Overdrive’s Digital Bookmobile @ Somerset County Library

Yesterday, I attending a special tour of the Overdive Digital Bookmobile as a member of the New Jersey State Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future while it was hosted at the Somerset County Library in Bridgewater, NJ.

The Task Force recommended a similar vehicle – a mobile technology trailer – as part of their findings presented at NJLA 2008. Our proposal envisioned a trailer that highlighted: digital features available from libraries across the state offer (including digital downloads: music, movies, book, audiobooks), gaming equipment, computers (also offering computer instruction), etc.

Overdrive’s trailer was certainly impressive but it spoke to only one vendor, offering one type of service. It was clearly geared toward adults (let’s not forget the kids!!) and there was really no place for detailed instruction. So, it provided a good model for something the state could use (a mix of the traditional bookmobile with a high tech interior)… Regarding Overdrive, the ease of installation and usuablity is questionable. Online Library services still have a long way to go.

A picture of the enormous trailer that is the OverDrive Digital Bookmobile.

This TV, and two others inside the trailer, run on a two minute loop, introducing people to OverDrive and its services.

This gentleman led us on a tour through the trailer.

Information panels were found throughout.

Computer stations were set up throughout to allow users to browse (and listen to) the collection. There was a heavy emphasis on ease of use.

A table with various hardware for storing digital downloads was a good idea but corporate sponsorship would have been even better. Why promote other products for free?

Our guide explains how to use the video download feature.

Information, quotes, and statistics lined the top walls of the trailer. Very nifty.

The video download feature display.

Google Sites

I’ve been exploring sites.google.com and so far, it’s a great tool for easily sharing my conference/training reports and for tracking the picture books I enjoy using for storytimes. Take a look!

Top Tech Trends

Ala 2008 Session

The panel consisted of: a Library con·slut·ant (“I do it for the money”), a University of Notre Dame employee that helps library with digital stuff, the head of Technology in , Darien, CT, a head of Instructional Services in a Vermont Library, the head of OCLC Programs and Research, and the Community Library head for Equinox software.

Open Source

• Many more public libraries have adopted open source software than academic or private libraries but more will make the change down the road. The emerging model supports open source software with contract programming and hosting services. Toward service and away from licensing. Many more open source things to come: open source library automation, multi-institutional coming out of Duke University.
• “You know open source is viable because people make money at it.” It is not a panacea though. There is a prevailing false belief something labeled open source will solve a range of financial, technical and design problems. Don’t forget about sustainability! How many orphaned blogs/MySpace profiles are out there?
• That Librarians are participating in this open source trend, creating content, is an exciting development model.
• Beware of the marketing pitch. Read the fine print. Just because it says open doesn’t mean it will deliver that new value.

Data

• Not just open source but open data (open platform). Many of our goals can be accomplished with shared data. So companies will adjust their strategies to accommodate this. Some organizations are making their digital photos available through programs like Flickr.Systems will change. Data must be ready for easy extraction.
• Broadband \ Bandwidth – we never have enough of it and are always playing catch up. Many applications are running heavy and much of our policy is determined by our access (our access is slow). Many people at home have faster access than the libraries (which is backwards). Increasing bandwidth is a simple but expensive solution.
• Mobile devices will become more the norm. Libraries need to get their content on the small screen.

Periodicals

• The rising cost of postal rates is hurting the small presses and sending them online.
• The future of bibliographic control may not include libraries if we don’t get on the ball.

Other

• Library organization inhibits innovation. We fear failure so wait for others to test the waters. Staff members don’t have time to innovate and are hesitant to innovate because of the seemingly insurmountable multi-level bureaucracies.
• Virtual communication will increase as travel costs rise. This translates into less energy consumed as well.
• Some libraries are doing extensive technical training in their communities. The role of social software is to collect local knowledge. Libraries should be hubs of local information.
  People must take control of their own professional development.

Beyond “Frog and Toad”: Transitional Books for Children

ALA 2008 Session

Based on a survey of 95 libraries. Participants were asked four main questions: 1) How are transitional books organized in your library? 2) Do you label transitional books so they are distinctly different from other books? 3) Do you have a book club for this age group? and 4) What other services do you provide for this transitional reader group?

I. Findings:

• 31% of the libraries shelve transitional books separately.
• Of those libraries that shelve transitional books with other children’s books, 44% shelve them with juvenile fiction, 21% shelve them by type (i.e. with series and non-series transitional books with juvenile fiction), 15% shelve them with easy readers, 13% shelve them by difficulty (i.e. some with easy readers and some with juvenile fiction), and 6.5% shelve them with series.
• 40% of libraries use some sort of label to distinguish transitional books from other books. Ways of differentiating transitional books from other juvenile books include: colored dots, colored tape, stickers, labeling.
• 24% of libraries have book clubs for this age range.
  • Ideas for book clubs for transitional readers
    • It will often take more time to complete books than it would with older children
    • Parent/child book club
    • Librarian reads two chapters of transitional book, book is discussed, book and similar books, are available for check-out.
    • Includes other activities and food as well as book reading and discussion
    • Both fiction and non-fiction can be used
• Other Programming Ideas
  • Book buddies
  • Read to a dog (i.e. trained service dogs)
  • Booklists
  • Summer or after school activity programs
  • Book and craft
  • “Lunch Bunch” (Librarian reads while kids eat)

II. Characteristics of Transitional Books

• Short chapters
• Reader-friendly plot
• A few illustrations
• Language and vocabulary at 2^nd – 3^rd grade level
• Issues relevant to 6 to ten year olds
• Short stories or one story divided into several chapters
• Linear plot
• Characters with unique but unchanging characteristics
• longer with fewer illustrations than an easy reader (usually not marked with a level)

III. History of Transitional Books

• Emerged in 1981 with Stories Julian Tells as the first book consciously meant to be a transitional book.

IV. Variability  Across Transitional Books

· Decodability (phonics, number of syllables, word length)

· Word frequency (words most commonly used in text)

· Word familiarity (familiar topics, similar to their used oral language)

· Sentence length / complexity

· Illustrations

V. Transitional Books Reflect and Facilitate Children’s Literacy Skills Development

· Decoding and reading fluency

· Contextual clues given often

· Helps develop sustained attention on reading

· Best texts area appropriately challenging, ~85% word accuracy is best for learning

VI. Transitional Books Develop Motivation for Reading

· Motivation is influenced by perceptions of likely success

· Somewhat challenging texts are optimal in enhancing motivation

· Transitional Books include interesting character development and suspense

· Transitional Books may include rhythmic and vivid language

VII. Transitional Books Reflect and Facilitate a Child’s Social & Economic Development

• Transitional Books reflect common challenges; new siblings, moving, school, etc.
• May enhance children’s feelings of industry and mastery
• May expose children to social issues
• May promote insight into others’ way of thinking and living
• May facilitate child’s self-development

VIII. Parent / Child Reading of Transitional Books

• Learning is a social process
• Parents coaching (mis-cues); too many error corrections are NOT good – can be frustrating
• Parent’s provide positive encouragement; when encouraged by parents, kids will leisure read
• Higher-level questioning
• Allow child choice of books (with parental guidance)

IX. Incorporating Transitional Books in the Classroom

• Book clubs; reading instruction, independent reading / writing, whole class discussion
• Classroom library (could be lending) with wide range of reading levels
• “Book buddy” program
• Independent reading program

Programming and More Programming

As the Children’s Department gears up for summer, I’m trying to get as prepared as possible. I’m hosting several exciting things, new for me, this summer as well as attending to all the regular things.

I started doing Mother Goose on the Loose about two months ago and, while at first I was rather nervous and uncomfortable (“Why should these mothers listen to me?! I don’t have any kids!”), it has grown on me. I now have several more activities, songs, rhymes to accompany the set provided by the purchased book. I’ve been reading up on baby tips, and I’ve even been around my boyfriends baby so… I’m getting there.

I have my Read, Rap and Roll book club (grades 4-6) next week. We’re reading the One Book NJ title, The Sisters Grimm – Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley. I’m pulling some interviews with the author and coming up with some good discussion questions but I think it’s a little dry. I want to do something with the kids and I can’t think what. hum…

Toddler times are getting harder and harder. Perhaps it is the time of day (2:00 pm) because I do outreach to nursery schools during mornings and it’s never as difficult as hosting a program in the library. The kids are rowdy, squirming or flat out daydreaming. My last toddler time consisted of two books (both pop-up books – One Red Dot and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt) and lots of movement (Hokey Pokey, Marching to the Drum, etc.) before I let them all go after a short 30 minutes. I was really disappointed because I had just bought the new Dog and Bear picture book by Laura Seeger and I adore it! … I definitely prefer pre-school story times and our all-age Good Morning Stories.

Regarding the upcoming summer schedule, I’m most excited about Beads, Bracelets and Bobbins. Hoping to bring more tweens in, I’m learning how to make some really cool stuff. I will upload images of the necklaces I’ve already made. Of course, the kids will use much cheaper beads but I know they will have some great designs. More to come!

NYPL Bookfest Review

I know this is a while in coming but here’s the BookFest review I promised.

Louis Lowry started things off. The 2nd Gen Librarian has a good run down of her speech. I will add that in her discussion of censorship, Lowry used a painting of the fall of Icarus as an example.

She points out the ship sailing calmly away from the drowning Icarus. The plowman going about his duty. And there is Icarus, drowning. Censors would have us turn away. Ignore the drowning man. Better, erase him from the picture. Ignore Life.

Then we broke off into our discussion groups. My group, Young Adult I, on YA fantasy went well. We hit on each book with The True Meaning of Smekday and The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney being the two big crowd pleasers. As an unexpected perk, Sparrow author Suzanne Harper was in the group! **SPOILERS AHEAD** Harper was able to answer some questions about the book. Yes, she had visited Lily Dale and attended a spiritual meeting there. She was approached by a psychic who said “You have put something to the side. You need to get back to that, right away.” Vague, I know, but it got her to continue writing the book (which she had put aside) so it was a good thing. Harper also addressed the “wistful subplot about Sparrow’s missing father [staying] hauntingly unresolved.” Harper wanted Sparrow to have felt loss (to have a more meaningful connection with Luke’s brother) but not to have had a death in the family. What the group liked most, the lightness of the work. We all agreed, after so many heavy, “can things get any worse?!” teen novels, it was great to read something with substance that didn’t take a dark tone.

It was a lovely day in the city so my friend (the 2nd Gen Librarian), my sister and I bolted for Little Italy I was sorry to miss the panel with David Wiesner! sigh…

Bookfest @ NYPL

I attended the last NYPL Book Fest where M.T. Anderson delivered a great speech. I am now very eager to attend the upcoming Oct. 13 Book Fest event at which Lois Lowry will speak. Even better, my sister, Deb will be joining me! I’ve selected to join the Middle Grades I discussion group:

No Drama Here: What’s So Funny About Fantasy?

True Meaning of Smekday – Adam Rex
Wee Free Men – Terry Pratchett
Lightning Thief- Rick Riordan
The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney – Suzanne Harper
New Kid at School (Dragon Slayers’ Academy Book 1) – Kate McMullan

Anyone else attending?

First Impression Award

 At Ocean County Library’s annual Staff Development Day, I was given a First Impression Award. This award honors a  staff member who exemplifies the shared values of the Ocean County Library – Customer Service, Respect, Integrity, Excellence and Community – during his or her first 24 months of employment. It was very exciting! I work with an excellent Young Adult Team as well as many talented reference Librarians, whose mentoring and support has helped me greatly. I wouldn’t be successful without them!

 

Other First Impression Award winners include (from left) Angela, me, Marguerite, Elsworth, Elaine (our director), and Tyler.

Staff Development Day @ OCL

I am currently working on a presentation [Intro to Web 2.0] for staff development day at my library. You can check it out on pbwiki.

Other Perspectives

Head over to The Speculist for some great thoughts on the 2008 Library Futures Conference!