofziger will present a puppet show on "Library Manners" along with stories, songs and fingerplays. The theme related craft will help children in the development of their fine motor skills.
Parents are encouraged to participate with their children in the activities. The preschool story hour will be held each Wednesday during the school year. The children are introduced to a wide variety of topics through books, rhymes, music and crafts.
The story hours will also work on the six pre-reading skills that children can start learning from birth. These include narrative skills, print motivation, vocabulary, letter knowledge, print awareness and phonological awareness. These skills aid in the development of oral language, which is the foundation of reading. Our goal is for every child to have fun while learning and to get every child ready to read.
(What a great way to express what story hour is all about! Thanks for sharing, Buhl folks!) .
Young Adult Corner
Blue Dragons exercise young, literary muscles
Writing, then sharing their ideas with a supportive group and publishing their work on the Internet is a great way for writers of any age to learn and to develop their talents and skills. The Blue Dragons Young Writers Group, based at and sponsored by the East Bonner County Free Library District in Sandpoint since 2002, provides students ages 14 and up with a place all their own to stretch their minds and develop their literary muscles.
The Blue Dragons meet weekly during the school year, reading their work to one another. This has led several of them to participate in the “Five Minutes of Fame,” open mic nights at Café Bodega in Foster’s Crossing. When Christine Holbert of Lost Horse Press heard them, she invited them to read at the Panida Theater in May 2006, sharing the stage with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson when the author of Housekeeping and Gilead came to Sandpoint.
“All I have to do,” says writing coach Karen Seashore, “is listen and stay out of the way.” Seashore, who has worked with them since 2004, says she is impressed with how the writers have become a group and how accepting they are of new people. As few as two or as many as 12 writers may attend any given session, bringing their poems and stories to the after-school meetings where they also participate in a variety of writing exercises. Some of the Blue Dragons have posted work on the library Web site,
“It’s awesome for me,” says a three-year Blue Dragon, horror-story writer Caitlin McCallum, “and great for kids and their writing.” Another three-year member and short-story writer, Hannah Rhodes, who is working on a novel, says she goes for feedback and “to see what I’m doing right.” A third, more recent member who writes poetry as “Shrewgol” says: “It’s wonderful to go and be accepted, and they help you so much. It’s a great program.”
“It’s exciting to watch their talents develop,” says youth services librarian Suzanne Davis, who is always trying to recruit new members. The group meets from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays.
This article written by Laurel Wagers and reprinted with permission of Sandpoint Magazine, Winter 2007 issue, p. 10. Suzanne Davis would be happy to talk to any Idaho librarians about creating a young writers group.
Book Look
At the Storytimes Transformed! workshop, Sue Nespeca shared about 40 pictures books which support the six early literacy skills. Here are a few of them matched to a skill. For more about the six early literacy skills see the "A Closer Look" section.
Print Motivation
Where Is Baby's Belly Button by Karen Katz. It's never too early to start building a love of books. This adorable board book has bright colors, rounded corners, sturdy pages, and flaps to lift for a peek-a-boo game. Perfect for engaging the youngest reader.
Phonological Awareness
I'm a Pig by Sarah Weeks. Make this an audience participation story. Every time you read "I'm a Pig," have the audience repeat, "You're a Pig!" In exhuberant rhyme, the pig celebrates her "pigness" and rejoices that she isn't a myriad of other animals.
Letter Knowledge
Matthew A.B.C. by Peter Catalanotto. In this unusual alphabet book, a teacher has 25 students, all named Matthew. How does she tell them apart? Well, by their characteristics, of course. Matthew number 1 is "affectionate," and so on. And, when the 26th student joins the class, his clothes are covered with--you guessed it--zippers.
Print Awareness
My Little Sister Ate One Hare, by Bill Grossman. A hilarious take on picky eaters, but not for the weak-stomached, this tongue-in-cheek counting book puts the giggles in reading. By doing an extension activity, text may be highlighted by holding up the words as different items are placed in a girl's "stomach" made from a ziplock bag.
Vocabulary
Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming. How many "rare" words can you find in this simple toddler book? We found banter, peacock, paddock, pigeons, rafters, and wallow.
Narrative Skills
Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone. Children will delight in this familiar story of the three goats outwitting the troll who lives under the bridge. After reading it, let the children retell it using a flannel board or with puppets.
Upcoming Events
E-Branch in a Box workshops
If you were in charge of updating your library's website during summer reading and would like to learn more about the Drupal template that the Idaho Commission for Libraries is providing libraries, it's not too late to sign up for E-branch workshops in October. The dates and locations are:
Date Place
Oct. 16 Shoshone
Oct. 17 Blackfoot
Oct. 18 Blackfoot
Oct. 23 Post Falls
Oct. 24 Lewiston
Oct. 30 Caldwell
Basics session: 8-12 AM
Advanced session: 1-4 PM
You can register online at the ICFL continuing education website.
Summer Reading News
40,000 and Counting
ICFL is still collecting data from libraries on their 2007 summer reading programs. We have heard from 113 libraries who registered over 40,000 children this summer. The Daring Dreamers summer reading steering committee met in Boise on September 13th. Members heard from a team of Washington State librarians about a grant program that supported collaboration between school and public librarians. They also discussed the summer reading incentive program and made recommendations on the 2008 outreach incentive program. Be looking for your program manual, a Highsmith order form, and an application for the Bright Futures Outreach Opportunities in mid-October. Daring Dreamers will be presenting a summer reading session at the ILA spring conferences in 2008.
School Zone
National School Boards Association Releases Social Networking Study
"Online social networking is now so deeply embedded in the lifestyles of tweens and teens that it rivals television for their attention. Overall, an astonishing 96 percent of students with online access report that they have used any social networking technologies, such as chatting, text messaging, blogging and visiting online communities, such as Facebook, MySpace and services designed specifically for younger children, such as Webkins and the chat sections of Nick.com." - NSBA, "Creating @ Connecting," July, 2007
In the July 20th issue of The Scoop, we told you about the Idaho Commission for Libraries' Digital Native Focus Group with Idaho digital natives ages 12 to 24. Now the National School Boards Association has released its study, "Creating & Connecting: Research and Guidelines on Online Social- and Educational - Networking." This study was conducted by Grunwald Associates and underwritten by News Corporation, Microsoft and Verizon. The study defined social networking as a cluster of technical functions that allow users to easily create, share and respond to information. Overall, this study provides some heft for many of the arguments made by the American Library Association. Of note are the following:
• Many students report using social networking to discuss education-related topics (60%).
• Social networking is allowing students to engage in creative expression of all kinds.
• Negative experiences online are much lower than was expected.
• Parents are much more involved in kids' use of technology than is commonly perceived.
• Classroom use of technology is increasing, but school technology leaders are skeptical of social networking applications.
• The majority of districts use some kind of social networking software to communicate with students, parents or the community.
You can read the complete report online, which also includes more in-depth statistics and a list of recommendations for educators.
Know the Numbers
Serving Immigrant Children
According to the last Census, one in five children in this country today is an immigrant or the child of an immigrant, and the number is rising. This guide from the National Collaboration for Youth offers the context of the immigrant youth experience and practical tips for hiring, developing and retaining staff to work with this population. http://www.nydic.org/nydic/staffing/workforce/PreparingStafftoWorkwithImmigrantYouth.htm
(Connect for Kids Weekly, 9/5/07)
A Closer Look at Transforming Storytime
This past week, Stephanie and Peggy traveled around the state with trainer/consultant/author Sue McLeaf Nespeca to attend the Storytimes Transformed! workshops and visited with the 94 librarians who attended the workshops. The workshop is part of the Public Library Association/Association for Library Services to Children joint project "Every Child Ready to Read @ your Library," which provides librarians with knowledge and tools to share the six early literacy skills with parents.
One of seven national trainers, Sue began her presentation with an analogy of how the American automobile has changed since the 1950s. Back then, the average family car had no seat belts or child safety seats; top speeds were 50 or 60 MPH; air conditioning was unheard of; and the Interstate highways were just being built. Most of us enjoy the advancements in automotive technology and would not want to go back to those cars. It's the same with storytime. Things have changed in the past 50 years, including the field of child development and reading research. So, library storytimes have a different look and feel in the 21st century. The first noticable change is that parents and caregivers should attend storytime with their children. This is because the importance of storytime is as much for the adult as it is for the child. It is the parent who spends the most time with their child, knows their child's moods and temperment, and has influence over them. What the parent shares at home about books has a lasting impact on the child.
And, librarians are uniquely situated to provide parents with the information and resources they need. Librarians can model and discuss during storytime how reading and talking about books with children helps lay the foundation for school-based reading instruction. Without a strong foundation, children have a difficult time with reading. Some flounder and fall behind, never to catch up. The foundation is made up of the six early literacy skills. Sue had some tips for each skill:
- Print Motivation is a child's interest in and enjoyment of books. The best activity is to have frequent, positive and intentional experiences with books.
- Phonological Awareness is the ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words. The best activity to teach this skill is singing with the child. Singing helps the child break words into syllables because each syllable usually has it's own note.
- Print Awarenes is noticing print everywhere and knowing how to handle books. The best activity is to occassionally point out the print when reading a story or in everyday life (traffic signs, grocery store, etc.)
- Vocabulary is knowing the names of things. The best activity is to read pictures books to children. Picture books contain three time more rare or unusual words than everyday conversation, TV or videos.
- Letter Knowledge is knowing that letters are different from each other, that they have different names and relate to the sounds the letters make. The best activity is for the child to have three-dimensional letters that he or she can manipulate.
- Narrative Skills is the ability to describe things and events and to tell stories. The best activity is to practice dialogic reading, which includes asking open-ended questions when reading books.
In addition to practical information that librarians can use during storytime, Sue demonstrated many puppets and other props that help enhance storytime and make it a memorable and fun time for parents and children together. For more information visit the national Every Child Read to Read website. Handouts explaining the six early literacy skills are available on the ICFL Read to Me website.
We'd love to hear about any changes your library has made as a result of attending the training (and we'll send you a free book!) We also have about 15 sets of handouts available to the first people who request them by e-mailing Stephanie or
Peggy.
Tips & Tools
One Web Day
Get ready for the second annual One Web Day — spreading across the global community on September 22 — to encourage people to imagine how they can make the Web a better place. Organizers of the event, launched in 2006, want people to appreciate the uniqueness of the Web and its ability to connect ideas and people without barriers worldwide. Unfortunately, not everyone has equal and free access to the Internet, and even in places where the Web is uncensored, the monitoring and cataloging of users' activities is increasing. Check out the One Web Day page at http://www.onewebday.org/.
In cities from Austin to Chicago, and in countries around the world, virtual kiosks will be installed throughout public sites, distributing a workshop called “Basic Internet Access,” in hopes of drawing attention to how crucial a free Internet is to the world. Online, educators are encouraged to have students create short videos and post them to YouTube.com or Blip.tv with the “onewebday2007” tag, on subjects from how the Web has changed users' lives to activities students have taken part in with their peers in other countries. There are even stickers to create and download at http://www.bumperactive.com/make_a_bumper_sticker.jsp. (from SLJ’s Extra Helping, 9/5/07)
Hispanic Heritage Teaching Resources
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/hispanic_resources.html
Collection of classroom materials for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (mid-September to mid-October), covering topics such as Latino voices in American art, Mexico's indigenous people, lowriders, baseball player Roberto Clemente, and carnival traditions of Puerto Rico. From Smithsonian Education, a website of the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. (Copyright 2007 by Librarians' Internet Index, LII New This Week, 8/30/07)
News Beyond Idaho
Fun Fall Programs
We love fun program ideas and here's one for the fall from Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.
Poetry, Pumpkins and Pizza, YUM! Ages 2-11
Don’t miss this annual event where we’ll share poetry and pizza and decorate pumpkins! Preschoolers must be accompanied by an adult.
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.
