Over the last summer EasyJet unveiled their “flybraries” or flying libraries, hoping to encourage young passengers to read more. According to an article by Nicola Irwin in The Irish Independent independent.ie, EasyJet “started the flybraries after research found a decline in reading among young children.” After polling 2,000 British parents with children aged eight to 12, EasyJet found that 83 percent of them thought that their children are reading less than they did at that age. Children can start the books while on board then download that title or a sample of another selection on a device while away. The next passenger can then pick up the book. Some 7,000 books are available across the airline’s 147 planes flying to European destinations.

The airline didn’t have to look far to find someone to choose the titles for their EasyJet Children’s Book Club. Best-selling British children’s book author and former children’s laureate Dame Jacqueline Wilson unveiled her choices at the Book Club launch at Gatwick Airport in England. With Puffin Classics providing the titles, Wilson hoped the summer would provide an ideal time for young fliers to get stuck in great stories. She told the UK Huffington Post, “Books stimulate a child’s imagination and development. Reading soothes, entertains, grows vocabulary and exercises the mind and a flight is the perfect place to escape into a literary adventure. That’s why I think this campaign is such a clever match.” 

So what titles made it into this ‘Library in the Sky’? On the EasyJet Children’s Book Club website, Wilson states, “Because the very word ‘classic’ generally makes most children roll their eyes and go, ‘Boring!’ so I wanted to have books the children might not have read but are familiar with the story, like Alice in Wonderland or Wizard of Oz, or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, because they’ve probably seen a video of it. And then I wanted books that appealed to both boys and girls, and I think nearly all of the choices will fit whatever sex you are. As well as really well-known classics, I wanted some modern classics too.”

If American children who aren’t lucky enough to visit Europe aren’t familiar with Wilson’s books, they should be able to get hold of her flybrary selections.

Wilson’s Top 5 Puffin Classics:

Barrie, J.M. Peter Pan

Baum, L. Frank. The Wizard of Oz

Carroll, Lewis. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Kipling, Rudyard. Just So Stories

Nesbit, E. The Railway Children

Wilson’s Modern Classics:

Dahl, Roald. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Ibbotson, Eva. Journey to the River Sea

Jansson, Tove. Finn Family Moomintroll

Norton, Mary. The Borrowers

Serraillier, Ian. The Silver Sword

The post EasyJet Brings Children’s Books to the Sky first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Susan Lauricella, Teen Services & Maker Space Manager at the Wilton Library Association said, “We were definitely in the big leagues. Every team was good! And the way in which the event organizers ran everything was truly impressive. 72 teams from New England, NJ, NY, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania & Ohio attended. Participating in one of FTC’s four Super-Regionals means our team was in the top 6% of all the FTC teams worldwide!” [1]

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge teams are comprised of students in grades 7-12 who compete in challenges with robots they design, build, program, and operate. According to their website, “Teams also must raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach for which they can win awards.”

What makes the team unique is that it is one of the few library-sponsored FTC teams. Most are school or private teams. Lauricella said the team was formed in 2013 in a basement meeting room of the library. The library soon got a private grant to build a makerspace called the Innovation Station, where the robotics team can meet and utilize the 3D printer and other technologies.

Captain Nickia Muraskin, a senior at Wilton High School, told The Hour, “We were looking back on some old pictures and our robot from that year looks like absolutely nothing compared to this year’s. It’s a much more cohesive team than in years past.”  “I wish more libraries were doing this,” said Lauricella, who pointed out that library teams can have an advantage over school teams because they can meet at different hours and have access to library staff which may have the built-in skills needed for publicity, research, and getting the community involved. [2]

Besides the ten students on the team and herself, Lauricella said her husband Paul Lauricella along with retired resident Tom Abend and staff member Thomas Kozak round out the team. “We have a waitlist (of students) like you wouldn’t believe.” [3] The team had to do some extra fundraising for their trip to super-regionals, raising more than $700 at one bake sale.

Lauricella explained the teams at the competition were split into two divisions which led to a final competition between the two. Their team was in the Hopper Division but did not advance to the final matches. “They did a fabulous job and I’m so proud that they made it that far. I think the team had fun and learned a lot which can be applied to next season.” [4] For this year, the team’s software captain Albert Wei said they focused on “fine-tuning the robot’s capabilities” and adding a mechanism that launches a ball. 

Lauricella said the team feels fortunate to have the library’s 3D printer to create parts with, though she said they didn’t have it the first year of the team and they did fine without it. She also thinks libraries without makerspaces can still participate. Her suggestions to anyone interested in starting a robotics team include:

• Find an area for the students to work and store supplies.
• Find mentors in the community and/or on the library staff.
• Basic startup costs are about $3000 though she said you can do it without all the bells and whistles. Find businesses in the community that might sponsor the team. [5]

To learn more about the FIRST Tech Challenge, visit firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc. Visit http://7034st.wixsite.com/singultechto see more of the Wilton team and its robot.

References

1. 3/9/17: Interview and follow-up email with Susan Lauricella, Teen Services & Makerspace Manager, Wilton Library Association 
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.

Resources
1. http://www.thehour.com/wilton/article/Wilton-Library-s-robotics-team-heads-to-10972040.php

2. http://www.wiltonlibrary.org/sites/default/files/WLAroboticsteamweb-revisedPDF022317.pdf

The post Connecticut Library Robotics Team Competes at Regional Competition first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Debbie Bock, head of reference at Johnson Public Library in Hackensack, told Beckerman about a 1970 Playboy magazine with no pictures that the library owns. Why no pictures? Because it is written in Braille.  “I have no idea what this is doing in the library,” said Bock. “But it’s so unusual no one ever wants to throw it out. It doesn’t circulate. There’s no way of even putting it in the catalog.”

Some of the other unusual items that Beckerman discovered at the Ridgewood Public Library in New Jersey include a circa 1602 edition of “THE WORKES OF GEFFREY CHAVCER” which mysteriously ended up there, a magazine edited by Charles Dickens, and a poetry volume signed by its author–Bob Dylan. At the other end of the spectrum, Beckerman also found the ‘sex’ books published in the 80s and 90s by Madonna and Howard Stern. There are also books that are kept for a completely different reason. As Beckerman said, “Then there are the books so dated, weird, or wacky that librarians can’t, in good conscience, keep them on the shelves. But such books, by the same token, are often too fascinating to throw away. They end up in the back room – or in the director’s office.”

Beckerman wrote that librarian Nancy Greene of the Ridgewood Public Library keeps a copy of “I’m Glad I’m a Boy! I’m Glad I’m a Girl!” – a 1970 picture book by Whitney Darrow Jr. that contains the text, “Boys are doctors, girls are nurses – boys fix things, girls need things fixed.” And maybe more interestingly, “Boys are presidents, girls are first ladies.” Greene said, “I keep this as an example of why you have to weed things out.”

These discoveries got me thinking – what do we have tucked away at the library where I work? My public library is pretty small by comparison to those with research centers or local history rooms. Actually, local history is stored in the back of my office in files and boxes.

I asked our director, Nancy Wood, what she has ‘stashed.’ It turns out her favorite item is something that she found on the shelf when she came to the library in 1993. It was a 1959 copy of Mae B. Freeman’s You Will Go to the Moon. Wood said, “It was like classic nostalgia – should I delete it or keep it? It got deleted.” However, she did keep it in her office for the same reason Nancy Greene did – as a reminder to weed.

As a children’s librarian, the things I have stashed are mostly extra copies of popular books, story time favorites, and reference books. But then I noticed an old copy of a ‘Sweet Valley High’ book that I couldn’t throw out, a pop-up Cinderella book that I let especially well-behaved readers use, and a racy graphic novel I was planning on reading in 2013 so I could determine where to put it. And let’s not forget my copy of Dick and Jane and Vampires by Laura Marchesani, because it just cracks me up.

If you want to read about more strange library books, check out awfullibrarybooks.net, a site devoted to the art of weeding and its byproduct ‘awful’ library books.

References

http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/libraries-have-secrets-the-private-rooms-of-north-jersey-s-public-libraries-1.1651103?page=1

http://awfullibrarybooks.net/

The post What’s In Your Secret Library Stash? first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The Pierce County Library System (Wash.) has managed to make every location either a PokéStop or a gym, according to Elise Doney, the Teen Services librarian at the Lakewood Pierce County Library. “We’re having folks of all ages stop by the library,” Doney said. “I see a lot of adults playing. And also families.”^[2]

Adam Jackman, Adult Services librarian at the Gig Harbor library in Pierce County, said he has seen a resurgence of interest in Pokémon-related materials from multiple generations. “I think it’s giving us something else to talk about,” Jackman said. “This is another bridge that we can talk to people about. Anything that opens that door (for communication), we’re excited to talk about.”^[3]

The Skokie Public Library (Ill.) created a Pokémon GO Safari Program, where library trainers lead students, grade K–5 within a few blocks of the library to hunt Pokémon and learn about neighborhood landmarks.^[4] Using Pokémon GO in conjunction with your local history collection can be a great way to share often hidden resources with the community.

The New York Public Library has used Pokémon GO to highlight some of its unique possessions like the Gutenberg Bible (third floor) and asks patrons to post pictures of their captured critters on Twitter and Instagram while tagging the library.^[5]

If you browse Pinterest, you’re sure to find plenty of ideas to incorporate into your fall story times. The Craft Blog Stalker compiled twenty great ideas for a party or program.^[6] There’s also a pin for Pokémon hair bows made with Perler beads and one for an origami Bulbasaur bookmark complete with teeth!

The Baltimore County Library System (Md.) recently hosted the Ready, Set Pokémon GO! Poké Crawl, in hopes of luring people—especially those that may not be regular library users—to all their branches. Josh McCready, a member of the marketing department, said many Pokémon GO players grew up in the ’80s and ’90s and haven’t been back to their local library since they were kids.

“It’s a good way to remind people what free services are available at their fingertips already at the library that they’ve often lost track of or didn’t even know about,” McCready said.^[7]

 The augmented reality technology is something that will be working its way into many aspects of everyday life and something that tech-savvy librarians can have lots of fun with. The El Paso (Texas) Independent School District recently used the game to promote the upcoming school year.^[8]

From naming and drawing new Pokémon to incorporating the characters into library scavenger hunts and all the things librarians traditionally do with book characters, libraries are sure to use the craze to come up with new and innovative programs. Pokémon speed dating, anyone?

Share your ideas with us in the comments.

References

[1] Melanie Lyttle and Shawn Walsh, “Pokémon GO: Strike While the Iron Is Hot,” Public Libraries Online, July 15, 2016.

[2] Elise Doney, “Pokémon Go connects Pierce County Library System with its communities” by Andrea Haffly, The News Gateway, July 28, 2016.

[3] Ibid.

[4] “Pokemon GO Safari,” Skokie Public Library, August 16, 2016.

[5] Lauren Weiss, “Catching ‘Em All at NYPL with Pokémon GO,” New York Public Library [blog], July 8, 2016.

[6] Katie, “20 Pokemon Go Craft Ideas,” The Crafty Blog Stalker, July 29, 2016.

[7] Josh McCready, “County libraries use Pokemon Go to attract patrons” by Rachael Pacella, The Baltimore Sun, July 23, 2016.

[8] “Watch: EPISD uses Pokemon to hype new school year,” El Paso Times, August 8, 2016.

The post Using Pokémon GO to Connect With Your Library Community first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

What people participate in book clubs?

BookBrowse has surveyed readers since 2004 and found book club participation increase until it leveled off in 2009. BookBrowse thinks “this indicates that book club membership has reached maturity.”^[1] Almost one-third of those in book clubs say they belong to two or more clubs. While their data shows a consistent number of books read by each age group over twenty-five, it does indicate that older age groups participate more in book clubs. They found the factors for participation increasing with age include having the time and a desire to connect. The survey found that book club members read about the same amount as non-book club readers; however, book club members are more likely to visit their public library, even if they are in an online club.

So if the average book clubber is an educated woman over age forty-five, where are the men? BookBrowse conducted a follow up survey of 130 men “to explore the topic of men in book clubs in more detail, and to minimize the bias from our own members (who were a minority in the survey but represented a disproportionate percentage of those in book clubs).”^[2] Most of these men were unfamiliar with BookBrowse and were randomly chosen from a national sample of men who read at least one book a month and are over thirty-five years of age. One-third of the men surveyed held negative views about book clubs, including not liking the books that women’s groups were reading. Most of the men said they had never considered joining a book club, although at least one reader commented that he often discusses books with other men on the train in the morning, which he does not consider a club.

What would a book club with men look like? The majority said they would like a mix of men and women in their book club and they would want to read a wide variety of genres. According to the white paper, “About half of respondents would like to meet in a public place, with a number stating the library in particular.”^[3]

What books are book club members looking for?

BookBrowse took comments from the respondents to come up with a profile of the ideal books that most members are looking for.

• Members want well-written books that are successful with other book clubs.
• Eighty percent of book clubs will read local authors.
• Many want to read in a genre that is different from what the club has recently read.
• Members want challenging books that provoke good conversation.
• Members said inspiring and topical books are welcome, even if a bit controversial.

How can you improve/create a library book club today?

Book clubs have changed how they get their books over the last ten years. The survey found almost half of a book club members read e-books frequently or always. While most book club members belong to at least one in-person group, there are many online communities as well, with 22 percent of all respondents belonging to at least one online club.

BookBrowse found that “happy clubs are those whose members discuss and agree expectations [sic].”^[4] Some ideas include:

• Hosting discussions on topics rather than specific books
• Hosting annual book exchanges, dinners, or nights out
• Having some members read a biography of a famous person while others read historical fiction focused on that person
• Reading different books set in the same location or time period
• Reading different books by the same author
• A mystery book club reading suspense one month, a thriller the next, a cozy the next, and so on
• Adding themed food that corresponds to the book to their meetings

BookBrowse features book reviews and recommendations as well as a free e-mail newsletter. There is extra content available with a subscription option, as well as a library subscription choice. Over half the visitors to the site are in book clubs.

The white paper was result of the over 3,600 respondents to BookBrowse’s survey and it states, “thus the responses are not reflective of the general adult population but of book readers. In addition, because the focus of this paper is book clubs, responses have been filtered to include only those who read at least one book a month – that is to say, people who read sufficiently to belong to a book club, whether they choose to or not. The responses have also been filtered to only include those living in the USA, resulting in a final sample size of a little over 3,000.”^[5]

You can find the complete white paper at https://www.bookbrowse.com/wp/.

Reference

[1] BookBrowse, LLC editors, “Book Clubs in the USA,” white paper by BookBrowse (July 2015): 4.

[2] Ibid, 15.

[3] Ibid, 16.

[4] Ibid, 7.

[5] Ibid, 3.

The post Book Club Survey Offers Insights for Libraries first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

As part of its National Library Week Celebration, the Los Angeles Public Library teamed up with artists Shepard Fairey and Cleon Peterson to re-imagine their outdated purple and orange card.[1] The new green and black design is a stylized illustration of the Central Library in downtown L.A., which is celebrating its ninetieth birthday this year.“Our city is the creative capital of the world—and this collaboration between the Los Angeles Public Library and Shepard Fairey is a great expression of how art can enliven our civic institutions,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti at the April unveiling of the LAPL’s first limited-edition artist-designed card. “It is a beautiful design that will raise awareness about the wealth of resources that our libraries offer, free of charge, to Angelenos of all ages and in every community.”[2]

According to an LAPL press release, the new design is based on an illustration created for the Library Foundation of Los Angeles’s Young Literati Annual Toast fundraiser. Both Fairey and his wife, Amanda, are involved in the Young Literati group.[3] Fairey was involved in the skateboard scene in the late 1980s and later went on to graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design. He is best known for his OBEY clothing and now-famous HOPE portrait of Barack Obama used heavily during the 2008 presidential campaign and later the subject of a copyright case.[4] leon Peterson is an L.A.-based artist whose graphic style often depicts violence and struggle.[5]

Said Fairey in the press release, “When I was younger, I did most of my research for art and design at the library. The L.A. Public Library system also has great tutoring and summer reading programs that are free to the public, and a needed supplement to our underfunded school system.”

The Los Angeles Public Library states in that press release that they serve “the largest and most diverse urban population of any library in the nation.” The new card is available at the library’s seventy-three locations while supplies last.

References

[1] Biance Barragan, “LA Public Library Has an Arty New Card Designed by Shepard Fairey,” Curbed Los Angeles, April 19, 2016.

[2] David Ng, “L.A. Public Library unveils new card designed by Shepard Fairey,” Los Angeles Times, April 20, 2016.

[3] “Mayor Garcetti & Artist Shepard Fairey, Renowned for his Obama HOPE Portrait, Unveil L.A.’s First Artist-Designed Library Card,” Los Angeles Public Library press release, April 19, 2016.

[4] Hannah Elliott, “Artist Shepard Fairey Pleads Guilty In Criminal Case, Faces Prison Time,”Forbes, March 7, 2012.

[5] “Cleon Peterson,” Artsy.com.

The post Los Angeles Public Library Updates Twenty-Year-Old Library Card Design first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

So with some input from my coworkers, I have compiled a list for you to recommend to that guy who might just try a nonfiction book if you bug him enough. These are titles that won’t disappoint. You’re probably already familiar with some of them, but maybe you’ll find a new gem to recommend (My husband wants you to know that Under and Alone is the only book he ever got out of bed to read to find out what happened next).

Adventure

• Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
• Not Without Peril: 150 Years of Misadventure on the Presidential Range of New Hampshire  by Nicholas Howe
• Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks by Andrea Lankford
• A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins
• A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

History

• The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
• The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn
• The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman
• The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz
• Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Humor

• Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn
• Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
• Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man’s Fundamentals for Delicious Living by Nick Offerman
• Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
• The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A. J. Jacobs

Adapted on TV

• Captain Phil Harris: The Legendary Crab Fisherman, Our Hero, Our Dad by Josh Harris and Jake Harris
• Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H. G. Bissinger
• Measure Twice, Cut Once: Lessons from a Master Carpenter by Norm Abram
• On Thin Ice: Breakdowns, Whiteouts, and Survival on the World’s Deadliest Roads by Hugh Rowland
• Under and Alone: The True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America’s Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang by William Queen

And More…

• The Book of General Ignorance: Everything You Think You Know IsWrong by John Lloyd and John Mitchinson
• The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
• The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
• What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
• Why is the Stanley Cup in Mario Lemieux’s Swimming Pool?: How Winners Celebrate With the World’s Most Famous Cup by Kevin Allen

Leave a comment about your favorite titles to recommend!

The post 25 Nonfiction Titles for Guys Who Aren’t Big Readers first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The memorabilia, which is now available at the click of a button, includes everything from Parks’ Congressional Gold Medal to her recipe for featherlite pancakes. Parks, who made history in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus, saved a large collection of handwritten letters from the time, as well as family photographs and greeting cards sent to thank her. According to the Washington Post, “There are little-known photos of her husband, who was also an activist and who quietly supported her and weathered death threats as she traveled the country.”[1]

The digitized collection can be easily viewed by scholars and students alike. The Library of Congress has made a Primary Source Gallery available, as well as Teachers Guides to the collection. Other interesting contributions by the Library of Congress include a timeline of Parks’ life, and a video titled, “The Rosa Parks Collection: Telling Her Story at the Library of Congress,” which touches on the highlights of the collection.

Students can also read about the conservation process and how even Parks’ collection of political buttons was given special consideration. Another story involves a Holman Bible that Parks owned. Staff discovered that the Bible was rather rare, and had a hard time determining the order for unnumbered pages. According to the Library of Congress, “The goal of the Library’s Conservation Division was—and continues to be—to preserve these items for generations to come through responsible collection stewardship.”[2]

Most of the collection is now available online, while some materials can only be through the Manuscripts and Prints and Photographs reading rooms. David Mao, acting librarian of Congress, told the Washington Post, “It’s a great privilege to open the Rosa Parks Collection and help people worldwide discover more about her active life and her deep commitment to civil rights.”[3]

References:

[1] Michael E. Ruane, “Digitized collection of Rosa Parks is online, thanks to Library of Congress,” Washington Post, February 24, 2015.

[2] “Conservation of the Rosa Parks Papers,” Library of Congress, accessed April 5, 2016.

[3] Michael E. Ruane, “Digitized collection of Rosa Parks is online, thanks to Library of Congress,” Washington Post, February 24, 2015.

Resources:

Rosa Parks Papers Collection

Rosa Parks Collection Video

Library of Congress Web Guides

Further Reading:

Price, Gary. “Just Announced: The Rosa Parks Collection Digitized and Now Available Online.” InfoDocket. February 25, 2016.

The post Library of Congress Shares Rosa Parks Collection first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

According to an interview Dias did with NPR, the group has well exceeded their goal by collecting about four thousand books at last count. The drive ended at the beginning of February, but Dias told NPR she hopes to create a “black girl book club” and change the type of books that are assigned to students in school. Dias has said she was tired of reading books about white boys and their dogs, or both. She had read Where the Red Fern Grows and Shiloh, but longed for something more like her favorite book, Newbery Honor Book Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson.

According to a yearly analysis by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, less than 10 percent of children’s books published in 2015 had a black person as the main character, even less with a black female. And while campaigns such as We Need Diverse Books have brought the problem to the forefront, many schools collections are lagging in this area.

Here are some more titles that are perfect for school or public library collections.  Marley’s Top Five books, as told to NPR, are followed by an asterisk (*). What are some of your favorite #1000BlackGirlBooks?

Picture Books

1. Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen
2. I Can Do It Too! by Karen Baicker
3. Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
4. Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron
5. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
6. Wow! It Sure Is Good To Be You by Cynthia Jabar
7. The Color of Us by Karen Katz
8. Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee*
9. Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn
10. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
11. The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Rachel Isadora
12. Coming On Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson
13. Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson

Chapter Books & Series

1. Ruby and the Booker Boys by Derrick Barnes
2. The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
3. Sassy series by Sharon M. Draper
4. Nikki and Deja series by Karen English
5. Sugar Plum Ballerinas series by Whoopi Goldberg & Deborah Underwood
6. The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe’s Very First Case by Alexander McCall Smith
7. Lulu and the Duck in the Park by Hilary McKay
8. Miss You, Mina by Denene Millner
9. Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes
10. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor*
11. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia*
12. President of the Whole Fifth Grade by Sherri Winston*
13. Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods

Teen

1. Something Like Hope by Shawn Goodman
2. The Chaos by Nalo Hopkinson
3. Heaven by Angela Johnson
4. Love is the Drug by Alaya Dawn Johnson
5. Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
6. This Side of Home by Renee Watson
7. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson*
8. Hush by Jacqueline Woodson
9. When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright

Historical Biographies

1. Fly High!: The Story of Bessie Coleman by Louis Borden & Mary Kay Kroeger
2. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford
3. The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
4. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose
5. Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation by Andrea Davis Pinkney
6. When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan
7. Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder
8. Lillian’s Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by Jonah Winter

Resources:

CBCC: Publishing Statistics on Children’s Books about People of Color and First/Native Nations and by People of Color and First/Native Nations

People: 11-Year-Old Girl Starts Social Movement Promoting Books with ‘Strong, Black Female’ Main Characters

NPR: Where’s The Color In Kids’ Lit? Ask The Girl With 1,000 Books (And Counting)

GrassROOTS Community Foundation

The post #1000BlackGirlBooks Campaign Exceeds Goal first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The Karen are the ethnic and language groups of people living in Myanmar (formerly Burma) and on the borders of Thailand.[1] Many Karen people fled their home due to government persecution and settled in Minnesota after living in refugee camps. There are approximately 6,500 Karen language residents currently living in Minnesota, according to the St. Paul government website. An article by the Lillie News reports that the growing community of Karen people has many avid library users.[2]

In a press release for the book launch, St. Paul Public Library Director Jane Eastwood said, “We produced these books with the goal of creating an environment of learning and discovery for all residents that access our libraries.”[3] She said their city lacked early literacy resources in the Karen language. The Lillie News, which serves the St. Paul suburban area, reported that the library already had offered storytimes in eight different languages including Hmong and Somali, but were stumped when coming up with materials to use for the a Karen storytime.[4]

Local authors Win World and Saw Powder wrote the books, Elephant Huggy and The Hen and the Badger respectively, in both Karen and English. Once the illustrations were created by Betsy LePlatt and Jingo de la Rosa, the library Friends group along with local community leaders teamed up to produce and distribute the books. Both books feature colors and details important to the Karen culture.

The twincities.com website reported that Andrew Powder used the pen name “Saw” for his book because it means “mister” in Karen. Powder said his wife told him about a writing contest sponsored by the St. Paul libraries so he entered his first book – The Hen and the Badger.[5] According to the Lillie News, author Win World lived in Myanmar and then a refugee camp before moving to St. Paul.[6] He is studying to become a teacher at Hamline University.

Pang Yang, the Community Services Coordinator for the Saint Paul Public Library, said the books have been well received by the Karen community.  The Library also distributed over four hundred copies at a Karen New Year celebration.  Said Yang, “People young and old were extremely excited to see that these books were created.”[7]

The Lillie News said the books would be distributed at another event for the Karen population, and also be available for print and digital checkout through the library.[8] They will also eventually be sold through an Amazon publisher.

References:

[1] “Karen languages,” Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed March 10, 2016.

[2] Patrick Larkin, “St. Paul publishes Karen/English children’s books,” Lillienews.com, January 3, 2016.

[3] Jane Eastman, “Mayor Coleman announces Library’s publishing of two children’s books in Karen language,” Saint Paul, Minnesota press release, December 16, 2015.

[4] Patrick Larkin, “St. Paul publishes Karen/English children’s books,” Lillienews.com, January 3, 2016.

[5] “St. Paul Library publishes 2 Karen children’s books,” twincities.com, December 16, 2015.

[6] Patrick Larkin, “St. Paul publishes Karen/English children’s books,” Lillienews.com, January 3, 2016.

[7] Pang Yang, e-mail interview with Eileen Washburn, January 28, 2016.

[8] Patrick Larkin, “St. Paul publishes Karen/English children’s books,” Lillienews.com, January 3, 2016.

The post St. Paul Public Library Publishes Picture Books first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Filmmaker Jason LaMotte was so inspired by his memories of the library in his hometown of Houston, Texas that he directed a new short film, The Library. LaMotte, having filmed The Library in the United Kingdom, told The Guardian in an interview that his story “initially came from wanting to explore the relationship between memory and place.”^[1]

In the film, which runs for approximately twenty minutes, thirteen-year-old Emily discovers notes that are left for her whenever she visits the local library after school. The notes lead her to love poems, causing her to wonder who is leaving them for her. We can surmise that what she ultimately finds amid the ‘codes’ (what we in the States might call the Dewey call numbers) is not what she was expecting.  By the end of the film, we have learned along with Emily who was leaving the notes for her – and who wasn’t. The viewer might also be left with a bittersweet nostalgia for their own youth and, just maybe, a reminder of the power of love.

You can find this film on LaMotte’s Vimeo channel, along with others including his award-winning short, The Terms.^[2] There is also a ‘behind the scenes’ video available of the making of The Library. And if you really want to immerse yourself in UK culture, you can read up on The Library’s lead, Irish actress Missy Keating (daughter of Boyzone lead singer, Ronan Keating, and Irish model Yvonne Connolly).

Sources:

LaMotte, Jason. “The Library: a new short film on the wonder of libraries – video.” The Guardian (25 October 2015). Web.

LaMotte, Jason. The Library. Video. Performed by Missy Keating, Josie Kidd, Alan Breck, Joe Eden, Robbie White. Vimeo, 2015. Web. https://vimeo.com/jasonlamotte

The post The Library: A Powerful Memory for One Filmmaker first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

OCLC held its final print run of library catalog cards, bringing to extinction a product that reached its peak production of 131 million cards in 1985. As libraries began to add electronic catalogs, production numbers slowed. Even OCLC eventually created their own cloud-based management system that rendered the cards obsolete. One of the last holdouts? Concordia College Library, who was only using the printed cards as a backup anyway.

Those of us of a certain age remember scouring the card catalogs, often winding our way through a maze of title, author, subject, and cross-reference notes to find the neatly-typed information that would lead us to the right book. As information went digital, many libraries sent those beautiful card catalogs to basements or even auctioned them off as fundraisers. Now they’re often a sought-after flea market item or likely available as an expensive replica at Pottery Barn.

But what to do with those cards? If your library is like mine, the staff has some tucked away in cabinets, nestled next to date due stamps and card pockets. In case you find a few, here are some uses for them in your library:

1. Coasters. Never near the keyboard of course.
2. Get out the stapler and make a fabulous bulletin board background.
3. Let your smaller patrons play with them. A few years ago at my library, we tied Library Science into the Science theme and let children ‘play’ library. They stamped and stickered to their hearts content, just like in the old days.
4. Jazz up your library duds. Search ‘recycled paper jewelry’ on Pinterest and you’ll have a lovely necklace in no time.
5. Spend some time trying to match the cards up with the books in your library. You’ve got nothing better to do anyway.
6. Sell them on Etsy. Really.
7. Patrons love crafty programs. Check out the Grains of Earth blog for a fun post titled “10 Great Ideas for Upcycling Library Catalog Cards”. Think holiday gift giving!
8. Disable access to your online catalog on April Fool’s Day and have the patrons use the cards. It will be fun to watch.
9. School Media Specialists may want to throw a bunch in the air and have the students put them in Dewey order.
10. And finally, follow the folks at OCLC and recycle them for donut money. Yes, according to the CNN article, the environmentally conscious staff there will still continue to buy donuts even though their stack of catalog cards will soon disappear.

I can’t say I’m too sad to see catalog cards go, maybe because it feels like it happened years ago. Now if we could only get those online catalogs to work the way we want them to… 
https://www.oclc.org/news/releases/2015/201529dublin.en.html

The post Closing the Drawer on Library Catalog Cards first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

In an interview with WVXU (Cincinnati Public Radio), Superintendent of Schools Mary Ronan cited studies that show that children from lower-income families across the country have only two or fewer age-appropriate books at home.[1] By receiving a book every month, these children can build their ‘personal libraries’ and meet more reading goals by third grade.

In fact, a 2014 study examined data from a project of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that looked at forty-two nations found a strong correlation between books in the home and test scores. University of Nevada-Reno sociologist Mariah Evans, who led the team, found that“regardless of how many books the family already has, each addition to the home library helps children do better (on the standard test).”[2]  They also found that books in the home especially benefited children in disadvantaged families.[3]

In the best possible scenario, children would have access to hundreds of books at their reading level through their public library, while still having their very own books at home. These are the books that hopefully get read over and over again—the ones that children end up with under the covers with a flashlight, late at night. Children improve their reading skills by having access to these books whenever they want, then hopefully visit their public library to find something new, or more of the same favorites.

Many of the goals of the home library and public library are similar— we all want kids to become better readers and do better in school. Children’s departments in public libraries have done things for many years that encourage this. Whether it is giving gift cards to bookstores as prizes, or giving away books when children meet summer reading goals, getting good books into children’s hands is the goal.

So what books would you recommend for a child’s home library? These are probably the same ones we buy as gifts at baby showers, or send to relatives on birthdays with a note in the cover. Sometimes they are the ones you don’t always find at the public library because there are flaps and tabs that don’t always hold up so well. They are the ones that are still in the bookshelf of your college-bound child when they are moving out, and the ones adults remember fondly many years later. These shelves probably include titles by Dr. Seuss, Sandra Boynton, Mercer Mayer, and Tomie DePaola among others.  And if you’re unsure what to give to start a home library? Just ask your local librarian.

References and Resources

1. Cincinnati Public Radio (WVXU). Helping Young Children Build Personal Libraries. Tana Weingartner. http://wvxu.org/post/helping-young-children-build-personal-libraries#stream/0. Accessed October 10, 2015.
2. M. D. R. Evans, Jonathan Kelley, Joanna Sikora. Scholarly Culture and Academic Performance in 42 Nations. Social Forces, Vol. 92, Issue 4, http://sf.oxfordjournals.org/content/92/4/1573.full. Accessed November 4, 2015.
3. Ibid.

The post When There Is a Library at Home, Everyone Wins first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Benjamin, Ali. The Thing about Jellyfish (9/22)
Seventh grade narrator Suzy Swanson must come to terms with the death of her best friend after a drowning accident. When Suzy becomes convinced that Franny actually died from a rare jellyfish sting, she sets out to prove it—even if it means traveling the globe for answers. This is an imaginative and multi-layered story that will touch readers.

Cline, Ernest. Armada (7/14)
This follow-up to Cline’s popular debut, Ready Player One, will not disappoint fans. Zach Lightman trades his boring videogame existence to save the planet from an alien invasion. Here, readers will find not a realistic sci-fi plot, but a pop-culture infused coming-of-age adventure story that will unleash their the inner geek. Read on.

Hilton, Marilyn. Full Cicada Moon (9/8)
This historical novel may take place in 1969, but it is chock full of everything that has been happening in children/teen literature in the last few years. Written in verse (fans of Brown Girl Dreaming take note!), the story focuses on half-black, half-Japanese Mimi, recently relocated to Vermont. She encounters bigotry and sexism as she prefers shop class to home economics, and dreams about becoming an astronaut. Give this to spirited girls everywhere.

Hoose, Phillip. The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club (5/12)
Denmark didn’t resist German occupation at the beginning of WWII—this is the true story of a group of teenage political resistors who did. After many acts of sabotage, the boys were eventually imprisoned, but not before inspiring a true Danish resistance and becoming war heroes. Perfect for a non-fiction project.

Novak, Ali. The Heartbreakers (the Heartbreak Chronicles 8/4)
Stella will do anything for her sick sister, Cara, even though leukemia has overshadowed their lives for too long. When her siblings take Cara to see her favorite boy band, it’s Stella who meets the lead singer in Starbucks, and embarks on a relationship that leads them all to heartbreak, adventure, and self-discovery. It’s never too late for a summer romance…

Pearsall, Shelley. The Seventh Most Important Thing (9/8)
After Arthur’s father dies, Arthur loses it when he sees the neighborhood “Junk Man” wearing his father’s hat. Arthur throws a brick at him, earning Arthur court-imposed community service with the very man he assaulted. Inspired by real life artist James Hampton’s life and work, the story follows Arthur as he helps the Junk Man complete his creative masterpiece (collecting the seven most important things along the way) and also learn some life lessons in this coming-of-age novel.

Schlitz, Laura Amy. The Hired Girl (9/8)
Fans of period detail will enjoy Newbery award-winner Schlitz’ story of a farm girl in 1911, as she records her hopes and dreams for the future in her diary. When she is hired as the help to a wealthy Jewish family in Baltimore, fourteen-year-old Joan learns lessons about hate, love, and what it means to grow up.

Stead, Rebecca. Goodbye Stranger (8/4)
Newbery-winner Stead is back with a story of middle-school friendship unlike any you’ve read. With a cast of characters all navigating the awkwardness of being new teens, Stead perfectly captures the perils of love, change, and decision. Give this to a realistic fiction fan.

Check out these other recent titles for middle-schoolers:

Alender, Katie. The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall
Alifirenka, Caitlin & Martin Ganda. I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives
Caine, Rachel. Ink & Bone: The Great Library
Danticat, Edwidge. Untwine
Gaiman, Neil. The Sleeper and the Spindle
Holt, K.A. House Arrest
Johnson, Hal. Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods: 20 Chilling Tales from the Wilderness
Kinsella, Sophie. Finding Audrey
Martin, Darragh. The Keeper
Norris, Andrew. Friends for Life

The post The Latest and Greatest Middle School Reads first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Expectations:
I bought a cute little pink notebook to write down summaries of all the books so I would remember my thoughts. One of the women who had been on the committee before (yes, they were all women) laughed and said I wouldn’t need it. She was right. By the end, I was reading during every free moment–no time for note-taking. Said A, “I think that I didn’t realize just how much reading we would be doing though, and how disciplined I’d have to be!”

Reading Time:
We read approximately 105 books over about 9 months’ time. (We were supposed to read more but a few of us who work throughout the year whined enough over the lengthy summer list!)

I’m the person who always has a book in their car in case of emergencies, but this got a little ridiculous. I was reading everywhere, all the time. A said she was even reading while blow-drying her hair. One big help for many committee members was audiobooks in the car–and while cleaning, cooking, and… It did take up a lot of time, but B said that the benefits to reader’s advisory alone were worth it. She mentioned that she spends so much time selecting great picture books to read in storytime, but rarely has the chance to get as in-depth with older readers. A had a great tip and said she put all the titles into her Goodreads account so she could go back when making a recommendation to a patron.

Junior Readers:
We had two student readers on our committee–one boy and one girl. Everyone I talked to agreed that their input was valuable, though our students were on the quiet side. A suggested adding two more students, while B said, “I think that a lot of them feel intimidated being on the committee with a bunch of librarians.  Therefore, they tend not to speak up and speak their minds as much as they should (which I can totally understand).”

Our student members definitely helped to sway us when the group as a whole was on the fence about a title. I found that the students were better at telling us why they liked a title, as opposed to why they didn’t.

The Debate:
C said it best – “I enjoy every part of the process—the rich discussions, passionate debates, and the opportunity to ask the committee to reconsider a title (& the thrill when I have successfully swayed votes in a desired direction!).” There were many great debates over a few titles, though luckily no fist fights ensued. What I found to hold true was the old adage “the cream rises to the top.” Those special titles that are really good usually find a way onto everyone’s top lists. But then there are those that speak to each of us individually, and maybe not to everyone.

Said C, “I am not going to lie—it is nothing short of disheartening when a book I have placed in my “emphatically, yes!” column is casually tossed out by the group! (Or the opposite happens!) It has been a humbling reminder to respect my students’—and friends—differing opinions regarding genre, authors, & titles, and to fully support everyone’s right to not finish a book.” D said there were times when she looked at a book in a whole new way after hearing someone’s comments about it.

The Notes:
While my pink notebook was repurposed, I did write notes in the margins on my reading lists to bring to the meetings. Here are some of my favorite ones:

“Apocalyptic”

“Seems like it was created for the illustrator”

“He (author) has done better”

“Cover may limit readership”

“STRANGE”

“Don’t like cover, don’t like concept!”

The Controversies:
One title we all really enjoyed ended up with a split vote, simply because some of us thought it would do better on the Teen List. And in fact, the Teen committee did vote it through so that was a win-win situation! An issue I still have trouble deciding on has to do with books that are extremely popular before we choose them— maybe even a Newbery winner or honor book. I feel like that book is going to get enough readers on its own and that one of the ten slots should go to a less publicized book. But then someone makes the case that not everyone has read it, and if it’s that good, doesn’t it have as much right to be on the list? The jury is still out on that one.

Another issue arose when we really liked a title that was a sequel to another book. The first book was too old to be on the list, but we weren’t sure we should choose the sequel if the kids hadn’t read the first one. Ultimately the book was selected, because a few committee members who hadn’t read the first one said it could stand on its own.

The Vote & the Aftermath:
Our committee had to borrow five titles from our alternate list because some of our top choices were not available in paperback, which is one of the criteria. The titles we couldn’t end up including might be able to make it on the next year’s list depending on their publication date. Ultimately, six of my ‘Top 10’ titles made it to the official Top 10. Two more made it to the ‘Alternate 10’ list, and the last two were not voted through. Of course I made sure my library owns all the titles I liked, and am still taking every opportunity to push them on my young patrons!

When the final list came out, I had a friend who is a school librarian comment that there weren’t any sports books on the list. Like I told my friend, we really didn’t read many from the lists, and of the ones we did, we chose one book about a female soccer player. In the end, that book was cut because it wasn’t available in paperback. This forced me to look back at the list through a different lens, and I still stand by it. It may not have the requisite ‘sports book for boys’ but there are boys as the main or co-main character in at least half of the titles, and in the others, at least two have animal main characters.

So I say, if you have the chance to serve on a book award committee, do it. You will be infinitely glad in the end that you have read so many wonderful titles that you can recommend. Said A, “Library work can be very insular sometimes, and I wanted to join the committee to get to know how other libraries operate, and meet colleagues.”

And then there’s the happy dance you do when the list is announced and you get to tell your patrons that YOU helped choose that book.

Cover Image Credit: ProjectManhattan (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The post Observations from Serving on a Children’s Book Award Committee first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

We Need Diverse Book logo

According to their website at weneeddiversebooks.org, the organization defines diversity as recognizing “all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIApartn, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities.”

In the last year, the WNDB campaign has established itself as a tax-exempt public charity, partnered with School Library Journal and the Children’s Book Council in promoting their cause, established the Walter Dean Meyers book award, and among other things, created the popular #WNDB. Diversity panels have popped up at conferences everywhere from School Library Journal’s Day of Dialogue to the American Library Association to the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Part of what spurred Oh and Lo to take action was the all-white panel scheduled at last year’s Book Expo America (BEA) BookCon event. This year, BookCon and WNDB partnered for a panel entitled, “We Need Diverse Books: In Our World and Beyond.” Authors Sherman Alexie and Jacqueline Woodson were scheduled to be part of the event, but WNDB did point out that no authors of color were to be featured at the annual BEA children’s breakfast.

It seems the call for diverse books would begin with authors. In a recent interview, middle school teacher and first-time novelist Cindy Rodriguez talked about diversity in her new YA book, When Reason Breaks. While in the revision process, she took the time to add diversity to her novel.

Said Rodriguez, “Emily Delgado is Puerto Rican, Tommy Bowles is half-Mexican, Ms. Diaz is Latina, Kevin has two dads, and Sarah is black. The story, however, is not about being Latino or gay or black. It’s about teen depression, attempted suicide, and Emily Dickinson. When we talk about diversity in children’s literature, we often think about it in terms of books with an almost all minority cast of characters dealing with issues linked to race, culture, etc. I’ve read lots of those books, and I think we need more of them, for sure, but we also need more books with diverse characters tackling other issues. The characters’ culture, race, sexual orientation, etc. may play a part in the narrative because it’s important to who they are, but it shouldn’t always be the “problem.”

What’s next for WNDB? They recently developed an internship to help “diversify publishing from the inside out”, and will host the first Children’s Literature Diversity Festival in Washington D.C. in 2016.

Wondering what you as librarians can do at your libraries? Some advocates suggest not just buying books with diverse characters simply for that fact. They want you to buy books with diverse characters because they are good. For more tips, check out Marybeth Zeman’s two-part series on “Can Children See Themselves in the Books on Your Shelves?” here:

https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2014/07/can-children-see-themselves-in-the-books-on-your-shelves-part-i/

References:

https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2014/07/can-children-see-themselves-in-the-books-on-your-shelves-part-i/

http://weneeddiversebooks.org

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/03/people/movers-shakers-2015/we-need-diverse-books-movers-shakers-2015-change-agents/#_

The post “We Need Diverse Books” Campaign Gaining Momentum first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The biggest threat visible to library patrons would have been the elimination of funding to the State Library’s Connecticard program, which reimburses libraries for loaning books to out-of-towners. If public libraries in the 169 towns in the state could not come up with alternate ways to fund this program, patrons might not be allowed to borrow materials from libraries other than their town’s The revised budget restores $900,000 to the Connecticard program.

Books being returned to their owning library via Connecticar, which provides statewide delivery service among Connecticut libraries. While this program was not in jeopardy, it would be a shell of its former self if funding for material sharing was eliminated.

Other cuts in the Governor’s budget included 63% of the operating budget for CLC (Cooperating Library Service Units). This group saves Connecticut’s libraries over $7 million dollars in products and services, and provides training at all levels to public librarians in the state. They also negotiate with vendors on behalf of the libraries, saving huge amounts of staff time. Even with the revised budget, the CLC budget has still been cut from $332,000 to $190,000. In addition, $250,000 would have been cut for Grants to Public Libraries, but the Appropriations Committee suggested restoring $193,000 of that amount.

Coincidentally, on April 13 Governor Dannel P. Malloy had been previously scheduled as the keynote speaker at a daylong seminar on the future of Connecticut libraries, sponsored by the Aspen Institute and Connecticut State Library. With approximately 70 librarians and state leaders in attendance, the Governor told the crowd that we need to “redefine the mission” of libraries, and that the state government is no longer in the position to fund these programs. He said libraries need to look to municipalities and foundation support for fundraising. He also said the reality is that people have more access to information at home and in places such as his controversial CTfastrak busway linking two Connecticut cities which he said, do have wi-fi available. The State funded approximately $112 million for the project, with the rest coming from the federal government.

“I’m certainly happy to be here, even though I had to do some things that I don’t find comfortable when it comes to libraries and that’s trim back some level of the support that we can lend,” he said.  The Connecticard program has been funded since its inception in 1976.

Two days after that keynote speech, librarians from around the state rallied at the Capitol Building with signs pleading to “Save CT Library Funding!” The librarians were not alone at the rally, as the library cuts were just part of approximately $1 million in spending cuts to a variety of programs and services in the state. During his keynote speech, the Governor did say that the budget could still be tweaked. “It doesn’t mean that we have everything right,” said Malloy.

During the crisis, Wiggin was charged with planning cost-cutting measures and possibly redefining how Connecticut libraries function, together or apart. While public librarians in the State were elated to hear the news, Wiggins said in his update, “There will be continued discussions between the Legislature and the Governor’s Office before a final budget is approved.” He also credited the many librarians, trustees, friends of libraries and library users for making their case to legislators.

References

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/librarians_call_upon_lawmakers_to_restore_funding/

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Malloy-defends-library-cuts-librarians-plan-rally-6196958.php

http://wnpr.org/post/hartford-new-britain-busway-launches-seeking-nudge-drivers-toward-transit

http://ctlibraryassociation.org/content.php?page=Talking_Points

http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/ctnplayer.asp?odID=11411

The post Revised Budget May Restore Much of State Funding to Connecticut Library System first appeared on Public Libraries Online.