Thursday, May 14, 2009
Great Books - Baltimore County
The Great Books training at Shepherd Pratt was inspiring. Jaqueline Woodson's quoting directly from her books (all from memory) was the highlight of the conference. She spoke with such feeling and passion that it was evident her publisher should enlist her services in reading her audiobooks. The three book discussion sessions, YA, elementary, and picture book, led to some good discussion. As a result several of the picture books we discussed were recommended for purchase in particular for use at storytime. Being immersed in children's and YA literature for an entire day was energizing.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Computers in Libraries, March 2009
I, too, attended two days of Computers in Libraries in Crystal City at the end of March. It’s always an educational experience, a place both to pick up practical tips and to begin to understand our digital future.
For inspiration, I recommend you hear Paul Holdengraber, the public program director for NYPL, anywhere and everywhere you can. He's urbane and funny, and he'll remind you of why you're working in a library. Here's a tiny bit of Tuesday morning's keynote.
Another heartening thing about our profession is the degree to which librarians and associated tech folks create tools and share them. Firefox is a better browser than IE because programmers everywhere can contribute to its development and its usefulness. Similarly, the library community is creating software that can be extended, expanded, and customized. I see open-source in our future. If not immediately, eventually; if not locally, statewide. See examples of one open-source product.
I have already had an opportunity to use some of what I've learned on MCPL's web presence. In moving Teensite to its LibGuides platform, we had to find another way to have people fill out online forms and get the content to the staff member who needed them. I learned about Uni-Form and Zoho Creator, both of which would probably do this, and implemented a solution in Google Docs. See Teensite's Recommend a Book, for example.
Because I work with chat reference, I was more than thrilled to hear about Texter, free software that allows you to create shortcut strings for phrases that you type frequently. If I were really a programmer, it would be useful for that too!
Having heard a web redesign committee described as 9 colorblind people who can't agree on anything, I figure that Color Wizard will come in handy down the line. (You might want to try it to find split-complimentary colors if you're doing some interior or exterior painting.) I also liked the tool that showed you what colorblind people see when looking at your webpages.
I learned that Facebook users absolutely HATE Facebook Apps. (Maybe you Facebook folks out there can tell me why?) I also learned that the new DCPL Digital Initiatives Librarian, Aaron Schmidt, created an iPhone App we can adapt. I was eager to ask him to come talk with us at MCPL until I found out that he lives in Portland, OR. Now that's telecommuting!
On the exhibits floor, Serials Solutions was talking up Summon. Also, having purchased WebFeat, the company will likely be discontinuing that product in favor of 360 Search, probably sometime this year. I recommend that everybody take a look at these catalog front-end products, called discovery layers, and note the features that should be indispensable as MCPL tries to make its catalog more usable for patrons.
Please, share your ideas for improving our digital presence with #LIB.virtualservices. We learn from one another as well as from attending conferences!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Great Books 2009
I attended Great Books, sponsored by EPFL, BCPL and others, for the first time March 31st. This was the 25th and - I learned at the opening session - last annual Great Books conference.
Great Books is predicated on a book discussion group format. There are no presenters, only facilitators. There are three hour long groups for each participant, one each for picture books, Juvenile literature (my session happened to be all fiction, but non-fiction is eligible, too) and one for YA.
After the discussion groups our closing speaker was Jacqueline Woodson, funny, insightful, real and humble. She tied together her writings, her childhood and her experiences as a mother, a writer and a human being in a way that makes me want to jump right into her backlist.
The thing that surprised me the most about the book discussion sessions, and pleased me, was the openness and non-judgemental atmosphere present while people also expressed how the really felt about the books. There was no checklist for participation, no single member dominating the discussion but a remarkable congruity of opinion (at least in the groups where I was present).
All of the organisers were library staff from EPFL, BCPL, Howard, Harford or Anne Arundel counties - central Maryland. And most of the attendees were from those counties, too. The suggestion was that other counties/locations should take the Great Books model and run with it.
I agree, and would suggest a half-day format with only one type of literature to discuss. In other words, a half-day on Picture books, another on YA, etc.
Personally, my cup is overflowing right now. Who wants to pick up the sceptre?
Jan
Great Books is predicated on a book discussion group format. There are no presenters, only facilitators. There are three hour long groups for each participant, one each for picture books, Juvenile literature (my session happened to be all fiction, but non-fiction is eligible, too) and one for YA.
After the discussion groups our closing speaker was Jacqueline Woodson, funny, insightful, real and humble. She tied together her writings, her childhood and her experiences as a mother, a writer and a human being in a way that makes me want to jump right into her backlist.
The thing that surprised me the most about the book discussion sessions, and pleased me, was the openness and non-judgemental atmosphere present while people also expressed how the really felt about the books. There was no checklist for participation, no single member dominating the discussion but a remarkable congruity of opinion (at least in the groups where I was present).
All of the organisers were library staff from EPFL, BCPL, Howard, Harford or Anne Arundel counties - central Maryland. And most of the attendees were from those counties, too. The suggestion was that other counties/locations should take the Great Books model and run with it.
I agree, and would suggest a half-day format with only one type of literature to discuss. In other words, a half-day on Picture books, another on YA, etc.
Personally, my cup is overflowing right now. Who wants to pick up the sceptre?
Jan
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
COMPUTERS IN LIBRARIES CONFERENCE
I attended the Computers in Libraries Conference and will be writing on several topics for the blog over the next few days.
It was exciting to follow the various themes that were evident throughout the three-day conference in Crystal City.They included Open Source as an alternative to proprietary ILS, increased interest in consortia, a desire to integrate the multiple systems we use for circulation, collection development, acquisitions, online catalog, and interlibrary loan to address the gaps in functionality, and the question of how libraries stay relevant in the age of mobile, instant communication and social networking. (Did you know that people are getting so impatient with the "lengthy" Tweets of Twitter that they have now created "Flutter" with a 26 character limit?)
Here are synopses on the keynote session that opened the conference, and on one of the sessions I attended.
COMPUTERS IN LIBRARIES CONFERENCE: OPENING KEYNOTE
FRIENDING LIBRARIES: THE NODES IN PEOPLE’S SOCIAL NETWORKS
Lee Rainie
Director, Pew internet & American Life Project
March 30, 2009
How do libraries stay relevant in the age of mobile, instant communication and social networking?
The volume and variety of information flowing into our lives has increased dramatically; we experience media anytime and anyplace with our IPods, and are constantly scanning the environment for new information
According to Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Internet Project, and keynote speaker at the opening of the Computers in Libraries Conference on March 30,2009, we have become a different “species” (Homo Connectus!) with a difference set of expectations about how we access information.
In 2000, 46% of adults used the internet, compared to 75% in 2008. In 2000, only 5% had broadband at home, 50% owned a cell phone, 0% connected to the internet wirelessly, and fewer than 10% used “cloud”. In 2008, 57% had broadband at home, 82% owned a cell phone, 62% connected to the internet wirelessly, and more than 53% used cloud. We are demanding fast, mobile connectivity and we want as much dynamic social networking as possible. (Or so it seems-but wait!)
A recent Pew Internet Project survey (The Mobile Difference) surveyed 3300 Americans. Rainie provided data from the survey to demonstrate that 61% of Americans are still tied to stationary media while 39% are motivated by mobility!
The study identified five groups, defined tech lifestyle attributes to them, provided demographics for each group, and made suggestions on how libraries can “be a node in their network”-in other words, how libraries can be relevant to groups motivated by mobility, or to those of the stationary media majority.
Take a look at Lee Rainie’s presentation to see whether you belong to one of these groups that are motivated by mobility: http://www.infotoday.com/cil2009/program.asp
Digital Collaborator (8% of the population)
Ambivalent Networker (7% of the population)
Media Mover (7% of the population)
Roving Node (9% of the population)
Mobile Newbies (8% of the population)
Perhaps you’re part of the stationary majority defined as:
1. Desktop Veterans (13% of the population)
2. Drifting Surfers (14% of the population)
3. Information Encumbered (10% of the population)
4. Tech Indifferent (10% of the population)
5. Off the Net (14% of the population)
Lee Rainie suggests that in order to be relevant, libraries must become a node in people’s social networks- a “friend” – that will help them:
*access the internet
*collaborate and share
*navigate the information overload
*as a sanctuary (a place where they can go offline)
*with technological access and support
*understand the new etiquette of social networking
Libraries have always helped people with problem-solving information and provided resources for personal enrichment and entertainment. Now they can also be a conduit – a node in the social networks connecting people, media and institutions.
Here is a synopsis of a session on website redesign:
WEBSITE REDESIGN PITFALLS
Tips for a Successful Site Redesign
Jeff Wisniewski
University of Pittsburgh Web Services Librarian
Computers in Libraries Conference
March 30, 2009
There are good reasons for redesigning a website ( the navigation is dysfunctional, the site doesn’t scale, it’s hard to update, if it’s coded to different standards, and if it has poor useability.) When the site is not performing according to the goals and objectives of the site, it’s time to redesign.
But, redesigns are a major disruption for a library system and users dislike them. For this reason, according to Jeff Wisniewski,Web Services Librarian at the University of Pittsburgh, when considering a redesign, it’s wise to ask whether the site needs an entirely new look, or simply needs to improve.
Wisniewski suggests:
1. Take the time to do a usability study. Identify the most important web content of your library and focus on that. Use Google Analytics to check where users are and are not going. Find and document your current page rank (where is your site in Google search results?)
2.Invest time getting consensus from the library director, IT, and others. (Show them cool sites or data suggesting that the site is not functional.) Avoid committees, and use data-based evidence to foster the redesign.
3. Define your constituencies and include them in the planning process.(Think about using non-traditional platforms like blogs and wikis.)
4. Don’t look only at other library websites for ideas (people are spending the vast majority of their time on sites other than libraries)!
5. Define the primary function of your website and design around these tasks. (Is connecting to materials the most important function?) See Queens Library website.
6. Spend time and money on content and engagement tools. Have remarkable content! Include course-based guides, next generation opac and federated search, ejournal finds, photo taggers, assignment calculators.
7. Rewrite content; don’t cut and paste!
8.. Design for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Use simple URLS.
9.. Submit the site map to Google after your redesign and ask Google to remove the old content from its index.
10. Develop a strategy to maintain the site.
Some suggested sites to review when considering a redesign include:
http://www.surl.org/
http://www.useit.com/
http://www.u.e.com/
Cook Library Website Redesign Blog
It was exciting to follow the various themes that were evident throughout the three-day conference in Crystal City.They included Open Source as an alternative to proprietary ILS, increased interest in consortia, a desire to integrate the multiple systems we use for circulation, collection development, acquisitions, online catalog, and interlibrary loan to address the gaps in functionality, and the question of how libraries stay relevant in the age of mobile, instant communication and social networking. (Did you know that people are getting so impatient with the "lengthy" Tweets of Twitter that they have now created "Flutter" with a 26 character limit?)
Here are synopses on the keynote session that opened the conference, and on one of the sessions I attended.
COMPUTERS IN LIBRARIES CONFERENCE: OPENING KEYNOTE
FRIENDING LIBRARIES: THE NODES IN PEOPLE’S SOCIAL NETWORKS
Lee Rainie
Director, Pew internet & American Life Project
March 30, 2009
How do libraries stay relevant in the age of mobile, instant communication and social networking?
The volume and variety of information flowing into our lives has increased dramatically; we experience media anytime and anyplace with our IPods, and are constantly scanning the environment for new information
According to Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Internet Project, and keynote speaker at the opening of the Computers in Libraries Conference on March 30,2009, we have become a different “species” (Homo Connectus!) with a difference set of expectations about how we access information.
In 2000, 46% of adults used the internet, compared to 75% in 2008. In 2000, only 5% had broadband at home, 50% owned a cell phone, 0% connected to the internet wirelessly, and fewer than 10% used “cloud”. In 2008, 57% had broadband at home, 82% owned a cell phone, 62% connected to the internet wirelessly, and more than 53% used cloud. We are demanding fast, mobile connectivity and we want as much dynamic social networking as possible. (Or so it seems-but wait!)
A recent Pew Internet Project survey (The Mobile Difference) surveyed 3300 Americans. Rainie provided data from the survey to demonstrate that 61% of Americans are still tied to stationary media while 39% are motivated by mobility!
The study identified five groups, defined tech lifestyle attributes to them, provided demographics for each group, and made suggestions on how libraries can “be a node in their network”-in other words, how libraries can be relevant to groups motivated by mobility, or to those of the stationary media majority.
Take a look at Lee Rainie’s presentation to see whether you belong to one of these groups that are motivated by mobility: http://www.infotoday.com/cil2009/program.asp
Digital Collaborator (8% of the population)
Ambivalent Networker (7% of the population)
Media Mover (7% of the population)
Roving Node (9% of the population)
Mobile Newbies (8% of the population)
Perhaps you’re part of the stationary majority defined as:
1. Desktop Veterans (13% of the population)
2. Drifting Surfers (14% of the population)
3. Information Encumbered (10% of the population)
4. Tech Indifferent (10% of the population)
5. Off the Net (14% of the population)
Lee Rainie suggests that in order to be relevant, libraries must become a node in people’s social networks- a “friend” – that will help them:
*access the internet
*collaborate and share
*navigate the information overload
*as a sanctuary (a place where they can go offline)
*with technological access and support
*understand the new etiquette of social networking
Libraries have always helped people with problem-solving information and provided resources for personal enrichment and entertainment. Now they can also be a conduit – a node in the social networks connecting people, media and institutions.
Here is a synopsis of a session on website redesign:
WEBSITE REDESIGN PITFALLS
Tips for a Successful Site Redesign
Jeff Wisniewski
University of Pittsburgh Web Services Librarian
Computers in Libraries Conference
March 30, 2009
There are good reasons for redesigning a website ( the navigation is dysfunctional, the site doesn’t scale, it’s hard to update, if it’s coded to different standards, and if it has poor useability.) When the site is not performing according to the goals and objectives of the site, it’s time to redesign.
But, redesigns are a major disruption for a library system and users dislike them. For this reason, according to Jeff Wisniewski,Web Services Librarian at the University of Pittsburgh, when considering a redesign, it’s wise to ask whether the site needs an entirely new look, or simply needs to improve.
Wisniewski suggests:
1. Take the time to do a usability study. Identify the most important web content of your library and focus on that. Use Google Analytics to check where users are and are not going. Find and document your current page rank (where is your site in Google search results?)
2.Invest time getting consensus from the library director, IT, and others. (Show them cool sites or data suggesting that the site is not functional.) Avoid committees, and use data-based evidence to foster the redesign.
3. Define your constituencies and include them in the planning process.(Think about using non-traditional platforms like blogs and wikis.)
4. Don’t look only at other library websites for ideas (people are spending the vast majority of their time on sites other than libraries)!
5. Define the primary function of your website and design around these tasks. (Is connecting to materials the most important function?) See Queens Library website.
6. Spend time and money on content and engagement tools. Have remarkable content! Include course-based guides, next generation opac and federated search, ejournal finds, photo taggers, assignment calculators.
7. Rewrite content; don’t cut and paste!
8.. Design for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Use simple URLS.
9.. Submit the site map to Google after your redesign and ask Google to remove the old content from its index.
10. Develop a strategy to maintain the site.
Some suggested sites to review when considering a redesign include:
http://www.surl.org/
http://www.useit.com/
http://www.u.e.com/
Cook Library Website Redesign Blog
Suzanne Carbone
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Computers In Libraries 2009 (Ann Geht)
I attended Computers In Libraries 2009 in Arlington, VA (March 30 - April 1). Highlights of the conference included getting the chance to explore SirsiDynix's Symphony ILS, which we will be upgrading to this year, Mary Ellen Bate's "Super Searcher" presentation on new search websites (see below for a detailed list of recommended websites), attending a session that compared OPAC overlays for ILS's (sidenote: iBistro looked positively clunky in comparison, & I am completely enamoured with Encore by Innovative Interfaces which works with just about any ILS, including Sirsi, and includes an excellent "Did you mean..." feature and Web 2.0 features such as tagging and customer reviews), an, lastly, an excellent session that compared free Content Management Systems for public librarians such as Drupal (which I knew of), and Joomla, ModX, and Plone (which I had not).
Some thoughts inspired by the conference: A library's physical space and web presence are one and the same when it comes to public perception of the value of the institution; a clunky website leads to an unfavorable image of the library, no matter how excellent the services it offers. In the same vein, it amazed me that for many of the "top" public libraries with panels speaking at the conference, all it took was one staff member (usually the webmaster) to propel them to the cutting edge (as an example, see Darien Public Library). Having an innovative webmaster made all the difference. A few other (not so) innovative ideas: could we place links to our online, full-text magazines in their regular OPAC records? Could we reformat our Evance display a la Howard County? Thinking big: could we be in a true consortium with the D.C. metropolitan area that share the same catalog and allows for ease of borrowing between D.C., Virginia, and MD?
Lastly, here are some of the excellent sites mentioned in the "Super Searcher" session with Mary Ellen Bates:
Alltop, an amazing news aggragator by topic (they call it an "online magazine rack")
LexiQuo, which is a search engine that supplies lexical variants
Keotag, which searches Web 2.0 sites
Carrot2, which is a clustering search engine that also shows you how many top results would be found by the major search engines.
The Awesome Highlighter (this is great), which allows you to highlight portions of a web page, then archives the highlighted version of the page so you can send it to someone with your mark-ups intact.
TextRunner, which searches for assertions on "high quality" websites (great for ready reference questions)
If anyone is interested in talking conference talk, you can reach me at Ann.Geht@montgomerycountymd.gov or 240-777-0693.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Their Space -- Adding Teens to Libraries
given 11/12/08 by MLA's Teen Interest Group and held at the Rosedale Branch of BCPL
attendee: Stella Fowler of Olney Library
It was a day chock full of information. We started with Reluctant Readers, talked about starting a Teen Advisory Board, explored three different types of book clubs and ended talking about Video Gaming.
I have an electronic copy of all of my notes that I would be happy to share with anyone who is interested. Just email me, and I'll send it your way. stella.fowler@montgomerycountymd.gov
I found the reluctant reader presentation extremely valuable; especially the discussion of Misconceptions About Books that Reluctant Readers like. The first being that RRs like short books only. Not true! Look at the many many teens reading the Twilight books and the Harry Potter books and the Ellen Hopkins books, all really thick books. But be careful, a book can only be popular for so long before RRs will no longer read it, and sadly, the reign of Twilight is starting to wane.
For Teen Advisory Boards, we were told to get out of the meeting room and into the YA section. Meeting rooms just aren't relevant. And you want to advertise your TAB? Place your fliers where the teens are: on the soda machines, in the bathrooms, on the computers!
The major thing that was discussed in regards to teen book clubs was: Feed Them! Food works almost every time (this applies to TABs, too)! What doesn't work: Don't start your book club in September. This is a terrible month to start and no one will come. Parent/Child book clubs work well and are safe places for teens to effectively communicate with their parents without pressure.
The video gaming portion was mostly about how to convince your library's administration that you need video gaming (we don't need to do this). But it had some good statistics such as:
Laproscopic Surgeons who are gamers make 37% fewer mistakes
It prepares teens for jobs
Gaming requires reading
It was a great time and a good way to network with other YA specialists in the state. And a good way to get pointers and ideas for other programs.
attendee: Stella Fowler of Olney Library
It was a day chock full of information. We started with Reluctant Readers, talked about starting a Teen Advisory Board, explored three different types of book clubs and ended talking about Video Gaming.
I have an electronic copy of all of my notes that I would be happy to share with anyone who is interested. Just email me, and I'll send it your way. stella.fowler@montgomerycountymd.gov
I found the reluctant reader presentation extremely valuable; especially the discussion of Misconceptions About Books that Reluctant Readers like. The first being that RRs like short books only. Not true! Look at the many many teens reading the Twilight books and the Harry Potter books and the Ellen Hopkins books, all really thick books. But be careful, a book can only be popular for so long before RRs will no longer read it, and sadly, the reign of Twilight is starting to wane.
For Teen Advisory Boards, we were told to get out of the meeting room and into the YA section. Meeting rooms just aren't relevant. And you want to advertise your TAB? Place your fliers where the teens are: on the soda machines, in the bathrooms, on the computers!
The major thing that was discussed in regards to teen book clubs was: Feed Them! Food works almost every time (this applies to TABs, too)! What doesn't work: Don't start your book club in September. This is a terrible month to start and no one will come. Parent/Child book clubs work well and are safe places for teens to effectively communicate with their parents without pressure.
The video gaming portion was mostly about how to convince your library's administration that you need video gaming (we don't need to do this). But it had some good statistics such as:
Laproscopic Surgeons who are gamers make 37% fewer mistakes
It prepares teens for jobs
Gaming requires reading
It was a great time and a good way to network with other YA specialists in the state. And a good way to get pointers and ideas for other programs.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Kids Are Customers, Too 2008
KIDS ARE CUSTOMERS, TOO
October 8, 2008
Attendee: Anita Fry, Damascus Library
Turf Valley Resort was the site for the 12th Annual Kids are Customers, Too Conference presented by Maryland Library Association (MLA). I got my registration materials, coffee and visited the vendors.
Our first speaker was Gloria Bartas from Enoch Pratt. She is a children’s librarian who gave us ideas of what to do between reading the books. She used flannel boards, songs, puppets, hats, movement, colors, echo stories, non-fiction facts, element of surprise(what’s in the cardboard box that has a door), and thinking ideas with word endings. She was quite vivacious and kept moving and singing the whole time. She offered good ideas for future programs. I liked her idea for a flannel dog with BINGO spelled on it and you remove a letter section of the dog as you sing the song. I told her about my oatmeal box car for her car program.
My first breakout session was Project LEAP (Learn, Explore and Play)- presented by Jeannine Finton, Harford County Librarian. This program makes science fun and they have kits on different subjects- dead insects, magnifying viewers, microscope, chemistry lab set, antworks habitat, snap circuits, field binoculars, structures and star navigation. These kits check out to patrons and they have had special programs using them in the library. Librarians had science background and found the materials for the kits at good prices. Downfall to me is all the space the kits take up and all the items that have to be checked as they are checked in and out of the library. We’ve been there and done that. I could see teachers making more use of this idea.
Jennifer Holm was the guest author. She wrote- Our Own May Amelia, Penny from Heaven and she and her brother create the Babymouse graphic novels for kids. She writes the words and he illustrated them. She presented a powerpoint presentation of her life as a child and now as a mother of two. She was fun, perky and cute. She is too busy with her family to write another novel and she write about 2 Babymouse titles per year.
I then ate lunch and visited the vendors again.
I chose What’s in My Art Box? for my next session and it was presented by Howard County Children’s Librarians. I thought this might inspire ideas for next year’s summer reading theme, but it was a bit too sophisticated for that. They had a series on artists that they liked and then let the kids try that artist’s style of art. It took many hours to prepare and lots of supplies. I think we were all expecting a box with supplies and something to make and simple, but it was a lot more involved. They presented a powerpoint presentation that wasn’t very organized.
The 2008 Blue Crab Young Readers Awards were given next by Susan Modak- Chairperson. I have a copy of the flier with the winners.
A panel discussion of Effective School and Library Partnerships was the last event. This was interesting and some school librarians really like the public libraries and work with them. The Black-Eyed Susan awards were discussed and that involves both the schools and libraries.
I enjoyed attending this event and will use ideas for future storytimes or programs.
October 8, 2008
Attendee: Anita Fry, Damascus Library
Turf Valley Resort was the site for the 12th Annual Kids are Customers, Too Conference presented by Maryland Library Association (MLA). I got my registration materials, coffee and visited the vendors.
Our first speaker was Gloria Bartas from Enoch Pratt. She is a children’s librarian who gave us ideas of what to do between reading the books. She used flannel boards, songs, puppets, hats, movement, colors, echo stories, non-fiction facts, element of surprise(what’s in the cardboard box that has a door), and thinking ideas with word endings. She was quite vivacious and kept moving and singing the whole time. She offered good ideas for future programs. I liked her idea for a flannel dog with BINGO spelled on it and you remove a letter section of the dog as you sing the song. I told her about my oatmeal box car for her car program.
My first breakout session was Project LEAP (Learn, Explore and Play)- presented by Jeannine Finton, Harford County Librarian. This program makes science fun and they have kits on different subjects- dead insects, magnifying viewers, microscope, chemistry lab set, antworks habitat, snap circuits, field binoculars, structures and star navigation. These kits check out to patrons and they have had special programs using them in the library. Librarians had science background and found the materials for the kits at good prices. Downfall to me is all the space the kits take up and all the items that have to be checked as they are checked in and out of the library. We’ve been there and done that. I could see teachers making more use of this idea.
Jennifer Holm was the guest author. She wrote- Our Own May Amelia, Penny from Heaven and she and her brother create the Babymouse graphic novels for kids. She writes the words and he illustrated them. She presented a powerpoint presentation of her life as a child and now as a mother of two. She was fun, perky and cute. She is too busy with her family to write another novel and she write about 2 Babymouse titles per year.
I then ate lunch and visited the vendors again.
I chose What’s in My Art Box? for my next session and it was presented by Howard County Children’s Librarians. I thought this might inspire ideas for next year’s summer reading theme, but it was a bit too sophisticated for that. They had a series on artists that they liked and then let the kids try that artist’s style of art. It took many hours to prepare and lots of supplies. I think we were all expecting a box with supplies and something to make and simple, but it was a lot more involved. They presented a powerpoint presentation that wasn’t very organized.
The 2008 Blue Crab Young Readers Awards were given next by Susan Modak- Chairperson. I have a copy of the flier with the winners.
A panel discussion of Effective School and Library Partnerships was the last event. This was interesting and some school librarians really like the public libraries and work with them. The Black-Eyed Susan awards were discussed and that involves both the schools and libraries.
I enjoyed attending this event and will use ideas for future storytimes or programs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
