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I have a question regarding one of the suggested apps in Kiera Parrot’s 12/20/11 posting. When I went to Apples app store to look at the Montessori alphabet app I read several reviews stating that while teachers, parents & children love the app, there were at least two flaws found. The flaw mentioned most frequently was that the letter “Y” was wrong. I am hesitent to add this app to our public i-Pads without first testing on my own. I am wondering Kiera what you found? Our families do love Moo Baa La La La and am looking forward to adding the other suggested apps. Thank You, Monica Dzierzbicki, MLIS Head of Youth Services Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien, IL
Hi Monica. Thanks for reading the post- and a special hello to another “Darien Librarian!” I’m not sure I agree with the assertion that the letter “Y” is wrong. I guess depending on how you were taught to trace (and the generation in which you were taught) influences how letters and numbers “should” be written, when pencil should lift from the paper, etc. I am personally of the philosophy that there is no right or wrong way to trace a letter, necessarily, as long as the end product is legible. That said, this particular app, in the case of the letter “y” is a bit rigid. The tracing guide instructs children to trace the letter in a particular way. It’s not a perfect app, but compared to many other letter and tracing apps I’ve seen, a very good one. We’ve had many parents and children use it on our mounted iPad and so far I’ve only received positive feedback from our patrons.
Hi, I have a question regarding the legality of recording and posting story times on Youtube. We want to do this at our library because we have some kids who can’t make it to the library for regular Story Times. Basically, I want to know whether this violates copyright because we’d be reading the whole story. We wouldn’t be showing any of the patrons’ faces (we’d probably still have them sign waivers just in case), but that shouldn’t be the major legal issue. Thanks for the advice!
Hi Sarah, good question! Thanks for asking. I’m including a link to an article from ALA’s Public Programs Office (PPO):
Copyright Tips for Programming Librarians: Storytimes
Basically the article notes that storytelling is fair use, but that there are four factors in regards to fair use. My advice would be analyze these four factors and see if your video falls under fair use. Good luck!
hi there, just reading about ipad use in the library. I work in an industry that provides accommodation to families for long periods and we’ve received a grant of some ipads to load out to the children. Do you use an anti-theft device? how do you stop them from being stolen – and make sure they always are returned? Could you please email me?
Thank you
Hi,
I would like to post the blog, Disability in Children’s Books by Renee Grassi, as a guest blog on our website, http://www.thisisliteracy.ca/, with the appropriate credits to her and the site.
Regards
Thanks for checking. Please be sure to link back to this post on the ALSC Blog at http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2012/11/disability-in-childrens-books-blog-series-part-2-2/ and credit Renee Grassi.
Hi Phil,
I know it’s been a few months since your question, but I am only now seeing it. I just wanted to say thank you for sharing my post with your online community. Please let me know if you or anyone has any follow-up comments or questions. I am always happy to help. Thanks again!
Just wanted to let you know about my mystery/adventure for preteens and teens, Lost in the Woods: A Bible Camp Mystery. It’s the first in a new series of Bible Camp Mysteries featuring a group of 10 to 16 year old boys from a community church. In this book, 13-year-old Zack disappears in the middle of the night in the Florida backwoods during a back-to-nature retreat. More than half the campers become ill and a hurricane takes an unexpected turn for the Gulf Coast. The book is here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009R9XLPG
Interested in a review, doing a guest blog post, whatever to spread the word about this book targeting young adult readers. Thank you!!
Cheryl -
I’m glad you found the ALSC Blog. We focus on topics of interest to children’s librarians… books, programs for kids, technology in libraries, etc. I appreciate that you are interested in posting with us. I’d love to hear about a specific topic you’d like to write a guest post about! Contact me at alscblog@gmail.com.
Mary
I would like some tips on increasing the attendance of my storytimes. It seems that sometimes I have a ton of kids like maybe 25 and other times only 8. Our library does advertize in the local paper. Any suggestions?
Hi. I’m interested in finding out more about toy libraries in Europe, called Ludotecas or Ludotheques. Looking for anyone familiar with them so I could learn a little more, or if anyone has an idea about where to find out more; seems like little or nothing published in English language. You could contact me at ahoupper@ngs.org. Thanks!
When is the next ALSC conference scheduled to take place?
I’m an elementary school librarian in New York City and am interested in resources to help me incorporate technology in my curriculum.
Hi Michele,
The next ALSC National Institute will take place in September 2014. The National Institute is a biennial conference, but if you’re looking for someone sooner, ALSC also holds programs at larger annual conferences such as the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, IL. The program schedule for this conference has not been announced yet, but it should be appearing later this spring. Hope this helps!
Dan
Hi — I’m wondering if you’re accepting applications for additional bloggers and how I might get more information. Thanks!
Hi, Maureen. Thanks for asking! The ALSC Blog is always on the lookout for bloggers — both guest bloggers who can address issues of interest and concern to children’s librarians as well as regular monthly bloggers. All of our regular monthly bloggers are ALA ALSC members. Contact me at alscblog@gmail.com for more information.