ALSC Member of the Month — Cindy Boatfield

Each month, an ALSC member is profiled and we learn a little about their professional life and a bit about their not-so-serious side. Using just a few questions, we try to keep the profiles fun while highlighting the variety of members in our organization. So, without further ado, welcome to our ALSC profile, ten questions with ALSC member, Cindy Boatfield.

1.  What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?

I have been a librarian for over 20 years but have been in my current position, Youth Services Senior Librarian at the Frisco Public Library in Frisco, Texas since 2008. My major responsibility is to coordinate all aspects of Early Literacy. I also order picture books, provide reference and reader’s advisory for all ages, create displays, serve on the e-resources committee, provide in-house tours and outreach when requested. I also oversee the Student Teller Program. Each year we audition and coach students ages 8 to 18 to tell a story during the library’s annual storytelling festival.

2.  Why did you join ALSC? Do you belong to any other ALA divisions or roundtables?

I think the major reason is so I have a connection with other youth services librarians. To stay on top of current trends and practices. To learn about upcoming workshops. And I enjoy the resources and ideas I get from this blog! No I do not currently belong to any other ALA divisions or roundtables. But I should probably join YALSA since I read so many YA books and enjoy assisting with events for teens.

3.  Would you rather bring a lunch from home or eat out at lunch?

I would rather bring a lunch from home so I can spend as much time as possible reading my book!

4.  How do you incorporate STEM/STEAM activities in your work with children? 

We have STEM Spots (we created a graphic) during our 2’s and 3-5’s story time classes. We provide take-home sheets and post the activities on our website. Here is an exciting moment from last session when we successfully launched a balloon rocket.

During our Stay, Play & Learn dates, children can build with DUPLO Legos while reading books featuring STEM topics, and can delve into math by playing with the Farm Sorting Set we purchased from Lakeshore.

In February, we are offering a workshop, I STEM, You STEM for childcare providers, preschool teachers, and parents. Demonstrations of exciting hands-on activities to spark young children’s interest in science and engineering will be shared.

We also have big books with activity sheets featuring science, math, and art topics children and adults can enjoy while at the library.

5.  What form(s) of transportation do you prefer?

I like to travel by airplane and train for obvious reasons but I have wonderful memories while riding on a boat. When I was around seven, my dad, mom, sister and grandparents (my father and grandfather jointly owned a boat) would head to Guntersville Lake in Alabama to go for a ride. I would hold on tight while dangling my legs off the bow. There was a little grocery store where we docked to get gas and they had chocolate ice cream, Yum!

6.  Would you rather go to a 5 star restaurant or on a picnic?

As much as I like to dress up, and would enjoy the atmosphere, and fancy food I would still rather go on a picnic. I could pack plenty of my favorite foods (I’ve heard that some people leave a 5 star restaurant hungry), I could invite a few friends, pick a lovely spot, and just relax.

7.  What do you love about your work?

I love the variety throughout my workday whether it is presenting story time, putting books in the hands of children and teens, ordering materials and looking at new books (SWEET!). I love that I can be creative when planning story times or when putting together a display. That I am continually learning. What I love most of all is I am in a position to impact the lives of children.

8.  What’s the last book you recommended to a friend?

I have a friend who loves to read young adult. So I recommended, We Were Liars by e. Lockhart. That book still haunts me to this day.

9.  If you could bring back any extinct animal, which would it be?

I would bring back a dinosaur so I could take him to story time.

10.  When was the last time you “messed up” during story time?

During my ECRR tip in story time this past summer I told the adults they could create a matching game to extend the bird theme at home. I told them to go to Google Images, print pictures of different kinds of birds, cut them out, and put them on index cards. Then I went on to say, they could write the names of the birds on index cards like cardinal, robin, and mockingjay… I’ll leave it at that.

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Thanks, Cindy! What a fun continuation to our monthly profile feature!

Do you know someone who would be a good candidate for our ALSC Monthly Profile? Are YOU brave enough to answer our ten questions? Send your name and email address to alscblog@gmail.com; we’ll see what we can do.