Published bi-weekly by
Read to Me, a service of the Idaho Commission for Libraries
In this Issue:
Welcome
Wallace Public Library is our winner of the "A Snowy Day @ My Library" contest, although there are many around the state that are waist-deep in snow! We'll highlight some other picture in our next issue.
Wallace Public staff member Annette Kologi sent several photos of the Wallace Library. Wallace Public is located in one of of the original Carnegie buildings. Annette writes, "This is a beautiful two story building and we took the photo when the snow level passed the windows on the first floor. We have been blessed with two wonderful patrons who have done a super job of trying to keep our stairs and walkway clean. When the snow could no longer be shoveled up and over the snow banks we were left with no choice but to have it put into the street." Annette included a photo taken during the summer for comparison.
Bear Lake County Library District Directory Mary Nate said she didn't snap a photo of the library before they knocked down the icicles that reached from the roof to the ground. They've had worse snow storms, but this year the snow mounds are taking up a big chunk of their parking and they are spending more time than they would like clearing snow.
It might just be the sight of green grass that put Wallace in the lead for the contest! Thanks Annette, and good luck to all you shovelers!
Read to Me Expansion Passes Another Big Hurdle!
ILA representatives Erin Hasler and Jillian Subach, along with State Librarian Ann Joslin and project coordinators Stephanie Bailey-White and Peggy McClendon, were on hand February 19th to witness the unanimous vote by the JFAC committee to recommend the ICFL budget which includes $335,500 in new money to fund a significant expansion of the Read to Me project. The next step will be votes to accept the budget on the House of Representatives and Senate floors.
The goal of Read to Me is for more children to be ready to read when they enter kindergarten and for more early elementary children to keep or increase their reading skills over the summer. The expansion includes:
• Increase the First Book program to reach 1,500 children with their first books
• Increase the Jump Start program to reach 11,000 kindergarten children and their parents
• $5,000 mini-grants for 30 public libraries to initiate or expand early literacy & summer reading outreach services
• Funding for early literacy training and resources for Idaho librarians and staff
• Funding of two staff positions to help coordinate and support the expansion
Librarians across the state helped build support for Read to Me by contacting their legislators to share success stories from their communities. The funding will be available on July 1st. For more information about how your library can participate and application deadlines, please contact Stephanie at stephanie.bailey-white@libraries.idaho.gov or Peggy at peggy.mcclendon@libraries.idaho.gov.
Meet Darlene Hotchkiss
Darlene Hotchkiss is the librarian at the Parma School District’s Panther Library. Some of you may remember the photos of the library we recently featured in The Scoop. Darlene started out in the Notus school libraries in 1977 and stayed until 1984 then she went into the English classroom at Fruitland High School for the next 22 years. “Last year I ‘matriculated’ at Parma, and I’m loving the library!” she said.
The Panther Library serves grades 5 through 12. “When the fifth grade was added to the middle school organization last year, we saw that as a great time to include a satellite library for the fifth- and sixth-graders who cohabit in the West Wing of the campus. Elementary librarian Leah Padilla sent over several hundred of the highest-level books from her collection, we skimmed a few hundred of younger-interest-level titles from our larger collection, various people donated books, and we even bought a few to make up an incipient collection that is growing all the time and being well-used thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of teachers who make sure their students have the opportunity to visit the library and have classtime to read! All together we serve about seven hundred students. We have a diverse population of cultures representing our rural community. We are so proud of our ethnic diversity and how well each group respects the others and how we all seem to learn from each other.”
Darlene said they have been building the library’s collection based strictly on teacher and student requests. “The generous budget allowed us by our school board allows us to fulfill these requests. The pride the students take in the buildings and accoutrements manifests itself in how well the students treat these items. Rather than a great deal of money going for replacement and repair, funds for the most part continue to build and improve our collection of books, equipment, and so on.
The opportunity to work with students attracted Darlene to this field. “Is it not paradise to work with young people who have the freshness of today and so much optimism for tomorrow—and at the same time to be surrounded by books, which are the voices of the ages?” she said.
Darlene and Barb Bowman recently attended the Trading Spaces workshop and both said they love to “merchandise” Panther Library and to have it used. “We take great care in listening to requests, making our clientele feel welcome and well-tended, and in attempting to make the library a vibrant and vital part of the school. We attend workshops to keep current, apply for grants, consult with teachers, enjoy our time with students, instruct in library usage and research skills, and serve as liaisons with the community. We believe (and research proves) that good libraries have a direct effect on positive student outcomes. Therefore, we strive to construct projects and possibilities to engage students in the library, knowing that our endeavors can lead directly to their later success.”
Coming up with new ideas and implementing them certainly sounds like an obvious strength just from listening to Darlene and Barb talk about their projects. They list reaching students in the upper grades as their biggest challenge. “We noticed that the older students became, the less they tended to frequent the library for the sole purpose of checking out books for casual reading. We have tried all manner of ways to tempt upperclassmen into the library. We don’t see as many juniors and seniors (or even sophomores and freshmen) as we would like to every day, but we keep trying!’
Darlene’s all-time favorite author is Thomas Hardy. “Since I taught Tess of the d’Urbervilles for many years in Advanced Placement English in Fruitland, I consider him a children’s — that is, a high school students’ — author. I was so enthralled by Tess, that I chose to do my master’s thesis on stone imagery in all of Hardy’s novels, and ten years ago my husband and I journeyed to England to ‘find’ Tess. Ironically enough, I felt I had discovered her—a fictional character—when I was able to walk the same paths that she did in the story. The beautiful Dorset countryside is as important an element as the characters themselves.
As a child she enjoyed the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. “I STILL like to read them. In high school I really enjoyed anything by Bess Streeter Aldrich.
“I just finished Jan Karon’s Home to Holly Springs (loved it!), Jenny McCarthy’s Louder Than Words (from which I learned a lot about autism), and Kim Edwards’ The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. I belong to a book club made up of colleagues who meet once a month. We try ALL sorts of books and have so much fun discussing them. This month’s choice turned out to be a “dud” for most of us, but that doesn’t stop us from enjoying the social aspect of the club! I won’t here name the book that let us down, but I’ll be glad to GIVE my copy to anyone who wants it!
When Darlene is not working at the Panther library, she can be found reading! She also likes to cook, and garden (flowers, fruits, and vegetables), travel, cross-stitch, and play with her grandchildren. Vanilla is her favorite flavor of ice-cream. "As long as it’s on top of a piece of home-made pie!” she said.
If you get over to Parma, Darlene would love to invite people to stop in and visit the Panther Library. We’re excited to see all the things that she and Barb have planned for the near future come to life and are hoping to keep readers of The Scoop informed of their progress. Thanks for inviting us along on the journey!
Library to Library
Marcia Beckwith, library coordinator for the Boise School District, sent The Scoop this web site to check out: http://www.lookybook.com/. It has some possibilities!" Marcia said. The site lets people look at selected picture books from cover to the back. They don't aim to replace books, but highlight new titles to help you "make informed choices for you and your kids." Check it out!
Young Adult Corner
"Google Generation" Report
A recent report from the UK on the "Google Generation" has implications for the US as well. According to a press release from the British Library on the study they commissioned: " A new study overturns the common assumption that the ‘Google Generation' - youngsters born or brought up in the Internet age - is the most web-literate. The first ever virtual longitudinal study carried out by the CIBER research team at University College London claims that, although young people demonstrate an apparent ease and familiarity with computers, they rely heavily on search engines, view rather than read and do not possess the critical and analytical skills to assess the information that they find on the web.
The report Information Behaviour of the Researcher of the Future (PDF format; 1.67MB) also shows that research-behaviour traits that are commonly associated with younger users - impatience in search and navigation, and zero tolerance for any delay in satisfying their information needs - are now becoming the norm for all age-groups, from younger pupils and undergraduates through to professors.
The study calls for libraries to respond urgently to the changing needs of researchers and other users. Going virtual is critical and learning what researchers want and need crucial if libraries are not to become obsolete, it warns. "Libraries in general are not keeping up with the demands of students and researchers for services that are integrated and consistent with their wider internet experience", says Dr Ian Rowlands, the lead author of the report.
The findings also send a strong message to the government. Educational research into the information behaviour of young people and training programmes on information literacy skills in schools are desperately needed if the UK is to remain as a leading knowledge economy with a strongly-skilled next generation of researchers. (http://www.bl.uk/news/2008/pressrelease20080116.html)
Texas Teens Read Manual: Game-On! TTR.08
Program: Game-ology / www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ttr/2008/manual/game_ology.html
In this program, teens play all kinds of games: board games, card games, novelty games, strategy games, and more. The program begins with short icebreakers to help the teens get to know each other. After the icebreakers, the teens play a group game such as Scattergories, Outbursts, Trivial Pursuit, or have a scavenger hunt. When the teens are comfortable with each other, they can begin free play or a tournament. A wide variety of games that teens enjoy are suggested in this program.
Game-ology can be very fun and easy to host as either a free-play event or a tournament. In a tournament, winners of each round play each other in finals until an ultimate winner is determined. Tournaments can be lots of fun but may require more planning, preparation, and staff or volunteers. For a free-play program, just set up tables with games and let teens pair off or form groups to play the board games or card games of their choice. Your teens may enjoy weekly free-play board game programs throughout the summer. Program resources include: book list, book talks, decorations, refreshment, and a list of great games and how to use them in the program.
(Thanks to Christine McNew, Youth Services Consultant at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for sharing with us! Only Texas libraries may use the artwork included in the manual which was created for "Game On! TTR.08" by Rod Espinosa, a graphic novelist with Antarctic Press. Please read about Mr. Espinosa at www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ttr/2008/manual/the_artist.html. Librarians outside Texas must obtain permission from Mr. Espinoza.)
Book Look
Susan Tabor Boesch, Teacher Librarian at Wood River Middle School put out this request on LIBIDAHO:
"The Idaho Library Association and the Idaho Commission for Libraries have joined forces to help the Special Olympics with their curriculum offerings. We are sponsoring the Recommended Reading part of their web site and need your help. We are looking for your recommendations for books (fiction or nonfiction) preschool through adult with themes of tolerance, diversity, overcoming adversity, etc.. Please submit your ideas to me at stabor-boesch@blaineschools.org We would like as many as possible so that we can regularly add recommendations to the website. We look forward to your ideas. This is an exciting opportunity for us to share with people all over the country and the world. Thanks for your help!"
New Books - Boise State's Stan Steiner recently recommended these titles in the Treasure Valley Family publication. Read more of Stan the Bookman's picks at http://education.boisestate.edu/stansteiner.
Warriors: All the Truth, Tactics, and Triumphs of History's Greatest Fighters, by James Harpur
Whether they’re fighting single-handed or shoulder-to-shoulder with others in strict formation, warriors have given their lives to win land, cities, and empires. From the ferocious ancient Assyrians to the fearsome Zulus, Warriors showcases these celebrated fighters and highlights their battles, heroism, weapons, and tactics. Discover how the fearless Spartans were groomed and trained for war from birth, or how Boudicca, England’s terrifying warrior queen, rose up in revolt against the mighty Roman army. Learn about the Aztecs and their custom of removing the hearts of living sacrificial victims, and enter the mysterious realm of the ninja, masters of stealth and sabotage. Including all the gritty details and gruesome facts, plus amazing memorabilia such as a warrior poster, a Roman army manual, a foldout Spartan battle plan, and a pop-up Viking longboat, and more, this book reveals the thrilling stories of history’s legendary warriors. The book is 32 pages, full-color illustrations throughout. Ages 8–14.
Ask Dr. K. Fisher About Animals, by Claire Llewellyn
How about some humor with science facts? Dr. K. Fisher answers the problems that plague wild creatures. Dr. K. Fisher patiently responds to each animal's query-about themselves, their peers, and family life-and within his replies provides a wealth of information about food chains, metamorphosis, defenses, and other important aspects of animal life. Amusing but seriously informative, "Ask Dr. K. Fisher About Animals" offers a fresh take on the natural world.
Be sure to note that Ask Dr. K. Fisher About Creepy-Crawlies is scheduled to be released in July -- right in the middle of the "Catch the Reading Bug" Summer Reading Program. Sounds like a good one to add to the "to purchase" pile!
Upcoming Events
Jump Start deadline extended! Apply now to participate in the 2008 Idaho Jump Start kindergarten registration program. The Read to Me Program will send free books for children registering for kindergarten and early literacy packets for parents to anyone who applies. Public libraries, school libraries, or Parent Teacher Organizations may apply. The online application is available at http://libraries.idaho.gov/jumpstart-ap. We're hoping to reach many more families with this important message this year!
Public libraries are encouraged to apply for Summer Reading Outreach Opportunities. The deadline to apply is March 14 and this year for the first time you can do it online at http://libraries.idaho.gov/2008summer-reading.
LSTA Just in Time. The Idaho Commission for Libraries is currently accepting Just in Time (JIT) grant applications. These applications will be governed by the JIT grant process indentified in the 2008 LSTA Guide. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your Library Consultant or the Commission's Grants Officer, Sonja Hudson at (800) 458-3271, (208) 639-4136 or sonja.hudson@libraries.idaho.gov.
Summer Reading News
"Catch the Reading Bug" Web Resources: Songs and Fingerplays about Bugs
http://www.preschooleducation.com/sbug.shtml
http://www.songsforteaching.com/insectbugsongs.htm
http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/bugs/songs.htm
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/insect-rhymes.htm
Top 10 Reason for your library to apply for Read for Your Library
Read to Your Library is one of the summer reading outreach opportunities offer this year by the Idaho Commission for Libraries to strenghten public library and school library partnerships and to get more kids sigend up for summer reading. The public library can partner with up to three elementary schools. After meeting with the school principal and school librarian, meet to set a goal of participation for the school, each principal is asked to write a letter of support. The public librarian will also make one presentation in the spring to parents, teachers or community members about the importance of summer reading.
Why apply?
-
To introduce more children to all the wonderful resources in your library: books, magazines, videos, music, computers, craft and activity programs, and more
-
To take your partnerships with school libraries to the next level
-
To get $200 worth of hardback books for your public library
-
To get $200 worth of hardback books for your school library partners
-
To reach more underserved kids in particular schools
-
To increase participation in your summer reading program
-
To make parents, teachers and principals more aware of your summer reading program
-
To get kids excited about summer reading - by participating in summer reading, they are "reading for their library and earning new books to share with everyone"
-
To provide a great photo op for the library and the school when the new books are presented to the school
-
To develop future library supporters
School Zone
Parma schools bost local author, receive book donation
Student Body officers and student representatives from the Parma Middle school proudly accepted a gift from author Ann Mortenson McClary on behalf of the Parma Schools at an informal ceremony in Panther Library recently. Ms. McClary donated two signed copies of her book, Growing Up on the Fast Track, the story of the early years of her father, the late Arthur Mortenson. Accompanying Ms. McClary during the presentation was her brother Bob Mortenson. Mr. Mortenson, his wife Margaret, and their children lived in Parma and were prominent members of the community.
The book is rich in photographs, and its first printing was limited to one hundred copies. The back cover describes the edition as follows: “The story covers a short period of time in the life of Arthur Lewis Mortensen, who at age 13 was recruited by William G. Jenkins to train as a jockey. In the late summer of 1923, he left Homedale, Idaho, with his best friend Goldie ‘Dick’ Johnson for the racetrack in Tijuana, Mexico, where they first experienced the fast and glamorous world of horse racing.
Both Ann and Bob regaled the audience of students with anecdotes from their father’s life. PHS Student Body President Juan Corona thanked Ms. McClary for this important gift to Panther Library and to the students of Parma. "Not only is it a great read and a fine book in and of itself,it is an important archival document of Parma-linked history," School Librarian Darlene Hotchkiss said.
Know the Numbers
Kids are having difficulty finding books they like
According to the 2006 Scholastic and Yankelovich Kids and Family Reading Report, kids and parents both list "trouble finding books they like" as one of the top five reasons why kids ar not reading more.
Top Ranked Reason Why Kids Are Not Reading More
According to Kids:
- Trouble finding books I like
- Would rather be doing other things
- Too much schoolwork / homework
- Don't have time to read
- Too tired to spend time reading
According to Parents:
- Need to work on schoolwork/homework
- Would rather do other things
- Trouble finding books he/she likes
- Doesn't have time
- Too tired to spend time reading
A Closer Look at El Día de los Niños - April 30
El Día de los Niños / El Día de los Libros - Let the Reading Celebration Begin @ Your Library!
April 30 marks a special day in the lives of children. It is a day to celebrate children and books. Known as El Día de los Niños/El Día de los libros or Children's Day/Book Day, this is a day to celebrate the joys and wonders of childhood and the importance of books in their lives. By including books in the celebration, we encourage families to develop new habits that instill a love for books and reading in children. Reading daily to your child and sharing books as a fun family activity is a great tradition that will benefit children on the road to learning. And what better place to find books and family reading activities than at the library.
El Día is also an opportunity to honor children's cultural heritage, of which language is a very important component. Idaho's demographics are changing. In spring 2006, there were over 114 different languages reported to be spoken in Idaho school districts with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) student populations. These languages represent students from over 85 countries. Spanish is the most frequently used, followed by Shoshone and Serbo-Croatian. According to a 2007 Legislative Report by the State Department of Education, the majority of LEP students in Idaho are of Hispanic or Latino origin and speak Spanish as their home language. The number of "migrant students" (those who move with their parents either between states or districts in search of agricultural work) is decreasing, a reflection of a national trend that Idaho's migrant population is beginning to settle throughout the state.
Idaho libraries have been celebrating El Día since 2000. The Idaho Commission for Libraries offers several resources to support your celebrations:
-
Traveling displays
Building Bridges multicultural literature display (birth to age 12)
Great Books for Young Children (birth to age 5) display
-
Support materials (see the
order form here)
Bilingual "Let's Go to the Library"coloring book
Spanish Language Nursery Rhyme booklet
Read (in 12 languages) door hangers
Bilingual Read to Me brochure
What libraries can do:
-
Host an open house / library card sign up drive
-
Partner with the Community Council, Migrant Head Start or other organization serving Hispanics in your area
-
Host a bilingual family storytime or family reading night
-
Invite a guest speaker to talk about their native country
-
Plan a cultural program featuring music, dance and food
-
Put up signage that says "Bienvenidos" (welcome in Spanish)
-
Advertise library programs on the Spanish language radio
-
Give away free books
-
Share your plans with the schools in the area and ask them to publicize it to their students
-
Convene a planning group and create a community-wide event
What schools can do:
- Make a display of bilingual books and multicultural books in your collection
- Sponsor a "My favorite book" poster contest
- Contact the public library to see if they have anything planned for El Día - if yes, publicize it to your students
- If you have a language program at your school, work with the language teacher(s) to plan an activity
Check out these web sites for more ideas and resources:
Idaho Commission for Libraries' El Día web site http://libraries.idaho.gov/node/398
Information about Idaho celebrations and resources for Idaho libraries.
Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) Official El Dia web site http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/diadelosninos/diadelosninos.cfm
Information and links to resources, including a downloadable brochure and bookmark template.
El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros (Texas) http://www.texasdia.org/
Sponsored by the Texas Library Association with a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the site has a wealth of materials, program ideas created specifically for El Día de los Niños.
Texas Library Association www.texasdia.org/dia_art.html
Graphics for bookmarks, border graphics, and logo were created by the Texas Library Association. These may be used for educational purposes as long as credit is given to the Texas Library Association and artist Jane Tenorio-Coscarelli.
National Latino Children's Institute www.nlci.org/
The only national Latino organization that focuses exclusively on children launched the nationwide El Día de los Niños initiative. Their web site contains a resolution, a handbook for celebrating the holiday, a press kit, and a list of national celebration locations.
Texas State Library www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ninos
Texas libraries have been in the forefront of celebrating El Día de los Niños. This site has ideas for celebration activities; graphics for bookmarks; songs, rhymes, and games; a bilingual program guide; booklists and other resources.
WebJunction Spanish Languag Outreach Program http://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=10555
WebJunction is an online community for library staff. In an effort to help libraries continue to meet the challenge of serving Spanish speakers, WebJunction launched a Spanish Language Outreach Program to equip local library staff with knowledge and resources to meet the technology needs of Spanish speakers in their community. The program partners with state libraries to create a comprehensive nationwide online resource for training, materials, and library staff interaction. Idaho is just completing workshops in nine communiites around the state.
If your library is planning an El Día celebration, send an email to Peggy and we will feature it in an upcoming issue of The Scoop.
Tips & Tools
ICFL Board of Commissioners Seeks Nominees for LSTA Advisory Council
The Idaho Board of Library Commissioners is seeking nominations for two seats on the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Council. One seat is for a public library representative from eastern Idaho. The second seat is for a member at large representative. Council members are asked to consider plans and issues from a statewide perspective.
The Idaho Commission for Libraries is recipient of federal funding for the support of libraries through the Library Services and Technology Act of 1996. One of the purposes of LSTA is to stimulate excellence and promote access to learning and information resources in all types of libraries for individuals of all ages. If you are interested, please read more here...
Advisory Council members provide input to the Board of Library Commissioners on the development of the state plan for LSTA, the annual LSTA program, and evaluation of LSTA grant applications and projects. Council members, both individually and as a group, are expected to advocate for the improvement of library services in Idaho and for the LSTA program.
The Council meets once a year in Boise for two days; additional input is solicited as needed via conference call or e-mail. Members are reimbursed for travel expenses. More information about the Council is available at http://libraries.idaho.gov/forlibs-lsta-advisory-council or contact Sonja Hudson (sonja.hudson@libraries.idaho.gov) or Marj Hooper (marj.hooper@libraries.idaho.gov) or at 208-334-2150.
Individuals interested in applying should send a letter to Ann Joslin, State Librarian, (ann.joslin@libraries.idaho.gov) describing his or her interest in and experience with libraries. Appointments are scheduled to be made at the June 6, 2008 board meeting. When sending an e-mail notice of interest, please also include a mailing address and phone number where you may be reached. All letters must be received at the Idaho Commission for Libraries by 5 p.m. on April 30, 2008.
Announcing the 2008 READING RAINBOW Young Writers & Illustrators Contest!
Idaho Public Television is calling on students in kindergarten through third grade to enter the 14th Annual READING RAINBOW Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. The deadline for entries is March 25.
Entry forms and additional information are available beginning February 1 from the Idaho Public Television Web site: http://www.idahoptv.org/kids. Fliers and information about the contest have been distributed to schools and public libraries throughout Idaho. Sponsored by the award-winning PBS television series READING RAINBOW, the contest attracts almost 1,000 entries statewide and more than 40,000 entries nationally each year. IdahoPTV, together with more than 100 other PBS stations nationwide, sponsor and promote the contest. Students enter the contest by creating an original story with illustrations and submitting it with an official entry form. Idaho judges determine the winners at each Idaho Public TV station for each grade category. Entries are judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and illustrations.
All first-place stories are sent to compete at the national contest. National entries vie for prizes such as a laptop computer, flat panel TV or an MP3 player. Each of the 12 national winners also receives three sets of 10 READING RAINBOW DVDs and books - one set each for home, school and community library. Visit the IdahoPTV Web site http://idahoptv.org/kids to see winning entries from the 2007 contest. READING RAINBOW, hosted by LeVar Burton, airs on IdahoPTV weekdays at 2:30/1:30 p.m. MT/PT. Local support of the READING RAINBOW contest is provided by the J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation Education Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation.
For more information or to request additional contest materials, please contact Learning Services at: learn@idahoptv.org
Idaho Public Television
Radio/TV Center
P.O. Box 443101
Moscow, Idaho 83844-3101
(208)885-1226
(800)424-1226
New Books!
The Idaho Commission for Libraries Professional Development Service (PDS) provides access to numerous titles in the field of library and information sciences. Free shipping to and from your library is provided! See http://libraries.idaho.gov/pds for more information. The following are a few of the recent additions.
Partners in Literacy: Schools and Libraries Building Communities Through Technology, by Sondra Cuban and Larry Cuban, ALA, 2007. Exploring the differences in technology use between schools and libraries across the country, the authors describe ways that these two institutions can collaborate to improve teaching and learning while building communities. [ICFL 371.3 CUBAN]
Sex, Brains, and Video Games: A Librarian’s Guide to Teens in the Twenty-first Century, by Jennifer Burek Pierce, ALA, 2008. In this insightful guide the author provides a fascinating look at today’s teens through the lens of neurological, psychological, and educational research. Putting this research in the context of library services, she challenges librarians to question their assumptions about teen patrons and provides new answers based on research findings. [ICFL 027.62 PIERCE]
Ban Those Bird Units!: 15 Models for Teaching and Learning in Information-Rich and Technology-Rich Environments, by David V. Loertscher, Carol Koechlin, and Sandi Zwaan, Hi Willow Research, 2005. When the majority of research in the library or computer lab is merely the cutting and clipping of information into some sort of report, little learning takes place. The authors show teacher how to redesign activities so that learners must think about and analyze the information collect, thus increasing learning and achievement. [ICFL 025.52 LOERTSC]
Making the Match: The Right Book for the Right Reader at the Right Time, Grades 4-12, by Teri S. Lesesne, Stenhouse, 2003. Adolescents care about chatting on-line with their friends, movies, their favorite bands … but many are also avid readers. What motivates some of these “typical teens” to become lifelong readers? The key is finding the right books to get them “hooked” in the first place. [ICFL 028.5 LESESNE]
News Beyond Idaho
Library usage by families with young children
Why it’s important in Providence (and elsewhere!)
A preschooler who is comfortable in a library setting and is familiar with selecting and checking out books is likely to enter school ready to learn how to read, most librarians will tell you. “If you’re raised in a library, and if you love books, you’re far more motivated to learn how to read them,” says Erica Wilder, assistant coordinator of children’s programs in the Providence Public Library. In addition, she notes, people who harbor happy childhood memories of libraries are far more apt to use them later in life – and to make them part of their children’s lives as well.
Librarians say that while purchasing books at a store has value, libraries fill some special needs. First of all, they’re free. “The library is one of the last great democratic institutions,” notes Wilder.
In addition, parents and children in libraries can make their selections based on the expertise of trained professionals rather than slick marketing. “A librarian can help parents find high-quality books that match a child’s interests and attention span,” Wilder stresses. And, she says, while it’s always nice to own some well-loved books that are read repeatedly, children also enjoy having access to books that are new to them.
The Providence Public Library will issue a child a library card the moment he or she is born. “We want to create those early memories,” explains Wilder. “We want the library to be seen as a place to come and feel safe. Children can participate in group activities or go to a private place with a book or a toy. There’s space for all the individuality.”
As Providence’s non-English speaking population increases, the library has sought to build collections of books in Spanish and other languages spoken in the city. Radio spots and marketing pieces are increasingly bilingual. “Some residents have grown up in countries where libraries are a foreign concept,” Wilder says. “We’re building the idea of the library as a dynamic institution. We’re getting out into the community and we’re providing all kinds of programs to bring people into the library. Librarians today are not just sitting at a desk waiting for people to ask them questions. We want these books moving off the shelves.”
In October 2003, Ready to Learn Providence and the Providence Public Library held a series of parent focus groups on library use. While parents expressed enthusiasm for the many programs and services offered at their branch libraries, many said they would like to see the libraries open more evenings and for longer hours on weekends. Spanish-speaking parents said they would like to see more bilingual books for children, and many complained that lack of transportation was a deterrent to using the library more frequently.
From Ready to Learn Providence! A Partnership Between the Providence Public Library and Ready to Learn Providence.
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.
