Thanks Charles Schulz, Lee Mendelson, Bill Melendez, et. al., and, of course, Chris Shea.
Attribution 2.0 Generic
(CC BY 2.0)
22 December 2018
In the voice of a child
I have found that I cannot read Luke 2:8-14 without hearing the verses in the voice of a little boy, words reverberating through an empty auditorium, speaking such innocent and blessed veneration.
Thanks Charles Schulz, Lee Mendelson, Bill Melendez, et. al., and, of course, Chris Shea.
Thanks Charles Schulz, Lee Mendelson, Bill Melendez, et. al., and, of course, Chris Shea.
30 November 2018
No Novel for November
I didn't participate in National Novel Writing Month.
I was too busy with the mountain of shorter pieces I've been writing.
As of the end of the month, I have 13 pieces going simultaneously.
(The month started with even more.)
Poems. Short stories. A children's book. Make that two children's books.
Every day--even before and after November--I do my best to work on each one, even if just a little bit, no matter what else is happening in my world.
It is not the most efficient, nor the most effective method for writing. One might liken it to one of those fevered jugglers who throws beyond a mere set of pins but also tosses in torches, swords, chainsaws, and a couple bawling babies to boot.
For those who did participate in NaNoWriMo, I hope the month went well for you. Perhaps I'll join you next year. That is, if I get all these other pieces finished first.
I was too busy with the mountain of shorter pieces I've been writing.
As of the end of the month, I have 13 pieces going simultaneously.
(The month started with even more.)
Poems. Short stories. A children's book. Make that two children's books.
Every day--even before and after November--I do my best to work on each one, even if just a little bit, no matter what else is happening in my world.
It is not the most efficient, nor the most effective method for writing. One might liken it to one of those fevered jugglers who throws beyond a mere set of pins but also tosses in torches, swords, chainsaws, and a couple bawling babies to boot.
For those who did participate in NaNoWriMo, I hope the month went well for you. Perhaps I'll join you next year. That is, if I get all these other pieces finished first.
30 October 2018
Hallowe'en Poetry
It's Halloween by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Marilyn Hafner, was one of my favourite books when I was a child. It remains so even still.
I have been sharing its verses with the kids at home--and at school--over the past couple days. They have enjoyed its whimsical, yet frightfully bewitching rhymes, along with the terrifically stylistic pictures, in preparation for this week's tricks and treats. I have enjoyed sharing the the poems and pictures myself, passing down the book in what has become a wonderful tradition.
Yet it seems I might have to start a new tradition with a new book.
In setting out seasonal texts for display at the school library this month, I happened across a "seldom-circulated, candidate-for-weeding" copy of Halloween by Harry Behn, illustrated by Greg Couch.
Originally written in 1949, the verse sets an entrancing tone, with staves populated by some of the elder spirits ever to have reveled upon the night between Summer's end and Winter's beginning. Couch's shadowy illustrations stir a mystical air of motion through every page.
The children have been spellbound at every reading.
So now, I look forward to sharing both books for years to come, establishing and expanding the Season's traditions in poetic honour of Hallowe'en.
It's Halloween
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203187.It_s_Halloween
Halloween
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/698250.Halloween?from_search=true
I have been sharing its verses with the kids at home--and at school--over the past couple days. They have enjoyed its whimsical, yet frightfully bewitching rhymes, along with the terrifically stylistic pictures, in preparation for this week's tricks and treats. I have enjoyed sharing the the poems and pictures myself, passing down the book in what has become a wonderful tradition.
Yet it seems I might have to start a new tradition with a new book.
In setting out seasonal texts for display at the school library this month, I happened across a "seldom-circulated, candidate-for-weeding" copy of Halloween by Harry Behn, illustrated by Greg Couch.
Originally written in 1949, the verse sets an entrancing tone, with staves populated by some of the elder spirits ever to have reveled upon the night between Summer's end and Winter's beginning. Couch's shadowy illustrations stir a mystical air of motion through every page.
The children have been spellbound at every reading.
So now, I look forward to sharing both books for years to come, establishing and expanding the Season's traditions in poetic honour of Hallowe'en.
It's Halloween
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203187.It_s_Halloween
Halloween
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/698250.Halloween?from_search=true
 |
| CC0 1.0 Universal
(CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication |
30 September 2018
Library to Library
This fall, I began my second year as a school librarian. As I wrote in the previous post, I was excited to begin the year and to continue exploring ways to make the school's library the best it could be.
What I didn't write was that back in August I got another job at the public library. I originally envisioned the position as just a way to make a little extra money during Summer break. But the Children's Services Director and the Executive Director convinced me that I could put my training to use in the Children's Department and that the position could serve to strengthen connections between school libraries and public library services. That has definitely proven true so far.
I am about to begin my third month with the public library, now working a few evenings and a couple weekends a month. (That was also one of the pieces that convinced me to accept the position--that they would work with me and my school schedule. Not too often is an employer so willing to do such a thing.)
The most challenging aspect so far has been to keep the two libraries separate in my mind, job to job. I'm still learning my school's collection but now I'm working to familiarize myself with a whole new collection over thrice the size. Knowledge of one can help the other, but mostly they keep blurring together.
But more than that: the circulation system, the procedures, the conventions, even the foundational purpose of service, all remain fundamentally the same even while being completely different. Right away I likened it to SAE versus Metric--basically the same but just enough different as to cause complications.
Nevertheless, I look forward to keep developing as much as I'm able and to continue applying all I'm learning--in both library arenas.
What I didn't write was that back in August I got another job at the public library. I originally envisioned the position as just a way to make a little extra money during Summer break. But the Children's Services Director and the Executive Director convinced me that I could put my training to use in the Children's Department and that the position could serve to strengthen connections between school libraries and public library services. That has definitely proven true so far.
I am about to begin my third month with the public library, now working a few evenings and a couple weekends a month. (That was also one of the pieces that convinced me to accept the position--that they would work with me and my school schedule. Not too often is an employer so willing to do such a thing.)
The most challenging aspect so far has been to keep the two libraries separate in my mind, job to job. I'm still learning my school's collection but now I'm working to familiarize myself with a whole new collection over thrice the size. Knowledge of one can help the other, but mostly they keep blurring together.
But more than that: the circulation system, the procedures, the conventions, even the foundational purpose of service, all remain fundamentally the same even while being completely different. Right away I likened it to SAE versus Metric--basically the same but just enough different as to cause complications.
Nevertheless, I look forward to keep developing as much as I'm able and to continue applying all I'm learning--in both library arenas.
31 August 2018
Back to School
This past week, I welcomed students and parents to their library during Back to School Night. Many of the Kindergartners--and parents--who visited appeared amazed at all the books, but even more astonished at all the fantastic materials and building sets in the MakerSpace.
Then, I visited my own children's new classrooms and teachers during Back to School Night at their school. The twins are terribly excited to start their adventures in first grade.
I share such excitement for the school year. Last year was my first as the School Librarian. I was filled with anxiety from the first day to the last. This year I feel completely different so far. Anxiety has turned to enthusiasm. Now I have a much clearer understanding of my position and all it entails. Plus, I possess at least a modicum of confidence in what I seek to accomplish with students and colleagues along with the directions I envision for their library.
In fact, my Principal told me this week that the library is really starting to look like mine. It was a very nice compliment and a great boost for beginning the new school year.
Then, I visited my own children's new classrooms and teachers during Back to School Night at their school. The twins are terribly excited to start their adventures in first grade.
I share such excitement for the school year. Last year was my first as the School Librarian. I was filled with anxiety from the first day to the last. This year I feel completely different so far. Anxiety has turned to enthusiasm. Now I have a much clearer understanding of my position and all it entails. Plus, I possess at least a modicum of confidence in what I seek to accomplish with students and colleagues along with the directions I envision for their library.
In fact, my Principal told me this week that the library is really starting to look like mine. It was a very nice compliment and a great boost for beginning the new school year.
26 July 2018
Wyoming Library Leadership Institute
Leadership was the focus at the 2018 Wyoming Library Leadership Institute.
Mandy Fable from "Kindness Wyoming" spoke of efforts to transform "anti-bullying" campaigns into proactive promotion of "kindness"--in other words, shifting focus from the undesired behaviour of bullying toward the positive conduct of spreading good will.
Larry Yatch delivered an instructive seminar. His experiences and perspectives, his ideas and applications, all serve to present a whole new paradigm for Leadership.
Jake Conilogue shared his expertise about safety protocols, applying them to libraries in their various roles and community settings.
Valerie Maginnis led an exploration in communication awareness for improving efforts at understanding others and being understood by others.
Janette McMahon presented her thoughts on Readers' Advisory and shared magnificent strategies to improve patron service.
Coordinators Anna McDonnel Smedts and Tasha Reeves did extraordinarily well to highlight Lander's vitality, promoting local artists, activities, and establishments. They arranged seminars and events in order for us to see the Eagle Spirit Dancers and Singers our first evening and then to allow us to enjoy a fantastic vantage point for attending Lander Live Music the next. They also honoured us with the opportunity to have lunch and then to "Graduate" within the hallowed space of Lander's Carnegie Library, built over a century ago.
I look forward to applying the lessons in leadership that I learned at the Institute.
Thanks to all!
Wyoming State Library - Leadership Institute
https://library.wyo.gov/services/training/wll/
Mandy Fable (Executive Director of Kindness Wyoming)
http://www.kindnesswyoming.org/
Larry Yatch (Retired Navy SEAL, SEALed Mindset)
http://sealedmindset.com/
Jake Conilogue (Fremont County Resource Officer)
https://www.landerschools.org/schools/school-health-and-safety/school-resource-officer-information/
Valerie Maginnis (Teton County Library Director)
http://tclib.org/
Janette McMahon (Fremont County Library Director)
http://www.fclsonline.org/
My gratitude to my fellow attendees. Also, special appreciation to Anna McDonnel Smedts and Tasha Reeves, as well as Chris Van Burgh, for coordinating this year’s Wyoming Library Leadership Institute!
Mandy Fable from "Kindness Wyoming" spoke of efforts to transform "anti-bullying" campaigns into proactive promotion of "kindness"--in other words, shifting focus from the undesired behaviour of bullying toward the positive conduct of spreading good will.
Larry Yatch delivered an instructive seminar. His experiences and perspectives, his ideas and applications, all serve to present a whole new paradigm for Leadership.
Jake Conilogue shared his expertise about safety protocols, applying them to libraries in their various roles and community settings.
Valerie Maginnis led an exploration in communication awareness for improving efforts at understanding others and being understood by others.
Janette McMahon presented her thoughts on Readers' Advisory and shared magnificent strategies to improve patron service.
Coordinators Anna McDonnel Smedts and Tasha Reeves did extraordinarily well to highlight Lander's vitality, promoting local artists, activities, and establishments. They arranged seminars and events in order for us to see the Eagle Spirit Dancers and Singers our first evening and then to allow us to enjoy a fantastic vantage point for attending Lander Live Music the next. They also honoured us with the opportunity to have lunch and then to "Graduate" within the hallowed space of Lander's Carnegie Library, built over a century ago.
I look forward to applying the lessons in leadership that I learned at the Institute.
Thanks to all!
Wyoming State Library - Leadership Institute
https://library.wyo.gov/services/training/wll/
Mandy Fable (Executive Director of Kindness Wyoming)
http://www.kindnesswyoming.org/
Larry Yatch (Retired Navy SEAL, SEALed Mindset)
http://sealedmindset.com/
Jake Conilogue (Fremont County Resource Officer)
https://www.landerschools.org/schools/school-health-and-safety/school-resource-officer-information/
Valerie Maginnis (Teton County Library Director)
http://tclib.org/
Janette McMahon (Fremont County Library Director)
http://www.fclsonline.org/
My gratitude to my fellow attendees. Also, special appreciation to Anna McDonnel Smedts and Tasha Reeves, as well as Chris Van Burgh, for coordinating this year’s Wyoming Library Leadership Institute!
There I am, the tall guy in the back, wearing the Wyoming shirt!
18 June 2018
Summer Reading-2018
Here's my stack of summer reading.
A few are for work. A couple are for me.
A triad of Twain--both old and new!
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library kept popping up all through my first year in the library.
I figured I'd best check it out for myself.
I wish everyone happy reading this Summer!
A few are for work. A couple are for me.
A triad of Twain--both old and new!
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library kept popping up all through my first year in the library.
I figured I'd best check it out for myself.
I wish everyone happy reading this Summer!
29 May 2018
Last Days of the First Year in the Library
My first year in the library is quickly coming to a close.
I could go on practically all Summer about my many fantastic and frightful experiences this past year and all the lessons I learned. But what I'd like to relate above all is something wonderful that occurred during these last few days.
The Kindergarten teachers got together and had their students make me a "Thank You Book."
Pupils thanked me for reading to them, and each one wrote about their favorite book and drew an illustration.
All three classes presented the book, along with a song, at the library entrance.
I stood honoured and humbled and absolutely amazed.
And more determined than ever to do all I can to inspire students.
The drawings give such an interesting glimpse into how the children view me as their Librarian.
I could go on practically all Summer about my many fantastic and frightful experiences this past year and all the lessons I learned. But what I'd like to relate above all is something wonderful that occurred during these last few days.
The Kindergarten teachers got together and had their students make me a "Thank You Book."
Pupils thanked me for reading to them, and each one wrote about their favorite book and drew an illustration.
All three classes presented the book, along with a song, at the library entrance.
I stood honoured and humbled and absolutely amazed.
And more determined than ever to do all I can to inspire students.
****
The drawings give such an interesting glimpse into how the children view me as their Librarian.
It's the hair that gets me.
I put my mane in a ponytail, in what I've heard referred to as a biker-braid.
That explains the ringlets in the picture above,
a style which shows up in many of the children's drawings.
However, I'm not bald, and I don't ever wear braided pigtails, as depicted below.
(I almost look like a grinning Steven Wright.)
Whatever my hairstyle, I'm happy everyone is smiling.
****
25 April 2018
Young Authors
I won a Young Authors contest at school when I was ten years old. It made quite a profound impact on me. The feeling of accomplishment, the recognition of my work, the opportunity to share my imagination--the entire experience helped develop my early interest in writing, eventually leading me toward the path of becoming a writer.
My own kids--both Kindergartners--entered the Young Authors program this year. My daughter wrote a fiction piece entitled Friends about the adventures of a dinosaur and knight. My son composed a collection of poems entitled Superheroes, Aliens, and Ice Creams.
Not only did they both win in their respective categories at their school, they also placed at the district level. The poems earned an honourable mention, and the fiction piece took first place.
I am astonished--and humbled--at their burgeoning skills as storytellers. If I were half the writer at their age, well...
...Well, I would not be at all surprised if their own paths lead them toward further explorations of writing and to adding more of their own original contributions to the "Commonwealth of Letters."
My own kids--both Kindergartners--entered the Young Authors program this year. My daughter wrote a fiction piece entitled Friends about the adventures of a dinosaur and knight. My son composed a collection of poems entitled Superheroes, Aliens, and Ice Creams.
Not only did they both win in their respective categories at their school, they also placed at the district level. The poems earned an honourable mention, and the fiction piece took first place.
I am astonished--and humbled--at their burgeoning skills as storytellers. If I were half the writer at their age, well...
...Well, I would not be at all surprised if their own paths lead them toward further explorations of writing and to adding more of their own original contributions to the "Commonwealth of Letters."
24 March 2018
Open Library
When I search the web, I do my best to stay focused on what I am seeking. I'm usually not one to let myself wander off and to get lost along the web's myriad tangled strands. Well, searching for an open source cataloguing system for my school's book room, I stumbled across a site that had nothing at all to do with my search. Nevertheless, it drew me away from my subject at hand, and I'm glad it did. The site is called "Open Library."
Open Library is an archive that contains scanned copies of thousands upon thousands of books, along with links to catalogues such as WorldCat and vendors like Amazon.
I was familiar with Project Gutenberg, which offers free access to thousands of e-books, but I had never before heard of Open Library. Open Library allows traditional borrowing, and it also enables effective searches of numerous subject headings as well as genres, authors, titles, etc. Further, it offers various electronic formats, including standards for readers with print disabilities.
So far, I'm intrigued. I plan to explore Open Library further and see how I might be able incorporate the resource into my school library for the benefit of patrons.
It's true: every once in a while, a web search really can turn up something worth finding, even if unintentionally.
Full link:
https://openlibrary.org/
Open Library is an archive that contains scanned copies of thousands upon thousands of books, along with links to catalogues such as WorldCat and vendors like Amazon.
I was familiar with Project Gutenberg, which offers free access to thousands of e-books, but I had never before heard of Open Library. Open Library allows traditional borrowing, and it also enables effective searches of numerous subject headings as well as genres, authors, titles, etc. Further, it offers various electronic formats, including standards for readers with print disabilities.
So far, I'm intrigued. I plan to explore Open Library further and see how I might be able incorporate the resource into my school library for the benefit of patrons.
It's true: every once in a while, a web search really can turn up something worth finding, even if unintentionally.
Full link:
https://openlibrary.org/
27 February 2018
Read Across America: Seuss rhymes with...?
My daughter and son are Kindergartners. This week at school they're celebrating the birthday of the beloved children's literature author, Dr. Seuss.
It was but a handful of years past that I learned how Theodor Geisel, himself, pronounced his own pen-name. Well, a couple days ago, when the kids were telling me how their class was planning to celebrate "Read Across America" this week, I told them about the honest pronunciation of the name.
I expected them to scoff at me, as they so often do. On the contrary, they seem to revel in the knowledge, as if they were suddenly privy to some piece of mystical intelligence, forsaken by all those around them. And they mean to disseminate awareness.
All week they've been hopping around, and turning each other loose, correcting folks who so ignorantly rhyme "Dr. Seuss" with "Mother Goose."
In fact, they're telling anyone who will listen to watch his or her "voice."
To rhyme the name as would old Theo, himself, and know the real way to say, "Dr. Seuss."
Below is a link to the Dr. Seuss website, Seussville.com
Lots of fun resources.
Great for celebrating "Read Across America."
http://www.seussville.com/
It was but a handful of years past that I learned how Theodor Geisel, himself, pronounced his own pen-name. Well, a couple days ago, when the kids were telling me how their class was planning to celebrate "Read Across America" this week, I told them about the honest pronunciation of the name.
I expected them to scoff at me, as they so often do. On the contrary, they seem to revel in the knowledge, as if they were suddenly privy to some piece of mystical intelligence, forsaken by all those around them. And they mean to disseminate awareness.
All week they've been hopping around, and turning each other loose, correcting folks who so ignorantly rhyme "Dr. Seuss" with "Mother Goose."
In fact, they're telling anyone who will listen to watch his or her "voice."
To rhyme the name as would old Theo, himself, and know the real way to say, "Dr. Seuss."
Below is a link to the Dr. Seuss website, Seussville.com
Lots of fun resources.
Great for celebrating "Read Across America."
http://www.seussville.com/
31 January 2018
Another Lunar Eclipse
I caught only a glimpse of last night's Lunar Eclipse. The Moon enshrouded in glowing shadow, hanging low over the cold horizon. The clouds then cast away all but darkness upon the Heavens. Still a wonder to witness.
The live stream from NASA was awesome, too.
Here's what the Lunar Eclipse looked like from a couple years ago--the last one for which I had a camera ready AND that wasn't clouded out where I live.
The live stream from NASA was awesome, too.
Here's what the Lunar Eclipse looked like from a couple years ago--the last one for which I had a camera ready AND that wasn't clouded out where I live.
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