NJLA Blog -- The Official Weblog of the New Jersey Library Association: Urban Libraries Archives

Category: Urban Libraries

January 9, 2008

Measuring Types and Levels of Science Programming In New Jersey Libraries

Introduction

The decision to develop a survey measuring types and levels of science programming in New Jersey libraries followed a presentation by Jessica Trujillo, Young Adult Librarian, New Brunswick Public to the Urban Libraries Section in December 2006 describing the grant process and her experience bringing science to young adults and children; reasons why libraries should offer science activities; and, some of the resources used. The survey was disseminated electronically in April 2007 via the association and regional cooperative listservs...

http://njla.org/sections/urbanlibraries/newsletter.pdf

Posted by urban at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)

April 27, 2007

One Week left to respond to science survey

On Friday, May 4th, the survey for collecting information on the type, level and frequency of science programming currently offered in NJ libraries will be closed. If you have yet to respond please take the few minutes required to do so now. To all those who have responded, Thanks for your help!

The purpose of this survey is to examine the level and types of Science programming that occur in New Jersey Libraries with the added intent to;

1) Increase awareness among libraries about the types of programming occurring in libraries.

2) Create a directory identifying libraries offering science based and science integrated programs and contact information to assist libraries interested in initiating similar programming.

3) Increase a Library's comfort with and interest in offering science programming.

4) Promote awareness and generate interest in science among our young patrons.The survey measuring the type and frequency of science programming

To take the survey click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=767493254664

Thank you!

Paul Pattwell, Newark Public Library
Jessica Trujillo, New Brunswick Public Library

Posted by urban at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)

April 24, 2007

Graphic Novels- Not in the closet anymore!

Your guest blogger: Laverne Mann, Reference Librarian/Adult Trainer for the Ewing Branch Library, Mercer Cty Library System. My personal blog is Redhead Fangirl, where I write about comics, graphic novels, librarians, redheads in comics, my MidJersey Comicon, and lots of other stuff!

On a picture perfect spring day, librarians descended on the Ocean Place Resort for the first full day of the NJLA conference. A quick camera phone image shows the view from the conference center in Long Branch, which has gone through a lot of development in the last few years of conferences here. Remember when Ocean Place was the only large building?

I went to 4 sessions, and the keynote today, and I'm going to blog about Graphic Novels: Not in the Closet Anymore!, presented by Saleena Davidson (another redheaded librarian comic fan like myself!) of South Brunswick Public Library and Janet Rosolanko of Hillsborough Public Library.

There were three handouts: TokyoPop rating system [important to all school and public librarians!], some YA and Adult titles with gay characters, and a list of websites.

Janet suggested the title Serving Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Teens, ISBN 978-1-55570-566-4. Paraphrasing, Janet said that while the amount of GN literature is vastly improved and readily available, "a lot of hope but also still homophobia for the average queer teenager, who can experience harassment almost daily.".

For librarians, "adolescence can be a lonely time, and teens look for reflections of themselves, so we need to serve ALL our populations in materials"

Seleena gave an overview from The Gay League- LGBT Comics Timeline, an excellent resource:
Welcome to the GLA Timeline! In these pages we have attempted to catalog the representation of the LGBT community in comic books and comic strips. We start with the earliest days of the format, when gay content could only be hinted at; through to the time of the gay liberation movement when LGBT themes began to appear overtly

This table image shows some of the suggested titles: Y the Last Man, Death, Fun Home, Desire, Antique Bakery.

Saleena also discussed going to the NY Comicon [librarians given free passes- I've taken advantage two years in a row! Great librarian and comic/graphic novel special panels, and you can 'geek-out' completely!] She got a book from PrismComics for $5.95 on LGBT guide to comics.

Actually, I love to see that crossover into NJLA exhibits-- small or indie comics publishers who could promote and sell their work at NJLA...hint, hint...

Well, it was a 13 hour day and I hope this gives you some insight into just one session! Thank you Seleena and Janet! I even sat in front of David Lisa, one of the writers of the new Super Librarian comic, and the Director of the West Long Branch Library. All librarians should get a copy and help promote Super Librarian!

Posted by at 7:55 PM | Comments (0)

April 10, 2007

Science Programming Survey

The survey grew out of a presentation made to the Urban Libraries Section by Jessica Trujillo, Young Adult Librarian at the New Brunswick Public concerning her work providing science programming to children and young adults upon receiving a grant award of $45,000.00 from NASA. In December she presented her experiences to members of the Urban Libraries section explaining the content and outcomes that this type of programming generated among her young patrons and the reactions of some of their parents. The result of that December meeting was a decision by the section to develop a survey to measure the amount, types and levels of science programming offered in libraries throughout New Jersey. In April, the survey was released via several of the NJLA section listservs and the Regional Library Cooperatives. The survey will remain open until May 4, 2007. We encourage every library’s participation in this survey and look forward to reporting the results some time after.

The link to it is: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=767493254664.

What follows is an explanation for the survey and intended outcomes.

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There is an ever increasing need for children to understand and be comfortable with basic scientific precepts of inquiry, cause and effect, and organization. Science and technology have changed the ways we manage information and interact in our daily lives; and these changes have an even more dramatic impact on the lives of children. The intellectual models that science provides are applied to a variety of every day decision making situations requiring, more than ever, an increased level of familiarity and understanding of these principles and their application even for those who do not pursue science as a career.

The purpose of this survey is to examine the level and types of Science programming that occur in New Jersey Libraries with the added intent to;

1) Increase awareness among libraries about the types of programming occurring in libraries.

2) Create a directory identifying libraries offering science based and science integrated programs and contact information to assist libraries interested in initiating similar programming.

3) Increase a Library's comfort with and interest in offering science programming.

4) Promote awareness and generate interest in science among our young patrons.

Posted by urban at 4:07 PM | Comments (0)