You can find the 2009 and past Sequoyah Masterlists on the Oklahoma Library Association web site.

Congratulations! The 2008 Summer Reading Program is over!

For a few of you, the program already ended, for most of you it ended yesterday and some will march forward for a little while longer. When you can catch your breath, submit your stats here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?
sm=1KkeATcJ5IZ_2f6AHqOyAGcg_3d_3d.

Just from talking to librarians across the state, it sounds like the kids and teens really enjoyed the theme and several libraries are continuing with bug programming through the rest of the year.

National Public Radio has an interview with a Kentucky librarian discussing the rising use of librarians by patrons. You can listen to the interview here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?
storyId=93041368.

The librarian echoes what many of you have said, but it’s nice to hear it on the radio.

Now that the program is over, take some time to Drop Everything And Read. You’ve been busy since last spring and now it’s time to take a break. Find that book you’ve been meaning to read and just take a few minutes.

Here a few suggestions:

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer: The moon is out of orbit and the world changes drastically. You’ll read about one girl and her family struggle to survive. It’s a book that stays with you after you’ve read it. And, it’s on the 2009 Sequoyah Masterlist. (Grades 6 – 8, SLJ)

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger: Mary Poppins, Broadway, musicals and baseball. And that’s just in the subtitle. There are supportive parents and kids who will do anything for each other. Some may label this as a fantasy, and if they do, I want to live there. (High School)

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows: A really good book to read aloud. There are four in the series and I’m on the third book with my kids. The chapters end with cliff hangers that make kids want more. (Grades 1 – 4, SLJ)

Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies: Over misunderstandings and hurt feelings a brother and sister start a war using lemonade as their weapon of choice. Davies really captures the dialogue between arguing siblings extremely well (I have a younger brother, so I can relate). The author also works in math problems. Librarians who like to do programs teaching kids about money, this is a good book. (Grades 3 – 5, SLJ)

Tell me what books you’ve read or have been looking forward to reading in the comments. (Log in required. Let me know if there are any problems.)

Finally, I will be out of the office August 6 – 12. You can leave a message on the voice mail or e-mail me. If I still owe you a return phone call or e-mail, I will do my best to get back to you before I leave. Otherwise, I will see you at Share Fair!

You can register for Share Fair 2008 now. The meeting will take place August 14th (children’s) and August 15th (young adult). If you can not attend, please register which packet you would like to receive.

The ODL press release is available for download PDF or TXT format.

I would like to invite you to the 2008 Summer Reading Workshops! In response to your request, the workshops are starting earlier this year*. Among others, topics for the workshops will include:

ideas for craft and programs,
marketing and promotion,
My Favorite Book” photo contest and,
Trick My Book Truck” contest.

The Catch the Reading Bug (children’s) workshop will be 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The Metamorphosis at Your Library (young adult) workshop will be 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Here are the locations and dates for the workshops:

•  Tahlequah Public Library (Monday, January 28, 2008)
  • 120 South College, Tahlequah, 918.456.258
• Chickasaw Regional Library at the Hampton Inn (410 Railway Express off of 1-35 behind Two Frogs Restaurant) (Wednesday, January 30, 2008)
• McAlester Public Library (Friday, February 1, 2008)
  • 401 North 2nd Street, McAlester, 918.426.0930
• Minnie R. Slief (Cheyenne) Public Library (Monday, February 4, 2008)
  • 201 S Cearlock Avenue, Cheyenne, 580.497.3777
• Oklahoma Department of Libraries (Wednesday, February 6, 2008)
  • 200 Northeast 18th Street, Oklahoma City, 405.521.2502
• Altus Public Library (Monday, Februrary 12, 2008)
  • 421 N Hudson, Altus, 580.477.2890
• Shattuck Public Library (Friday, February 15, 2008)
  • 101 South Main, Shattuck, 580.938.5104
• Martin Regional Library (Tulsa)
  • 2601 South Garnett Road, Tulsa, 918.669.6340
  • Children’s Workshop 1:30pm – 3:30pm (Wednesday, February 20, 2008)
  • Young Adult Workshop 9am - 12pm (Wednesday, February 27, 2008)

Register here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?
sm=g_2frvGZFl_2fAhbaDN63z9tpg_3d_3d

Your craft, programming, marketing and promotion ideas are always welcome!

*The workshops are, of course, dependent upon the weather. This schedule will be day trips for Melissa and I. The rule will be: if State Government Offices are closed then the workshop will be canceled and rescheduled. Watch the scroll.

See you there!

Adrienne Butler
Youth Services Consultant
Oklahoma Department of Libraries
405.522.3323