Successful Programming

Middle school and high school libraries are entirely different beasts than elementary school libraries.  Usually in elementary schools, students get library instruction at least once/week.  This allows teachers to have plan time and breaks.  In middle school teachers might sign up to visit the library every couple of weeks for their students to check out books.  Some teachers decide not to bring their students to check out books.  There is so much curriculum that needs to be completed in the classroom that often teachers don't have the time to bring their students to the library for an extended period of instruction.  In high school, class attendance to the library falls even further to the wayside, with the library usually utilized for class research projects in which a teacher might bring an entire class once or twice a year.

Because of this, I believe that programming can play just as important a role in a middle school library as it does in a public library.  Some students might not have frequent chances to visit the library with their teachers, so I have been trying to offer a variety of opportunities for students to come in during lunch period or study halls for special events and activities.

Our first special event of the year was Halloween Storytime, which was offered waaaaaaay back in October.  (Hey!  I'm getting caught up!  Did you miss my previous post??)  Students could come to the library during their designated lunch period to listen to stories.  I thought I might have a couple dozen students per lunch period.  Man.  Was I wrong!

As students came in, I had Michael Jackson's Thriller playing.  It set the tone perfectly, and students could eat a bit as they watched before they started reading stories.

6th grade was the largest group by far.  Kids on the floors, sharing seats, and being completely awesome and respectful the entire time.

Our last group was 7th grade.  The "smallest" group still had over 30 attendees.  This is when our principal stopped by to listen to some stories, too!

I have to admit, I didn't expect this type of turn out, but it was great!  I also didn't expect so many students who wanted to participate.  I had printed out several stories to read, but I only read one very short story at the beginning of each lunch period.  The rest of each period was spent with students volunteering and sharing their own stories (like in the 6th grade photo) or reading stories they had selected and brought themselves (the 7th grader above).  This was a great kickoff to what has been a year of successful programming so far.  I'll describe more events we've held over the next few days.  I know you're excited to read about more!

It's All Hocus Pocus

It's that time of year, folks: HALLOWEEN SEASON!  We already talked a little bit about Halloween Storytime, so let's talk Halloween Displays today.

Upon receiving a new shipment of bright and shinies which included THREE witch-centered books, Supervisor Amy had the idea of doing a witch book display, and who would I be to argue with my supervisor?  It was too much fun putting together this great, fun, seasonal display.

Amy wanted Katherine Howe's Conversion to be the focal point of our display, and she also wanted to surround it with titles about or of the Salem Witch Trials.  (Conversion looks AMAZING by the way.  We've already had someone check it out, so 1) the display is working, and 2) I'll have to wait to read it.  That's a good Librarian Problem.)  This is another great display that allowed me to find a variety of genres for the pale, green shelves: fiction, non-fiction, graphic novel, and a play this time!

We didn't have everything that I would have included if I had access to ALL the books, so I made a small sign to go with the display.  On that I included Quentin Blake's version* of witches, some of Harry Potter's finest witches+ (McGonagall, Hermione, and that evil Bellatrix!), and some other classic witchy women (Willow, Galinda, Meryl Streep's witch from the upcoming big screen adaptation of Into the Woods, and the Wicked Witch of the West*).  And, OF COURSE, the sign HAD to include the Sanderson Sisters from the 1993 Halloween classic Hocus Pocus.



* Keep in mind, we are a high school library with limited collection space, so we don't have Roald Dahl's The Witches or L. Frank Baum's Oz collection.
+ I've already included Harry Potter in two displays, so I opted for no Potter this time.  And, let's face it: which one would I have chosen?  Probably Deathly Hallows, cause Mama Molly is BADASS in that one, but that was included in my first display of the year.

October Suggestions Board

I said I would keep posting our Suggestions Board every month, so you could look at/criticize the monthly theme.

This month it has to be HALLOWEEN!  (Duh.)

I don't know if the border is "too kiddy," but I like it anyway.  And, we already have FIVE suggestions!  (OK, so one is mine, but four from students is a GREAT thing!)

Tune in next month to see what theme November will bring you.  Any guesses???

Halloween Storytime!

It's never too early to start thinking about Halloween storytime!

I may be working in a high school library, but I want to sing the praises of one of my favorite Halloween books, which just happens to be a picture book...by Jerry Seinfeld.

Seinfeld took one of his best bits and, with the help of illustrator James Bennett, created a Halloween book that should be in every library--personal, public, or school.  The illustrations are childlike, whimsical, full of color, and lil Jerry Seinfeld is adorable.  The font is engaging, big, and bold.  Even if you haven't seen Seinfeld perform this bit of stand-up live, you can still create voices/sound levels and movements that go with the text.  I feel it's the perfect read for Halloween storytime.

When I was a 6th grade reading and writing teacher I would read this every Halloween.  (And, I'd be so sad if Halloween fell on a weekend, because I couldn't perform it for them.)  My students had never heard of Jerry Seinfeld, but they still loved the book, because of the energy and enthusiasm I put into the reading of the text.  And, please, PLEASE let's not forget that picture books are for everyone.  Think about doing this awesome book for a Halloween storytime.  It doesn't matter if you're in a pre-school or a high school, it's sure to be a crowd pleaser and totally awesome!

And, if you haven't enjoyed Seinfeld's original stand-up bit, watch it NOW!