Book Conference Review

I never win anything. That has been my fate all my life. I faithfully buy a lottery ticket on Saturday, but alas, I am still working.

So when Jamie told me that I won the trip to the Northwest Wisconsin's Children's Book Conference in Cable, WI, I thought my luck had changed. I drove up to Cable last Thursday morning. The weather was beautiful, and the leaves were changing colors. It is quite a hike to Cable, five hours to be exact. They say that we live in the "sticks" in NE Wisconsin. This trip gave a whole new meaning to the word "sticks!"Not having a children's program at the Oconto Falls Library, I felt that I had much to learn.

I attended the presentation from CCBC for 2008 titles. Great as always. I also attended Storytelling 101 by Stuart Stotts. His workshop was on telling a story telling instead of reading, using expression, gestures, and voice to add character to your story. He is also presenting this workshop at WLA this month. The second workshop was Story Time Techniques by Susan Santner. She presented a DVD that she developed for story time. She received a grant at UW Madison to develop this dvd on techniques. She will be presenting this workshop at WLA. She also said that all libraries will be receiving the dvd soon (hopefully by Children's Book Week). So, I already attended 3 WLA workshops! The final workshop was called Where No Reader Has Gone Before.

It is about Science and Science Fiction in Middle Grades and Teens. This couple from my old stomping grounds of Plymouth MN also told about the history of science fiction. They gave lists of recommended science fiction for our libraries. Even though you may think that you are not a science fiction reader, you would be surprised at how many that you may have already read.

So I can't say any more that I have never won anything in my life, but the lottery would have been nice.

~ Joan Denis

Happy Scarecrows

Preschoolers attending storytime at Farnsworth Library in Oconto made their own "happy" scarecrows to take home after enjoying the story, The Falling Leaves, and The Scarecrow, by Steve Metzger.
~ Wendy Spice

Grassroots Meeting Photos - 9/18/07

Did You Know...

...that bees do not have ears! They can sense vibrations through their sensitive hairs!

You could have a chance to learn even more about bees and other insects if you attend the Grassroots meeting next Tuesday and win the book, "1000 Facts on Bugs!"

There is still time to sign up for the fabulous Grassroots Meeting. There will be some GREAT door prizes, great ideas shared and tasty snacks!!!

Sign up today!

Summer Reading Fonts, Order Forms and Manuals

Barb Huntington shared the following:

Stephanie Stokes has posted some new bug fonts on her site for 2008:
http://www.librarypalooza.net/paloozafonts.html.

The 2008 "Catch the Reading Bug" order forms will be arriving here any day now. As soon as I get them they will be distributed. Libraries who order them by December 1, 2007 will be guaranteed shipment of materials by March 1, 2008. The manuals are also expected to arrive this month.

2009 SRP Input!

Ok, I know we're just getting done wrapping up detectives and mysteries for SRP 2007, and we're starting to think ahead to bugs for 2008, but the CSLP Children's Manual for 2009 is already underway!

Ideas are being sought for the 2009 Manual, "Be Creative @ Your Library." Listed below are the chapters. They are interested in YOUR ideas for:


-School visits and other ways of promoting the program in your community
-Setting the Scene: library decorations, bulletin boards, props, etc.
-Original skits, puppet plays, etc.
-Family literacy/adult/inter generational activities

Chapters:
Ch 3. Movin' About
Ch 4 I've Got Rhythm: Music and Rhythm
Ch 5 Now You See It: Visual Arts of all Kinds
Ch 6 Ham It Up: Drama and Storytelling
Ch 7 Imagine That! A Mix of Creative Activities
Ch 9 Adult and Inter generational Ideas

Please send me your ideas for these chapters by Monday, December 10, so I can get them to Patti Sinclair. Thanks!

Grants Galore!

The following grants were listed in the September 2007 System Youth Liaison posting:

Lego Children's Fund:
Lego Systems, Inc. has announced the formation of the Lego Children's Fund. The fund will make cash grants to nonprofit organizationsin the United States with programs dedicated to a child's exploration of creativity that cater to children ages birth to 15. Priority is given to projects serving disadvantaged or at-risk youth. The fund's cash grants generally will range between $500-$5000 each. Additionally, the fund aims to make one $100,000 grant per year to a single organization identified and selected by the fund's board of directors.

The fund will award grants to qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, including educational organizations with specific, identifiable needs, in these areas of interest:
-Early childhood education and development
-Technology and communication projects that advance learning opportunities
-Sport or athletic programs that concentrate on underserved youth

The fund will provide grants quarterly. Applicants are invited to submit proposals anytime throughout the year; however to ensure that a request is considered for a particular trustee meeting, proposals must be received by the following dates: February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.

Grant program guidelines and application instructions are available at the Lego Children's Fund site at www.legochildrensfund.org.

Dollar General Grants:
The Dollar General store chain has a variety of grants that are awarded to non-profit organizations. Included the categories are:
Adult Literacy
Back to School
Family Literacy
Youth Literacy
For more information on the grants go to www.dollageneral.com/community/communityinvestments.aspx


The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy Grant Competition:
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is pleased to
announce the 2008 national grant competition. The Foundation's grant-making
program seeks to develop or expand projects that are designed to support the development of literacy skills for adult primary care givers and their children. A total of approximately $650,000 will be awarded; no grant request should exceed $65,000. For more information and to download the application, go to www.barbarabushfoundation.com/wn.html
For answers to questions, please contact Kiev Richardson at (202) 955-6183 or krichardson@cfncr.orgr.
--American Libraries Direct, August 15, 2007