SATURDAY -- Today, when I got to the library family storytelling was already in full swing with Teresa singing "Shake my Wiggles Away". Rubina and Cecile were at the reference desk. Lynne and Andrew, the library pages were shelving. My task for the day was quite easy. There was a bookcart filled with new boardbooks and I was to process them. Apparently, they were not even to be cataloged but just barcoded, processed with stickers on the spine and then placed on the shelves. I worked on processing the new books hoping I could get them all done by the time I left in the afternoon.
I stopped and took a lunch break around 12:30pm. Lynn made an "In & Out Burgers" run and I asked for a double cheeseburger with fries and a coke...animal style. I did not have time to grab something to eat when I left the house in the morning so by the time Lynn got back from her burger run, I was starving. We went to the backroom (Lynn, Cecile and I) and ate my burger with much gusto. While eating, we chatted and talked about the new acquisitions in front of us and then we moved on to restaurants and food we like. At the mention of food and restaurants we got to the topic about my last week of work. It's very, very sad for me to think that the internship is coming to an end. I told Cecile that I love coming to the Children's Room to work each day no matter how tired I was from the law firm job. We then started planning on going out to dinner on my last Saturday of work there which is next week. We are going to Mu Dung San, a Korean BBQ place in Koreatown. Cecile did the planning and said she will email everyone and ask if they will want to join us.
After lunch, I began to feel so much more the sadness of my leaving the internship. I thought to myself as I was sticking labels and barcodes on the new books that I am coming out of the internship with so much more than I expected. I not only learned new skills, I also somewhat dispensed of my ickiness about germs. Furthermore, to my everlasting gratitude, I have made new friends in the people I worked with, each of them contributing plenty of great knowledge to this wonderful experience.
Around 1:30pm, we had to prepare for the Swazzle (http://www.swazzle.com). A group that does puppet shows. It was, I guess, what you can say the culminating event to National Library Week. Swazzle was performing Harry and the T-Rex. I helped out with setting up the area in the auditorium where they were to perform. We cleared some of the chairs. When people started arriving, I directed them to the auditorium which was across the hall from the Children's Room. Although I was eager to watch the show, since I've never seen a live one, I was not able to watch the whole show but just bits and pieces of it. I had to help out at the reference desk because Rubina had to leave at 2pm to attend a Christening. I invited some friends to come with their kids to watch Harry and the T-Rex but only one of them came and they were late. In the end, they just waited for me to finish my shift at 3:30pm.
By the time I had to leave for the day, I was only able to finish processing half a cart of books. It was a gratifying job because not only did I process, I also read the books and listed down good titles I can buy for future gift baskets for friends and their kids. With books, burgers and a puppet show, my second to the last Saturday of work at the library was a quite good day...On Monday, the countdown begins.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Day 29 -- April 18, 2007
WEDNESDAY -- I have been trying to stretch the time of my internship by cutting back on the hours. I was not supposed to come to the Children's Room today not just to cut the hours but also because I had to do some chores for my dad. However, Cecile was on jury duty so I was asked if I could come to work.
When I got to the library, the first thing I did was check my handiwork with the book I repaired last night. Spirited Away was as tightly bound with rubberbands as it was when I left it last night on the shelves behind the reference desk. When I took off the bands around it, I opened the book with care, hoping that the glue held. Voila! I was successful in my attempts, I saved the book, yipeee!
Since it is still Spring Break Week, there were not that many reference questions. I whiled away the time by clearing the computer room every half hour and by reading the Snacktime Reader's book of the month, Victory Garden by Lee Kochenderfer. So far, I'm liking the story and I'm eager to meet with the Snacktime Group with Teresa next Wednesday.
I was also left most of the time to answer the phone. I am more eager now to answer the phone when it rings. Tonight I picked up to answer a reference question about the color wheel...which two primary colors when combined makes green? I had to tell the woman that green is primary color and it's a bit complicated to explain how green is made. When I was taking a bit of time looking for information to simplify my answer, she changed her mind and said "forget about green, what about yellow?" well, that was easier. After I put the phone down, I was thinking about the reference interview. I realized that had she omitted the word "primary" and asked "what two colors would make green" it would have been easier for me to reply blue and yellow. The word primary threw me off. I know now the difference between in person and phone reference. With phone reference, you're strapped with time you almost have to have the answer instantly. As for in person interviews, you can buy time while processing the query in your mind. There's so much more pressure to know the right questions to ask in a phone reference interviews to tighten your search and that's one thing I need to develop.
When I got to the library, the first thing I did was check my handiwork with the book I repaired last night. Spirited Away was as tightly bound with rubberbands as it was when I left it last night on the shelves behind the reference desk. When I took off the bands around it, I opened the book with care, hoping that the glue held. Voila! I was successful in my attempts, I saved the book, yipeee!
Since it is still Spring Break Week, there were not that many reference questions. I whiled away the time by clearing the computer room every half hour and by reading the Snacktime Reader's book of the month, Victory Garden by Lee Kochenderfer. So far, I'm liking the story and I'm eager to meet with the Snacktime Group with Teresa next Wednesday.
I was also left most of the time to answer the phone. I am more eager now to answer the phone when it rings. Tonight I picked up to answer a reference question about the color wheel...which two primary colors when combined makes green? I had to tell the woman that green is primary color and it's a bit complicated to explain how green is made. When I was taking a bit of time looking for information to simplify my answer, she changed her mind and said "forget about green, what about yellow?" well, that was easier. After I put the phone down, I was thinking about the reference interview. I realized that had she omitted the word "primary" and asked "what two colors would make green" it would have been easier for me to reply blue and yellow. The word primary threw me off. I know now the difference between in person and phone reference. With phone reference, you're strapped with time you almost have to have the answer instantly. As for in person interviews, you can buy time while processing the query in your mind. There's so much more pressure to know the right questions to ask in a phone reference interviews to tighten your search and that's one thing I need to develop.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Day 28 - April 17, 2007
TUESDAY -- It's another quiet night in the library. I did some shelving as a way to familiarize myself with the collection. I helped with the clearing of the computer room every half hour. I seem to be more confident nowadays that I can now deny kids who want to use the computers longer than their alloted 30 minutes, tell them to use their phones outside, to walk not run, etc. I'm still not as strict as the librarians but I am more firm these days.
I can also say that I am a so much more familiar with the collection now than I was last month. I can now answer most reference questions without using Horizon because I know the lay-out of the library better. As for Horizon, each day I am more confident in using it but I still find that using the library website's online version of the catalog seems easier when I need to tighten the search.
There were some books that needed mending tonight. Some of them were just simple taping of torn pages. Miss Daisy wanted to declare a volume of the graphic novel Spirited Away by Miyazaki as irreparable because the binding fell apart and many pages were loose. As a Miyazaki fan, I refused to believe that it cannot be repaired and that it will be thrown away. These Japanese manga volumes are ten bucks a pop and they have beautiful artwork but they do fall apart with much use. I tried to put it back together using massive amounts of glue and placed rubber bands around it and kept my fingers crossed hoping that when it dries, the book is saved and can be read a few more times before it falls apart again.
I learned through this internship that in public libraries, one has to learn to save. In the private setting, money is usually no object especially in law libraries. When partners at the firm request for a book or a subscription it does not matter if it is worth hundreds of dollars, even thousands every now and then. If they want it and they can justify the use and how it will be helpful to their practice, more often than not, we purchase it for them using library budget. At a public library, I noticed how it's necessary to save everything from glue bottles that can be refilled to paper that can be recycled to use as scratch paper. Nowadays, whenever I use post-it notes at work, I cut them so I can use the other half later. I also now save used paper for personal printing purposes or to use it for scratch. I seem to have brought economizing to a different level :o)
I can also say that I am a so much more familiar with the collection now than I was last month. I can now answer most reference questions without using Horizon because I know the lay-out of the library better. As for Horizon, each day I am more confident in using it but I still find that using the library website's online version of the catalog seems easier when I need to tighten the search.
There were some books that needed mending tonight. Some of them were just simple taping of torn pages. Miss Daisy wanted to declare a volume of the graphic novel Spirited Away by Miyazaki as irreparable because the binding fell apart and many pages were loose. As a Miyazaki fan, I refused to believe that it cannot be repaired and that it will be thrown away. These Japanese manga volumes are ten bucks a pop and they have beautiful artwork but they do fall apart with much use. I tried to put it back together using massive amounts of glue and placed rubber bands around it and kept my fingers crossed hoping that when it dries, the book is saved and can be read a few more times before it falls apart again.
I learned through this internship that in public libraries, one has to learn to save. In the private setting, money is usually no object especially in law libraries. When partners at the firm request for a book or a subscription it does not matter if it is worth hundreds of dollars, even thousands every now and then. If they want it and they can justify the use and how it will be helpful to their practice, more often than not, we purchase it for them using library budget. At a public library, I noticed how it's necessary to save everything from glue bottles that can be refilled to paper that can be recycled to use as scratch paper. Nowadays, whenever I use post-it notes at work, I cut them so I can use the other half later. I also now save used paper for personal printing purposes or to use it for scratch. I seem to have brought economizing to a different level :o)
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Day 27 - April 16, 2007
MONDAY -- It's Spring Break for the the school district so I expected a quiet library when I got there. No luck. It was still busy but not as many children as we usually would have on Monday nights. I wanted to work on my pathfinder but my heart was not in it. I mostly did the clearing of the computer room, answered some reference questions and processed some books that needed stickers on the spine. It was still a bit busy but during downtime, I cannot help but check the news online about the Virginia Tech shootings. It was the news of the day. As I was driving to the train station in the morning, I heard about the shooting in the news. What was reported at the time though was that only one or two were shot and I thought, "how sad...another school shooting." As the morning progressed though, the numbers rose and to my shock, there were 33 dead including the shooter. It was riveting to see the news reports. I thought to myself, how vulnerable we all are if someone came to work and started shooting...not just at the firm but at the public library.
To get my mind off of my morbid thoughts, I decided to look for book titles to include in my pathfinder. I found a few but I'm having a difficult time choosing what should be included and what I can omit. There are many titles I can use but some of them are too old. When my mind started wandering again when it got quiet in the library, I just sat there to read. I'm still reading, "Crispin: At the Edge of the World" by Avi. I am getting to the final chapters and I am enjoying the story. I like the first book better but this one is a must read if you read Cross of Lead. Crispin has matured beyond his years as he tries to survive in a new world outside the little village he grew up in. It was touching for me when they arrived to a town destroyed by war and Crispin saw the great sea for the first time in his life and he narrated: "Thus it was that in one brief time I saw the hand of God's creation as thrice awesome -- and the hand of man's destruction frightening three times more." Avi's writing has a way of bringing vividly to the reader's mind what the story's narrator is seeing.
To get my mind off of my morbid thoughts, I decided to look for book titles to include in my pathfinder. I found a few but I'm having a difficult time choosing what should be included and what I can omit. There are many titles I can use but some of them are too old. When my mind started wandering again when it got quiet in the library, I just sat there to read. I'm still reading, "Crispin: At the Edge of the World" by Avi. I am getting to the final chapters and I am enjoying the story. I like the first book better but this one is a must read if you read Cross of Lead. Crispin has matured beyond his years as he tries to survive in a new world outside the little village he grew up in. It was touching for me when they arrived to a town destroyed by war and Crispin saw the great sea for the first time in his life and he narrated: "Thus it was that in one brief time I saw the hand of God's creation as thrice awesome -- and the hand of man's destruction frightening three times more." Avi's writing has a way of bringing vividly to the reader's mind what the story's narrator is seeing.
With this internship and all the cool books I have been reading from the Children's Room, my dream of becoming a writer is somewhat reviving. I want to write something but I still don't know what to write about. I read books by Cynthia Kadohata and Linda Sue Park, both Newbery Winners who wrote books that had to do with their ethnic backgrounds. Is this something I can do? Wow, even with a graduate degree close at hand, I'm still wanting to do something else on top of it, do I seem too insatiable? I guess if nothing else works out, I can be an artist...hahaha! See more of my drawings from last Saturday's drawing session below. Be the judge...Should I stick with being a librarian, or should I be an artist:o)
"CRAZY DAISY"
"DOCTOR EVIL"
"EVIL MONSTER"
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Day 26 - April 14, 2007
SATURDAY -- It was hot in the library when I got there today. The air-conditioning has not been working for the last few days now and although there is a fan going at the reference area, it's not enough. It was not too bad since it's still spring. So that as long as it is cool outside, we're not working in torturous heat indoors. It was quiet in the morning. We had a few families come in for Family Storytelling and Playtime for toddlers and because of the heat, the families left early.
In the afternoon, I helped out with the Awarding Ceremony for the bookmark contest winners. Most of the winners showed up with their families. I was at the door signing up people and taking the consent forms from parents or guardians. The signed forms were consent to release forms for pictures we take of the children/minors with Lyda and Mr. Mousie as they accept their certificates. I felt bad for Andrew, one of the pages who had to wear the Mouse suit. It must have been stifling hot in there.
After the ceremony, there was an artist, Jim Gilberts, who came to teach the children how to draw cartoons. I sat with the children to learn how draw. Although I never fancied myself to be an artist, I always wanted to learn to draw beyond the stick figures I make. Below you'll see my fanciful efforts of the drawings that I did while watching and listening to Mr. Gilberts. The basic storyline is Mr. Gilberts':
In the afternoon, I helped out with the Awarding Ceremony for the bookmark contest winners. Most of the winners showed up with their families. I was at the door signing up people and taking the consent forms from parents or guardians. The signed forms were consent to release forms for pictures we take of the children/minors with Lyda and Mr. Mousie as they accept their certificates. I felt bad for Andrew, one of the pages who had to wear the Mouse suit. It must have been stifling hot in there.
After the ceremony, there was an artist, Jim Gilberts, who came to teach the children how to draw cartoons. I sat with the children to learn how draw. Although I never fancied myself to be an artist, I always wanted to learn to draw beyond the stick figures I make. Below you'll see my fanciful efforts of the drawings that I did while watching and listening to Mr. Gilberts. The basic storyline is Mr. Gilberts':
These are my drawings of a superhero mouse and his faithful doggie sidekick.
Okay, I'll continue posting the rest of my drawings in the upcoming blog entries. Perhaps this can be an alternative career. What do you guys think?
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Day 25 - April 12, 2007
THURSDAY -- I was running late again. I thought that we had Family Night for HeadStarters but when I called Rulbina told me that everyone was at the Pacific Park Branch. I called the branch to ask if they needed me to come there too, I was told that I should just go to Central to make sure Daisy and Rubina are covered.
When I got to the Central Library, Lyda was still there and she too was told to stay put because it turned out only one family showed up at the Pacific Library. It was spring break for most schools so it turned out only one family was interested in going to the library for Family Night.
Thursdays are mostly quiet in the library to begin with so coupled with Spring Break, the pace was much more sedate for the Children's Room. I helped Lyda count and bundle the bookmarks in groups of 50 for Saturday's awarding events. I got one question from a boy looking for what I thought were "Ricky Ricardo" books. I asked if he wanted a biography and the 7 year old looked at me like "What the heck is this old lady talking about?" He said they are stories. Try as I might, I could not find anything to match my search for "Ricky Ricardo" limited to children's fiction available in Central Library. My thought was "Hmmm, I did not know Ricky Ricardo wrote children's books..." I was getting desperate as the child was already looking at me like he was thinking "you don't know anything!" and no one else was at the desk with me at the time. Finally, Rubina got back and I asked her, "do you know of any Ricky Ricardo books?" She stopped for all of 2 seconds until she laughed saying "RICKY RICOTTA!" Apparently, there is a series called Ricky Ricotta's Giant Robot :o)
One of the weaknesses I have that concerns this internship is my lack of knowledge when it comes to popular kiddie lit. Just when I thought I was getting better with using Horizon, I get hit with what to me is a stumper. I really just need to fine tune my reference interview either that or maybe I need to clean my ears...LOL!
When I got to the Central Library, Lyda was still there and she too was told to stay put because it turned out only one family showed up at the Pacific Library. It was spring break for most schools so it turned out only one family was interested in going to the library for Family Night.
Thursdays are mostly quiet in the library to begin with so coupled with Spring Break, the pace was much more sedate for the Children's Room. I helped Lyda count and bundle the bookmarks in groups of 50 for Saturday's awarding events. I got one question from a boy looking for what I thought were "Ricky Ricardo" books. I asked if he wanted a biography and the 7 year old looked at me like "What the heck is this old lady talking about?" He said they are stories. Try as I might, I could not find anything to match my search for "Ricky Ricardo" limited to children's fiction available in Central Library. My thought was "Hmmm, I did not know Ricky Ricardo wrote children's books..." I was getting desperate as the child was already looking at me like he was thinking "you don't know anything!" and no one else was at the desk with me at the time. Finally, Rubina got back and I asked her, "do you know of any Ricky Ricardo books?" She stopped for all of 2 seconds until she laughed saying "RICKY RICOTTA!" Apparently, there is a series called Ricky Ricotta's Giant Robot :o)
One of the weaknesses I have that concerns this internship is my lack of knowledge when it comes to popular kiddie lit. Just when I thought I was getting better with using Horizon, I get hit with what to me is a stumper. I really just need to fine tune my reference interview either that or maybe I need to clean my ears...LOL!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Day 24 - April 11, 2007
WEDNESDAY -- I had to finish processing more invoices at the firm today so I was not able to get the earlier train. As a result, I got to the Children's Room at 5:30pm. Lyda, Cecile and Arpine were hard at work. I helped Lyda count bundles of the Bookmarks that won the bookmark contest. We're holding an award ceremony on Saturday that Hala put together. I think I picked up about 4 calls tonight from people who are attending the event.
I spent most of the night working on my Pathfinder for the online homework help. I looked at the books from the stacks and also searched the catalog for what we have in the collection. I did not get too far since I only had four titles typed up when the library closed.
I got a few reference questions, cleared the computer room every half hour and picked up the phone for reference and RSVP calls. I was more confident with answering questions about what book for this grade level. There was a mom who was asking for a list of recommended books for her child who is in Kindergarden. As far as I knew, there were no such lists in the library but after I directed her to the picture books, I looked at the Children's Room website and saw there is a page called Book Lists. I clicked on this and found a list for Early REaders which I printed out and gave to the mother browsing the JO section.
Cecile asked me today how I am liking the internship and I told her that I like it a lot. She said that in the beginning she thought I did not like it because I was quiet. I really thought that it was funny she observed me being quiet. At the firm, when I'm out on vacation, they say that the library is eerily quiet because I am the noisy, rambunctious one there. There is never a time that one would not hear a burst of laughter from the back room. There are times when Reed, the L.A. librarian will come to my desk and ask me what's funny. My usual reply is: "You!" After sometime, he learned not to ask anymore and would tell me that I am too sassy! I am usually quiet at a new workplace, I tend to observe first before I give my co-workers a dose of my weird self :o) As far as the Children's Room is concerned, I always feel like I have to be quiet in a public library. This comes from growing up in a culture where librarians are seen as strict and libraries are considered hallowed ground that children should either keep mum or whisper when visiting. I was always shushed as a kid coming to the library. I have a loud voice by nature and ultra-giggly to boot, it does not help any that I find humor in anything and everything so my dear Cecile, I have a few more weeks to show you that I am not as quiet as you might think. However, in keeping with library policy...I'll try very hard to control myself though...that's a promise! :o)
I spent most of the night working on my Pathfinder for the online homework help. I looked at the books from the stacks and also searched the catalog for what we have in the collection. I did not get too far since I only had four titles typed up when the library closed.
I got a few reference questions, cleared the computer room every half hour and picked up the phone for reference and RSVP calls. I was more confident with answering questions about what book for this grade level. There was a mom who was asking for a list of recommended books for her child who is in Kindergarden. As far as I knew, there were no such lists in the library but after I directed her to the picture books, I looked at the Children's Room website and saw there is a page called Book Lists. I clicked on this and found a list for Early REaders which I printed out and gave to the mother browsing the JO section.
Cecile asked me today how I am liking the internship and I told her that I like it a lot. She said that in the beginning she thought I did not like it because I was quiet. I really thought that it was funny she observed me being quiet. At the firm, when I'm out on vacation, they say that the library is eerily quiet because I am the noisy, rambunctious one there. There is never a time that one would not hear a burst of laughter from the back room. There are times when Reed, the L.A. librarian will come to my desk and ask me what's funny. My usual reply is: "You!" After sometime, he learned not to ask anymore and would tell me that I am too sassy! I am usually quiet at a new workplace, I tend to observe first before I give my co-workers a dose of my weird self :o) As far as the Children's Room is concerned, I always feel like I have to be quiet in a public library. This comes from growing up in a culture where librarians are seen as strict and libraries are considered hallowed ground that children should either keep mum or whisper when visiting. I was always shushed as a kid coming to the library. I have a loud voice by nature and ultra-giggly to boot, it does not help any that I find humor in anything and everything so my dear Cecile, I have a few more weeks to show you that I am not as quiet as you might think. However, in keeping with library policy...I'll try very hard to control myself though...that's a promise! :o)
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Day 23 - April 10, 2007
TUESDAY -- I had a very busy day today. I was at the public library at 9am to attend an order meeting. It was a very interesting gathering of librarians not only from the central library Children's Room, but also of the other city branches and the Library Director. The agenda of the meeting was to browse through some Spanish and bilingual books from a vendor which we did for almost 2 hours. Many of the books had beautiful artwork. I was able to understand most of the titles of the Spanish books. My Spanish is very rusty but I was able to get a sense of what the books were all about. It was interesting to me how Carolyn left the room to get money for one of the branch librarians that did not have funds left in her budget to buy books only to come to say I got you $500.00 so you can buy some books. At the firm, $500.00 will only get you a year's subscription to one newsletter.
After the vendor left, we talked about the new acquisition carts and the books that Theresa, Cecile and Catherine (a branch librarian) wanted to highlight. Then we proceeded to talking about library policies, most especially about the policy on the age limit of children being left to their own devices in the libraries. As it stands, children 9 years and older can be left on their own in the children's room, as long as by closing time, they have an adult picking them up. We left this hanging in the air as we were almost on our third hour. Carolyn, the library director wanted us to mull over the change the librarians were proposing that the age limit be changed from 9 to 10 years old.
After the meeting I went to work at my law firm job. I had online invoices to pay so I had to come to work. I was not able to leave the firm until 5:30pm and as a result I did not get to the Children's Room until 6:30pm. By the time I got there, the usual foot traffic with kids doing homework, using computers or borrowing books was in full swing. Around 7:30pm it slowed down a bit that I was able to interview Hala about collection development. Since she has a brand new library to fill, she told me that she ordered pretty much everything the vendor had to offer at the order meeting. I find collection development for a public library quite interesting.
While Hala was chatting with me, she was making die-cut figures of piggies for her storytelling on Thursday. She asked me if I wanted to make the sample and of course I readily agreed. I really enjoy these little projects. I made the sample and it turned out okay. See below:
The materials for this project are the die-cut face of the pig, some pieces of colored paper, crayons and a brown bag. The piggy on the left in a yellow dress was made by Theresa sometime ago and the sexy piggy in a green dress is mine! I'm getting good with arts and crafts right? What do you think?
Day 22 - April 9, 2007
MONDAY -- The first day of the week are always busy as soon as I get to the Children's Room. When I got there at 5pm, Hala, Arpine, Cecile and Lyda were busy at work. Lyda is the new assistant children's librarian replacing Hala. Hala is now in between libraries as she prepares for her new post as a branch librarian.
I set off to work finishing the aprons for Thursday night's event. I was able to finish about 50 more of the paper aprons. It was tedious work but I found it therapeutic cutting and pasting and tying the yarn. In the end, we ended up making more than the 150 we need for the event.
When I finished my project with Lyda and Evelyn's help, I read some chapters of the book I am reading "Crispin: At the Edge of the World" by Avi. I read the first book Crispin: The Cross of Lead (2003 Newbery Winner) before I started with the internship and I liked the story because it was well developed. I really enjoy reading about this period in time, the 1300s and I thought that the author did a good job describing what was going on during those times. Crispin was a courageous boy who gave up his heritage in order to save his friend Bear who was held captive by a noble's kin. Bear was put in a dungeon by those who wanted to kill Crispin to prevent him from claiming his birthright. The second book continues as Bear and Crispin fled the Castle of Great Wexly.
I asked Lyda and Evelyn tonight about the distinction between books to recommend to children of varying grade levels. Although I have become confident in finding the right books when it comes to non-fiction and juvenile fiction books, I still get stumped when asked for recommendations for 3rd or 4th grade readers. Evelyn told me that it always depends on the reading level of the child but the chapter books are basically divvied up between:
JO - Picture books (Usually read to toddlers and pre-schoolers by parents)
JE - Early readers (Grades 1-3)
JC - Beginning chapter books (Grades 2-4)
JI - Higher content picture books (Grades 3-5)
J - Juvenile fiction (books vary in level from 3rd grade to 8th grade)
I learned that it is always best to ask for the child's reading level because there are 1st graders who are advanced readers and there are some 5th graders who are behind. I have helped 6th graders who wanted to use books that are intended for 3rd graders, i.e. with more pictures than words. At the same time, there are 2nd and 3rd graders who request for the Harry Potter books. Now, I understand better how to recommend which books to what age and grade levels.
I set off to work finishing the aprons for Thursday night's event. I was able to finish about 50 more of the paper aprons. It was tedious work but I found it therapeutic cutting and pasting and tying the yarn. In the end, we ended up making more than the 150 we need for the event.
When I finished my project with Lyda and Evelyn's help, I read some chapters of the book I am reading "Crispin: At the Edge of the World" by Avi. I read the first book Crispin: The Cross of Lead (2003 Newbery Winner) before I started with the internship and I liked the story because it was well developed. I really enjoy reading about this period in time, the 1300s and I thought that the author did a good job describing what was going on during those times. Crispin was a courageous boy who gave up his heritage in order to save his friend Bear who was held captive by a noble's kin. Bear was put in a dungeon by those who wanted to kill Crispin to prevent him from claiming his birthright. The second book continues as Bear and Crispin fled the Castle of Great Wexly.
I asked Lyda and Evelyn tonight about the distinction between books to recommend to children of varying grade levels. Although I have become confident in finding the right books when it comes to non-fiction and juvenile fiction books, I still get stumped when asked for recommendations for 3rd or 4th grade readers. Evelyn told me that it always depends on the reading level of the child but the chapter books are basically divvied up between:
JO - Picture books (Usually read to toddlers and pre-schoolers by parents)
JE - Early readers (Grades 1-3)
JC - Beginning chapter books (Grades 2-4)
JI - Higher content picture books (Grades 3-5)
J - Juvenile fiction (books vary in level from 3rd grade to 8th grade)
I learned that it is always best to ask for the child's reading level because there are 1st graders who are advanced readers and there are some 5th graders who are behind. I have helped 6th graders who wanted to use books that are intended for 3rd graders, i.e. with more pictures than words. At the same time, there are 2nd and 3rd graders who request for the Harry Potter books. Now, I understand better how to recommend which books to what age and grade levels.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Day 21 - April 7, 2007
SATURDAY -- I almost did not go to the library today because my back spasm was acting up. I made it on time despite my slow movements. I got to the Children's Room and found that it was Hala, Arpine, Rubina and Cecile working on this day. It was fairly quiet and I only had several reference questions I had to answer. I spent most of the day making the paper aprons for the HeadStart program.
In the afternoon, I supervised the arts & crafts session after Hala's storytelling. Since it was Easter, we made bunnies and mice out of Gerber jars, cotton and joggle eyes. I made one myself and it was a mouse but the kids insisted that it is a puppy. Well, judge for yourself what it looks like:
In the afternoon, I supervised the arts & crafts session after Hala's storytelling. Since it was Easter, we made bunnies and mice out of Gerber jars, cotton and joggle eyes. I made one myself and it was a mouse but the kids insisted that it is a puppy. Well, judge for yourself what it looks like:
Well, I guess it can be both, a mouse or a puppy... depending on one's imagination. The origami cranes I make when I have a couple of minutes to spare, it's a habit I cannot shake off since I learned to make them many, many years ago. I find folding paper a bit relaxing. Anyway, I just thought that with my mousey, they make a striking photo.
I have learned many arts and crafts projects in the few weeks of doing this internship. I know some friends and their kids will be happy of my newly acquired skills especially when I babysit for friends who need date night with their hubbies and wives. Any takers for my babysitting with arts and crafts skills in exchange for a good dinner plate?
Day 20 - April 5, 2007
WEDNESDAY -- The library was quiet this night. I spent most of my free time cutting paper for pizza rounds to be pasted on the paper aprons we give to the HeadStart kids (arts & crafts). It was Arpine, Daisy and I manning the reference desk. Inertia boy approached me tonight to show me his poem with the 100% mark from the teacher. It was heartwarming to know that he was looking for me earlier in the afternoon and when he finally saw me at 5pm, he came to the desk to show me.
I need to finish working on the pathfinder for California Native Americans but I need computer time to get pictures of the books and their descriptions. This is a project I want to finish before my time as the intern is over. As each day passes by, my heart grows heavier when I think of my time as an intern trickling like grains of sand in an hour-glass. I know that despite the fatigue of working 12-14 hour days, I will miss this internship sorely.
Today, Ms. Daisy brought me a book about the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. I saw a doll sitting behind me at the reference desk and it was a ghastly looking doll. I wondered out loud who or what the doll was supposed to be. Ms. Daisy pointed out that it was the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Being born and raised in the Philippines, I was not familiar with the Old Lady. This is an area in children's literature that I need to hash up on. Although I am familiar with the usual fairy tales and Mother Goose rhymes, there are still a lot of the classics I am not familiar with. Note to self: browse through the collection and read up on the classics.
I need to finish working on the pathfinder for California Native Americans but I need computer time to get pictures of the books and their descriptions. This is a project I want to finish before my time as the intern is over. As each day passes by, my heart grows heavier when I think of my time as an intern trickling like grains of sand in an hour-glass. I know that despite the fatigue of working 12-14 hour days, I will miss this internship sorely.
Today, Ms. Daisy brought me a book about the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. I saw a doll sitting behind me at the reference desk and it was a ghastly looking doll. I wondered out loud who or what the doll was supposed to be. Ms. Daisy pointed out that it was the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Being born and raised in the Philippines, I was not familiar with the Old Lady. This is an area in children's literature that I need to hash up on. Although I am familiar with the usual fairy tales and Mother Goose rhymes, there are still a lot of the classics I am not familiar with. Note to self: browse through the collection and read up on the classics.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Day 19 - April 3, 2007
TUESDAY -- Today was quite uneventful. Just the regulars doing their homework and some middle-schoolers doing research on papers on famous reformers throughout American history. My niece Katrina was one of them. Katrina is an 8th grader and she has been going to the library with me since yesterday. Her paper is about Harriet Tubman so that I now know all about the "Black Moses."
There were many patrons in the library today but although they were there, they seemed to have been doing their own thing that we did not get that many reference questions. I got asked for dictionaries and also books on Horace Mann, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Dorothea Dix, frogs, sloths, drawing and picture books with dealing with disability to be read to pre-schoolers. I was also asked by Vahe, one of the regulars to show him how to make an origami crane.
Vahe is one of those kids who is borderline trouble. He's a nice kid but there are times when you almost want to yell at him. He likes hearing his cellphone ring and we always have to remind him to put it on silent/vibrate. He would ask all sorts of questions then decide he does not need the information. For example, yesterday, he wanted to know the standard size of the U.S. flag. I started looking up the information by checking the encyclopedias and then he goes on saying that his teacher does not want that information after all. He then proceeded to ask if I ever had to kick out a kid out of the library and I told him "No! Do you want to be the first?" :o)
There were many patrons in the library today but although they were there, they seemed to have been doing their own thing that we did not get that many reference questions. I got asked for dictionaries and also books on Horace Mann, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Dorothea Dix, frogs, sloths, drawing and picture books with dealing with disability to be read to pre-schoolers. I was also asked by Vahe, one of the regulars to show him how to make an origami crane.
Vahe is one of those kids who is borderline trouble. He's a nice kid but there are times when you almost want to yell at him. He likes hearing his cellphone ring and we always have to remind him to put it on silent/vibrate. He would ask all sorts of questions then decide he does not need the information. For example, yesterday, he wanted to know the standard size of the U.S. flag. I started looking up the information by checking the encyclopedias and then he goes on saying that his teacher does not want that information after all. He then proceeded to ask if I ever had to kick out a kid out of the library and I told him "No! Do you want to be the first?" :o)
Monday, April 2, 2007
Day 18 - April 2, 2007
MONDAY -- I believe that having logged over 70 hours at the Children's Room, I am halfway through with the internship. I am getting a bit sad about being halfway through...I equate it to reading a book that you really like and you are getting to the last chapter and you don't want the story to end. Okay, let's put it this way since I am an avid Harry Potter fan...you know that the last book is coming out soon and I am excited to read it but I am sad that the series is about to end. The end of the internship signals the final chapter of my graduate program, it is exciting to know that I will finally graduate and yet I'm sad that the internship will be over soon.
Endings are like that...bittersweet with old doors closing and new ones opening. Talk about endings, I found out today that Hala is leaving. I knew when I started that she will be leaving soon to become a solo librarian at a new branch the city had just built. I just did not think that it will happen while I am there. She will still be coming to the Children's Room on some days but I will not see her as much as I did anymore because of the hours I work. I will miss Hala. In the last month I have been there, she was a fount of information. She had instant answers to my questions and if she did not, she tried to find them for me.
Seeing that this is like half-time for me, this is probably a good time for me to evaluate what I had learned in this internship. I learned many things. Since Theresa and Hala are my direct supervisors, much of what I now know of children's libraries I learned from them, from choosing books to read to children, to coming up with ideas about arts and crafts, reference interview to collection development. However I cannot discount what i have learned from the other staff members. Only a month into the internship and I learned a lot from them. All of them, Arpine, Cecile, Daisy, Evelyn and Rubina...and even the library pages all helped in giving me bits and pieces of information to help sthrengthen my skills as a reference librarian. The first few days shadowing them was beneficial but each day, I learn something new from each of them and I am grateful. I still falter with some questions but with their prompting, I learned to be confident as each day passes. There was never a time that I did not get help from them when I stumble with a question.
I am now able to help most patrons with their questions but I need more knowledge and courage in some areas. I need to learn reading levels. I usually get stumped when asked about which chapter books are for 3rd graders or 4th graders. I also need to get a bit more skilled with Horizon. I know the basics but I feel like I do not know the nuances of the program. In fact I tend to use the online catalog linked through the Children's Room web page more than I would use Horizon. I am sure that it is not the way to go so I need to work on that. As for courage, I need to gather more courage when telling patrons to use their cellphones out in the hallway or sending out rowdy kids. I've gotten better with clearing the computer room when time's up and saying no to patrons asking for staplers :o) I know now that I cannot show the kids any fear or else they will walk all over me. Like Cecile, I need to learn to be firm and yet gentle with reminders.
Before I end this, I have to recount a reference question I got today. A man came to the desk asking me about books on death penalty. I told him that I am almost sure that we do not have any in the children's room and that he has to go downstairs to the adult section. He said he saw the books there and they are too thick and he want a shorter book to read. I told him I could try and found him a book but it was in the teen section. The only other book I could find is "Furman v. Georgia : the death penalty case" but he chose the other book so I told him to go downstairs. I thought it was interesting to be asked about something as grave as the death penalty in a children's library. You just really don't know what kind of reference question will be put before you on any given day. I want to think that I handled that well enough.
Endings are like that...bittersweet with old doors closing and new ones opening. Talk about endings, I found out today that Hala is leaving. I knew when I started that she will be leaving soon to become a solo librarian at a new branch the city had just built. I just did not think that it will happen while I am there. She will still be coming to the Children's Room on some days but I will not see her as much as I did anymore because of the hours I work. I will miss Hala. In the last month I have been there, she was a fount of information. She had instant answers to my questions and if she did not, she tried to find them for me.
Seeing that this is like half-time for me, this is probably a good time for me to evaluate what I had learned in this internship. I learned many things. Since Theresa and Hala are my direct supervisors, much of what I now know of children's libraries I learned from them, from choosing books to read to children, to coming up with ideas about arts and crafts, reference interview to collection development. However I cannot discount what i have learned from the other staff members. Only a month into the internship and I learned a lot from them. All of them, Arpine, Cecile, Daisy, Evelyn and Rubina...and even the library pages all helped in giving me bits and pieces of information to help sthrengthen my skills as a reference librarian. The first few days shadowing them was beneficial but each day, I learn something new from each of them and I am grateful. I still falter with some questions but with their prompting, I learned to be confident as each day passes. There was never a time that I did not get help from them when I stumble with a question.
I am now able to help most patrons with their questions but I need more knowledge and courage in some areas. I need to learn reading levels. I usually get stumped when asked about which chapter books are for 3rd graders or 4th graders. I also need to get a bit more skilled with Horizon. I know the basics but I feel like I do not know the nuances of the program. In fact I tend to use the online catalog linked through the Children's Room web page more than I would use Horizon. I am sure that it is not the way to go so I need to work on that. As for courage, I need to gather more courage when telling patrons to use their cellphones out in the hallway or sending out rowdy kids. I've gotten better with clearing the computer room when time's up and saying no to patrons asking for staplers :o) I know now that I cannot show the kids any fear or else they will walk all over me. Like Cecile, I need to learn to be firm and yet gentle with reminders.
Before I end this, I have to recount a reference question I got today. A man came to the desk asking me about books on death penalty. I told him that I am almost sure that we do not have any in the children's room and that he has to go downstairs to the adult section. He said he saw the books there and they are too thick and he want a shorter book to read. I told him I could try and found him a book but it was in the teen section. The only other book I could find is "Furman v. Georgia : the death penalty case" but he chose the other book so I told him to go downstairs. I thought it was interesting to be asked about something as grave as the death penalty in a children's library. You just really don't know what kind of reference question will be put before you on any given day. I want to think that I handled that well enough.
Day 17 - March 31, 2007
SATURDAY -- Talk about being late! I went to see Will Farell's new movie "Blades of Glory" last night and I guess I laughed so hard that when I got home, my backpain was back in full force. I took a pain pill and zonked out before I set my alarm clock. I woke up at 10:57am and I was due at the library at 10am. I called Theresa to explain and I did not get there till 12pm. I missed the storytelling at 10:30am and I regret not seeing the little ones.
I asked Theresa today how she chooses the stories she read to the children. I noticed that she had themes and she said that she would usually try to come up with craft ideas and then find the stories/choose the books. Since it was the last day of March, and to go along with her previous theme, "In like a lion" for today it is "out like a lamb." Therefore, the afternoon storytelling and the arts and crafts that went along with it was about lambs and sheep. Theresa read three books about sheep and then we made wooly sheep with the children. The activity was a lot of fun. I helped a little girl around 4 years of age make her sheep. She was so shy that she would not even tell me her name but she was adorable.
At around 4pm, Theresa had her "knitters" set up in one corner of the library. Older children came in to learn how to knit. Theresa supervised and a teenager, Alex, came to help teach the kids. I was tempted to join them but I know that my hands are not as nimble with knitting, needlework, and the likes. Come to think of it, as an Art Historian, I am a lover of art but I cannot produce it. Sad as it may sound, I am okay with it because I can analyze artwork with the best of them. There is that old saying that kind of applies to me..."Those who cannot do, teach" or in my case appreciate, admire and analyze. I can only sit idly in the sidelines and watch as they knitted. Maybe there is hope for me yet and that perhaps someday, I'll gather the courage to pick up knitting needles and start a new hobby.
I asked Theresa today how she chooses the stories she read to the children. I noticed that she had themes and she said that she would usually try to come up with craft ideas and then find the stories/choose the books. Since it was the last day of March, and to go along with her previous theme, "In like a lion" for today it is "out like a lamb." Therefore, the afternoon storytelling and the arts and crafts that went along with it was about lambs and sheep. Theresa read three books about sheep and then we made wooly sheep with the children. The activity was a lot of fun. I helped a little girl around 4 years of age make her sheep. She was so shy that she would not even tell me her name but she was adorable.
At around 4pm, Theresa had her "knitters" set up in one corner of the library. Older children came in to learn how to knit. Theresa supervised and a teenager, Alex, came to help teach the kids. I was tempted to join them but I know that my hands are not as nimble with knitting, needlework, and the likes. Come to think of it, as an Art Historian, I am a lover of art but I cannot produce it. Sad as it may sound, I am okay with it because I can analyze artwork with the best of them. There is that old saying that kind of applies to me..."Those who cannot do, teach" or in my case appreciate, admire and analyze. I can only sit idly in the sidelines and watch as they knitted. Maybe there is hope for me yet and that perhaps someday, I'll gather the courage to pick up knitting needles and start a new hobby.
Day 16 - March 29, 2007
THURSDAY -- Today, we had another family event for Headstart kids. Unlike the last time when I was asked to help at the reference desk, this night Theresa asked me to help out with the event by watching some of the kids and help them with their crafts after storytelling time. There were many kids and parents that attended the event but this week we were prepared. There were 4 giant cheese pizzas instead of the 2 and 1/2 we had two weeks ago.
Watching the children come into the library with their parents and then helping them do the crafts made me realize how good the library is to the community. Most of the programs that the Children's Room have are geared toward literacy. "No child left behind" is such a noble cause. I cannot help but feel fortunate to live in a country that takes very good care of its future, the children.
At the event, I met Carolyn, the library director who said they are happy to have me as their intern and that she has read my blog. I was a bit flustered about that because I did not expect it. I know that eventually I will need to let my peers know about the blog but I felt that it needed fine-tuning and much editing with grammar and typos but hearing from the director that she read it surprised me a bit. Theresa said I have to remember to write good things about the library. I cannot say enough about the great programs that the Children's Room have to cater to the community. I am not only very happy to be working there, I feel proud to be a part of it, no matter that it's a temporary stint.
Watching the children come into the library with their parents and then helping them do the crafts made me realize how good the library is to the community. Most of the programs that the Children's Room have are geared toward literacy. "No child left behind" is such a noble cause. I cannot help but feel fortunate to live in a country that takes very good care of its future, the children.
At the event, I met Carolyn, the library director who said they are happy to have me as their intern and that she has read my blog. I was a bit flustered about that because I did not expect it. I know that eventually I will need to let my peers know about the blog but I felt that it needed fine-tuning and much editing with grammar and typos but hearing from the director that she read it surprised me a bit. Theresa said I have to remember to write good things about the library. I cannot say enough about the great programs that the Children's Room have to cater to the community. I am not only very happy to be working there, I feel proud to be a part of it, no matter that it's a temporary stint.
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