Friday Fun Link – 21 Better Facebook Birthday Messages

I’m truly fascinated by the phenomena of Facebook birthday messages. Uh, happy birthday to me!

A Fun Day at the Office

Usually it’s the Library Assistants who do this type of thing but today, I got to pitch in to play host to a visit from a school group.

It was a great chance to exercise some “librarian muscles” I don’t get many opportunities to use and many of the things I learned in my Children’s Librarianship class with Lynne McKechnie came flooding back.

And yes, if you look at the date on this post, a school visit in July is somewhat unusual.  But a school near my branch runs a really cool program where groups of students spend one of three weeks throughout July in half-day sessions meant to help them keep up their reading over the summer.

It was a great tour with a great group of kids that I look forward to seeing in the branch in the weeks and months to come!

RP School Visit

Artistic Impressions

The branch I work at is the newest in the Regina Public Library system.  Since it opened just about two years ago it has had the following two pieces of art hanging in the YA area…

20140716-212428-77068471.jpg

20140716-212427-77067052.jpg

These pieces have provoked a mixed reaction to say the least.

Some staff and patrons felt that these pieces were depressing and dark, reinforcing the worst stereotypes of young people.  (“Oh, the world is dark/Black/All around/Death.”)  One person I know referred to them as the “Concentration Camp Kids”.  Another staff member from Central told me: “If you do nothing else at Regent beyond getting that art removed, you’ll have been successful!” 😉

Of course, others thought the art was very appropriate for the YA area.  Our branch is in an area where there are many disadvantaged youth so it was felt that this art could help young people who are dealing with tough circumstances, depression or who knows what else, to be able to see themselves reflected in the art and gain a sense that they weren’t alone and that there were others who felt the way they did.

It’s a legitimate point and I can see both sides of the issue.  But personally, I come at it from a strong belief that the library should be a warm, inviting place; a refuge from the everyday struggles of many people (of all backgrounds) and perhaps even a place where people find joy, happiness and fun.

There are many ways we create that environment – the staff we hire, the programs we run, the services we offer and yes, the art we hang on the walls.

Fortunately, no matter what side of the issue you’re on, the art was due for a refresh now that we’ve been open for a couple years.  RPL’s Dunlop Art Gallery was undertaking a system-wide art refresh across our branch network so I was able to arrange to have three pieces installed that are diametrically opposed to what we had before – the new pieces are light, colourful, playful, and an embodiment of youth mash-up culture.  And I was able to jump to the front of the line to have it done too! 😉

Staff from RPL’s Dunlop Art Gallery were out today to install those pieces.  Time will tell what reaction they provoke (my main concern is that this art might be a bit *too* childish for a YA area.  But then again, comics are popular with people of all ages so who knows?)

The new art also gave us an excuse to re-arrange our furnishings in the YA area as well so that will also be interesting to watch to see if the new layout changes how people use the space.  At any rate, it was very rewarding to see a patron sitting on the couch this afternoon, using his laptop on the little table in front of him.

20140716-212458-77098150.jpg

20140716-212456-77096019.jpg

It’s Not Just the Numbers; It’s The Story Behind The Numbers

I find increasingly that I have a few standard lines that I repeat to myself as little koans of wisdom.  One of these is “Don’t just look at the numbers; look to find the story behind the numbers.”

This graphic, which is making the rounds on social media today, sums this idea up perfectly.

A primary school in England reminds its students that although they receive test scores, those scores don’t tell the whole story, not by a long shot!

Music Monday – “Ouzo!”

I remember seeing the New Zealand band, Hobnail Boots (now known as “Hobnail“) when they played the Ness Creek Festival during a cross-Canada tour, maybe in the mid-1990’s?

Funny how hearing the opening notes of this song immediately brought back great memories of their entire performance…

“Ouzo” – Hobnail Boots

How Fan Loyalty Changed Throughout the World Cup / World Cup Footballs Throughout History

Congrats Germany!

A couple final World Cup links…

<iframe src=”//player.vimeo.com/video/100567648″ width=”500″ height=”375″ frameborder=”0″ webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/100567648″>WCBrazil2014</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user30032322″>Rafael Aparicio</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

Saturday Snap – Sunset Swing

20140713-004405-2645265.jpg

Friday Fun Link – 29 Photos That Show The True Meaning of Playing With Death

Some very scary photos here

#tbt Throwback Thursday – Summer Reading Program (July 17, 2009)

The TD Summer Reading Program is once again in full swing at libraries across Canada.  Here’s a pic of Pace and I with one of the entertainers (Walden the Wizard?) I brought in when I worked at Southeast Regional Library.

Pace seems a bit uncertain of this wizard’s powers! 😉

Southeast Regional Library Summer Reading Program 2009

How To Trick Your Kids Into Reading All Summer Long

No minimum page counts.  No incentives.  No countdown clocks.  No video game ban threats.  Instead, according to this article, just put books in front of kids in the places they’re most likely to get bored and watch what happens.

This article’s theory is especially interesting in light of the typical library summer reading program which does many of these things you’re not supposed to – incentivizing reading with contests, rewards for reaching certain page or minute counts and so on.

The article does speak highly of libraries as the best place to get that wide variety of books that will tempt your kid though…

Frequent trips to the library not only allow you to fill your bookcases at no cost, they are a great place to linger in cool quiet during the heat of summer. And lingering in a place with a lot of books might lead to reading. If your child doesn’t want to go, tell him you need to go, and say that the most convenient time for you is during a trip to take him somewhere he wants to go.

…as well as the value of leisure reading (and knowing that’s different than the type of required reading you often have to do at school):

If she only reads for school, she may think that reading means plodding through a “classic” book, start to finish, and that leisure reading differs only because she doesn’t have to write a report when she’s done. But leisure readers know that reading can mean non-fiction, or graphic novels, or manga. Leisure readers feel free to skip around, peek at the conclusion, skim boring parts, or drop a book altogether. If your child doesn’t know these things, tell her.