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.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Almost two years into my professional career, I have begun to revisit the notes I took while a graduate student in library school. A week ago, I discovered this quote:

"I have lived on the work that other people have done before me."

This idea is one I have finally come to understand and appreciate.

As I now work at different locations in my library system and continue to network through professional listservs, my peers introduce me to so many ideas ... ideas that spark my own creative juices and renew my passion. Ideas that I build onto.

My early learning science correlations are building on the work of my former professors ... professors like Sue McCleaf Nespeca who suggested storytime "extensions" that went beyond crafts to include science experiments and other subject area explorations ... professors like Michelle Baldini who headed a book correlation project for the K-5 academic content standards that is now posted on the Institute for Library and Information Literacy Education website.


Following this interest of incorporating educational standards into libraries, I recall one session at ALA Annual that has influenced me. It was called "State Academic Standards + Library Programs = Educationally Enhanced Children's Programs."

While librarians do address the standards in the activities we do, we need to be aware of the language used in our community/state and reiterate it during our programs. With Every Child Ready to Read and Saroj Ghoting's Early Literacy Storytimes, librarians now have incentive and even scripts on how to outwardly address the early literacy skills. However, I believe it is important that librarians do this with ALL standards and subjects, not just the area of reading and language.

Librarians do support education, and while we may be conscious of why we do what we do, we need to articulate our rationale to the public. Not only does this raise a caregiver's awareness of a child's ability to learn, it raises awareness of the importance of libraries in the community ... and the awareness that libraries do need levy support to fulfill such services.

LNOSCY

Last Tuesday, I received an email responding to my ALSC Committee Volunteer application form.

I was surprised to see that I had been invited to serve immediately as a member of the Liaisons with National Organizations Serving Children and Youth (LNOSCY) committee for a two-year term.

I am excited and feel strongly about the functions and goals of this committee! I see it as a great opportunity to learn about and market to other child-friendly organizations as well as network with a broader selection of peers and gain leadership skills. This commitment also fulfills my "final" Emerging Leader charge to serve on a "real" committee.

In light of our budget concerns at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and my switch from full to part-time, I was initially concerned about my ability to accept this invitation.

Fortunately, I work in a system that values professional development and supports it as they are able.

I have accepted the invitation!

Call to Action -- Save Our Libraries

Governor Strickland’s proposed budget cuts will reduce library funding by 50 percent. This severe cut would devastate our Mahoning County library system, as well as libraries throughout Ohio.

Libraries will be forced to close.

Please consider calling or emailing the Governor and your legislators to urge them to keep library funding strong. Let them know libraries are essential!
Use the information below or email them using our handy web form at http://www.libraryvisit.org/budget.cfm


The budget will be decided by June 30. Immediate action is required. Names, phone numbers and email addresses are listed below. Also, you can visit our website, libraryvisit.org, for a one-click form to email legislators.

Thank you for your support.

Governor Ted Strickland(614) 466-3555
State Rep. Mark D. Okey - 61st District(614) 466-1464Email: district61@ohr.state.oh.us

State Rep. Robert F. Hagan -60th District(614) 466-9435Email: district60@ohr.state.oh.us

State Rep. Ronald V. Gerberry - 59th DistrictPhone: (614) 466-6107Email: district59@ohr.state.oh.us

Ohio Senator Joseph Schiavoni - 33rd DistrictPhone: 614/466-8285Email: sd33@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Conference Committee for Budget Bill
Rep. Vernon Sykes district44@ohr.state.oh.us
Rep. Jay P. Goyal district73@ohr.state.oh.us
Rep. Ron Amstutz district03@ohr.state.oh.us
Sen. Dale Miller SD23@maild.sen.state.oh.us
Sen. John Carey SD17@senate.state.oh.us
Sen. Mark Wagoner SD02@senate.state.oh.us

Ohio Budget Cuts

I have just heard Governor Strickland's proposed budget cuts, and their unfathomable impact on Ohio libraries, including those in Mahoning County.

http://www.libraryvisit.org/

Please look at the news release link at the bottom left of the page for further explanation.

Please pass on this information.