Dreaming Big and the Magical Flame of the Story

It doesn't matter that I can't read much children's literature anymore ... or that I'm not a fantasy-reader. I always know that attending the annual NERTCL luncheon will inspire me. And T.A. Barron did not disappoint.

Thomas (I learned on the Web that his family and friends call him Tom) Archibald Barron's accent does not give away the fact that he was born in Boston, MA where his first years were spent among the Eastern Massachusetts apple orchards. His family moved, lock, stock and [apple] barrel to Boulder, Colorado where it was apparent that his mother's love of learning and and writing and reading followed him. Years later he created a very special award for young people and he named it after his mother, the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

Barron's story is so much like so many other authors and is one the I never tire of hearing and he tells the story well. It is one of success that is often achieved only after years of perseverance. He sent his first novel off to 26 publishers and received 26 rejections. It only after a serendipitous acquaintance with Madeleine L'Engle, his continued writing and finding the love of his life, Currie, that Barron was able to leave his other successful life - that of Princeton and Harvard graduate, Rhodes Scholar and a investment company president behind. And he has never looked back.

"What was scary to me," says Barron, "is knowing that I had a dream that I didn't try hard enough" to reach. Follow your passion, is his advice.

Barron himself tells us that the recipe of a wonderful life is to ask yourself 'what you love in the world and give the 'world what it needs.'

During the luncheon talk which was rich with story and personal history, T.A. Barron shared his initiatives of Dream Big (a video that we all received) and the concept of The Heroes Trail (and book by that name, also received by each luncheon participant.) His ideas that young people can be inspired by 'the glimpse of heroic power that comes from stories' and by the example of others is immensely powerful. His metaphor of the flame ran through his entire talk reminding us that as librarians we are responsible for carrying that flame to our readers and for passing it on and on and on.

Mr. Barron shared an emotional moment with his audience with a story of a little girl and a starfish. Overwhelmed by an unfathomable amount of starfish washed up on a beach, this little girl realized that all the starfish might all die unless they were returned to the sea. While she despaired, she was taunted by an observer who told her that there were too many starfish on the beach and that she couldn't possibly make a difference. Holding one starfish up in the air, and reaching inside for wisdom that all of us really have inside us, the little girl tossed that one starfish into the sea. "I have made a difference. I have made a difference for that one." A story told by a master storyteller with words that we need to be reminded of all the time.

Had I had the silly idea that fantasy and children's literature are irrelevant to me, I would not have had the chance to listen to T.A. Barron, to be inspired by his work and his life story, and to realize once again that I have the power to make a difference. "The sharing of stories," Barron says, "is as essential to being alive as breathing. They are uniquely powerful vessels that carry big ideas."

ITS Carnival Continues!

New England librarians discover eReaders with the help of Rick Levine, Massachusetts Library System

Ed Garcia presents "Mobile Library Websites

Jenna Hecker of the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA presents "Website on a Dime Using WordPress"

Goffstown Library's Dianne Hathaway presents "Integrating YouTube Videos in our Website"

Adventures in Cartooning

Monday, Oct. 3rd, 11:30 - 1:00
(Disclaimer: I had to duck out about a half hour early to attend the NERTCL luncheon. If anyone stayed for the entire cartooning session, please add to this post! Thanks.)

Presented by James Sturm, cartoonist and cofounder of The Center for Cartoon Studies, and Caitlin McGurk, head librarian at the center.
How can libraries use comics to promote visual literacy and storytelling? What roles to libraries and comics have in common? How can librarians promote all stories, including ones told in this visual form?

First of all, they gave out very cool brochures about the center. Really fun handout. ;)
And this slide was on the screen when the presentation started:

Cat & Girl comic

Caitlin McGurk presented first. Caitlin is a comics librarian. She starts by going over her background and how she got to where she is at CCS.

Why be a librarian?

• You can study what you love and share what you love and are passionate about.


• It's a career that allows you to learn and love learning for a living!

Caitlin's passion has always been comics and zines. So she was driven to find a library that would allow her to use that. How did she do that?

• Looked for other librarians who are interested and starting networking, asking for internships, etc.


• Got an internship at Marvel - catalogued their archives and helped start their lending library (for editors at Marvel)


• Then hired at Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center libray, to create a library for their materials. Started comic and zine making programs for the patients and their siblings. Zine making is great for bibiotherapy.


• Now Caitlin is at the Schultz library at CCS.


• When she was hired they used LibraryThing, but the collection was huge (over 10,000 items). So she built a Koha open sourse ILS. Used a lot of CCS student volunteers to help build it.


• Catalogued, archived, organized their minicomics, zines, student work.

Comics and Libraries: the great equalizers

• Both libraries and comics are acessable. Available to all ages at all levels.


• Both are beyond priviledge and class.


• Both are a safe place, comfort zone.

How can comics help students learn?

• Great for helping students learning vocabulary. Adds the visual connetion.


• Wonderful for people on the autism spectrum because of images with text. Can help these visual thinkers with vocabulary but also social learning, understanding facial expressions, body language, etc.


• Comic creation promotes storytelling for people of all ages


• http://onesheetworkshop.blogspot.com
  A great way to get people engaged and interested, thinking creatively.


• Comics are a "nonthreatening and empowering" format.

Caitlin heard an NPR interview with Mo Willems a long time ago that stuck with her. He said we are all artists. We all used to doodle when we were kids. We can all draw, but most of us just stopped. Kids see that adults don't draw, so they think of it as something just for kids, not a legitimate art form.
Alexa Kitchen, age 7, wrote "Drawing Comics is Easy! (Except when it's hard)" She is the daughter of a cartoonist, so she was raised in a household that valued comics and cartoon art.

Someone in the audience asked Caitlin how librarians should shelve their comics. She responded that CSS is a unique place, so she doesn't personally tackle this issue. But one tip, if you are in a public or academic library, is to try to intershelve some. For example, you want to have Maus shelved with your history books so people can find it there, as well as in your graphic novel collection. By intershelving you can show people the amazing GN that are out there on various topics.

Next we heard from James Sturm, cartoonist and co-founder of CCS.

Since late 1800s, there have been books and comics written about how to write comics. Why? Because kids love to cartoon and want to create comics.
Perhaps kids stop drawing because they can't cross the chasm of what they are creating and what they are consuming (amazing Pixar movies, photoshopped Marvel superheroes, etc.)
So how can we narrow that chasm? Provide them with other choices. Comics and GN come in many shapes and sizes, not all the most polished art.

Comics are like Media Literacy 101. Understanding comics can help us understand commercials, advertisements, all media we consume.

For young kids, he recommends not going overboard with word balloons, boxes, etc. Stick to character creation. Kids love seeing their doodles come to life. Ed Emberley books are a great example. He helps you take shapes and lines and make something with a personality.

James showed some slides from his book Adventures in Cartooning. In it, he uses narrative to get kids excited and engaged in cartoon creation. He sees his book as being the next step from Ed Emberley for kids who are ready to take cartoon creation to the next level.

Website Makeovers for Mobile Users

Is your website mobile-friendly? Melora Norman from Unity College Library in Unity, ME, shares her expertise on universal and common-sense techniques and best practices for content and design. Steve Butzel from Portsmouth (NH) Public Library showcases his successes with LibAnywhere and his mobile Online Newstand.

Meloa Norman

"Universal Design" is designing a tool for the widest possible audience regardless of how they choose to use/access something (instead of maintaining multiple parallel methods tailored for different groups. One example is ramps in sidewalks - everyone can benefit from them without excluding access from anyone.

Small screen problems

• pictures either too big or too small (but requires use of ALT text)


• Lengthy or irrelevant text - be concise


• fixed-sized tables - forces too much scrolling


• poor/unintuitive navigation


• low contrast text/backgrounds (just go with black-on-white)


• plug-ins: flash, java (tough to update, resource compatibility) - use only when vital, not just for fancy things

Consider the context

• mobile users are often very focus in need, but distracted during user

Special pages for mobile users?
Perhaps, if you really need something that only functions well on a large monitor
Try designing the mobile site first, and see what doesn't fit in

Best practices

• Be concise


• Use bullets


• Edit, and then edit again - eliminate anything unnecessary


• Clean markup & CSS: good code = good universal experience


• Use images well and deliberately - small


• Label form field and tables - accessibility code is important


• Use consistent headers and navigation - don't make people work or hunt

You are here

• More smartphones than desktops will be sold in 2011


• More people have web-enabled phones that PCs with internet-access


• People expect to access key services via phones - it's not a "side project" for them


• Lower socio-economic mobile phone owners don't have any other access (don't have computers, broadband, landlines)

---

Steve Butzel

Mobile is taking off - we know that. The people that use them REALLY love them, often describing them as "necessary." They use them for specific functions, but don't always have undivided attention - plan for this.

Portsmouth (NH) Public Library mobile website is designed for targeted use: http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library/mobile.htm

It doesn't have to be fancy - it just has to work. But mobile patrons like a good experience, so if you can make it more fun, do it.

Mobile Web is not a Mobile App. There are lots of library-related apps though (Overdrive, LibAnywhere, Boopsie, Mango, etc). Apps look much fancier and might have more customized functions, but you can do much of it in a mobile website for free.

It's also fun to integrate gamification into your mobile website - it'll drive traffic just because it's a cool thing to do. Portsmouth uses "Games and Quests" - Guess the book by it's cover, QR Code Quest, Scavenger Hunt, Geocaching, Treasure Quest (give extra points for using databases).

For details on auto-detecting and redirecting mobile phones to mobile website, see http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/mobile

Mobile Online Newsstand

• Makes magazines (you already pay for and have access to through your databases) much easier for patrons to access


• Shows covers like a physical newsstand


• Links to articles in current issue's table of contents, also with link to other issues


• Lots of libraries involved already


• It's free - all that's required it you "adopt" a magazine and add those links to the newsstand

Perceptions of Libraries 2010: Context and Community

While it can't be said that it was bright* and early, it WAS early at 8:30 on Monday morning when we met to listen to Carole Myles from OCLC in the Conference Center's Ampitheater to present the report that was presented in 2011. (*Vermont is a beautiful state and even Burlington is lovely in the rain but it can't be called bright this Monday morning.)

"Perceptions of Libraries 2010 explores how the economic environment has affected perceptions and behaviors of our users and potential users. This [compilation of statistics can be] used in advocacy and grant applications, along with observtions about new formats and trends".

The last report of this kind was compiled in 2005 of environmentally-scanned information from 2003-2005. Interestingly, most devices were not as available before 2005, including sites like Facebook. With the advent of the smartphones and all the apps available, information has exploded. Smartphones will outpace PCs in a short time.

If you like statistics, OCLC has the information for you. The full report, by the way, is available at OCLC as a pdf.

From the OCLC site:

This OCLC membership report explores:

• Technological and economic shifts since 2005
• Lifestyle changes Americans have made during the recession, including increased use of the library and other online resources
• How a negative change to employment status impacts use and perceptions of the library
• Perceptions of libraries and information resources based on life stage

"Americans are very confident in their ability to find the information they are looking for online," Myers states. We find information easily and consider our sources trustworthy.

Harris Interactive surveyed 2229 respondents were included in the report, all US residents online. (At least 3/4 of the US population are online.)

7 out of 10 public libraries report the amazing statistic that they are the only free WiFi access in town.

Most importantly, in this economy, many Americans were impacted. This is our library audience at the moment. They are using the library, especially, for Broadband access and for use of public computers.

Troubling statistics include the results of a survey of respondents who began an information search at the library website. In 2005 it was 3%. It is now 0% or something less than 1%. Library website usage is down overall. So while the recession has pushed people into the libraries to use WiFi or to borrow books, it has not pushed them to use the library website for an information source.

The number one reason for an increase in library use is the 'save money.' The second reason is that families enjoy visiting the library. The newly-unemployed have more time to spend at the library.

Commentary was made about several of the branding statistics, namely that teens' perception of libraries is first of all 'books.' Whether this is good ... or bad, is up to debate!

Overall, the report speaks especially to the differences between the economically-impacted and those who aren't. Economically-impact patrons find the library more important for computer and Internet usage; those not impacted find that the library materials are more important. Families are using libraries because they like to visit them. College students are becoming particularly savvy about finding their own information. Teens aged 14-17 are not using the library website or online databases. Where are they going and how do we reach them? They do feel that we are out of touch and that libraries are outdated. Teens, young adults and GenXs are critical of both academic and public libraries. They want more space, more relevant space, more books of all kinds and increased customer service. Boomers and Seniors are happier with their libraries, 11% and 8% retrospectively (as compared to 5%-6% for the younger generations.)

Themes that run through all demographic sections are more space, updating, improved customer service, better lighting and more of relevant books and materials.

Read the full report, for more information.

Emerson Greenaway Award: Shelley Quezada

Shelley Quezada, librarian, professor and consultant extraordinaire, is the worthy recipient of NELA's Emerson Greenaway Award 2011. The award was presented at the Sunday, October 2 NELA banquet by Rick Taplin, Past President of NELA and Head of Systems and Networking, Minuteman Library Network.

Shelley Quezada wears many hats. Biographical information and the photo at the right is courtesy of the Simmons College Graduate School of Library Science website:

"Shelley Quezada is a consultant for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (the state library agency) where she manages grant funded projects to libraries using Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds. She coordinates and develops library‑based literacy and ESOL programs in Massachusetts libraries; promotes outreach to special needs populations including the educationally and economically disadvantaged and people with disabilities; promotes library service to multicultural populations and works as liaison with Massachusetts correctional libraries. She has developed and manages many popular grant programs including "Serving Tweens and Teens," "Mother Goose on the Loose," "Conversation Circles " (for English Language Learners), "Serving People with Disabilities," "On the Same Page" (One Book/Community Reads), and "Readers' Advisory." She conducts numerous workshops on proposal writing, evaluation, developing literacy/ESOL programs, services to multicultural populations, readers advisory services and outreach to diverse underserved target groups. With a background in library service in Brazil and Mexico, in recent years she has been active in conducting program evaluation of library programs and services in both Indonesia and West Africa. She has taught the course "Literacy and Services to Underserved Populations: Issues and Responses" and "Children's Literature and Media" . A longtime advocate of library support for family literacy, she was a recipient of the Massachusetts Library Association "Hall of Fame" award in 1998."

Delaney Delights

The NELA Banquet Sunday night, October 2, featured author Frank Delaney whose latest book is The Matchmaker of Kenmare. (The third book in this standalone 'series', will be published in January 2012, is The Last Storyteller.)

What a delightful guest and talk - full of humor, perspective, retrospective and advice for librarians.

From his own website: 'The Most Eloquent Man in the World', says NPR, about the writer, broadcaster, BBC host and Booker Prize Judge, Frank Delaney.

"As natural as the night follows the day, I would become a writer", reflected the author who grew up in a small village of Ireland where his father taught the older students and his mother the youngest of the school. His tale of being present when the boxes of books arrived at the school each month, padlocked and opened to the wonderment of Frank, was rich storytelling and also spoke to his pride of being an author. "To write well, a sculpting process has to be started."

Some of the themes of Mr. Delaney's talk revolved around our important role as librarians in the process of reading, in encouraging reading, in pursuing reading and in ensuring that the culture of reading will continue in this country. "Librarians are the curators of the culture of the world of books and reading." They are its future. The process is dependent on librarians sharing reading - through readers' advisory at every level.

"The best kind of librarian is the librarian who takes a writer's passion and conveys it to his/her customers."

A second theme is that of eReading, eBooks and eReaders. Like many of us, Frank Delaney owns an eReader and purchases books from Kindle. Like many of us, however, the Kindle or the eReader will NOT replace the book. Instant publication, self-publication, instant-access to books - this new world of publishing will ensure that Mr. Delaney and others will have to be the best writers that we all crave. He does not seem afraid of the future but he embraces it is his quest to be that writer we want to read.