SJRLC Connections

Teen Area Opens at Collingswood Library

Teen Area Opens at Collingswood Library

Media Coverage Invited

When: Thursday June 10, 4pm

Where: Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Avenue

Contact: Brett Bonfield, Library Director; 856-858-0649; bonfield@collingswoodlib.org

There’s an exciting new chapter at the Collingswood Public Library and it’s just in time for summer.  Join us Thursday June 10th, as we cut the ribbon to open the brand new Teen Area on the second floor of the Library.  The Teen Area features a big flat screen TV, Wii and video games, comfortable furniture and books, lots of books-- all combining to create a safe and friendly place to “hang out.”

A host of ingenious fundraisers has made The Teen Area possible.  One was the first Collingswood Book Festival 5k Run.  Also known as “Beat the Director,” runners were challenged to race against Library Director Brett Bonfield.  A video spoof promoting that race was made by Emerald Productions last year.  It had over 8,000 hits on YouTube and was also featured on Philadelphia’s NBC10. A new Emerald Productions video for this year’s run, called “Eat the Director’s Brain,” will make its debut at the Opening.

Also contributing towards the Teen area are the Collingwood Friends of the Library and the Library Board of Trustees.  A number of special donations have been in made in memory of Becky Childs, the daughter of the late Library Director Peter Childs.  Becky’s mother, Carol Childs will be on hand for the ceremony to dedicate the Teen Area in memory of the young lady who loved to read and loved spending time at our Library.

Collingswood Mayor Jim Maley and Commissioners Joan Leonard and Mike Hall will cut the ribbon to open the Teen Area at 4pm on June 10th.
Refreshments will be served, compliments of the Collingswood Friends of the Library.

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Brett Bonfield
Director
Collingswood Public Library
bonfield@collingswoodlib.org
856.858.0649

Congratulations to the Vineland Public Library on receiving the $10,000 Libraries and Families Award

Congratulations to the Vineland Public Library!

 

Congrats to the Vineland Public library on receiving the $10,000 Libraries and Families Award from the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) and Better World Books (BWB), in recognition of their work in promoting literacy awareness. 

See the complete story in Library Journal:  

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6727315.html 

CONGRATS TO MOVER SHAKERS: ANDY WOODWORTH AND PEGGY CADIGAN!

CONGRATS TO MOVER SHAKERS: ANDY WOODWORTH AND PEGGY CADIGAN!

A hearty congratulations to Andy Woodworth (Burlington County Library) and Peggy Cadigan (NJ State Library) on their recognitions as Library Journal Mover/Shakers for 2010!  

• Direct link to: Andy's Profile  (and check out his great blog, Agnostic, Maybe)
• Direct link to: Peggy's Profile

And congrats to all the worthy Mover/Shakers who were recognized this year.  Read everyone's profiles online at: http://stage.libraryjournal.com/MS2010.

Responding to a book challenge at a High School Library

Rancocas Valley Regional High School's Media Specialist  (and SJRLC Board Member) Dee Venuto's handling of a recent book challenge was recently reported in American Libraries, ALDirect:

"A reconsideration request regarding three anthologies in the collection of the Rancocas Valley Regional High School (RVRHS) library in Mount Holly, New Jersey, may be part of a national campaign supported by a Burlington County group to get a Department of Education official ousted from the Obama administration. And learning how to evaluate the validity of such an assertion has become a teachable moment for students and faculty at RVRHS, thanks to the school’s media specialist [Dee Venuto]...

"...As the reconsideration committee deliberates, Venuto told AL, “I decided to model exactly what we teach the students, to follow the Big 6 research process—document the resources, evaluate the resources, develop a list of questions.” Her presentations to faculty and students have been well-received, she said, noting that “Our profession requires us to provide information that reflects all the varied needs and interests of our patrons and I will continue to do so.” She added, “Hopefully, by making the details of this challenge known to others, more materials will stay on our shelves.”

The challenge is apparently part of a larger coordinated effort to challenge books in school libraries in the County, and as Dee told ALDirect  “if this is happening in New Jersey, there is probably a good chance it could happen in other places.”

You can read the full article online here: http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/03102010/obamas-safe-schools-czar-targeted-new-jersey-challenge.

Youth News -- Call for articles

Good afternoon - we are working on the next two editions of Youth News - both will be "themed" issues. (Your articles may be as brief or detailed as you like).

Spring/Summer edition - deadline will be March 31 and the theme is Display Ideas. Anyone with suggestions for eye-catching displays for children and young adults please submit your articles to Denise Saia, co-editor, ftpl@yahoo.com. We are interested in displays that have worked, those that did not, and any ideas you might want to suggest.

Fall/Winter edition - deadline will be October 29 and the theme is Program Ideas for Ages 9-13. We are interested in programs that have worked, those that did not work, and any ideas/suggestions you might have. Kindly submit your articles to Denise Saia, co-editor, ftpl@yahoo.com

Thank you - Denise Saia and Ann Wodarczyk, co-editors, Youth News newsletter.

CONGRATULATIONS to Arlen Kimmelman!

CONGRATULATIONS to Arlen Kimmelman!

Our congrats to Arlen Kimmelman, Clearview Regional High School Library Media Specialist, Mullica Hill, for achieving her National Board Certification in Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/Library Media.

Way to go Arlen! :-)

SJRLC 2009 Fall Membership Program & Meeting

with Pat Wagner, Pattern Communication

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 1:00 to 4:00 PM (optional lunch at 12:00*) Seaview Resort Absecon, NJ, 609-652-1800 x-4317 COST: FREE! (see below for details on optional lunch at Seaview

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

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Network - A pattern of human interaction characterized by a process of information exchange usually leading to other human interactions and/or material, service, information, monetary or spiritual exchanges. - Richard Haight

Librarians have always been about networking and never more so than in times of economic trouble. Nationally recognized speaker Pat Wagner will lead us through "The Networking Game", a powerful, practical, and fun experience that will help give us insight into these topics:

• How to build coalitions among institutions, agencies and community groups

• Reaching out to underserved populations, new immigrants, etc.

• The meaning of community

• How any library of any type can participate in reinforcing community values for the people they serve

The Networking Game is the art of discovering patterns in the world and making useful connections for ourselves and for others. It is about weaving new options into our safety nets.

About our Speaker
Pat Wagner has worked with Pattern Research, Inc. and its predecessor the Office for Open Network since 1977. She is an educator, trainer, writer and consultant, focusing on personnel, management, leadership, marketing, career and strategic planning issues. She has special interests in conflict management, project management, community outreach and future studies.

AGENDA
Noon - 1:00:	Optional Lunch at Seaview*	2:00 - 3:45:	Program with Pat Wagner
1:00 - 1:30:	Registration, Coffee & Dessert	3:45 - 4:00:	Wrap up
1:30 - 2:00:	Brief SJRLC Business Meeting

*Optional Lunch at Seaview
Seaview offers a buffet for $22.00 (dining room) or sandwiches/salads for $10-15 (Golf Grill).

• Make your lunch reservation by calling 609-652-1800 x-4317 by December 10 (Mention SJRLC.)
• If you can't make lunch, you may still join SJRLC for free dessert and coffee before the program. 

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

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Congrats to Cape May, West Deptford and Mount Laurel Libraries!

A big congratulations to the Cape May County Library, the West Deptford Public Library, and the Mount Laurel Library, for their recognition in the New Jersey State Library’s “Tell Us Your Story” video contest.  A gala event recognizing all winners will be held tomorrow, September 15 in the NJ State Museum auditorium in Trenton.

The Cape May County Library placed first in the contest with their entry, "Get Your Game On, At Your Library" viewable at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKUjw6Ayrus.   As the winner, the Cape May County Library will receive a door-to-door session from StoryCorps. StoryCorps’ team of professional sound technicians will record interviews of community members selected by the library. One of those stories will be chosen and professionally edited into an audio soundtrack such as those heard on National Public Radio.

Second Place honors went to the West Deptford Public Library for "Hector's Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZtwgZUnDNs , and the Mount Laurel Library received an Honorable Mention for "Brett's Story": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdOgu6cPwrs.   Congratulations also to Cranbury, Ocean County, South Orange and West Orange libraries who will also be honored at the September 15th ceremony.

The statewide storytelling campaign was launched by the State Library and the NJ Library Association in October 2008 to interest and inspire libraries to collect stories from their customers about their library experiences, and create compelling digital stories that portrayed libraries as transformative. The contest ended in June. Over 250 school and public libraries from across New Jersey participated in the “Tell Us Your Story” campaign.

Cape May County Library: "Get Your Game On, At Your Library"

West Deptford Public Library: "Hector's Story"

Mount Laurel Library: "Brett's Story"

50 YEARS, 50 DONATIONS OF $50 TO LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

News from Bev Bird, Community Relations, Atlantic County Library System.  (Congrats!!!)

50 YEARS, 50 DONATIONS OF $50 TO LIBRARIES
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

The Mays Landing Branch of the Atlantic County Library System was one of 50 libraries throughout the country to receive a surprising donation from a generous woman in Massachusetts. 

In February, the branch received a letter from a woman named Mary Alice Howard in Massachusetts which read, in part:

Dear Librarians,

Today is my 50th birthday and I decided that rather than spend a lot of money on a party, I would mark this milestone by acknowledging some  of my favorite things: the fifty states that make up our country, children, natures, and books (and of course, libraries!). To accomplish this goal I am sending a check for $50 to a library in each state and I am asking that the money be spent on nature books for children..."

The library did just that and purchased the following titles:

• Eleven Planets: A New View of the Solar System by David Aguilar
• The Mysterious Universe: Supernovae, Dark Energy and Black Holes by Ellen Jackson
• Everything Bird by Cherie Winner
• A Place for Birds by Melissa Stewart
• Birds by Kevin Henkes

It seems as though Ms. Howard had read about the Pine Barrens many years ago and had visited the area about 15-20 years ago, which made the Atlantic County Library System a natural choice to receive her New Jersey donation -- that and the fact that as Ms. Howard says, it's the "biggest town on the map."

Swedesboro Branch to expand

Congrats to Gloucester County Library!

After years of hoping and dreaming, the Swedesboro Council at its May meeting thrilled the customers and staff of the Swedesboro Library Branch of the Gloucester County Library System by approving a bond to fund an addition to the branch. Behind this effort was years of persistent advocacy by the previous Association Board members, customers and staff for the need of additional space.

The Gloucester County Library Commission and Bob Wetherall, the GCLS director, worked with the council on this effort. The plans call for an additional 3,000 square feet to be added to the existing 2,500 square foot building, and include adding a meeting room, a larger children’s area, a staff lounge, a quiet study room, bathroom, more comfortable surroundings for library users and space for more public-access computers.

Via New Jersey State Library Newsletter Update 6/25/09