Category Archives: Librarical

I’m a library science student, so sometimes I want to talk about shushing.

Weird Library Science

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I burnt my finger touching a pan that had recently been in the oven. I remedied it by applying a cold compress of Coors Light.

medicinal.JPG

That is all.
Today one of my co-libraricars found a DVD of Mean Girls,
which we do not own (because our copy was stolen long ago) with the barcode for Weird Science on it. Our copy of Weird Science is missing.

Did they think they could elude the security system by removing the barcode,
then putting it on a newer, more hip movie?

Also, My Friend Flicka was cataloged as being Sci Fi.

Such a weird day.

Untitled

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It’s kind of amazing when little kids come in with their parents, and they say, “can I buy this book?”

Then again, I can’t complain about the consumerism of books, partly because buying books is a fine way to spend money (as opposed to hookers or sugar-free candy) and because it’s making my life a wee bit easier when it comes to deciding how many copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I’m going to buy for the library.

I’ve been talking to kids who are already saving their money so they can buy it. I’ve been told that we’ll be inundated with donated copies after a few weeks, so for those two reasons, I’m not going to overbuy.

And for those of you who are not so interested in children’s librarian topics, I apologize. I swear that I’ll get back to posts about knitting and drinking too much (my two favorite vices) thusly.

Thoughts on stuff. Job stuff.

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What I’m really enjoying about this job is the make-it-up-as-you-go-every-day thing. There is a huge supply of crafts, so I go down to the craft dungeon, and try to come up with cool stuff to do, and tie it in with some stories. So there’s that kind of creativity. Then there’s the creativity it takes to switch up my plans when I have too many / not enough / cranky / asleep / sobbing children at the program. I’m sure a lot of this will get easier as I do it more, but I’m wondering what the payoff will be. Now, if things go well, I’m elated. In a few years, will I have this much nervous energy? Will I be nonplussed by the antics of children? Will I loathe the websites and bands high schoolers are into?

Or will I become a driving force, unstoppable by any snotty nose or petulant look?

Storytime: colors

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Storytime from last Friday.

Song: I’m a Little Teapot
Story: Samuel Todd’s Book of Great Colors
Song and dance: Color Square Dance (each kid got stickers denoting what colors they were, and we went over what the moves were)
Blue step forward, then turn around
Walk back to your place, and jump up and down.
Reds, hop to the middle, and back again
Find the yellows, and shake their hand.
Now purple you slowly turn around,
Clap your hands and make a sound.
Do-si-do, around we go,
All the colors, heel to toe.

Story: The Color Kittens
Rhyme: Color Rhyme
If your clothes have any red, put your finger on your head.
If your clothes have any blue, put your finger on your shoe.
If your clothes have any green, wave your hand so you are seen.
If your clothes have any yellow, smile like a happy fellow.
If your clothes have any brown, turn your smile into a frown.
If your clothes have any black, put your hands behind your back.
If your clothes have any white, stamp your feet with all your might.

Craft: Pre-cut crayons to color (from Copycat mag).

The same basic storytime was used today for the 1-3 year olds. It didn’t work as well. There was a massive age range, and they were mostly too young to engage with the color identification action. I’m thinking I’ll need to set some guidelines for what’s appropriate behavior – so there isn’t as much distraction.

Stretch
I’m a Little Teapot
Samuel Todd
Color Rhyme
Hickory Dickory Dock
Row Row
Of Colors and Things
Color Rhyme
I’m a Teapot
Hickory
Stretch

Storytime: Valentine’s Day, Redux

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I fucking kicked storytime’s ASS.

Not only did I figure out how to arrange things so I used up 45 minutes perfectly, I had a hit after hit after hit, whilst dealing with new kids (unknown temperaments! wants to touch the pictures!) and a cold room.

I figured out how to keep the kids focused, or at least on the storytime rug, when they show up early. I’ve instituted kiddo yoga. Not that I call it that, but I thought maybe if we did some stretches, the kids would stop running around and screaming or being afraid and hiding in their mothers’ arms. I was right. Abbie told me about how one of her friends circumvented cranky kids by having them stretch. “Cranky (arms up) … stretching (arms to the ground)”. Anyway, by the time we were done stretching, everyone had arrived.

STORYTIME: Valentine’s Day (45 min.)
Stretching – arms up to the ceiling, up on tippy toes (if you have developed that balance), then out to the side, then down to the ground like a willow tree.

Rhyme: I’m a Little Valentine (to the tune of I’m a Little Teapot)

Song: Row Row Row Your Boat (seated)

Story: Who’s Baby Am I? by John Butler

Song/game: One Little, Two Little, Three Little Bubbles – the moms blew bubbles while we sang, and the kids popped bubbles. It worked really well for the young ones, and the older ones helped me sing along. Note: moms can’t blow bubbles and sing without hyperventilating or inhaling soap.

Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes – first normal speed, then slow. I didn’t think they could do fast.

Story: The Best Thing about Valentines, by Eleanor Hudson

Craft: Valentines – I cut out shapes, and they scribbled with crayons.

Game: Valentine Hunt – I hid 3′ pom-poms all over the room, and the kids found them, ala Easter eggs.

Playtime

Tiny overwhelm.

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I’ve been looking up rhymes, songs, and finger plays to do for storytime. I know a lot of Girl Scout camp songs which about girly things or death, primarily. I know I know nursery rhymes, but I feel rusty. I’ve been looking up books with lyrics, and that’s been helpful, but I find when we do them during storytime, the kids and parents know them better than I do. And apparently, the version on the video everyone ELSE had seen went a little different.

Rar.

I don’t want to spend my evenings watching kids videos over and over, to perfect my tune to match the Disney version. I suppose that kind of thing happens once you have children, listening to Raffi CDs in the car and whatnot, but I struggle with it now.

Today’s blog post is brought to you by the letter V

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Yesterday I was hanging out in the children’s section after storytime with the kiddoos. A small patron asked if I’d read her a story. She had pulled a volume of a phonics set, so we read a book about the letter V. At the end, there was a full-page spread of illustrations. Every item started with V, so we started naming them. Violin, flowers (no, violets), vegetables, etc. I asked for some more V words. This tiny patron thought for a second and said in a clear, high voice, “vagina.”

Voila.

Valentine Storytime

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Storytime yesterday was only about 20 minutes (before free play), and I’ve been trying to figure out a way to fill the full 45 minutes without totally losing the kids’ interest. They’re mostly under three, so it’s a bit hard. Then again, I’ve been avoiding repeating song and rhymes, but tikes crave repetition, so I should be able to pad with that.

Anyway, I decided even though it’s a full week till Valentine’s Day, I’d do a V-day theme. I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day (despite the blatant commercialism) because TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY (and will get it’s own post later tonight) and I loved dressing thematically.

So, here’s the program: (I gave the kids Valentine’s stickers – ones big enough that they couldn’t quite swallow them in one bite)

1. I’m a Little Valentine (to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little valentine,
Red and white,
With ribbons and lace
I’m a beautiful sight.

I can say, “I love you,”
On Valentine’s Day.
Just put me in an envelope
And give me away!

2. Things I Love – you raise your hand if I name something you love, like he color green, petting kittens, eating ice cream.

3. The Hokey Pokey

4. Valentine Mice!, by Bethany Roberts (Author), Doug Cushman (Illustrator)

5. The Aardvark Song (I sang this to them, because it’s long and random enough to be difficult to teach to those who don’t know their address yet)

There is a large, dark aardvark in the park
They say he’s missing from the zoo
The police are searching high and low
But they cannot find them, can you? Peek-a-boo!
Why did the go? Oh, I’ll tell you the reason!
‘Cause it’s aardvark mating season!
So if two aardvarks have a date
Then they will slip right through those old zoo gates
So if you see two aardvarks necking in the park,
Do not break an aardvark’s heart!
Do not be a spy, you’re not the FBI,
Do not break and aardvark’s heart!

6. Skinnamarink – you know you know it.

7. Reprise of “I’m a Little Valentine”

8. Free play

Day off: No fires.

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I work every other Saturday, so I get an alternating Thursday and Monday off. I made a schedule for myself, and followed it diligently.

Sleep in.
Read until 1 p.m. or book is finished.*
Look up double brioche stitch, or something that will make a more interesting brim for a hat.
Set up local bank account.
Eat at No Problemo
Knit and watch TV all night.

The banking research had already been done, and in fact, we had such a positive experience I was looking forward to going back. Unfortunately, our account-signer-upper person rubbed me the wrong way. She referred to New Bedford as a big city, implying that it was scary. When we expressed no preference for who’s name should go first on the checks, Jason handed her our IDs face down, so she could randomly pick. She said, “Well, the man’s name usually goes first.” I turned to Wads with a look of horror, then said to her “I think that makes me want to do the opposite.” She did not hear me, or chose to ignore. Whatever. Wads’ name is first ironically.

Wadsbone and I found No Problemo as we searched out the potential neat places near our apartment. The menu is kind of like Chicago’s Picante – fresh and not too greasy. The fundamental difference, we found out, is that it’s run by white skater boys. And they have no horchata. And they close at 8. It’s good enough to go back to, but I still miss Picante.

I discovered something else exciting tonight. While looking for an elusive brioche stitch, I came across MagKnit’s Malagaiter. This will replace the hat I was about to knit. MagKnits is also responsible for the sweater I knit for Antron.

antonsweater.JPG

antonback.JPG” alt=”Back of Anton’s sweater” />

THEN, E pointed me to this mittem idea for transit cards.
Transit mitten

And E told me she’s wearing the arm warmers I made her last winter. I’m so full of knitting love that I may try to tackle the pattern problem I’m having on the sweater I’m nearly finished with.

armwarmers.JPG” alt=”E’s arm warmers” />

* Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, by Douglas Adams. Not part of the Hitchhiker series, I can now understand why Adams’ fans are so peculiar. I really enjoyed the novel, but it messes up my sense of humor in a way that makes me unable to hang out with people who think Everybody Loves Raymond is funny, and I pride myself on my ability to cross clique lines unnoticed.

Bully.

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We got a DVD about bullying, called Stop Bullying! and I couldn’t tell from the packaging or any online reviews (definitively) what age group its for. We have juvenile and young adult sections, so I brought the film home to check it out. It came highly recommended, so I was also curious to see if it really is good, or if it uses a star wipe, if you know what I mean.

I am really really glad I’m not a kid anymore. I’m sure everyone has bully stories, as even bullies are usually bullied by someone else.

I just finished Hoot, which has a really nice bully subplot. The main character thinks and acts really well when repeatedly confronted by a bully, in a way that could be emulated.

I’ve decided that the DVD is indeed really good. At first, I think thought it’s for for the J section. The kids are mostly in junior high, therefore using the kid-taste-rule-of-thumb, it’s for upper elementary students, because junior high students like to read about high schoolers, and elementary students like to read about junior high. Then I considered the types of scenarios they were talking about. Lots of it is universal bullying, but some of it involves situations that invoked bullying like talking to someone else’s boyfriend, so I’m going to stick with YA.