This week's American Libraries includes an article about a former library assistant in Michigan who wrote a book. The book, available through a print on demand service, probably wouldn't have caused much of a stir, had the author not promoted it via e-mail, postcards and in person to patrons, many of whom are featured, not so favorably in the story.
While I haven't read the book and certainly can't speak to its veracity, this brings up an interesting conundrum.
Many librarians and other library staff vaguely ponder the idea of writing down stories of their experiences, but how much protection do library customers have? How much right do we, as library staff, have to the stories we, in fact, share with our customers? That is, we all participate in the same story, so whose rights matter most?
I try to keep things anonymous around here, but there a few readers who know me in real life. There is a chance that they will be able to identify a certain customer that may drive me particularly batty. Do I have an ethical right to share information that may easily identify someone who is unaware that their personal experiences are being shared online?
It's an ethical dilemma, and one already faced by the famous Dooce, who was fired after her website shared a bit too much about her workplace, but how does it apply when we're dealing with the general public on such a regular basis?
How much of my day is fair fodder for the sharing?
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Get That Girl a Milkshake!
Over a year long, and my gaming programs are still going strong. They numbers vary from month to month, and our committee is hoping that it will be possible to get separate systems for each branch.
Even barring that, I have good news.
My gaming program got coverage in the local newspaper! My ebbing and flowing numbers may just get the jolt they need! Hurray!
Oh, that bit about me needing a milkshake?
That comes from the fact that I learned about the reporter's visit just a few hours before the start of the program (at least I got notified at all!), and my numbers this month were certainly not as high as I would have liked. So, two, count them, two, whole teenagers showed up for the program. I ran around like a mad chicken, grabbed some young-ish departmental aides to fill the room, made two global announcements, and soon had nine authentic teenagers in the program.
Any newspaper photographer worth his salt can make that look like a full room, right?
The reporter didn't seem too disappointed, and, fortunately, I had told her that my numbers vary and haven't yet topped 20. She had plenty of folks to talk to, including my loyal volunteer who runs the "board" and ensures that people of equal skill and/or age compete against each other in early rounds, and at least one parent.
The departmental aides, young though they looked, were stomped by the authentic teenagers, and a triumphant teen took home the final prize, gloating all the while.
And yes, I did get a milkshake.
Even barring that, I have good news.
My gaming program got coverage in the local newspaper! My ebbing and flowing numbers may just get the jolt they need! Hurray!
Oh, that bit about me needing a milkshake?
That comes from the fact that I learned about the reporter's visit just a few hours before the start of the program (at least I got notified at all!), and my numbers this month were certainly not as high as I would have liked. So, two, count them, two, whole teenagers showed up for the program. I ran around like a mad chicken, grabbed some young-ish departmental aides to fill the room, made two global announcements, and soon had nine authentic teenagers in the program.
Any newspaper photographer worth his salt can make that look like a full room, right?
The reporter didn't seem too disappointed, and, fortunately, I had told her that my numbers vary and haven't yet topped 20. She had plenty of folks to talk to, including my loyal volunteer who runs the "board" and ensures that people of equal skill and/or age compete against each other in early rounds, and at least one parent.
The departmental aides, young though they looked, were stomped by the authentic teenagers, and a triumphant teen took home the final prize, gloating all the while.
And yes, I did get a milkshake.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Librarians Change Lives!
Wow! Two posts in two days. I must be doing well :).
Anyway, I just learned that the fabulous t-shirt I bought at ALA last year, the one with the Unshelved graphic and the tag-line, "Librarians Change Lives" is available for purchase through the ALA online store.
All proceeds to go to benefit Friends of YALSA (FOY). FOY provides funding in five distinct areas:
*Continuous Learning: creating opportunities for all members and library workers to grow through grants, providing scholarships to those in need and offering distance learning and institutes.
*Advocacy: educating members, library workers, the general public and policy makers about the importance of providing excellent library services to teens, and the critical role that library workers and libraries play in helping teens develop key literacy skills and a lifelong appreciation of reading.
*Research: guiding and promoting research in the field of young adult librarianship through grants, publications, and other means to ensure that the field of librarianship has the necessary knowledge to meet the needs of teens.
*Teen Literacy & Young Adult Literature: sponsoring literacy initiatives such as Teen Read Week, YALSA’s booklists and book awards, guaranteeing YALSA's place in the forefront of our nation's adolescent literacy campaigns.
*Planning for the Future: helping to attract new members and retain existing ones, creating public awareness campaigns, planning and carrying out new initiatives to pursue excellence in library service to young adults, and more.
Now, hurry, go buy yours today so you can be as cool as me :Þ.
Anyway, I just learned that the fabulous t-shirt I bought at ALA last year, the one with the Unshelved graphic and the tag-line, "Librarians Change Lives" is available for purchase through the ALA online store.
All proceeds to go to benefit Friends of YALSA (FOY). FOY provides funding in five distinct areas:
*Continuous Learning: creating opportunities for all members and library workers to grow through grants, providing scholarships to those in need and offering distance learning and institutes.
*Advocacy: educating members, library workers, the general public and policy makers about the importance of providing excellent library services to teens, and the critical role that library workers and libraries play in helping teens develop key literacy skills and a lifelong appreciation of reading.
*Research: guiding and promoting research in the field of young adult librarianship through grants, publications, and other means to ensure that the field of librarianship has the necessary knowledge to meet the needs of teens.
*Teen Literacy & Young Adult Literature: sponsoring literacy initiatives such as Teen Read Week, YALSA’s booklists and book awards, guaranteeing YALSA's place in the forefront of our nation's adolescent literacy campaigns.
*Planning for the Future: helping to attract new members and retain existing ones, creating public awareness campaigns, planning and carrying out new initiatives to pursue excellence in library service to young adults, and more.
Now, hurry, go buy yours today so you can be as cool as me :Þ.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Career Building
Perhaps I expected this to be easy. I may have had too much book knowledge in my brain for my own good.
Being a librarian, particularly one who works with children of any age, takes time and patience. Gradually, I have developed just a bit more of the latter, and it's done me a world of good.
During my first year as a librarian, these thoughts frequently entered my mind, or, worse, came out of my mouth:
"Yes! A new program! Awesome! Let's book all the computers!"
"Of course more than three people will come."
"What do you mean I can't handle doing teen programs in a month?"
"Desk hours? What desk hours?"
Nearing the end of my second year, I have gone through a few phases.
Do you recognize any of these in yourself?
Phase 1: The over-educated, over-enthusiastic, under-experienced newbie
Phase 2: The exhausted librarian who feels confused and just a tad misled
Phase 3: The newly cynical librarian with a tinge of bitterness towards empty seats
Phase 4: The balanced librarian who does what she can, to the best of her ability, and accepts that every program has its purpose, even to just six kids.
I am building this career one block at a time. In the past almost-two years, I've learned more than I thought I needed to about collection development, program planning, dealing with the public and standing up for myself.
To anyone fresh out of library school who may wander across this, I say from my place two years out of those hallowed halls, have patience...it'll all work out.
Being a librarian, particularly one who works with children of any age, takes time and patience. Gradually, I have developed just a bit more of the latter, and it's done me a world of good.
During my first year as a librarian, these thoughts frequently entered my mind, or, worse, came out of my mouth:
"Yes! A new program! Awesome! Let's book all the computers!"
"Of course more than three people will come."
"What do you mean I can't handle doing teen programs in a month?"
"Desk hours? What desk hours?"
Nearing the end of my second year, I have gone through a few phases.
Do you recognize any of these in yourself?
Phase 1: The over-educated, over-enthusiastic, under-experienced newbie
Phase 2: The exhausted librarian who feels confused and just a tad misled
Phase 3: The newly cynical librarian with a tinge of bitterness towards empty seats
Phase 4: The balanced librarian who does what she can, to the best of her ability, and accepts that every program has its purpose, even to just six kids.
I am building this career one block at a time. In the past almost-two years, I've learned more than I thought I needed to about collection development, program planning, dealing with the public and standing up for myself.
To anyone fresh out of library school who may wander across this, I say from my place two years out of those hallowed halls, have patience...it'll all work out.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
There's Something to Be Said for Central Selection
I've met librarians from across the country whose libraries approach collection development from a myriad of directions. In my library, we have both central selection and branch-level selection.
Currently, due to both procedural and staff changes, I'm selecting for three branches as well as serving as a central selector.
I love my duties as a central selector. I ask for suggestions from my colleagues. I peruse the selection and review material. I rarely have trouble spending my budget. That said, as a central selector, I have specific guidelines that I must follow, and I'm generally only choosing paperback fiction. I have a wide selection within a narrow topic.
I also greatly appreciate the opportunity to select materials that are specific to my demographic. Having a healthy budget for my branch means that I can respond directly to the shifting needs in my community. Need more urban fiction? Okay, I'll find some new titles. Middle school science fair coming up? Alrightee, I've got it covered. A flexible branch budget provides nearly infinite opportunities to address the unique requirements of my branch.
Still, selecting for three branches on top of completing central selection is exhausting. It's a bit more exhausting this month as we had the added responsibility of buying our prize books for the summer reading program.
So, to reiterate: I really appreciate that I work in a library system that embraces both modes of collection development. I receive books selected by another central selector that I may never have thought of purchasing -- especially in the graphic novel area -- that are amazing choices. I'm glad that I'm not the only one buying books for my branch.
After completing two big orders for three branches and a central order for eight branches, however, I'm a bit loopy. I've read so many reviews, looked at so many covers and typed so many ISBNs in the past two weeks that I'm mildly convinced every single YA book is about the same exact thing and written by one author using 99 pseudonyms.
So, forgive the loopiness for now. Soon, I'll dive back into finishing Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle Trilogy. After I finish this series and know all there is to know about the Realms, the Order and the Rakshana, I predict I'll be refreshed and ready, once again, to conquer the glorious wealth of books available for YAs these days.
Currently, due to both procedural and staff changes, I'm selecting for three branches as well as serving as a central selector.
I love my duties as a central selector. I ask for suggestions from my colleagues. I peruse the selection and review material. I rarely have trouble spending my budget. That said, as a central selector, I have specific guidelines that I must follow, and I'm generally only choosing paperback fiction. I have a wide selection within a narrow topic.
I also greatly appreciate the opportunity to select materials that are specific to my demographic. Having a healthy budget for my branch means that I can respond directly to the shifting needs in my community. Need more urban fiction? Okay, I'll find some new titles. Middle school science fair coming up? Alrightee, I've got it covered. A flexible branch budget provides nearly infinite opportunities to address the unique requirements of my branch.
Still, selecting for three branches on top of completing central selection is exhausting. It's a bit more exhausting this month as we had the added responsibility of buying our prize books for the summer reading program.
So, to reiterate: I really appreciate that I work in a library system that embraces both modes of collection development. I receive books selected by another central selector that I may never have thought of purchasing -- especially in the graphic novel area -- that are amazing choices. I'm glad that I'm not the only one buying books for my branch.
After completing two big orders for three branches and a central order for eight branches, however, I'm a bit loopy. I've read so many reviews, looked at so many covers and typed so many ISBNs in the past two weeks that I'm mildly convinced every single YA book is about the same exact thing and written by one author using 99 pseudonyms.
So, forgive the loopiness for now. Soon, I'll dive back into finishing Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle Trilogy. After I finish this series and know all there is to know about the Realms, the Order and the Rakshana, I predict I'll be refreshed and ready, once again, to conquer the glorious wealth of books available for YAs these days.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
And Now for Something Completely Different
As I've relaxed into a regular YA reading pattern of two or three YA books a month, not counting the books I review for School Library Journal (no fear that I'll be leaping at the opportunity to be on an awards committee and read upwards of 200 YA books in a year), I've begun to recognize the patterns in the books I choose.
I would have enjoyed Laurie Halse Anderson as a teen, so I listened to Twisted on CD. Ms. Anderson has the signature ability to tell a poignant story without going overboard, and Twisted proves no exception. Tyler Miller had a surprisingly good summer, considering that he spent it doing community service after spraying grafitti all over his high school in an attempt to garner positive attention from his classmates. In addition to the community service, he worked a landscaping/gardening job and bulked up considerably. He's gone from a scrawny junior to a tall, buff senior, and he's caught the eye of his longtime crush, Bethany Milbury. The crush crashes after Bethany spends a drunken night hitting on anything that walks, and Tyler decides to move on...but he can't. The night of the drunken escapades, someone took sexually explicit pictures of Bethany, and since Tyler has a record and, rumor has it was sent packing by Bethany, he's the prime suspect. The fact that Ms. Anderson uses Tyler as the narrator brings a real edge to the novel, and it's worth a look.
Next up, Does My Head Look Big in This by Randa Abdel-Fattah. At 16 and attending an elite (mostly white) private school in Australia, Amal decides to begin wearing the hajib, the traditional head covering and conversative style of dressing of Muslim women. It's fully her own decision, though she wrestles with what her crush, the uber-intelligent Adam, will think, not to mention how her snobby, WASPy classmates will respond. They respond with a mix of emotions, ranging from the curious to the outright racist, but the novel retains its teeny-bopper tone, never crossing into preachy or over-the-top. Amal's story is standard fare for YA fiction - she's in an awkward phase, has something unique about her personality that she dares to show in public and has a crush that she knows can only ever result in a friendship. In short, it's a fabulous read, but it hasn't stretched my literary boundaries in the way I would have liked.
I have yet to venture into reading urban fiction, and I may have to gradually dip my toe into different genres. Maybe one of those pirate books (Bloody Jack, anyone?).
I would have enjoyed Laurie Halse Anderson as a teen, so I listened to Twisted on CD. Ms. Anderson has the signature ability to tell a poignant story without going overboard, and Twisted proves no exception. Tyler Miller had a surprisingly good summer, considering that he spent it doing community service after spraying grafitti all over his high school in an attempt to garner positive attention from his classmates. In addition to the community service, he worked a landscaping/gardening job and bulked up considerably. He's gone from a scrawny junior to a tall, buff senior, and he's caught the eye of his longtime crush, Bethany Milbury. The crush crashes after Bethany spends a drunken night hitting on anything that walks, and Tyler decides to move on...but he can't. The night of the drunken escapades, someone took sexually explicit pictures of Bethany, and since Tyler has a record and, rumor has it was sent packing by Bethany, he's the prime suspect. The fact that Ms. Anderson uses Tyler as the narrator brings a real edge to the novel, and it's worth a look.
Next up, Does My Head Look Big in This by Randa Abdel-Fattah. At 16 and attending an elite (mostly white) private school in Australia, Amal decides to begin wearing the hajib, the traditional head covering and conversative style of dressing of Muslim women. It's fully her own decision, though she wrestles with what her crush, the uber-intelligent Adam, will think, not to mention how her snobby, WASPy classmates will respond. They respond with a mix of emotions, ranging from the curious to the outright racist, but the novel retains its teeny-bopper tone, never crossing into preachy or over-the-top. Amal's story is standard fare for YA fiction - she's in an awkward phase, has something unique about her personality that she dares to show in public and has a crush that she knows can only ever result in a friendship. In short, it's a fabulous read, but it hasn't stretched my literary boundaries in the way I would have liked.
I have yet to venture into reading urban fiction, and I may have to gradually dip my toe into different genres. Maybe one of those pirate books (Bloody Jack, anyone?).
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Magnet Madness
A colleague asked if I could think of any way our particular teens could get involved in our Poetry in the Park event in May. I mulled over options ranging from the ridiculous (open mic poetry! thousands will come! let's do it!) to the completely simple (poetry display! that's enough, right?) and finally settled on one of my favorite things in all the land: Magnet Poetry.
Now, that program is nearly three months away, and I simply can't wait to do a magnetic poetry program until then. So, I'm planning two more. One today with my book club, and one with my teen moms (I'm running out of ways to make cover letter writing fun, haha).
I happily perused one of my favorite sites, Craftster and found links to a two very helpful resources.
The first is HP's creative site, and I found a list of Shakespearean words for use with magnetic poetry -- perfect for our discussion of Alex Flinn's Beastly.
The second is a list of basic words teachers use with new readers. The list works quite well for constructing simple poetry, and I think it's an option that I'll have available at the larger magnetic poetry event in May.
Armed with my lists, I feel rather excited about this activity.
Other materials needed include:
*Self-adhesive magnetic strips
*Scissors
*Clean tins for storing the magnets (think Altoid tins)
*Poetic teens :)
Now, that program is nearly three months away, and I simply can't wait to do a magnetic poetry program until then. So, I'm planning two more. One today with my book club, and one with my teen moms (I'm running out of ways to make cover letter writing fun, haha).
I happily perused one of my favorite sites, Craftster and found links to a two very helpful resources.
The first is HP's creative site, and I found a list of Shakespearean words for use with magnetic poetry -- perfect for our discussion of Alex Flinn's Beastly.
The second is a list of basic words teachers use with new readers. The list works quite well for constructing simple poetry, and I think it's an option that I'll have available at the larger magnetic poetry event in May.
Armed with my lists, I feel rather excited about this activity.
Other materials needed include:
*Self-adhesive magnetic strips
*Scissors
*Clean tins for storing the magnets (think Altoid tins)
*Poetic teens :)
Monday, January 28, 2008
A Nice Reminder
In the January 2008 issue of School Library Journal, Barbara Genco provides a list of Guilty Pleasures, meaning books written by adults for adults that Young Adult Librarians should read.
I appreciate the tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that many Young Adult Librarians feel compelled to read YA Lit almost exclusively. Of course, as you may have noticed from a few posts on this blog, I don't subscribe to this philosphy and, in fact, sometimes fight against the need to read quite so much YA Lit.
Still, I appreciate the big reminder that we sometimes need that there are books out there that will feed our adult minds and will not detract from our ability to recommend good books to teens. In fact, if we remain aware of the good books for adults, for ourselves, I'm convinced that we'll be better at readers advisory in general.
So, in light of the article, I went home and snagged my post-it notes with scribbled titles and put in requests for those books from my library.
In the next several weeks, I will happily read the following:
Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier, a fictionalized account of the life of William Blake. English major that I am, this topic fascinates me, even if I never wanted to live out my days in a musty smelling office trying to interpret "The Tyger."
Mockingbird by Charles Shields, a biography of Harper Lee and the process of creating and publishing To Kill a Mockingbird. One of my favorite books...that lead to one of my favorite movies...and it's sad to me that I've been meaning to read this book since last April, when the book was published.
If This is a Man by Primo Levi, one survivor's account of Auschwitz and its aftermath, recommended by a fellow librarian (and former orchestra conductor). I'd love to read it in the original Italian, but with only a semester's worth of the language under my belt, it's not a task I can tackle.
So, what are you going to read to remind yourself that your brain still needs nutrition, too?
I appreciate the tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that many Young Adult Librarians feel compelled to read YA Lit almost exclusively. Of course, as you may have noticed from a few posts on this blog, I don't subscribe to this philosphy and, in fact, sometimes fight against the need to read quite so much YA Lit.
Still, I appreciate the big reminder that we sometimes need that there are books out there that will feed our adult minds and will not detract from our ability to recommend good books to teens. In fact, if we remain aware of the good books for adults, for ourselves, I'm convinced that we'll be better at readers advisory in general.
So, in light of the article, I went home and snagged my post-it notes with scribbled titles and put in requests for those books from my library.
In the next several weeks, I will happily read the following:
Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier, a fictionalized account of the life of William Blake. English major that I am, this topic fascinates me, even if I never wanted to live out my days in a musty smelling office trying to interpret "The Tyger."
Mockingbird by Charles Shields, a biography of Harper Lee and the process of creating and publishing To Kill a Mockingbird. One of my favorite books...that lead to one of my favorite movies...and it's sad to me that I've been meaning to read this book since last April, when the book was published.
If This is a Man by Primo Levi, one survivor's account of Auschwitz and its aftermath, recommended by a fellow librarian (and former orchestra conductor). I'd love to read it in the original Italian, but with only a semester's worth of the language under my belt, it's not a task I can tackle.
So, what are you going to read to remind yourself that your brain still needs nutrition, too?
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Info Literacy and You
I am beginning to think that after the need to do YA Services runs its course through me, I may be very interested in moving forward with consulting or supervising or something that involves less direct service and more planning.
I promise you, that is not a complaint.
In the past couple of weeks, I have worked on a couple of projects that have my brain turned on and my interest tuned in -- both in ways that helping a customer use our print software just can't quite accomplish.
My projects have included researching urban literature for teens, building connections between gaming and literacy and, now, researching information literacy standards (I haven't yet found them for the State of California). This newest project will help my public library decide how to bridge partnerships with the local school district in coming months...and years.
I have, however, found some valuable resources that I will need to use in the near future...so, they'll live here!
AASL's Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning
An Educator's Guide to Information Literacy (a book I need to buy)
Building a Partnership Between Public Schools and Public Libraries
Information Literacy Standards at Los Angeles Public Schools (not my school district, but it's a guide post)
WestEd's Evaluation of Workforce Readiness Programs
National Education Technology Standards for Students
California Technology Plan Requirements (as required by No Child Left Behind)
Chavez Bill
I promise you, that is not a complaint.
In the past couple of weeks, I have worked on a couple of projects that have my brain turned on and my interest tuned in -- both in ways that helping a customer use our print software just can't quite accomplish.
My projects have included researching urban literature for teens, building connections between gaming and literacy and, now, researching information literacy standards (I haven't yet found them for the State of California). This newest project will help my public library decide how to bridge partnerships with the local school district in coming months...and years.
I have, however, found some valuable resources that I will need to use in the near future...so, they'll live here!
AASL's Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning
An Educator's Guide to Information Literacy (a book I need to buy)
Building a Partnership Between Public Schools and Public Libraries
Information Literacy Standards at Los Angeles Public Schools (not my school district, but it's a guide post)
WestEd's Evaluation of Workforce Readiness Programs
National Education Technology Standards for Students
California Technology Plan Requirements (as required by No Child Left Behind)
Chavez Bill
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Sources on Urban Literature
I've dipped my toe into the world of buying urban/street lit for my library's YA collection, and now it's time to dive in all the way.
I'm going to make use of my blog (well, it is my blog, after all) as a repository for sources on YA "appropriate" street lit. For now, a lot of this information is coming from Teen Librarian, but I'm trying to pull together some other resources as well. If you have any recommendations, please let me know!
More Books Like the Coldest Winter Ever
Library Success Wiki
Street Fiction for Teens
Hennepin County Library
Young Diamond Books (Street Lit for Teens)
Bluford Series
(that's what I've found as of 12/3/2007)
The teen librarians at my library are currently having a discussion about street lit. Well, I started the discussion, because I am responsible for selecting paperback fiction for all of our branches. Several librarians have requested street lit for their teen sections. The selection of "actual" teen literature that qualifies as street lit is limited, and many of these titles are more suited for the adult side.
At least, that's my perspective.
I'm doing the research. I'm finding the titles. But I am also wondering whether or not it is a wise idea to go out and create a brand new collection of books simply because someone asks for it. I'm sure there are people who would like to see Playboy on our shelves, too, but we don't stock that. Some of these street lit titles are even categorized as "erotica." I am having trouble stomaching the thought of placing "erotica" on the shelves next to Princess Diaries. It's a challenging walking the line between the grey censorship of collection development and true censorship.
I'm on the side of purchasing the most teen "appropriate" street lit and letting the adult selectors pick up the other titles.
But I'm willing to hear other opinions.
What do other YA Librarians out there think about this?
I'm going to make use of my blog (well, it is my blog, after all) as a repository for sources on YA "appropriate" street lit. For now, a lot of this information is coming from Teen Librarian, but I'm trying to pull together some other resources as well. If you have any recommendations, please let me know!
More Books Like the Coldest Winter Ever
Library Success Wiki
Street Fiction for Teens
Hennepin County Library
Young Diamond Books (Street Lit for Teens)
Bluford Series
(that's what I've found as of 12/3/2007)
The teen librarians at my library are currently having a discussion about street lit. Well, I started the discussion, because I am responsible for selecting paperback fiction for all of our branches. Several librarians have requested street lit for their teen sections. The selection of "actual" teen literature that qualifies as street lit is limited, and many of these titles are more suited for the adult side.
At least, that's my perspective.
I'm doing the research. I'm finding the titles. But I am also wondering whether or not it is a wise idea to go out and create a brand new collection of books simply because someone asks for it. I'm sure there are people who would like to see Playboy on our shelves, too, but we don't stock that. Some of these street lit titles are even categorized as "erotica." I am having trouble stomaching the thought of placing "erotica" on the shelves next to Princess Diaries. It's a challenging walking the line between the grey censorship of collection development and true censorship.
I'm on the side of purchasing the most teen "appropriate" street lit and letting the adult selectors pick up the other titles.
But I'm willing to hear other opinions.
What do other YA Librarians out there think about this?
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Big Skies and Big Football
So, let's talk about books.In preparation for a recent trip to Sooner Territory, I read The Knights of Hill Country by Tim Tharp. A teen had reviewed the book over the summer, and I found his review enticing enough to pick up the book myself. Hampton Green is a senior in high school, playing for a team in the fifth year of an undefeated record. If the Kennisaw Knights finish out the season undefeated, it will be the first time since their greatest historical days that the team has done this. To say that the Knights are poised on the brink of history is putting it lightly. Hampton is a solid player who rarely gets much credit, while his best friend Blaine is the star. Well, Blaine was the star until a bad hit to the knee in the previous season...a hit that caused damage Blaine never reported and never got fixed. Hampton's star is on the rise, and he's not entirely comfortable coming out from behind his best friend's shadow. The book captures the spirit of Oklahoma high school football and could work well for reluctant teen boys who need action to keep them engaged in a book.
I hope everyone is refreshed after a couple of days off for Thanksgiving and looking forward to a pleasant, busy holiday season.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Is This a YA Book?
I trusted the School Library Journal review and purchased A Ghost at the Table for my YA collection. I was excited about the book, but it's taken me a couple of months to get around to reading it. I've read about half of the book, and I am having trouble seeing the relevance to teens. It's a good book about family secrets and family dysfunction, but the main character is a 40-something single woman who rarely reflects on her adolesence, with those rare spots being the time when her mother died after a long illness and her father took up with his would-be second wife.
I must give the book a chance and finish the second half before setting forth my judgment and handing the book over to one of my branch's Adult Services Librarians, but has anyone else read this book?
Update: I've finished the book. And I double-checked the review. Published in January, School Library Journal placed the review in their Adult/High School Section:
Fiction
BERNE, Suzanne. The Ghost at the Table. 304p. Algonquin. 2006. Tr $23.95. ISBN 1-56512-334-4. LC 2006040073.
Adult/High School—Sisters, living and dead, loom large in Berne's tale of family secrets unraveled. Cynthia Fiske writes a series of historical fiction for girls, depicting the lives of remarkable women through the eyes of their slightly less-remarkable sisters. An invitation to her own sister's house for Thanksgiving in New England coincides with her need to visit Mark Twain's home in Hartford to research a new novel on the writer's daughters, whose story of a charismatic father and three troubled siblings parallels the Fiskes' history. Complicating the usual holiday tensions is the presence of their elderly father, once brash and manipulative, now disabled and facing a divorce from his much-younger wife. As the family struggles with generations of dysfunction and unspoken secrets, including the mysterious death of their mother decades earlier, Cynthia rebels by sharing the most sordid details of the long-gone Clemens family. Although she is nearing middle age, her feelings of isolation and rejection that began in childhood have left her a perpetual adolescent in relation to her family. Much like the child narrator of Donna Tartt's The Little Friend (Knopf, 2002), Berne portrays a confusing, comic, even sinister family dynamic and eschews a pat, happy ending in favor of a very real, if provocative, choice that will appeal to teen fans of family dramas.—Jenny Gasset, Orange County Public Library, CA
Has anyone successfully used this book in any YA sort of way?
I must give the book a chance and finish the second half before setting forth my judgment and handing the book over to one of my branch's Adult Services Librarians, but has anyone else read this book?
Update: I've finished the book. And I double-checked the review. Published in January, School Library Journal placed the review in their Adult/High School Section:
Fiction
BERNE, Suzanne. The Ghost at the Table. 304p. Algonquin. 2006. Tr $23.95. ISBN 1-56512-334-4. LC 2006040073.
Adult/High School—Sisters, living and dead, loom large in Berne's tale of family secrets unraveled. Cynthia Fiske writes a series of historical fiction for girls, depicting the lives of remarkable women through the eyes of their slightly less-remarkable sisters. An invitation to her own sister's house for Thanksgiving in New England coincides with her need to visit Mark Twain's home in Hartford to research a new novel on the writer's daughters, whose story of a charismatic father and three troubled siblings parallels the Fiskes' history. Complicating the usual holiday tensions is the presence of their elderly father, once brash and manipulative, now disabled and facing a divorce from his much-younger wife. As the family struggles with generations of dysfunction and unspoken secrets, including the mysterious death of their mother decades earlier, Cynthia rebels by sharing the most sordid details of the long-gone Clemens family. Although she is nearing middle age, her feelings of isolation and rejection that began in childhood have left her a perpetual adolescent in relation to her family. Much like the child narrator of Donna Tartt's The Little Friend (Knopf, 2002), Berne portrays a confusing, comic, even sinister family dynamic and eschews a pat, happy ending in favor of a very real, if provocative, choice that will appeal to teen fans of family dramas.—Jenny Gasset, Orange County Public Library, CA
Has anyone successfully used this book in any YA sort of way?
Monday, October 15, 2007
Teen Read Week, Take Two
It is Teen Read Week, which means major programming at a lot of libraries. Last year, my first as a YA Librarian, I had two programs - one was a success and the other was an utter failure and also resulted in me getting a wee bit of a talking to by my supervisor.
Actually, they both resulted in sit-downs with my supervisor.
The first, the successful program, was a martial arts demonstration that went along well with the 2006 theme of "Get Active." The martial arts expert who gave the demonstration was one of our own, a library employee who also happened to be a black belt in several different types of martial arts. I had over 70 people attend the program, more than 35 of whom were actual teenagers and not just the little kids or parents who also happened to wander by the demonstration. The talking to? Oh, that came as a result of parents complaining about the gigantic knives and graphic descriptions of what could be done with said knives.
The second, the program that resulted in a whopping two attendees, featured our local state assemblywoman speaking about how the state government works and how people can "get active" in politics. The event wasn't a total failure, because one of the attendees actually ended up getting one of the very rare high school-level internships in the assemblywoman's office. The talking to? I didn't really inform anyone that the assemblywoman was coming. My direct supervisor knew, but the director didn't know, and there was no grand welcome for this important fan of libraries. She felt slighted, and my library director felt concerned that I was going off and doing my own thing, not following the appropriate channels.
Did I mention that my first teen read week happened less than two months into my tenure as a rookie YA Librarian? I had a lot to learn.
I still have a lot to learn.
This year, I'm having an open mic night...in the evening. I realized with startling clarity last week that I should have planned the event for the after school hours, but I had originally wanted to encourage whole families to attend.
In any case, I'm the only person who has to know about it, though I've advertised it far and wide. I'm keeping it low key and not even offering prizes - just certificates or ribbons for participating. I've grown a little cynical in the last year, and that means I don't necessarily feel that I'll have a big crowd. So, I don't feel inclined to plan for a big crowd. If I'm blessed with more attendees than I could imagine, well, then they'll all have to make do without seconds on the snack food.
I'm excited, but I'm also realistic that this may be one of my last opportunities to try evening programming. If people won't come, it's difficult to convince my supervisor that my time wouldn't be better served working at the reference desk.
I'm optimistic, but it's more of a cynical optimism than last year.
At least this shouldn't result in a talking to...and there shouldn't be any knives.
Actually, they both resulted in sit-downs with my supervisor.
The first, the successful program, was a martial arts demonstration that went along well with the 2006 theme of "Get Active." The martial arts expert who gave the demonstration was one of our own, a library employee who also happened to be a black belt in several different types of martial arts. I had over 70 people attend the program, more than 35 of whom were actual teenagers and not just the little kids or parents who also happened to wander by the demonstration. The talking to? Oh, that came as a result of parents complaining about the gigantic knives and graphic descriptions of what could be done with said knives.
The second, the program that resulted in a whopping two attendees, featured our local state assemblywoman speaking about how the state government works and how people can "get active" in politics. The event wasn't a total failure, because one of the attendees actually ended up getting one of the very rare high school-level internships in the assemblywoman's office. The talking to? I didn't really inform anyone that the assemblywoman was coming. My direct supervisor knew, but the director didn't know, and there was no grand welcome for this important fan of libraries. She felt slighted, and my library director felt concerned that I was going off and doing my own thing, not following the appropriate channels.
Did I mention that my first teen read week happened less than two months into my tenure as a rookie YA Librarian? I had a lot to learn.
I still have a lot to learn.
This year, I'm having an open mic night...in the evening. I realized with startling clarity last week that I should have planned the event for the after school hours, but I had originally wanted to encourage whole families to attend.
In any case, I'm the only person who has to know about it, though I've advertised it far and wide. I'm keeping it low key and not even offering prizes - just certificates or ribbons for participating. I've grown a little cynical in the last year, and that means I don't necessarily feel that I'll have a big crowd. So, I don't feel inclined to plan for a big crowd. If I'm blessed with more attendees than I could imagine, well, then they'll all have to make do without seconds on the snack food.
I'm excited, but I'm also realistic that this may be one of my last opportunities to try evening programming. If people won't come, it's difficult to convince my supervisor that my time wouldn't be better served working at the reference desk.
I'm optimistic, but it's more of a cynical optimism than last year.
At least this shouldn't result in a talking to...and there shouldn't be any knives.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
They're Back
It's September.
And the teens have returned in their full glory.
This fall, my second as an official, actual, degreed librarian, I have a different plan. I'm not trying to lure them in with promises of great programs, prizes and snacks. Ah, no, instead I'm going out into the community and trying to develop partnerships. So far, I have two successful community partnerships that directly involve me and one that's more passive on my part.
There's the teen mothers' program, a continuing program that I'm totally stoked about, and a new program where I get to do a once-a-month read-aloud and craft with one of the local high school special ed classes. These are both programming at their finest and offer me the relief of a built-in audience.
The passive program is a partnership with Kaplan - they come in every other month to do a practice SAT and PSAT test followed by a results/study seminar a few days later. Those folks are great, and at my most recent program, there were thirty participants! I don't have to do anything but reserve the room. FANtastic!
Since I've got some wiggle room and some space for creativity, I don't mind the less guaranteed programs, the ones that leave me hoping and praying for attendance.
They're back....
and I'm ready.
And the teens have returned in their full glory.
This fall, my second as an official, actual, degreed librarian, I have a different plan. I'm not trying to lure them in with promises of great programs, prizes and snacks. Ah, no, instead I'm going out into the community and trying to develop partnerships. So far, I have two successful community partnerships that directly involve me and one that's more passive on my part.
There's the teen mothers' program, a continuing program that I'm totally stoked about, and a new program where I get to do a once-a-month read-aloud and craft with one of the local high school special ed classes. These are both programming at their finest and offer me the relief of a built-in audience.
The passive program is a partnership with Kaplan - they come in every other month to do a practice SAT and PSAT test followed by a results/study seminar a few days later. Those folks are great, and at my most recent program, there were thirty participants! I don't have to do anything but reserve the room. FANtastic!
Since I've got some wiggle room and some space for creativity, I don't mind the less guaranteed programs, the ones that leave me hoping and praying for attendance.
They're back....
and I'm ready.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Read This Book
I asked the reps at Random House which of their books I should read. Of course, they first said that all of them for the upcoming months were excellent. I told them that I honestly wanted to pare down my reading and pick up the wonderful books I know are out there just waiting to be read.
The reps looked at each other, nodded their heads and one said, "Before I Die." They handed me a plain white ARC, one of those books that gives you no idea what the cover will look like.
It's been two months since they handed me the book, but when I finally picked it up to read, it captured me immediately.
With writing like, "I miss him as soon as he goes. When he isn't with me, I think I made him up," Jenny Downham captures something that I have not had the pleasure of reading before.
Before I Die is the story of Tessa, a sixteen-year-old girl in England, long ago diagonosed with leukemia. She has a list of things she would like to accomplish. Like many young adult novels, the book opens with Tessa getting herself into a bit of a complicated situation. First up on her list is sex, so she has her best friend Zoey take her to a club and help her pick up a guy. She does have a one night stand with that boy, and Zoey begins something of a relationship with his friend. But that's the only part of the book that is stereotypically YA. The writing is lyrical, and, yes, Tessa dies, but the way the author handles it is fitting, not over the top. I read the Lurlene McDaniel books with great interest as a teenager. Teen girls with fatal or chronic illnesses craving attention, affection and love, craving the chance to make a difference. Those books were just what I needed at the time, but they always had a soap opera feel to them - close ups with teary, wide-eyed faces. Before I Die, on the other hand, has a Louise Rennison/Georgia Nicholson edge, giving us the humor we need to continue reading about a dying sixteen year old girl.
Tessa's best friend, Zoey, neighbor, Adam, brother, Cal, father and mother all play important roles in the story, but Tessa remains, as she should, the focus.
If you only have time for one new book in September, pick up Before I Die by Jenny Downham.
The reps looked at each other, nodded their heads and one said, "Before I Die." They handed me a plain white ARC, one of those books that gives you no idea what the cover will look like.
It's been two months since they handed me the book, but when I finally picked it up to read, it captured me immediately.
With writing like, "I miss him as soon as he goes. When he isn't with me, I think I made him up," Jenny Downham captures something that I have not had the pleasure of reading before.
Before I Die is the story of Tessa, a sixteen-year-old girl in England, long ago diagonosed with leukemia. She has a list of things she would like to accomplish. Like many young adult novels, the book opens with Tessa getting herself into a bit of a complicated situation. First up on her list is sex, so she has her best friend Zoey take her to a club and help her pick up a guy. She does have a one night stand with that boy, and Zoey begins something of a relationship with his friend. But that's the only part of the book that is stereotypically YA. The writing is lyrical, and, yes, Tessa dies, but the way the author handles it is fitting, not over the top. I read the Lurlene McDaniel books with great interest as a teenager. Teen girls with fatal or chronic illnesses craving attention, affection and love, craving the chance to make a difference. Those books were just what I needed at the time, but they always had a soap opera feel to them - close ups with teary, wide-eyed faces. Before I Die, on the other hand, has a Louise Rennison/Georgia Nicholson edge, giving us the humor we need to continue reading about a dying sixteen year old girl.
Tessa's best friend, Zoey, neighbor, Adam, brother, Cal, father and mother all play important roles in the story, but Tessa remains, as she should, the focus.
If you only have time for one new book in September, pick up Before I Die by Jenny Downham.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
SRP Wrap-Up
This post contains two main points, one that my first SRP could have been better and could have been worse. If I'd spent more time planning individual programs and less time trying to pack in as much as possible, I think I could have reached more teens. This summer, I cast a wide net and caught rather few fish. In the upcoming year, I'll be concentrating more on the programs that work (book club, Dance Dance Revolution, etc.) and only sparingly introducing new programs. My volunteers will get more of the attention they deserve, and in cooperation with the children's librarian, we'll be be offering service opportunities for teens and services to children. Homework Help! Computer Docents! Reading Buddies! Oh my!
The second of my points is that I think I've reached that point in my life where I want to stop teenagers, give them a shake and tell them a few things. I want to tell that 15 year old girl running around vastly pregnant that her life is about to CHANGE and that she needs to spend a wee bit more time figuring out how to be a mother and a bit less time running amuck and rolling her eyes at librarians. I want to congratulate that 17 year old who has turned his life around and is now concentrating on improving all skills from typing to library research just so he can graduate. I want to stop the seventh graders, force a book in their hands and tell them to get off MySpace.
Of course, I can do none of those things, save quietly encouraging the 17 year old, putting up interesting and enticing book displays for the fifteen year old and the middle schoolers and offering exciting programs that lure kids away from MySpace (a daunting task, I know).
This has been a professionally challenging summer for me. I'm grateful for my supportive supervisor and my patient family and friends who have listened to me whine (because honestly, that's what I did, whine) all summer.
Now, I'm heading into a new season. I'm excited about pursuing more outreach opportunities and dropping fruitless programs.
The second of my points is that I think I've reached that point in my life where I want to stop teenagers, give them a shake and tell them a few things. I want to tell that 15 year old girl running around vastly pregnant that her life is about to CHANGE and that she needs to spend a wee bit more time figuring out how to be a mother and a bit less time running amuck and rolling her eyes at librarians. I want to congratulate that 17 year old who has turned his life around and is now concentrating on improving all skills from typing to library research just so he can graduate. I want to stop the seventh graders, force a book in their hands and tell them to get off MySpace.
Of course, I can do none of those things, save quietly encouraging the 17 year old, putting up interesting and enticing book displays for the fifteen year old and the middle schoolers and offering exciting programs that lure kids away from MySpace (a daunting task, I know).
This has been a professionally challenging summer for me. I'm grateful for my supportive supervisor and my patient family and friends who have listened to me whine (because honestly, that's what I did, whine) all summer.
Now, I'm heading into a new season. I'm excited about pursuing more outreach opportunities and dropping fruitless programs.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
Harry Potter
It's HARRY POTTER DAY.
This is a Children's/YA/Adult book with which I have absolutely no problem.
Nothing negative to say.
Simply great smiles all the way around.
I must go now...have to frizz my hair for our branch Harry Potter Party (I'm going as Hermione, you see. Dedicated, aren't I?).
This is a Children's/YA/Adult book with which I have absolutely no problem.
Nothing negative to say.
Simply great smiles all the way around.
I must go now...have to frizz my hair for our branch Harry Potter Party (I'm going as Hermione, you see. Dedicated, aren't I?).
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Nich & Norah Save the Day
I am re-reading Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, as my teen bookclub is reading it this month. And Nick & Norah saved the day. Rachel Cohn and David Levithan put together a book that is uniquely adolescent and of truly excellent quality. Whether or not you can handle the F-bomb several times on each page, it is easy to see how this book is better than any of those Nannies Move to New York or Hollywood and Fall in Love with Their Boss's Son and have Sex on the Pool Table and May or May Not Be Vampires books that are on offer to (and being read in bulk by) teens. The book really captures that teen (and early twenties/college) sense of a night that lasts forever, of every experience, ever moment mattering just...so much. And this book could not possibly have been written for children and certainly not for adults. It's a book that captures the adolescent experience without patronizing teens or forcing formulaic nonsense down their throats.
And there's no way it could have been done any better or any different.
And reading this book for a second time has reminded me why we have YA Lit and why YA Lit matters.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
YA Librarians are Cool....Aren't We?
I may be a bit biased...
but in the recent article in the NY Times about hipster librarians, there is not one single mention of a Young Adult Librarian. They've got a couple of law librarians, one who works at a museum and another who's a librarian at Entertainment Weekly. Don't get me wrong, I know that the word "librarian" brings up all kinds of stereotypes, but I tend to think they generally apply to those who more often interact with the public. I just don't think that the stereotype of a shushing librarian came about because of a moody old woman working at an entertainment magazine.
So, in some ways, yes, I do think that those who work in public or school libraries, encounter the most negative feedback as a result of the stereotype.
And I also think that we deserve a mention in an article like this. Seriously, have you see any librarians who tend to be more "hipster" than YA Librarians? Honestly, have you? At ALA, I saw more tattooed, pierced, pink-haired, great-shoe-wearing librarians at YALSA events than I could possibly have imagined even existed.
In any case, it was interesting to read the article, and I was curious about the alcoholic beverages labeled only by Dewey Decimal Number. I wonder if I could use that for a program? That would make some people happy...
but in the recent article in the NY Times about hipster librarians, there is not one single mention of a Young Adult Librarian. They've got a couple of law librarians, one who works at a museum and another who's a librarian at Entertainment Weekly. Don't get me wrong, I know that the word "librarian" brings up all kinds of stereotypes, but I tend to think they generally apply to those who more often interact with the public. I just don't think that the stereotype of a shushing librarian came about because of a moody old woman working at an entertainment magazine.
So, in some ways, yes, I do think that those who work in public or school libraries, encounter the most negative feedback as a result of the stereotype.
And I also think that we deserve a mention in an article like this. Seriously, have you see any librarians who tend to be more "hipster" than YA Librarians? Honestly, have you? At ALA, I saw more tattooed, pierced, pink-haired, great-shoe-wearing librarians at YALSA events than I could possibly have imagined even existed.
In any case, it was interesting to read the article, and I was curious about the alcoholic beverages labeled only by Dewey Decimal Number. I wonder if I could use that for a program? That would make some people happy...
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