Previous Literature 12/2008

Perspectives, Insights, & Priorities

17 Leaders Speak Freely of Librarianship

Edited By: Norman Horracks

So being as nerdy as I am, I ordered a bunch of books that weren’t required for my classes, but other professors had recommended.  This book is one of the  extras that I picked up.  It is a collection of essays written by the most recognized names in the profession of Librarians,  including the director of my program at San  Jose State.  The subjects vary with each contributor making this book a  commentary on everything from personal interview styles to how technology leaving behind as many people as it is spurring forward.  Because I am still up in the air about what type of Librarian I am going to become, I’m excited to see what this book has to say about things like public tools for social reform, and state educational agendas. It will be interesting to hear from these professionals how libraries play a significant role in such crucial public matters.

More info @ http://www.powells.com/biblio/0810853558?&PID=33286

Wicked: The Life and Times of the

Wicked Witch of the West

By: Gregory Maguire

On the more whimsical side of the shelf, I have found myself revisiting this Maguire book in order to prepare for the “nothing like the book but still entertaining musical” that is coming to town.  I read this book when it first came out in 2000, but I wasn’t old enough to care about the governmental issues that this book addresses.  This          time around, I am much more aware of the world underneath the smiles of                politicians so I think it should be quite enjoyable.  The book also has plenty of discussion about the nature of evil and how it is perceived, so I’m looking forward to a little challenge of faith there as well.  All in all, I’m pretty jazzed to see what the Wicked Witch has to teach me.

More info @ http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780060987107-0

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I heart SMART

Congratulations me! I am now officially a Literacy Specialist Intern at S.M.A.R.T. here in Portland.  The acronym stands for Start Making A Reader Today, and the program is actually pretty simple.  

There are 260 sites in schools across Oregon that use volunteers to read to children who are having certain literacy issues.  Each student meets with a reader one hour a week and is given two books a month to take home to build up their own library.  

*Quick Note: Not being able to pass up the opportunity to give away free books I have decided to become a reader with SMART as well.  If anyone else is interested just follow the link above.  It’s only one hour a week and reading to kids is super fun!  

Anyways, back to the professional part of this.  The internship is exactly what I am looking for to start my research into being a Youth Librarian.  (For any of you wondering or doubting, YES there will still be a coffee shop; but an outside career with help with financing).  So, here are the basics of what I will be doing at the SMART state office downtown.

Working under the Program Support Manager, I will be:

– Creating, organizing and housing a database of literacy prevention research and resources.

– Assisting with inventory, management and distribution of the internal book collections

– Packaging book orders for schools.

– Researching publishers and children’s books trends in order to increase SMART’s book list selection

– Working with literacy committees to increase our Spanish language collections, and

– Researching literacy data on Oregon schools, educational organizations, etc.

When I met with my supervisor today we set up ways to tailor the internship toward my educational needs and interest in children’s literature.  So starting tomorrow, I will be sorting through piles of new and old children’s books in order to distribute them out to appropriate school sites.  From there I will start to research children’s literature trends and hopefully begin cataloguing a database of relevant information.  

My heart races just thinking about this stuff, I’m super excited.  Wish me luck on my new adventure guys!   

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