‘Action Research’ expressed in a zine

Parkhill-ZINE-Participatory-action-research-with-an-Autistic-Book-Club
by Cynthia M. Parkhill

As part of my studies toward “Action Research” in libraries, I worked on constructing a zine that explored the concept of “Participatory” action research and applied it toward my interest in creating an “Autistic Book Club.”

Monkey D. Luffy cosplay : ‘Wanted’ poster

From the One Piece manga, anime, and live-action franchise: I created a Wanted poster featuring my cosplay of Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. To create the poster, I used a template in Canva (an online graphic-design tool). The foreground photo of me was taken at home and, with my pose, I attempted to duplicate that of Luffy in his own Wanted poster. I removed the background and I layered it over a photo that I took during a walk along the San Francisco waterfront.

Let’s build a Community of Readers (2024)

“When children see the adults around them using reading and writing in their everyday lives, they’re more likely to become readers and writers themselves.” — How to Create a Literate Home: Young Child and Kindergartener, PBS Kids, March 26, 2012. I created flyers for colleagues to display a book that they are currently reading. My design is based on one by Andrea Trudeau. https://youtu.be/9agrAN5Nbts

Creating a culture of reading among young people

The Library Science class I’m taking is talking this week about building a culture of readers. In her article for Knowledge Quest (2017, p. 24), Karen E. Smith asks: “How do we create a culture of readers without driving them away?”

Pride pins, designed with Canva and Google Slides

To help pay for classes toward a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, I have applied for various scholarships, including those related to the LGBTQIA+ community. As part of one such application, I highlighted a button-making project. I got the idea from a basket of pins at the downtown public library.

‘Read with Pride’ book display

For the ninth week of my studies in LIS 5250, my task was to showcase some resources of my library’s collection. To paraphrase the AASL “standards” (2018), the collection is the center of any library, whether school, public, or otherwise.

Let’s build a Community of Readers

Before the COVID-19 shutdown, I’d been promoting these flyers for staff to showcase what they are reading. Now that we are back together again, I’m hoping to resume those efforts. I’d love to see these flyers posted all over campus. My design is based on one by Andrea Trudeau, which she shared among California library professionals.

Women’s History Month in Bellview library

For Women’s History Month, I brought out this posterboard display that I created during my first spring in Bellview library: a collage of cut-outs featuring U.S. astronaut Sally Ride, Sacagawea, who guided Lewis and Clark on their expedition; and First Lady Michelle Obama. The posterboard is accompanied by several titles from the library’s collection of biographies: civil rights activists, artists, aviators, politicians, sports figures and more.

bodyCushion2™ promotional carousel slide

I’ve worked part-time since April 2015 for Body Support Systems, the creator and manufacturer of the bodyCushion™, a set of cushions specially engineered for use during massage and other physical therapy treatments.

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10’

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10,’ Jan. 10, 2017
from Cynthia M. Parkhill on Slideshare

Back at work this week after snow-day closures delayed my return from winter break: I decided to do things a little differently with the Bellview Elementary School library “Top 10” for January 2017. I filtered results in our Follett-Destiny online catalog for the most often checked-out picture books during the previous 90 days.

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10’

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10,’ Sept. 29, 2016
from Cynthia M. Parkhill on SlideShare

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.

‘On Your Mark, Get Set ... READ!’

Jackson County Library Services is promoting “Summer Read” activities that begin as soon as school lets out. Registration is free, and sign-ups can be done at any branch in the system.

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10’

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10,’ Oct. 17, 2015
from Cynthia M. Parkhill

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.

Jackson County Library Services, re-branded as independent entity

During a recent visit to the Ashland library, I picked up a letter that was sent to me. It announced my transition from Jackson County volunteer to being a volunteer specifically with Jackson County Library Services (JCLS).

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10’

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10,’ March 24, 2015
from Cynthia M. Parkhill

Oregon Battle of the Books is behind us, but in Bellview Elementary library, I’ve been promoting student participation in the Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice and Oregon Readers’ Choice awards. I’m gratified to see award nominees on this most recent “Top 10” list.

Bookmark: ‘Bully-Free Begins With Me’

Bookmark: Bully-Free Begins With Me
from Cynthia M. Parkhill

Originally created last October for Bullying Prevention Month, my “Bully-Free Begins With Me” bookmarks have been a steady source of interest among students visiting Bellview library. And so, this past week, I photocopied more bookmarks to replenish my supply.

The image came from the website of the Pacific Alliance On Disability Self Advocacy, but I’ve encountered it on numerous education and non-profit websites around the Internet. Its depiction of people, each unique but all holding hands, seemed a fitting image to emphasize the importance of accepting and even welcoming differences.

Children find travel tickets in ‘Harry Potter’ books

The reception by children was everything I’d hoped for one-way travel tickets on the Hogwarts Express that I slipped inside copies of Harry Potter.

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10’

Bellview Elementary School library ‘Top 10,’ Nov. 29, 2014
from Cynthia M. Parkhill

It came as no surprise to me that Oregon Battle of the Books featured titles occupy all 10 places this month on the Bellview library Top 10. Students have formed teams and are assigning responsibilities to read each title on the list. And in Bellview library, I am continually asked if I have this-or-that book.

Bookmark: Hogwarts Express travel ticket

Imagine discovering a one-way travel ticket on the Hogwarts Express, inside the copy of Harry Potter that you found on the library shelves.

Library card, ‘most important school supply of all’

Library Card Sign-Up Month from Cynthia M. Parkhill

At Jackson County Library Services’ Ashland Branch Library today, I picked up library card application forms and preschool storytime fliers for Library Card Sign-Up Month, observed each September to coincide with students’ return to school. I designed this sign to inform viewers that a library card is “the most important school supply of all.”