Showing posts with label ALA Emerging Leader. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ALA Emerging Leader. Show all posts

Friday, June 25, 2010

Librarians as Educators

The American Libraries article "Build Your Own Instructional Literacy" by Char Brown (a 2007 ALA Emerging Leader!) addresses the issue of librarians as educators. 

I, too, have felt and feel strongly that librarians are indeed educators.  Period.  Additionally, children's work requires one to be an entertainer.  One must be able to capture an audience through a combination of voice, acting, interacting, song, and movement.

I will need to review the ALA college accreditation guidelines, but it seems to me that the four vital teacher training issues that Brown lists -- theories, methods, conviction, and experience -- need to be addressed more in library school.

While I was fortunate to have a background in music, to have experience in reading to children, and to have taken about thirty credits of education classes during my undergraduate education, I realize that (occasionally?) children's librarians appear in the field without such background.  For the benefit of all librarians and especially those "learning in the trenches," Brown offers the "instructional literacy" framework and USER method.

Those who learn, teach, ... and those who teach, learn.

Monday, February 8, 2010

10 Tools to Take Power

The following are my notes/interpretations from a speech given by American Library Association Past-President Leslie Berger during the Emerging Leader closing cermonies at Annual 2009:

Try these with yourself and with others.

1) Make a (collective) plan, and organize a group.
2) Give a persuasive argument. Frame the issue so it advances a shared goal or highlights the downside of no action.
3) Raise awareness of the plan.
4) Review existing policies and bylaws.
5) Create change in policy or bylaw, or create a new one.
6) Generate publicity or buzz through forums ... blogs ...
7) Use electoral process. Ask candidates questions.
8) Effect appointments.
9) Boycott or use consumer power against the institution if it is not making steps to address your concern/goal.
10) Use drama. Offer, then commit.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Conference Schedule (Actual)

Italicized events are personal, sight-seeing events, not professional, conference related sessions.

Thursday, July 9
6:35 Depart from Ohio
7:20 Arrive in Chicago


Friday, July 10
8:15 - 3:00 Emerging Leaders Meeting
3:00 - 5:00 Emerging Leaders Poster Session
5:00 - 7:30 Chicago Institute of Art: Saw children's picturebook original illustrations!


Saturday, July 11
8:00 – 10:00 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee/Subcommittee Meetings
10:30 – 12:00 Cuentos de las Americas: Celebrating Latino Cultures and Dia with Recent Outstanding Latino Children’s Books
1:30 – 3:00 Emerging Leaders Salon
3:30 – 5:30 USBBY/YALSA present “Mixing It Up: The Process of Bringing International Children’s Books to the US”
8:00 – 10:00 Stories for a Saturday Evening with Storytellers Tim Tingle and Dovie Thomason


Sunday, July 12
9:00 – 2:00 Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Tour
2:00 - 3:00 What Makes Tango So Scary? Serving Your Whole Library Population, Intellectual Freedom, and Censorship of LGBT Children’s Books
3:30 - 5:30 Using Historic Children’s Literature to Motivate Children to Read: Highlights from 15 Years of the Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship Award


Monday, July 13
8:00 - 9:30 ALSC President’s Program featuring Melba Pattillo Beals
9:45 – 11:00 Volunteer at ALSC Booth
11:00 - 12:30 Explore Exhibits
1:30 – 3:00 State Academic Standards + Library Programs = Educationally Enhanced Children’s Programs
3:30 – 5:30 Odyssey Award Presentation and Program
5:30 – 6:00 Our Children Can Soar: Picturebook Art Exhibit and Reception


Tuesday, July 14

6:00 – 7:00 Volunteer greeter
7:00 - 9:00 Coretta Scott King 40th Anniversary Breakfast
2:16 Depart Chicago

Poster Session Publicity

Our group met Diane Chen, a current member of the ALA Executive Board, during the Emerging Leader poster session on Friday, July 10.

I just got word via the EL listserv that she has uploaded pictures of the posters on Flickr.

She also wrote a post on her blog at libraryjournal.com where pictures from our team are highlighted!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Annual Conference Schedule (Planned)

Italicized events are personal, sight-seeing events, not professional, Conference related sessions.

Thursday, July 9
Depart from Ohio at 6:45 p.m.
Arrive in Chicago at 7:20 p.m.

Friday, July 10
8:30 - 3:00 Emerging Leaders Meeting
3:00 - 5:00 Emerging Leaders Poster Session
5:00 - 9:00 Free admission to Chicago Institute of Art

Saturday, July 11
8:00 – 10:00 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee/Subcommittee Meetings
10:30 – 12:00 Cuentos de las Americas: Celebrating Latino Cultures and Dia with Recent Outstanding Latino Children’s Books
1:30 – 3:00 Emerging Leaders Salon
3:30 – 5:30 USBBY/YALSA present “Mixing It Up: The Process of Bringing International Children’s Books to the US”
8:00 – 10:00 Stories for a Saturday Evening with Storytellers Tim Tingle.Dovie Thomason

Sunday, July 12
9:00 – 2:00 Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Tour
3:30 - 5:30 Using Historic Children’s Literature to Motivate Children to Read: Highlights from 15 Years of the Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship Award

Monday, July 13
8:00 - 9:30 ALSC President’s Program featuring Melba Pattillo Beals
9:45 – 11:45 Volunteer at ALSC Booth
1:30 – 3:00 State Academic Standards + Library Programs = Educationally Enhanced Children’s Programs
3:30 – 5:30 Odyssey Award Presentation and Program
5:30 – 7:30 Our Children Can Soar

Tuesday, July 14
6:30 – 9:00 Final Emerging Leader Task – Attend the Coretta Scott King 40th Anniversary Breakfast
Depart Chicago at 2:16

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Bookmark for February -- Coretta Scott King Author/Illustrator

A second team member created another example of the monthly themed, bookmark idea. This one is for February, the month the team suggested highlighting the Coretta Scott King authors and illustrators themselves.


(Front: One of the author or illustrator's titles briefly described.)



(Back: A brief bio of the chosen author or illustrator.)

Bookmark for May -- Family Theme

This bookmark visual was completed by a fellow team member. It is one example of our monthly themes, bookmark idea. Creating a themed bookmark for each month markets the Coretta Scott King Winners and Honorees as books that can be chosen, used, and bought throughout the year and for any age level.


(Front: Age appropriate title suggestions for Infants/Toddlers/Preschoolers, Pre-K and Kindergarteners, First and Second Graders, Third and Fourth Graders, and Fifth and Sixth Graders based on our team's chosen May theme of "Family.")




(Back: Age appropriate suggestions for Teens and Young Adults
based on our team's chosen May theme of "Family.")

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Other Created Content

In June, I will display the content headed by other team members.

Post Card Final


(Front: Image adapted from Kadir Nelson's original artwork available for purchase at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=kadir%20nelson )

(Back of version 1)


(Back of version 2)

Greeting Card Final

(Front: Image adapted from Kadir Nelson's original artwork available for purchase at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=kadir%20nelson )



(Middle)



(Back: The Coretta Scott King Award Seal would be placed in the space held by the black square. These award seals are available for purchase at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=Coretta%20Scott%20King%20Award%20seals )

Greeting and Post Card Front Under Development


(Image adapted from Kadir Nelson's original artwork available for purchase at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=kadir%20nelson )

Greeting Card Beginnings

One of the first greeting card drafts ...


(Front: Image is Kadir Nelson's original artwork available for purchase at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=kadir%20nelson )



(Back: The Coretta Scott King Honor, Award, and John Steptoe seals would be placed where the black squares are. These seals can be purchased at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=Coretta%20Scott%20King%20Award%20seals )

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Finishing Individual Assignments

The entire team was able to meet yesterday, April 28. I have made the meeting notes available on our wiki.

Overall, most of our individual tasks are completed or in the final stages of editing. Now we are preparing for our final presentations -- the Emerging Leader Poster Session on July 10 and a final proposal document for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards committee due June 1.

Individually, I will be working on modifying the (front) design of the postcards. A team member found a CSK design (image/font) that the committee has already used: http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/emiert/cskbookawards/docs/cskba-slj-ad.pdf

It is good to be consistent and to work with what is already available.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Post Card Draft 3


Home Library Webpage Proposal Draft

HOME LIBRARY WEBPAGE
We propose the creation of a "Home Library" webpage to market the idea of purchasing CSK books for home libraries.

We propose that the webpage have its own, unique URL that can be included on marketing materials, such as the greeting card and postcard examples detailed below. In our materials, we have used the URL: www.ala.org/csk/homelibraries.

The webpage should suggest the reasons why purchasing a CSK book for a home library is important or fun, assist site visitors with the purchase, and offer supportive material.

The reasons to purchase CSK books could form the main text of this new web page. We propose something like the following:

"Given as gifts, the Coretta Scott King (CSK) Award Winners and Honorees not only help mark special occasions in the lives of youth, such as birthdays, graduations, and a variety of special accomplishments (e.g. in sports, academics, music), they also help strengthen the youth's sense of self, vocabulary, and awareness of the roles African Americans have played in personal and real histories. Though these books express the stories of African American lifestyles, they can help all readers navigative familiar or everyday issues.

Help create or build a youth's personal library by giving a Coretta Scott King book. Your gift will help the youth safely explore the world, yet find themselves."

Accompanying this text would be links (with brief summaries) that assist the site visitor with his/her purchase:

"For Children and Teens -- How to Build Your Own CSK Library": A list of suggestions for children and teens on how to start their own collection. For example:
Ask parents, relatives, and friends to give you CSK awards books for gifts.
If you get an allowance, save it.
If you don’t get an allowance, consider ways that you can earn extra money like mowing a neighbor’s lawn, babysitting, or washing windows for someone.
"Pick the Right CSK Book" = Find a CSK book that matches the recipient's age level and subject interest (Link to our Team's bibliographies that are divided by subject then age)

"Where to Purchase a CSK Book" = a section of links of where to purchase the CSK books online (e.g. http://mail.libraryvisit.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com / http://www.bookweb.org/index.html)

"Get the Book Signed by the Author or Illustrator" = a link to another new page on the CSK website that lists conferences/events where CSK winners/honors authors and illustrators may be presenting and/or signing books

"Add a CSK Greeting Card to Your Gift" = a link to purchase a paper greeting card, a link to download a greeting card (free), and a link to send an electronic greeting card (free) (See example 1.)

SUPPORTING GREETING CARD (example 1)
We have created an example of the greeting card that could be produced in hard copy, as a download, and as an e-card) that would support the giving of CSK books for home libraries.

In our example, the already approved, Kadir Nelson image of diverse children singing that is accompanied by the Coretta Scott King slogan "Lift Every Voice and Read" (http://mail.libraryvisit.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=2440) was used as the cover image while images of the Winner, Honor, and Steptoe Medal are shown in the inside.

Text for the greeting card could be a standard message such as "I Appreciate You" or "You Are Talented" to reflect the message of the CSK books (and Steptoe Award) onto the child.

The general CSK website (www.ala.org/csk) or Home Libraries emphasized website ( www.ala.org/csk/homelibraries ) could be listed on the back of the card to drive further traffic toward the site.

SUPPORTING POSTCARD (example 2)
To further support the Home Library webpage, we have also created a postcard that can be sent out nationally to homes. (See example.)

In our example, we again used the already approved, Kadir Nelson image of diverse children singing that is accompanied by the Coretta Scott King slogan "Lift Every Voice and Read" (http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=2440) as the cover image.

The text focuses on the 2009 Winners/Honorees and directs the recipient to the Home Libraries webpage.

This postcard would not only increase general awareness of the award but also direct the receiver to the proposed Home Library webpage, again to encourage him/her to purchase one for their own or someone else's home library.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Post Card Draft 2



Why not post the first draft, you ask?
The first draft was just my own and first attempts to complete the task. This second draft incorporates some team feedback and my new ideas from that feedback. I am excited to hear what the other team members suggest!
I also have a first draft of the greeting card but will wait for more feedback before I post an image.
I am using Microsoft Publisher to create these mock-ups. The blue and pink lines and text boxes you see above will not appear in the printed versions.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Final Individual Assignments

Though not all team members were able to attend the group meeting on Wednesday, April 8, we were productive. Individually, I also felt productive. I was able to post the meeting minutes to our wiki that same night!

This successful day allowed me to put this EL Project on the back burner for a few days and focus on my other professional commitments. However, a few days have now turned into a week, and I need to start thinking and working on my newly assigned individual tasks:

Text and Mock-Up: Postcards with “Lift Every Voice” slogan and Kadir Nelson illustration on the front and brief CSK information/website (see brochure idea) on the back to be sent out nationally to market the award

Mock-Up (text is done): Creation of a new webpage (text) and CSK “celebration card” to encourage the purchasing of CSK books for gifts/home libraries

It is amazing how less daunting our entire project seems when divided among team members.

I am also now fulfilling the duty of scheduling the group meetings via Doodle. I need to do that ASAP ...

Well, Doodle is experiencing system failure right now, so I'll try again tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Steady Progress

My team continues to make steady progress as we approach our individual tasks, seek each others' advice, and share ideas.

I feel as if we are close to the mid-way mark in developing or completing all of the following ideas:

Bibliographies of the CSK books divided by age
Creation of CSK PSA announcement
CSK Book Club
CSK Greeting Card coupled with marketing of giving of CSK books as gifts
Survey to those who are aware of/using the CSK books

We have another meeting scheduled for tomorrow. We can begin to work out the last kinks as well as start talking about how we want to present these ideas to the CSK committee as well as our Emerging Leader peers during our poster session.