Wiki Wiki
Posted by: notesfromtheblacklagoon on: January 22, 2009
Just a quick update from a continuing ed. workshop here at SEMLS. I’m at our regional library system’s office learning all about the joys of wikis and dreaming up ways that I could incorporate a wiki into the TPL’s website. Right now, we’re experiencing technical difficulties with the presentation and are on a break. Seriously, wikis are cool. You can post a large amount of info that can be shared and edited by tons of other folks. If you have ever used Wikipedia, you know what wikis can do! Right now, I’m considering creating a Story Time Wiki for my staff to compile past story time ideas by subject.
At our last Youth Services Roundtable, several librarians (including moi) got excited about starting a Story Time wiki for our whole region. Librarians from across SEMLS could edit and upload story time ideas, craft templates, bibliographies for a subject….the fun could go on forever. I think some librarians are still afraid of the technology, but I really do think we could learn so much more from each other with a wiki! Most children’s librarians are pretty isolated geographically in their own little libraries, trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to story time. Why not have one place where colleagues can exchange ideas and not feel so alone?! We’ll see if that idea gets off the ground, but it has definitely prompted me to expend my tech horizons.
FYI- Wiki comes from the Hawaiian term “wiki wiki” meaning “quick quick”! Pretty acurate, no?
I am Ironman!
Posted by: notesfromtheblacklagoon on: January 21, 2009
Hi, my name is Kate and I love superhero movies. I love them. I never read comic books as a kid and I’m not really that into graphic novels. But I can’t get enough of superhero movies. I’m so psyched that Marvel Comics has developed their own movie studio and produced an awesome little movie you may have heard of: Ironman.
Even though I do love superhero movies, I’m the first to admit they are not all perfect. In fact, in the past few years, the genre has seen some great triumphs (Spiderman 2, anyone? Or how about X-Men 3? So good) and some sad failures (The Incredible Hulk…groan). But Ironman is perfection! It has good guys! It has bad guys! It has cool gadgets. It has a superhero suit! It has a great plot! It presents deep philosophical questions! It has Robert Downey, Jr! IT HAS ROBERT DOWNEY, JR!!!!! I can’t emphasize my enjoyment of that last one enough.
Ironman
If you’ve been living under a rock since last summer, Ironman brings us to the story of Tony Stark, super-hot, playboy, billionaire genius who manages to dream up the latest military weapons technology AND leave the ladies wanting more. After being kidnapped by terrorists who own weapons designed by Stark Industries, Tony builds his own superhero suit, rescues himself and seriously begins to question his own role in and assumptions about the consequences of American military power.
The film is filled with special effects, but they don’t overwhelm the plot or the questions that Tony is wrestling with. The coolest scenes blend special effects with amazing camera work as you see Tony fly for the first time in his newly-built Ironman suit. I’m not sure how they managed it, but it really does feel like you are really flying above Los Angeles.
Finally, we come to my favorite part of Ironman: Robert Downey, Jr. Not only is he hot, but also manages to inject the film with charm and humor. Seriously, I love how Downey combines Tony’s bravado with a vulnerability. But he’s also hot. I mentioned that, right? There other some other people in the movie called Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terence Howard. They’re pretty good too. Especially Gwyneth, given that I usually despise her. But her performance as Pepper Potts was so good and she had such chemistry with RDJ that I actually despise her LESS. But only a little less.
Clearly, you need to go borrow Ironman from your library and love the superhero goodness.
Fancy February
Posted by: notesfromtheblacklagoon on: January 15, 2009
Well, the last time that I wrote (and it was an embarrassingly long time ago!), I said I was going to write more. You can see how quickly that has fallen by the wayside. but it’s 2009 and I’m back and hoping to be better than ever. A
At the moment, I’m busy planning our February vacation programs: A Fancy Nancy Tea Party, an African Wrap-Doll Workshop and perhaps, maybe, a story/craft with Miss Ellen (although she doesn’t know it yet!).
In previous years, I had sort of skipped over February vacation, thinking that most families, well, went on vacation. Boy, how wrong was I!? People kept pouring into the library last year, demanding programs and looking at me like I was INSANE when I said there were none. I learned my lesson, obviously.
I think I’m most excited for our Fancy Nancy Tea Party on February17th. Mostly because I will be getting fancy for it as well. So many of our patrons really love the Fancy Nancy books and who doesn’t love celebrating books? Especially when you can do it in style!
What I’m reading
Posted by: notesfromtheblacklagoon on: August 8, 2008
Most of you know that librarians (unfortunately) do not simply sit around and read while we’re working at the library. That would pretty much make it the best job ever, but I don’t think our patrons would be too happy with us! Anyway, like most librarians, I do LOVE to read and try do so as much as possible. Here’s what I’ve been up to:
1. The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbit
This book is on the reading listsfor the schools around here, so I thought I would read this to be in solidarity with all the kids who are groaning and moaning about doing their summer reading. Initially, I was intrigued by Babbit’s exploration of the question “What is delicious?” in this new fairy-tale. Being pretty 
enamored of food myself, I naturally replied “Mac and cheese with ketchup”. But then I thought “Well, maybe pizza”. As the Prime Minister sets out to define every word in the kingdom for his dictionary, more and more people disagree about Delicious, from the king down to the peasants. Young Gaylen, the PM’s trusty apprentice and adopted son, is immediately dispatched to register everyone’s delicious idea of the perfect food. Soon, tensions mount and different factions (“Plum cake!! No! Pork Chops!”) are on the brink of war. Along his journey, Gaylen encounters some very odd characters and learns just how the world really works. Sounds good, right???!! Well, let me just say, the ending was super-disappointing. I won’t spoil it, but everyone does come to an agreement about just what is really delicious. And boy, is it boring. A really, really good read until the last couple of chapters.
2. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (vol 1)
As Miss Daisy (and Mr. Holmes) would say , “The game is afoot!”. Seriously, Conan Doyle’s game is totally 
“afoot” in this first volume of the complete Sherlock Holmes collection. Being a huge mystery fan, I shamefully admit that I had never really read the origin of modern detective fiction until I started this a few weeks ago. After seeing this gigantic paperback on the shelf, I prepared myself for drudgery. NO! Conan Doyle’s writing is fast-paced, exciting, and often hilarious. I have actually laughed out loud at parts of ” A Study in Scarlet”, first short story that introduces us to Watson and Holmes. Good stuff. Also this particular edition on the right has a great introduction about Watson’s role as Holmes’s faithful sidekick. Good stuff!!
So, that’s it! Have a great weekend and keep on reading!
Funny meeting you here…
Posted by: notesfromtheblacklagoon on: August 1, 2008
So it’s been a really long time since I’ve updated this blog! Summer reading has taken over, along with other happy events in my personal life. Things are busier than ever here at the library, and while we’ve enjoyed our summer, I think everyone on staff will breathe a sigh of relief when school begins in September.
It’s a jungle in here, especially with our “Wild Reads” summer reading theme. Thanks to an awesome and creative part-timer, our room has been completely transformed into an animal-filled jungle scene, complete with waterfalls and butterflies (not real, of course). We’ve also had major success with our streamlined summer reading program and have had nearly 200 kids sign up! As I mentioned before, we are raffling off books as weekly prizes. Kids earn raffle tickets by checking out books. This portion of the program has been a huge success and has allowed us to move away from the cheap plastic toys that held back our registration numbers.
So all is well in the jungle. Now that I’m back, I’m going to try and do this blogging thing more consistently. We’ll see how it goes…
Ode to the Paper Plate Craft
Posted by: notesfromtheblacklagoon on: March 12, 2008
Another successful story/craft hour has come and gone. This week, we read stories about dinosaurs!! And it was a hit. As one little boy put it, “ROOOOOAAAR!”.
Parents were amazed by the our paper plate dinosaur craft which, in turn, amazed me! Paper plate crafts are as old as the day is long! I guess many parents don’t think to do crafts with their kids at home (which is, I suppose, why they turn up at the library) or are too wrapped up in the bells and whistles of hi-tech crafts to remember the old stand-bys. But who doesn’t love a paper plate craft? They’re easy, fun, cheap and can be reinvented at any time. The perfect craft IMHO.
After doing many sessions of Story/Craft, I’ve sort of developed a little philosophy behind the crafts the I choose. My main operating principle is that story/craft needs to be bonding time for parents and children (parents accompany children for all story times at the TPL). Some parents seem to expect US to entertain their kids while they rest. However, I see myself as a facilitator during story time. Yes, I read the stories and do the movement activities with the kids, but when it comes to crafts, that’s where parent/child interaction can take center stage. I don’t go around and do craft with the kids. That what parents are for! I tend to instruct everyone from the front of the room and then go set up our snack while the parents and kids craft away happily. As a result, I tend to choose crafts that require both parents and children to complete certain elements. Enter the paper plate dinosaur. I had parents cut out the tail, neck and legs from one paper plate while children colored the “body” on another paper plate. Children had to color the cut-out parts as well and then glue a googly-eye on the head. As soon as parents staple the colored neck, tail and legs to the body, the whole thing is done! Easy, cheap, and fun!
Oh yeah, we also read stories and watch a movie BEFORE we even get to the craft. Here’s what we read today:
Dino Pets by Lynn Ploude
A little boy tries very hard to find the right dinosaur to be his perfect pet. Naturally, none of the dinos he chooses work out, but it’s hilarious to watch what goes wrong with each one. All the escaped dinos become tired of being lonely and come back to the boy’s house for a happy ending. Sweet and funny for the preschool crowd.
Dad’s Dinosaur Day by Diane Dawson Hearn 
Mikey’s dad takes a break from fatherhood and becomes a silly dinosaur for a day. The usual school day routine is turned topsy-turvy as Mikey rides his dad (in disguise at T Rex) to school, feeds him the scraps from all the kids’ lunches and stops at a tree for a snack on the way home. Mikey likes all the fun he’s having with his new dino-dad, but soon tires of all the responsibility of having one. Kids will recognize Mikey wants his old dad back and he wants to be a normal kid again. Everything ends well as his regular Dad shows up at the breakfast table but the fun may start again as Mom is suspiciously missing!
More Errol Flynn (like you can ever get enough Errol Flynn)
Posted by: notesfromtheblacklagoon on: March 12, 2008
So, in my home life, I’m a big movie buff. Patrick and I are obsessed with Netflix and we’re on a huge Errol Flynn kick right now. I might have mentioned that before…
Anyway, we just watched Dodge City starring EF and Olivia De Havilland (with whom he starred in 8 films total). Amazing western that basically revived a dying genre for movie go-ers at the end of 1930s. It’s made in this incredible early Technicolor and looks completely saturated with vibrant color. Flynn plays Wade Hatton ,a hard-nosed Irish cattle trail boss who’s tough attitude wins him the job of sheriff for the sleaziest city in Reconstructionist Kansas (Can you guess what city??). De Havilland is his love interest and portrays Abbie Irving, a young women who originally came to Dodge City with one of Wade’s cattle drives. After the tragic death of her brother, Abbie’s hatred of Wade nearly prevents them from teaming up to save Dodge City from crime lord, Jeff Surrett. Once again, EF steals the show with incredibly intense acting and much-needed comic relief.
Check it out, even if you aren’t really into westerns. This will get you into them!
Tech-roots
Posted by: notesfromtheblacklagoon on: March 6, 2008
For those of you who are fascinated by technology and technology in libraries, take a look at one librarian’s journey into the modern world over at The Game’s Afoot. Daisy, our intrepid Assistant Director, hated anything to do with technology because she feared it! Now she’s conquered her fear of computers and is now light years ahead of the rest of us. Daisy’s story sort of inspired me to take a minute and think about my tech-roots and how they’ve influenced me in the Children’s Room
So, for those of you who don’t know, I am a tech-savvy Millenial (formerly Generation Y) who grew up with computers and rapidly changing technology. We had a computer in our home when I was young, an old-school Commodore 64! I had computers in my elementary school. I don’t know how to use an electric typewriter and had never seen one until I came to the TPL. I most certainly do NOT know what filmstrips are or how to use them. My first stereo had a CD player and I’ve been using IM for over 10 years. I have a Facebook account and am in love with MS Word 2oo7.
Clearly, I’m down with technology. But I’m a different animal than Daisy. Daisy is a self-professed Geek. I would call her a tech-seeker, a lover of tech things for their own innate tech-i-ness. I’m more of a tech-consumer. I use technology because I need it or see it as advantageous for my life. I’m definitely open to learning new things, but I can only remember what I’ve learned if I need it for home or work! I don’t actively seek out new tech things just because. I need incentives..namely, “Can this make my life easier or harder?”. I think the process of determining that is an important one for people in my generation. Growing up and being bombarded by so much information and technology, you can start to think that anything tech is good just because it’s tech-y. Which is certainly not true! Good tech-consumers can pick and choose what actually does make their lives easier and more efficient while refusing to be bombarded by the constant flow of STUFF out there.
I think another key skill my generation has picked up from its exposure to technology is our ability to adapt to change. Technology is changing all the time and we can’t keep up with it. Millenials see technology as conceptual, as patterns that can be adapted across devices, programs and software. They can apply what they’ve learned before to a new technology that is presented to them. Very useful and time-saving skill, if you ask me.
I think the biggest influence my tech-savvy ways have had in the library is how we reach our patrons. We have used technology to catch our patrons’ attention on our website and in our programs. We’ve done podcasts of kids’ short stories and have an e-newsletter in Children’s. I also think I’ve affected the way the staff accomplishes our daily tasks. We, thankfully, no longer use the electric typewriter to make labels. Instead we use Word! Yay! So we keep evolving here at the TPL…maybe one day we can make it into the 21st century.
More Story Time Fun
Posted by: notesfromtheblacklagoon on: March 5, 2008
Well, this is the second week of my story/craft program and we’ve got a great group of kids this time around. Today’s theme was (appropriately) rain and puddles! I love puddle books and read two of my favs, The Rain Puddle by Adelaide Holl and The Puddle by David McPhail. The Rain Puddle is one of my absolute favorite picture books, a fact I was quickly reminded of when one little girl accidently ripped a page while she was looking at it! Sadly, it’s out of print, so we had to use our best book repair skills and save it from the bin.
Then we made a Rain Stick for our craft. Thanks to this video on Sprout’s website, I was able to watch Nina do this craft and then re-create it for my story time kids.The Rain Sticks were definitely a hit…not to mention very noisy and fun to do! I made a few modifications though from the Sprout version. First, I used wrapping paper to cover my paper towel rolls. I also used sprinkles (or jimmies if you’re from New England) for the noisemakers inside the roll instead of dried rice. Good thing too, as some of my story time friends decided to eat them rather than put them inside the Rain Stick.
Next week: dinosaurs!!!
Summer Reading Denial
Posted by: notesfromtheblacklagoon on: February 28, 2008
Here at the TPL, I’ve gotten the spring programming pretty much tied up. I’m all up to date on my reviews. I have a few things left to catalog. The shelves are beautiful and the book carts are bare. In other words, I have to face my denial over the summer reading program and get on with planning it!
This year’s state-wide theme is “Wild Reads”. Normally, I’m not usually enamored with the themes that the state comes up with, but using the theme is convenient and flexible for us in the Children’s Room. I’m also trying to move patron away from the “cheap plastic prize incentive program” that has characterized our past reward system for reading over the summer. I don’t think the TPL is ready to go prize-less, but I think we can pretty easily move to prizes that reinforce our main purpose. So, I’ve decided (thanks to Adrienne over at WATAT) that we’re going to offer books as prizes. Books, you say? Yep. Books. Cuz that’s what we do best at the library. Here’s my plan:
Prizes
Each week, there will be three different books (a picture book, an easy reader and a fiction book…all paperback) that children can put their names in for. Every time a child comes into the library and checks out books, she may enter her name for the book of her choice. So if a child comes into the library every day and checks out books (NOT MOVIES, books), he can enter his name for a book every time. Each week of the reading program, I’ll draw 10 names from each book’s name box and call the winners! So, very sneakily, we encourage reading and reinforce it with a book prize. We used to spend so much money on crappy prizes. But I’d rather spend the money on books for prizes and then just get patrons in the library with programs, programs, programs.
Reading Logs
Next, I want to get rid of reading logs. It’s too much work for us and the parents. And I really don’t care WHAT kids read, just as long as they read. So instead of reading logs where parents scramble to remember what their kids read last week, we’re going to just have visuals for kids to hang on the wall and mark with stickers every time they’ve read 2 books or 20 minutes. Plus we will also give out book recommendation forms that kids can fill out, return and let us hang around the room.
This is all very tentative and new at the moment. But I’ll force myself to firm it up in the next week or so. So I’ve built a bridge and gotten over my river, Denial.
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