I Have Returned to a Full-Time Position

Unexpectantly, a new, full-time children's librarian "floater" position opened up at my current place of employment. Under union contract, I was able to move into this position (having recently been "bumped" to part-time).

Hooray! One of the many opportunities and blessings I am thankful for today.

Happy Thanksgiving!

American Sign Language and Libraries

While at the Ontario Library Super Conference in January of 2008, I went to a session that suggested introducing American Sign Language (ASL) to young, hearing children, even during library programs.

Here are some notes:

Use ASL ...
1) with the youngest child to reduce frustration due to lack of speech and correspondingly develop the child's confidence (narrative skills)
2) to promote parent-child bonding (print motivation)
3) to increase spelling and reading comprehension. You are sharing language before the child can speak and are occasionally spelling out words. (letter knowledge, vocabulary)

(Correlation to Every Child Ready to Read's early literacy skills.)

Refer to the research of Dr. Marilyn Daniels that found that ASL helps create more brain synapses and uses both sides of the brain.

ASL also addresses different learning styles or multiple intelligences:
physical - move fingers, hands, arms
visual - see signs
verbal - eventually, say words with signs
music - add fingerplays
math - the pattern of a sign and finger space
interpersonal - sharing signs with others
intrapersonal - thinking of choice of signs/words to share

Here is the presenter's website, and here is her presentation ("Benefits of Sign Language for Children") powerpoint and resource lists.
Here is a recommended website on infant signing.

The presenter recommended that librarians can begin to include ASL in library programming by presenting one sign per page of a story or verse of a song. She also reminded the audience of the quote:

"If you tell me, I will forget. If you show me, I may remember. If you involve me, I will learn."

Customer Care Creed

The following is adapted from issue number 567 from the "First-Rate Customer Service" newsletter:

When I am here, serving people is my No. 1 concern.

I plan to be fully present while I am working and to make myself available beyond a strict 9-to-5 mentality.

I am committed to independent development. I will read, discuss, and learn on my own so that I bring value to my job and others.

I will take the initiative to help my team move in useful new directions and to rely more on foresight than hindsight.

Extra effort, extra sensitivity, and extra focus are the keys to making others' experiences satisfying.

I believe that cultivating these qualities creates a better product and leads to (positive) change.

I believe that they are marks of a leader...

"Never Hurry and Never Worry!"

While I was not selected to attend the Bill Morris Seminar in 2010, a former professor reminded me that "... there will be other opportunities, and you have had a lot of wonderful, special experiences lately ..."

When I read this reaction, I thought, "That is true."

At the end of today, I feel that this confirmation is even stronger ...

(Thank you.)

Storytelling and Silence

Over the course of about twelve years as a student and also paid, professional musician, I had the privilege of performing under various conductors. At this moment, I can recall at least three separate music visionaries who emphasized the importance of silence.

"Music is made on the background of silence," quoted one.

"What's the most important note of this piece?" asked another as he guided us through Hoe-Down from the Rodeo suite by Copeland. The answer was the collective rest in the second to last bar of the piece.

These bits of comparable wisdom were exactly the kind of images I lacked when presenting "Storytelling Techniques to Use with Preschoolers" last Friday, November 6; I've determined that some of the best storytellers utilize not only the catch all terms "voice" and "pacing," but most importantly, they are not afraid of silence ... the space between thoughts ... and words.

This is what I should have illustrated last week instead of just stating the cliched tip, "Take your time. Breathe."

Next time I should tell stories to teach storytelling ...

Discovering the World of Children

My first experience involving young children (which was inadvertently also my first experience with storytime) was in middle school.

As part of a seventh or eighth grade honors English "career mentorship" project, I was paired with then Vindicator columnist Jane Tims. While I wasn't necessarily considering a career in journalism, Jane provided experiences based on a love of writing and reading. For example, I was able to attend a Scribblers meeting and share my poetry. I was able to write her emails sharing my teenage thoughts and feelings. I even accompanied her on a visit to a Youngstown city school where she volunteered her time to read them a story ...

After the story, Jane stayed a while longer to help the children (and thus the teacher!) with their school work. While I didn't then know the best words or all of the appropriate reactions to use when interacting with children, I remember feeling good about being there. The children amazed me ... their tangible emotions whether energized and exuberant or contemplative and reserved ... awed me. It was a satisfying and a surprising journey of self-discovery to guide them as they worked through questions. I remember talking about this experience when I got home ...

Isn't it strange how this (until now, forgotten) experience fits as piece into the puzzle of now?

November Is New

This is a busy first week for a new month ...

This week's activities:

1. I have started my part-time position.

2. I have filled out paperwork to see if I am eligible for partial unemployment.

3. I have programs every day, up to 4 in one day!

4. I have started outreach programs from the Austintown branch.

5. The individuals selected to attend the Bill Morris Seminar will be contacted.

6. I will give a presentation on storytelling techniques and focus on kinds of stories for the preschool audience.

7. I need to think about the trips I want to take in 2010 and request the appropriate days off.


Thoughts on these activities:

1. Part-time for a short term may be a gift, but it is intimidating for the long term.

2. Check. (double entendre?)

3. Now that the week has started, I feel fine with this load. I am prepared. A fellow children's librarian's wisdom echoes in my head and reminds me that the librarian herself needs to have fun ...

4. Outreach went well today. I am becoming a better communicator but still have room to grow.

5. *fingers crossed*

6. Preparing for Friday's presentation is also preparing me for my potential presentation in March concerning learning (science) through storytelling. Not only have I found other resources that are passionate about this same idea, it has also given me the opportunity to re-discover the art of storytelling and set higher goals for myself.

[Hooray for an early birthday gift from mother ... membership in the National Storytelling Network!]

7. Now that I am on an ALSC Committee, I will need to attend Mid-Winter and Annual. I won't know if I will be able to do the OCTELA presentation until January ... On a personal note, I need to visit my relatives in Finland with my mother while she can still connect me to them.