with summer brings…

…the young summer readers.

I am still in mindset, that summertime is a time to work on projects that have been sitting in the “later” pile — whether it be reorganizing a program, filing papers, updating webpages, rethinking teaching methods, etc.

registration

Summertime, however, at the local public library is a flurry of activity with toddlers, children, middle schoolers, and teenagers. The activity calendar for the next eight weeks is jam packed with craft times, movies, read-a-louds, workshops, game nights, magic shows, and book clubs. Students from the local middle and high schools have signed up to be a part of the Summer Volunteer Program, and they in the thick of leading story times, registering participants, and assisting younger children with crafts.

I’ve declared this summer the Summer of Feedback! It happens much too often that a book is suggested to a patron, and the librarian just doesn’t ever hear back his/her thoughts on the suggested material. I’ve taken it upon myself to specifically ask those younger readers who ask for my book recommendations to come back and tell me (or email me) what they thought of the title I recommended to them. The individual “reference interviews” have been fascinating; and thus far suggestions have included The Outsiders, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Into the Wild, Little Brother, and The Declaration.

This is just one element of my Summer of Feedback. I’ve got a couple other ideas brewing — but I better get a move on; it’s already JULY!

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adventures in library instruction, episode 3…

Jason, Rachel, and I just completed the 3rd episode for the Adventures in Library Instruction podcast.

This episode includes:

  • a discussion with special guest, Dana Longley, Distance Ed Librarian from Empire State College, SUNY
  • an interview w/ Caroline Cason Barratt re: her involvement as a librarian with Faculty Learning Communities on UGA’s campus.

Access points: June 2009, Episode 3, the AdLib Instruction podcast, RSS feed, and subscribe in iTunes.

Important addition: We loved having Dana join us. It was great fun — even with Skype going wonky a couple of times. Join us for future episodes! If you’re interested, please post a comment on the Adventures in Library Instruction blog or email us! We’ll do it as a Skype discussion or you can record a segment all on your own.

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reference: facebook style…

44153436_140.jpgI recently had a patron come in looking to find out who the actress is on the cover of the 9th edition of the Time Out Film Guide.  He had informed me that from what he knew, there was no photo credits given in this particular issue regarding the cover photo.

I posted the cover to my Facebook profile via the item’s link in WorldCat.  Now there were plenty of guesses, especially thanks to a woman with whom I used to work in the Reference Department at the University of Georgia. She also posted the cover photo in question to her Facebook profile. Guesses included Ava Gardner, Greer Garson, Ingrid Bergman, Greta Garbo, and Marlene Dietrich.  But I needed to know for sure….not just guesses.

Another one of my former UGA colleagues, who happens to be the Director of the Media Archives & Peabody Awards Collection, saw my post.  She “commented” on my link that the cover photo is of Ava Gardner.   When I asked if she was 100% sure, she informed me that she had consulted with an archivist at the Wisconsin Center for Film & Theatre Research, where they have “tons of stills of classic Hollywood stars,”  and I got my confirmation the cover photo is of Ava Gardner from 1946.  

What a fun experience.  In a matter of hours, I got a confirmed answer, as well as a VERY happy patron.

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beard awards…

Earlier this month, the James Beard Foundation Awards were announced.

I love using this list of award winners AND nominees to highlight items from our collection. Many of our patrons are familiar with book awards, such as Newberry and Caldecott. Few seem to be aware of the Beard awards, which have been referred to as “the Oscars of the food world,” by Time magazine. Also, people tend to mistakenly think the books that receive awards are only cookbooks, which is not the case. For example, a winner from last year, The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan,  is a thoughtfully written book about methods used to grow our foods, informing us as to what we are actually eating. At times his information delves into some rather nitty gritty details, which may change the way readers look at their food choices.

So, take a look at this year’s winners. You may be surprised in the diversity of the recipients.

Added Note: I just realized that Pollan won another James Beard Foundation Award this year — In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto.

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adventures in library instruction: episode 2….

Jason, Rachel, and I just completed the 2nd episode for the Adventures in Library Instruction podcast.

This episode includes:

  • an interview w/ Lisa Norberg re: the Community Workshop Series;
  • a segment about LibGuides;
  • faculty collaboration tips; plus
  • a pre-show chat re: Wikipedia, the term “paraprofessional,” and some inside scoop from Rachel’s cat.

Access points: episode 2, the AdLib Instruction podcast, RSS feed, and subscribe in iTunes.

Important addition: Want to be on the show next month? Post a comment on the Adventures in Library Instruction blog or email us! We’ll do it as a Skype discussion or you can record a segment all on your own.

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