When Librarians Love (2 of 2)

I have said before in many workshops and seminars how my mother, herself a librarian, instilled in me a love for books and reading. She modeled the reading habit and built an environment that was print rich. I am doing the same for my two kids aged 14 and 11 years old.

Nico, the eldest, moved towards music but has nonetheless maintained a reading culture about him. Laid back and creative, he has shown strategies in understanding the world around him and efforts at comprehending difficult tasks in school. I still bring home books I think would interest him. It has been a hit and miss situation. His favorites are graphic novels - Budjette Tan's Trese, Arnold Arre's Mythology Class, The Amulet Series and The Best of Chico and Delamar's The Morning Rush: Top Ten.

One time when in the bookstore, he wandered to the graphic novels section. Turned off by the price, he went to the music section and picked song books of his choice. I let him be. Then again, I worry (the typical mom) when he needs to do tedious and longer reading tasks for academic work, he might not have the stamina to stay on track and follow through when necessary.

Zoe, on the other hand, has started reading chapter books by Beverly Cleary and Roald Dahl. She attempted to read Gaiman and, viola! She finished Coraline in three weeks time. She's the one who writes a lot too. And draws pictures if words are hard to come by. Above is her floor plan for a school library.

Below is the annex of the school library she designed. There was this one time when she told me she wants to be a librarian when she grows up. I would like to think that I am too strong an influence on her choice. I want her to grow up as her own person.

For the meantime, I will continue to bridge them to books that they think and feel confident in reading. Like the typical school librarian, I will guide them in their reading choices and habits.

When Librarians Love (1 of 2)

February is winding down so, here's a last hurrah for the love month: some "love notes" from colleagues and friends in the profession.

Hi! Ms. Zarah! I'm Ms. Gay Reyes of PAREF Woodrose.

I just join your blog site hoping that I catch-up with the latest news, going-ons and ins in our world as librarian. I remembered the event sponsored by Scholastic & you were the speaker then. I learned so much from your topic & gained enthusiasm as well. I hope we can be friends because I believe you can help me sustain my passion to be of service, and gain so much ideas from you. I'll be so grateful to attend more of your conferences in the future.

See you!

From Mennie Ruth Viray of Collegio San Agustin, Makati

Hi Ms. Zarah!!:) Good Day!:)

It was nice to see you last Friday, it sure was a powerhouse especially with you and Ms. Candy as speakers. Darrel, Grace and I were wondering, what if Prof Portia was also there? nako...:) Just want to thank you for posting the Power Point presentation on your blog!:)

Thanks Gay Reyes and Mennie Ruth Viray! Your emails give me encouragement!

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Ah. The healing power of books and reading!



Best Animated Short Film of the 84th Academy Awards!

Book Reviews of 2011

Here's a recall of the book reviews I posted in SLIA. Not bad. I should do more reviews in 2012.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

KISS Book Reviews: an assortment of book reviews from The Icemark Chronicles, The Cellist of Sarajevo, Odd and the Frost Giants, and The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy

Numbers

And a slew of graphic novels review --

Beast

Brain Camp and Smile

Ghostopolis

Zeus: King of the Gods

My take on non-fiction quick reviews --

Study Skills for Teens

21st Century School Library Collection Development

For a better view of the PowerPoint presentation, click Full View.

IASL Regional Conference 2012: Directions for the Future of Libraries

IASL Regional Conference Program




IASL Regional Conference Invitation




IASL Regional Conference Registration Form

Picture! Picture!

My reading list for the next six months --

When an author visits

Candy Gourlay did an amazing session with students at Pantay Bata Elementary School in Tanauan, Batangas! Her sense of wonder was awe inspiring. She opened doors of possibilities to students through a talk about her inspirations in writing Tall Story. Teachers were touched and moved when she told them her stories and experiences as journalist, writer, mom, woman and migrant Filipino. I was a witness to storytelling magic!

Thank you Candy! Continue sharing your gifts to Filipino children!

Collection Development for School Libraries in the 21st Century

Call for Nominations for PRC Outstanding Professional of the Year

Every year, the Professional Regulation Commission has a week-long celebration
in June, and one of the highlights of the celebration is giving recognition to
outstanding professionals in all fields. PLAI, as the accredited professional
organization (APO) is tasked to nominate the outstanding professional in the
field of Library Science. PLAI constituted the PLAI Committee on Awards and
Recognition composed of previous PRC awardees namely: Fe Abelardo, Candida
Agcoili, Lourdes David, Fe Angela Verzosa, and Milagros Santos-Ong. It is in
this regard that we would like to request for your nomination to this
prestigious award.

The nominee must be a registered librarian who has
• "demonstrated exceptional professional competence and integrity in the
practice of one's profession
• Contributed significantly to the advancement of the profession and
• Has effectively discharged the profession's social responsibility through
meaningful participation in socio-civic related activities."

Nominations must include the following attachments in the Nomination form:
• Passport size ID picture, preferably colored with white background
• Xerox copy of unexpired PRC licence/Identification card
• Biodata/profile
• NBI Clearance
• Ombudsman clearance for those in government

The PLAI Committee on Awards and Recognition is now accepting nominations from
any individual (licensed librarian) or recognized professional group
(association). Deadline for nomination is on or before February 22. Due to time
constraints, the Committee will accept nominations even without the NBI and
Ombudsman clearances. However, these two requirements must be present before
February 28,2012, the deadline set by PRC.

The Nomination should be accompanied by nominee's profile (resume) indicating
the following 4 areas as criteria for justification:
1. Professional Competence - includes Academic background, Work experience,
Trainings/CPE, and Technical skills
2. Active participation in professional activities - includes leadership
activities, projects and accomplishments undertaken, conferences/seminars
attended (local and international)
3. Significant contribution to the advancement of the profession - includes
publications/papers presented, researches/studies made, and awards/recognition
received
4. Significant contribution to the effective discharge of the profession's
social responsibility through meaningful contribution/participation in
socio-related activities - includes involvement in civic organizations,
community and public citations

Please send your nomination to any member of the Committee:
Milagros Santos-Ong, Chair, mso1951@yahoo.com
Fe Angela Verzosa, famverzosa@yahoo.com, famverzosa@gmail.com
Lourdes T. David, lourdesdav@gmail.com, lourdestenmatay@yahoo.com.ph
Fe Abelardo, feabelardo@yahoo.com, feabelardo81@gmail.com
Candida Agcaoili, candidaagcaoili@yahoo.com, candida_agcaoili@yahoo.com

Librarians Are Ready! Are You?

Worksheets on Bibliotherapy

Worksheets I used during the Bibliotherapy workshop at the 47th ACELT.

Pied Beauty by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Translation by Fr. Bert Alejo SJ (Batik-batik na Kariktan)


Reader response worksheet on Pied Beauty


Reader response worksheet on The Giving Tree (Shel Silverstein)


For full views of the documents --

The Giving Tree

Pied Beauty

Pied Beauty / Batik-batik na Kariktan

Bibliotherapy PowerPoint Slides

Challenge of the Year: Break the Stereotype (2 of 2)

Two posts from librarian friends made it to the blog last month in response to the Challenge of the Year: Break the Stereotype. Peachy Limpin and Ann Rosette Crelencia shared a piece of their mind on the topic. After two weeks of blogging hiatus, I resume by answering the questions I myself designed.


a. How do I feel about librarian stereotyping?
I feel challenged. This motivates me to continue giving my best as a school librarian.

b. Does this exist in my work place? If yes, in what forms? If no, why?
No. Lucky me, right? But I am saddened to hear and learn of its existence in many schools.

c. Why do librarian stereotypes exist?
My theory is, the advocacy on the relevance and importance of profession is pretty low.

d. How can librarians break stereotypes?
Librarians can break stereotypes by continuously learning and growing professionally. And this does not simply mean attending seminars and workshops.

47th ACELT Conference: Reading Ourselves, Reading the World

I will be conducting another workshop on Bibliotherapy at the Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching (ACELT) during the 47th ACELT Conference on 11 February 2012. It's going to be a whole day event. Carla Pacis will deliver the keynote in the conference.

I am inviting all school and public librarians to attend since the conference will discuss literature for children and teens and how it can be used in the classroom. Librarians may not be teaching in the classroom directly, but a knowledge of how library resources, books for kids and teens for this matter, are used by library clients, teachers in particular, is a requirement in establishing working relationships with teachers. Knowing how teachers make use of learning resources can help librarians develop a more relevant collection of print, online and multimedia resources.

Here is the ACELT Conference link. Hope to see some librarians there!

Goodbye Textbooks!

Courtesy of: Schools.com

The 2012 ALA Award Winners and Honors

Thanks to Jennifer Nelson Saracevic for the list of winners and honors of the 2012 American Library Association Award.

John Newbery Medal
“Dead End in Norvelt,” written by Jack Gantos
Two Newbery Honor Books also were named:
"Inside Out & Back Again," written by Thanhha Lai
"Breaking Stalin’s Nose,” written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

Randolph Caldecott Medal
“A Ball for Daisy," illustrated and written by Chris Raschka
Three Caldecott Honor Books also were named:
“Blackout,” illustrated and written by John Rocco
"Grandpa Green" illustrated and written by Lane Smith
“Me … Jane,” illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:
“Where Things Come Back,” written by John Corey Whaley
Four Printz Honor Books also were named:
“Why We Broke Up,” written by Daniel Handler, art by Maira Kalman
“The Returning,” written by Christine Hinwood
“Jasper Jones,” written by Craig
“The Scorpio Races,” written by Maggie Stiefvater

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award
Kadir Nelson, author and illustrator of “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans”
Two King Author Honor Book recipients were selected:
Eloise Greenfield, author of “The Great Migration: Journey to the North,” illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist
Patricia C. McKissack, author of “Never Forgotten,” illustrated by Leo and Diane

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:
Shane W. Evans, illustrator and author of “Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom
One King Illustrator Honor Book recipient was selected:
Kadir Nelson, illustrator and author of “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans”
Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement:
Ashley Bryan is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime achievement

Schneider Family Book Award
The Jury chose not to award a book in the category for children ages 0 – 8 because no submissions were deemed worthy of the award.
Two books were selected for the middle school award (ages 9 – 13):
“Close to famous,” written by Joan Bauer
“Wonderstruck: A Novel in Words and Pictures,” written by Brian Selznick
The teen (ages 14-18) award winner is “The Running Dream,” written by Wendelin Van Draanen

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:
• “Big Girl Small,” by Rachel DeWoskin
• “In Zanesville,” by Jo Ann Beard
• “The Lover’s Dictionary,” by David Levithan
• “The New Kids: Big Dreams and Brave Journeys at a High School for Immigrant Teens,” by Brooke Hauser
• “The Night Circus,” by Erin Morgenstern
• “Ready Player One,” by Ernest Cline
• “Robopocalypse: A Novel,” by Daniel H. Wilson
• “Salvage the Bones,” by Jesmyn Ward
• “The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures,” by Caroline Preston
• “The Talk-Funny Girl,” by Roland Merullo

Margaret A. Edwards Award
Susan Cooper is the 2012 Edwards Award winner
“Over Sea, Under Stone”
“The Dark Is Rising”
“Greenwitch”
“The Grey King”
“Silver on the Tree”

Dear Librarian: Reply on School Library Instruction Program

This is my initial reply to Angelic and I wish I could say more.

Angelic,

Consult your Reading or Language Arts coordinator on skills that need strengthening or focus. It will also help you if you ask for the subject matter guide or the curriculum, if the coordinator is open enough. From there, you can identify topics for your lib instruction program. It should be clear to you, at this point, the role the library plays in students' learning of skills and your part as librarian in the teaching of it. If not, sort this out first.

Here is an example, if the Reading/Lang Arts subject in Prep puts importance in language learning and acquisition, then, come up with literacy activities that will foster speaking and listening skills as foundation, and reading and writing skills as application. It can also be viewed the other way around. The approach is to take these four skills as integral to each and essential to the young learner as language and thought develop. This would mean more storytelling sessions, film viewings, talks by authors, illustrators, activities where Prep boys can listen and interact with others. The boys' output may be stories they wrote themselves, or art projects where they can write and speak of the process they went through. Or books they made themselves about everyday experiences. As the learner move from one grade level to the next, coverage in the curriculum changes as well. By grade 1 or 2, they begin reading - decoding and comprehending. So, topics that introduce the book culture may be included in the library instruction program. This is where parts of the book, using the table of contents and the like come into play [:-)]

Remember that balance is an important aspect of the lib instruction program. While you teach skills, you need to fill the need to READ for fun. Check your collection for recommended read applicable for K-2 grades. To do this, you need to know the reading levels and interests of your boys vis-a-vis, your collection. And in this day and age, collection pertains to print, digital and other multimedia formats.

Good luck and do tell me what happens. Thank you for always seeking my advice on school library matters.

Dear Librarian: School Library Instruction Program

Here's another email seeking for ideas on setting up a library instruction program -

Dear Ms. Zarah,

Good day! I am currently updating our Library Instruction Program. I would like to ask you of some recommendations. What topics should we include for Prep, Grade 1 and grade 2? We are exclusive for boys and I know you have great experience in teaching.

The email came from Ms. Angelic Abayan Bautista, school librarian of Marist School, Marikina.

Book Review: The Best of Chico and Delamar's The Morning Rush Top Ten

Yes, I admit. I am a Rusher.

I started listening to The Morning Rush with Chico and Delle in 1997 and stopped tuning in the show in 2004 because of, work. At that time, live streaming was unheard of and listening to FM radio via mobile was but a dream. Podcasts were still an idea being fermented by the techies and I have not discovered the Steve Job's wonder gadget yet.

Fast forward to 2010. Technology is making things possible. Like a long lost lover, I found my way back to RX 93.1 every Monday to Friday from 6AM to 10AM. And though I only get to listen to the show's first two hours, there's the podcasts of the show that can be downloaded. Thank you, Blue Ritz!

Some things have changed in the show, of course. For one, Chico and Delle have grown as radio hosts and as persons all their own. And it's not a bad thing because their conversations on air are more substantial now. In their early years together, they fight on air all the time and listeners loved it. I love it! For some strange reason, the differences in their opinions and personalities make for good chemistry. They have deepened in friendship as well. I gave up a long time ago on the idea that Chico and Delle would end up as lovers. No. They are better off as friends and this comforts me. It is one of the many signs that tells me that harmony can exist in this chaotic world.

I'm glad that the duo has kept their advice column in Manila Bulletin after all these years. And I am super glad that on their fifteen years together, they came out with a book, The Best of Chico and Delamar's The Morning Rush Top Ten.

What worked

The book carries their name. They didn't end up as a couple, but they are proud parents of a book which is all about the fans - the Rushers. So, in part, the Rushers are the co-authors of this masterpiece that took fifteen years to actualize and realize. The Top Ten is the The Morning Rush's strength and Chico and Delle knew how to maintain and sustain it - by focusing on their listeners and not themselves. Both share slivers of their personal lives as a response to the listeners' entries, (though sharp listeners would be able to uncover the many interesting layers that both, Chico and Delle try to keep with in the boundaries), and the effect is a communal discourse on the mundane and the profound.

Non-rushers can enjoy the book as well because it's downright funny, touching, scary, current and relevant. There are plenty of green jokes and anecdotes likewise, the truths and realities on relationships, on life and love.

What did not work

There are typos. Here's hoping that Summit Media made corrections as another ten thousand more copies will soon be out in bookstores.

Congratulations to Chico and Delle, to the Rushers and RX 93.1. I am waiting for the next installment. Book 2 in the making?