Kathy Pillatzki, Assistant Director of Collection Development for Henry County Library System in Georgia, reads an especially poignant selection from Harper Lee’s celebrated book To Kill a Mockingbird in honor of Banned Books Week 2011.
I’m sweaty, sunburned, bone-tired and broke, but, I’m deliriously happy. I was able to meet the writer of one of my favorite read-aloud books. I am now the proud owner of a signed copy (To The Loopy Librarian) of Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner. If you’re unfamiliar, Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese Cat that thinks he is a Chihuahua. He’s hyper and imaginative and loads of fun. I also met Libba Bray who is the author of several amazing young adult books. Her latest is Beauty Queens which is about a group of teenage pageant contestants who become stranded on a deserted island. I’m told by a fan that the author is particularly “snarky” in this book, a word which according to urban dictionary.com means “A witty mannerism, personality, or behavior that is a combination of sarcasm and cynicism.” What a great word! You can bet that I’ll be whipping that one out again. Finally, we met up with Tony DiTerlizzi and his wife (both of whom I’d had the privilege of seeing when I worked at the West Palm Beach Public Library). He’s promoting his new book The Search for Wondla, and my son bought that one to have signed. Daniel was a Spiderwick Chronicles fan back in late elementary school, so he was excited about this new creation by DiTerlizzi. Jealous are you? Fear not. The Decatur Book Festival hosts amazing authors every year on Labor Day weekend. So start saving up now. The festival is free, but you will want to buy lots of fantastic books. While you’re there, I highly recommend lunch at the Raging Burrito. Skippyjon Jones would love it there. Ole! By the way, a big kudos to my husband who stood patiently in long lines in the hot sun to help us get our books signed and didn’t fuss when I bought a few more books and went “slightly” over budget.
Colombian grade-school teacher Luis Soriano brings books, via two hard-working donkeys, to the children of Magdalena Province’s poor and violence-ridden interior.
This inspiring and hopeful documentary film by Carlos Rendon Ziapagauta is available to watch on the award-winning POV series website until September 18, 2011.
May 012011
This writer from the UK has uniquely captured the value of libraries in her article “The Secret Life of Libraries.”
Having worked in a library for the past 9 years, I have been asked many unusual questions. I love this one from a site my coworker recently mentioned to me Continue reading »
May 262010
My daughter stepped on a little snake in the driveway tonight, and it bit her on the foot. My husband got a good look at it and figured out it wasn’t poisonous, and my daughter was really cool about it. She said, “Well, I don’t blame it for biting me. I’d bite too if I was stepped on.” Then, she proceeded to call her friends and tell them all about it. As for me, my first reaction was a mother’s concern. But, when the danger had passed, my next reaction was as a librarian. I went through my mental book catalog to see if I could recall one about snakes. Turns out, I have a great many books in my home library about bugs (thanks to my daughter’s obsession in her younger days), but none about snakes. So, I used Google. The culprit was a juvenile black racer. Mystery solved. Crisis averted. And my daughter has a cool story to tell….as does the snake.
Feb 202010
My son asked me the other day what I would want to be if not a librarian. I was most certainly perplexed. Librarians are unique creatures who fit into the world like the proverbial square pegs in round holes. I am no exception. As such, I cannot imagine what else I would do. Maybe be a Ninja? or perhaps a Pirate? I already have a parrot, so I’m halfway there. I’d be interested to hear how other librarians would answer this question. Feel free to chime in.
I have a new job in Administration. I thought it would be a dry and humorless job filled with endless paperwork, and, to be honest it sometimes is. I write and review policies, apply for grants, deal with personnel issues and patron complaints. When I first learned of my new job responsibilities, I kept listening for the fun part. It didn’t come. No more silly hats, knock-knock jokes, or playtime cleverly disguised as work. But I wasn’t long settled into my new office when Continue reading »
If you are like most people, you think of librarians as shy and quiet folks who talk in hushed tones and say “Sshh” alot. I have yet to meet that librarian. Maybe she does exist somewhere, but the librarians I know are vibrant, animated people with definite opinions and interesting lives. If you don’t believe me, check out the ALA Fifth Annual Bookcart Drill Team. Librarians Rock!
Mar 032009
Recently, I was asked to review a children’s book that had been challenged at one of our branch libraries. The book, Devil in the Drain by Daniel Pinkwater, is old and no longer appears to be in print. But, the author is popular and award-winning. As soon as I saw the title, I could guess at the complaint, and I was instantly angered that a patron was asking this book to be removed from the collection. I think it’s short-sighted of people to want books removed from libraries whenever they find them offensive. Do they really want a public library that only represents their beliefs? Continue reading »
