Thanks to a generous grant from the SALS Board, I was able to attend “Bring on the Joy, Bring on the Books,” the 32nd Annual Spring Conference of the Youth Services Section of the New York Library Association, which was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains, NY. It did, indeed, bring on the joy, from the kickoff with humor columnist Jerry Zezima to Saturday’s breakfast with author Libba Bray.
Mr. Zezima’s message was simple, “Find humor in the everyday things around you.” This is how to make yourself happy and let’s face it – If the librarian’s happy, the people around the librarian will be happier, too. It’s the ripple effect at work, at work.
After the speech, they announced the Empire State Award, and I’m very happy to share the fact that it went to author Joe Bruchac. http://www.josephbruchac.com/
The first workshop I attended was “Aha! Science in the Library.” The presenters were librarians from Carroll County Public Library, and they provided us with a plethora of information on how and why to present science programs in the library as well as specific program ideas. They’re sending us document files for the programs as they update them. So far I have received Rockets, How Things Work, Gooey Glob, Making Water Soft, Forensic Science, Colorful Milk, and Space Related Science Programs. I can email them to anyone interested. They highly recommended www.nasa.gov as a good source of free programming information and materials.
The program they demonstrated for us was “Forensic Science,” perfect for this year’s Summer Reading Program, “Get a Clue @ Your Library.” We learned about fingerprints, shoe prints, lipstick prints, counterfeit money, what can be learned from glass fragments and more while attempting to solve a crime. Did you know that there’s a formula you can use to figure out approximately how tall a person is based on shoe size?
The information sheets for this program were adapted from Detective Science: 40 crime-solving, case-breaking, crook-catching activities for kids, by Jim Wiese. I’ll link this program with Margaret Palatini’s The Web Files.
I couldn’t resist “Energize Your Image,” an opportunity to discover my clothing personality with Certified Beauty & Image Consultant Rebecca Kopcienski. I took a very difficult test that demanded knowledge of my glove size and shoe size and expected me to know whether my lips were thin or full, my eyes large or expressive or (horrors) average, and whether I’m a pear, an apple, or an hourglass. After all that, one was classified as Romantic, Gamin, Ingenue, Classic, Natural, or Dramatic in nature. I’m not sure it will surprise anyone who knows me to hear that I’m a Gamin. I did look it up, just to check – and sure enough, it means street urchin.
Lunchtime entertainment was brought to us by Jill and Daniel Pinkwater. You can tell they’ve been married a long time. They play off each other beautifully, fill in details for each other, and generally display a great affection and respect for each other, both professionally and personally. When talking about Jill’s art, Daniel said “She draws the way I would draw if I could draw.”
After lunch it was off to “The Lost Art of Flannel Boards,” where we got to make a flannel board and decorate pieces to bring home with us.
See presenter Terry Rabideau’s site, http://www.geocities.com/atrabideau/, for a variety of children’s storytime resources, including those for the flannel board.
Another site: http://www.fastq.com/~jbpratt/education/mypages/flannelstories.html
We finished the weekend off with breakfast with YA book author Libba Bray (http://libba-bray.livejournal.com/), who swears that her next book will be “Going Bovine,” about a kid with Mad Cow Disease. Her topic was “Why Does What We Do Matter?” Her answer was concise: “It matters because kids matter,” and after all, isn’t that why we all do what we do in youth services?
4 responses so far ↓
1 Michael Hadfield // May 4, 2007 at 3:04 pm
I, too, was able to attend the Conference thanks to the SALS Board (thanks, SALS Board!) and I second Karen’s glowing review. I’ll add a bit here, as we attended different workshops.
After breakfast with a hilarious crew from the Onendaga Co. Library System, I also was very entertained by Jerry Zezima, a Dave Barry-like columnist who convinced me that most of the world’s problems are caused by neckties. Don’t ask.
At session 1, Margaret Keefe of Mid-Hudson explained the system’s EZ Library Program Database. I had briefly used this tool in the past, but was impressed with the ongoing upgrades. The database is very large and they have much improved it as to searchability. A great companion to the Performers database, this one is geared to do-it-yourself programs. I have shared it with my Teen group, who are always looking for inexpensive programs. The database can be found under “Programs” on the System website. Boy, how many times can I say “Programs” in one paragraph?
Session 2 was “How to Organize your Own YA Bookfest” with Stephanie Squicciarini of Fairport PL. Hers is an ambitious project, to say the least. Ove 100 authors and many other activities are involved. The author budget alone was $15,000. This sort of event would have to be seriously downsized if attempted in our neck of the woods.
Lunch with Dan and Jill - well, what can I say? Two National Treasures.
Session 3 was “Title Trekking”. A couple of good ideas: The presentor (sorry, bad notes and I don’t have my agenda here, but she was from the Lake Placid Library) uses a mountain theme: for each book completed, the reader is credited with climbing one of the 46 High Peaks, low to high. This could be modified, ie lakes or creeks in your county, tree species low to high…
Another idea I liked was for “stuck” readers, who perhaps have finished a series and can’t find the Next Good Thing: suggest they read the author’s biography, or if there is none, research the author on the web.
Confession: I left this workshop a few minutes early because of a remarkable coincidence. A woman asked me for directions between workshops, and it turned out to be Dannielle Swart, whom I knew from the music business - almost 30 years ago!
Neither of us knew the other had ended up in library life. Dannielle invited me to sit in with her as she accompanied Sue Rokos at her music workshop. It was a hoot.
I have not read Libba Bray, but you can bet I will, and soon. A dynamite speaker, and a very intelligent and funny woman.
Thanks once again for the opportunity.
2 Melanie Leavitt // May 17, 2007 at 6:36 pm
I guess I am the third in the trio who attended the YSS Spring Conference in White Plains last month thanks to the generosity of the SALS Board (a great big thank you to the Board!) I too will add my thoughts as the workshops I attended were different from both Karen and Michael’s.
Keynote speaker and humor columnist, Jerry Zezima reminded us that there is humor all around us. We need to seize on what many people overlook and find humor in everyday life – at home, at work, in the bank, at the post office …. Check out his latest columns – “Moving Pains” and “Feuding with Fredo” in his biweekly Stamford Advocate column, “Zez Says” (www.stamfordadvocate.com).
“Becoming a Family Place Library”
Family Place Libraries is a national network of children’s librarians who focus on the concept that literacy begins at birth. In their libraries they create a welcoming family centered atmosphere through their collections and programming in order to building healthy communities by playing a crucial role in the development of healthy children and families. The initiative was begun in the 1990’s by Middle County Public Library and has grown to 220 sites in 25 states through a joint effort with Libraries for the Future.
The core components of the program are a professional training for the library staff; assessment of Early Childhood and Family Support resources; assessment and development of library collections, programming (including Parent/Child Workshops), environment and space; outreach to new audiences and coalition building.
Much of the information shared has previously been presented by others in our field. In fact a number of years ago SALS libraries had an opportunity to participate in a grant program “Babies Belong in Libraries” which shared many of the same core components and goals. Further details about becoming a Family Place Library (for a fee) can be found at http://www.familyplacelibraies.org.
“Nutmeg at Night: Innovative Ways to Promote State Book Awards”
With the 3 Apples Award in its second year I selected “Nutmeg at Night” in hopes of gathering a few ideas for promoting our state book award. Caitlin Augusta from the Darien (CT) Library expanded the title of her program to “Innovative Ways to Promote State Book Awards … and every other book in your collection.”
Caitlin reminded us that librarians exist to get kids excited about books and we’re good at it! Games, parties and quizzes can encourage kids to think about books in creative ways. Developing programming that promotes state book awards has a number of benefits including encouraging school and public library cooperation, providing an avenue for everyone in the community to talk about the same books, getting people excited about reading and bringing new people into your library!
Her experiences over the past few years with Darien Library’s Nutmeg Quiz Show (based on Connecticut’s Nutmeg Award) have been very positive and she shared her strategies for planning and carrying out the annual event.
The session concluded with a 10 minute small group activity. Each group was given an assignment to brainstorm ideas for a program (ex. “Eric Carle Animal Extravaganza” with activities, games, crafts and guest performers for 125 kids under 6 – budget $500.) At the end of the allotted time a spokesperson from each small group reported on the plans they were developing. I believe that if we had taken a vote the consensus would have been to continue with this activity past our allotted time, but lunch was waiting!
After Lunch
Daniel and Jill Pinkwater spoke the roads they first traveled separately and later together to becoming author and illustrator. Daniel had has done something unique in offering his book, The Neddiad first on the Internet and then having it published. You can find the book at your local book store or at http://www.pinkwater.com/theneddiad/.
Murder and Mayhem in the Library: Insights into Planning a Mystery Event
I must admit that I missed the first 15 minutes of this program as I relaxed in my hotel room reading an adult novel. Sorry, but I got to a good part and just couldn’t put it down!
Tiffany Lydecker from the Saugerties Public Library and Kate Riley from the Bayport Blue Point Library presented their experiences with creating and presenting mystery events in their libraries. Kate provided a very detailed 30+ page handout which may be available in electronic format by contacting her directly. The programs sound like a lot of fun, but involve a great deal of planning and creativity – I’m not sure I am up to the challenge.
Dinner and The Trove
In the evening I was off to the White Plains Public Library with many other conference participants for a dinner and a peek at The Trove –$2.2 million was spent to create this Children’s Room in 2005. It was like walking into a fairy tale – storage space, plenty of shelving, a picnic corner, three program rooms, a pirate ship… Visit their website and take a peek at http://thetrove.org/.
After Saturday’s Breakfast
“Why does writing for kids matter? Because kids matter!” Libba Bray was both funny and serious at the same time. She was quick to pick up on what was going on in the room around her as one young man (not sure if student or just a young librarian) discovered when he yawn, not once but twice, during her presentation. He apologized over and over saying he wasn’t bored.
Libba’s latest book, The Sweet Far Thing, (the third in her trilogy) is due to be released in September, but if you are attending Book Expo in NYC the first in June it will be available to be autographed on Saturday from 3-4 pm.
YSS 2008 Spring Conference
Don’t miss “Breaking the Mold” on Friday, April 4th in Uniondale (on Long Island)!
**I have six extra copies of Library Sparks April 2007 issue with “engaging activities to reach every reader”. Contact me at mleavitt@sals.edu and I will send you a copy through the delivery.
3 Cindy Robertson // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:37 pm
I am also indebted to the SALS Board of Trustees for their generous sponsorship of my attendance at the YSS Spring Conference in White Plains, NY. Thank you SALS! It was a memorable conference and I am still making good use of the materials I received, the ideas I gathered and the contacts I made during this brief, but valuable time with my colleagues.
It’s hard to know where to begin, Karen, Michael and Melanie having covered their conference experiences so eloquently. I can only add my accolades to the inspiration the conference speakers provided. Jerry Zezima’s funny, yet serious, talk reminded us of the importance of finding humor in our lives and in our work. Daniel and Jill Pinkwater’s wonderful partnership in both their professional and personal lives engaged us not only in the process of authorship, but also in the relationships that develop between a writer and his beloved characters. Yet it was Libba Bray’s energizing and insightful Saturday morning address “Why We Do What We Do” that left the most memorable impression on me. Sometimes when I connect with these authors in person, it just changes everything—the way I perceive certain books, the young people I would advise to read them, and the realization of the kind of influence I may be having on the children and adults I come in contact with.
The workshops I attended over the course of the conference were varied and informative.
First, I attended the “Aha! Science in the Library: Create Fun and Successful Science Programs” presented by Jacqueline Sollers and Nadine Rosedale of Carroll County Public Library, MD. We scrutinized footprints, practiced fingerprinting, examined funny money, and tried to solve the “puzzle” set before us as kids might do in a program that mimicked a crime scene under investigation. My library has scheduled a summer program based on the ideas and forensic science activities presented in this workshop.
I also attended “Nutmeg at Night: Innovative Ways to Promote State Book Awards” for the same reasons Melanie stated—to use in promoting our state’s new 3 Apples Book Award. Caitlin Augusta from the Darien Public Library, CT, provided us not only with the slide notes of her PowerPoint presentation, but also with the benefit of her experience promoting her state’s Nutmeg award. The details of workshops often get lost with so much to take in over conference days crammed with activities, but the notes Ms. Augusta provided (with my own scribblings added) are wonderfully organized and thorough record of the steps and best practices for a highly successful book award activity. Both my department head and I thought many of the ideas presented in this workshop were highly adaptable for our library’s use.
My last workshop was “Families Sing: Creative Music Programs” presented by Sue Rokos of the Mohawk Valley Library System, NY, with Dannielle Swart accompanying on guitar. Several resources and booklists were provided that were produced though this program, which was supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the NY State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. Musical resource kits for families to borrow and use at home were described and audience participation was encouraged as we explored some of songs and activities, making our own music. Even if we don’t create a circulating musical storytime kit, the booklists and ideas are valuable for use in our own library storytimes and public programs.
Another highlight of this conference was the announcement that Joseph Bruchac will receive the 2007 Empire State Award for Excellence in Literature for Young People. I am especially pleased with this because I have met Mr. Bruchac on several occasions and he has willingly maintained a community presence in the Capital Region for many years as a visiting storyteller, illustrator and author.
A visit to “The Trove” at the White Plains Public Library was a real treat. I found myself taking pictures, jotting down notes about displays and themes, and generally standing in awe of this richly imaginative environment. A “treasure” as well as a trove, indeed.
Bursting with ideas, reading materials, business cards, and plans, I left the YSS conference both exhausted and energized. (I’m sure you all know what I mean.)
“Bring on the Books, Bring on the Joy”–need I say more?
Cindy Robertson, Librarian
Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library
4 Sukrit Goswami // Jul 10, 2007 at 3:19 pm
“Bring on the books, bring on the joy” was indeed a fitting title given to this conference. It was my first workshop with YSS and thanks to SALS for giving me this chance to attend this wonderful joyous workshop.
The fun began in the hotel lobby, where I saw some familiar faces and a bunch of us decided to register together and catch up with each other during breakfast.
After a brief introduction, Jerry Zezima undeniably gave this conference a kickoff start. One after another, his realistic jokes filled the room with laughter. When he said we can find humor around us everyday and in almost everything it sounded a little bit too much to absorb, but after listening to his examples and stories it all made sense.
I was able to attend three workshop sessions on Friday. All of them were very useful and enlightening in one way or another. The first one I attended was, “If teens want to listen, why do we shut up?” The presenter Alison Follos, author of many books and who works in Lake Placid as a media specialist gave us insights into why we should keep going. She read a few abstracts from Stephen Krashen’s “Power of Reading” and also referred to “Connecting Boys” by Michael Sullivan along with Jim Trelease’s “Reading aloud to Children”. She also stressed upon encouraging parents to read aloud to teenagers. Timing is important, so start with only 15-20 minutes session.
The second session I attended was with presenter Stephanie Squicciarini from Fairport Public Library. The topic was “How to organize, run and survive your own YA book-fest”. The moment I met her, I was impressed by her enthusiasm and energy. Her presentation about how Rochester organizes teen book fests which celebrates teens and teens’ readings made me think “how could they manage that”? It is indeed a brilliant idea of having multiple authors under one roof and giving teenagers the option of attending and meeting the authors of their choice. That being said, I echo the comment of Micheal Hadfield that it is almost impossible for our library to even attempt something like this. Although with SALS participation and support from a few other big libraries of the system, it is indeed a possibility.
The last workshop I attended was “Title Trekking” again by Alison Follos. This was a beautiful session, the one I liked most. The idea of having teenagers read and then write about 46 different peaks of the Adirondacks fascinated me. After the workshop, the first thing I asked my “Twisted Teens” group if they would like to participate in a similar project, reading and writing about 50 high peaks of Adirondacks. I am encouraging the group to write online rather than putting it down on a hard copy, as I see this as a great opportunity for them to start a blog.
On Saturday, I heard Libba Bray telling us “Why does what we do matter”? Her answer put a smile on almost everyone’s face when she said “because kids matter”.
Later in the afternoon, I ended this conference by visiting the White Plains Public Library with their wonderful and friendly staff. I was impressed by not just the “Trove” but many other areas of their beautiful library. I did bring books as well as joy back from this incredible conference and I thank you all for making this a memorable experience.
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