SRP Planning Workshop 2011

SAVE THE DATE!

The 2011 SRP Planning Workshop will be held on Thursday, February 3, 2011 !

This year's fun workshop will be held at the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay.

I'm ecstatic that our morning presenter will be Marge Loch-Waters, Youth Services Manager of the La Crosse Public Library and 2010 WLA Librarian of the Year! She'll cover plenty of ideas and stories for the upcoming theme, "One World, Many Stories."

Don't miss this day of laughter, ideas, prizes, food and fun! Times and more details to follow!

Book Reviews

Lock and Key

by Sarah Dessen
This was my first Sarah Dessen book and I really really liked it. The main character, Ruby, wears a necklace with a key on it that becomes symbolic of letting go of her past and embracing her future. Ruby is in high school and is abandoned by her mother. She ends up living with Cora, her older sister, who has a completely different lifestyle, a wonderful husband, and an interesting young male neighbor who befriends Ruby.

I love characters, and this book is studded with interesting ones. Among them are the boy who tutors Ruby in calculus, the woman who hires Ruby to work with her in the mall, and the young woman who works at the movie theater and becomes her friend. Ruby is shedding her old life gradually and living fully in her new life.

The book is very sweet and ties up very nicely at the end but is also very realistic. I love books about second chances. This is an author to watch!

Does My Head Look Big In This?

by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Yes, I judged this book by its cover and I knew I had to read it. Even though fictional, I learned so much about the hijab, the Muslim head scarf, and I ended up being so proud of Amal for wearing it.

With humor and poignancy, the author does a marvelous job of portraying young adulthood and what it is like for young people to stand up for their religion. I was given an attitude adjustment, also, as I have had a terrible aversion to the hijab (thinking that it oppresses women) without taking the time to learn more about it. This book shows how the clash of the "old world" and the "modern world" happens to all of us. Also, Amal's growing friendship with a grumpy Greek woman reflects very well how everyone fights hard to assimilate and everyone prizes family life.

The book is set in Australia which brings its own culture to bear in the story. Very interesting! A particularly wonderful scene is when Amal is asked to give insight about terrorist bombings in Bali because she is Muslim and she counters, if someone is Catholic should we have them talk about the Ku Klux Klan or the IRA? Great read!

- Elizabeth Timmins, Muehl Public Library, from Goodreads.com

Webinar on Teen Advisory Boards

Most experts suggest that having a teen advisory board is a critical step to reaching teens and bringing them into the library. But how do you recruit? How do you harness all that energy and enthusiasm effectively? How do you maintain the interest? Join Georgia Jones, New Richmond; Carol Hardin, Hudson; and Colleen Zertler, Menomonie as they discuss what has worked (and not worked) with their teen groups. Title: Teen Advisory Boards Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2010 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CST After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/356682675 This webinar is being sponsored by the Indianhead Federated Library System.

Signing CD Available!

Rhonda Puntney of the Lakeshores Library System provided me with a copy of the CSLP signing cd. I saw a snippet of it in September, and it's excellent!

If you are interested in receiving a copy for your library, contact Jamie!

Wisconsin Prison Literacy Project

Correctional libraries face unique challenges that other libraries may not, but they still strive to promote a lifelong love of learning and reading. These libraries, located in state prisons and county jails, are in serious need of materials and would greatly appreciate donations from other libraries, publishers, the public, and other sources to help build and maintain diverse and timely collections.

Recognizing the importance of literacy skills for successful re-entry by Wisconsin prisoners, the Wisconsin Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND), in partnership with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Instruction, has created a sub-committee on prisons to assist correctional libraries by collecting and distributing books for inmates in our state facilities.

Books must be in good condition and match the subject areas identified by the Department of Corrections librarians. Public, private and academic libraries and other sources are encouraged to donate books to support this project.

COLAND really needs your help in enhancing these collections for the inmates to further their ability to read and improve their quality of life.

Further information, including requested subject areas and delivery instructions, can be viewed here.

Roslyn M. Wise
Executive Staff Assistant
Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning

One World, Many Stories Sites

Dining Customs of Different Cultures - What are some foods that non-Americans find interesting? What are dining customs in other countries like?

Table Manners Across Cultures - Video of table manners of other cultures.

Teach about Other Cultures Through Food - Cultural history lesson plans.

-CEO, Issue 350, October 29, 2010

Bits from Barb

Sign Language SLP Training Video

CSLP offers a sign language training video so that librarians who want to use some appropriate signs in their programs will have a way to learn them. Rhonda Puntney, Lakeshores, and I, again worked on the development of the 2011 video. Rhonda was the 2009 Chair of the Diversity Committee, of which I am also a member. The video will be made available on the CSLP web page to other states for free download. However, Rhonda has made one copy for each System in Wisconsin. See post "Signing CD Available!" for more information on getting a cd.

Foreign Language Training Video

Rhonda Puntney also worked with Anne Horjus, Baraboo, to produce a set of training videos for librarians who want to use the songs, games and words in other languages that appear in the manual. These segments are included on the DVD that came with the manuals. There is a technical problem with the French segment which is being resolved. The corrected version will be available on the CSLP. Rhonda will let us know when it's ready. Many thanks to Rhonda and Anne for this new training option.

SLP Web Page Has Been Updated

DLTCL's web page has been updated. It's a good place to go to get information about upcoming programs. There are numerous links to make it easier to find things you might need. And the SLP handouts have been updated with this year's artwork. Visit the web page at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/slp.html.

Tapping Youth Participation to Strengthen Library Services On Line Course.

Utilizing teen input in a respectful and practical manner is a challenge at any library, yet it has countless rewards. Through this Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) e-course, participants will learn practical ways to work with teens to improve library services. Participants will learn the benefits of teen participation and engagement in the library, and will examine examples of youth participation in collection development, programming and planning of physical/virtual spaces. In addition, participants will learn methods of incorporating youth participation into the administrative levels in public libraries and school libraries and into the community. The instructor will be Amy Alessio, the Teen Coordinator at the Schaumburg Township District Library, and has worked with teens for the past 12 years. The cost is $135 YALSA members For more information go to www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=oloc&Template=/Conference/ConferenceList.cfm&ConferenceTypeCode=L

- Barb Huntington, System Youth Services Liaison Posting, November 2010