Category Archives: Conferences And Symposia

I wanted to make at comment about sessions for bloggers. In Ballroom B there are tables set up in the back near outlets. I discovered this would make a perfect area for a blogger who needs an outlet to keep the computer power during the sessions. My experience blogging has been tricky because I have to scope every room I enter for an outlet, and then have cords in the way of other attendees that walk between the walls and the chairs.

My first session I ended up sitting on the floor near an outlet to finish writing.

I wanted to point this out so that planning committees can prepare for this when setting up rooms.

Thank you

Jami Schwarzwalder

Making Traditional Library Services Teen Friendly
PLA Conference

March 24, 2006
8:30-9:45

Dawn Bussey, Director River Forest (Ill.) Public Library.

Mary K. Chelton, Queens College, Flushing N.Y. VOYA,

Angela Pfell Henderson District (Nev.) Public Libraries Virtual Reference Librarian with tutor.com.

Aaron Schmidt, Reference Librarian at Thomas Ford Memorial Library Western Springs IL

One hand out of six slides about River Forest Public Library

Dawn Bussey
Started with programs but realized that is not enough

Teens have a different way to approaching information

They like to receive library services in different ways than in the past

We may have some opposition along the way.

We need to invite teens in and provide a place where they can stay.

Teen and Info Seeking Behavior

“What’s more to say than get more technology, get more patron support, get more…”

YALSA, Smart Girl, and OCLC released research that says that teens prefer a search engine to the library.

Academics are all classroom centered and school centered. Therefore, Public Libraries have not received much about public libraries

Found an average of nine errors per teen when conducting a search

This generation does not understand intellectual freedom

They need to know the subject they are looking for, and librarians need to help show them.

They cannot search if they do not want they are looking for

They do not know how to assess what they need to know

Kids want more than facts about drugs, and sex,

They want contextual information, and do not trust people who did not have experience.
That is somewhat scary.

Many librarians have ignored that many students come in to get information for a teacher. (Melissa Gross) Therefore, we have to stop insisting they be happy about it

We need to treat them for who they are, not whom we think they are.

Why do we have this ideal user in our head that kids cannot live up to?
This person does not exist,

Pay attention to space. They need space for interaction. (Why can’t we take a percentage of the adult/children lounge and let the teens re create it as our own)

Friendship is a large portion of being a teen, and we must accommodate.

“I think they use it as a place to just meet and talk. I think they use it as an informal meeting place.” (THIS IS A GREAT THING)

We should look at teenagers as an opportunity.
All the research shows that the deficient is not with the teens but with us as librarians

Website
Angela

You already have a space for teens: your website

18% of the virtual reference users were teenagers

We are interacting with teens

If you have ever done virtual reference you know, it is like the first time they walk in the door.
They will test you. It is their job.

Teens are nocturnal so at 10 at night without the library open where are they going to go?

They are more comfortable online.

The Virtual Reference will serve everyone, not just teens

Librarians will need to know how to interact with teens online.
They need to know the language to use, that may be informal, but that is ok

31% of teens look for help information online

We seem to be afraid to do something because we are afraid of what might happen.

If you are not seeing 31% of teenagers walking through your door you have to figure out how to reach them.

This generation is huge, bigger than the boomer generation.

We cannot risk not meeting them.

It will allow you talk one on one with teenagers.

You can work through all the roadblocks

It will extended your services longer to when they need it

This is part of what Teenagers do.

Teens set the pace, Phone companies, search engines…

Think about how portable the library would be if they can talk to a librarian on PDAs, Cell Phone. All from a website.

Worked with more teenagers being online than in her physical library

It is not easier it is not harder
It’s just different

Having a Phone
Aaron

PEW has wonderful Studies about this
53 million American adults use instant messenger
Teens think email is a way to talk to Old People- do we want to be old people

Not having IM is as important as not having a phone

Teen was a completely different person when in person than online.

Had an entire conversation about books online.

Any question you get at the ref desk you will get on IM

Teens would add the library to their buddy list, so when the library got online they would send a flood of messages.

Virtual Reference will open the library up to non-local questions.

We are forcing them in the Library Designed world

Myspace is huge.

Getting more hits than Google

16 libraries have a page on MySpace

At a gaming program teen said, “Hey is it alright if I run upstairs and grab a book or magazine”

Video games in the library is a great idea

http://walkingpaper.org/pla- up within next 24 hours

River Forest Public Library

Received message “what is 505” teen wanted to know the relevance of the number on Ruben’s shirt. They wanted information before they purchased the shirt.

Before she arrived at library, there was a history of fighting. They had a police officer in library. No One came

When officers were short, they could not have an officer, so they hired someone who liked teens.

Now they lost funding for it, they could not even have a person

“If we entice them will they come?”

They are right next door to middle school

There is competition. You have to be ready to invite them in and not throw them right back out again.

Updating space and collection

Provide new services
Change attitudes

Prepare for the future

Space
Carved out niche.

Turned bookcase to create a little pocket. They don’t like big open space.
Add some comfy beanbag chairs, add some books they love.

It is nutty for a little while but then they settle down they pull books off the shelf to read, they ask questions about homework and talk with friends

Staff

How does all of your staff treat teens, Circulation, Reference….

They also have to be empowered to deal with the difficulties of patrons.

You have to teach staff the reason why it’s a good thing that the teens are there, that they talk and work in groups for assignments.

Have a code of conduct. THAT APPLIES TO EVERYONE.

What is your boards’ position to teens in library?

They need same explanations as staff
They need to share same story that staff is sharing when they are approached

Looking at the future:
Referendum- If your school cuts after school programs what will happen?

ASK@riverforestlibrary

ASK= After School Kids

Board thinks that a program to have teens in the library after school to watch a movie, play a game, learn about databases…

Told her they didn’t want a daycare service. She could have a room, but if she gets the money she can do it.

She has $9,000 now.

Be Prepared
that teens come with accessories- backpacks, scooters, bicycles,

Let them work together, designed spaces for it

Let them play together.

Understand they talk

Let them feel comfortable

Make sure everyone tells the same story.

Myspace is like having a bike. Its dangerous, Kids could get hurt, but we teach them how to use and be safe-Aaron

From Anime to Zoolander: Taking Teens and Teen Films Seriously
March 23, 2006
4:00-5:15

Jane Halsall Reviewer for Video Librarian

Bill Edminster
(check out handouts for email addresses)

Reel.com- http://www.reel.com
Rotten Tomatoes http://www.rottentomatoes.com
Rogert Ebert http://rogerebert.suntimes.com
Anime on DVD http://www.animeondvd.com

ADV Advocates http://www.advfilms.com/advocates/index.asp
Video Librarian Magazine www.vidoelibrarian.com

When we walk in the last ten minutes of “Mean Girls” is playing. A very funny satire on the issue of girls. Tina Fey from SNL wrote the screenplay after reading Queen Bees and Wanna Bees. It stars SNL actors, and young stars.

I am having conversations about the generation gap. My in laws once bought Grave of the Fireflies for my sister in law because she loved Princess Mononoko. On the back it said it was a spiriting uplifting film. …. This is the kind of parents I assume we deal with.

We also discussed the anticipation of EarthSea.

We begin….
When librarians started collecting they tagged it Young Adults.
VOYA interviewed teens on what they should be called, and they said Teens

In addition to teens 20 something (ME!) use these materials.

Now we should call them Young Adults, because that incorporates the twenty somethings

A large part of being a teen is learning what others know and didn’t know they know

Teens talk to their friends about music, movies, games, and everything, and they are more willing to take friends suggestions

Teens social networks let them spread information quickly and broadly.

Teen interest is broad in both time periods, and cultural.

Everything is new to them so Frank Lang’s Metropolis, Casablanca, and Princess Mononoko are all equal to them.

teens can access practically infinite topics instantly.

Teens were incorporated in selections. Old TV Shows, Anime, Martial Arts Films, Japanese films.

They had to find sources and reviews that were off the grid.

Cataloging was another problem. Turns the catalogers in to fans so its alright now

(Wow this sounds like video games)

Teen films are not a genre. Any movie aimed at teens was a right of passage.

I love the handout-it does not include everything but it has Classic Cult and Watershed movies, with newer movies are listed on a variety of teen issues, cultures and eras.

Animation-

We found Anime extremely popular, sometimes dressed as characters
Teens to day are much more open to the world

Tell wonderful stories with dialogue and beautiful artwork

Don’t care where or when film was made as long as its good

(for me Anime is weird because the culture/storytelling is so different, but my sister in law loves it as does so many teens and twenty somethings. The more I watch and read about Japanese culture the more I understand the Anime and can enjoy it)

Clip from Princess Mononoko

Not like a traditional Disney movie would be

Villians not clearly defined.

Woman in role of Man

Graphic Storytelling

How art and dialogue convey a compelling story

Have natural audience.

From Comic books and graphic novels that really are just much longer than comic books.

Comics are as culturally significant as Video games, for a different generation.

People who see these movies know the basic stories even if they have never read the comic books.

Clip from Super Man 2 By the burning building

Implies Hero instinct in all of us. (Video game…)

Comic books make a good implementation into movies because you don’t have to visualize all of the movie sciences

Horror

Teens are staring or audience

Japanese popular culture coming through. J-horror is Japanese. K-horror is Korean.

First experience was the Ring. In Japan it was Ringu

Clip from the Ring When the girl gets the guy near the end (you know what I’m talking about)

Wikipedia defines J-horror

Alfred Hitchcock type.

Psychological thriller

Growing rise of dark in teen media (eternal Darkness, Resident evil, Buffy the Vampire Slayer…)

Sports

outside of school, many teens spend a large portion of time playing sports.

Many sports films are based on real events.

Contemporary films last as period pieces.

They revolve around real lives, sometimes the idea that Sports are life.

Most don’t focus on films, but Bend it Like Becham is a wonderful girl soccer movie

Television and Teens
Video and DVD lets you schedule your time.

TiVo lets you schedule even more

Downloading is close to be in libraries

Vidcasting is just around the corner (I think its here with Red vs Blue, Machinama, and others)

Exposure to Satire helps to teach teens to question the world around them
You have to understand what going on and separate it from the context
Hero in these movies is the anti-hero
earthy humor is a great way to communicate with teens

Clip from Waynes World where they are talking on the car

Do it yourself coming of age
A movie with teens as main characters are just going to be coming of age films.

It will be on the PLA website

Tragedies
8 mile
Butterfly Effect
Dead Poets Society
Donnie Darko
Girl interrupted
The Hole

Homeroom Manic
A Separate Piece

Comedies
Brother from another planet
Clerks
Edward Scissorhands
heathers
run Lola run

Teen years are a time for deep philosophical questions.
Every activity is more intense because it’s the first time.

Clip from Donnie Darkco

Other Cultures other times

Teens have traveled more

More comfortable going places learning things no matter one

The internet does not discriminate. Get taken seriously

Part of cultural literacy

Talk across the world, and don’t hesitate this.

Few Hollywood movies, and many independents are making movies with more cultural background

The characters reflect lives

The Hollywood ending fits the characters.

Clip from My Life

(I discovered Foreign films in college and watched many Spanish for my class. I loved it. Like water for chocolate is my favorite)

Clique
Who are you, discovering who they are in

Clip from The Breakfast Club. The creator only made five films

Addressed teens as individuals.

Napoleon dynamite is spectacularly out of the ordinary, but that is ok.

Power of Music

Shorthand for who you are.

Conclusion

Cable and Satelite TV, The abilitiy to download, and the internet has made the pool of movies huge

Teens are the best people to ask about movies.

DON”T ask what teen movie you like

ASK what is your favorite movie

Treat them equal
Take them seriously
Give them respect

Clip from 10 things I hate about you (I love this movie soooooooo much)

(comments via Jami Schwarzwalder)

Capturing the Hearts and Minds of the Gamer Generation
John Beck
North Star Leadership Group
www.gotgamebook.com
www.nslg.net

March 23, 2006
2:00- 3:15

John Beck is the author of Got Game: How a New Generation of Gamers is Reshaping Business Forever. I am 22, and I must commend him on portraying me perfectly. For anyone who had not read this book, please take the time to at least read Chapter 1. It will help you understand the teens in you life more.

Now to my shameless plug

If you find this program interesting you should join the YALSA discussion group about gaming. Beth Gallaway has posted detailed instructions for logging on, but I will repeat it here.

Go to http://communities.ala.org

Log in with you ALA member number
Go to Discussions in the upper left hand corner
Click on DiscussionsYALSAGaming Discussion Group
You can join at this screen
Next go up to the top and click Discussion.
It’s a Forum, where you can post and respond to messages much like a blog, but all posts are treated equally you can respond more. http://forums.keenspot.com, (Dominic Deegan) and www.insiider.com (Magi-Nation) are ones I used to live on.

If you are not a member of ALA or do not want to participate in the discussion group I would strongly encourage you check out http://groups.google.com/groups/Libgaming and http://libgaming.blogspot.com

Now it begins…

John Beck

Because we are talking about video games today I want to start with a game

Name that tune…
30-40% Raised their hands
Someone went across campus with boombox with the song. 100% knew the tune. Across socio-economic level, race , and

Almost anyone born before 1970

A survey of 7 to 12 years old reported that 100% said they had played since they were 2.

There is a Generation Gap. Much like baby boomers
This one will be larger

Demographically there is a large group of “Millenials”
They have grown up with a new and different technology than their parents didn’t
The Baby Boomers had TV
This generation is about a technology that the parents know nothing about.

Before TV was with Families, Watched together
Now Kids are on the computer by themselves

His charts are from his book, so if you want to see it in more detail check out the book.

He will talk about how these attitudes are different

They aren’t really understood because they think different,

They are statistically significant. Gamers are changing the way things happen.

We retain 10% of what we read. 30% of what we hear 70.8% of what we do.

Games changes people and how they think about the world. It is so interactive.

When the mind is developing these kids are playing games.

They are getting models in game about how the world works.

It takes so much of their attention.

“I have not met a kid that has been diagnosed with ADHD that can’t play for 3 to 4 hours. They may need to get up and move around while playing but the attention thing is not an issue”

Gamer generation caused the dot com boom. It was a new, new thing. IT is just a big video game.

Rules of the era was a giant video game.

You played a twenty something adventurer.

“I really learned a lot in the Dot com boom”

They hit the reset button and start over.

Gamers are very competitive.
Barbie tinker toy are not completive.
Seniors that pick up games, even become competitive

Gamers are more global thinkers( but hey I have friends that I talk to that live in China, Turkey, Holland, and Australia while I’m playing World of Warcraft.)
Even when I was on the forums I would talk to people from around the world that has a similar interest. My communities are online-it is my third place. Age and Residency doesn’t matter, but thoughts, opinions, and reflection matter.

Gamers say they have a need for human relationships, more than the older generation.

They play in groups, they create games that are their own. Thus we are more creative. Less adults tell us what to do. We work it out completely on our own. A game puts a long series of problems to solve in front of you and you have to keep using the tools you have at hand to solve the problem and you know there is an answer even if you can’t find it.

We are great at team building, using others strengths. World of Warcraft Guilds, Gaming Groups, and many boardgames have us working in teams. We problem solve to learn how a group works WHEN WE ARE 11. Sit back and watch World of Warcraft or another MMORPG to see this

Gamers love risk. Life is not fun if you aren’t willing to challenge the world to do the right thing.

Gamers think they are experts at 20. More so than the older generation

Flexible and don’t mind change
In game you don’t know what is going to happen so you are ready at all times. You look for threats, and opportunities.

Have to be hero. They play as the hero in ALL games. Maybe something to do with the self-importance they feel.

We share information about playing games online through our Social Mod (blogs websites, and instant message in the game)

Gamers can be led.

They believe their performance matter. Let them have responsibility and freedom to create something and leave them alone to do it. Or do this yourself. Don’t be afraid to try things, and fail because you will learn from the experience

Gamers are fair. They have a strong sense of morality, thanks to RPGs
They multi task (PEW studies reflect this) We scan for information, moving quickly from task to task very quickly

They enjoy life, I know I want to enjoy my work, and am more productive when I have support and trust of my employer/teacher. I try to make my assignments fun by focusing on something I am interested in. I am not frightened to change everything one day. In many ways, I enjoy the freedom.

The editor of Wired magazine plays on the first floor , and his strategy guides are on the second floor

HE reads the strategy guides to get through the game.

A level boss is at the end of the level. Something that a gamer must slay. We need someone to go to when we need help, but not someone who tells us what we can and cannot do.

In my experience I encounter level bosses in the library world with directors that worry so much about what will happen that they don’t try anything new. I have to have a strategy to get around them, or pass them in order to move on with my new ideas. I hear about these directors all the time.

Nintendo is trying to break out to the other generations with Brian Age. Popular in Japan and coming to the US. It has puzzles like the Sunday paper, and is meant for Seniors, but should be loved by everyone.

Gamers combine six types of attention
Aversive
Captive
Back of Mind
Front of Mind
Voluntary
Attractive

We pay attention to extremes: Purple hair, and the pretty girl

We have to imagine a car crash, and think how do I not have that happen

Biggest fears: Snakes, Public Speaking, Heights.
Snakes??? Might comes from evolution(Primates only have 7 words-one of them is “snake”), Adam and Eve, or Movies

Used to think eyes didn’t lie. That if you were looking at someone that would show where your attention is.

In college you learn how to stare at the professor and not pay attention. I am not looking at him, and I hope you can say I’m paying attention.

Driving is front of mind back of mind after you learn how. Then you can have conversations and such. I really thing playing video games are the same thing too, because you memorize how to press the buttons. You stop thinking press A to jump and you switch to just press the button when your eyes say jump. It’s a reaction after a while.

Advertising meets aversive: You will die (socially, intellectually…)
Combining Attractive in Aversive increases sales. But don’t be only attractive

Library should have an environment that is
Multi-faceted, Complex, Social, Let them be a hero when they are there, Attention-getting, and even challenging.

Jami Schwarzwalder

Life Online
The new realities created by technology
March 23, 2006
Lee Raine
Public Library Association
Boston

Pew/Internet & American Life Project http://www.pewinternet.org/

If you are not familiar with PEW, you should look at their site. They conduct research about a variety of topics including teens and technology. I have found that their research is very authoritative comparable to the OCLC report about the

Lee
PEW is an organization supported by non-profit donations

Experiences of being blogged

Writing of the Loud Librarian

Stephen Downes
Steven’s Web

Freedom to Connect
Live Instant messenger chat behind him. It would come up as he was speaking. Some would give links to the research and reports he talked about. some would comment informally (he looks younger than I imagined)

Are Kids too wired for their own Good (Time Magazine)
He focuses on internet use for everyone, but talks a lot about kids.

When living in Washington you have to attend an education camp
An education camp where you cannot leave until you can Philabuster

HE does not have a crystal ball about what patrons want or need

Eight Realities
1Millennials are a distinct age cohort, according to many measure of generational attitudes.
not generation X
Neil Howe and Strouss Millennials Rising

36% of total population, 31% minority
and they all grew up with technology and games

This is a generation of arranged play dates no child left behind and SAT
They are protected
They are confident
Team Oriented
do everything in groups
High achieving generation (best educated and best behaved adults of future)

They are pressured by overly involved parents
Conventional (innovative, love extra credit)

They are tech-embracing NOT ALL TECH SAVY. they don’t have the sense of what’s going on in devices, but have attachment towards communication power of their devices.

New and different expectations about technology

Millennial are immersed in world of media and gadgets
Age to 8 to 18 have

99 have a TV
98 have CD/tapeplayer
82 have Internet access
87 have a Video Game console

Generation M for Media

Home media ecology 1975
information conveyed in 4-5 ways

Now everything integrates back and forth
Web/Library 2.0 type (Tame the Web)

Information Needs
What is in their hands, what’s in front of them.

Their technology is mobile
Storage portable
Wireless is growing

As of December 1st 2005
61 have Walkman
55 Handheld Video game
45 Cell phone
37 MP3

Appointment media (TV, Radio) don’t have as much importance
Social Shifts

Constantly interacting
Smart Mods
Share info instantly without top down control.
People act instantly on information

Planned a trip to New York with daughter
same weekend as republican national convention
Went to Hairspray
Commented that he was only man with a coat and tie

As they look around they see Secret Service walk in for George Bush
Everyone 25 and under whipped out cellphone and started texting.
By the end of the show there were protestors, supporters, and people looking for autographs

Reindgold Smart Mod

Internet plays a large role in their lives
Pew monitors many internet uses
Slide compares how much teens are likely to do an activity.
Red = Teens more likely

Green = Equal appeal with teens and adults
Blue = Adults more likely

First gen with interactive media
they like to create and share content.

33% of online teens share their own creations online
YouTube
Google Video

32% have created webpages or blogs for others including church, school, teams,

22% report keeping own personal page
Myspace

19% have created own online journal or blog
more than a third above adults
More girls than any

19% remix online content into own artistic content

Steve Bartman’s journey
within in hour his work info was found
within two hours his home information
within four hours it had been translated into 14 languages

Overnight many people altered photos
put his picture in many different pictures (see slides)
They should be able to be in the others creative process

they should be able to critic
they should be commented on
They need acknowledged.
Form smart mods from comments

Their devotion to internet has shaped how they approach research
Online
Friends
then library

Need online on phone support
they don’t need in the face information
Don’t be through

The are multitaskers
Kiser Family Fountain

They do many things at the same time, they don’t concentrate on one media at a time

eight hours of media exposure squeezed into 6 hours

Continuous partial attention (not multi tasking)
Constantly scanning for what will be the best information.
Plans are very flexible based on imputes

Library needs to be one impute with text, chat, and email.

People are saying Teens

Libraries can strike balance between constant impute and focus.
We have reading rooms, and collections full of information

Pressure it puts on society to constantly be online, always available.

Some businesses have email free Fridays or once a month. Making employees talk to colleagues

Online reading is counted towards online time and not literacy in research currently. New Literacies for Teens and Technology explored this topic

Reality 6 their (our) technology world will change radically in the next decade

Middle of many technology J curves

Nintendo Revolution,
MMORPGS are very popular

Moore’s law Computing power doubles every 18 months

Communication power doubles every 9 months- Gilder’s law
Spectrum power is enhanced with efficiently

Move bits through pipes= Computers can move faster because the computer works at a faster rate
We can also compact things more

Storage power doubles every 12 months

Everything will get smarter
More things will be able to connect to internet
We will have smart items. RFD Devices
Computer chip in door that would recognize the you chip and let people in
recognize domino’s pizza guy

doesn’t recognize strangers, and thus will warn you

Put in soil to help farmers know when to irrigate, it will monitor soil

The importance of being in a place will be less important

Creation will explode. Movement towards citizen driven media

My media matters as much as mass media

Idea of Long Tail (Wired Magazine Editor Chris) (Tame the Librarian covers The Long Tail in Libraries)

Take on different social and cultural implications
For struggling bands writers and independent films

You can look at Webcomics to see a real illustration of this. They are able to covey an infinite canvas, and gain following, and now are transitioning into books. Before no one would publish titles such as Megatokyo, Penny Arcade, and even Red Vs Blue, but they have shaped more than the comic fields

We are tagging.
Delicious is a way to share links
Flicker shared photos

Even YALSA tags with preset groups: Professional Development, New Librarians, Lists…

The way they approach learning and research task will be shaped by their new techo-world
Learning and research will be more self-directed
Better arrayed to catch different
More reliable on feedback response
More tied to group outreach and networks
More open to cross discipline aspects
More oriented towards individualism

Target rich environment

You have the privilege reacting to and shaping these new researchers and learners

Attendee:We have to not judge the way people get information, or the way they process it

We should celebrate what teens are doing

Teens think everything they need is on the web.

When I go to exhibit halls I always have a plan. I have been to Gen-Con with my husband enough to know how to handle a exhibit hall (but I haven’t been to ALA yet-I’m working my way there)

First you look through all the mailings and coupon books for the words “free ____” and you fill out those first. Organize them by booth number, and hit those on the first night. Do not stop to look at any interesting displays on the way or you may miss the freebies. Try to only go for something that you really want or need, and save drawings for later.

Then after you have those first elusive items start in a corner and browse your way around. Always fill out the addresses of places you want during lunch or before sessions begin so that in the exhibit hall you can see more. One librarian once told me to make address labels with my name address and email so that I can fill out entry forms with one stick.

When you are walking around browse as if you aren’t going to return to these booths again. Feel free to pass up any not in your specialty area, but also new librarians and students can learn many things by asking questions of the exhibitors, because they want to sell you things, so they will talk as long as you listen.

Feel free to break the hall into sections that you visit between sessions. I normally look at the exhibitor and pick a few I don’t want to miss no matter what, so I can browse those aisles first. They give you a paper map of the hall in your packets normally, and I think its perfectly appropriate to write notes on it about where you went.

Lastly after I have been through the hall once I will often walk through the aisles at various times to see if I missed anything the first time due to crowds or lack of staff. The most important thing I think is to remember that you are their customers, and that you should take the time to really ask questions you have, especially for students who do not have Reps.

Here are some tidbits I picked up at PLA’s exhibit hall opening

Ulysses Moore The Door to Time MP3-CD
The Girl from Charnelle by K. L. Cook
Mockingbird A portrait of Haper Lee by Charles J. Shields

Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs
Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge
And You Know You Should be Glad by Bob Greene
Teen Ink January, February, March 2006, Info on their new book series and Subscription information
Information about Playway, but I didn’t get a chance to listen at the booth
Thomas Klise/Crimson Multimedia Catalog with a free CD Cleaner attached
New release handouts from Recorded Books
Postcard for Digipalooza 2006 (Celebrate Digital Media in libraries)

Flyer about Download Stations at Boston Public Library
A nice packet of information about downloadable media from OverDrive
A NetLibrary Authentication Server Letter
Information about Azuradisc “Disc Care & Repair”
Target and Reading is Fundamental- Summer Reading is out of this world packet and t-shirt
FAFSA form
JFJ Disc Repair pamphlet

Youth Librarian News Volume 3 issue 1
Library Journal
Learning Games & Literacy Kits Brochure from Learning Props
Amazon.com for Libraries pamphlet
AARP Internet Resources on Aging Handouts including info on AgeLine
Online Public Access Catalog- Lookup Feature handout from INGRAM
Issues of Publishers Quality Library Service that has review for every book in catalog in the catalog. They sell the “season’s finest titles”

A pen
DC Comics Graphic Novel Catalog
Voya Volume 28 Number 6
Video Librarian Volume 21 No. 2
Dewey Decimal posters
Search modifier poster from Google and a epilepsy inducing pin (but now I don’t’ have to worry about identify myself when I’m meeting librarians from online)
A folder of information about the Online Degree from Syracuse University

And lastly
an “Ogre Achiever” poster from Walden Media

This may seem like a lot, but I refused many items, and didn’t finish going through the entire first floor.

I focused on gaining information about downloadable media, and asked many relevant exhibitors about a certain topic I’m interested in…gaming.

I was able to learn from many of the exhibitors many things I wondered about when studying in my MLS classes. I have always enjoyed attending the exhibits, because there are so many people normally the exhibitors let you make the first move to stop at their booth, although I saw some tricks tonight. One booth had a sheet of real money they were letting people cut money off. Nothing to do with the program but people were stopping. I also saw many blinking areas, TV displays, comfortable enticing chairs, Interactive demos on Kiosks, and free galleys. All in the interest of getting people in the booths.
I am proud of myself for getting so little, my first national conference I had to move my clothes to a bag that was handed out for free, because I filled my suitcase with galleys and Advanced readers copies. I learned my lesson in two ways.

1 I came with room in my suitcase, and anticipation of taking more bags home
2 I brought my collapsible rolling cart to bring my things back to my hotel without hurting my back, or shoulder.

Not that I can hold my promise, but I’ll try and synthesize what I learned about the audio books for the readers after PLA.

Good night and See you tomorrow

Jami Schwarzwalder

Posted by Jami Schwarzwalder:

Opening General Session for PLA Conference
Linda Ellerbee
March 22, 2006
2:30-4pm

President of ALA:
You can judge a community by the quality of its libraries

The library is the only place you can walk in off the street and get advice from a Master level professional without a fee

Linda Ellerbee
Journalist, Author, Producer, Breast Cancer survivor
Luck Duck Programming, Get Real! series

“what could be nicer than being a room with people who love books and read them”

Take Big Bites life philosophy

When I was young I thought change was a choice
I also told myself that anything is possible

Went to college to find a husband or in the case he died, or left me in another less honorable manner I would HAVE SOMETHING TO FALL BACK ON

Love college so much she left after a year

Taught in the mountains
Worked at an FM station

Married Texas Cowboy poet

In Alaska, left commune to write radio programs for politician

In Juno, her husband left her with a two and three year old. Parents wanted to raise her kids so she took matters in her hands

She wrote letters to editors telling them-that she could be an excellent journalist if she just had a chance.

She got one response. If she passed a test she could have a job. She passed.

She wrote a letter in 1972 about how the APO has only one female, and if they want to show they aren’t discriminatory they should hire a diverse individual (half cre lesbian….)

Letter wasn’t supposed to go out, but it went to the entire associated press

Of course she lost her job, only because they couldn’t shoot her.

That’s when the job offers poured in

To take a microphone and put it in the face of anyone who just went through a personal tragedy is being a moral dwarf.

People said Murphary Brown was based on her
Who wouldn’t like a loud mouth woman who’s mouth is always getting her in trouble

She wanted to change the way broadcasting worked

If men run the world why do they get up every morning and tie a noose around their neck.

Women have learned much from men in the industry.
“Let us not forget that we have much to teach”

One night a woman came in crying. The women gave her a huge made her a cup of tea, and then the world went on. The corporate didn’t stop because a few acts of kindness.

A sick child is important, a lost love is important

I have seen the effects of the stress that pulls in all the different directions

#2 Face a new change with joy

“He who can not change the fabric of his own thoughts cannot change anything”

As a kid there were drills for the soviets dropping nuclear bombs, but they didn’t talk about the fears.

Now we talk about hard times, we don’t hide it from them.

#3 You must always set a place at the table for and unexpected guest

A boy talked his mother into leaving just in time. He only packed a few clothes, but when asked what he needed most that had been left behind he said “ My Friends”

She learned that the easier a change is make the less important it is

Change can be a form of hope
to risk change is a investment in the future

#4 Just because everything has changed doesn’t mean its different.

More things are possible than she ever imagined, both good and bad

She was as young as she was going to be and she was never going to be any younger

#5 IN this world a good time to laugh is anytime

She owes her life to 5 people and one thing
Her two kids, Her two parents, her English teacher, and her library card.

Most grateful for being able to say Thank You to her old mentor.

Pre-conference Conclusion

In Conclusion, History RA is not much different from other RA. As I was sitting through the session, I was reminded of many Movies that would pair nicely with the titles mentioned. I could not think of many games that connected with historical fiction, but there are not many historical games. Eternal Darkness, Civilization, and Oregon Trail were the only ones I could think of.

I think that YA librarians have the potential to use what their patrons know in order to connect them to books. My high school history experience was quite dull and boring, until I found children’s historical fiction that I would read along with what we studied in class. I doubt many teens with be as industrious as I was, but We may connect them on these three points (topics from history class, historical/biographical movies, and historically set video games)

I will conclude with some quotes from the end of the Pre-conference session

(on Historical fiction connecting to Non-fiction)
Its about picking threads and linking them- Sharron Smith

Look for more narrative non-fiction-Sharron Smith

Taking a reader from non-fiction to fiction is harder than fiction to non-fiction – Brad Hooper

A well written biographical novel is not necessarily cradle to grave – Brad Hooper

Connect books with Strong Characterization – Brad Hooper

Biographical novels convey a Hero with flaws – Brad Hooper

A well written historical novel seamlessly weaves in history to the story through characters dialogue.- Cathy Jo Yarmoski

Setting is important – Cathy Jo Yarmoski

Look at themes- Cathy Jo Yarmoski

Suggest non-fiction that “reads like a story” – Cathy Jo Yarmoski

Ask Do people want the same or something different- Cathy Jo Yarmoski

Closing Remarks

Duncan Smith

“The real reason we are here is not books…It’s the reader”

“I have always thought of history happening to others. But it happens to me too.”

Remember that today’s teens were born in 1988 to 1995. They probably do not remember the Challenger, the Berlin wall falling, or the first Iraq conflict.

“The Odyssey is what hero has to do to become human again.”

Posted by Jami Schwarzwalder

Book Buzz
Nancy Pearl
March 22, 2006 10:30-11:30

Nancy Pearl, Librarian, Book enthusiast, Action Figure Model

Since Nancy Pearl focuses on mostly Adult titles, I do not know if some of the titles will be appropriate for Young Adults, but they may be appropriate for you the book lover.

This event is so popular that many people are sitting in the lobby.

“People clap at the beginning out of faith and hope. And they clap at the end out of charity”

“We are here today because we can’t be reading, so we do the next best thing and talk about them”-Nancy Pearl

“We forget just how practical reading can be” – Nancy Pearl

She was in the Mallory hotel and when she shut the door, the handle didn’t work. When she tried the handle, it did not work and she thought: “I’m locked in the bathroom in the Mallory hotel, and I have nothing to read” –Nancy Pearl

“How many people brought at least two books to the conference?” Most of the room raised a hand.

Four editors from the publishing world. (I am sorry I know I will butcher the names, I am so very sorry)

Marcy Presell- Head of library marketing for Random House

Nora Robinson- Began career in Baltimore county, went to Library Journal
Time Warner Book Group

Virgina Stanely- Library Marketing for Harper Collins

Tellya Ross- Jewish studies from Barnard. Head of Library Marketing Holts Spring.

Marcy

“Hardest to pick out the books to talk about”

The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
already out
“Remember me when I am Gone”
Alternative World
World of all the people who already died
As long as someone remembers them that is alive
Once forgotten they disappear

“Reminds us what it means to be alive”
Nancy-Going to be on my list of the top ten list of fiction
Literally power of memory
For people who read for character

Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
A tender mysterious coming of age story
rural England
Great for YA audience

breaks treasured Christmas ornament
spends year trying to replace
Characters leap off the page

Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
What makes us happy
what we think will and why it doesn’t
“Why does the line at the grocery store slow down just when you get in it”
“Why will a wife forgive infidelity, but gets mad about dirty dishes?”

Professor at Harvard

The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
A doctor who’s wife is killed in a terriost attack
discovers secret about her

Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado
1972 a plane carrying a group of athles crashes in Andes
One of the most amazing survival stories told through the voice of one of the boys who walked over the Andes with Airline seats as snowshoes

Gives message of Hope.

The Man of my Dreams by Curtis Sittenfeld
Author of Prep
Hannah is 14 in 1991,
Magazines cover elaborate weddings
Parents marriage falling apart
then She grows up
How can she find true love

The Whole World Over by Julia Glass
Story of woman in a bad marriage
chef in Brooklen
Gets attention of Offical from New Mexico
Becomes professional chef for him

The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl
Edgar Allan Poe didn’t die of natural causes

when researching book author found some new information about him

Stuart: A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters
Grim but important
man who is knife welding alcoholic heron addict who spends half his live in prision

The Good, Good Pig by Sy Montgomery
A woman adopts small pig, and he grows to 750lbs
about community

The Culture Code by Clotaire Rapaille
Very scientific
Why Americans like
Why German kids need instructions to play legos

A Day with a Perfect Stranger by David Geregory
After Dinner with a perfect stranger
Seatmate is Jesus

Wisdom of Our Fathers by Tim Russert

The New Ann Coulter by Ann Coulter

Armageddon’s Children by Terry Brooks

Glass Books of the Dream Eater by Gordon Dahlquist

Culture Warrior by Bill O’Reilly

Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier

Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides
Coldmountain guy
The Audacity of Hope by Barrack Obama

Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
Histerical

Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell by Karen DeYoung

Foxworthy’s Redneck Dictionary II by Jeff Foxworthy

Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

Barefoot Contessa at Home by Ina Garten

Rachael Ray 2, 4, 6, 8 by Rachael Ray

Talla Ross from Holtzbrinkck

www.HoltzbrinkLibrary.com

Request Adult Books for Teens Catalog

St. Martin’s Minotaur (Mystery Publisher)

The King of Lies by John Hart

Sequence by Lori Andrews

Still life by Louise Penny
Quebec country side

first book in three
People that don’t read mysteries will love this book

The Darkest Place by Daniel Judson

Heart of the World by Linda Barnes
Most intense, most suspenseful Carlotta Carlyle Mystery

Cold Kill by David Lawrence
part of a series

Tella’s favorite
Blood and Guts

No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews
7th installment

The Highly Effective Detective by Richard Yancey
a loveable but bumbling investigator
first book in serious

Inside the mind of Gideon rayburn by Sarah Miller
For YA audience
inside Gideon’s mind
funny sexy wise and more human than you ever imagined

Trying to get authors in libraries check out website for more

Virginia
www.harperlibrary.com

The Girl from Charnelle by K. L. Cook(man)
Coming of Age story
60’s
Texas
reminded of She’s come undone

Full of Grace by Dorothea Benton Frank

funny southern story about couple who are retired

Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews
Sequel to Savannah Blues
one woman’s discovery about what’s important in life
Southern Fiction

No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman
Series, but can start anywhere

“Great speaker” Virgina
Has won every mystery author award

Coronado: A Collection of Stories by Dennis Lehane
Author of Mystic River and Shutter Island
Wonderful short story writer
Collection of previously published, and one new

Abundance: A novel of Marie Antoinette by Sena Jeter Naslund
Historical Fiction
make you feel like you are there

Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood
was executive at Microsoft
walked about from Microsoft to start a non-profit dedicated to fight against illiteracy in the world.
Room to Read roomtoread.org
Building schools and libraries faster than Starbucks did in its first 5 years

Nancy-Remember to pick up Galleys, and realse lists. Do what the patrons do and start placing holds on them in the library

Nora Robinson

Smitten: a kitten’s guide to happiness by Rachael Hale
Adorable kitten on the cover

My Smart Puppy

how to raise puppies

Monkey Portraits by Jill Greenberg

“Librarians say they need to know about books as early as possible”-Virginia

A perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder by Eric Abrahamsom and David H. Freedman (Coming in January)

YA titles
Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Zie

The It Girl
James Patterson- Maximum Ride
Kids who are genetically engineered

“Young adult novels deal with so many issues that we tend to forget about.”

Twilight
Girl falls in love with a Vampire

New Moon

Second in series

Incantation by Alice Hoffman (October)
Historical Novel
Jewish during Spanish Inquisition

Skylight Confession by Alice Hoffman
for Adult
Family issues

How Opal Mehta got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life by Kaavya Viswanathan
Indian
Opal spent entire life to get into Harvard
Out in Audio- American Accent of daughter and Indian of parents

“thinking about audio galley book club”
The Notebook Girls
Adult books
Parents see how kids are behaving

Four real girls notebooks
they pass around among each other

The Girls by Lori Lansens
Printing books early Coming in May
two sisters who are very close
conjoined twins
Steven Spielberg has purchased as potential movie

Sleep away the pounds by Cherie Calbom