Graduation and Goodbye...for now

It's hard to believe two whole years have gone by, and on May 10, 2013, I received my Masters in Library and Information Science from Simmons College on a beautiful Spring day at a ceremony by the water at Boston's Bank of America Pavilion.  As my family looked on (yes, they ALL came!) I walked across that stage and accepted my diploma thinking of all the hard work and long hours I've put in.  I felt proud, appreciative and lucky.  Not just for myself, but for all the people who have supported me during these sometimes long and trying two years.  My parents whose constant support has allowed me to reach for my dreams; my husband, who made it possible for me to get this far; my friends, who probably know more about library science than they ever thought they'd learn from proof reading many assignments; my supportive co-workers who pushed me to reach for this goal and made it easy to balance work and school;  the library board of directors who awarded me with the Karen Carter Scholarship Fund for Continuing Education; and the patrons of the Ames Free Library, who have become my own special family.  Without all of you showing interest and encouraging me day in and day out, I don't think I could have made it this far.  This degree is a shared effort, and a little piece of it belongs to each one of you as you helped me trek to the top of a large and difficult mountain.

As many of you know already, I have been honored to be promoted at the Ames Free Library as the new Youth Services Librarian, in charge of Children's and Teen services.  Words cannot describe my happiness at staying in a place I know and love so much and focusing in an area that I feel knowledgeable and passionate. As my chapter as a student ends, a new one as a librarian is beginning and I look forward to sharing that with all of you.   I hope you have learned with me as I wrote this blog, and please stay tuned for a new blog focusing on Youth Services.

As A.A. Milne wrote in Winnie-the-Pooh, "“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”   Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Scoop It!

Pathfinders, or a compiled document that lists books, websites and other materials on a particular topic, have been a useful tool to librarians for years, and a common assignment in library school.  However, as we proceed into the digital age, librarians everywhere are using social media tools in place of hard copies of these lists.  For example, at the Ames Free Library we use Pinterest to highlight new arrivals, staff picks, movies for kids, summer reading and more.

Which brings me to a new social media tool I found out about recently.  Scoop-it is a web-based curation tool, and the idea behind it is a combination of a traditional Pathfinder using a Pinterest style platform that is visually appealing.  I had to create a Scoop-it "topic" for my Children's Literature class.  A topic is a page where one chooses a subject, and uploads "scoops"-websites, books, articles and pretty much anything that can be found on the web to support that topic.  Scoop-it is growing in popularity for school projects and even with libraries supporting school projects, because a teacher or librarian can create a topic and provide students with trustworthy information on exploring that topic.  The topic is also interactive between users, who can comment on the "scoops."  This makes Scoop-it a fun place where teachers, librarians and students can communicate for projects.

Click here to read more about Scoop-it and be sure to check out the topic I curated, Hit it! A History of African Americans in Baseball:inspired by the Coretta Scott King Award Winning Book, "We are the ship:the story of Negro League Baseball" by Kadir Nelson by clicking here.

Misfits: a teen book talk on fitting in

Book-talking is a great way to generate interest in books at the library.  Librarians use book-talking techniques every day when conducting readers advisory, and book-talking can be particularly useful in drawing in reluctant readers too.  Book-talking is often used in school libraries with kids and teens, exposing them to new interests and genres.  Public librarians will often travel with prepared book talks and take them to schools.  My last assignment for Young Adult Programs and Services was to prepare and present a book talk to the class. There are many strategies and guidelines to keep in mind when creating a book talk.  Here are some that I used in my book talk, taken from Gorman and Sullentrop's book Connecting Young Adults and Libraries:

Guidelines:

Choose a theme-but it doesn't need to be an obvious one.  You just need a small link between each book for a smooth transition in your talk.

Choose a mix of old and new books-Teens will get excited seeing popular authors like John Green in your book talk, and meshing new authors with classic titles will show that older titles can still be relevant today.

Book talks should be fairly short, about one to two minutes each book.

Use props-Be sure to bring the books you are talking and if you are doing a particular theme, bring on the visual aids!

Provide a handout -This gives readers the opportunity to read more about the books you discussed so they can request them later.

Know the Books You are Talking-Perhaps the most important guideline of all! Book-talkers should have read the books they are presenting, and be able to discuss them without looking at notes!  To help stay on track, tape a small index card to the back of each book with your main points.

Strategies:

Movie preview style-gives a brief snippet or "trailer" of the book, leaving the audience wanting more.

Sell, Don't Tell-You want to provide just enough information to make readers pick up the book, not so much that you give everything away.

Incorporate a "gross-out"-Include a shocking detail from the book and teens will want to know more!

Include a quote- While book-talkers don't always have to do so, including a snippet from the book is generally a good way for readers to be introduced to the characters and they style of the book being highlighted.

End with a bang-End with a cliffhanger statement that will have readers fighting to get their hands on the book.

Take a look at the handout I created for my book talk, entitled, "Misfits:Young Adult Fiction about Identity, Courage and Acceptance."

Children's Services in Times of Trial and Tragedy

Sadly, there have been many recent events in our society that have forced us to prepare to help children cope with and understand tragedy.  While this topic is a sobering one, it is a relevant one that anyone who works with children must educate themselves about.  I was impressed that my professor of Children's Literature at Simmons created an essay assignment on this topic, specifically for students to think about the library's role in times of trial and tragedy.  Each of us spent some time brainstorming what we thought defined the role of libraries in times of tragedy and ways we thought the library could help children during these times.  We also explored literature on the topic to help us support our thoughts.  In the end, we had a collection of essays that illustrated not only how important the library's role can be during trying times, but that for years libraries have been at the center of supporting their communities in this way.

 I am happy to say that with the help of our professor, we are working on compiling these essays in a published e-book.  I'm not going to include my essay here until the publication process is complete, but if  anyone is interested in reading it ahead of time please contact me.  It's going to be an exciting process to learn how to format an e-book, and I hope to share my learning experience with all of you so you can read about how libraries are staying relevant, strong and invaluable to the communities they serve.

Teen Programs

One of my favorite assignments this semester was a group project where we created teen programs based upon specific library communities.  My group had 3 libraries we covered in our project; the Ames Free Library of Easton, the Brockton Public Library (what a coincidence that one of my classmates is not only a fellow Brocktonian who works at the library, but we also went to high school together!), and the Copley Branch of the Boston Public Library.

Brockton Public Library

Ames Free Library of Easton

The great thing about this project is that we learned to zero in on the specific communities these libraries were serving to plan a program based upon the teens in that community. This included utilizing local organizations to help create programming for the library and build community partnerships.  While these are not "real" programs that have actually been implemented, they all can be and are based upon actual research.  Since everyone in the class created several programs, we are leaving this class with a ton of ideas and program plans that are ready to go or can be be tweaked to fit the communities we work in!

Boston Public Library Copley Square Branch

My group created a slideshow of the 2 programs we organized, grouping together the Brockton and Boston Public Libraries because they both serve large, diverse city populations and a separate program for the Ames Free Library, which is located in a small, suburban area.

Here is our slideshow!

Community Profiles and YA Programs

Analyzing a Picture Book

There are many criteria that librarians and teachers use when deciding what picture books to add to their collections.  That criteria can also extend to easy readers and nonfiction as well.  Our class used Kathleen Horning's From Cover to Cover once again as a guideline to analyze three books over the course of the semester, one picture book, one easy reader and one children's nonfiction title.  Here are the criteria that Horning discusses in her book:

Text

• Structure
• Patterned Language
• Rhythm
• Rhyme
• Repetition
• Questions
• Predictability
• Pace

Pictures

• Visual Elements
• Line
• Shape
• Texture
• Color
• Value
• Composition
• Dominance
• Contrast
• Gradation
• Alternation
• Balance
• Variation
• Harmony
• Unity

Media

• Drawing
• Painting
• Printmaking
• Collage
• Photography
• Digital Art
• Style

As you can see, there are many elements that a librarian must look at when reviewing children's materials.  Take a look at my Visual Analysis of I Love Saturdays y Domingos by Alma Flor Ada and Elivia Savadier to see for yourself!

The Importance of Teen Services In Libraries

This semester's Young Adult Literature class required me to look at young adult services closely from different perspectives.  The assignments included observing teens in their natural environments ( I observed at the mall after talking to my 13 year old niece for suggestions), analyzing teen space and services at local libraries, and looking closely at library policies that effect teen services.  The results of these assignments, with a few exceptions, were pretty depressing.  Young Adult services were nonexistent  in many of the libraries my classmates and I looked at.  Many of the libraries didn't have Young Adult Librarians, space or programs geared towards this population.  These observations bring up a lot of questions.  Why don't libraries have these things? The sad reality is that because of restricted budgets, many libraries focus on children's programming and services and give the teens whatever may be leftover, which usually isn't much time or consideration.  One of the discussions we had in class focused on the message this sends to teens.  When they are children, they are welcomed at the library with loads of activities and a cozy space, but when they get older they are perceived differently.  They are not greeted with the same excitement as when they were kids, and they don't have a librarian all to themselves to ask for reading recommendations or help with difficult school  assignments.  On top of that,  they don't even have a designated space in the library.  That means they either have to sit in the children's room (gasp!) or the adult area (eek!).

So what's the solution? Librarians need to advocate for better Young Adult Services! Teens and parents should also speak up so that libraries will know they need to make changes for the future-and teens are the future of libraries!  They will be adults one day, and we want them to love the library through all the stages of their lives.  They will determine the future of libraries and keep the cycle continuing on.

This class reinforced my passion as an advocate for young adults, and I plan to take these important lessons with me as I move forward into Youth Services Librarianship.

Writing a Children's Book Review

Writing reviews of  books can be a fun and challenging part of being a librarian.  This was an assignment for my children's literature class, and while it was a very short assignment, it wasn't easy.  Book reviews are often used as a selection tool for other librarians so it's critical to follow certain guidelines.  The "bible" our class used was Kathleen Horning's book From Cover to Cover.  Horning discusses how a review should not be confused with literary criticism.  So what is the difference between the two? "Reviews are limited by time and space; that is a review is published as close as possible  to the publication date of the book under consideration and the reviewer is generally limited to a set number of words" (Horning 167).  Giving a concise review that  critically analyzes the style of the book, the language, theme, plot, etc., is difficult when limited to only a certain number of words.  It is a challenging task that encourages the writer to really look at what the most important aspects of the book are when deciding what to include.  Some other points Horning discusses when writing reviews are:

• It's important to have a broad knowledge of contemporary children's literature in order to make comparisons to other works
• Read the book...a few times
• Keep the review to 100-400 words (mine had to be 150!).  This means you must choose your words carefully.

In From Cover to Cover, Phyllis K Kennemer defines 3 common types of reviews:

1. Descriptive-Objective statements about the characters, plot, theme or illustrations
2. Analytical- Statements about literary and artistic elements, including evaluation, comparison, and mention of contributions to the field.
3. Sociological-Judgements based on nonliterary considerations, such as potential controversial elements or predictions about popularity.

The main thing to keep in mind is to not summarize the book itself so much and be more critical of the actual writing or illustrations.

Here is my review of Umbrella Summer by  Lisa Graff, a book recommended to me by my 11 year old niece.

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff, 2009. 235 pages. Scholastic, $4.99. ISBN:978-0-545-23792-5. GR 4-6.

Umbrella Summer is a heartwarming story of love, loss and moving forward.  Eleven year old Annie Richards went from a typical life of riding bikes, making obstacle courses and getting into occasional trouble with her friends to a life of self inflicted hypochondria, obsessive about safety and protecting herself against disease.  Annie’s life changed when her twelve year old brother died unexpectedly of a heart defect.  Now, Annie spends her time wearing protective gear when she does ride her bike, and reading about illnesses and how to prevent them.  Her quirky but caring neighbors and friends try to help her heal, something her parents are incapable of because they are struggling themselves.  When Annie’s extreme behavior begins to affect her closest relationships, a new neighbor moves in.  Mrs. Finch has recently lost her husband, and she gives Annie a copy of Charlotte’s Web.  As the two read and discuss the book together, Annie begins to understand death is a part of life, and that she will find hope and happiness again through honoring her brother’s memory.  Graff's writing style encapsulates a touching tale of coming to terms with grief, making this book an excellent choice for any public or school library collection.

Try your hand at writing a review and let me know what you think!

Spring 2013 Update!

I have a lot of catching up to do! While the Spring semester is well underway (and graduation looms near!) I wanted to update everyone on the fabulous classes I'm enrolled in this Spring and will be posting more about soon! This semester I am taking Young Adult Programs and Services and Children's Literature and Media! Both of these courses are helping prepare me for my future as a Youth Services Librarian.  I'm learning and reading a ton and am inspired every day with exciting program ideas! Stay posted for more as I finish my last semester at Simmons College!

Planning a Library Program

One of my recent assignments was to plan a mock library program.  I based mine on a real idea that I hope to implement at the Ames Free Library.  I learned that a lot of time, staff, resources, outreach and evaluation goes into library programming.  Take a look at my sample program proposal to find out exactly what goes into planning a successful library program.  I'd love to hear from anyone who has implemented a similar manga art program or club at their library!

Manga Art Program Proposal

The following day long Manga Art Program has been carefully built around the large patron group of young adults at the Ames Free Library in the town of Easton.  The purpose of this program is to provide education and entertainment for this population. The performer has been carefully selected by referrals from other librarians in the area and their success with similar programs.  The presenter is experienced and has a detailed website providing information on workshops and even how to start a Manga Club at the library.  The website also gives tips on “how to host a successful workshop” with ideas for Japanese themed snacks, raffles and displays. If this program is popular, the library may want to look at creating a Manga Club that meets weekly to draw and watch movies.  To make this a day long program, an anime film will be shown after the workshop.  Anime is Manga in a film format, allowing patrons to visualize Manga set in motion.

The library will include questions in the evaluation form which will be given out after the program to determine if similar programs would be in the interest of this patron group(please see the Evaluation Form, Appendix A).   If this program is well received and generates interest in other patron groups such as children and adults, workshops are offered for these age groups as well and the library will look into programs that can be created for these patrons.

Description of Program:

Illustrator Andy Fish and his partner Veronica Fish lead a workshop on Japanese Manga for Young Adults. The class covers a history of Manga Art and features a hands-on workshop where patrons begin creating their own Manga Art.  The day long program will begin with this workshop, and then continue with an anime film.

Target Audience

Young Adults, ages 13-17.  This workshop is created for this specific age group, which we hope will draw not only regular patrons of the library but students at both high schools located in Easton.

Cost

$500-$410 for the seventy five minute Manga Art session.  $90 has been reserved for pizza, snacks, drinks and paper products which may not be necessary if these items are donated, as described below.   The number of young adults allowed at the workshop is unlimited so the price is a flat rate as specified by the presenter.

Number of Staff Persons Needed To:

Plan the Program: 2 –The Head of Youth Services Librarian and her Assistant will plan the program.  This includes researching the best day and time for this patron group and adjusting the budget to reflect the cost.  The Youth Services Assistant will look into teaming up with local food stores, many of which will donate food items and paper goods in exchange for being noted as a program sponsor.  This will lower the overall budget for the program and also builds relationships with local businesses. The Youth Services librarians will also select and preview the film that will be shown to reflect age appropriateness for this group.

Promote the Program: 2 –The Assistant Youth Services Librarian will handle promotion of the program by creating flyers and other print materials, some of which are provided by the performer.  The Technology Librarian will be needed to create electronic promotional materials such as e-newsletters and email advertisements.  The Technology Librarian will also promote the program on the library’s social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook and on the library website.

Produce the Program: 2- The Head of Youth Services Librarian and her Assistant will set up the room and create a display of manga novels and how-to drawing materials before the workshop begins.  The Youth Services Assistant will be in charge of food distribution and will present the film.  The Head of Youth Services will introduce the program facilitators and the Assistant Youth Services Librarian will distribute and collect evaluations at the end of the workshop.

Publicity Methods:

As stated above, the library will use a combination of print and electronic publications to promote the program.

Accompanying Library Resources:

A display of related library materials (manga related books, movies and magazines) will be highlighted with promotional posters, etc.  The library copy of the anime DVD  will be used. 

Equipment Needed:

Pencils and paper are included in the price of the workshop.  The presenters will bring their own easel for display purposes.  The library has a large wide screen television and DVD player.  Tables and chairs will be set up accordingly.  Paper plates, napkins and cups will be purchased by the library or donated by local stores.

Refreshments Served:

The presenters want attendees to focus on drawing in the seventy five minute period.  Pizza, snacks and beverages will be provided during the movie viewing following the workshop. 

Audience Evaluations/Reaction to Program:

The library has already generated great interest in a program of this type from the young adult patron group.  After the program, evaluations will be distributed to determine its success.  The library will also look at the number of attendees and observe the workshop itself.  These evaluation methods combine both qualitative and quantitative data to determine the effectiveness of the program.  We hope this program will draw existing and new patrons to the library, promoting the library and all it has to offer to the community.  In times where budgets are being cut and questioned, community support for the library is extremely important.

Appendix A

Evaluation for Young Adult Manga Art Program

1. How did you hear about this program?

1. Advertised at the library
2. Electronic advertisement form the library (Email, Facebook, Twitter)
3. Word of mouth

2. On a scale of 1-5 how satisfied were you with this program?

1 very unsatisfied     2 unsatisfied    3 neutral    4 satisfied   5 very satisfied

3. What did you like best about this program? Please describe below.

4. What did you like least about this program? Please describe below.

5. Would you come to this program again? Please check one:

Yes_____                 No______

6. Would you recommend this program to your friends? Please check one:

Yes_____                  No_____

7. Do you have younger siblings or friends that you think would enjoy a similar program? Please check one:

Yes_____                  No_____

8. Do you know adults that would enjoy this program?

 Yes_____                  No_____

 

9. Would you be interested in a Manga Club at the Ames Free Library?

  Yes_____                  No_____

10. Did the day and time of this program work for you?

   Yes_____                  No_____

11. If not, what days and times are best? Please check all that apply:

Weekdays after school­­­­_____

Saturdays _____

12. Are you interested in similar programs at the library? If yes, please provide your email below: _____________________________________________________

The Science Fiction Genre-The Handmaid's Tale by Maragaret Atwood

When I think of science fiction, I always think of aliens or futuristic worlds with mind boggling technology.  As a librarian, I know I shouldn't generalize a genre like that, and Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" is a great reminder that Science Fiction isn't always so far fetched.  The subject matter of this novel is actually a bit scary because it is so realistic! Here are some general characteristics of a science fiction novel:

-set in the future
-space travel
-technology
-parallel universe
-aliens
-paranormal

An important thing to note is that Science Fiction and Fantasy are different.  Science Fiction is usually based on a turn of events that could actually happen in reality based upon science, while Fantasy is not. I know that is still up for interpretation, but The Handmaid's Tale is a perfect example of science fiction.  Atwood's title focuses on a society that has collapsed and been reconstructed by an extremist group.  Here is my review:

 The world as we know it is gone.  There was once a society just like ours in the past, but the government has been overthrown and the President and Congress have been murdered.  The infiltration of a new regime has been secretly set up over time, and that makes it easier for them to begin a new society that is based literally on the bible. Gilead is a place where women have no rights, there is no money, and children are scarce due to toxins and chemicals that have been released due to war.  Because of the lack of children, one of the positions for women of child bearing age is to be a handmaid.  Handmaids are issued to married couples of stature and their only job is to procreate so Gilead can go on.  Offred (handmaids are named by the man they work for, i.e., “of Fred”) is a handmaid who details her existence in this story.  She remembers the past, her old life (where she worked in a library!), her husband, daughter, mother and friends.  This is Offred’s third post being a handmaid, and also her last.  If she doesn't succeed this time she will be sent to “the colonies,” where women who have no use go and live in extreme poverty cleaning up the toxins of war.  Offred starts out following the rules as she should, but Fred breaks the rules one night and she begins to risk everything for the possibility of change in her life.

This book is set in the future, in what I would call a twisted dystopian society.  There aren't too many technical or scientific details included in this book, but we know money is no longer used, reading and writing is not allowed and that there is heavy chemical use in the warfare.  Women are subordinated and are only worth something if they can get pregnant. 

This book really freaked me out because I feel like something like this could happen! I would hope that it never would, but the overthrowing of modern society was done quietly so that no one knew what was happening and by the time it was over, there was no way to fight it.  It also made me realize how much I appreciate having freedom and rights, and not to take that for granted, especially because there are women in other areas of the world who don’t.

I think readers of literary fiction, dystopian fiction like the “our strange world” sub-genre  and even horror fans who like more a psychological read would enjoy this title.

To find out more about Science Fiction and recommended books check out these sites:
Online Science Fiction Directory
The Universe of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Locus - The Magazine of the Science Fiction Field
The Science Fact and Fiction Concatenation

Assignment 3:Evaluative Report; an INF506 OLJ Entry

Evaluative Statement

The journey through INF506, Social Networking for Information Professionals, has been an informative one that has allowed me to immerse myself in a multitude of social media and networking platforms throughout the semester.  This has introduced me to all kinds of new ways I can introduce social networking into my professional, educational and personal lives to make the tasks I do every day easier and more fun.  I've also learned how librarians and libraries can use these many Web 2.0 tools effectively to build up patronage and advertise services.  “The truth is that in today's over-informed digital business world, where bloated data moves at the speed of thought, it is not who you know that really counts, but who knows you. Professional online social networking tools are invaluable in creating personal brand equity and raising awareness about who you are” (Steckerl, 2007, para.2).  It’s important for library professionals to be on the cutting edge of technology in order for libraries to remain relevant, and this class has allowed me to not only learn these technologies my self but has allowed me to pass them on to my co-workers and the patrons I serve.  While I've studied a lot about social networking this semester, I am going to focus on three topics that I've written about in this online journal over the semester that I believe reflect the core learning objectives of this class.

1.  Delicious, a Social Bookmarking Tool-For class this semester I used many social networking sites such as Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and LinkedIn, but the one I found most useful was Delicious, a social bookmarking site.  I had never used Delicious before and my experience with it was not easy at first because of technological difficulties with the website when trying to "follow" others.  However, I think this first experience was helpful because one of the main points I think people need to keep in mind when using new social sites is to have patience.  When problems arise, it allows users to evaluate the site they are using to determine if it can be used effectively and easily by new users.  The problem with Delicious was resolved after contacting the site's administrators, showing that users and website administrators can work together to fix the issues that arise.  Good customer service is important when trying to determine if a particular social networking tool should be used in an organization. 

As for using Delicious as a social bookmarking tool, the website is very effective.  I was able to add websites, articles and videos to my Delicious account as I browsed the web or completed readings for class.  This helped me build a list of helpful resources to use for my research project and for other work related projects in the library.  Delicious also allows users to use folksonomies, or tags to flag articles with terms that are relevant, making it easier to group items together in your account.   As Rosenfeld (2006) mentions in his blog on folksonomies, this is a way of cataloging, something we know librarians love to do!  “As sites like Flickr and delicious successfully utilize informal tags developed by communities of users, it's easy to say that the social networkers have figured out what the librarians haven't: a way to make metadata work in widely distributed and heretofore disconnected content collections” (Rosenfeld, 2006, para.1). In addition, users can 'follow' other people and see what they are adding and tagging to their accounts.  If there is something relevant, we can add it to our own list of items.  

It is extremely helpful to have one place where I can access and categorize all the resources, readings and even posts from other social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook all in one place of my choosing.  I think this website is an accessible tool for professionals and students alike, making it easy to build lists of resources for purposes such as annotated bibliographies or other research assignments.

Delicious allowed me to learn a new technology and to analyze it's functionality for personal use but also as an information professional in a library setting.

2.  A to Z of Social Networking In Libraries-  AnnaLaura Brown’s (2010)  blog article "A to Z of Social Networking in Libraries" was an extremely helpful one when it comes to analyzing social networking in libraries.  As information professionals, we are always trying to evaluate services to make sure we are meeting the needs of our community in the library.  We should also have a set of guidelines to evaluate our virtual services, and this article allows libraries to do so.  With an informative list of evaluative tips and ways to analyze the library's social networking presence, this blog is something I believe all library professionals should read.  If a particular library is not using social media yet, it is a great list to get ideas from and start setting social networking goals.  If your library is using social media, it helps evaluate how effectively the library is doing so and if you have met some of the criteria already, move onto new goals.  If a library has met all or most of the criteria, they know they are successfully providing important digital services to their users.

Evaluation should be an ongoing exercise in libraries in order to make sure the library is meeting users and employee needs and providing the best quality service possible.  The "A to Z of Social Networking In Libraries" is an excellent tool to measure virtual services, a difficult task if you don't know where to start.  In addition, keep in mind there are many free tools out there to start with.  In a 2006 Library Journal article, Casey and Savastinuk (2010) state, “When thinking about ways to work toward Library 2.0, consider what services your library already offers that could be improved as well as new things that can be added. This includes both technology-based and nontechnology services” (para. 23).  This is another example of how librarians can continue to brainstorm what services they want to add or change.

3.  The Digital Shift and Information Policy-While we all know the world has changed dramatically since we've gone "digital," we don't always think of what else has changed with it.  Now that we are reading e-books in stead of print books, watching videos on YouTube instead of on television and texting instead of talking on the phone, how has this digital shift changed our lives? While there are rules and etiquette we follow in our daily lives, what are the rules we follow online? The idea of information policy, or the rules we follow when we exchange and receive information, are being adapted to fit into this virtual world.  For example, while there are set laws for print copyright, electronic copyright is a bit of a grey issue that publishers have recently been trying to work out.  Also, when providing Internet use in libraries to patrons, libraries must create their own policies for patrons to follow regarding acceptable use, time limits and availability.  There are many example of how information policy must change and adapt with the digital shift, and I believe information professionals must learn about how the library must adapt to these changes and consider the many of the social and ethical management issues that come along with being a digitized learning institution.  This class has prepared me for planning and thinking about the ways libraries need to tackle these issues.  The state library of NSW has compiled a helpful document, “Information for developing social media policies for public libraries” that can help managers begin crafting their own information policies.

Reflective Statement

Social Networking for Informational Professionals has taught me many new technologies and the issues that come along with them.  As a library professional, I believe this class has played a crucial role in my social networking knowledge and development.  This class has allowed me to learn new social networking tools, teaching me to examine those tools as a library professional so that I can determine how they will be used in a library organization, and how to evaluate those tools critically for the value and use they can provide to the library staff and community.  This includes troubleshooting and remaining open to new technologies from a managerial perspective.  As Partridge, Lee and Munro (2010) reinforce, more and more is expected of librarians as Web 2.0 professionals.  A list of expected tasks “included how to write and post to a blog; create, upload, and edit photos, short videos, podcasts and screen casts; edit an avatar's appearance; and, know how to pick up a new device and figure out how to use it” (Partridge, Lee & Munro, 2010, p.2).  It is extremely important to remain open and excited to new technologies in the workplace, as managers set the tone for the rest of the organization, but are also responsible for creating guidelines and information policies.  Social networking should be an interactive way to extend services to the library community and staff support is the first step along the way.  I will take away knowledge of many new technologies, in particular my case study on implementing a Facebook page for teens at the Ames Free Library, and put them to active use.  In addition, I now have tools to implement other new technologies by passing my knowledge on to my co-workers and the community that I serve.  I have tools to evaluate new technologies that we try, and I know that these services must have polices attached to them in order to successfully use them for educational purposes in the library.  This class has been an invaluable learning experience in social networking and will allow me to continue to navigate the Web 2.0 world with a better understanding, an open attitude and an awareness of the issues.

 References

Brown, AnnaLaura. (2010). "A to Z of Social Networking for Libraries |." Social Networking Librarian. Retrieved from http://socialnetworkinglibrarian.com/2010/01/22/a-to-z-of-social-networking-for-libraries/.

Casey, M. & Savastinuk, L. (2006). Library 2.0: Service for the next-generation library, Library Journal, 1 September. Retrieved from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365200.html.

Partridge, H., Lee, J., & Munro, C. (2010). Becoming "Librarian 2.0": The Skills, Knowledge, and Attributes Required by Library and Information Science Professionals in a Web 2.0 World (and Beyond). Library Trends,59(1-2), 315-335.

Rosenfeld, Louis.  (2006).  "Bloug: Folksonomies? How about Metadata Ecologies?" Retrieved from http://www.louisrosenfeld.com/home/bloug_archive/000330.html.

State Library of NSW.  (2008). “Information for developing social media policies for public libraries.”

Steckerl, S. (2007). Survival guide: Online social networking.FUMSI, (September). Retrieved from http://web.fumsi.com/go/article/use/2346.

Interview with a Reader's Advisory Librarian

This past semester, I visited the Brockton Public Library (my hometown library) once again.  The Brockton Public Library serves a large, diverse city population of 94,316 people. I was pleasantly surprised to find the library has a Reader’s Advisory Librarian on duty full time.  I met and interviewed Reader's Advisory Librarian, Paula, who holds a wealth of knowledge regarding Reader’s Advisory.

Paula sits at a desk right across from the new adult fiction, making it easy for patrons to approach her with questions and for recommendations.  Paula’s desk is clearly labeled “Reader’s Advisory” and she even has a sign that says “Please interrupt me!” Paula uses many traditional professional magazines when selecting books, such as Library Journal and Booklist but also relies on other electronic resources like blogs.  Two of her favorite websites she uses when conducting Reader’s Advisory are www.stopyourekillingme.com, a popular mystery and thriller website and www.fantasticfiction.co.uk, a site that has recommendations for several popular genres such as romance, fantasy, thrillers and more.  

 Paula allows patrons to request items for purchase and has a “Recommend a Book” form which is found on hand at the library but also on the website.  The form can be sent in by email through the site for the convenience of the patron.  When purchasing new books, Paula keeps her largest patron groups in mind, such as the elderly and African Americans.  The library has two outreach programs for the elderly where they deliver books to home bound residents.  Paula leads book clubs for these residents, each at a different housing complex.  The patrons agree on a book, mostly fiction but occasionally nonfiction titles as well.  The two current choices they are reading are The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly.  Paula orders a lot of large type, fiction and nonfiction based upon these patrons’ interests. 

            

The library’s website, www.brocktonpubliclibrary.org, contains a plethora of information for Reader’s Advisory.  There is a “Novel Suggestions” part of the site with links to helpful websites such as www.baystatera.com, a local reader’s advisory blog, a Staff Picks section, links to Oprah’s book club selections, African American authors, New York Times Best Sellers, reviews from Barnes and Noble and more! The library also uses an RSS feed on their website which visually displays all the new books at the library, with links to place holds on the books through the online catalog.  As Paula and I wrapped up our interview, I noticed lots of comfortable areas to sit, eye-catching displays of new fiction and nonfiction and, of course, Paula’s welcoming desk. 

To sum up, here are some main points from my interview with Paula:

• Know your community-Paula pays attention to her community's needs, dislikes and likes.  This makes it easier to purchase and recommend books they will enjoy.
• Identify weaknesses-While Paula's position is geared to Adult Services, she is also asked for recommendations by teens.  Because the the Brockton Public Library doesn't have a teen librarian, she is trying to learn more about YA titles that are popular in order to better serve this population.
• Have an arsenal to back you up-Paula relies on particular databases and print resources in order to aid her in her job.  She also uses her experience in Reader's Advisory to create handouts for patrons, opening doors to new authors and titles for them.  In addition, the library website contains a plethora of Reader's Advisory material including websites and lists built by librarians.

Helpful Reader's Advisory Sites:

• Library Journal 
• Booklist
• Stop Your Killing Me
• Fantastic Fiction
• Bay State Reader's Advisory:suggestions from a Massachusetts Librarian
• Killer Books
• Brockton Public Library Novel Suggestions
• Oprah's Book Club
• African American Authors
• Whodunit in new England
• New York Times Bestsellers

 I'd love to know what tools you are using for Reader's Advisory and, as always, I want to know what you are reading!