Filipino Friday: The Pinoy Book Drop

This is so late. But. Better late than never.

The Pinoy Book Drop commenced last October 21 and ended October 27, 2013. It's still half a day and one more to go before October ends so I'm trying to catch up on this third installment of the Filipino Friday meme.

Here are the instructions for the Pinoy Book Drop in case you missed it -

1. Pick a book (or two, or three, or yes, four!) that you wish to give away, or that’s okay for you to part with, for one reason or another. Make sure to check the pages for important stuff – anything you may have inserted there and forgotten but you may want to hold on to.

2. Download and print the customized bookplates that you’ll find below these instructions. It doesn’t have to be in color – black and white will work just as fine! Paste or stick one bookplate on a clear page or area of the book/s that you wish to give away. Yes, you can sign your name there, too, if you want.

3. Leave or “drop” the book/s in a public place, or basically any place where people are sure to see them: in a café, in the office, at a restaurant, the gym, it’s up to you. (Well, maybe not inside a bookstore, yeah.) You know where someone is likely to see the book/s and pick it up, yes?

4. Before leaving the book/s where you “dropped” them, take a photo. If you’re leaving two or more books, be sure to take note of the date, time, and place where you left each one. So how is everyone going to know that you have dropped a book somewhere? You can do any of the following:

(a) If you have a Twitter account, just tweet the title of the book, where and when you dropped it, and attach the appropriate photo. If you dropped two or more books, tweet about each title separately.

(b) You can also post about it on Facebook – on your own profile/timeline, if it’s set to public, OR on the Filipino ReaderCon page itself. Same details apply: title of the book, place and date of the drop, and photo. If you’re dropping two or more books, you have the option to include all the books in one go or post about the books individually. It’s up to you.

IMPORTANT: Please use the hashtags #pbdrop and #filreadercon and don’t forget to tag us at @PinoyReaderCon for every tweet!

5. The actual dropping of books will take place for an entire week, from October 21 – 27, but if you have your book/s ready for dropping before then, that’s good too – just go ahead and drop them. We will post another set of instructions for this activity on the third Filipino Friday, October 25th.

6. On the other hand, if you’re one of those who are lucky enough to find a dropped book, we encourage you to tell us all about it, as well! Tweet and Facebook any dropped book that you find – same instructions on using the hashtags #pbdrop and #filreadercon and tagging us at @PinoyReaderCon apply. ;)

And here the books I am dropping at a mall later today -

Wait for my photos tonight to find out where I dropped them!

Book Preview: Big Sister

Working on a new book project with Totet de Jesus. Big Sister is envisioned to be released in 2014.

Tell me what the story is all about by simply looking at the photo of Totet de Jesus' illustration of our upcoming book, Big Sister. The one who gets the story correctly will get a special token from me by the first week of December, 2013.

Simply post your guess on the comment feature of the blog post. I'll respond ASAP!

Live Blogging: At the 3rd National Congress of Special Libraries in the Philippines

It is day 2 of ASLP's (Association of Special Libraries of the Philippines) 3rd National Congress of Special Libraries. I came in mid-day and Randolf Mariano was giving his presentation. Right now, the three speakers are engaged in an open forum with participants. What is interesting is that, the participants have so many questions and responses. This fuel discussion that go beyond library services and operations.

I am amused listening at the responses of the participants and how the speakers take in these responses. The issue on cultural promotion through library services and through the librarians managing libraries is a complicated one. I think this issue is one specific topic that librarians can talk about further in another congress or seminar.

One advocacy librarians can push for is the promotion of Filipino culture through library services and programs. Mechanisms to promote culture through libraries would be a good starting point for discussion.

Required Borrowing for Teens

When the academic year opened this August, I required students to borrow books from the library. Each grade level has a required number of books to borrow for the academic year. When they meet the required number, they are assured of clearance from the library at the end of the academic year. This delighted teachers and parents. The regular book geeks did not find it impossible to read 15, 20, 30, 40 books in ten months. But the reluctant readers found the requirement daunting.

This is where reading guidance come in.

With the help of my reliable library staff and a stable library database (Platonix by Romy Sebastian), we monitor the reading choices of students. I do weekly book recommendations via mailing lists. The books I put in the recommended reads list are a combination of fiction and non-fiction books. I have access to teachers' lessons and units of study and I use their plans to spot and match books and resources for students to peruse. The library bulletin board has a monthly statistic of borrowing profile per grade level. In one school assembly, I presented this data and campaigned for attendance to the 3rd ReaderCon. The idea is that readers and book lovers are capable of making an influence. In fact, I ask avid readers to write a short review of the book they borrowed from the library.

We have since seen a spike in our book circulation!

So far, we're sailing on smoothly. By month's end, I'll have access to the book circulation statistics of students. I plan to focus on those who've not borrowed one single title and help them make a good reading choice.

What do you do in your school to campaign for books and reading?

The 3rd Filipino ReaderCon 2013

Blog Tour: Guardians of Tradition

Guardians of Tradition: The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (2012)

By Mae Astrid Tobias

Illustrations by Rommel E. Joson

Photos by Renato S. Rastrollo / National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)

Book Links:
Goodreads
Adarna Order Form

Excerpts:

I.                What is the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan? (p. 4)

Filipinos are very artistic people. All over the county, you find people who love to sing, dance, paint, write, play musical instruments, and create the most beautiful things the way their forebears have taught them. There are also special people who spend their entire lives making sure that these traditional arts are not forgotten.

The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan was created in 1992 through Republic Act No. 7355 in order to let the whole Philippines know about these people and their art. (p. 4)

•    Uwang Ahadas, Maestro of Yakan Music (pp. 16-17)

Uwang Ahadas always wears a pair of dark glasses. He lost his eyesight when he was only five. But he does not let his disability keep him from becoming a master of Yakan music.

Together with his siblings, he learned to play different instruments like the gabbang and the agung. The instrument called the kwintangan kayu is supposed to be played by women only, but Ahadas broke this tradition and learned how to play this.

Ahadas wants children to learn to play instruments while they are young because their hands and wrists are still flexible. He teaches them by showing them his techniques.

Even when working in the fields, the Yakans play their musical instruments. One of these instruments is the gabbang. Small children play it to shoo away animals from planted crops. It looks like a xylophone, but it is made of five bamboo slats.

Another instrument is the kwintangan kayu which is made of five wooden logs hung horizontally under a tree near a ricefield. It is played to make the rice plants grow faster.

Suggested activity:

Blind people have keener senses of touch, sound, taste, and scent. Try to find out how it feels to be blind by getting a handkerchief and covering your eyes. Notice the sounds, smells, textures, and taste of the things around you.
    
About the Book:

Who are the indigenous and folk artists of the Philippines? Guardians of Tradition is full of facts about 11 of Philippine master weavers, folk musicians, performing artists, mat weavers and metal smiths whose talents and skills have earned them the title Manlilikhang Bayan. Designed to help children recognize native Filipino ingenuity and creativity, the book includes fun activities to promote appreciation for culture and arts. Guardians of Tradition has a fun and colorful design that appeals to young readers.

For the duration of the Guardians of Tradition Blog Tour, Guardians of Tradition is available at discounted prize at the Adarna showroom in Scout Torillo corner Scout Fernandez Streets, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City 1103 Philippines(Trunkline: (632) 352-6765, Fax: (632) 352-6765 local 125, Email Address: adarnahouse@adarna.com.ph)

For international readers and Filipinos abroad, an ebook version is coming soon.To order paperback copies online, visit http://adarna.com.ph/authors/mae-astrid-tobias.html

Author Bio:

MAE ASTRID TOBIAS (1979-2009) was a Palanca-award winning author of children's books. In addition to Guardians of Tradition, her books include Blue Bananas (Crucible), BayongngKuting (Lampara Books), My Forest Friends (Haribon), Bakawan (Adarna Books) and two books retelling the Ifugao traditional chant, hudhud. These are Halikpon: A Retelling of an Ancient Ifugao Chant and Pumbakhayon: An Origin Myth of the IfugaoHudhud. Both are finalists for children’s literature and best design in the 2006 National Book Awards of the Manila Critics Circle.

She also spent several years in the field of children’s television. She served as the Manila Bureau Manager of Kabataan News Network, a project of UNICEF and Probe Media Foundation that trains young people nationwide how to produce their own broadcast quality documentaries. She also also wrote episodes for children shows like Sirit!, and ABS-CBN and Eskuwelang Bayan, as well as worked for Philippine Junior Inquirer and Shell Foundation. She was a member of KuwentistangmgaTsikiting  (KUTING), an organization of Filipino writers for children.

Illustrator Bio:

ROMMEL JOSON is a painter and an illustrator. He graduated magna cum laude and College Valedictorian from the University of Philippines College of Fine Arts. He was also a Merit Scholar and a recipient of the Dean's Awards for Visual Awards from the Ateneo de Manila University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He worked in the advertising industry for several years before devoting his time fully to painting and illustration. He has received awards and citations for painting, illustration, comics, and design from various organizations such as the Philippine Board of Books for Young People (Honorable Mention), the Shell National Art Competition (3rd Place Oil/Acrylic Category), the Neil Gaiman/Fully Booked Graphic Fiction Competition (3rd Place in the Graphic Fiction category), the Adobo Design Awards (Silver) and the Philippine Araw Awards (Silver in Art Direction) and the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence Competition (Semifinalist in Oil). He is currently an active member of AngIlustradorngKabataan (Ang INK).

Photographer Bio:

RENATO S. RASTROLLO, is a photographer, graphic artist, book and exhibit designer. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Advertising from the Philippine Women’s University. With over 25 years of experience in the field of documentary photography, his works have appeared in national and international publications. Presently, he is a culture and arts officer  at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. 

Giveaway:
Rafflecopter Code –
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Rafflecopter Link –
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c30af16/



Prizes –
One $25 Amazon Gift Card + signed copy of Guardians of Tradition from Adarna + 1 CD of National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA 3 $10 Amazon Gift Card + signed copy of Guardians of Tradition from Adarna + 1 CD of National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA6 signed copies of Guardians of Tradition from Adarna + 6 CDs of National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA

Filipino Friday (2): Kids and Books

This Filipino Friday, we're being asked to go back to childhood and remember the cherished books that rocked our world.

Specifically, the questions for this Friday's meme are:

What were your favorite books as a kid or while you were growing up? Do you still read children’s books? If you could give your younger self a book to read, what would it be?

I have blogged about books I've read and adored when I was a growing child and an awkward teenager. I've linked those blog entries in the highlighted words in the previous sentence so feel free to click and read the entries. As for the second question, my answer is YES. I still read children's books and young adult novels.

Being a mom with kids (12 and 16), I require myself to read the books and materials written and created for them. I take it as my responsibility as a parent to know the books and reading materials being sold in bookstores and those online. I hold the same accountability in my work as a high school librarian. I review books and resources before acquiring these for the library. I do make a list of the books I want to read so that I can borrow them when it is ready for circulation. The great thing about reading books meant for teenagers is that, I get to know my young readers better. My kids keep on talking about trending books in their school and among their friends, like Diary ng Panget. Physical appearance, self confidence and identity are big issues among teens. One of these days, I shall pick up a copy. At work, I hear about John Green, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Mitch Albom and Paulo Coelho as favorite authors. Catch 22, Ender's Game, Gaiman's Sandman series, paranormal romance and dystopian literature are the ones being asked for very so often. Genre literature is being read and explored!

My advocacy pushes me further to read books for kids and teens. Every year, as PBBY spearheads the celebration of the National Children's Book Day, I look forward to knowing about new titles published by our authors, illustrators and local publishers. I have the whole year to read up on books written and published by friends in the industry.

As for the last question, I would give my grade school self a copy of Jose Aruego's Juan and the Aswangs and PS I love You by Barbara Conklin for my high school self. The former is a collector's item I wish to share with my own kids while the later is the first book that hooked me to read the Sweet Dreams series back in high school. I'm still a hopeless romantic to this very day.

Blog Tour: Guardians of Tradition

In case you missed it, there's a blog tour on this fantastic non-fiction book written by a friend of mine, Mae Astrid Tobias. Her book, Guardians of Tradition: Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan, is being reviewed and featured in these blogs:

KUTING-mate Agay on Agay is a Girl

Mina V. Esguerra on Publishing in Pajamas

Sol on The Belle of A Boulevard

Monique on Marginalia

In case you've not purchased a copy yet for your library, head on to the Adarna House website for orders!

Author Visit: Xavier School Nuvali

There are no accidents. There are no regrets. There is only grace.

I told stories. I read aloud my book, My Daddy! My One and Only to K-2 students. I talked to junior high school students about writing and research.

I signed books for K-4 students. Yeah. I did feel like a rock star.

My publisher, Lampara Books, had a book display at the gym. I love the red tarp.

I met old friends from way back; former co-teachers from the Early Education Department of Xavier School San Juan whom I worked with. Those were the best five years of my career as a school librarian.

Thank you, Xavier School Nuvali, for giving me the opportunity to give back; to meet old friends; and to champion books, reading and literacy development to kids, teens and the young at heart.

Storytelling Contest at the NLP

The Philippine Librarians Association is gearing up for the celebration of National Library and Information Services Month in November. Its officers and committee members are all a-buzz, moving about and around on activities that will culminate on November 25-30, 2013. One of these activities is the annual Storytelling Contest for Kids. Marion Jude Gorospe, the librarian in charge for the storytelling activity, invited me to judge the contest.

It was a joy to watch grade school students do a book based telling of MJ Tumamac's Ngumiti si Andoy. More than winning the prize and award, it is the performance itself that counts. To stand in front of an audience and read aloud a story with emotions and movements is a brave thing to do. Despite my misgivings on judging storytelling contests, this particular contest made me eat my words. Again. But, I still believe that we should do more storytelling festivals, presentations and performances because, really, the story is the star of the session.

From L-R: Ann Dominique Noda of Hizon Elementary School; Aimeline Jean Garcia of Hulo Elementary School; Gerri Eunice Tubio of Santulan Elementary School; and Princess Kyla Balidiso of Ilugin Elementary School.

The contest was held at the Children's Library section of the National Library of the Philippines. Librarian in charge is Melai Ramirez, my co-judge along with Prof. Badong Biglaen of Miriam College. The Children's Library looked spacious, more inviting with its decorations and newly acquired books on display. It's well lighted too. What an improvement! Here's hoping that more kids would go to the NLP.

The RAP Journal December 2013 Call for Papers

The Reading Association of the Philippines (RAP) sends out this Call for Papers to the December 2013 Issue of the RAP Journal.

THE RAP JOURNAL DECEMBER 2013 CALL FOR PAPERS   The Reading Association of the Philippines is pleased to announce that it welcomes submissions to its journal, THE RAP JOURNAL.  The RAP Journal accepts articles on reading, literature, language, literacy education, reading and language teacher education, and related educational topics. These are the sections to which papers may be submitted: 

1.         Perspective Papers -- These papers present prevailing theoretical models of reading, language and literacy education; broad discussions of issues relating to literacy education; and policy proposals for improving reading and language education.  Submissions should not exceed 5,000 words, including the abstract and bibliography. These papers are evaluated for their validity, the strength of their arguments and conclusions, and for the timeliness of the positions presented. 

2.         Research  Papers -- Inquiries into various aspects of literacy comprise majority of the articles published in The RAP Journal.  Articles submitted should report on inquiries conducted within the last 10 years. Research-based articles are evaluated based on the relevance of the research aim, the soundness of the research process, the quality of discussion of the data, and the cohesion between the findings and generalizations.  Articles may not exceed 6,000 words, including the abstract and bibliography.

3.         Theory-to-Practice Papers -- These articles share theory-based strategies and approaches that have been tried and tested in the classroom.  Contributors are encouraged to use action research for papers submitted to this section of The RAP Journal. Papers are evaluated based on how well they translate theory into practice; the description of the process of teaching, and the authentic examples presented; and the unity between the findings, conclusions, and recommendations.  Articles may not exceed 3,000 words, including the abstract and bibliography. 

4.         Featured Author/Illustrator/Publisher/Storyteller Essays -- These are first-person essays by writers/illustrators/publishers/storytellers of literature for children or young adults. Submissions to this section usually impart and illustrate the creative process which leads to the creation or rendition of literature made for children and young people. In general, these submissions are not subjected to a double blind review process, but are edited for grammar, clarity, and language use. Essays may not exceed 2,000 words, including the abstract and bibliography. 

For inclusion in the December 2013 journal article review process and possible publication in the 36th issue of the RAP Journal, submit by October 31, 2013. Manuscripts will be reviewed using a double-blind review system.  Comments will be sent to the author/s within 2 months of submission.  Papers may be accepted,accepted pending revisions, revised and resubmitted for a future issue, or rejected.

Author Visit: Jubilee Christian Academy

Being my break from work last week, I did some author visits in Manila and nearby Calamba. I also had the coolest time judging a storytelling contest by the Philippine Library Association.  Sharing with you some pictures and insights.

At the Jubillee Christian Academy, I combined a talk on authorship and bibliotherapy. I shared with members of the READ Club of the high school unit the process I went through writing my books; how collaborating with Dianne de Las Casas, Jomike Tejido and Bernadette Solina-Wolf has been an amazing learning journey; and that reading, writing and thinking are activities that lead to self knowledge and discovery.

After my talk, one grade 9 student came up to me and confessed that he was not a reader. Through my talk, he realized he could try going back to books since it may prove to be a helpful means to learn not just for subjects in school but to learn about life, in general.

I was floored.

Thank you Ms. Alma Singian and Mrs. Victoria Silva Manuel for the opportunity to touch base with my reading audience!

Blog Tour: Guardians of Tradition

A few weeks back, I said yes to a blog tour that will feature the book, Guardians of Tradition: The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan by Mae Astrid Tobias. Published by Adarna House, this non-fiction book is illustrated by Rommel Joson with beautiful photographs by Renato S. Rastrollo.

 The blog tour started yesterday, 13 October 2013 and you can read the reviews and excerpts from these blogs:

Dia Pelaez

Tina Matanguihan

Freine

Chris Mariano

Xi Zuq

Josephine Litonjua

I'm excited to read the reviews of the book bloggers who joined in the blog tour.

With Mae Astrid Tobias, ca 2005

 As for me, participating in the blog tour is my simple way of celebrating Mae Astrid Tobias' achievements as a writer and dreamer. A long time ago, in my past life as a grade school librarian, I invited Astrid for a talk on campus writing, journalism and on her writing life to grade school students of Xavier School San Juan. How she emphasized the importance of research when doing a writing project! I even wrote an article about her author visit in the school's website. Read the article in this link.

My excerpt and book give-away info is scheduled on 19 October, 2013. 

Filipino Librarian: Darrel Marco

This month's Filipino Librarian is Darrel Marco, school librarian at Xavier School Nuvali. He has been a school librarian for four years and enjoys every minute of working in the school library environment. Mr. Marco is a BS LIS graduate from UP Diliman. He has presented papers on school librarianship in local and international conferences.

a. What's your lib story? Describe how you made the choice of majoring in LIS and what was college life like for you as a LIS major. You can cite challenging stories and success stories while studying the course. 

LIS was never really my first choice. I really wanted to be in a course where there’s moolah after graduation (really really wanted to shift out of LIS to BA or Econ). But because of a relative abroad, less exposure to courses other than engineering, medicine or law, and as an obedient son, I selected LIS as one of my preferred courses for college. Little did I know that I would eventually love LIS not just as a course but as a profession.

One of the main reasons why I stayed in LIS was my involvement in UP FLIPP (Future Library & Information Professionals of the Philippines). I applied as a member of the organization during my Freshmen year, second semester.

During my college days, especially in my General Education subjects, the usual scenario would be:
Classmate: Hey!
Me: Hi!
Classmate: What’s your course? (based from my experience, my classmates would usually be asking for your course without even asking for your name. haha!)
Me: LIS
Classmate: What’s that?
Me: Library and Information Science
Classmate: So, you love reading books?
Me: Meh @.@

After all the application process, friendships built, values formed, goals set, challenges won – I realized that it was not just me who had that kind of experience; that I was not the only one who’s typecasted as a bookworm because I was an LIS major and that I was not alone in the battle of upholding our course.

The greatest challenge really for me was to explain the “unexplainable”, especially to my relatives. I really found it hard to make them think outside of the box that not because I was a LIS major, I would definitely end up as a solitary-all-the-time-reading-creature-while-stamping-books-and-hushing-noisy-people. In short, with condescending tone, “Ano yun??! Librarian?” But all those perceptions changed when I became a member of our student council, where my LIS identity was reinforced, and eventually graduated with flying colors (PINK and FUCHSIA!).

Studying the course was not really a walk in the park and if one has determination and willingness to learn theories in librarianship and eventually, put them into practice, LIS would be a fun course to take.

If you love providing information to other people (most of my students find this impressive since I can answer most of their questions), or, describing and classifying books and other resources (this works especially for the OC-OC in me),or, you simply want to make a difference in a person’s life since library science is a service-oriented profession, then choose to be a librarian.


b. What has been the greatest challenge you've faced so far as a licensed and working librarian? Why do you say it's a challenge? 

I work as a school librarian.

School librarians are also teacher-librarians.

So, while I function as a librarian doing the technical stuff such as cataloguing and classification, doing reference services, designing library bulletin boards and current awareness services, delivering resources to my users who are usually teachers and students, I also function as a teacher. AND IT IS NOT EASY. [Emphasis]. There will be preparations of lesson plans, curriculum planning, [almost] sleepless nights because of preparations of presentations, lesson proper, classroom management, behaviour and discipline plans, and I must admit, I was never prepared for them during my first years. It was only through constant exposure, experience and practice that I was able to acquire those skills [Emphasis … AGAIN].

I guess there was a lapse in teaching those necessary skills since when one graduates as an LIS major, s/he will not simply be a librarian, and that there are many different types of libraries that an LIS graduate can choose to work in. During my college years, I never really thought of being a school librarian, it was only after graduation when I saw that opportunity and grabbed it, and I never regretted it even once. What I really want now is for school librarianship to be recognized as a discipline, wherein librarians function not only as librarians but they are also EXPECTED to have skills and functions of a teacher.

c. What is your area of expertise in LIS? 

Uhmmm… As I have mentioned above, as a teacher-librarian, one needs not only the “technical” skills of being a librarian but at the same time, the skills of a teacher. Furthermore, I believe that the LIS field is a very practical field, where one learns and encounters problems and tries to solve those problems through practice, practice and practice. A librarian cannot simply live in a paradigm of dogmatic theories. Theories are best tested when put into practice.

To answer the question (haha!), I can humbly say that I am starting to work on teacher-librarians’ roles in the promotion of having an information literate society i.e. integration of teaching pedagogies, technology, and IL skills (which I believe librarians should have) and their application in real life.

d. What do you think are the requirements and preparations necessary for becoming a LIS professional? 

As frontliners in an information society, I believe LIS professionals should continue to be adaptive to changes. Information come and go. They continue to add up and bloom and soon, there will be an information boom. LIS professionals need not only acquire and provide information for themselves and for their users but they also need to be critical of the information that they receive and disseminate. Information literacy skills are the vital skills that LIS professionals need to have nowadays. Since we deal heavily with information and its dissemination, we need to know how to evaluate them, synthesize them and eventually share them for the common good.

MOST IMPORTANT : A librarian MUST be a READER.
READ. Not just to enhance your technical skills as a librarian.
READ. Not just to be up-to-date. but also
READ. for leisure and entertainment.
READ. to know which materials to recommend to your users, and
READ and enjoy!

e. What rewards have you reaped from being a LIS professional? 

I was able to travel to Europe and represent our country!
I was able to share my experiences to students of LIS
I was able to meet new friends in the LIS field and other related fields.
Good books!!! (YA novels and children’s books, who’d say no to them?)
Hugs, hellos, and smiles from my students. Nothing beats that!

Think of a Philippines in which children love to read ...

Looking for Andoy

Aimeline Jean Garcia holds a "book cover" she made for the story Ngumiti si Andoy by Michael Jude Tumamac. Aimeline placed 3rd in the PLAI-NCR Storytelling Contest held at the National Library of the Philippines last October 8, 2013.

Filipino Fridays (1): Hello, Reader!

Filipino Fridays is back! This year, it begins with a question: What Kind of a Reader Are you?

Definitely a Book Lover. I think I fall under Free Range: The All-the-Timer!

Please include attribution to Laura E. Kelly with this graphic. (Click to view at original large size.)



Visit Laura-e-Kelly.com for more about books, reading, and authors.

Teen Read Week 2013: Seek the Unknown @the Library

Oct. 13-19 is Teen Read Week. It is the YALSA's (Young Adult Library Service Association) initiative to promote reading among teens and make them use libraries. This year, YALSA sails into Teen Read Week with the theme: Seek the Unknown @the Library!

What discoveries have you made in the school library? What is it that you do not know but was able to know through the school library?

As for me, it is in the school library where I discovered the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. It's where I learned how to use the photocopying machine. I understood how a good set of encyclopedia can support my basic research and that, somewhere out there, knowledge and truth is shaped and changed, consumed and created. I never left the world of books and reading since then.

Are you a Storyteller?

For details go to the Adarna House blog.

Library Hub News From the Field

In my visit to three public schools in Batangas last weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting two teachers who are in charge of the distribution of Library Hub books. I did not know that the stacks of books placed on a shelf were Library Hub books until I asked the teachers what these were for.

Only two copies of these books for a population of 300 students.

In one school, there were only two titles of books but in multiple copies. These books were read by grade two students. The next grade level who will read the books are grade three students. When they're done, books move up to grades four, five and six. Students from grades two to six will have read two illustrated story books in a span of three months. Students will get a chance to read other titles when the Library Hub coordinator pulls out the bin and replaces it with a new set. The book bins are routed to different schools. This rotation and exchange happens twice or thrice a year. This is the same system followed by another school in the district. Personnel assigned in the routing of book bins are English Coordinators or District Supervisors who, like the full time teachers in charge of the Library Hub books, are full time administrators and supervisors.

This is the situation I encountered in my trip to Tanauan, Batangas last weekend as far as the DepEd's Library Hub is concerned.

Related Library Hub posts done in the past:

Librarians Missing Ingredient in Library Hub

Naga City Library Hub

Librarian from Koronadal City Library Hub

Hub a Library