Repurposed: New York Public Library shirt

The New York Public Library logo is the focal point of this upcycled garment. Three shirts — a V-necked remnant left over from my “Man of Steel” movie tie-in shirts, the NYPL T-shirt and a woven tunic — become all the more fabulous when combined. (The hat is handmade too, re-purposed from another garment).

Have a ‘super-powered’ Thanksgiving holiday

Image credit: Random House Library Marketing Team

I couldn’t resist this Justice League “Happy Thanksgiving” graphic, courtesy of the Random House Library Marketing Team, with its accompanying wish for a super-powered holiday to librarians everywhere. Have a blessed, safe holiday with your loved ones.

‘Waiting for the Magic’ by Patricia MacLachlan

Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan is a sweet-natured story that is sure to appeal to readers who love animals.

William’s father leaves at the beginning of the story, “to go off and do some writing.” And his mother takes William and his sister to the local animal shelter.

Shortly after bringing home four dogs and a cat, William and his sister Elinor discover that the animals can talk.

The story gently addresses concepts — like parents separating — that young readers may struggle with. I especially loved the interaction between the children and the animals.

Ashland library supports Oregon Battle of the Books

The Ashland branch library, Jackson County Library Services, supports Ashland schools’ participation in Oregon Battle of the Books. In the library children’s room, a posterboard display by Denise Wilson, assistant to the children’s librarian, highlights titles in third- to fifth-grade and sixth- to eighth-grade OBOB divisions. Featured titles can be checked out as available.

S.F. city librarian: Libraries ‘more relevant than ever’

“Libraries are more relevant than ever,” according to San Francisco city librarian Luis Herrera, quoted in an essay by Frankie Rendon at TeachThought.com.

In “The Changing Landscape for Libraries and Librarians in the Digital Age,” Rendon argues that libraries “have kept pace with changing technologies and increased their relevancy even while traditional bookstores are still learning to navigate the digital era.”

Oregon Battle of the Books: Last titles arrive

Photo credit: Suzanne Zapf

All 16 titles in the third- to fifth-grade division, Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB), are available for check-out from the Bellview Elementary School library.

OBOB volunteer Suzanne Zapf brought copies of the final three books — The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (2004), Who was Neil Armstrong? by Roberta Edwards (2008) and Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich (1999) — to the library on Friday.

Through Zapf’s efforts, the books were barcoded, labeled and covered with protective laminate — just in time to be checked out and read during Thanksgiving weekend.

‘Dear Mr. Henshaw’ by Beverly Cleary

The story of a young writer’s growing maturity is told in a series of letters. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary is an Oregon Battle of the Books featured title in the third- to fifth-grade division.

Leigh Botts, a sixth-grader in a new school, has been assigned by his teacher to write a letter to an author (the “Mr. Henshaw” of the title). The author responds by posing several questions for Leigh to answer.

Through his letters and diary entries, Leigh offers readers a wider glimpse at his life. His parents are divorced and someone is stealing food out of Leigh’s lunch at school.

Library should be student researchers’ first stop

A report by Angela Hill for the San Jose Mercury News (republished Nov. 19 by the Ashland Daily Tidings) omits an important question.

Why, when history and English teacher Annie Hatch “often” sees students use inaccurate sources or “run wild” with a theory that they found presented as “fact,” doesn’t Hatch educate her students about resources available through their school and public libraries? Why isn’t her class making use of curated databases or eBooks available through libraries’ increasingly digital collections?

This is Autism (‘This is Autism’ flash blog)

Image credit: This is Autism

I don’t typically wave the “Autism” flag when I talk about creative projects: about the Jedi Knight’s costume I crafted from a picture of Japanese field clothing in a pattern manufacturer’s catalog.

About my House of El, “Share the Road” and “No Bully” T-shirt appliques.

But maybe I ought to emphasize “This is Autism” the next time I embark upon a creative project and work from an inspired vision.

Friends of Ashland Public Library: two fundraisers

Friends of the Ashland Public Library is holding its annual Book Sale and Silent Auction this weekend. And Nov. 18 to 24 is “Friends of the Ashland Public Library Week” at Louie’s Restaurant and Bar.

Fleecy vest proclaims me ‘Bellview Bobcat’

Friday would have been awesome if the only thing that happened was being trained in cataloging books for the Bellview Elementary School library. But actually, events that preceded it were pretty awesome too. I was photographed for staff portraits and got an official school-wear vest proclaiming me a “Bellview Bobcat.”

Trained in cataloging

Spent an hour on Friday with a more experienced library assistant, learning how to create records for new books in Follett Learning’s “Destiny” online library catalog. This will really help me with my service to Bellview Elementary School in the Ashland School District, Ashland, Oregon.

John Elder Robison resigns from Autism Speaks

John Elder Robison has resigned from his seats on Science and Treatment Boards with Autism Speaks. His action came in the wake of an op-ed by Autism Speaks founder Suzanne Wright, “Autism Speaks to Washington - A Call for Action.”

Oregon Battle of the Books heats up

Featured selections in the third- to fifth-grade division, Oregon Battle of the Books, dominate a list of Top 10 Titles, books most frequently checked out in the last 30 days from the Bellview library media center.

Holding steady at No. 1, as of a Nov. 11 viewing, was Pie by Sarah Weeks.

The strong showing by OBOB titles is welcome news to this library assistant. As rapidly as library staff and volunteers prepare the books for use, as rapidly as students return finished titles, they are quickly checked out to readers.

K.C. Boyd: Motivate readers with freedom of choice

Freedom of choice is key to get students motivated and excited about reading, according to inner-city Chicago library media specialist K.C. Boyd.

During an ALA Booklist webinar, Struggling Readers and the Common Core: Improving Literacy in Changing Times, Boyd emphasized her personal motto: “Meet kids where they are so you can take them where they want to go.”

Jane Austen online game: Too much like real life

Screen capture: Jane Austen online roleplaying game. Image source: Buzzfeed.com

A Jane Austen-themed massive online role-playing game, with its emphasis on status-jockeying and using gossip to destroy one’s rivals, is rather more like real life than I care for in my escapism.

From an appeal for financing by Judy L. Tyrer on Kickstarter.com: “Our quests are derived from player’s actions and stories. And we [use] gossip rather than swords and magic to demolish our enemies and aid our friends.”

Jackson County: More families than ever seek affordable housing

High joblessness and low wages have more families then ever seeking affordable housing, according to the Housing Authority of Jackson County. More than 5,000 people are on its waiting list and, as reported by KDRV NewsWatch 12, the only way the housing authority sees things getting better is if the economy improves or if more low-income units are built. “Neither are likely to happen anytime soon.”

Friends of Ashland Public Library to hold annual sale

The Friends of the Ashland Public Library will hold its annual Book Sale and Silent Auction, noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 16 and noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Ashland Branch Library’s Gresham Meeting Room, 410 Siskiyou Blvd.

Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab by “Science Bob” Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith

Elementary school science teacher “Science Bob” Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith, author of Holmes on the Range, are writing a series of mystery and adventure books for young people.

Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab combines exciting storytelling with hands-on experiments. With a release date of Nov. 5 from Quirk Books, the book is entertaining and educational.

The story opens as 11-year-old Tesla and Nick have been sent to live with their uncle “Newt,” an eccentric inventor (He misses his appointment to meet them at the airport because an experiment has glued him to the floor of his basement laboratory).