Wednesday, October 28, 2015

In Bellview: Teacher-librarian Weatherly Oakes

Beige-skinned woman with shoulder-length brown hair stands in front of a whiteboard in a wooden frame. She holds up a stack of posters with cartoon-style illustrations. The one on top reads, 'LIBRARY RULES: Always Walk, Never Run.' Behind her, books are arranged on library shelves

Teacher-librarian Weatherly Oakes presented her first library skills lessons in Bellview library today. Using colorful posters (and a Jeopardy-style game for the older children) she reviewed library expectations. Welcome, Weatherly!

Saturday, October 24, 2015

‘The Sign of the Cat’ by Lynne Jonell

Book cover, The Sign of the Cat by Lynne Jonell. Image depicts a red-headed boy with a white kitten on his shoulder, next to a tiger on a log raft with billowing sail
In the island kingdom of Arvidia, Duncan McKay’s mother insists he must always wear a cap with earflaps whenever he is outside. His grades in school must never be too good. And when he fences with the baron’s son Robert, he is (mostly) careful to lose.

Duncan’s cat Grizel taught him to speak Cat, but this too must stay a secret.

About his father, Duncan only knows what little his mother has told him: that he once owned a boat but he was not a fisherman, and was an excellent swordsman. To be near his father, Duncan can only visit a grave that his mother says is his.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Project PALS module 2, ‘Arranging the Library Environment’

“Arranging the Library Environment,” Module 2 in the Project PALS online course, “Serving Library Users on the Autism Spectrum,” invites library professionals to critically evaluate the environment and the structure of activities in the library to consider the effect they might have upon autistic patrons.

STDL and autism: Are self-advocates part of discussion?

From Targeting Autism, a project and blog addressing library service to patrons with autism, I learned that Kate Niehoff, program and outreach coordinator with the Schaumburg Township District Library (STDL) in Schaumburg, Ill. will be part of a panel discussion that focuses on programs for adult patrons on the autism spectrum.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10’

The Bellview Elementary School library “Top 10” represent the most often-checked-out books during the previous 30 days, as tracked by the Follett-Destiny online public access catalog. Roughly once per month, I like to create flyers that showcase these often-used resources.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Autism ‘not associated with brutality’

For the New York Times, Andrew Solomon debunks the “Myth of the ‘Autistic Shooter.’” Because it happened again; only a few days into coverage of an act of domestic terrorism — the killing of nine people and injuring of several others at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon — a news outlet drew attention to posts attributed to the killer’s mother in which she claimed that “I have Asperger’s” and “I also have an Asperger’s kid.”

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Bookmobile memories

Cynthia Parkhill waves from in front of San Francisco Public Library Bookmobile

During a year that I worked in Bel Marin Keys, I was a regular visitor at the Marin County Free Library bookmobile when it parked across the street from my employer. Ever since, I have been intrigued by these portable libraries’ capability to expand libraries’ physical reach.

Five years ago today, during a walk around San Francisco, I couldn’t resist having my photo taken next to the San Francisco Public Library bookmobile. For an assignment that fall in my library studies program, I advocated resumption of bookmobile services among Lake County Library programs.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Saturday, October 3, 2015

‘Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library’

Book cover, 'Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library' by Chris Grabenstein. Black-sillouette characters read books and wrestle with the pointer hand of a roulette-style wheel in a library
My exploration of this year’s titles in Oregon Battle of the Books (third- to fifth-grade division) begins with Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library.

Luigi Lemoncello, who made his fortune designing games, has given the town of Alexandriaville, Ohio a new library. Twelve students have been challenged to be first to “escape” during a lock-in at the library before its official opening.

Author Chris Grabenstein presents an array of clues for readers to solve with the characters. The library’s resources — beyond their intrinsic value — advance the students in their quest.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library combines a first-rate, entertaining read with a healthy course of information literacy.I highly recommend it.

Special appreciation to Bellview PTO, which purchased OBOB titles for Bellview Elementary School library

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Bullying Prevention Month book display

Books stood upright on shelf-top, their covers facing outward. From left to right, the books are 'Just Kidding' by Trudy Ludwig, 'Tough!' by Erin Frankel and 'Tolerance' by Lucia Raatma

In honor of Bullying Prevention Month (October), I put books on display that address bullying. The books are available from our collection in Bellview Elementary School library.

Halloween bulletin boards in Bellview library

Woman stands to the right of a bulletin board decorated with Halloween posters, die-cut characters and pumpkin shape borders.

Bellview library is home to elaborate bulletin-board designs that combine posters and die-cut characters. They're the work of Traci Ordenez, who put up Halloween themes today.