September 29-Octotber 6 Banned Book Week. What issues are NW libraries facing with "questionable" materials. Have any NW libraries experienced challenges to materials in recent years? How have you handled these challenges? Does your library have policies in place so you know what to do if someone should come in and complain about a particular item.
There is the issue of book selection as well. Since budgets seldom allow libraries to purchase as much material as you'd like, how do you decide what will be included in your collections? Ray Bradbury said in Farenheit 451: "You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them." How many NW libraries own any of the top 10 most banned books?
Visit ALA's website for more on Nanned Books Week www.ala.org and discuss your promotional plans here.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Library Makeovers
Another Lakeside Learning finished, and the State Library's Town Meeting for NW region is finished too. And given this was the theme of Town Meetings this year, what better blogging topic today than to find out what kind of "Makeovers" your library has been involved in lately? From use of fines on books, to cataloging systems, to programming...what's going well at your library?
Orange City and several other Sioux County libraries have implemented MotherRead programs. This program is designed to improve literacy skills for non-native speaking children as they enter school. This program is new to several libraries. How is it going?
Has anyone started to make plans for programming much like Manson Public Library encourages with their "Wild Wednesdays @ The Library?" Please chime in for a discussion on this or whatever else is on your mind!
Has anyone started to make plans for programming much like Manson Public Library encourages with their "Wild Wednesdays @ The Library?" Please chime in for a discussion on this or whatever else is on your mind!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Estherville PL 9/11 Program
This just in, thanks to Estherville Library Director Carolyn Walz. From the Estherville Daily News, this link opens to an article about Estherville PL's 9/11 commemoration plans today:
http://esthervilledailynews.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=5917
http://esthervilledailynews.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=5917
Hawarden PL 9/11 Program
This note from Valerie @ Hawarden PL regarding their 9/11 plans...
"...we're having a speaker who was one of the first people allowed in on a domestic flight. This gentleman flew in from Tulsa and worked as a counselor/chaplain with the firemen. It is quite a story! He moved to Hawarden a year or two ago--he comes to the library regularly and saw our ads for the movie--he told me about his experiences and some of the memorablia he has and I asked if he would be our program. I have had people talking and calling about coming--people who usually never come to a library program. I am anxious and excited to see how many people are in attendance tonight..."
"...we're having a speaker who was one of the first people allowed in on a domestic flight. This gentleman flew in from Tulsa and worked as a counselor/chaplain with the firemen. It is quite a story! He moved to Hawarden a year or two ago--he comes to the library regularly and saw our ads for the movie--he told me about his experiences and some of the memorablia he has and I asked if he would be our program. I have had people talking and calling about coming--people who usually never come to a library program. I am anxious and excited to see how many people are in attendance tonight..."
September 11
Today marks the 6th anniversary of September 11th. By now you’re familiar with Estherville Public Library’s commitment to commemorating 9/11. Estherville P.L. has joined countless libraries across the country in sponsoring commemorative events on this date; Estherville stays open for 24 hours with special programming throughout the day. This year, Hawarden Public Library is commemorating the day with special adult programming, showing the motion picture United 93.
Since 2004, The September Project has been uniting libraries across the country and around the world in bringing attention to peace-keeping efforts, civics education, and humanitarian causes. “…The September Project encourages libraries and communities to come together in meaningful ways throughout the month of September. This is a grassroots effort to host public events in all libraries in all countries in September. Events explore issues that matter—like peace and freedom—and can include book displays, panel discussions, civic deliberations, film screenings, theatrical performances, community book readings, murals, kids’ art projects, and so much more. September Project events are free and organized locally. How can you participate? Organize an event at your library and tell us about it! We’ll post all events on this site as they develop around the world…”
The September Project has a really interesting blog. And it’s especially impressive to read about events that have been organized in other countries. In 2006, there were over 500 September Project events hosted by libraries in 30 countries. Read more here: http://theseptemberproject.wordpress.com/ And be sure to share news of your September 11 programs here...
Since 2004, The September Project has been uniting libraries across the country and around the world in bringing attention to peace-keeping efforts, civics education, and humanitarian causes. “…The September Project encourages libraries and communities to come together in meaningful ways throughout the month of September. This is a grassroots effort to host public events in all libraries in all countries in September. Events explore issues that matter—like peace and freedom—and can include book displays, panel discussions, civic deliberations, film screenings, theatrical performances, community book readings, murals, kids’ art projects, and so much more. September Project events are free and organized locally. How can you participate? Organize an event at your library and tell us about it! We’ll post all events on this site as they develop around the world…”
The September Project has a really interesting blog. And it’s especially impressive to read about events that have been organized in other countries. In 2006, there were over 500 September Project events hosted by libraries in 30 countries. Read more here: http://theseptemberproject.wordpress.com/ And be sure to share news of your September 11 programs here...
Estherville Library on MySpace
Speaking of social networking, kudos to Estherville Public Library for creating a MySpace page—for the library! Two weeks ago, Estherville Library staff participated in a staff development day with a shortened version of “Flickr, Wikis, and Blogs.” The library’s page on MySpace is brand new; eventually they’ll tailor it to a teen focus. Check it out: www.myspace.com/esthervillepubliclibrary Now that’s continuing education in action—thanks to the Youth Services Staff & Paula Spoo for sharing this story!
Social Networking & Schools Studied
Northwest libraries have been hearing a lot about “the social web” lately, most notably from NWILS workshop “Flickr, Wikis, and Blogs—Oh My.” That workshop premiered in May and has since been repeated in some county settings around the region. Last month, the National School Board Association (NSBA) released a study entitled “Creating & Connecting: Research and Guidelines Regarding Online Social and Educational Networking.” The study was conducted by Grunwald Associates and underwritten by News Corp, Verizon, and Microsoft.
The study defined social networking as “…a cluster of technical functions that allow users to easily create, share, and respond to information…” Overall, the study provides real support for many points made by ALA regarding the importance of student access to the social web. Some valuable findings include:
60% of students report using social networking for education-related topics.
Negative experiences online are much lower than expected.
Parents are, in fact, much more involved in their kids’ use of technology than is commonly perceived.
Classroom use of technology is increasing, but school technology leaders are still skeptical of social networking applications.
The majority of school districts are using some kind of social networking software to communicate with students, parents, and the community.
Social networking does allow students to engage in creative expressions of all kinds.
The report also includes in-depth statistics and a list of recommendations for educators….find it here http://www.nsba.org/
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