I started a series last month on essential storytime skills. First, we looked at prep work that you can do to raise your confidence as a singer. Now, we’re going to look at some important ways to successfully lead groups of people in singing.
Category: Blogger Liza Purdy
The Art of Storytime Part 1: Singing
Singing is an essential element in storytime. How do you prepare?
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Summer Reading!
It’s that time of year again! The displays in your library might tell you that it’s nearly winter and the clothes on your body might be wooly, but your children’s librarian brain is tuned into SUMMER!
Project Management for Children’s Librarians Who Hate Details: You Can Do It!
I have undertaken a really big grant project in my current position. It launches tomorrow. It was supposed to launch last week, but I got Covid the week before, which could not have been worse timing. I had to push everything back a week, which was really frustrating and disappointing. I want everything to START already!
Culture of Healing
Trauma happens in public libraries. Let’s find systematic ways to deal with it, and create a culture of healing. In response to 2022 Urban Library Trauma Study.
A Perfect Program
We’ve been hearing about and experiencing a lot of trauma in our libraries and in our world. A new report came out from the Urban Libraries Unite that I am ruminating on and plan to write about next month. Library work, the work of serving the community, can be really tough. Sometimes you just need to let loose and plan something that checks off all the boxes of education, literacy, and community outreach goals but is also really fun for you and your staff and good for the soul. May I recommend chickens and bluegrass and caterpillars?
The Right Book in the Right Hand at the Right Time
I am writing this blog post on the night before I return to work from bereavement leave. My dad was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme in late February. I once heard GBM referred to as the “great white shark” of brain cancer because of its relentless rate of growth and spread, and the lack of effective treatment. My parents moved in with my family right after Dad received the diagnosis; we put their house of 53 years on the market, moved their stuff into storage, and buckled up for the wild ride of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy while maintaining our “normal” work, school, church and home duties. Needless to say, it’s been a lot. I don’t know if you all experience this, but when I am particularly stressed out, I sometimes find that I cannot read. I just can’t allow myself to enter into a story. I can’t put my life…
The Nuts and Bolts of Summer Reading 2022
Summer Reading 2022 is nearly here. I keep calling the months of April and May “Tax Season” for Youth Services Library administration. Goodness, it is a whirlwind getting everything set! Here’s what’s coming: We decided to follow iRead’s theme this year, Read Beyond the Beaten Path. We’ve been having a blast with the camp and nature theme! Each of our branches is even getting it’s own mascot!