Teacher Librarian

ALA Publishing Acquires Neal-Schuman

2012-01-05T19:15:00.000-08:00

My publisher! 101+ Great Ideas for Teen Library Web Sites....

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/mobile/moverflow/893150-462/ala_publishing_acquires_neal-schuman.html.csp

Sent from my Kindle Fire

School Librarian - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com

2012-01-05T19:05:00.001-08:00

Fascinating, though rather sad that our profession warrants a discussion about whether we should exist at all.

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/06/26/are-school-librarians-expendable/school-librarians-assessing-the-unassessable

Sent from my Kindle Fire

NYTimes: In City Schools, Tech Spending to Rise Despite Cuts

2011-03-30T15:18:00.001-07:00

Upgrading technology sounds great -- but while laying off thousands of teachers, and with the goal of online testing (not necessarily learning)?

Computers are tools, and not much use without great teachers and librarians.

---

Some local officials are questioning a spending increase as New York City is planning to cut 6,100 teaching positions. http://nyti.ms/hsi6La

Sent from my iPhone

Goodreads.com: Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia

2010-12-25T19:28:00.001-08:00

This is a great social networking site for readers. There is also an iPhone app!

Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia

Gale * Apps * AccessMyLibrary iPhone App * School Library

2010-12-25T19:13:00.001-08:00

Nice! (If you have Gale databases.)

Gale * Apps * AccessMyLibrary iPhone App * School Library

How To Use the Red Laser Barcode iPhone App To Scan Books For LibraryThing.com — Word Wonders

2010-12-24T18:24:00.001-08:00

I suppose I can do this (see link below) since I already have Red Laser – but it seems way too complicated. Hmm, maybe I should try making my own app!

How To Use the Red Laser Barcode iPhone App To Scan Books For LibraryThing.com — Word Wonders

Next Read – 2.0 | Fresh Apps - iPhone Apps

2010-12-24T18:21:00.001-08:00

Another iPhone app for keeping lists of books – also $1.99, though. I’m jealous of my husband’s Droid, since his has so many free apps that serve a similar function! Anyone know of a good, free iPhone app that will allow me to scan books at a bookstore or library and store a list on my phone?

Next Read – 2.0 | Fresh Apps - iPhone Apps

myBooks - iPhone book catalog | Netwalk

2010-12-24T18:18:00.001-08:00

Or try this one if you have an iPhone – but it’s $1.99.

myBooks - iPhone book catalog | Netwalk

What are the Best Apps for Book Inventory on the Droid? |

2010-12-24T18:15:00.001-08:00

Have an Android phone? Try these apps for creating booklists. You can scan barcodes using your phone’s camera!

What are the Best Apps for Book Inventory on the Droid? | Dear Author

MAKE BELIEFS COMIX! Online Educational Comic Generator for Kids of All Ages

2010-12-23T21:06:00.001-08:00

This is one of my absolute favorite resources. My students love making comics, and they can be adapted for all kinds of assignments, from book reports to learning vocabulary words.

MAKE BELIEFS COMIX! Online Educational Comic Generator for Kids of All Ages

Storybird - Collaborative storytelling

2010-12-23T21:00:00.001-08:00

I can’t wait to try this site with my students. They can choose the art and build their books without logging in, but to save, they need an account. I signed up for an account, then was able to create a class worth for students fairly quickly.

I’m looking forward to having them try this and share their work.

Storybird - Collaborative storytelling

Neil Gaiman Asks: Heard Any Good Books Lately? : NPR

2009-12-02T22:00:00.001-08:00

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120769925

Sent from my iPhone

School Library Monthly Blog » Get Your Lesson Plans Published!

2009-11-30T17:53:00.001-08:00

http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/get-your-lesson-plans-published/

Sent from my iPhone

Library Mice

2009-01-27T21:49:00.000-08:00

I have mice in my library, and not the kind attached to the computers. I disposed of two dead ones just last week. I've been putting out sticky traps and have had the exterminators out many times, but the rodents keep on coming back.

It's always entertaining when one of the little critters runs across the room, setting students to screaming and carrying on. I use the mice as a good reason students shouldn't eat in the library, or crawl on the floor (some like to hide under the tables in the hopes that I won't notice and make them go to class).

Even if I ban all student food, we still have our staff meetings and parties in the library, and there is often food involved.

Any tips or ideas? It's a bit of a health hazard. . . .

Teacherlibrarian.org

2009-01-24T17:12:00.000-08:00

Changes are coming to my blog! I bought a new domain name, teacherlibrarian.org, to more closely reflect my new position as a middle school librarian (okay, I switched from the public library more than two years ago, but I'm finally catching up). I still consider myself a teen librarian, but have lately been more focused on the teaching part of my job.

I'm not sure what to do with teenlibrarian.com, and whether I want to keep paying for it. If you want to take it over when it comes up for renewal, let me know.

I'm in the middle of the National Board Certification process right now. I finish in April -- and then just wait to hear whether I passed, with my fingers crossed -- so hopefully I will be able to do more blogging after that.

Teen Ink Magazine: 20th Anniversary

2008-08-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

Teen Ink Magazine, which publishes writing by and for teens, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. See their press release below for more information.
_____________________

PRESS RELEASE:
TEEN INK MAGAZINE CELEBRATES 20th ANNIVERSARY
Reaches out to YA librarians with special offers

Teen Ink Magazine is celebrating its 20th anniversary of publishing the best writing by teens and for teens with a special promotion for librarian subscribers. As part of their 20th anniversary celebration, Teen Ink is offering a 2-for-1 subscription package to any new YA library subscribers. If you have not seen the print magazine, feel free to email for a FREE copy, or request one at http://teenink.com/Sample/. Or, call 1-800-393-1986 to speak with a Teen Ink representative.

Already love Teen Ink? Consider linking your teen page to www.TeenInk.com. A TeenInk.com link means that with just one click, young adults who visit your site can:

-Submit their own work for Teen Ink publication
-Read over 28,000 pages of other teen work
-Read and write for the Teen Ink blogs
-Get Advice on writing, college, photography and much more from teen authors-Check out hundreds of young adult book, movie and music reviews
-And so much more.

Linking is simple and all the instructions are provided online at http://www.teenink.com/About/link.php.

If you link to TeenInk.com on your website or YA page, Teen Ink will also put a link to your library at www.TeenInk.com/Resources/LibrariesR.php.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call at 800-363-1986 or email editor@teenink.com.

Twilight Movie Mania

2008-07-25T10:50:00.000-07:00

Yes, I admit I'm hooked on the Twilight vampire series. I'm signed up for a copy of the new novel, Breaking Dawn, due out Aug. 2. Will Bella become a vampire? Will she choose the mysterious Edward or the dependable Jacob?

But I'm a bit worried about the movie version: Greetings From Twilight- News Page

The actors are just too pretty for my liking, and they look about 25 -- or maybe it's all the makeup. Edward is supposed to be gorgeous, but I thought Bella was, well, sort of average.

Regardless, I know my students will be clamoring for copies. I had better stock up!

MediaShift . D.I.Y. Nation::Cheap Editing Tools a Boon for Media Makers | PBS

2008-05-09T14:53:00.000-07:00

MediaShift . D.I.Y. Nation::Cheap Editing Tools a Boon for Media Makers PBS

Excellent article on tools you can use to edit video, photos, etc. online. I want to try the one that lets you make your own music videos!

Pew Internet: Writing, Technology and Teens

2008-05-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

Pew Internet: Writing, Technology and Teens

Here's a fascinating new study showing that today's teens are constantly writing for pleasure -- blogging, texting, keeping journals, emailing, etc. -- and yet they don't consider it "writing", maybe the same way my students don't consider reading comics and magazines "reading".

I'm sharing this with my English/Language Arts teachers, and will continue to try to encourage more assignments where students use technology to write for class. I love the fact that they enjoy using technology and that writing online is not a painful task, especially when it is for some purpose (sharing information, stories, and opinions) rather than simply something they turn in and only the teacher sees.

School Librarians and Evidence-Based Practice

2008-04-13T14:12:00.001-07:00

There's a very interesting article in School Library Journal about how school librarians should move from explaining what we do (how many class visits, how many books checked out, etc.) to showing the impact we have on students. How do we document learning outcomes? How do we make sure our limited time and energy goes into the kinds of activities that really help students learn?

I'm thinking about how I can do that more in my own library. The standardized tests our students take are not necessarily geared toward measuring information literacy skills, though I have noticed several questions on the English/Language Arts tests about Web sites, so maybe I could look at student responses to those questions. (I could write volumes on whole issue of standardized testing, of course).

Sometime it bothers me that we as teacher-librarians constantly have to prove our worth. So many studies have come out showing that school libraries have a positive influence on student learning. Why do we always have to justify our very existence? Rarely is there a study announcing that students learn more math when they attend a school that employs math teachers. Unfortunately, at least in California, school librarians are seen as "extra", and often the first to go when the inevitable budget crunch hits. It can be a bit depressing to be part of a profession where advocacy sometimes seems more pressing than our actual jobs.

So it's exciting to see that perhaps we are moving on now, from "librarians are a good thing" to "okay, what do we do that specifically increases student learning?". What are the instructional practices that will really help my students learn?

The School Library Journal article lists these questions:

1. How do school libraries impact student learning? How do they help students learn?
2. Do students who have been taught information skills perform better academically?
3. How do we ensure that our school libraries are sustainable and accountable—in infrastructure, personnel, resources, and instructional processes—so that optimal student outcomes are achieved?
4/ How do we spread the word about the impact of school libraries on student achievement and demonstrate their educational, social, and cultural value?

I am interested in the answers to the first two questions. The second two go back to, again, teacher-librarians trying to justify their existence. But if the answers to the first two show that we are improving student learning and performance, maybe that will eliminate the need for questions 3 and 4? We can only hope.

Computers in Libraries 2008: Drupal in Libraries

2008-04-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

LibrarianInBlack: Computers in Libraries 2008: Drupal in Libraries

Here's a great post from LibrarianInBlack about using Drupal in libraries. It's a topic I'm interested in since I just moved teenlibrarian.com onto another content management system, called Joomla. I love the idea of CMSs because your visitors can do things like create their own account, post comments, rate articles, and much more.

I tried out Drupal and liked it, but ultimately felt that Joomla was easier to configure and use.

There are many public and academic libraries using content management systems. I think more schools and districts will eventually use them as well. Another great feature is that the administrator can assign different levels of access to different users, so that some can add content. Right now, I designed and administer my school's web site, as well as the library site, so it's fairly static and only changes when someone asks me to make a change. I'd love to decentralize that structure and let teachers, administrators, and students add their own content, with appropriate levels of approval first.

Is anyone trying Drupal, Joomla, or another CMS for their school or library web site?

The Brown Bookshelf

2008-04-02T18:35:00.000-07:00

Have a look at this fantastic new site, a new online community promoting teen fiction by African-American authors and illustrators. You'll find information about the authors who have come together to say that, yes, there is plenty of quality YA fiction by African-American writers. I will check this site regularly for ideas.

My new library home page

2008-03-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

I've started using Google Apps with my students, and switched my old Dreamweaver web page for an iGoogle personalized start page. I'm still trying it out, but I love that I can give students accounts so that they can customize their pages and access email and Google Docs. Of course, many students fill their pages with games, but I've also seen some adding dictionaries, calculators, notebooks, and other academic tools. I will probably be posting about how this works in the future, as I'm excited about Google Apps and how I can use it in a school library. Plus, it's free!

fd's Flickr Toys: Do fun stuff with your photos

2008-03-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

If you've already got your photos and graphics in a Flickr account, here's a very cool site where you can play with them. Make Read posters out of book covers. Create name badges for your book club members. Make book-related trading cards, jigsaw puzzles, or mosaics. This is the perfect tool for creating bulletin boards! You can also make great widgets and photo galleries for your library web site. Now, if only my school could afford to buy me a color printer. . .sigh.

Top 10 Blogger Hacks and Tips

2008-02-25T09:59:00.000-08:00

Want to customize your Blogger blog? Here are some great tips. I am going to try the one where you can display your most recent comments on a sidebar.

Top 10 Blogger Hacks and Tips MakeUseOf.com

25 Useful Social Networking Tools for Librarians - College Degree.com

2008-02-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

Want to discover some handy new social networking sites? This is a great article. Some of the sites were familiar, while others were new to me. I had never tried Community Walk, for example, which lets you create and share annotated maps. Footnote.com also looks like a site I want to explore for a Civil War project where we will be talking about primary sources.

I would also add diigo.com, which is my current favorite social bookmarking site!

25 Useful Social Networking Tools for Librarians - College Degree.com

Urban Fiction for Teens

2007-09-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad that authors are starting to write urban fiction especially for teens. The urban fiction, or "street lit", genre is a relatively new one, and one that interests me because so many of my students ask for it. Many of the gritty adult titles, though, have graphic sex, rough language, and other content that makes it difficult to defend for my middle school audience. But new street lit titles aimed specifically at teens make my job much easier -- I can give students what they want -- books with urban characters, dramatic problems, and authentic language -- without getting into hot water.

K.C. Taylor is one such author of teen urban novels. She was kind enough to send me two of her books, "Easier Without" and "Any Possible Outcome: A Book of Urban Tales". Both are published by GND Publishing.

"Easier Without" has two main characters -- Cell, a homeless boy with a troubled past, and the privileged Myla, who nevertheless has problems of her own. The two teens fall for each other, but face challenges. Myla discovers that an old boyfriend is HIV positive, and that she may be infected. Cell must struggle to survive and take care of his twin sister, while dealing with his mother's long-ago death and his incarcerated father's criminal past. The story is fast-paced, and the writing has a feel that is very similar to that of adult urban fiction -- sometimes less polished than more mainstream fiction, but always full of emotion and brimming with the drama readers crave. Though the characters deal with mature situations, the language is appropriate for teenagers. Readers will root for Myla and Cell as they struggle to overcome their problems and make their love last.

"Any Possible Outcome" is a book of short stories. In one story, a boy regrets involving his younger brother in gang activity. In another, a new girl in school deals with middle school friendships and intrigue. Poems, instant messaging, diary entries, and lots of dialogue spice up the narration. I especially enjoyed "Minus 15", a story from the point of view of a teenage boy describing his involvement in selling drugs and how he ended up in a correctional facility. His regrets are clear without becoming preachy.

I know both of these books will be a hit with my students, and I hope to see more titles for teens from K.C. Taylor and other writers in the future.

Street lit blog seeks reviews

2007-08-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

There's a great new blog that reviews street lit, also called urban fiction, etc. -- the gritty books my teens can't seem to get enough of. It's at http://streetfiction.org/ , and creator Daniel Marcou (a corrections librarian and author) is also soliciting reviews.

"I am looking for reviews of adult and teen street fiction as well as urban erotica books by authors like Zane or Noire," he writes. So if you've read a street lit title recently, let everyone know what you think!

Need a reason to allow social networking sites?

2007-08-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

If your library or school district bans social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook, consider this new survey. More than half of the students who use them discuss their schoolwork along with their social lives!

Take A Survey for Connecting YAs and Libraries, 4th ed

2007-07-10T14:56:00.000-07:00

Please take the survey here, by Monday, July 24.

More info:

Subject: We need your feedback to make the 4th edition of Connecting Young Adults and Libraries the best, ever!

Hello teen librarians, LSTs, youth advocates, library school professors, grad school students, and anyone else who might have an interest in helping shape the next edition of Connecting Young Adults and Libraries, the book that Mary K. Chelton claims "has everything---clear philosophical goals for the service grounded in developmental assets; an incredible list of how-tos by authors who have been there, done that; a lively text; and a rock-solid understanding of the real kids who need us, not the fantasy kids we often confuse with them.

If you have read or used the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd edition of our professional book, Connecting Young Adults and Libraries, we need your feedback to help make the 4th edition as comprehensive and practical as possible. We will be collecting all survey responses on Monday, July 24.

If you have a copy of any edition of Connecting Young Adults and Libraries, it might be helpful to have it in front of you as you answer these questions. It's not necessary, just helpful. When you're ready to begin, click on the link below to get started with the simple 10 question survey. If you'd like to leave the survey at any time, just click "Exit this survey". Your answers will be saved.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=eXKBV1NeIp9SQ_2bkv6lHj_2fQ_3d_3d

Thanks for your input -- we appreciate it!

Michele Gorman and Tricia Suellentrop
Co-authors of Connecting Young Adults and Libraries, 3rd edition

Public vs. School Libraries

2007-06-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

After almost seven years with San Francisco Public Library, I switched to San Francisco Unified School District last December. I loved working at the public library -- in my time there, I had a chance to work as a teen librarian, adult reference librarian, children's librarian, and branch manager. Far from hushed, quiet, sterile places, the urban libraries where I worked were vibrant, often noisy, sometimes crazy, and always felt like community centers full of people with so many different needs. My colleagues there were incredibly patient and knowledgeable, whether they were helping with in-depth research or coaxing a homeless patron out of the restroom.

But I recently finish my teaching credential, then went back to library school for the 3 classes I needed for my Library Media credential. I'd had my MLIS for 10 years at that point, so it was interesting to go back. My classes this time were mostly online, with a few in-person meetings. I didn't miss the commute from San Francisco to San Jose, but did feel like I had less face-to-face interaction with my fellow students.

Anyway, I'm often asked lately whether I'm glad I made the change. I definitely am -- my students and colleagues are wonderful -- but there are pros and cons. I thought I'd make up a list for anyone considering switching, either from public to school or the other way around.

Pros
____

* Access to students -- all 500+ are right here in the building with me, and when teachers bring them to the library, I have a captive audience! I love booktalking and now I get to do it all the time, instead of maybe twice a year.

* I am getting to know far more teens by name and reading interest than I did at the public library.

* I do readers' advisory in bulk; instead of a couple of questions a day about a good book to read, I get 30 in a class period. That means I really need to be on my toes (and have baskets full of funny books, scary books, etc.).

*A chance to teach library skills to entire classes in a formal setting, rather than one-on-one.

* More regular hours -- no more weekends and nights!

* 10 weeks of summer vacation (and winter break, spring break. . . ) . I love to travel and two weeks just isn't long enough for a "real" trip.

Cons
____

*Funds for books, computers, etc. At least where I am, the budgets seem much tighter in the school district. The public library seems absolutely wealthy in comparison.

* Classroom management -- I kicked a few exceptionally rowdy teens out of the public library, once in a while, but maintaining order is more of a constant job in a school.

* More clerical tasks. My books are no longer processed centrally, and there are no pages to do the shelving (though I'm teaching students to help). I also end up doing a lot of cleaning.

* Lunch break? 15-minute break? What's that? Well, I try to take them, but there's always so much to do. . .

*More concerns about what's appropriate -- at the public library, I didn't worry too much about book content. It could always be moved to the adult section, if necessary.

* Pay. . .the schools pay a lot less than the public libraries, at least in San Francisco (though if I figure it out by the day or hour it's not so bad).

I'm sure there are many pros and cons I'm forgetting. I'd love to hear from others who have switched over from one to the other. What am I leaving out?

Urban Fiction

2007-06-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

I presented at BAYA (Bay Area Young Adult Librarians) on May 22, on urban fiction for teens. It's so exciting to see a growing interest in and awareness of these books. They're controversial, true, with VERY mature content, but also an important way to reach reluctant readers. I'm also interested in which teen books we can suggest to the same audience -- as a middle school librarian, I'm not buying adult urban fiction, but I can get books by African-American and Latino authors with urban themes, if less graphic sex and language.

Since I was revisiting the topic, I added to my street lit page and to the Library Success Wiki's urban fiction area. I revised my PowerPoint presentation and added teen books. I also made a list of urban fiction with Latino characters -- if you have suggestions for that list, which is fairly short, please send them my way. Also take a look at my list of recent (2007) urban fiction bestsellers and my handout for the presentation.

I will be presenting on urban fiction at the California School Library Association conference in November, in Ontario, California, and am looking forward to sharing what I've learned on this topic with other school librarians. At the same conference, I will also present on library Web sites for teens.

101+ Great Ideas for Teen Library Web Sites

2007-04-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

I'm very pleased to announce that my first book is out from Neal-Schuman -- "101+ Great Ideas for Teen Library Web Sites". Here's the publisher's description:

"Think of your library's teen Web site as "Their Space"! Teens want their own space online, and with the help of this new book, you can create a teen library site that's cutting-edge, engaging, and effective in connecting young adults to your library. Here you'll find inspiring examples and ideas from ground-breaking teen librarians across the country.

From ready reference and homework help to forums for creative expression and online discussions, this book will help you take your online teen services to the next level and beyond. Doyle offers ideas for providing online workshops and instruction, homework help, reference services, reader's advisory programming, summer reading, and more via your Web site. In addition to outlining the must-haves of a teen site, she demonstrates innovative uses for the latest technologies, including: • Pocasts • Blogs • RSS feeds • Texting • Instant Messaging • Discussion lists • Wikis • And more"

When I agreed to do the book, I didn't quite realize how much I was taking on! Fortunately, my editor and everyone else I worked with was very patient and helpful. I learned so much along the way, especially about Web 2.0 technologies and how to make Web sites interactive, rather than just places to display information and links.

I hope teen librarians will find the book useful. I couldn't have done it without all of the wonderful school and public librarians I interviewed over the course of about a year -- the tips, tricks, and suggestions they shared were really amazing. Their interviews (and fantastic web sites) make up a good portion of the book.

Thanks again to everyone who encouraged and helped me with this project!

Great new teen librarian blog

2007-02-26T19:32:00.000-08:00

I'm enjoying a new blog called "Zee Says," by a librarian who writes about teen services as well as reviewing movies and YA books. I love the idea of displaying teen books based on the color of the cover (see photo). San Francisco's Adobe Books did something similar a couple of years ago. Could be handy, too -- we've all had a library patron ask for a book and not know the title or author, but vividly remember that "it was green (red, blue, whatever). What we need is an OPAC like this one!

Anyway, "Zee Says" also has some great movie reviews, as well as observations about serving teens. Maybe someone can suggest a different approach to a Teen Study Hall program? Offering food sometimes works. . . .

Top Trends in YA Librarianship. . .for the New Year

2007-01-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

Happy 2007! I was thinking today that I've been a librarian -- mostly working with teens -- for more than 10 years now, and began musing about how the profession has changed in that time. I came up with a few ideas, but I'm sure you can think of many more -- please leave a comment with your input. I would love to start a discussion on where teen books and library services are headed.

My top trends:

1. Manga and graphic novels. This area has exploded -- it's actually very exciting. Now every bookstore, and just about every library, has a graphic novel/manga section. Kids and teens (and adults) are reading Japanese comic books in huge numbers. I love that the teens I'm working with are so enthused about reading the next book in their favorite series, and that they are leaving libraries with stacks of these books.

2. Fantasy. Maybe it was Harry Potter, maybe just the mood of the moment, but I see teens reading and loving fantasy novels more than every before. I read mostly fantasy as a teen, but felt like it wasn't necessarily the coolest thing to do (and it was mostly from the adult fantasy/science fiction shelves of the library). Now there is still a demand for realistic fiction, of course, but almost everyone seems to be reading and talking about the latest fantasy series. Really wonderful!

3. Technology. I'm very excited about opportunities to offer services to teens online. Libraries have had web pages for teens before, but now with blogging, instant messaging, social networking, wikis, podcasting, etc. there are so many ways to reach teens. Web 2.0 also offers opportunities to let teens contribute, rather than being passive consumers of information. I'm looking forward to seeing more book discussion and reader's advisory services online, and more online communities of teen readers.

4. Teen participation. This has always been important -- I had a teen advisory council when I first started out as a librarian -- but I think that more recently librarians have realized that this is absolutely crucial. Adults may have a lot to offer teens, but they have just as much to offer us, and instead of trying to give them what we think they need, we have to let them shape the services.

What else? I know there are many things I'm missing from my list. I'm looking forward to hearing what others think!

YALSA on MySpace

2006-12-27T09:29:00.000-08:00

In my upcoming book from Neal-Schuman, "101+ Great Ideas for Teen Library Web Sites", I discuss the pros and cons on creating a library profile on MySpace.com. It's controversial to some, but I think it's important that we go where the teens are on the Internet -- and right now, like it or not, teens are on MySpace. So I was happy to see that YALSA has created a MySpace profile. I've asked to be added as a friend (my profile is at http://myspace.com/teenlibrarian).

Libraries and teen gaming

2006-12-27T09:27:00.000-08:00

Great article about how the Broward County Library System has embraced gaming.

Sagebrush Award for outstanding program

2006-10-26T18:55:00.000-07:00

Here's an opportunity to show off your YA program and get $1,000 grant for the upcoming ALA conference:

"Apply now for the 2007 Sagebrush Corporation Award For A Young Adult
Reading Or Literature Program!

Are you a member of YALSA? Have you developed an outstanding reading and/or literature program that brought books and young adults together to foster a life-long love of reading? Come on, don’t be so shy! You know you have and you should get credit for it! The Sagebrush Corporation Award seeks to do just that! Every year, a grant from the Sagebrush Corporation provides $1000 to support the winner’s attendance at an upcoming ALA Annual Conference. So why not give it a try? You can get more information on the Award and the application form at:

http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/awardsandgrants/sagebrush.pdf

The deadline for the Sagebrush Award is December 1, 2007."

Library 2.0

2006-10-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

Though it's not specifically about services for teens, an article in this month's Library Journal called "Library 2.0" is an excellent overview of the subject. The article talks about how libraries need to become more user-centered and treat the customer as a collaborator (for example, allowing users to comment on items in the library catalog, or to participate in blogs and wikis).

Social Networking on YALSA Blog

2006-10-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

If you've always meant to learn more about social networking sites, YALSA's blog is presenting ""31 Positive Uses of Social Networking" this month, in response to DOPA (the legislation that would outlaw these Web sites in schools and libraries). So far, bloggers have discussed sites like Flickr, Digg, and del.icio.us.

Teen Book Discussion Blogs

2006-09-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

Over at the Alternative Teen Services site, they're talking about teen book discussion blogs (the one at Seward Memorial Library is pictured). I can't help thinking that this is just the kind of thing DOPA would unfairly block. Already, one librarian complains that it's hard to get teens to comment because they can't access the blog from the schools.

Patrick Jones on SLJ cover

2006-09-05T19:14:00.000-07:00

There's an excellent interview with Patrick Jones in the August issue of SLJ. I especially liked what he had to say about mentoring other librarians, since he was so encouraging this past year as I worked on my first professional book. Teen librarians as a group also owe a debt to Patrick, as the article points out. He's really been instrumental in shaping teen librarianship as a profession. I know we are all rooting for him as he starts a "new" career as a young adult author.

Interview with Robin Brenner

2006-09-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a great interview with Robin Brenner of No Flying, No Tights! She talks about how she got interested in graphic novels and the book she's writing on Japanese manga.

Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA)

2006-08-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

Like many other librarians, I'm very concerned about DOPA. Here's a summary of the bill, from the ALA Web site:

"DOPA is short for the Deleting Online Predators Act, the name given to H.R. 5319, which requires schools and libraries to block access to a broad selection of web content including 'commercial Web sites that let users create Web pages or profiles or offer communication with other users via forums, chat rooms, e-mail or instant messaging.' The bill blocks users from accessing sites like MySpace from schools or libraries, as well as access to a wide array of other content and technologies such as instant messaging, online email, wikis, and blogs."

DOPA passed in the House of Representatives on July 26, much to my dismay. It now goes to the Senate. I've already contacted my senators to let them know that I oppose DOPA, and also signed an online petition. While I understand the concern about the safety of children and teens, I think it would be far simpler more effective to teach them (and their parents) how to go online safely and to avoid giving out personal information. Simply prohibiting certain Web sites -- and many, many sites fall under the definition above -- is ridiculous.

Beth Yoke, Executive Director of YALSA (Young Adult Services Association), testified against the bill -- you can read her statement here.

If you'd like to take a stand, sign this petition and contact your senators. For more information, check this wiki.

Teenlibrarian blog archives fixed

2006-07-31T20:27:00.000-07:00

There is a very nice review of Teenlibrarian.com in the current issue of Young Adult Library Services, The Official Journal of the Young Adult Library Services Association, this month (Volume 4, Number 4, Summer 2006). The writer urges teen librarians to make heavy use of the forum, post comments, etc., which would be wonderful. The review does mention that my archive links are not working, so I have now repaired those links and readers should have access to all of my past posts.

Teen Lib Wiki

2006-07-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

I've been posting teen info to the Library Success Wiki, but now I see that there's a new wiki from the librarians at the Alternative Teen Services blog. I'm looking forward to seeing it grow. I love the idea of a wiki (where anyone can be one of the editors and contribute information), maybe because I'm sort of lazy and would rather add a book title or snippet of information here and there instead of compiling a whole booklist, etc. myself. I had a wiki on Teenlibrarian.com briefly, but had problems with vandalism. I see there are aready some great starts on booklists and resources on Teen Lib Wiki, so be sure to head over there and contribute your own wisdom and ideas!

Teenlibrarian.co.uk

2006-07-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a site for teen librarians in the U.K., also called Teenlibrarian! It looks like it's just getting off the ground, but it already has tons of good information. There is also a monthly newsletter called Teen Librarian Monthly with three issues out so far. I'll be excited to check back and see the promised new resources.

Teen spaces at public libraries

2006-07-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice article from the Times-News in Twin Falls, Idaho, about the Jerome Public Library's new teen space. I especially like the description of the domed listening station that allows teens to listen to music with disturbing other patrons. Also mentioned is the "Homework Cafe" with sodas, snacks, and coffee drinks. Twin Falls Public Library apparently has plans for a new teen room with a juice bar!

Booktalk Podcast

2006-06-07T15:59:00.000-07:00

Nancy Keane's "Booktalks -- Quick and Simple" Web site is now offering audio talks! To listen, go to http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/podcasts_list.htm and click on the title of the book you want to hear about. You can also subscribe by using iTunes -- enter http://www.nancykeane.com/rss.xml as the URL. The talks are short, snappy and have a little intro music as well. This seems like a great use of podcasting, and I'm looking forward to hearing more.

Interview with Patrick Jones

2006-04-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

I just posted an interview with Patrick Jones on the main page of my website, www.teenlibrarian.com, but you can go directly to the interview by clicking here. I also review the book here.

Video interviews at SLJ.com

2006-04-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

School Library Journal is now offering video interviews with authors. I'm looking forward to their next interview with Markus Zusak, author of "The Book Thief". I also watched and enjoyed an interview with Kate DiCamillo. I hope they'll continue this series! Visitors are required to register first, but it only takes a few minutes.

Patrick Jones wins Scholastic Library Publishing Award

2006-03-16T10:13:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Patrick Jones, teen librarian extraordinaire, who just won an award for being "a librarian who has made extraordinary contributions that promote access to books, encourage a love of reading for lifelong learning, and exemplify outstanding achievement in the profession". I just finished reading Patrick's latest young adult novel, "Nailed", and was very impressed. I'll be posting an interview and a review of the book on teenlibrarian.com next month.

New York Times article on "Gossip Girls", "The Clique", etc.

2006-03-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

An interesting article in the New York Times book review this week, by Naomi Wolf. She criticizes books like "Gossip Girls" for making wealthy, brand-obsessed "mean girls" into role models for readers. In most teen fiction, the uncool, unpopular character is smarter and more thoughtful than the mean girls, and triumphs in the end. But Wolf says that in these books the uncool characters aspire to be like the rich, conventionally pretty girls, rather than showing them up. The characters are also obsessed with status and brand names, and buy into the adult values rather than challenging them.

I have to admit that I've only read half of the first Gossip Girls novel, before getting bored and putting it down, so I can't say whether I agree with Wolf's critique. If the novels really are as she describes them, she has a good point. My impression was that the novels are pretty escapist and fluffy, a glimpse into a wealthy lifestyle most readers haven't experienced and perhaps don't necessarily aspire to, but find intriguing.

I do like the fact that Wolf is more upset by the materialism than by the sex in the books. That's a first!

Librarians defend urban fiction

2006-02-19T20:35:00.000-08:00

I'm very interested in African-American urban fiction, since patrons at my branch (particularly teens and patrons in their early 20s) are so eager to read this genre. As I've written in two VOYA articles, these books have very adult themes -- drug dealing, graphic sex, etc. -- and also are often self-published and poorly edited, but I do think they belong in libraries because of the demand. The latest issue of Library Journal includes an editorial saying much the same thing.

Looking for Alaska

2006-02-19T20:27:00.000-08:00

Since John Green's "Looking for Alaska" won the Printz award last month, I read it recently. I found it absolutely breathtaking -- wonderfully written, totally absorbing, and completely worthy of the award. I also read the Newbery winner, "Criss Cross". While it was well written, it just didn't hold my interest, and I can't see myself recommending it to any but the most introspective, thoughtful young patron. I felt the same way about last year's Newbery winner, "Kira Kira". Gorgeously written, but (at least until the sister gets sick) not very absorbing. Meanwhile, the last two Printz winners were wonderful, in my opinion, and also had high teen appeal. Maybe it's just that I like teen fiction so much -- though there have been many, many Newbery winners I adored -- but I think the Printz committees are picking winners more often lately. Anyone else noticed this, or is it just me?

YA lit publication dates

2006-01-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

Another cool new site -- this one lists publication dates for new YA fiction. Users can also post comments about the books. I'm definitely adding YAlit.com to my list of web sites to visit!

yalibrarian.com

2006-01-20T10:54:00.000-08:00

I just discovered a great new blog by two librarians who work with teens. They even mention my teenlibrarian wiki in one of their posts (I have to admit, the wiki was kind of an experiment, and not something I thought through at length, so I agree with their critique -- and I'm happy to have the YAbooklists site at referencelinks take over.) Anyway, this is a very thoughtful blog and I'm looking forward to becoming a regular reader. They also have links set up for programming, YA books, etc.

Delve into the minds of YA authors. . .

2005-12-08T12:47:00.000-08:00

From Young Adult Librarian Erin Downey, here's a list of blogs by the authors of YA literature. Authors with blogs include Meg Cabot, Gail Giles, Laurie Halse Anderson, Sarah Dessen and many more.

It's fascinating to read about their personal lives, their work habits, and their thoughts on young adult books, teen culture, etc. Laurie Halse Anderson, for example, ponders whether in a society where academic and economic success is so highly prized, teens are learning that achievement is more important than compassion. A lengthy discussion follows on the comments part of her blog.

Latest on Fayetteville/Laurie Taylor

2005-09-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

There's some relatively good news in the case of Laurie Taylor, the Fayetteville, Arkansas woman who wants to ban more than 50 books from school library shelves. From the ALA website:

"The Fayetteville (Ark.) School Board voted 4–3 September 15 to reverse a May decision that had moved It’s Perfectly Normal, It’s So Amazing, and A Teenage Guy’s Guide to Survival to the parenting collections in the schools’ media centers. The three titles were ordered returned to the general circulation area; however students will continue to have limited access to the books."

Manga for Girls -- NY Times

2005-09-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

An interesting article in last week's New York Times on manga's appeal to teen girls is getting a lot of attention. I love it that the fans are pushing for uncensored manga, and winning. Unfortunately, the article has some elements of the recent trend toward trying to "shock" parents with a "you'll never believe what your teen is reading these days" slant.

Podcast #5: Interview with author Mary E. Pearson

2005-09-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

I'm posting my fifth podcast today, an interview with young adult author Mary E. Pearson. Her most recent book, "A Room on Lorelei Street", is the story of Zoe, who decides to rent a room rather than live with her alcoholic mother. On the podcast, the author discusses her inspirations for the novel, her background as a teacher, her writing process, and the teen novel she's working on now.

For more about Mary E. Pearson, read her profile and interviewon Teenreads.com. She also has a website and a journal.

"Books that don't make you blush"

2005-09-02T11:10:00.000-07:00

Perhaps in response to an MSNBC story on YA fiction, where a parent the reporter interviewed said, "“It’s either fantasy or smut — and that’s sad," YALSA has released a list of "clean" fiction.

Parents Protecting the Minds of Children

2005-09-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

This is the web site for the group trying to ban books in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I especially love the link to the "pornographic" pictures from "It's Perfectly Normal". The site also has summaries of 20 books deemed "school library porn" and then 35 more that are supposedly "worse than the first 20 if possible". Laurie Taylor, the woman leading this censorship effort, offers telling comments such as "For those who didn't already know, now you know what Diversity Means!!!
The promotion of the homosexual agenda!!!" Hmmm, I think we know what HER agenda is. . . The site also provides contact information for newspapers and school board members -- supposedly for supporters to use, but hopefully those of us who are fighting this (in Taylor's words, "national and international leftist organizations including Wiccan and witch organizations") will make our voices heard, too.

"New Trend in Teen Fiction: Racy Reads"

2005-08-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

MSNBC follows the Wall Street Journal and New York Times in reporting on how "racy" teen fiction has become, featuring -- of course -- "Rainbow Party" along with "Teach Me", "Claiming Georgia Tate", and teen series fiction like Gossip Girls.

Read the story or watch the video segment here (Click "Launch" to watch).

Says one parent, “It’s either fantasy or smut — and that’s sad.” Huh?

Another quote: "One mom who unknowingly bought her daughter a book about a prostitute said, 'I was more shocked with the fact that I allowed her to read it… that I didn’t even know she was reading it.'"

So maybe Mom should have paid a little more attention? Gosh, how tragic that parents might have to at least read the back cover before handing a book to their kid.

Part of the problem is that the segment interviews mainly 13-year-olds, ignoring the upper end of the 13-18 age range. I also found it interesting that the 13-year-old girls interviewed were all decked out in full makeup, hair, and clothes that made them look much, much older than their early teens. Clearly these are girls in a hurry to grow up. Is it any surprise, then, that they want to read about sex and scandal, just like adults do? If we as a society want kids to stay kids longer, that's an issue that goes much deeper than what kinds of YA books are getting published.

Podcast #4: Interview with Joel Shoemaker

2005-08-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

For this podcast, I interview Joel Shoemaker, a middle school librarian and past president of YALSA, about his experiences reviewing books. If you've ever read reviews in School Library Journal, VOYA, or another review source and wondered about the people behind them, here's your chance to get the inside scoop. If you're interested in writing book reviews, or do so already, Joel has great suggestions on how to get started.The complete podcast runs about 30 minutes.

Here are some links related to the podcast:

School Library Journal's checklists for reviewers (scroll down and look for "SLJ.com Xtra" on the right-hand side of the page.
Apply to be a reviewer for SLJ.
Read SLJ's book review policy statement.

If you haven't subscribed to the Teenlibrarian podcasts yet, here's the feed:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/Teenlibrarian

You can also listen on your computer by clicking on a link to the audio file. I'm linking to all of the podcasts from the teenlibrarian.com home page. The list is underneath the listing of most recent blog postings.

If you like the podcast or have suggestions, please post a comment to this blog item or call the audio comment line at (206) 333-1877. I'm also looking for authors, teen librarians, or others to interview. If you're doing an innovative library program for teens, I'd like to talk to you!
Find out how to become a VOYA reviewer and how to submit articles.

This American Life -- Rock Concerts in the Library!

2005-08-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Scroll down to Image Makers8/5 -- Episode 294 -- to listen to the following story using Real Audio:

"Act One. Dewey Decibel System. Alex Blumberg tells the story of an audacious act of rebranding done by a group of people who aren't normally thought of as very audacious: public librarians. In Michigan, they've started staging rock concerts in libraries. The band that's been thrown into the experiment – The High Strung – couldn't be more perfect for the job. (22 minutes)
Song: "Shut Up In the Library," by Barry Lewis Polisar"

Podcast #3: Interview with VOYA Editor Cathi Dunn MacRae

2005-08-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

Now that the worst of my recording problems are resolved, I'm pleased to announce my third podcast, an interview with Voice of Youth Advocates editor Cathi Dunn MacRae. She talks about how she became VOYA's editor (almost by accident), gives a behind-the-scenes look at the magazine, and describes some of the new features in VOYA's future. The focus of interview is on how teen librarians can get published, from book reviewing to submitting articles. For anyone interested in submitting their work to VOYA, adding professional publication credits to their resume, or just getting free copies of new books to review, this is a great resource.

For additional information, be sure to read VOYA's newly revised Submission Guidelines.

Also, Cathi e-mailed me after the interview to say that she would also like to mention a new article series she's starting in October, called "How Can We Help?" It deals with how to support teens handle personal problems. As she points out, librarians often form close relationships with teens, and then find out about their problems and want to assist them. How much support and intervention can we provide? The first article is an interview with an a nationally known adolescent psychiatrist, who has written a book about depression in youth. Cathi is looking for teen librarians who would like to share their experiences in this area. If you have something you'd like to contribute, she can be contacted through the VOYA web site.

My thanks to Cathi for doing the interview, and also to Greg Schwartz of Open Stacks for his technical advice and his kind words of encouragement. If you haven't listened to his podcasts on all kinds of library issues, give them a try -- you'll be hooked, as I am. He is definely leading the way as far as library podcasting.

Sex, Drug Deals, and Drama -- My VOYA Article

2005-08-01T18:36:00.000-07:00

This is a bit of shameless self-promotion, but I was very excited to see my article for Voice of Youth Advocates -- on African-American urban fiction -- online today as a PDF with a gorgeous cover graphic. The latest issue focuses on minority teens in the library.

Another article in the same issue, by Linda W. Braun, talks about emerging technologies to use with teens in the library. She writes about wikis, RSS and podcasting, and Skype -- three technologies I'm just trying out on the Teenlibrarian website. Also covered are text messaging, tagging/folksonomies, and Creative Commons. A wonderful article, with a list of resources at the end that will be handy for anyone trying to keep up and learn more.

This American Life

2005-08-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Be sure to listen to This American Life the week of Aug. 5-7 (check your local listings). One segment is as follows:

"An institution with the least cool image imaginable attempts a drastic makeover, with the help of a Detroit rock band."

That institution is, of course, the library. The show looks at a rock concert held in a Michigan library by YA librarian Bill Harmer. I'll post a link to the RealAudio version after the show airs.

Article about teen librarians in PAGES

2005-08-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a great article about library services to teens in the online edition of PAGES magazine. It begins:

"They're hip, young, and loud, far more likely to be shushed than to shush. Some are pierced and tattooed, but most look subversively mainstream. They share a passion for libraries and teenagers-and the radical belief that the two belong together. Against a backdrop of a surging youth population and young-adult publishing boom, a new breed of librarian is targeting teens with funky websites, unusual activities, and cool places to crash that are all their own."

Those interviewed include VOYA editor Cathi Dunn MacRae and teen librarians Dawn Rutherford, Tricia Suellentrop, and Jennifer Hubert.

Ann Brashares on "Rainbow Party" and Book Ratings System

2005-08-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

A good article in the opinion section of the New York Times on Sunday by Ann Brashares, author of the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" series, on whether we need a rating system for young adult fiction. At first I was worried that she was endorsing such a system:

"'Rainbow Party' is not contraband in any obvious way. It's published by a children's division and sold in bookstores' young adult sections, which are usually in or adjacent to their children's sections. By its look, title and placement in the bookstore you would have no idea what you were getting. And you should at least know.

So what's the best way of telling you? Should publishers put a ratings system in place? It seems to work effectively for movies and electronic games. It's a fairly simple solution. If a book has obscenity, sexual content, drugs and drinking and violence, publishers could put an M for "mature content" on the cover."

But read a bit further and you'll find that she discusses the implications and how impossible to it would be to do it. Her insights and suggestions are good ones, and I'm glad she's not caught up in the hysteria sparked by this one book, "Rainbow Party."

Thinking Inside the Box: Games, Teens and Libraries

2005-07-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

Here's an audio presentation you can listen to online, from Bloomington Public Library, on Thinking Inside the Box: Games, Teens and Libraries. Scroll down to the July 15 program and choose from downloadable mp3 or WMA audio files, or listen to streaming audio and also view a slide show with links. This is from OPAL: Online Programming for All Libraries. What an great concept! The presentation is 93 minutes, so I've only listened to bits and pieces so far, but librarians discuss BPL's Game Fest and take questions. The site also offers a podcast.

Update on 70 Titles Challenged in Arkansas

2005-07-22T16:37:00.000-07:00

From comments in this editorial, it seems that the woman who kicked up all the fuss is backing down a bit -- now she doesn't want the books banned, she just wants parents to be aware that they are available. Okay, great, but then she goes on to say:

"These books are not factual books. These books are slime... This is pandering sex. It’s irresponsible and it’s without parents’ knowledge ... It promotes threesomes, abortion, unsafe sex, homosexuality. This stuff is vile."

So, "GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer and Questioning Teens", one of the books on her lists, is "slime" and "vile"? I don't think so. I hope she isn't able to push her personal opinions onto others, or make the librarians in the school district think twice before ordering titles they would otherwise select.

Another Article on "Shocking" YA Novels

2005-07-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

Ever since the Wall Street Journal published its article warning parents about racy teen fiction, there have been many copycats. Here's a quote from another one:

"The latest novel by Cecily von Ziegesar opens something like this.

Blair and Nate are naked in bed, smoking cigarettes and not caring that the open blinds in Nate's luxurious Upper East Side town house expose them to neighborhood Peeping Toms. The doorbell rings. Nate's pothead friends have popped by, and soon the guys are doing bong hits on the roof.

Von Ziegesar's 'Nobody Does It Better,' the seventh installment in her best-selling 'Gossip Girl' series, seems like it should share shelf space with Jackie Collins and Danielle Steel. But her books can be found in the young-adult section, aimed at tweens and teens who are scooping up the often-racy adventures of von Ziegesar's privileged, Prada-clad high-schoolers."

At least this article quotes an editor at Booklist and also a Teen Vogue writer who describes the books as "escapist fantasies". And, thank goodness, no mention of the ever-controversial "Rainbow Party"!

Podcast #2: Anime & Manga at the Library

2005-07-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

I'm posting my second podcast today. I started out thinking I would do it on graphic novels in general, but then ended up changing my focus a bit to concentrate on manga (with some information on anime thrown in). The podcast is about 20 minutes long and features an interview I did with a librarian who has some great insights about the subject -- she offers suggestions on what to read if you're just discovering manga, talks about some of the publishing trends, points out good online sources for reviews and information, and much more.

As I mention in the podcast, I had some technical difficulties with the interview, but I think you'll still find it interesting and useful. Please e-mail me with any suggestions, leave a comment below, or call the audio comment line I've set up at (206) 333-1877. You can record a comment that I will add to the next podcast.

Anime/Manga Resources

The librarian I interviewed for Podcast #2 frequently blogs about anime and manga at TangonaT. She also suggests the following two blogs and a website:

Love Manga
Irresponsible Pictures
Comics Worth Reading: Comic Book Reviews and Recommendations

The GNLIB (Graphic Novels in Libraries) website and listserv are great resources.

Voice of Youth Advocates has a terrific article (by Kristin Fletcher-Spear and Kat Kan) available only on their web site about library anime/manga programs. In addition to profiling several anime-related library programs -- from screenings to review groups to comic-book creation clubs -- the article includes an annotated list of new anime and an "Anime Contact List" to help librarians get screening permission.

Librarian's Guide to Anime and Manga
An excellent source of general information, with a list of "special considerations for librarians" as well as definitions and resources. Compiled by Gilles Poitras, author of "The Anime Companion" and "Anime Essentials". The site also includes lists of recommended titles.

No Flying No Tights
An excellent source of graphic novel reviews, created by a librarian.

Warning Labels for Teen Books?

2005-07-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

That's what was suggested for the Guilderland, NY, teen collection. Fortunately, library trustees voted against the proposal, which was initiated by one library trustee who felt that parents needed help to monitor their teenagers' reading.

On the other hand, a few "sexually explicit content" stickers might boost circulation. . .

Alloy Entertainment Inc.

2005-07-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

An interesting article about the publisher behind hot teen series such as Gossip Girl, The A-List, The Clique and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (and, it turns out, Sweet Valley High). From the article:

"Alloy Entertainment operates more like the romance novel industry than a traditional trade publisher. It has a staff in New York of about 10 editors who diligently research what's hot in the teen world -- what girls are wearing, the music they like, the TV shows they TiVo. . . Staff members are in charge of everything about the book, from creating ideas to finding writers, crafting proposals for publishers and creating the sleek cover art. The company then sells the book, but keeps all the other rights. As many as 50 are published each year."

"CSI" Teen Program

2005-07-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a great idea for a teen program. From the article:

Scott Brauner goes to the Highlands-Shelby Park library every day to see friends, read good books and hang out.

Next week, Scott, a Shawnee High School sophomore, will have another reason to visit: to learn about crime fighting when the Louisville Free Public Library's holds a weeklong "CSI At the Library" teen workshop series.

Read more here.

Glad I Don't Work in Cleveland County, NC. . .

2005-07-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

. . .where the children's services manager was quoted in the local paper as saying, “Any kind of really racy thing, we wouldn’t be allowed to order.” This was in reference to books such as "Rainbow Party" and young adult novels that contain sex and drug use. An excerpt from the article:

Barbara Wakefield, the children services manager for Cleveland County Library system, said racy books for young adults would probably not end up in the library.

“Any kind of really racy thing,” she said, “we wouldn’t be allowed to order.”

Carol Wilson, the Cleveland County library director, said staff members read book reviews in industry publications before deciding which books to purchase.

Sometimes that means just ordering what is most popular, and those might not be so racy.

“If people have requests, we look into it,” Ms. Wakefield said. “We don’t have a lot of money to spend on young adult books, so we usually order books that have won awards or are for the Battle of the Books. We do have popular series like ‘Harry Potter’ or ‘Left Behind.’”

First Podcast!

2005-07-07T10:37:00.000-07:00

Here's my first attempt at podcasting, a discussion of the recent Slate article attacking young adult fiction as trite and simplistic. I talk about the article and read responses to it from blogs and other sources. It's about 11 minutes long. If you haven't listened to podcasts before, I have included some technical hints at the end of this post.

As I say in the podcast, I hope to have some interviews and audio comments to use in the next segment, but I wanted to get something up quickly to try this out. I'd appreciate comments and suggestions -- you can leave a comment below, or e-mail me at mirandadoyle@yahoo.com. I also have an audio comment line at (206) 333-1877 (a Seattle-area number). You can call and record a comment that I will add to the next podcast.

If you're interested in hearing future podcasts, you can subscribe to my feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Teenlibrarian

TECHNICAL TIPS:
If you haven't listened to podcasts before, it's very easy. Just click on the headline for this post to listen on your computer. You will need to plug in a pair of headphones, or listen on speakers. You may be asked what program you want to use to listen -- RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, etc. If you want to download the audio to your MP3 player, you can use the feed below. . .

http://feeds.feedburner.com/Teenlibrarian

. . .along with a program like iTunes or iPodder (you don't need to have an iPod; any MP3 player should work, though you may need to transfer the files using the software that came with your device).

"Rainbow Party" Article

2005-06-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

A New York Times article (login may be required) takes a look at whether teenage oral sex parties are for real or simply a media phenomenon. The controversy over the book has apparently sparked concerns. Opinions are mixed -- many teens say they've heard the term and know of someone (hmm, sounds like one of those "friend-of-a-friend" things, which makes me think it's an urban legend)who has gone to one. Of all the things out there for parents to panic about, this seems like it should be low on the list of worries. Maybe the book will spark some discussions between parents and their teens about whether oral sex is "real" sex, though. . .could be a good thing.

70 Books Challenged in Arkansas

2005-06-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

We almost expect to hear about a book challenge here and there, but 70 titles at one time? That's how many "inappropriate" books a parent claims she found in Fayetteville school libraries. Those books include Judy Blume's "Forever" as well as some more recent titles, such as "The Homo Handbook: Getting in Touch with Your Inner Homo" by Judy Carter, "The Other Woman" by Eric J. Dickey, "Rainbow Boys" by Alex Sanchez, "Doing It" by Melvin Burgess, "Choke" by Chuck Palahniuk, and "GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer and Questioning Teens" by Kelly Huegel. Most are located in the high school library.

Unfortunately, the school district already has a history of letting this parent censor what students read. A previous challenge resulted in three challenged titles being placed on a restricted shelf. Now, with the new challenge, let's hope they don't have to make more -- lots more -- room on that shelf.

YA Authors Cafe

2005-06-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

If you're interested in books for teens, be sure to check out this site. Chat with authors or with others interested in YA lit! Scroll down for the Summer 2005 schedule.

YoungAdultARCs Blog

2005-06-30T13:45:00.000-07:00

Here's a great site, originated by posters at the YALSA-BK listserv, where you can get on the list to get advanced readomg copies of YA novels. You put your name down for a book, and the person before you mails it to you when they're done. Then you read it and mail it to the next person on the list. Read the instructions first if you're interested.

Wall Street Journal Article

2005-06-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal has a June 24th article on YA lit, mainly a warning to parents that some of the themes are not for the faint of heart. An excerpt:

"Hilary Armstrong was happy to see her 12-year-old daughter Katherine reading at the kitchen table one afternoon -- until, that is, she glanced at the back of the book jacket. 'I was mortified,' says Mrs. Armstrong. The book, which her daughter got from a friend, had a blurb on the back that read, 'After all, no one really wants to go to college a virgin.' The San Francisco mom allowed Katherine to finish the novel, one of the popular 'Gossip Girl' series, but started keeping closer tabs on her daughter's reading material. She wishes the book business would help out. 'It would be nice if they had a big rating on it, like at the movies,' Mrs. Armstrong says."

Though the article is focused on alerting parents, I found it fairly balanced, as the reporter quotes an independent bookseller who carries the controversial title "Rainbow Party" and also the publisher of that title, who says he would be happy to have his 13-year-old daughter read it. Besides, I think it's fine for parents to be concerned and aware of what their own children are reading. The problem is when they decide to police what other people's children read.

The article also includes reviews of new teen titles.

New Web Site Features

2005-06-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been looking into some exciting new ideas to make this website more useful. I just added an RSS feed, which allows readers to "subscribe" to the site and have new headlines delivered to their news aggregators (also called RSS readers) -- I use MyYahoo to read the blogs I'm interested in as well as headlines from the New York Times, etc. To subscribe to the teenlibrarian.com blog, use this URL:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/Teenlibrarian.

You can also read my FAQ about RSS.

In addition, I'm using a free service called RSS Digest to add the three most recent headlines from my blog to the front page of teenlibrarian.com. This is a wonderful site that makes it easy -- it's all automated, so after I update my blog, readers will see the new headline on the front page. All you do is enter your feed URL, website URL, and e-mail address. Next, you cut and paste some code into your web site HTML and it's done. My thanks to the site developer, Peter Cooper.

Slate Article Slams YA Lit

2005-06-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

A June 17 article in Slate criticizes young adult literature for its "saccharine simplicity" and calls it "the melodramatic fictional equivalent of an Afterschool Special", though it isn't quite clear which teen books writer Ann Hulbert has actually read -- possibly "The Buffalo Tree" by Adam Rapp, and definitely not Printz winner "how i live now", which she refers to in the article as "The Way I Live Now". Luckily, the discussion of the article includes some spirited responses, including one from YA author Alex Flinn, and some excellent rebuttals on the YALSA-BK listserv as well.

Crutcher books banned in Michigan

2005-02-14T19:06:00.000-08:00

Ha! This is the only good thing about attempts to ban books:

From the story: Author Chris Crutcher is banned temporarily from Grand Rapids Public Schools, but at local libraries, his book "Athletic Shorts" is flying off shelves. "I haven't had a chance to re-read it because all our copies are checked out," said Mary Robinson, young adult librarian at Herrick District Library in Holland.

Here's another story about the debate: Controversy goes beyond the 'n-word'

And a letter from a parent in a separate debate about whether students should read the book "Whale Talk" for a reading program.

I find all of this rather sad and baffling. Chris Crutcher is such an amazing author. . .his books are so tender and compassionate, but they acknowledge that there are people in this world who are full of hate and pain, and I think that this is what must upset the censors. What teenager doesn't already know this about the world, though?

It's like the people who want to ban "Cut" or non-fiction books on suicide because it "might give teens ideas". For many teens, if they don't know anyone who has practiced self-mutilation or attempted suicide, they're very lucky. It's not the books that give them new ideas. But the books might give them new ways of coping, or make them feel less alone.

Okay, end of rant!

School library media studies on achievement

2005-02-14T19:01:00.000-08:00

This semester I'm taking at class at San Jose State University on School Library media centers. I got my MLS there in 1996 but now I'm back to take the classes I need for a school library media credential (I'm also at San Francisco State getting a multiple subject credential, and doing my student teaching in April and May, while continuing to work part time for San Francisco Public Library -- so a lot of juggling this spring!). Anyway, one of the assignments is to read about how school library media centers improve academic achievement. A librarian posted this link to LM_NET: School Library Media Studies on Achievement. It's put together by the Iowa Association of School librarians and looks like a great resource for my class.

"Bless Me, Ultima" banned in CO; books allegedly burned

2005-02-07T18:43:00.000-08:00

From the story: "The Catcher in the Rye."

"Of Mice and Men."

"Lord of the Flies."

A chorus of student voices rang out Friday at Norwood High School, to apprise R2 School District Superintendent Bob Condor of books deemed "objectionable" that were nonetheless required reading.

And now, it's "Bless Me, Ultima," the book Condor pulled from curriculum after one parent objected to its content.

Muller in the Middle

2005-02-07T18:34:00.000-08:00

Here's a great blog by Frederick Muller, a middle school librarian in New Jersey who reads and reviews his fiction titles before putting them on the shelf.

Newbery winner

2005-02-07T15:11:00.000-08:00

Although "Kira-Kira" is catalogued under both teen and children's in our library system, I just finished reading it and think it has more appeal to children. The main character, Katie, is very young when the story begins, about 12 at the end, and tells much of her story in the voice of a young girl rather than an adolescent. It's beautifully written, but not my favorite Newbery winner by far. Maybe I didn't get into it because it has the feeling of a memoir, rather than fiction. There are not many full-fledge scenes and it's lacking in dialogue. I enjoyed the setting and was angered by the discrimination Katie and her family faced, but the ending didn't move me the way I expected. Now I'm looking forward to getting the Printz winner, "how I live now".

Manga FAQ

2005-01-25T09:48:00.001-08:00

The most used section of the teen collection at my library is definitely the area where we keep the graphic novels. The biggest draw is manga, from Dragon Ball Z to Ranma 1/2 to Fushigi Yugi. I am familiar with maybe of the popular titles and am often called on to spell them for coworkers (it's Yu Gi Oh, with the spaces!) but am far from an expert. I've been trying to educate myself, and found a really informative FAQ recently. I knew, for example, that Shounen Jump is a popular manga magazine but didn't know that "shounen" means "boy" or "youth", while "shoujo-manga" is "girl" manga, often but not always focused on romance and relationships. The section on history was also fascinating. I always mean to read more manga but haven't found anything I love yet -- I read a couple of volumes of Ranma without getting hooked -- so I will have to find something else to try.

Printz honor winner 'delighted'

2005-01-21T13:49:00.000-08:00

From the story: Calvin College professor Gary Schmidt was visiting relatives in Maine one summer when he learned about a shameful incident in a small town's past: the forced eviction of a black community from Malaga Island in 1912. With research and imagination, he turned this bit of history into "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminister Boy," a young adult novel about racism and the abuse of power.

14 books challenged in Kansas

2005-01-21T13:01:00.000-08:00

From the story: Parents packed a Blue Valley school board meeting Monday night to push the district to change its reading curriculum. KMBC's Tom Corvin reported that they want 14 books, such as Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon," removed from the reading list of advanced English classes. Some parents claim the books are too vulgar and suggestive. "We don't want them sexually stimulated by what they're reading in the communication arts classrooms," a woman said.

Librarians hope to change image

2005-01-21T11:54:00.000-08:00

From the story: Librarians in Fox River Grove hope to attract more teens by dusting off the library's serious, sedentary image. The library this spring will begin serving up a slate of hip events; last fall it added a teen section. Beginning in March, teens can join a writing group, sing at a karaoke night, sound off at a poetry slam and attend a luau.

Printz Award winner named

2005-01-21T11:12:00.000-08:00

From the ALA web site story: Meg Rosoff has won the 2005 Michael L. Printz Award for her uncompromising work, "how i live now," published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. Set during a shocking occupation by terrorist forces, Rosoff’s novel is narrated by 15-year-old Daisy, a wry and alienated young woman who finds true love, mystical connections, and a sense of home with her cousins in England. "Through Daisy’s evolving voice, readers see a teen who moves beyond self-absorption to become a resourceful survivor, understanding the need to care for others," said Award Chair Betty Carter. "Meg Rosoff achieves balance in a story both darkly symbolic and bitingly funny." Rosoff was born in Boston, graduated from Harvard, and now makes her home in London. "how I live now" is her first novel.