Storytelling! I forgot

I forgot to reflect on my storytelling program last week, so I'm doing that now.

There were around 10 people who attended, including two adults and one teenage chaperone.  I told the stories, "The Simple Saame Man" (Finland, retold by Jamila Gavin in Our Favorite Stories), "The Mitten" (Ukraine, retold by Jan Brett in The Mitten), and "How Loon Outsmarted Winter" (native North America, retold by Linda Raczek in Stories from Native North America).  I did use the felt mitten and laminated animals for "The Mitten" but only to briefly hold up each one.

For the most part, the kids were quiet while I told the stories, but it was hard to gauge their reaction from their faces.  One girl was sort of frowning the whole time, but it may have been a concentration sort of frown.  The highlight was definitely "The Mitten," which several of the kids said that they knew.  At the end, they said that this was their favorite story, although the one teenager said that she liked, "The Simple Saame Man" for its lesson about courage.

One younger boy definitely enjoyed "The Mitten" and did react during "How Loon Outsmarted Winter," when Loon is trapped under the ice, by looking at his mom with surprise!  That was definitely the highlight for me because I got him to become invested in a story (without pictures or props) that he hadn't heard before.

Many of the books that I had displayed were taken at the end of the program, especially compared to how few are normally taken after Toddler Time, for example.  I also set out a basket with packets of hot chocolate, which was also popular.

One mother stayed behind to tell me that she really appreciated the program, and that she was trying to get her son to begin enjoying stories without pictures.

Overall, I think the program was a success.  It definitely got some of our folktale books circulating, and I think everyone found the storytelling enjoyable.  I wonder if I would get more reaction on the future if I told more energetic stories, if I told stories meant for younger children, or if I used more props of some kind.

Should I try it again?

Just read, read, read

I've noticed a couple of things that parent/caregiver patrons do that make me sad.

I overheard a child asking his grandma what books she would be checking out to read, and she said, "Oh, no, I have things to read for work, and I'll just read with you."  Now, it's up to the adult if he or she wants to read in his/her spare time (although I would personally encourage it!), but I do think it's important for kids to see adults reading for pleasure.  Reading isn't something you do only as a kid because you're told to - it should be something you do your whole life because it's enjoyable and enriching!

It also makes me sad when adults limit what their children can read.  "Oh, he has to read Level 1 books."  (As if every book fit into a well-defined Level.)  "Don't take out more than five picture books."  (I understand it's hard to keep track of them sometimes, but reading is so important for your child - can't you make it work?)  "That one is too easy.  Put it back.  That one is too easy too."  (I know you want your child to be challenged, but you're close to turning reading into a chore instead of a pleasure.  Sometimes we read below our reading levels and that's okay!)

Just some thoughts from this week.  :)

New Years Resolution

Well, it's been over three months since I last posted anything, and I've decided that writing on this blog regularly is going to be one of my New Year's Resolutions for 2013.

How have the past few months been?  Great, actually.  I'm feeling so much more comfortable with many of the aspects of my job, and I really feel like a good, contributing member of the children's services team.  I even went to my first professional conference as an actual librarian, which was pretty darn cool.  Sometimes I still can't believe that I really succeeded in making this my career, but on the other hand, I feel like I'm definitely in the right place.

My worry currently is about a storytelling program that I'm doing this week.  I'm telling three folktales that have to do with winter, and the children (ages 5-10) who are attending are encouraged to bring their own stories to share.  I hope that I know the stories well enough.  At this point, I feel like I know them but am not telling them very fluidly.  As long as I don't freeze up with nervousness, I'll be fine, but I'm going to keep working on it because I want it to be better than fine.

I don't know how long my entries are going to be here, but just writing something will be good for me in order to reflect and absorb what I learn.  Thanks for reading, if anyone is!  :)

First week complete!

It feel great to have a week under my belt!  I learned a lot this week and already feel relatively comfortable with the children's room, staff, and procedures.  I appreciate that I'm gradually gaining more responsibility and independence - I haven't really felt overwhelmed since the beginning of the week.

Actually I was starting to feel like I was ready to dive in and start doing things, so I'm glad that my manager gave me a list of responsibilities through the beginning of January.  I'm excited!  Some things I feel ready for right now, and others I can definitely see myself prepared for by the time they happen.

My first solo storytime is this Friday!  A visiting preschool wants something centered on the theme of "All About Me."  I've been searching for some good storytime books on self-esteem, body parts, and celebrating each other's differences.  It should be fun!  I'm also taking over one Toddler Time session starting in October.  Yay little ones!

By the end of this month I also need to settle on a winter break program, to be implemented probably the first week of January.  I need a great idea!  In addition I need to come up with a new regular program to plan and run myself.  I have a lot of ideas for that, but I need to think about finding something that is both exciting and yet not unrealistic for my first independent program.

There are also some collection development, collection maintenance, and display creation duties that should keep me busy.

I'm starting to feel like a real librarian, guys!  Are you sure they're paying me to have this much fun?!

Day 2 - Helping actual patrons!

Today I was assigned time on the desk, and although I don't know how to answer many questions, I did help some patrons!

My very first patron was a very well spoken little lady who was looking for Night at the Museum on DVD.  When we couldn't find it on the children's media shelf, I was confused, but she assured me that it was in "the violence section."  Apparently this meant the general DVD collection because I found it.

Another young man was looking for books on something called "LEGO Ninjago."  When I found him the most recent book, brand new and featuring a two-headed dragon monster on the cover, his eyes got as big as saucers.  It was awesome.  I also found him books on Spiderman, Batman, and the Avengers.

What a great job.

First day = success!

Hello!  Today was my very first day as a professional librarian, and it's starting to feel real.  I may not have dreamed this whole thing, guys!

How did I get here?  After college, I joined a teaching program, but the experience was not entirely a positive one for me.  There were some aspects of teaching that I did really love, however, like working with kids and young people and making a difference by educating them.  So I moved back in with my parents, started thinking about other possible career paths and one day it hit me - why not be a librarian instead of a teacher?

I honestly don't know how I never thought of that possibility before.  Once the idea entered my head I could see how it fit perfectly with my interests and personal strengths.

What I learned when I started to research the profession is that a librarian these days needs a masters degree - in "Library Science" or "Library and Information Science," depending on the school.  That wasn't a problem for me, since I've always done well in school and did plan on going to grad school at some point.  I decided to enter the iSchool at the University of Pittsburgh for my MLIS and concentrate in Services for Children and Youth.

I have to say that I had a great time at Pitt and met some fantastic library friends who will hopefully keep in touch as they start their own careers in "library world!"

After graduation I moved back home (again) to focus entirely on getting my first full-time librarian job, as a children's librarian in a public library.

Amazingly and luckily it only took me 25 days to be offered a wonderful job in southern Indiana!  I am so happy and blessed to be here.  Everyone I have met has been so welcoming, and I'm really looking forward to everything that I'm going to be doing.

My move down here was a bit hectic!  My dad came with me to get me settled in, and I am so grateful because he was a huge huge source of support and guidance.  Although I had scheduled appointments beforehand, I basically found and settled on an apartment in three hours and moved in later the same afternoon!  The next day was spent buying furniture (because an air mattress and floor cushions was not going to cut it like in grad school!).  My Eagle Scout dad tied my new box spring and mattress one by one to the top of the car and took two trips to Costco (plus three trips to Target) to furnish my new apartment.  Thanks, Dad!

First impressions of Kentuckiana: super friendly people, slow drivers, lots of blown-out tires on the side of the road, confusing interchanges on the freeway and an incredibly high number of seafood restaurants.  I still need to ask someone what is up with all the seafood places.  Maybe it's just my part of town but there are seriously at least eight of them.

I was a little bit nervous for my first day of work (I think I may actually have to be a grown-up now?), but everyone was great and I think I did process a lot of the information that was thrown at me.  I can't wait to learn more and do more!

Here's to my rookie year as a librarian!