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.

Library Lions Read Across America

Library Lions Roars for Read Across America!

Special Spotlight on Mary Harris of Parkplace Books in Kirkland WA.


Mary Harris introducing me at my book launch party for The Dragons of Noor. Photo by Heidi Pettit.

Parkplace Books


Mary celebrated National Education Association's Read Across America again this year by putting together a fabulous RAA program in the Lake Washington School District.

~She contacted 21 School Librarians in the Lake Washington School District

~Gathered 15 excited authors

~And organized free author visits for each school

Mary and PPB co-owner, Rebecca Willow, also raced about delivering authors’ books to each school so the students could have thier books signed on the exciting day of the author's visit.

The RAA events spreading over two weeks celebrated our local authors, the school libraries, our independent bookstore PPB, and, of course, the importance of reading.

I was happy to participate and present my Words on the Wing assemblies at three schools meeting busy librarians and eager students and signing books for happy readers.



Mary's thoughts on the RAA events:
It has been so rewarding planning this event, the authors are terrific in their willingness to donate their time and the librarians are fabulous in their willingness to organize the visits. As a bookstore we are always looking for innovative ways to get books into the hands of kids. We do it to remind our public of how lucky we are as a community to have so many authors and illustrators in our area. Thank you, Janet, for all do for us here at PPB!

The feeling is mutual, Mary. We can’t thank you enough! We’re lucky to have PPB in our community.Let’s put our paws together for Mary Harris, Rebecca Willow, and the amazing Parkplace books!

First Lady, Michelle Obama led the RAA kickoff at the Library of Congress.



LL readers. How did you celebrate Read Across America?

Special Valentines Edition. Welcome Kay Cassidy!

Library Lions Special Valentines Edition. It’s all about Library Love.



We asked award-winning author Kay Cassidy to swing by and share her story of Library Love and her outstanding library program The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™

Let’s give a LL Roar of Welcome to Kay Cassidy!



2008 Golden Heart® winner Kay Cassidy is the author of teen fiction she wishes was based on her real life. Her debut novel, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY, takes readers behind the veil of a secret society of good populars dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. Kay is also the founder of the national Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™ reading program for kids and teens.



In her life B.W. (Before Writing), Kay was a leadership specialist and corporate educator. These days, if she's not writing, Kay can often be found doing free Skype visits with book clubs who have read THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY or speaking at writing and library conferences around the country.

The Skinny:
What motivated you to invent The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™?
As a YA author and proud owner of a well-worn library card, I want to give back to all the librarians whose book recommendations have fed my imagination over the years and helped me grow as a writer. I know it’s hard being a librarian in a rough economy. You’re strapped for time and cash, but still want to create fun programs to keep your kids and teens reading week after week. Not because they have to, but because they want to.

The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™ is here to help you do just that. With trivia challenges and monthly prizes for readers and librarians alike!

How it Works:
Getting involved in The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™ is as easy as 1-2-3-4!
#1) Register your library to participate via the simple online registration form at http://www.kaycassidy.com/hunt/library-reg/. The program is open to all public and school librarians.

#2) Print off the ready-made promotional flyer from the Librarian Resources section of the site and display it in your library. Check out some of the fun displays created by participating Hunt librarians!


Librarian Patty McClune of Conestoga Valley High School in Lancaster, PA


Librarian Jennifer Rummel's display. Library Norwich CT. Hey! Jennifer was just interviewed here on LL earlier this month! Small world:)

#3) Readers can view and print their trivia challenge from the online list after finishing a book. They'll complete the trivia challenge and turn it into you. A quick check against the answer keys with at least 8 out of 10 correct means you get to enter them in the monthly contest!

#4) Fill out the contest entry form and cross your fingers! Then check out the monthly e-newsletter to see if your name and your reader's name are announced as the latest winners.

** The winning reader receives: a $50 gift card to the bookstore of his or her choice!

** The winning librarian (that could be you!) gets to choose five (5) new titles from the featured Hunt titles list to add to your library's collection!

See more winners on the Winner's Page.


Kay in the center)congratulating November 2009 winning reader Hannah S. and winning librarian Kim Murdock from Lapel, IN

For more information on how the program works, visit Kay Cassidy Hunt How it Works or check out Kay Cassidy Hunt Faqsfor more details.

Roars for The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™
“In these tough economic times when we are all trying to cut back, it is great to know that there is someone out there that encourages teens to use their public libraries! You can tell that Kay Cassidy is a true book lover and encourages children to read in a variety of venues.”
~ Debbie Henricks
Evergreen Community Library
Metamora, OH

“The students just print off the trivia challenges to answer and return to me. Using the ‘answer key’ link I am able to give them immediate feedback as to whether their hunt was successful or not. Great program!”
~ Bonnie Mickler
Dubois Middle School
Dubois, IN

“These books are flying off the display I created…”
~ Sarah DiLorenzo
McAlester Public Library
McAlester, OK

“I LOVE it! It is a great way to introduce books to Teens and it is free. Who doesn’t love trivia?????”
~ Jennifer Nash
Wallingford Public Library
Wallingford, CT

Spreading the Word:
One of the most interesting things about The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest's success is how quickly it's grown by word of mouth! After mentions in School Library Journal Teen and Publisher's Weekly Children's Bookshelf, nearly a hundred new library registrations rolled in. But the remaining 500+ libraries heard about us from other librarians. Hunt librarians are featuring the Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™ in their workshops at library conferences from coast to coast and are talking it up with fellow librarians in their area as a fun, FREE way to draw kids back to the library to read for pleasure. I think that's the highest form of flattery!

Staying Connected with Kay Cassidy:
Author web site: http://www.kaycassidy.com/
Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™ web site: http://www.kaycassidy.com/hunt/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KayCassidy
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kaycassidy
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/kaycassidy
Blog: http://teenfictioncafe.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much Kay for visiting us here at LL and for spreading Library Love!
Happy Valentines!


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.

Welcome Jennifer Rummel

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 Jennifer Rummel.


Jennifer pictured here at Edith Wharton’s Library

Jennifer is the teen librarian at Otis Library in Norwich, CT



Jennifer’s believes librarians should keep up with their reading. She read 350 books in 2010! Her terrific blog YABookNerd has book reviews, library news, pop culture events, author interviews, and contests.



Jennifer contributes to the eastern CT Librarians Blog. She reviews books for VOYA, TeensReadToo, and makes and posts booktrailers on youtube.

The Skinny:
I love how YA books have become so popular. I like seeing adults and teens come into the department and exit with an armload of books. I love chatting with teens about books and giving them some to read. It’s especially great if they don’t really like reading, but need a book for school and then they come back for more just like that one!

I believe that teens are in a make or break it phase of their reading lives. I think everyone has the perfect book just waiting for them and all it takes that one book to hook a person and make them a reader. I love helping teens try to find that one book that will rock their world.



Library Laughs
Last year, I was showing Iron Man 2 just as it released to video. I had about 15 teens in the room. We started the movie – only to discover that the movie I rented through the Red Box was the first Iron Man. When I came into work, the Head of Cataloging mentioned that the copy from the library came in that morning before I arrived at work. I quickly ran downstairs, but the movie was locked in a cabinet. I didn’t have the key.

I called her at home and we quickly came to the consensus that I should break into the cabinet and we’d fix the lock later. So I used my amateur skills, feeling like I was in a movie myself, I picked the lock. The teens enjoyed watching the intended film.

A Lion’s Pride of Programs
Food Fun
My teens love programs with food. We’ve done make your own chocolates, I-pod brownies, smoothies, popsicles, and candy sushi. I just saw this program about how to make healthy delicious homemade potato chips that I want to try. We don’t have access to a stove, so I have to get creative and grab a lot of ideas from other librarians, books, and blogs. I love how the librarian community is so friendly with sharing their awesome ideas – not every job is like that.

Girls’ Night In: DIY Spa Night
We really had a great time at this event and the girls walked away with bath salts, lip gloss, and a bath potpourri mixture they had all made themselves. Plus, we all tried out an oatmeal mask that made our faces smooth. There was lots of laughter and lots of fun. See the news bite.

Famous Women’s Tea
The first annual event for the library happened because of a program at my Alma matter William Smith (the other half of Hobart and William Smith Colleges). I adapted the program to fit out library. The first year, we focused on famous American women.


We had members of the community volunteer to portray a woman of their choosing who was significant in her times and who helped change the world. All the women, including several students from the local high school, dressed in costume. The response was so positive that we will be hosting it again this year, focusing on Civil War women to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War: Here’s the news bite.

Readers Roar:Let’s hear from the kids!

“This library shows the best movies,” Tiara

“You give me the BEST books” Alexis

“That was really fun! Can I make another one?” John at the I-pod Brownie program

“You’re the cool librarian,” Claudine

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

Only three books? Wow this is hard. I’m going to have to choose:

Last Sacrifice - It’s the end of Rose’s story. I just finished it and it’s an amazing end to the series. Plus Rose is so feisty and a girl who kicks serious butt.

Eona – So many people waiting for the follow-up to Eon Dragoneye Reborn, a perfect read. It’s FINALLY coming out in April. Another strong female read.

Across the Universe - I’ve been hearing great things about this book. Here’s the tagline: A Story of Love, Murder, and Madness Aboard an Enormous Spaceship Bound for the Future. It sounds so unique and gripping.

Author! Author! Describe the perfect author visit from a librarian’s point of view.
I love having authors come to the library. I wish more of my teens took advantage of this opportunity, but those who come to my author programs have a great time. I have been fortunate to have some really great authors: Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Marley Gibson, Michelle Zink and Jessica Verday all came last year.


Jessica and Michelle READ poster

I love having the room all decorated. We have a food table full of goodies


I introduce the author, who gives a talk and usually a reading. The author stays to sign books or bookmarks and meets the readers. Then I usually have a chance to gush about how much I love their work and take some photos. I usually take a photo to make a READ poster for the teen area.(Not all the READ posters are from author visits, some might be from authors I’ve seen in bookstores. Other authors I’ve contacted through email or facebook asking for their photos and they’ve graciously sent them to me.)

READ posters vlog:
Note from Janet: Hey I'm in there with Dragon's Keep on the readergirlz READ poster. Thanks, Jennifer :)

Library Lion’s One Last Roar
I’m an aspiring author – and have participated in NaNoWriMo three years in a row (the past two years I’ve held write-ins at the library for other local writers). I’m working on four drafts at various stages. They’re all teen novels. The first novel is in free verse about a girl named Emily who has spent her entire life waiting for something to happen. Now that she's off to college, she expects her life to completely change. Only nothing does. Luckily, her new roommate is spunky and outgoing, the kind of person who makes things happen and Emily and Lauren become fast friends. The girls struggle to balance class, work, romance and their own friendship during that tumultuous first year of independence. Emily must stop waiting and find happiness on her own terms.

The second, set in a different world, features Princess Raphaela whose father has just died, leaving her in charge of a kingdom. However, there’s a law decreeing no woman can sit upon the throne. In order to prove her worth to the council and thus the kingdom, she must locate and retrieve a long lost magical amidst dragons, backstabbers, and worrying about her fate.

The third book takes place in a small town in Vermont where the main character’s family owns a Christmas tree farm. Kate works on the farm while juggling school, figuring out her plans after high school, and dealing with her boyfriend who runs hot and cold.

The fourth book takes place during summer. A group of teens have been united at one particular camp to focus on video games. Each teen excels at video games and has been recruited to test out one particular game. Luke recognized the strange rules, although it takes him a while to understand the camp isn’t really what it seems. Luke might have uncovered the secret, but certain knowledge can get you killed.


Thanks again for the terrific interview, Jennifer!

Jennifer’s Connections
Blog: http://yabooknerd.blogspot.com/
Librarian blog: http://ecya.wordpress.com/
Reviews: http://www.teensreadtoo.com/JenniferRummel
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/yabooknerd
Twitter: (as YABookNerd) http://twitter.com/#!/yabooknerd
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/yabooknerd?feature=mhum


Library Lions readers swing by and show your Library Love in “comments”

Librarians who would like to showcase their library programs contact Janet for an interview at jlcarey@hotmail.com

Library Lions Welcomes Jessica Gomes

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, Jessica Gomes



Jessica works at Issaquah Library, Issaquah, WA



She approaches her job with vitality, offering a range of dynamic programming from the Manga Club where teens publish their own fan art zine and host an annual Art Walk showcasing their talent, to a Teen Music Show featuring local high school bands, and a Digital Discovery Zone (affectionately known as the DDZ). More about DDZ below. Jessica says, “It’s great fun and currently the only place for teens to use Mac computers through the King County Library System.”

The Skinny
Jessica says - Libraries provide open access to information and entertainment to people regardless of age, gender, educational background, economic status, etc. In our consumer-based society, there are few places outside of libraries where anyone can go to learn, grow and connect for free. I love that my personal values of sharing resources (borrowing instead of buying and making information publicly available), promoting life-long learning, and preserving public spaces- mesh with the values of my profession.


Master Mahan performing Issaquah Library’s Librarypalooza, June 2008

A Lion’s Pride of Programs:
The Digital Discovery Zone is a big red van with MacBook laptops, a green screen, a stop animation station, and more; basically it’s a place where teens can go to create and share digital photos, videos, animation, music and more.



In October and December 2010, Issaquah Library teens stopped by the Digital Discovery Zone to create their own comic strips, mix music, capture, edit and share photos, draw digital manga fan art, and make photo slide show DVDs.



In 2011, the Digital Discovery Zone will be visiting various branches of the King County Library System and making stops at community centers, schools, festivals and more around the county. Look for it in your town.


Chibi

Library Laughs:
Funny things happen at the library all the time. One of my favorite things though is the impromptu wasabi eating contest that took place at Manga Club’s Art Walk this past summer. Chris and Alex, two high school boys, began bragging about how much wasabi they could eat. Each one claimed that he could “eat the other one under the table.” Soon, they were facing one another at a table- equipped with a set of chopsticks, a cup of water, and a generous dollop of wasabi.

They sized one another up over the green mounds before beginning to tentatively eat their way through the green heat. It was intense. Suddenly, Chris shoveled his remaining wasabi (a mouthful) into his mouth, all while maintaining a neutral facial expression. This seemed like a victory until Alex shoveled his remaining wasabi into his mouth, also with a neutral facial expression. The winning qualification became, instead of eating the most wasabi, going the longest without water. (Though it is known that water doesn’t cool the sensation.)

Faces turned red but nobody caved.. In the end, it was a draw and both contestants got a free manga book. I later commented on the intensity of the face off on Manga Club’s Facebook group. Chris replied to my comment with “ LOL. Nothing for me.” Yep, just another day at the Issaquah Library’s Manga Club.


caption: Go By Bathroom (afternoon in Japanese class), by a Manga Club teen

Readers Roar: Let’s hear from the kids!
“Thank you so much for starting up book club again. Books are so important, and I think in this day and age we are losing them.” – Said by Michelle, Grade 9, upon the learning that Summer Book Group will continue throughout the school year.

“I can’t believe you have this! This is so awesome! OMG it is SO COOL! Listen to the song I just made.”—Said by Samantha, Grade 9, while using Garageband in the Digital Discovery Zone.

Book Brag: What three books are hot this year? Why?
Depends on what you mean by hot. Post-apocalyptic fiction and dystopian SF in general is really big right now, in terms of popularity and demand. Many young adult readers are turning to imagined, not-so-distant futures in which today’s current fears of environmental destruction, economic collapse, and government failure have been realized.

Of course the third installment of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay, is one such book that has attracted a lot of readers this year but Ship Breaker by Paulo Bacigalupi is up and coming. Ship Breaker is a hit with my teens and was just named the 2010 Mock Printz winner by teen librarians at King County Library System.

Another one that’s not popular but certainly provocative is Janne Teller’s Nothing- definitely another one to watch out for. It’s an existential social experiment. Some of the darker issues raised by this book have made it a problematic addition to teen fiction world- critics ask “Who is its audience?” “What kind of reader is this book for?” “Is it for teens?” Every reader is different but, like Lord of the Flies, which is has been compared to, Nothing is probably better suited to an upper high school audience. It may not be “hot” in terms achieving a level of bestseller sales in the U.S. but Nothing is a well-crafted story that will make its reader think. And that is hot.

Author! Author! Describe the perfect author visit from a librarian’s point of view.
The author arrives 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled time to get set up and acquainted with library staff. Author has low expectations for audience turnout and does not take actual audience turnout personally if low. Author is well-equipped to respond to strange questions or to field “How can I become a published author like you” questions from adults.

Connections
Library Lions people like to stay connected. Readers can check out the Blog: Issaquah Library Teen Readers

Facebook: Issaquah Teen Readers

Thanks again for the terrific interview, Jessica!

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.

First Roar for 2011!

Welcome to Library Lions first roar of 2011! 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 Librarian Susan K. S. Grigsby



Susan has been a Youth Librarian for 15 years. She works at Elkins Pointe Middle School; Roswell, Georgia. I met Susan in 2009 when she was the President of the Georgia Library Media Association. It’s a delight to have Susan kick off our first 2011 LL post!

Roars:
~Susan testified before her State Education Subcommittee on the importance of public school libraries and adequate library funding.

~She coordinates the Georgia Summer Institute professional development programs for librarians throughout Georgia.

~She will be presenting a concurrent session at this year’s Internet in Schools National Conference in Washington, D.C. March 2011.

The Skinny: What inspired you to become a librarian?
I was active in Atlanta’s audio/video industry prior to becoming a media specialist. When my second child was born I began to look for a more kid-friendly career and read about how Georgia needed qualified media specialists. I had no idea what that meant but I was intrigued and investigated what it would take to become one. I found out it was the new term for “school librarian” but when I learned about all the technology then available in the schools and how my background could be used effectively every day I jumped in with both feet.

I LOVE my job and feel very fortunate to find something that is such a perfect fit for my personality, my skills, and my life’s goals.

A Lion’s Pride of Programs:
March Madness
We start our March Madness Reading Tournament with a a big team "rah rah" Pep Rally in the gym. March Madness connects reading with sports so we show photos like the one below to get things started.




The Reading Tournament is run with "homeroom teams". We treat it like the March Madness basketball format. Students fill in reading logs and teachers create DEAR time that is logged on student accounts. Our tech specialist set up a database in which teachers can plug in the number of minutes read. We start counting the minutes each week in March, narrowing down to sweet 16, elite 8, and the final four - the final four get to come to the tailgate party in which the tournament winner (most minutes read) is announced.

We culminate the program with the March Madness Tailgate Party


Photo of Tailgate Party

I also have a themed reading program in which students are required to read at least one book from that month’s theme and one book from any other area in the library. It is based on The Dewey Decathlon developed by Kris Woods, a fellow Georgia media specialist. I took her idea and tweaked it a little for my own purposes using monthly themes like Realistic Fiction, Horror/Mystery Fiction, Biography, Fantasy/Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, etc. to help guide students towards a broader range of reading materials. Each month, every student that has read the two required books are invited to the library for Cafe Read-A-Latte –



I serve them Mocha Lattes or Vanilla Lattes with some home-baked treats and they get to hang out for 30 minutes and read magazines, play board games, or just visit with friends in the library while enjoying their treats.

Clapping Paws for Susan and her Library Programs!
~ I attended, and thoroughly enjoyed, your Café Read-A-Latte presentation at COMO!
(Conference participant)

~ WONDERFUL! Thank you so much for putting this together. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and had so many excited kids today with their books!! Thank you again!! (Teacher)

~ We are so lucky to have you!! Thanks for all you do! (PTA President)

~ When I get a chance I want to come by and get some reading logs for the historical fiction month…A.Z. ASKED to read his book yesterday….. sometimes mountains do move… Thank you partner for the support and assistance as we try to get these kids reading! (Reading Teacher)

Library Laughs:
In my first year as a media specialist I worked in a K-8 private school. I had a beautiful library collection in a brand new facility and prided myself on really knowing my collection. One day a little 1st grader came in and asked for my help in finding a book on dinosaurs. I confidently led the way to 567.9 and then asked if he had something in particular in mind. He replied that he wanted a dinosaur book that had pictures in it. I pulled a big, colorful book off the shelf and said, “How about this one?” He shook his head and said he really wanted a book that had pictures in it. I pulled another book off the shelf, and another. He kept saying “I really want one that has pictures.”

I showed him the pictures in the book and said “See? This one has pictures.” Again, he shook his head and looked at me like I must be the most dense librarian on the planet. “Pictures,” he said. “You know...pictures like you take with a camera!” Thinking I had the request nailed I pulled out a book filled with photographs of scientists digging up dinosaur bones with accompanying drawings of what they believed the dinosaurs looked like. “NO!” he said. “Pictures of the dinosaurs!” I slowly realized what he wanted, got down on one knee, looked him straight in the eye and said softly, “Cameras weren’t invented when dinosaurs were around because people hadn’t been invented yet, either.” “Oh,” he said. “Then that first one you showed me will be okay.” He happily checked it out and went on his way!



Author! Author!
We were fortunate to be visited by Laurie Halse Anderson in November 2009 just as Chains was being promoted.


Susan with Laurie Halse Anderson

Laurie Halse Anderson did an amazing presentation to my middle schoolers about how she did her research into the historical accuracy of her story. She made some beautifully poignant remarks about how finding out our founding fathers were slave owners rocked her own belief system and forced her to think about our American Revolution in a slightly different way. The students were mesmerized and so many lined up after class to speak to her personally - she looked every one of them in the eye and listened to what they had to say, answered their questions without rushing them, and signed their books if they had them. It was one of my career highlights.

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

~The Hunger Games series (Catching Fire and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins).

~Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth.

~I’m just starting to get some interest in The City of Bones series, too.

~I know this makes more than three, my students cannot get enough Origami books. Is this some kind of new craze?

Library Lion’s Roar: ONE LAST BIG ROAR
I work with some of the best teachers in my county. It is an absolute pleasure to walk into my building every day and know that I will be collaborating with some of the most creative, dedicated teachers I’ve ever met. It is the collaboration that makes my program work. It takes effort, compromise, flexibility, and energy but it is worth every second when I see the results: improved student achievement. My principal is a smart leader who knows how to create a positive working environment without micromanaging the professionals in the building. This atmosphere of mutual respect has cleared the way for innovative and dynamic teaching to take place. I encourage anyone reading this to reach out to his/her staff and find a way to work together towards improved teaching, improved learning, and improved students.


Susan’s Links

Susan Grigsby Wordpress

School Library Website

Susan’s Website

Thanks again for the interview, Susan!



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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.