VERY interesting juxtaposition

Sell The Girls

What We Talk About When We Talk About Books for Teenage Boys

Celebrating the Freedom to Read

ALA | Banned Books Week

September 25−October 2, 2010

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association; American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression; the American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; Association of American Publishers; and the National Association of College Stores. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

For more information on getting involved with Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read, please see Calendar of Events and Ideas and Resources. You can also contact the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4220, or bbw@ala.org.

Schoolz and Toolz - Rat race schools

Schoolz and Toolz: Rat race schools

This documentary looks very interesting. I'm curious how it will be interpreted. It seems to me that we test our students so much, that we're stealing all the joy out of learning. And yet, how else will we know what our students have learned? Can we do both? I watched "Two Million Minutes" and I came away from it with the impression that the American students portrayed still had imagination and creativity, and the Chinese and Indian students who were portrayed were spending so much time studying that they were shortchanging themselves. Then, I listened to the documentary filmmaker of "Two Million Minutes" speak, and realized that that was not what he intended at all. He was trying to warn American students that if they did not spend their two million minutes wisely, they would lose out to the Chinese and Indian students. So, again, can we do both? Can we learn how to solve problems and collaborate too?

Ellen Hopkins - Censorship Bites

Ellen Hopkins - Censorship Bites

I've been so busy getting the teachers and their technology ready for the kids, that I've completely neglected my blog and Twitter. And look what I'm missing! Ellen Hopkins is, by far, the favorite author in our library. When all the copies of her books are in, they take up two shelves; but during the school year, those shelves are always empty. I've mentioned before that as a librarian, I abhor censorship. One of my favorite quotes: "You’re entitled to your own opinions. You’re not entitled to your own facts.", variously attributed to Daniel Moynihan and James Schlesinger. Our students are old enough to look at all sides, use the upbringing their parents have given them, and make good decisions. I trust in them to do that, but the decisions will be faulty if they don't have as much material as possible to work with.

Things Librarians Fancy | 100 Scope Notes

Things Librarians Fancy | 100 Scope Notes

All of the above, predating my actual job as a librarian.

WHAT TEENAGERS WANT FROM YOUR BOOKS...Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager

Some Screaming Fangirl: WHAT TEENAGERS WANT FROM YOUR BOOKS...Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager Pt. 1

Tabitha describes herself as "a pre-published author, YA reader and YA myself". Perfect! That's exactly who I need to hear from when I look for the books I want to supply in the library (when we have money, that is). So cool to read her blog and realize I'm on the right track. Thanks Tabitha!

A “Sampler Set” for Blog Beginners

If you have become as addicted to author and book bloggers as much as I have, here are some you may want to check out. Enjoy!

Free your mind and the rest will follow

Warning: this post contains scenes of graphic violence and dangerous opinions by Shannon Hale, author of The Goose Girl and Princess Academy

Left and right have closed their minds by John Dickerson, pastor of the Cornerstone Church in Prescott

So what do these two links have in common? Funny you should ask. As someone who has been around awhile (and, no, you don't need to know HOW long), I have lots of opinions. Strongly held opinions. Religious and political opinions. Do my students know what those opinions are? Absolutely not.

I was an insurance agent (organized) and then a special education teacher (flexible), and always an avid reader with fond memories of both the public library in my small town, and the librarian at my high school. So, when it was suggested that I take the librarian position at my high school, I jumped at the chance. Three years later, I've realized what my passion really is. One of my favorite library quotes:

Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.
- Lady Bird Johnson

The library is where ANYONE can be exposed to EVERYTHING.

When I taught the Work Experience program at our high school, one of the activities I led was to present to the class two opinion statements that were opposite each other. I would poll the students to determine what side they were on, and then assign them to a team to debate the opposite side. I explained to them that as future workers, they must be able to cooperate and collaborate with their colleagues. In their preparation for their debate, they had to find all the logical, cogent reasons that someone would argue FOR this opinion - that they happened to disagree with initially. During the debate, yelling, name calling, put downs and all other unprofessional behavior was verboten. The point of this activity was to make them realize that there are many sides to every question, and it would be valuable to them to be able to see all of them. And, that sometimes people can agree to disagree without disrespecting each other.

As an educator, we are more than just passers on of knowledge. We open students eyes to ALL the possibilities that are out there. This is why I don't share my personal opinions with my students, but I WILL show them how to find many different opinions. How can you make an informed decision if you are only exposed to one point of view?

This is also why I count myself among the many librarians who are opposed to censorship. More favorite quotes:

A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone. - Jo Godwin

Don't join the book burners. Don't think you are going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go into your library and read every book.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

A library is the delivery room for the birth of ideas,a place where history comes to life. - Norman Cousins

It is not my role to decide what you should or should not read. Seek out information from many different sources, and think for yourself. If I've provided you with that window to the world, then I've done my job.

Graduation tonight!

Graduation at North Canyon High School starting soon - watch it here if you can't be there! http://www.livestream.com/pvusdnorthcanyon

Digital Footprints - Your New First Impression

THINK before you post - would you want your mom (or grandma) to Google you?

Do book trailers create an interest in reading the book?

I've created 3 book trailers myself, and that was fun! Like a movie trailer, a good book trailer can make me really interested in reading the book itself. How about you? Do you have the same reaction?

As this blog continues to intertwine with other media, the side of the page gets longer and longer. So, the latest is adding a playlist from YouTube. My goal is to find book trailers, but I really only want to add the ones that authors like. When I read a book, in my mind's eye, I picture the characters, the dialogue, the setting. As the reader, am I seeing what the author has pictured? When I created the two book trailers for the Stella Pope Duarte books, it was so gratifying to hear from her that yes, I did see something similar to what she saw.

So now, I'm putting out a request on Twitter, where I'm following many, many YA authors, to see if I can find book trailers that they approve. They don't know me, and they have many fans, so I don't know if I'll get any responses. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

Value of college degree challenged

What DO you want to be when you grow up? IS it possible to have a career that you find both personally and financially rewarding, WITHOUT a college degree? Talk amongst yourselves.

Value of college degree challenged

Congratulations Ruganza!

North Canyon runner escapes war-torn Congo, eyes state title

Ruganza is one of our regulars in the library, and one of the nicest young men you'll ever meet. He deserves the best!

How I Corrupted America's Youth by Dan Gutman

How I Corrupted America's Youth: Getting angry letters is no laughing matter—and the same goes for censorship - 5/1/2010 - School Library Journal

Dan Gutman wrote this post for the School Library Journal. As a librarian whose primary goal is to get kids excited about reading, I found myself nodding my head all the way through. My favorite paragraph: "Bruce Coville, who has suffered more than his share of angry book banners, hits the nail on the head: "Somehow the idea seems to have gotten loose in the country that in addition to the rights of speech, religion, and the press we now have a new constitutional right: the right to never be offended by anything."

Really, I want to know...

What was your favorite book this year? What was the title and who was the author? Why was the book meaningful to you? Why do you think other people should read it?

Your pvLearners IS a gMail...and all that goes with it

Remember, the district has provided you with your own gMail account. Your address is your gradebook user name @pvlearners.net. PVLearners is the best place to save your work that you will need to work on later. It's also a terrific tool to use when your teacher gives you a group assignment. All of you can be working on it together in real time. This video is a good demonstration.

A wonderful opportunity

Stella Pope Duarte visited our school on April 14th. Several classes were fortunate enough to meet with her. We all have many stories to tell. Despite Stella's success in the book world, she still likes talking to students about finding their true selves, and taking responsibility for themselves in order to be successful. Some of us loved having our picture taken with her and her adorable 3 year old granddaughter.

For the love of reading

In "Angela's Ashes", Frank McCourt says, "I don't know what it means and I don't care because it's Shakespeare and it's like having jewels in my mouth when I say the words." There are some writers that I love to read because their words seem like jewels. Maya Angelou is an example. Here, she reads one of her poems: "And Still I Rise" Oscar Wilde is another. How can you choose just one of his quotes? How about this one? "My own business always bores me to death; I prefer other people's." Here are a few more: Oscar Wilde Quotes Who are the authors whose words seem like jewels in the mouth to you?

But then, there are books where I get so wrapped up in the story, I don't pause to decide whether it's good writing or not (although it frequently is). I read different types of stories for different reasons, but in the interest of keeping this post from rambling on and on, I'll just mention a couple.

As a child, I loved the Wizard of Oz books, and read every one in the Safford Public Library. They were my first experience with what I call road trip books. There are road trip movies, and then there are road trip books. The scene is constantly changing and fascinating characters come and go. The most recent road trip book I read and thoroughly enjoyed was "Going Bovine" by Libba Bray. Although I haven't read "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" in many, many years, that's what it made me think of. Plus, I've always been a fan of snarky humor. Tell me about your favorite road trip book.

As an adolescent, I loved Judy Blume books. She may have been from New Jersey, and I was raised in Arizona, but I could relate. She KNEW what it was like. Reading Sarah Dessen books remind of that. She just gets it. What author really speaks to you and why?

And, don't even get me started on fantasy/paranormal/science fiction, or that whole set of genres. We can leave that for the next post.

50 Best Book People To Follow On Twitter

I've become an addict of authors' tweets because they can be funny and interesting in 140 characters or less. A feat I am unable to accomplish. It's easy to get sucked into spending mega time reading them on the nchslibrary Twitter, so I can favorite them, so you can see them on the Twitter feed on my blog. I found this very cool article, can't figure out how to make it a post on my blog, but I did make the title of the post the link. Is all this interconnectedness a good thing or a little scary? NCHS students - have you read 1984 yet? What do you think?

I'm blushing!

So I have this little story. Last fall, in the doldrums because our budget had been frozen, and my kiddos made such sad faces when I told them I couldn't get them the book they wanted, I decided I would start creating book trailers. I figured, it's free, and maybe I'll generate some interest in the books we already own. We owned several copies of "If I Die in Juarez" by Stella Pope Duarte, because the year before we had read it in a book club.

It was a fun project. I found pictures and music on Creative Commons and started putting it together in iMovie. Although Stella is a best-selling, nationally known author, she is totally accessible. She answers her own e-mail, so when I wrote her and asked for permission to use the cover of the book, she wrote back and said yes. I was pretty happy with my finished product. Finally got brave and uploaded it to YouTube

Here comes one of the best parts. Once Stella saw it, she really, really liked it. She felt as though I had captured the essence of her story. That was so gratifying to me - that the author approved of what I had done.

It gets better! Stella came and talked to our social studies classes a few weeks ago, and is coming back again soon. Our students were enthralled with her message of perseverance and hard work. Unfortunately, I missed it because I was working in the technology department that week.

But wait! There's more! Stella has a new book just out "Women Who Live in Coffee Shops, and other stories". It's a collection of 13 short stories, centered around the people who live in the area of 7th Street and Van Buren in Phoenix, with children as narrators. I went out to Changing Hands bookstore in Tempe tonight to hear Stella speak. She is indeed funny and interesting. I finally got a chance to buy a copy so I can start reading it. But this is MY copy because it's signed. We'll have to figure out how to get some money for more copies for the library. So, I'm waiting in line with my copy. Stella is signing books and having a little conversation with each person. I walk up and say my name is JJ. She starts to write it, and jumps up and hugs me. She then tells everyone in line about the video, and everyone's smiling and nodding. Here's the picture of your local librarian and a famous author. I'm the one who's grinning from ear to ear.