Roar for Cavalcade of Authors!

Welcome to Library Lions interviews.This month we're Raising a Roar for Cavalcade of Authors! It's an honor to introduce librarian Michelle Lane, creator of Cavalcade!



Michelle has been a librarian for 6 years. Here’s her school library “called The Cat’s Den” at Enterprise Middle School in West Richland, WA.



More Michelle:
I’m 40…something and still play competitive softball. This summer I'll be busy with a supervisory/mentoring position with Antioch University for our new library program which is starting up here in the Tri-Cities.

I'm looking forward to speaking at WLMA in October regarding the Cavalcade of Authors and a new Young Adult – Washington website I am helping to develop that will be the go-to place for readers, writers, librarians, and booksellers in Washington State who love young adult fiction. I will be looking forward to a Janet Lee Carey author feature down the road here. (Janet note - Thanks Michelle!)

The Skinny – Tell us how Cavalcade of Authors began Michelle
Author Timothy Zahn inspired me. In September of 2009, I was presenting with author Maureen McQuerry at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Conference where I attended a workshop about author visits with a panel of authors speaking to what makes a successful author visit. Timothy Zahn brought up that he would much rather teach kids about writing rather than stand up and talk about himself and the rest of the authors concurred. Tim also mentioned a very successful teen book festival in Rochester that invited a large group of authors to work with teens from all over the city. I put the two ideas together and thought to myself, “I could totally do this for my students at Enterprise.” All the way home from Portland I brainstormed and planned. When I returned to school on Monday, I had a plan and started contacting authors to present at our school that April…and the rest is history!

In 2009 I started the Cavalcade of Authors at our school and 70 students from three middle schools in our district attended.



Our first year, we had seven authors on a budget of about $5,000. I wrote and received a $2500 grant from the Richland Education Foundation and received another $2,000 from Friends of the Mid-Columbia Libraries. The remainder of the money raised came from charging schools a small fee for an author visit done free by one of our authors.


(Janet Note - I had a blast presenting at Cavalcade in 2009!)


Photo 2009 author session with Alma Alexander.

The Cavalcade of Authors is dedicated to providing the secondary students of our region access to some of the best Young Adult authors of our modern era. Our special interest is to celebrate Pacific Northwest Authors while introducing students to a variety of genres and subject matter and to furthermore, promote reading and writing within our community.



We have provided for our participants an authentic writing conference experience. Students who qualify by reading a book from four of the authors, attend four 45 minute creative writing sessions each put on by a different author. A free t-shirt is awarded to students who read eight of the authors.



In 2010 we partnered with RADCON and held Cavalcade at the Pasco Red Lion for which RADCON paid. We had 225 students attend from seven secondary schools in our district and this time nine different authors presented. Each school paid $1000 for 50 of their students to attend the writing conference. Our budget in 2010 was just under $10,000. We collected around $3,000 from our city library and schools who paid for author visits.


2010 authors

This year we had 500 middle and high school students from 12 schools in our region, spill onto Columbia Basin College campus to see 11 young adult authors. Next year we will expect nearly 800 students.


2011 Author Panel

We created a partnership with our local college who hosted our event last March where 500 middle and high school students attended from 12 schools in our region on a $15,000 budget. We charged each school only $500 to send 50 students and received business / library donations and sponsorships to cover the remainder. We invited 11authors mostly from the Pacific Northwest, but this time several from around the nation.



In 2012, we expect to bring on six more schools for a total of 18 and we anticipate 800 students to be in attendance. Our authors total 12 and are mostly from around the nation, one from the UK, and a few from the Seattle area. We are now starting to cycle through our Pacific Northwest authors: Janet Lee Carey is our first to make a second appearance!

Check out our Cavalcade videos!
http://www.cavalcadeofauthors.org/2009/09video.html
http://www.cavalcadeofauthors.org/2010/10video.html

How do you do it all?
I have a team of librarians from the Richland and Kennewick school district and one Super Parent that help in the organization and planning. We work closely with Barnes and Noble Book Sellers who does all of our book sales throughout the year each year.

I have the daunting task next year of making $30,000 appear and it is making me nervous. My Super Parent is like a dog on a pork chop and together we have brought in at least $7,000 in the last week from Mission Support Alliance and RADCON, so I’m feeling a bit better these days. Every year fundraising for our project is quite the leap of faith…and nerve wracking, but each year we have met the challenge, thanks to our very supportive community!

Readers Roar. Let’s hear from the kids!
The most touching comment came this last spring from an 11th grade alternative high school student; shared in context by the organizer from the alternative high school in our district, Rivers Edge:

“[Organizing Cavalcade] is very challenging because of how fluid our student body is, as well as their poverty level; however, I’m still convinced it is well worth it. Because many of our students can’t afford a book or a T-shirt, I select Book Room copies that they’ve read to have signed during autograph time. This helps them look like everyone else and gives them a task to fill their time. I encourage them to have their program and/or T-shirt signed also. [This last year] Terry Trueman gave one of our students a signed copy of No Right Turn. On the bus going home that student said, “This is the first book I’ve ever owned and I’ll keep it all my life”. These words from an 11th grade boy brought tears to my eyes!”
– Paula Fallon, Organizer Rivers Edge

~ “It was wicked awesome! How we got to experience the life of an author.”
-Kathleen, 8th grade.

~ “What I liked about the Cavalcade of Authors is that I met students with the same interests as me and I got to know authors which kids don’t always get to do!”
-Sarah 8th grade.

~“I thought Cavalcade of Authors was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I loved how each author had something different to teach us and share their writing experiences and their careers.” - Breanna, 6th grade.

~ “I liked everything: The experience, all the nice authors, the people and how much I laughed!” – Becca Johnson, 8th grade.

~ “I liked the fact that these authors related so much about their personal lives to us.” – Alex, 11th grade

~ “I learned a lot about the intense and imaginative process of writing books.” - Matt, grade 12

Roars from the Authors!
~ “We were treated like rock stars, I tell you.” – Lorie Ann Grover, author.

~ “[What I liked most were] the kids. They were engaged and curious and asked insightful questions. – Brenda Cooper, author

~ “[What I liked most were] the attentive kids, the great staff, and the impressive organization.” – Stephen Wallenfels, author

~ “I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the quick minds, the incredible imaginations, and the sheer unbridled enthusiasm of your students”. – Alma Alexander, author

~ “I loved the way you organized [Cavalcade] having the kids read the authors' works in order to participate in the sessions. This made such a huge difference to the quality of our contact.” – Janet Lee Carey, author

Connections:
Library Website: www.cavalcadeofauthors.org we will be updating 2012 information over the summer.

Blog:Our YA-WA website will be a website with a blogging page. www.ya-wa.com – This site is currently under construction but will be launched by July 16th, 2011.

Thanks again Michelle for the Special Edition Interview!

And thanks to fellow authors who have participated in Cavalcade of Authors for the past three years!

2009 Cavalcade of Authors
Alma Alexander
Arthur T. Lee
Janet Lee Carey
Maureen McQuerry
Renee Riva
S. A. Bodeen
Timothy Zahn

2010 Cavalcade of Authors
Ben Mikaelsen
Brenda Cooper
Deborah Reber
Dia Calhoun
Lorie Ann Grover
Patrick Carman
Royce Buckingham
Suzanne Selfors

2011 Cavalcade of Authors
Mary Jane Beaufrand
Justina Chen
Melissa de la Cruz
Kimberly Derting
Alane Ferguson
David Patneaude
Mary E. Pearson
Lisa Schroeder
Terry Trueman
Stephen Wallenfels
Rick Yancey


Library Lions readers: 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.

Life-Size Monopoly. Library Fun with Jessica Miller!

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 welcome today’s guest Jessica Miller!



A librarian for five years, Jessica has spent the last three years running the teen department at New Britain Public Library, New Britain, CT.



Jessica created tween programming at her library. Prior to her arrival, children’s programming stopped at grade 4 and teen programming didn’t begin until grade 6. Programs directed specifically at tweens ( grades 4 to 8) bridges the Children’s Department to the Teen Department without losing readers!



More Roars for Jessica
We first met Jessica on her amazing book blog http://ireadtorelax.blogspot.com. She reviews middle grade and young adult materials for three different national review journals. For the past two years, she’s also participated as a judge for the Amazon Novel Breakthrough Award young adult section.

Jessica is currently one of the Young Adult section co-chairs for the Connecticut Library Association. She and her co-chair, Geri DiOrio (of the Ridgefield Public Library), plan the annual Young Adult section annual meeting for all YA Librarians in CT and plan the young adult programs available to all CT Librarians at the CLA annual conference.

The Skinny
Jessica says -- My absolute favorite part of my job is connecting readers with books. A lot of times, here in New Britain, the teens are not really enthusiastic about reading. If you can just connect a teen with one book, one, that really peaks their interest, then they will come back and ask for more. Having a teen say “Miss, you pick out the best books” brightens my day like nothing else! I love to go to the schools and book talk, because a lot of the teens in New Britain don’t have transportation to get to the library, so I have to come to them. It’s another way to reach them and to say, “Yes, reading can be totally awesome.”



A Lion’s Pride of Programs
I’ve already mentioned our Tween Time programs several times. I think that these programs are some of my favorites. We’ve done Life-Size Monopoly, Waterworks (outdoor water games!)



Summer Olympics, a Murder Mystery, a Library Scavenger Hunt, two “Camp-Out” movies complete with s’mores!



It’s a great age group…the tweens are old enough to do just about anything, are interested in just about everything, and they don’t yet have that “too cool to do that” vibe that the high school teens sometimes exhibit!

Some of my other favorite programs include our annual Spring Teen Creative Writing Contest, our monthly craft programs that have included altered books, decorated journals, “stained glass windows,” and beaded jewelry and the food related programs like cookie or cupcake decorating!



Readers Roar
~James – Our Library has a HUGE selection! It’s really great. I never have any trouble finding books I need for school projects or a movie to watch or a great new book. I’m really into science fiction and fantasy and the Library has a bunch of books like that that I can check out. Right now I’m reading my way through Ray Bradbury’s books.

~Blaze - The Library’s really good. I love the “Wii Fun” gaming programs and using the computers. I like to read WWE magazine and Game Informer. I want to be in the WWE when I grow up.

~ Jemima – I love all the new books in the Teen Section! Especially Cassandra Clare’s newest, City of Fallen Angels. I’m obsessed with that series.

Library Laughs
Just recently we did a Tween Time program called, “The Earth and Our Universe.” As part of the program, I decided to have the tweens create an alien…together. We had a whiteboard and a rainbow of dry erase markers and I asked each tween in turn to go up, pick a marker, and draw a part of their alien. At first the kids were a little shy. No one wanted to really do it, but as we added parts and started explaining why the alien had six wiggly arms, or googly stalk eyes or a barbed tail…the kids started cracking up.



At one point, Kaitlyn shouted out that the alien was holding bacon. When I told her that the alien wouldn’t have bacon because there would be no pigs in a gaseous environment, I have never seen a lip stick out further…but when I went on to explain that the alien would be able to eat something remarkably similar made from a “Rumschnautz” and drew an alien pig on the board, she danced right around the room! By the time we were done, the tweens were all snapping pictures of their alien on their cell phones so that they could look at it again later.

Book Brag: What three books are flying off the Teen/Tween shelves right now, and why?
~ The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan – Since The Lightning Thief, any book that comes out with Rick Riordan’s name on it is impossible to keep on the shelves here at NBPL. We have to order extra copies to keep up with the demand and house it in both our Children’s and Teen Departments. Both our tween and teen readers love the mythological aspects of Riordan’s books.

~ The House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast – This year’s books, Awakened (Jan 2011), Dragon’s Oath (July 2011), and Destined (Nov 2011) are in HUGE demand. Again we buy multiple copies of each and the hold lists begin months before they come out and run for months after they’ve arrived. The teens love the soap opera feel of this vampire series.

~ City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare. Our teen readers love the gritty urban feel of this fantasy. “It’s not in a fairy world. . . but it’s creepy and cool fantasy.” The dark romance, danger, and paranormal aspects of this series really appeal to our high school readers.

Author, Author!
Recently we experimented with doing an author visit via Skype. It was AWESOME. It was super easy and much cheaper than having an author come to the library. We were able to have author, Paul Volponi, do a demonstrative visit with the YA Librarians from around the state. Paul Volponi explained his writing style, other visits he’d done with teens, and then let us ask questions. It was a really great experience!

Through http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/ you can find a list of authors willing to do either free or very low cost “virtual visits” to Libraries across the US.

Library Lion’s Roar
Finally, I’d like to mention that we are located in a very urban, poor area of Connecticut. One of the things we are most proud to be able to offer at our Library is our Teen Department’s Homework Center. Generously funded by a grant from the American Savings Foundation (http://www.asfdn.org/) we are able to offer free one-on-one tutoring to students in grades 6 through 12 four days a week after school. It allows many students who would fall behind in school to get the extra help that they need at no cost to them. It is vital to a lot of New Britain’s families.

Thank you for the terrific interview, Jessica! For those of you who would like to explore more, here are Jessica’s Links:
Jessica’s blog – http://ireadtorelax.blogspot.com
The Library’s Teen Book Blog – http://nbplteenbookblog.wordpress.com/
The Library’s Teen Myspace Page – http://www.myspace.com/NewBritainLibraryTeens
The Library’s website – http://www.nbpl.info
The Library’s Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/nbpl.ct

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.

Welcome Anime & Manga Goddess

Library Lions welcomes today’s guest Kristin Fletcher-Spear who has worked as a Teen Librarian for going on 11 years



Kristin works at Foothills Branch Library in Glendale, Arizona.



We first connected with Kristin on her cool blog Book Obsession Check it out LL readers!

Kristin is also a published author of the book Library Collections for teens: manga and graphic novels. Kristin jokingly calls herself “the anime and manga goddess of Foothills library.”



The Skinny: Briefly, what do you love most about your work?
That’s too hard to narrow down! I love the creativity involved in being a teen librarian. Realizing that even though I don’t call myself crafty, I do a lot of crafty and creative activities with my teens. I love how my job is different every day. I think my biggest love is the collection development part of my job. Buying all the books and media for teens helps me on every level of my job. I love booktalking, displaying, programming around books (I host a monthly Ani-Manga club all about manga), and most importantly connecting teens with books.

Library Laughs
Two fellow teen librarians (one a teen/adult librarian, and one a teen/tween librarian) and I painted our teen space over the course of a weekend. We painted after we closed each night. It took us 17 ½ hours to do the base and all of the fabulous polka dots. The next week, I found out that a print shop could have made vinyl circles for us for under $200. Every time I see the polka dot wall I think about that.



Kristin, we here at LL just want to say your hand-painted polka dots shows your Library Love.

One day I came to work to do a program, even though I had a fever, I was using a blender to show how to make a smoothie and instead of lifting the blender pot up, I twisted it off the base and all the smoothie came out from the bottom! I remember thinking, “This is why I have sick time.”

And from the mouths of teens: On a book review (spelling mistakes not corrected): “Nicholas Sparks is the new William Shakespear.” Whenever we are having a rough day, we pull the review out just to smile.

A Lion’s Pride of Programs
I just did an interview for a teen cable show about teen volunteering and the teen who interviewed me began the introduction with “Do you remember the public library—the one you used to go to for storytime? Well, you can volunteer there as a teenager!” I groaned to myself that this teen is missing out on so many fabulous things if she hasn’t been in the library since as a young child.

We have a wide variety of programming for teens. Hands on activities like crafts, interactive/competitive programs like Yuck Night, Cooking programs like Iron Chef Challenge



We also do movie events, videogaming, and book-oriented programs.



These are just some of the types of programs we hold throughout the year. I would like to highlight our book-oriented programs since they are fit our core values as librarians:Each month I hold an ani-manga club focusing on anime and manga. Teen Book Café is a book club without any assigned book. In both programs, instead of focusing on a specific book, we talk about a genre. I provide a bookmark with title suggestions, a cartful of books, and in between teens sharing their books, I booktalk titles they may not know.

Readers Roar: Let’s hear from the Teens!
Sarah F who is getting school credit for volunteering at the library said:
"Volunteering at the library started off as an obligation and has turned itself into loads of fun. The programs are fun, the staff is great and the environment is fantastic!"

Our teen volunteer program is an amazing opportunity for teens. Last year our teens volunteered over 3100 hours. They help us in programs, at the reference desk, shelving and pulling of materials, and so much more. I love mentoring the volunteers and see them grow as teens.

I also heard a teen volunteer tell a little boy who asked her how much money she makes at the library that she “gets paid in fun”. Probably my favorite quote about volunteerism that I have ever heard!

Book Brag: What three books are hot this year? Why?
Paranormal romance is still the big ticket item at my library. City of Fallen Angels, Cassandra Clare’s newest title in the Mortal Instruments series is a powerhouse right now!

For boys, it would be Scorpia Rising, the last Alex Rider novel, or Emperor of Nihon-Ja, the last Ranger’s Apprentice novel.

But I’m most interested in Gayle Forman’s Where She Went, the sequel to If I Stay, which I found so powerful and moving.

Library Lion’s Roar: ONE LAST BIG ROAR
As a teen librarian you only get to impact these teens for a few years and then they move on. Sometimes we never see them again, other times word comes back about their successes. Every time I hear that my role in the library helped a teen discover themselves or make an impact on their lives somehow, I get all the encouragement I need to keep going and working with the newest batch of teens.

Kristin’s Connection Info:

Blog: Book Obsession http://bookobsessiongpl.blogspot.com
Library Website www.glendaleaz.com/library
Library Teen Website www.glendaleaz.com/teenlibrary
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GlendaleTeenLibrary

Thanks again for the terrific interview, Kristin!

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.

Library Fun & Leprechaun Traps

Library Lions welcomes today’s guest, Chris Davis!



Chris is a Youth Services Librarian at Sacramento Public Library, Rancho Cordova Branch


LL Roars for Chris!
For Tots
•Chris built up large Storytime groups for preschoolers, babies and their caregivers, with “Stay and Play” sharing times fostering early literacy. She also conducts regular outreach storytimes to local HeadStart preschools
For Children in Need
•Chris began a “Keep or Return” collection of donated children’s books for a local temporary housing shelter. Chris also meets with teen moms on services the library provides for them and for their new babies
For Teens
•Chris connects middle school students, teachers, and parents with the library’s services in class visits to the library, and visits to their schools
•Organizes fun craft programs for kids and teens





The Skinny
I love connecting with people, and connecting people with books. I could expand this, by listing all the different kinds of people (babies and their caregivers, teens, and adults from all kinds of backgrounds) and all the different forms the contents of books and other library "stuff" take (ebooks and databases, and manga and movies); but really, it all comes down to the great feeling I get when I've connected with someone, and helped connect them with some great library "stuff."

For example, an older teen girl asked me for books for her brother and sister one day. Her family came from Russia, and I think because she speaks English more easily than her parents, she acts as the go-between for the kids and their schools. Her sister loves reading, her brother hates it. What books could I recommend? I found a bunch of exciting series books for her brother (by Eoin Colfer and Kenneth Oppel), and The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall for her sister. She came back some time later, so pleased, and asked for more for each. I have no great quotes from them. Just a great story and a great feeling about what I do here every day.

A Lion’s Pride of Programs
We have all kinds of programs for kids and teens at Rancho Cordova Library: a kids' Chess Club; monthly Gaming Day; Reading with the Dogs when the great people from Have a Heart Foundation bring dogs and their handlers into the Community Room, and kids practice reading to a dog friend. We have music programs, author visits, writing workshops and summer reading programs.

Kids enjoy Kitchen Science slimes and bubbles.



Some of the crafts we've done include making recycled newspaper crafts in honor of Earth Day including some very cool porkpie hats out of newspaper.



We've molded chocolate skulls and roses, made popsicle stick catapults & designed leprechaun traps, (Note from Janet, Chris did you catch any leprechauns lurking in your library?)

Kids show off Mardi Gras Masks.



In two weeks, we'll be making Manga Dioramas with teens!

Preschool Storytimes and Baby and Me Storytimes are wildly popular. Parents, caregivers, kids and babies connect and share in fun storytimes that feature books, music, flannel boards, toys and crafts. I also take storytimes out into the community, at several Head Start day care centers and get great pictures and letters directed to Librarian Chris. Walking into a room of children eagerly anticipating your visit is just the best!

Library Laughs
Something happened at the first library LEGO mania program we hosted last month



We planned to have games of LEGO RockBand as well as LEGO blocks for building. I had lots of donated LEGOs, as well as the shared set from our system-wide Programming Team, to use. I had taken lots of fliers out to the schools, as well as advertised in local papers and put up posters in the branch. We had the nice new Wii game, and just to be sure it would all work, we set it up the day before the program. Uh oh! We “thought” the system the branch owned a Wii. We discovered it's actually a Play Station. We quickly called Gamestop, had them hold their last copy for us, picked it up on the way home from work, with half an hour to spare before they closed. On program day, since all our expertise (and I use that term very loosely) is with the Wii, we could not get the game set up right. We were rescued by the lovely green-haired pierced teens from Cordova High who had come for the program!



They got the game set up and going, other kids, young and old came by, and the day was saved! Interestingly, one of the high school girls refused to play, herself, saying that she just watches, because she's "no good" at RockBand, that all her friends are better. Instead, she patiently shepherded all the littler kids through the game, explaining how to choose their song and level of play, how to use the guitar and drum set, and making sure everyone got a turn. It freed me up for setting up the LEGOs, and admiring everyone's creation, and really added to the success of the day.Hooray for volunteers!

Readers Roar
"The library is a "great resource for the entire family!"

"Absolutely love your storyteller! Very gifted in her craft. The children are engaged and entertained.” - Patty L.

"My kids love storytime!” - Dim L.

"It's a great place to come for my kids. It's a wonderful learning environment."
- Julie K.

"Storytime with Miss Chris is a favorite part of the week for my boys. They've already memorized the nursery rhymes she uses on a regular basis and love to hear the new stories." - MaryAnn P.

"I get the chance to see the news, check my email, download songs, view DVD movies - Plus seeing my friends as well." -Evaristo C.

Author! Author! Describe the perfect author visit from a librarian’s point of view.
It is great when an author actually connects with the audience. Students gathered at McKinley Library to hear Janet Lee Carey talk about The Double Life of Zoe Flynn (The Children’s Book Pick for One Book Sacramento)



They were really interested to hear how she gets ideas for her books, and how she has to decide what has enough substance to sustain a whole book. When she talked about the craft of writing, she included them - they came away feeling they could be writers too. That kind of connection is what makes for a really good author visit.

Note: Hey thanks Chris. I had a great time meeting you and the students when I toured for One Book Sacramento:)

Book Brag: What three books are hot this year? Why?
• Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins - because they are fast-paced, speculative fiction about a dystopian future, with a bit of fight-to-the-death, a bit of revolution and social consciousness, and a bit of love triangle thrown it. They are easy reads, fun, and give teens a lot of things to talk about.

•Matched by Ally Condie - in a different kind of future, a dystopia which echoes The Giver or Brave New World, Cassia is a good girl, following the rules of society, until the day she sees an unexpected face on the screen showing her the person who is her Match for life. Now she must choose whether to stay with the perfect match the system has chosen for her, or follow her heart. This is less violent than the Hunger Games, is the first in a series, which seems to be a draw for readers, and also gives teens plenty to talk about.

•The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The mysterious howling by Maryrose Wood - in this first book of a series for younger readers that is sure to be popular, fifteen year old Miss Penelope Lumley is hired as governess to three children who have been raised by wolves, and have been found in the woods by the strange hunting enthusiast, Lord Frederick. It is smart and funny, full of mysteries that are begging to be solved. And it has a heroine who is genuinely likable and kind.


Library Lion’s Roar: ONE LAST BIG ROAR
I've talked about lots of programs and resources we have inside the library, but Sacramento Public Library also has all kinds of online resources that kids can access from home, including Homework Help, great databases and downloadable music from Freegal. Our newest thing is pre-loaded Nook e-readers from Barnes and Noble which check out for 3 weeks, just like print books. Each Nook is loaded with about 20 popular books. There are Nooks for teens, for kids, and separate Nooks pre-loaded with bestsellers, mysteries, and romances, to name a few. All of us at SPL are really excited about this new way to get books into people's hands and keep them reading!

Connection Info
Blog: http://altlibrary.com
alt+library: an interesting blog for Sacramento readers in their 20s and 30s with really interesting comments from SPL programming librarians, Lori and Jess

Library Website: http://www.saclibrary.org

Thank you, Chris 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.

Happy National Library Week!

Happy National Library Week Everyone.
Please Roar today’s guest Teen Librarian Josie Watanabe!



Josie’s been a Youth Services Librarian for six years. She works at Seattle Public Library | University Branch



The Skinny
I really enjoy working with teens because of their passion and personality. In the University District (U District) we are surrounded by private, public and alternative schools and so we get a great mix of teens using the branch. The U District also has a lot of amazing services for street youth. My absolute favorite thing is working with street youth and the organizations that serve them.

Readers Roar. Let’s hear from the teens!
“I like libraries because I can read stuff for free. I like being surrounded by knowledge”.
~Oliver H. | Library Blogger



“I like libraries because they allow the expansion of reading opportunities. Whenever I go to the library I am surrounded by a new variety of books about anything and everything I could ever imagine.”
~Andrea N. | Teen Volunteer



“I like the peaceful atmosphere of the library.”
~Jin H. | Teen Volunteer



Library Laughs
A few years ago I had a teen volunteer go on a wild stickering streak with our uncataloged books. Uncataloged books are books that people take from the library on the honor system. Typically, teen volunteers put a large rectangular sticker on the bottom left hand corner of each book. One week (at the beginning of spring) we had a ton of donated romance books that needed to be stickered. The volunteer went on a wild stickering fling and covered each and all of the romantic faces with a large rectangular pink sticker. For a few weeks our romance readers had to use their imaginations when picturing the characters!



A Lion’s Pride of Programs
As far as programming, the Seattle Public Library has suffered from tremendous budget cuts since 2009. Sadly enough, it has been the Teen Service Librarian positions that were dramatically affected. Our library board has recently adopted a new Strategic Plan that really focuses on youth programming, teen involvement and innovation and technology. I am hopeful that we will be able to bring back some of our popular programs and create many new and exciting programs in the near future.

Our digital media collection hasn’t suffered as badly and is becoming a great service. We have just started offering a free music from Freegal. The music comes from the Sony music library and the music does not expire or implode! Freegal is really easy to use and has been very popular with all ages!

Although our budget has been tight, I still am able to get out of the building to do outreach (thank goodness!); one of my favorite places to visit is the Sanctuary Arts Center. The Sanctuary Arts Center is a place for street youth to hang out and create art. Their mission is to provide a safe, warm and calm environment for homeless and street involved youth to experience creativity and success through the use of various artistic media. They completely succeed!!! Here are some examples of youth created art.







If you are ever in Downtown Seattle for First Thursday,drop by their art gallery in Pioneer Square. You can pick up some amazing art and have a silk screened t-shirt made to order! For more details go to: www.sanctuaryartcenter.org or contact Caroline Falt, Program Director/Volunteer Coordinator: volunteer@sanctuaryartcenter.org

Book Brag: What three books are hot this year? Why?
Clockwork Angel, The Infernal Devices Book 1 by Cassandra Clare. This book takes off from the first page and never stops.

Alice I Have Been: A novel by Melanie Benjamin. This work of fiction is written from the perspective of the real Alice from which Lewis Carroll based his character on for the book Alice in Wonderland. I think this book is destined to be a cult classic!
~ Josie W. Teen Services Librarian

Teen recommend, “Psyren is being serialized in Shonen Jump and the first volume will be released next month. I predict Psyren will be a hit this year.”
~Oliver H. Teen Blogger

Author! Author!
I love authors who are engaging and enthusiastic. Hearing about the writing process isn’t always fun for teens, but hearing about the author’s life and how she integrated those experiences into a book is very inspiring! We also love swag!!!

Connections
Blog: Push to Talk

Library Website: www.spl.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SeattlePublicLibrary

Thank you, Josie 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 to set up an interview.

Roar for Seattle High Point Branch Youth Programs!

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 Ken Gollersrud from the High Point Branch of The Seattle Public Library!





Ken has been a youth librarian for 11 years. At The Seattle Public Library, he helped popularize Latino cultural programs such as Day of the Dead including sugar skull decorating, partnering with a Latino club at a middle school that created altars for the library event.



More sugar skulls


Ken hosted a youth photo exhibit along with an artist’s reception at the South Park Branch. Working with the South Park Community Center he's organized Friday Late Night Programming for teens including: Gaming, Urban Legends, Zinery, Comic Book Illustration, Hands On Henna Artwork and African American History Night.

Hands on Henna






The Skinny:
Ken says -- I love connecting library patrons, especially teens, with programs. To see them interact with a comics illustrator, artist or author is a real thrill. An even bigger thrill is to see them teach each other, whether it is a gaming program, or an art workshop. You never know what seeds are being planted. It is such a great opportunity to visit a school and talk about some of the cool books that are out there for teens and all the programs and things that teens can do at the library.

Library hallway


Library Laughs:
My first experience book talking at a school was a big learning experience for me. I was at a high school with another librarian. I walked up to the audience and the book I was talking about flew out of my hand as I tripped. How I was embarrassed! The first few times I had the plot lines typed out on the back of the books. I have progressed to the point where now I can talk about books and engage the audience without reading notes. It is almost like storytelling for teens! I love to book talk “Acceleration” by Graham McNamee. It is a lot of fun to get students all excited about the book and then leave them in suspense. Through my job I get all kinds of opportunities to do public speaking which I have learned to relax and have fun with.

A Lion’s Pride of Programs:
I host gaming at my branch about once a month. It is a great way for young people from all backgrounds to interact with each other. They teach each other about gaming and have fun. The secret thing the adults don’t know is that the teens are so great about sharing and working with each other and helping set up the equipment and packing it up.

Readers Roar:
When I am visiting a school it is so cool to hear kids express amazement at a book they would never think the library would own like a book, on lowriders or their favorite singer. I remember listening to a teenager was told to attend our zinery program. He walked in the door and said, “This is so dumb.” A half- hour later he was telling his friend how much fun he was having making a sport zine.

Author! Author!
Author visits are a lot of fun.
Sandra Cisneros was celebrating her 25th anniversary of the classic “House on Mango Street.” I suggested that The Seattle Public Library invite her. Invited school classes received their own personal copies of the book, weeks before the visit. At the event Sandra talked about writing and reading to over 100 middle and high school students at the Central Library. She took questions and then posed for pictures with each class. Sandra autographed the books for each student.



I suggested that The Seattle Public Library invite Luis Rodriguez, author of “Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.” Luis came to our South Park Community Center and spoke to a crowd of about 200-300 about life, writing, reading. He offered advice to parents about their teens, to adults and to teens. He stayed and autographed everyone’s book and talked with anyone who wanted to talk with him.



Book Brag:What three books are hot this year?
I won’t name the obvious book title with ‘Hunger’ in the title , but I really liked “Marcelo in the Real World” by Francisco X. Stork. I thought it handled a teen dilemma situation well. High Point Branch youth are always fascinated by the 2011 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. I am always putting a copy of this on hold for someone. “The Drama High Series” by L Divine is the always asked for series at the High Point Branch!

Library Lion’s Roar: ONE LAST BIG ROAR
I have been involved with REFORMA,The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking for several years. I helped to form the Northwest Chapter. We present programs at the Oregon and Washington annual state library association conferences that educate library staff about how they can present programs that would appeal to Latinos/Spanish Speakers.

We have a Google Group where we ask advice from each other on how to better serve our Spanish Speaking patrons. Come join us! In May we are going to have a meeting and training day for our members and new members.

E-mail me for more information! http://nwreforma.blogspot.com/2010/04/portland-metro-meetings-this-week-about.html

The REFORMA, RNC IV, National Convention is coming up in Denver in September 2011:
!Nos Vemos en Denver!

Thank you Ken 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.