June 15, 2012

"Just go to the library."

I love this editorial by Ryan Miller, the Executive Editor of the San Luis Obispo New Times.  With all the possible issues--both local & international--he could have targeted for his weekly chunk of the newspaper, he decided to remind people that libraries exist; they exist for all of us, and that they are beautiful.

Please read this inspiring piece of writing, and pass it along-- and then take a friend or two on a joy ride to the local library.



The following article was posted on June 7th, 2012, in the New Times - Volume 26, Issue 45 

On the books  
Support your local library--and yourself, while you're at it

 Go to the library.
That’s basically everything I set out to say to you today.
It’s simple, really. Just go to the library.
I don’t think I should have to make a case for why this is such a vitally important action for you to take, why an ongoing commitment to literacy, education, and access to knowledge is an excellent use of your time. I do, however, have more space to fill, so I might as well say a few words on the subject, because there are probably a few of you thinking, “Wait, what? Libraries? Those musty things are still around?”
Yes, they are very much still around, and they do more than you probably think. Various branches in our local Black Gold system offer the expected books and periodicals, as well as CDs (books and music) to fill your commutes with something other than talk radio, DVDs, and even video games. So if Gone With the Wind just isn’t your thing, you can check out Lego Indiana Jones for the Wii.
There are events for kids, computers for anyone to access, and resources available to people looking to better their lives. There are even actual, live, real, sentient human beings eager to help you find what you’re looking for.
And we want those humans to stick around. Like many institutions, libraries have faced their share of funding challenges in recent years. Their survival—even their ability to thrive—is our collective responsibility and benefit. The “State of American’s Libraries Report 2012,” referencing economic turmoil and grim headlines from the previous year, notes: “What became clear through it all was that amid the shifting winds of an economic storm, libraries continue to transform lives, adapting to and adopting new and emerging technologies, and experimenting with innovative and transformational ideas to provide services that empower patrons.”
In a summary in its report, the American Library Association noted good and bad, including a push to reach more underserved populations; funding cuts; challenges to lending ebooks, imposed by major publishers; and an uptick in libraries’ use of social media.
In this way, libraries sort of represent us all. Collectively, we’re muddling through the ups and downs of a system struggling to get back onto a comfortable track. In the report, ALA President Molly Raphael said, “[P]ublic libraries are also serving as a lifeline for people trying to adapt to challenging economic circumstances, providing technology training and online resources for employment, access to government resources, continuing education, retooling for new careers, and starting a small business.” She later pledged to vigorously defend intellectual freedom, a right to privacy, and open access to information.
What’s not to love about all that?
Friends occasionally blink in confusion when they hear that I picked up at the library that book I just read or movie I just saw; I realize their neurons are poking around some dusty, long-neglected pathways: “Oh yeah! Libraries!” It’s like suddenly remembering that carrots exist.
Actually, it’s probably more like rediscovering somersaults.
You probably did somersaults all the time as a kid. But you don’t do them much anymore. Aching joints aside, the simple flips just aren’t on your radar. But try one, and you’ll experience a familiar giddy rush.
That’s an imprecise simile, and I don’t mean to trivialize libraries by equating them with childhood tumbling exercises—though I expect a good many people see libraries as places for kids. I have nothing to base this on, no concrete studies or interviews, but my gut tells me that a few of you reading this consider libraries as places where book reports and school research projects began in the days before the Internet, where story time snares otherwise fidgety toddlers for a few minutes on a brightly colored rug, where college students cram for exams, their tabletops littered with notepaper and energy-boosting drinks.
Libraries are all those things. But they’re more, too.
I’m not going to quote statistics at you to prove my point, because numbers proving that visits and circulation are on the rise are just that: numbers.
I will, however, note this financial detail: According to the State of America’s Libraries report, California has decimated library resources. The previous year’s budget slashed away half of the $30.4 million going to public library programs that include support for inter-library loans and literacy instruction. Subsequently, all remaining funding for the programs was cut, a move that looks to extend into the 2012-2013 cycle.
The California Library Association has been diligent in reporting on committee and subcommittee members to whom you can send a note of funding encouragement. Visit cla-net.org to find the names and contact information for elected officials to whom you can e-mail or fax.
As I wrote this, I had the following checked out to me: 11 books for my children, my wife (she has her own card, but I occasionally pick up items I think she’ll like), and myself; four audio books for my frequent trips between Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo; and a Fleet Foxes album.
I love that I can do this. I love that it costs me virtually nothing (there’s a charge for holds and inter-library loans, as well as late fees I unfortunately and scatter-brainedly incur far too often). I love that my 4-year-old jumps up and down in delight and my 2-year-old dances when I come through the door with a fresh stack of stories for them. I love that my girls fall asleep each night listening to everything from fantastical tales to science facts. I love that I fall asleep most nights with a book in hand.
I love that puppet shows and live animals make the rounds at branches throughout the county. I love that I always find something new to look at when I visit. I love that the adult summer reading program started June 1, and people who read eight books by the end of August get prizes. (Participating libraries are in San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Creston, Nipomo, Los Osos, Cayucos, and Santa Margarita).
I love my library.
Executive Editor Ryan Miller hopes to see you among the stacks. Send comments to rmiller@newtimesslo.com.

http://www.newtimesslo.com/commentary/7878/on-the-books/
 

June 12, 2012

Storyteller John & The Three Bears


To me, the art of storytelling is very much a "you really need to be there" experience.  A live program is not designed to be the same as a TV show, and my programs are very interactive.  Every performance is different--different crowds, different venues, different clients.  Every experience, even with the same stories, is unique.

 However, I do frequently get clients interested in a performance video.  Scroll down for a few minutes of me getting some help from a young audience as I try to make my way through "Goldilocks & the Three Bears."

But it's not the same as being there...


June 10, 2012

Read Up! Fanciful Eating


 Gathering together the books I'd set aside for this new edition of "Read Up," I discovered they all had a common thread: eating.  No, they are not really so much about food--and I don't care too much about theming--but there it is.  What I love about the coincidence is that the introductory paragraph this time practically writes itself!  So here are some great books for you to check out:


The Boy from the Dragon Palace
Margaret Read MacDonald & Sachiko Yoshikawa

A poor flower seller scatters his unsold flowers on the sea one day, as a gift for the Dragon King.  To thank the man, the Dragon King gives him a gift: a boy.  A snot-nosed little boy.  The boy has terrible table manners—and did I mention a snotty nose?  The amazing thing is, every blow of his nose seems to grant a wish—but will the flower seller be able to excuse the grossness of it all?  The story carries a lesson, and a lot of laughs—but I find it hard to read aloud without keeping a tissue handy!




 
The Giant Carrot
Jan Peck & Barry Root

(Previously mentioned here) It takes family teamwork to have a successful vegetable garden—but what can a tiny little girl do?  HUGE things, it turns out!  Everyone does their part, and everyone reaps huge rewards.  And like all good books with food as the subject, this one has a recipe in the back!




 


Beware of the Frog
William Bee

What’s a sweet little old lady to do when monsters come out of the woods to threaten her?  Her hungry frog can help!  This funny story is short, silly, and very surprising.







The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers
Lisa Campbell Ernst

A sequel to a twist, this book shows the late Gingerbread Boy’s little sister acquiring a zoo—of animal crackers.  They run away as fast as they can, of course.  Will the fox eat them up?  Make sure your child knows the original gingerbread tale before you read this one—and then snuggle up with a box of animal cookies while you read up!





Go to your local library's website right now, reserve these books, and let me know what you think.  And as always, if you have any favorite books, I'd like to hear about them!


June 08, 2012

Toon Time!

It's a matter of limiting choices, right?  Like, instead of asking, "which shirt do you want to wear," you ask, "would you like to wear your blue shirt, or your striped shirt today?"  This mom might say, "after we go to the library show this morning, would you rather go to the playground, or the ice cream shop?"  Sure, that's just too much pleasure for one day, but you get my point!

June 04, 2012

Upcoming Events

Public events!
 STORYTELLING appearances are in red,
and STORYTIMES at the Livermore Public Library are in brown.

Returning to Children's Fairyland June 30-July 1 & August 18-19!



Thursday, June 7
Storytelling at 10am
3251 20th Avenue, San Francisco


Monday, June 11
Livermore Public Library, Civic Center
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Friday, June 15
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
10:30am All-Ages Storytime

Saturday, June 16
Storytelling at 5:30pm

Monday, June 18
Livermore Public Library, Civic Center
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Friday, June 22
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
10:30am All-Ages Storytime


Monday, June 25
Livermore Public Library, Civic Center
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Thursday, June 28
Alameda Free Library, West End Branch
788 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda
Storytelling at 2pm


Friday, June 29
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
10:30am All-Ages Storytime


Saturday, June 30
Sunday, July 1
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 and 2:30 each day
(weather dependent)

Monday, July 2
Livermore Public Library, Civic Center
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Friday, July 6
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
10:30am All-Ages Storytime

Monday, July 9
Livermore Public Library, Civic Center
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Thursday, July 12
Daly City Library, Westlake Branch
Storytelling at 10:15am

Friday, July 13
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
10:30am All-Ages Storytime

Saturday, July 14
Oakland Zoo
Evening storytelling as a part of the zoo's Family Sundown Safari
**Special after-hours sleepover program**

Monday, July 16
Livermore Public Library, Civic Center
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Thursday, July 19
Milpitas Library
Storytelling at 3pm

Friday, July 20
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
10:30am All-Ages Storytime

Saturday, July 21
Oakland Zoo
Evening storytelling as a part of the zoo's Family Sundown Safari
**Special after-hours sleepover program**

Monday, July 23
Livermore Public Library, Civic Center
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime
**STUFFED ANIMAL SLEEPOVER!  Leave your stuffed animal behind after storytime, then come the next day to pick it up & receive photos of all the fun it had overnight at the library!**

Thursday, July 26
Storytelling at 4pm

Friday, July 27
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
10:30am All-Ages Storytime

Saturday, July 28
Oakland Zoo
Evening storytelling as a part of the zoo's Family Sundown Safari
**Special after-hours sleepover program**

Monday, July 30
Livermore Public Library, Civic Center
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Tueday, July 31
Storytelling at 7pm

Friday, August 3
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
10:30am All-Ages Storytime

Saturday, August 4
Oakland Zoo
Evening storytelling as a part of the zoo's Family Sundown Safari
**Special after-hours sleepover program**

Monday, August 6
Livermore Public Library, Civic Center
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime
(Final Family Storytime of the Summer)

Friday, August 10
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
10:30am All-Ages Storytime
(Final Storytime of the Summer)

Saturday, August 11
Oakland Zoo
Evening storytelling as a part of the zoo's Family Sundown Safari
**Special after-hours sleepover program** 


Saturday, August 18
Sunday, August 19
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 and 2:30 each day
(weather dependent)

Tuesday, October 23
Storytelling at 5pm: Spooky Stories
625 Harbor Street, Morro Bay, California 


Tuesday, October 23
Storytelling at 6:40pm: Spooky Stories
995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California

Wednesday, October 24
Storytelling at 2pm
310 B Street, Cayucos, California

Wednesday, October 24
6:30pm: Scary stories for kids ages 7+
421 S. McClelland Street, Santa Maria, California

Thursday, October 25
Storytelling at 3:30pm: Spooky Stories
6850 Morro Road, Atascadero, California


Saturday, October 27
Storytelling at 11am
1010 Nipomo Street (at Monterey), San Luis Obispo, California

Saturday, October 27
Storytelling at 2pm: Spooky Stories
800 W. Branch Street, Arroyo Grande, California



Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education for The Dorris-Eaton School, Hacienda CDC, Children's Academy of Danville, Acorn Learning Center, Tutor Time, Club Sport Pleasanton, Congregational Church of San Mateo, Tri-Valley Natural Families, Fremont Unified School District and Ballard School in Solvang.  Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above.  For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!