THE DARING LIBRARIAN

Welcome to Library Lions interviews. We Raise a Roar for libraries and for the outstanding librarians serving children and young adults in schools and public libraries across the U.S. Please Roar today’s guest, Gwyneth Jones – AKA The Daring Librarian!

We’re so happy to have the Daring Librarian here with us today. Gwyneth’s many accolades include: Library Journal.com Innovator Movers &/Shakers of 2011, Edublog Awards Nominated Best Librarian Library Blog 2011, Nominated Best Individual Tweeter 2011. Here's her cool portfolio!

Gwyneth works at the Murray Hill Middle School (MHMS) in Laurel, Maryland

The Skinny
I love that every day is different! I love that I get to work with all three grades of my middle school and every subject and that they still laugh at my corny immature jokes. I love being a generalist and learning new things while I’m teaching different lessons, projects, and units. I also love my middle schoolers! They’re a wacky bunch but then so am I - they are so much fun! I love that they come back and visit me in high school, college, when they graduate and have even been invited to a wedding or two! These kids just make me happy & feed my soul!

 Library Laughs  
Oh gosh, there have been so many funny things happen almost every day here in the last 15 years it’s killin me to pick one. Gah! But here goes: I got brought in to take pics on this gag that took place in the classroom next to the library (close enough?) one of our 7th grade teachers is an identical twin and his twin lives in the midwest. Around Christmas he came to visit & was hiding out in the library until it was time for him to “appear” in his brother’s class. Of course I had to grab my camera - go into the class & pretend to fix the computer to catch all the surprised freaked out expressions of the kids. It was such a hoot!

A Lion’s Pride of Programs:
Our kids love QR Codes & mobile media. We have 2 iPod touch gen 4’s that we use for library scavenger hunts. More about it here at The Daring Librarian.com

We also love to be a gallery space for our Art Classes! Here are the sculptures inspired by the colorful Alebrije Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures.

Want to see more? Check out the Blog Post here! See blog & photos here! 

Readers Roar
Crowdsourced Reviews: Using the power of Google Apps & forms our kids love to write book reviews! We keep at least one public access catalog computer available with our wikipage loaded for kids who want to read what other kids wrote about the books they enjoyed the most!

Andre, Grade 8 says he loves to come into the library “because it’s a cool place to be. I try and come every day I like to hang out and read and see my friends.  I can always find something to read. I like books like anime,  iSpy books and football books.  Ms. Jones and Mrs. Black always buy whatever I ask for” (Students can use the book request line on our wiki to request a book.)

Book Brag: What three books are hot this year? Why?

~Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins  - Can’t keep this series on the shelf this year - can’t figure out why!

~Skeleton Creek series by Patrick Carman. We were lucky enough to get a few signed copies of books & posters and we had a fun time with a Skeleton Creek tracker contest giving them out! Kids LOVE the interactive features of the book with the videos & downloadable apps that go along with the story!

~The Bluford High series by Anne Schraff  is very popular with my 8th grade girls (and boys!) They’re attracted to these urban dramas that explore popular teen issues in a realistic manner. And because the covers are cool!

Library Lion’s Roar: ONE LAST BIG ROAR
We had a great time co-teaching via Google hang out recently! We connected with Mrs. Mensing’s 2nd grade GT class in Arizona! Read all about it with pics here!

A Roar from us here at Library Lions to Gwyneth the Daring Librarian for her innovation! You can find so much just looking at her Daring Librarian Edublog

Let’s Link

Blog: The Daring School Library Blog

Library Website: MHMS Daring School Library Website

Thanks again for the terrific interview, Gwyneth!

Love Libraries? Give a Roar in “Comments” below.

Note to Librarians: If you’re a Youth Librarian working in a school or public library we’d love to hear about you and your library. Contact Janet at jlcarey@hotmail.com for an interview slot. 

OUR INTERVIEW WITH THE AMAZING MR. SCHU!!

Welcome to Library Lions interviews. Raising a Roar for Libraries and for the outstanding Librarians serving Children and Young Adults in Schools and Public Libraries across the U.S. Please Roar today’s guest Mr. John Schumacher!



John Schumacher (aka Mr. Schu) is a teacher-librarian at Brook Forest Elementary School in Oak Brook, Illinois. John graduated from St. Xavier University with a Masters in Teaching and Leadership and from Dominican University with a Masters in Library and Information Science. He has taught English in Seoul, South Korea, and is starting his eighth year at Brook Forest. John serves on ALSC’s Children and Technology committee, AASL’s Best Websites for Teaching and Learning, and two readers’ choice award committees. He was a judge for School Library Journal‘s 2011 Trailee Awards and recently became a FableVision Ambassador. In his spare time (ummm…what’s that?) he reads, travels, and blogs at Watch.Connect.Read.and Two Libraries, One Voice. John is a 2011 Library Journal Mover and Shaker.



The Skinny
I have the best job in the entire world. I love talking about children’s literature and helping a child find the perfect book. I could discuss children’s books twenty-four hours a day. The best part of my job is when students visit the library to tell me about what they read the night before or to share a cool website. I am very lucky.

Library Laughs
I wish I had photographs to accompany the story you’re about to read. Teni, an avid reader and aspiring writer, tells it best...

One of our 5th graders was strolling out the door. A nearby squirrel had been scurrying around the backside of the school. The squirrel must have been overwhelmed by all 19 of the kids in our class because before we knew it, the squirrel had sprinted through the door. Mrs. Grygienc yelled at the squirrel as if it would understand. “Get down, get down!”she said. Mr. Schu also chased the squirrel around the library. He had to explain to one of the third grade teachers about our squirrel incident. After a brief period of time, the startled squirrel bolted out the library doors. I bet we won’t be seeing that squirrel anytime soon. Maybe he came in to check out a Scaredy Squirrel book? -Teni, Grade 5

Take a Peek Inside My Library









Readers Roar
“My name is Syed. I am a fifth grader. My favorite thing about the library is the Best of Books display. It shows kids and teachers reading their favorite books. Each person tells about the favorite book..I use it to find new books. We get to meet many authors. I’ve met Dan Gutman, Marriane Malone, Kate Messner, Linda Urban, Harry Bliss, Jennifer Holm, Matthew Holm, and Ridley Pearson. I love to read fantasy. I really like Harry Potter, the Dragon Chronicles, and Ranger’s Apprentice.” - Syed, Grade 5

“Mr. Schu has a dramatic aura. He always greets us with a loud HELLO!-” Teni, Grade 5

“Our library has the best books. There are always new books for me to look at.” -Jasmine, Grade 3

“I love when we Skype with authors and illustrators.” Gabrielle, Grade 3

Book Brag: What three books are hot this year? Why?



Lunch Lady and the Field Trip Fiasco by Jarrett J. Krosoczka http://www.randomhouse.com/book/202853/lunch-lady-and-the-field-trip-fiasco-by-jarrett-j-krosoczka

Graphic novels rule in my school library! The Lunch Lady series was the most circulated series during 2011.

Any book featured in my Reading Road Trip video.





I Want My Hat Back-- I rarely read the same book to every class, but I Want My Hat Back screams, “READ ME ALOUD! DISCUSS ME!” Oh, the conversations we had.



Author! Author!
Thanks to Anderson’s Bookshop, the best bookshop in the world, authors visit our school throughout the year. We have hosted fifteen authors in three years. I love when an author connects with the audience, interacts with fans during the book signing, and inspires students to write. The pics below show just a few of the authors we've had visit us at Brook Forest Elementary.


DOREEN CRONIN


PETER BROWN


KATE MESSNER


KATEMESSNER and LINDAURBAN


RICHARD PECK


JENNIFER and MATTHEW HOLM

Library Lion’s Roar: ONE LAST BIG ROAR
Shannon McClintock Miller and I live 338 miles apart but connect our libraries, students, and teachers with each other on a daily basis. We use social networking tools and apps to create amazing and rich experiences for our students. You can follow our adventures at Two Libraries, One Voice. http://www.twolibrariesonevoice.com

Let’s Link
Blog(s)
Watch. Connect. Read.: www.mrschureads.com

Two Libraries, One Voice: www.twolibrariesonevoice.com

Thank you, Mr. Schu for the terrific interview!

Love Libraries? Give a Roar in “Comments” below.

Note to Librarians: If you’re a Youth Librarian working in a school or public library we’d love to hear about you and your library. Contact Janet at jlcarey@hotmail.com for an interview slot.