School Library Journal Teen Librarian Tool Box Article

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As part of the #SJYALit Discussion I've written a post for the School Library Journal's website, Teen Librarian Toolbox, introducing myself as Asexual and what that means.  Just yesterday I was informed that being Asexual makes me a non-entity, with no place in the LGBTIA+ spectrum. I encourage you to read more about #SJYALit (2017). 

The Social Justice in YA Lit Project/Discussion, using YA literature to discuss a variety of social justice issues including own voices, representation, discrimination, education, poverty and more.

 Introducing Asexuality, a guest post by Laura Perenic

Laura
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ARSL - Tough Topics For Teens - Crafting Easy To Grab Materials for Teens Tough Questions

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If you made your own Tough Topics for Teens poster and bookmarks or if you used the printable versions (pdf and publisher files available) on my blog at Tough Topics for Teens Bookmarks and Poster Printables; now you can read the whole story behind those materials.  Check out my article in the Association for Small and Rural Libraries Spring 2016 newsletter. My article is on page 3 of the PDF.

Tough Topics For Teens - 
Crafting Easy To Grab Materials for Teens Tough Questions


Laura

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September Favorites

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I'm slightly horrified by two things.  One - That tomorrow is the first day of October. Two - My Cosplay Halloween Party is in a month.  Enjoy these popular posts from September while I go quietly freak out. 

Meme Me

Preschool Storytime - Art/Colors

Preschool Storytime - Lego / Building Reboot

Preschool Storytime - Mice

Laura

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YALSA the Hub - Hub Bloggers Share What They’ve Been Reading This Summer

On my International Harvester...
a joke for my country music fans. 

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I have a ton of books this year and this summer in particular. I have read on my lunch break, at the doctor's office and on my commute with audio books.  My Good Reads Challenge has been updated at least twice and I think a third increase might be in the future.  To see where else and what other my fellow librarians and bloggers have been up to, check out this YALSA the Hub post :


Hub Bloggers Share What They’ve Been Reading This Summer

In case you didn't know, goats like the following titles: Let's Count Goats by Mex Fox, Gregory the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat and G Is For Goat by Patricia Polacco.  This will make a tad more sense if you check out the blog linked above. 

Photography by Barbara Perenic. :) 

Laura

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Favorite Blogs and Websites

Howdy
I don't like to assume things. I will never forget being at a youth services seminar as a freshly minted librarian.  I felt desperately out of place.  I was trying hard to look and act more  knowledgable than I felt. The speaker said "well now we've all read Whirligig," and she moved on to other things.  I had to sit there with my squirmy self.  I was unable to admit that I hadn't read the book and that I didn't even know the author.  I was miserable at my  unfamiliarity with the book and my inability to articulate what I needed. I made a note and resolved to find this sacred text I had some how missed in graduate school. I later read Whirligig by Paul Fleischman and also Seedfolks. I am glad to have been led to such good fiction but I wish I didn't have to be shamed into learning.  

A wise adult told me once that "when you assume, you make an a** out of you and me."  While this idea might not be safe for work, it certainly gets the point across.  Misinformation is a terrible foundation for communication. 

I am working on a page of Online Resources. It's all sorts of handy stuff for storytimes, youth programs, employment and management.  Its a pretty broad swath so I'll pull out some highlights for you.

Ask a Manager - I swear I read this for fun.  If you have a question about your boss or employees.  If you want to know about salary and timecards and interview etiquette, you should bookmark this website.  You will love the facebook page for quick updates.  It's like Dear Abby or Ann Landers for the employment world.  Not all the scenarios are library related but we work with people and people issues are universal.  You will find a common thread here.  

Jbrary - I love scarves, egg shakers and bean bags.  Guess who else does?  Jbrary does!  I think they are more excited about my storytimes than I am.  They have an awesomely diversified social media presence so you can learn however you like.  I can honestly say I use at least one of their ideas in every Preschool storytime I do. I am hoping for more parachute ideas.  *pretty please*  Be sure to check out their Blogroll with many other online resources for youth services. 

KCLS -  This is the YouTube channel for The King County Library System of King County, Washington.  They are adorable.  Not sure you can list that on a resume but hey there are worse traits to have. Can you carry a tune and be instantly engaging?  If not these YouTube videos are right up your alley.  I get frustrated when I read a rhyme or song and I think "well maybe you think that's to the tune of America the Beautiful but I just cannot make that work."  KCLS will help you out.   I really appreciate that they will sing, dance to and just plain demonstrate the entire rhyme or song.  

Sunflower Storytime -  This is a really comprehensive blog.  It's well organized and a has a lot fun things to offer from preplanned storytimes on a variety of themes, to hands on crafts and other activities.  I actively subscribe to page updates via email and I have a ton of the emails archived for later dates to help me stay ahead on my planning.  I am madly in love with the printables, which are super sharp and reproduce nicely.   I really appreciate the school age ideas, they always give me a nudge in the right direction.

Storytimes to Go and More - This closed Facebook group is a wealth of knowledge. While that might sound corny, it can be a relief to know that the answers are out there.  Sometimes I just need to talk to other Youth Libs.  Maybe I have a question about behavior in storytime, or how to train my brain to finally remember this week's rhyme.  Better minds have walked these trails before so why not benefit from the experience of others when you know there is an easier way.  Personally I like to beat my head against a wall at first but once I'm ready to ask for help, this group is always there for me.

Storytime Underground -  If I were the President of Storytime and I had a cabinet of librarians to inspire me they would be The Storytime Underground.  Half the time I'm not even sure what sort of program to do next and before you can say Ram-a Lamb- a ding dong, I have more ideas than my Pinterest boards can accommodate.  I find this group to be highly motivated and very encouraging.  In moments of stress and weakness,  I enjoy the camaraderie of the highly caffeinated Storytime Underground.  

Enjoy!


Laura

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YALSA The Hub : Dream Interpretation - Spiders

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A positive perceptive on spider dreams with an even more optimistic diagnosis; Teen Fiction. 

YA Lit Dream Interpretation: Spiders

And yes I realize that this post is mostly meme. Never thought I'd say it, but that is one cute spider

Laura

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Bryce Don't Play

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I was rather delighted to see that my blog, One for the Books,  received a shout out in the blog Bryce Don't Play. In her latest blog post, Awesome New-To-Me Blogs, Bryce recounts 9 librarians who write about programing, storytimes, STEAM, STEM, professional issues and of course they cover a broad swath of book reviews.  With her educational background, this twice degreed librarian is both encouraging  and  humbling. Which is super important since her resume can make most other CVs look a tad paltry. 

For bite sized morsels from library land be sure to follow Bryce on Twitter; right after you subscribe to her blog of course.  

I really appreciate being featured in this article along with 8 other highly motivated, busy bodies whom I hope I can meet some day. 

Scampers away to think about writing her own favorite blogs to follow post.

Laura

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YALSA The Hub : Dream Interpretation - Snakes

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I think I finally found a way to use my strange dreams to their best advantage.  I am testing a booklist post on YALSA The Hub that chooses teen fiction to counteract specific dreams or nightmares. Hopefully, if the idea is successful, I will be able to create a series of booklists on dreams.  

Dream Interpretation - Snakes

Laura

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YALSA the Hub : Is this Just Fantasy?

The Raven Boys 

(The Raven Cycle #1)

by Maggie Stiefvater

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Check out my contribution to this fantasy focused collaboration on the YALSA the Hub blog.

Is This Just Fantasy?: Celebrating The Hub’s Favorite Women In Fantasy Fiction

Laura

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YALSA the Hub ; An Interview with Len Vlahos author of Scar Boys

Follow him on Twitter.

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Check out my interview with William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist Len Vlahos. He is being honored for his 2014 novel Scar Boys. I am excited to read the sequel Scar Girl, due in 2015. 

2015 Morris Award: 

An Interview with Finalist Finalist Len Vlahos

Laura

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YALSA the Hub : What are you reading over the Holidays?

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Check out What are you reading over the Holidays?, featuring pictures of all the reading the Hub bloggers will be doing this season.  You'll see two pics of me working on my to do list of titles, both of which were taken by my sis the photog. 

Photography by Barbara Perenic.

Laura

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