SAVE MERCER ISLAND LIBRARY

Welcome to Library Lions.We interviewed Madeleine Smallwood, a sophomore at Mercer Island High School, for this Special Edition.

Welcome Madeleine. What’s happening at Mercer Island Library?

The King County Library System is planning to make changes to the [Mercer Island] library, changes that upset many patrons.

What changes are planned for the teen area?

They want to move the small meeting room away from the teen area. Teens use the small meeting room all the time for group projects and meetings, so it makes more sense to leave the small meeting room where it is for easy access for the teens.

Current location of small meeting room (on right), adjacent to teen area (on left).

In addition, the bookshelves are arranged parallel to the windows, allowing teens some privacy. The new setup would take away that privacy because the bookshelves would be placed at right angles to the windows, taking away the cozy feeling that the teens love.

View of current Teen Area from librarian’s desk

They are taking away the comfy couch that allows a place for teens to relax while reading or doing homework.

Also, they are replacing the tables in the teen area that are beside the windows, where groups working together have natural light, with a long shelf for computers. But this means that teens using computers would look at screens facing the windows, which makes it harder to see the screens against the light.

Work tables by windows with natural light in Teen Area.

So what are the plans for closing the library for all of this work?

At this point, KCLS estimates an 8 month closure. However, this seriously affects students, high school students in particular, who use the library every day. The library is within walking distance from Mercer Island High School, giving students a safe place to go and study after school or sports. Also the school library is only open for an hour after school and rarely provides the needed materials for schoolwork, since it is a small school library.

Mercer Island High School

Where can I get more information?

Take a look at our 5 minute video, SAVE MERCER ISLAND LIBRARY: A THREATENED SMALL TOWN LIBRARY

  

Visit our website: www.LibraryRemodel.com

Email us at libraryremodel@gmail.com 

Mercer Island High School sophomore Madeleine Smallwood addresses the King County Library System Board of Trustees

Thank you, Madeleine for your commitment to Mercer Island Library. We'll be mailing you a signed copy of Janet Lee Carey's newest teen fantasy IN THE TIME OF DRAGON MOON, due out March 24th, to show our gratitude. 

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. The 2015 calendar currently has openings. Come share your library and library programs with us.

Note to Authors: If you’re interested in Roaring for Libraries on this blog, contact Janet at jlcarey@hotmail.com for an interview slot. 

 

MAUREEN MCQUERRY LIBRARY LOVE

Welcome to Library Lions interviews. Author Maureen McQuerry has stopped by to share her newest book and her Library Love. Take it away Maureen!
 

I write YA and MG novels that have a mythical bent. If someone were to ask me what my books have in common, I might say this: they end up wandering into the mythic woods. Even though the times and settings and premises are very different, there’s always a touch of magical realism For many years I taught high and middle school and worked closely with librarians who spend their days championing reading. And I’ve discovered that there’s a library in each of my books! I didn’t plan that out and it took a reader to point it out to me!

The Peculiars features Mr. Beasley’s amazing library in Zephyr house based on the real library of J.S. Walker

In Beyond the Door, one of the main characters Julian, is a mild mannered librarian by day but something quite different in another guise (no spoilers here!) My current WIP progress features the awesome Seattle library as the future headquarters for the Intelligence community. Libraries must run very deep in my subconscious.

Book Launch Event for Beyond the Door with Morris Dancers


Library Love When You Were a Cub
Libraries were places of refuge for me. I loved the smell when I walked in the door. I loved the quiet. I loved the fact that I could leave with an armload of books and live in different places through different characters until my books were overdue. And they always were. But there was one special librarian who always greeted me with a smile and waived the fee. He loved to talk to me about what I was reading.

More Library Love
The librarians I know and visit with today work hard to spread the love of reading to all students. One of my favorite author events is Cavalcade of Authors. Librarian Michelle Lane organizes an event that allows 1,000 students to spend the day with 16 authors and attend outstanding workshops.

Signing books at Cavalcade of Authors

A Lion’s Pride of Programs
I visit schools where libraries are the heart of the school, place students go to connect with books and with each other, to talk about ideas, and explore subjects that interest them. Reduced funding for libraries means limiting students’ chances to imagine, explore, learn and connect.

Recently I asked several groups of middle school students how they choose the next book they want to read. The most common answer? My librarian.

School librarians know the latest titles but more importantly, they know their students and can make recommendations on based on a student’s interest. Often school librarians are the ones who alert teachers about my books and invite me to come and share.

Students are my favorite audience. They ask the best questions. One of my favorite activities with students is taking an idea and then extending it by asking what if just like authors do. I offer workshops on creating conflict and tension, and story structure and character arcs.

Hooray for ALA!
ALA 2013 in Anaheim was a chance to meet hundreds of librarians face to face, sign books and thanks them for what they do for authors, teachers and students.

Let’s Link

Website: www.maureenmcquerry.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maureen.mcquerry   Twitter:@maureenmcquerry

Thank you, Maureen, for your 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.

 

BRAVO FOR TEACHER-LIBRARIANS!

Welcome to Library Lions interviews Raising a Roar for libraries and the outstanding librarians serving youth in schools and public libraries across the U.S. Please Roar today’s guest, Stuart Levy.

 

(Stuart pictured here on left with author Chris Crutcher.)  

I am the teacher-librarian at Inza R. Wood Middle School in Wilsonville, Oregon.

 

I have been a teacher at Wood for the last 21 years, and this is my 10^th year as the librarian. According to my computer, as of the time of this writing, we have had close to 150,000 checkouts during that time. Wow!

The Skinny
 I love that I get to work with all of the students in the school, plus all of the staff. It’s a great feeling to connect someone with just the exact resource that they need – especially when they didn’t even realize that what they needed existed! Libraries can be amazing places. I also love reading young adult literature. There are some incredible authors out there, and the books nowadays are so much better than the ones that were written back when I was in middle school. I love the fact that buying books is part of my job.

 

A Mighty Roar!
Libraries are the great levelers in our democratic society. In a library, everyone is truly equal in a library. Regardless of how many books people have at home, everyone has access to all of the books within the library catalog. For free! It’s truly an amazing concept that I think people take for granted. And, not only do they have access to the “stuff” for free, but they have access to people who can help them get the “stuff”, explain the “stuff”, and train them how to use the “stuff”, all for free. Libraries are not just repositories of information; they are the keys that unlock the doors for all of our citizens.

 

(Students playing Rock-em Sock-em robots as a part of the lunchtime activity conducted by Wilsonville Public Library to promote their evening teen event.)

Library Laughs

I always find it amusing when students ask if they can “rent” a book. I ask them how much they are willing to pay, and this puzzled look appears on their face. I tell them that they can rent from Redbox, but our materials they get to borrow for free.

 

(Students checking out the new books.) 

A Lion’s Pride of Programs
There are tons of great non-fiction for students to just read. It’s amazing to me that students completely overlook some really interesting non-fiction books that I buy – except, of course, for the sports, biographies, and Ripley’s books. When I purposefully give some of those books to students, they eat them up. But, when they are on their own, they typically don’t pull books from those sections.

 

I want to plug the importance of having teacher-librarians in schools. Our numbers have dwindled over the years. There are about half the number of teacher-librarians in Oregon from about 20 years ago, and the number of schools, and students, have increased. Some people, outside of the system, think that all you need is someone to check in and check out books. But, anyone who has actually been in a school with teacher-librarians knows that we do a heck of a lot more. We actually are teachers, and we understand students. We understand instruction, curriculum, and assessment. We work with all of the people involved in the community to create a place where everyone feels safe and supported, and we provide the resources that allow everyone – everyone – to succeed in what they need to do. School libraries are magical places, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Readers Roar
“Libraries are the awesomest place on earth. Even though you are supposed to be quiet, you can have lots of fun.” Abigail, 8^th grade.

“They are a place full of wonder and thought.” Willow, 8^th grade

“It’s a place where you can escape reality.” Emily, 8^th grade

 

(Students entering our weekly Librarypalooza  that gives them a riddle or puzzle to solve.) 

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

Divergent series by Veronica Roth: very hot! I think it’s because it’s an Oregon Reader’s Choice Award, plus the movie is coming out (and, it’s a very engaging book).

Wonder by Palacio is also very popular, probably because it’s well written and a very compelling story.

Maze Runner by Dashner continues to be very popular in our school. The author visited about 3 years ago, and, ever since, it’s stayed as one of our top checkouts.

Author! Author!
The best author visits I have had are the ones when the author truly connects with the students. Sometimes that is done by simply talking about when they were young, or even from reading from one of their books. But, it’s the simple act of talking “with” the students instead of “to” the students. I have also have had some authors who are willing to not only speak to the large student body but also to do writing sessions with smaller groups of interested students. That has been very powerful for that group.

Thank you, Stuart for your terrific interview!

Let’s Link

Mr. Levy’s Blog   

Library Website  

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. 

 

SHARE THE LOVE BOOK GIVEAWAY @ ONLINE AUTHOR VISITS

Today we're Roaring for the terrific Share the Love Book Giveaway @ Online Author Visits

This delightful contest gives you the chance to win books not only for yourself, but also for your library! Our lucky winner will get to choose 3 books from among works by our incredible pool of authors, which includes Dia Calhoun, Deb Lund, Martha Brockenbrough, Janet Lee Carey, Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams, Lisa L. Owens, Claire Rudolph Murphy, and Trudi Trueit. In addition, a collection of books will go to a U.S. library selected by the winner.

 
Roar for OAV (Online Author Visits)
Inviting one of our Online Authors to your classroom, library, or book event is a great way to motivate students to read and write. Virtual visits allow students to learn more about the craft of writing, discover what really goes on behind the scenes in book publishing, and peer into an author’s world firsthand. Plus, with virtual visit fees a fraction of the cost of a live presentation, it’s an affordable option that helps support a worthwhile cause (OAV authors donate 25% of their virtual visit fees to charity).  

Joan Holub
“. . . Connecting with kids is my favorite part of any visit, be it virtual or on-site. . . .

Trudi Trueit
“The incredible thing about virtual visits is that no matter how far apart you are from your audience, once the creative juices get flowing the miles between you melt away. . .

Deb Lund
“I’ve Skyped with classes, library groups, and whole schools, but my favorite online visit happened on a blustery evening in Ohio . . .


Want to hear More??  
Read the rest of these virtual visit stories and more from all the OAV authors.  

The Share the Love Book Giveaway contest runs from February 14, 2013, through midnight (PST) Sunday, February 24, 2013.

Swing by and enter to win free signed copies for yourself and more for the library of your choice -- a way for us all to share the love.

 
Happy Valentines