‘Young Adult’ materials in library: No more age-based restrictions

Among my communications to school staff this week, was a link to this year’s contract for checking out library books. New this year: I have abolished the permission form for younger children to be able to check out Young Adult materials.

YALSA ‘Teens’ Top Ten,’ voting open

Voting opened Aug. 15 for the “Teens’ Top Ten,” a list of books compiled each year by the Young Adult Library Services Association. The nominators are members of teen book groups in 15 school and public libraries.

Young people ages 12 to 18 can vote now through Teen Read Week (Oct. 7 to 13). Look for these titles at your local public library, and consider casting your vote. The top vote-getters will become the official “Teens’ Top Ten” for 2018.

Teens can read and review three books, receive a paperback for free

Image credit: Sonoma County Library

As an avid reader, one of the activities I enjoy is reviewing the books that I read. So I’m glad to spread word of an opportunity for teens through Sonoma County Library: read and review three teen books and receive a book for free!

“Read Three, Get One Free” is a teen book-review-and-reward program available at all Sonoma County Library branches. (I first learned of this program when it was available at the Rincon Valley Library. On behalf of teen readers, I’m appreciative that this is now a system-wide library program.)

Seventh- through 12th-graders can select a free paperback book for every three teen books they read and review. Review forms can be downloaded, or picked up at any SCL branch. Free paperbacks will be distributed while supplies last.

SCL: Resiliency book list for teens

“During these times, when it seems like our reality can’t possibly get any worse... it can be incredibly helpful to reach for examples of resilience, survival, strength, and courage.” On the Sonoma County Library blog, Rincon Valley Library teen librarian Lara Mayelian has created a Natural Disasters and Resiliency book list for teens.

Self-checkout for privacy at Sonoma County Library

Source: Buzzfeed News, via Tumblr user ‘kassysgalaxyyy’

Having recently used self-checkout at Sonoma County Library, it seemed a good time to re-share this sign, promoting self-checkout options at the Sacramento Public Library. ​

Pokémon Go brings people to libraries

‘Welcome to the library.’ Cartoon image created with Bitstrips

In the new Pokémon Go, libraries have been given a “huge gift of outreach,” according to “Teen Librarian, Huge Nerd.”

‘Superman, Before Truth’: Academic guide

For those library personnel who work with young adults, I want to share a free reading and discussion guide for Superman, Vol. 1, Before Truth, a D.C. Comics publication authored by Gene Luen Yang (National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and National Book Award nominee).

You may wish to share this resource with educators at your schools.

Before Truth deals with the issue of online privacy versus public sharing, as Superman receives anonymous text messages from someone who has discovered his secret identity as newspaper reporter Clark Kent.

Teen self-help with self-checkout for privacy

Credit: aphroditzy on Tumblr

With this awesome sign created by library supervisor Justin Azevedo, the Sacramento Public Library points teens in the direction of sensitive information that they may be too embarrassed or afraid to ask an adult to help them locate. The sign reminds teens about self-checkout to help protect their privacy.

As Azevedo told Buzzfeed News, “I would notice how popular teen books on these topics were, but how rare actual questions about them from teen library patrons were. Most of the topics would be embarrassing to ask about, but some of them could threaten their privacy or even safety if asked in front of people or discovered by parents in a search engine history.”

Because the Dewey numbering system is a subject classification, many of these topics will likely have their counterparts in the same order in our Jackson County libraries — and our teens, too, can access them in privacy through self-checkout machines. (The photo was first posted by Tumblr user aphroditzy and Buzzfeed News elected to share a reblog by user kassysgalaxyyy).

YA novels’ treatment of sexual identity and faith

Here’s an essay that resonated in my dual capacities of aspiring youth librarian and administrative coordinator of Religious Explorations for a Unitarian Universalist church. For School Library Journal, contributor Robert Bittner discusses young adult (YA) novels’ treatment of LGBTQ youth and faith. He argues that the “either/or” nature of many of these books “creates an unhelpful dichotomy between those who are queer and those who are Christian (or, in some ways, spiritual in any sense of the word).” He articulates a need for YA books that depict an ability for sexual identity to co-exist with faith.

‘Teen Crafternoon’: Poetry mural collages

Source of image: Ashland Teen Library on Facebook

I’m looking forward to another “Teen Crafternoon” activity, noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the teen area, Ashland public library, 410 Siskiyou Blvd. This time, participants will use magazines, books and art to create poetry mural collages. Ashland Teen Library has posted some photos to inspire our creative ideas.

Cat stuffie from repurposed sweater and socks

This little cat-like creature came home with me after spending an enjoyable “Teen Crafternoon” in the teen department, Ashland branch library. I constructed the cat’s body from a repurposed sweater and fashioned it a couple changes of clothing from the legs of socks. Watch for regular teen activities during the school year and during Jackson County Library Services’ summer reading program.

‘Teen Crafternoon’: We’re making ‘sock creatures’

Source of image: Ashland Teen Library on Facebook

Check out all the colors and patterns in these socks and now imagine the possibilities: making “sock creatures” during “Teen Crafternoon,” noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Ashland library, 410 Siskiyou Blvd. I’m looking forward to it.

Hand-made books during ‘Teen Crafternoon’

Having been exposed to the rewarding task of library book repair, I’ve long wanted to try hand-bookbinding. I got the opportunity during “Teen Crafternoon” with the Ashland library teen department.

Blogs by library professionals

Cartoon avatar puts me in good standing among library bloggers

Comic avatars seem to be a frequent practice among public and school library bloggers that I examined for an assignment this week in LIBT 210, School Library/Media Center Operations. So with my Bitstrips comic avatar, I fit right in with the writers of these four blogs.

Hattitude: Earflap cap with brim from sweater

Teen Crafternoon on Monday with the Ashland library Teen Department presented a perfect opportunity to make a cap with earflaps from two repurposed sweaters.

Teen Crafternoon: Repurposing sweaters

Ashland Teen Library on Facebook

Teen Crafternoon continues with the Ashland Public Library’s Teen Department at its new time, 3:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month.

This coming Monday, Nov. 10, teen librarian Esther Mortensen will guide us in upcycling sweaters into bracelets, arm and boot cuffs, hats and stuffed animals. Sweaters will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring one to upcycle if they’d like.

Teen Crafternoon begins new year at Ashland library

Source of image:
Ashland Teen Library Fans

Who else is looking forward to a new year of Teen Crafternoon with the Ashland library teen department, Jackson County Library Services?

First off, participants will paint masks for Day of the Dead, 4 p.m. today.

I found my niche volunteering at Ashland library through summer craft events, and am looking forward to another school-year volunteering each month with Teen Crafternoon.

The Ashland Branch Library is located at 410 Siskiyou Blvd. For more information, contact the library’s teen department, 541-774-6994.

Cuesta College’s LIBT 210: First communication

Received my first official communication this week for the Cuesta College Library/Information Technology Program’s LIBT 210, “School Library/Media Center Services.”

The message emphasizes the importance of having our text, Where Do I Start? A School Library Handbook, by the first day of class.

Produced by the Learning Multimedia Center, Santa Clara County Office of Education, this is a comprehensive guide to school library/media center operations. Approximately two-thirds into the book, I find it an extremely valuable resource.

Children’s and teens’ library services, back to school

Via @Storify (more #LibChat where this came from): Children's and teens' #library services, back-to-school https://t.co/hwvodSvda2 #libpitch

— Cynthia M. Parkhill (@CynthiaParkhill) July 31, 2014

Library teen crafting: Decorated book bags

Had a great time Tuesday decorating this canvas bag during the Ashland library teen department’s summer crafting activity. Watch the Jackson County Library Services calendar for upcoming activities. Summer reading activities are scheduled at multiple branches in our library system.