tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25361502036155189552024-02-20T11:24:14.854-05:00MUSINGS on METISOur journey of innovation for children's librariesTalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14206947552741336246noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-86935632806888706642014-01-26T17:27:00.000-05:002014-01-26T17:27:55.078-05:00Our compatriot, Nancy Daigle, has a blog about her experiences re-categorizing her collection with Metis. Check it out here:<br />
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<a href="http://tbpsmetis.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1384728181554_2052" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #196ad4; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://tbpsmetis.blogspot.com</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><br /></span>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-39365938242249545932013-11-15T21:37:00.000-05:002013-11-15T21:39:00.999-05:00AASL IDEAxCHANGEWhew! Poster sessions feel like speed-dating, only with more substantial conversations. We had wonderful discussions--thank you! Please send us comments or questions as you reflect on the conference.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-63451966290931753142013-11-13T18:59:00.000-05:002013-11-13T19:09:18.183-05:00Idea Xchange at AASL in Hartford<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
We are excited to be presenting at the AASL Conference and Exhibition in Hartford on November 14, 2013!</span></h2>
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<img border="0" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIhpuCf7FI_Z-_YfpoFlCB9iVTxIabvJTExfLX3RYRu3vPksP-xqYiBVeTfD91wNgRO2tn9Zxlkqxz9AR196h5SrZ5cs12bnGRuDuna1LcHZDWH0dMLTnU0_uKxkrj4iQkR9tHU3M3lhD/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-11-13+at+6.54.12+PM.png" width="320" /></div>
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<a href="http://national.aasl.org/">http://national.aasl.org</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">
Please say hello if you've been on our blog--we'd love to hear from you!</span></h2>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-78212173666200010872013-11-13T14:34:00.002-05:002013-11-15T21:24:24.777-05:00More about those in-between, Fact & Story, non-fiction-ish picture books!<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">I've been thinking a lot about how our category system allows us to shelve FACT and FICTION about a topic together, where a reader is more likely to find an array of information.</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Some books are such a melding of facts and story, or narrative with non-fiction, that we're glad we can put them together where they'll be found by readers looking for either information or fiction!</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Here are a few books in this category ---</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Are some readers missing these great books?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a list of "mixture" books of fact and fiction, and where they are located at </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">several of the NY area libraries. Where could you put them to get more use? Any ideas? </span></div>
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<i>A splash of red: The life and art of Horace Pippin</i> / by Jen
Bryant ; illustrated by Melissa Sweet.</div>
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J92 PIP</div>
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J 759.13 B91s</div>
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JB Pippin</div>
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E Bryant</div>
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<i>The boy who drew birds: a story of John James Audubon</i> /
Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by Melissa Sweet.</div>
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JB 598.092</div>
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921 Aud</div>
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East Biog AU</div>
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j598 DAV</div>
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<i>On a beam of light : a story of Albert Einstein</i> / by
Jennifer Berne ; illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky.</div>
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J 530.092 BER</div>
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j92E Einstein</div>
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J Picture Ber</div>
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<i>Look up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer</i> /
Robert Burleigh ; illustrated by Raúl Colón.</div>
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JB Leavitt B</div>
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J 520.92 BUR</div>
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<i>Step Gently out</i> / poem by Helen Frost ; photographs by Rick
Lieder.</div>
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J PIC F</div>
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J POETRY F</div>
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E FROST</div>
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jE 811.54</div>
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BUGS JE FROST<br />
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-21486208080231491992013-04-04T11:26:00.002-04:002013-04-05T12:22:10.689-04:00Self Check-outSelf check-out at the public library, at the grocery store: it works pretty well these days. So why not give it a try in your school library?<br />
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Kids feel a stronger sense of ownership when they scan a barcode and check the screen at each beep. Instead of handing over their book to someone else to take care of, they know they are responsible for their items.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF8HmWEcB1NM0AcTpdmR5by0DLmgXsV-dpaS87AvKBPTsN9vxd1WB8gs_jeLSAPwGlpjIbt6ajBo1NJjaLSAL0AOQypX5aHYibBBIuRpCRZcZnLXJU6lyrscYzrtmX2qvnXrS1uFCA6Q1/s1600/self+checkout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF8HmWEcB1NM0AcTpdmR5by0DLmgXsV-dpaS87AvKBPTsN9vxd1WB8gs_jeLSAPwGlpjIbt6ajBo1NJjaLSAL0AOQypX5aHYibBBIuRpCRZcZnLXJU6lyrscYzrtmX2qvnXrS1uFCA6Q1/s400/self+checkout.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoflc36wLQiDlfen4_K5H2fRsZ2DsHPHpkCykhKX-iKwcOsgYhMm18xwasJir9ynjKw_zrexpxd7k-Lbm8np0k4_Kc3JPO0TM3rtgZmqGpCBr4W1uW0JBJJ3PIFL8ZExLZRhDSk_SItu1B/s1600/checkout-station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoflc36wLQiDlfen4_K5H2fRsZ2DsHPHpkCykhKX-iKwcOsgYhMm18xwasJir9ynjKw_zrexpxd7k-Lbm8np0k4_Kc3JPO0TM3rtgZmqGpCBr4W1uW0JBJJ3PIFL8ZExLZRhDSk_SItu1B/s320/checkout-station.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Here is a photo of the lower grade check-out station. The computer is logged into Follett Destiny with a special user, "Self CO" that only allows simple transactions. Students are blocked if they have overdue materials or when they reach their 5 item limit. A librarian can override and continue check-out for the student.<br />
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Each class in first and second grade has a personally decorated shelf marker with name and a patron barcode sticker. Once the books are checked out, the shelf marker goes back in the color-coded container.<br />
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Students have learned to use the date stamp without changing the date, even though it's tempting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmD2oFa8HauFOUR5xYnx3LCdqVW5ysEuaAbMqUTsqPkLjP-SmgsTLyeb-Ehpxas4eO0lAGqui19x_XJOMCgywgV-42mHPgDHdatzIcPCMnyr-R0BEs8mnUWWsC8QLzTcN9DHIgQSyRbA-B/s1600/phototoday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmD2oFa8HauFOUR5xYnx3LCdqVW5ysEuaAbMqUTsqPkLjP-SmgsTLyeb-Ehpxas4eO0lAGqui19x_XJOMCgywgV-42mHPgDHdatzIcPCMnyr-R0BEs8mnUWWsC8QLzTcN9DHIgQSyRbA-B/s320/phototoday.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Our 3-5th grade students have their name and barcode on a separate page
of the class book. Even though they know their library patron number by
heart, scanning it instead of typing it prevents errors.<br />
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When a student is asked about an overdue book, we've noticed something new: instead of a blank stare and "I don't have that book," he or she is more likely to remember the transaction. Who knew that personal responsibility is such a pleasure to teach?</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-63439995307380905442013-03-24T22:59:00.004-04:002013-03-27T13:09:43.716-04:00"New Adult" Fiction<style>@font-face {
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's been a lot of talk
on Twitter about "New Adult" books. Novels about first jobs, life
outside high school and beyond college are gaining popularity and their own
marketing niche. And I just realized ---we were all new adults once.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somewhere near grown-up, I imagined earning a degree in Library
Science. I wondered what being a librarian was all about. I'd met quite a
few (cool, diverse, tattooed) librarians, but wanted to get even more of a
picture about normal library life. And it's funny, but movie and t.v. portrayals of librarians are not so realistic. Katharine
Hepburn and Parker Posey aside, I was looking for some role models.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that's when I turned to
fiction. Looking through the OPAC, I searched for stories about life in the
stacks, or in school libraries, or academia. And didn't find too much, I'm
afraid. I was new to library studies; I wasn't such a great searcher. And there
was no such thing as crowd sourcing on social media back then. Or even blogs.
But I wanted to read it---not just cozy mysteries or kids' stories. I guess I
was looking for New Adult fiction about starting a career. I wanted to put
on the costume and wear it by reading a character’s version of the life. Or get
a peek in the fiction window of a fun-loving children’s services specialist
instead of a chick-lit designer shoe-wearing journalist. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Honestly, I didn't get what I was looking for from <i>Stones from the River</i>; there was more to inspire me in strange libraries found in graphic novels. I kind of knew "Sandman" and Garth Nix characters didn't have realistic libraries, but still got something out of those books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nevertheless, here's my new insight;
not all quests for information require non-fiction to fulfill that need. If a
topic is of interest, a reader may enjoy narrative description and stories as
well as facts. It’s even a learning experience in itself to determine whether a
book is accurate and reliable in depicting the subject at hand. There are truths in fiction that you would never get from the facts. Non-fiction can create understanding, and fiction can create empathy; two important ways to know the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just like I wanted to read
a novel about exciting, young, fashionable, well-paid, new NYC librarians. </span><br />
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That
would have been, well…very enlightening and accurate indeed.</span><br />
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-36866299194322409482013-03-12T20:17:00.001-04:002013-03-13T19:49:22.585-04:00MerchandisingThe question was a total stumper. I was negotiating my first interview for a full-time librarian trainee job. I thought I was doing well until the library director asked me "Can you see any disadvantages to merchandising?"<br />
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I had no idea what that meant. My mind flashed to clothing stores, windows, um, ...nothing. Whew, I had to admit in an interview that <i>I didn't know</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nYas4g3d8SDYS3TtxaJyaYRh-wFdJPeRsjeyltFKYUtogntYBmyY1CFJ5s2mva0SWvoxM7Fem4QeSOFs7hpwPwZgUwqxuEMl6lounWa5TRsUlqe3kDm7ZNqvYN6iOi0rEuV5g9AKBZ0t/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-03-12+at+9.01.20+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nYas4g3d8SDYS3TtxaJyaYRh-wFdJPeRsjeyltFKYUtogntYBmyY1CFJ5s2mva0SWvoxM7Fem4QeSOFs7hpwPwZgUwqxuEMl6lounWa5TRsUlqe3kDm7ZNqvYN6iOi0rEuV5g9AKBZ0t/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-03-12+at+9.01.20+PM.png" width="164" /></a></div>
Now that I have a few "holiday" displays under my belt, and a couple for "Women's History Month", I can see that indeed I do find some disadvantages to pulling out special book selections and propping them on an end-cap for extra visibility. Who knows where they are? What are some ways to track them? And communicate it to my colleagues? How many places do I need to check for a Hanukkah-themed folktale before I concede that it is lost?
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I just read a Tweet that reminded me of this.<br />
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It said: "Checking one last spot before finding the book they desperately need is the best! (Saturday librarian hashtag)".<br />
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Can't we all appreciate that feeling of success?<br />
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I remember how as a librarian working on Saturday, sometimes you have to check multiple places to find a book that should be "in." It could be on a cart to-be-shelved, or mis-filed on the shelf, or hidden by pranksters. Or on a special display!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3ZEHFLMPpJdSUdN5z_iS_Z9xidQOLdNYZd_PJ54jMSIiecbYC-gMvixrtonCuGtCohw6gbcIrt8ttv9eTd8BZd-HIGvUZDR18uNDKnxwfZPHZeHZDA56ISZg0lYxY2-BamCvmuPgN3F1/s1600/hershel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3ZEHFLMPpJdSUdN5z_iS_Z9xidQOLdNYZd_PJ54jMSIiecbYC-gMvixrtonCuGtCohw6gbcIrt8ttv9eTd8BZd-HIGvUZDR18uNDKnxwfZPHZeHZDA56ISZg0lYxY2-BamCvmuPgN3F1/s200/hershel.png" width="157" /></a></div>
Since we stopped using Dewey and converted to an intuitive subject-based categorization system, we've brought materials together from all over the library where they are most likely to be wanted and used by our students. We've identified them by call # in the catalog, so when I can't remember to think like a child, I can still look up the right location.<br />
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I like having our "Traditions" books all together with celebrations, holidays, how to throw a Halloween party, the best birthday stories---all labeled and with a simple whole-word descriptor like "Birthdays." I don't need to pull out the Hanukkah stories for a display once a year so they can be noticed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIitLEFGECswCZT6hhcDwtt1_nInfflO1tmRyGp8CUn3bP0doyfVkPGnMVS_ftdjKEfCE_lNZkjsvR5KQQG1fayTSee77YcAPCY8fUVnfvGEWfVCrKYavktGrmZ1gb2-D_AYtw_7x8hNu/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-03-12+at+8.55.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIitLEFGECswCZT6hhcDwtt1_nInfflO1tmRyGp8CUn3bP0doyfVkPGnMVS_ftdjKEfCE_lNZkjsvR5KQQG1fayTSee77YcAPCY8fUVnfvGEWfVCrKYavktGrmZ1gb2-D_AYtw_7x8hNu/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-03-12+at+8.55.47+PM.png" width="198" /></a></div>
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<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-87010538672901144412013-02-28T11:47:00.000-05:002013-02-28T11:54:47.061-05:00How does a child choose?We've been trying to draw out a flowchart that shows how children make decisions while choosing a book. One of the benefits of our system is that many books on a topic can be shelved together, even if they are fiction and non-fiction. A child can search for an interesting topic (trucks! dogs! machines!) and then find facts and stories all there on the shelf to choose from. I think it makes for a richer reading experience, more choices, and supports teachers who are looking for literature connections.<br />
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(Please click below for a larger view.)<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicApbaCf1PXu1k8zfdRW6EYMWcj9Zr5CAlL5Zcw29gqX5CjuHu6wjhyphenhyphenyLzujeInFdpExrcicEYbr1ZIt1IJ5yVnYy1KzkTeOWV9PaJyKLaFD4VUB8ZxyhFUZ4uIe8gxC7YjOoCjBBDGfh-/s1600/how+do+i+choose+a+book+image.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicApbaCf1PXu1k8zfdRW6EYMWcj9Zr5CAlL5Zcw29gqX5CjuHu6wjhyphenhyphenyLzujeInFdpExrcicEYbr1ZIt1IJ5yVnYy1KzkTeOWV9PaJyKLaFD4VUB8ZxyhFUZ4uIe8gxC7YjOoCjBBDGfh-/s400/how+do+i+choose+a+book+image.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our young students are taking a different path to choosing a book. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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What are your pathways through the library? Are there too many hurdles? Share on our discussion board at metisinnovations.com.<br />
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<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-37545218436568614072013-02-06T17:38:00.000-05:002013-02-06T17:41:55.362-05:00And the next holiday coming up is...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A parent just came in looking for picture books on the lunar new year. "We're sorry, they're all out," Tali told her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Do you mean that other parents got here ahead of me?" puzzled the parent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh, no, the teachers have everything checked out about it. In fact, they found everything so easily, there weren't any stories left even when I went to the shelf for the library lesson, either."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh, no," she replied shaking her head, "you know how much I love this new system; this is the first time it has worked against me!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Metis makes things easy to find; it may mean you need to get there sooner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-30641860662170942582013-01-29T19:44:00.000-05:002013-01-30T06:30:12.573-05:00Awards season!<a href="http://www.ala.org/news/pr?id=12298" target="_blank">ALA announces the Youth Media Awards</a> and our fifth-graders are set to celebrate.<br />
<br />
The mock Newbery club had a very close contest; we did the voting last week, just in time to watch for the real winners. <i><b>Wonder</b></i> was the favorite of our 21 students.<br />
<br />
All told, our students read six or seven books from this year's crop and discussed them in a private online forum. Next year, we hope to start a faculty mock Newbery. Has anyone reading here tried that?---we'd love to hear how that worked.<br />
<br />
Congratulations to the committee members and the honorees!<br />
<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-13821702536744508512013-01-23T15:22:00.003-05:002013-01-24T11:02:34.583-05:00And the winner is...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LXiTIhtlcdTaT-bnt9CzeKi6V_3S2e-HAjNuQxDOLnav3WAsWHDW853yNh9_MOy_kQw12yTDck4KnQ6Q6wPtWBeT4exQtqgEU9__OcRPU3fiY7afcGSCo6ukR79WlKbM3ox0phV89qc/s1600/unspoken2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LXiTIhtlcdTaT-bnt9CzeKi6V_3S2e-HAjNuQxDOLnav3WAsWHDW853yNh9_MOy_kQw12yTDck4KnQ6Q6wPtWBeT4exQtqgEU9__OcRPU3fiY7afcGSCo6ukR79WlKbM3ox0phV89qc/s200/unspoken2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
The surveys have been surveyed, the totals tallied. We have a winner folks! This year's 2013 Mock Caldecott winner is.... <i><b>Unspoken</b></i> by Henry Cole.<br />
<br />
Our short list included: <i>Extra Yarn</i>, <i>Nighttime Ninja</i>, <i>Red Knit Cap Girl</i> and <i>Step Gently Out</i>, and <i>Unspoken</i>.<br />
<br />
I must say I am pretty darn happy that a group of second-graders chose this book over some of the competition. It would be pretty easy to assume that <i>Nighttime Ninja</i> would sneak away with the prize but it wasn't to be so.<br />
<br />
About <i>Unspoken</i> my students said, "I loved how he used just pencil and made it old-fashioned" and "It was very creepy" and "it's so real, & so calm, & peaceful, & I can't believe the illastrater(sic) just uses pencil to make that texture."<br />
<br />
Pretty impressive stuff!<br />
<br />
You can see how other Mock Caldecott contests played out here at <a href="http://www.hbook.com/2013/01/blogs/calling-caldecott/time-to-vote-2013-mock-caldecott-polls-are-open/" target="_blank">Horn Book</a> Magazine<br />
and of course see what wins the actual <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/Caldecott75" target="_blank">Caldecott Medal</a> this year!Talihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14206947552741336246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-41162566543201566502013-01-17T14:46:00.001-05:002013-01-17T14:46:55.839-05:00The Hazards of LibrariesI'd be less than forthcoming if I didn't admit to how daunting checking books in and out of our library can be: during the winter months, that is. Its hazards might not meet the naked eye but trust me, they exist. <br />
When the adorable, sweet and lovely five year old approaches my desk with watering eyes, an oozing nose, and a spurting mouth while handing me the few books he has chosen to keep himself company during his recovery, I desperately appeal to the flu-Gods: "Please please please spare me just one more time today. Please." A prayer, a plea, a crazy lady's internal dialogue, call it what you will, I am on my knees in my mind's eye begging for mercy. <br />
I've been doing this for 12 years now, flu-shot in-tow...and every year, no matter how committed I am to my own OCD behaviors, I still manage to get at least one or two colds, throat infections, or flues that knock me out for days at a time...which leads me to my most recent doctor's appointment.<br />
It started out as per usual: Dr says, "So what's going on?" I give him the same-o-same-o. He places a big popsicle stick in my mouth. I say, "Ahhhh." He says, "Oh, yeah. You've got a nasty throat infection. Let's get you some Z-Pac." And usually, I'm good to go.<br />
This time however, as he casually removed his latex gloves, he asked , "So how's the library?" Throat infection notwithstanding, I nodded positively and gave him a "Metis" briefing, and this is where it got good.<br />
For the next few minutes his own inner-crazy-lady took over. "That's great," he said in earnest. "I had the worst library experience with my daughter a couple of weeks ago." Naturally, I was intrigued and needed to hear more, I implored, "What? How could that be? Tell me. Tell me. What happened?" <br />
Leaning against his counter-top and gesturing like a maestro, he continued passionately, "Yeah, it was astounding to me. First we spent about a half hour looking on the computer for possible books for her research project. (She is in high school.) Then we spent no less than 45 minutes looking for 4 books which MIGHT be able to help her. Two of the books were no where to be found, the third book was so out-dated it was useless. And the fourth book was checked out already by someone else." With what sounded like bewildered conviction he added, "It never occurred to me that we might spend over two hours in a library searching for books and come away completely empty handed. I mean it was a complete waste of time." Again he repeated emphatically, "It just never occurred to me that we wouldn't find what we needed in a big public library. I mean in this day and age of technology, to come away with nothing from a beautiful and grand Library. I mean that's just obscene. Libraries have to evolve with the rest of the world." Here's the best part: he concluded by saying, "So what you're doing in your library with Metis sounds great. Really great." I said, "Can I quote you on that Doctor?" And he said, "Definitely."<br />
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<br />Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13876366707105824850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-1153345675578011202012-12-10T16:40:00.000-05:002012-12-10T16:40:11.144-05:00Mackin Ain't Slackin'!<br />
To our delight, we have recently learned that Mackin Educational Resources is providing custom cataloging with shelf-ready processed books using our Metis categorization system. For more information you can contact us directly by emailing: Iwantmetis@gmail.com<br />
<br />
Or you can contact Mackin's representative, Deann Hoff: 800-245-9540 <br />
<b>Mackin Educational Resources</b><br />
3505 County Road 42 West<br />
Burnsville, MN 55306<br />
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Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13876366707105824850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-78793653071684447892012-12-06T20:04:00.000-05:002012-12-06T20:18:08.344-05:00A school library adopts Metis in Brooklyn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR_UoIPyIh0Sb97oJYP-DXNHgLVhh4J1__10pDncbWDarIfDGGsV35sp1wSxtCyxZ0HECiv6aL9kFxgyoTLZUgnamUIh12AzG0CAazInqCs1YwPL5T1FBwAqqELa4fludznUnlimAQz38/s1600/brooklyn+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR_UoIPyIh0Sb97oJYP-DXNHgLVhh4J1__10pDncbWDarIfDGGsV35sp1wSxtCyxZ0HECiv6aL9kFxgyoTLZUgnamUIh12AzG0CAazInqCs1YwPL5T1FBwAqqELa4fludznUnlimAQz38/s320/brooklyn+bridge.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are packing up the camera and taking a field trip. We'll visit a new Metis library being set up, organized and labeled. Maybe we'll get to hear some of the students' reactions, too!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Check back for some photos of our excursion.</span>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-37413791830920067542012-11-29T15:09:00.000-05:002012-11-29T15:09:42.870-05:00Step Gently Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71Hl8yCW9JpF8Fe_GCGMSqa956oO1rfHOwWrMCFN1Xo5f9ILCxR09fJB_vNikO2nRiW668K3W_OCnxGsr6SEnTqFbtFvJT7J762wBcZpmhofXthN8o3i46KxtfxB567iMRkYS2dfyKsc/s1600/Step-Gently-Out.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71Hl8yCW9JpF8Fe_GCGMSqa956oO1rfHOwWrMCFN1Xo5f9ILCxR09fJB_vNikO2nRiW668K3W_OCnxGsr6SEnTqFbtFvJT7J762wBcZpmhofXthN8o3i46KxtfxB567iMRkYS2dfyKsc/s200/Step-Gently-Out.png" width="200" /></a></div>
I have been reading this lovely book to my 2nd grade classes this last week. We are in the middle of our Mock Caldecott unit and I am ever hopeful that a book illustrated with photographs will one day bear a Caldecott Medal. Surprisingly, my students have really taken to this quiet book and appreciate the beautifully composed close-ups of insects.<br />
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But where to put it? My original thought had been to catalog the book under Verse (after all it is a poem) but I worried that it wouldn't be found there. I began to ask my classes where they would want this book. I expected them to say Animals - Bugs. On the last page there is a paragraph of information about each insect featured in the book. Interestingly, about 80% of my students have asked me to catalog the book under Nature. When I express my surprise "isn't it a book about bugs?" and worry "will anyone find it in Nature?" I am assured by their articulate comments: "it's a book about nature, about looking at things around you." and "its more than bugs, Tali."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30NY2VrUrM-1Aj1uVM7uf3yU0h0YAkGDB78bpkXOMSDaSzTINe3B3MDPyAdn2zR7qe0br2xWDgM2X6T2fI1fNeM55rqvrE36iMY36JwSXDD4kRU5b6zYO36K9M3c0kgYrU2rv4hG7Uyw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-11-29+at+3.04.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30NY2VrUrM-1Aj1uVM7uf3yU0h0YAkGDB78bpkXOMSDaSzTINe3B3MDPyAdn2zR7qe0br2xWDgM2X6T2fI1fNeM55rqvrE36iMY36JwSXDD4kRU5b6zYO36K9M3c0kgYrU2rv4hG7Uyw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-11-29+at+3.04.03+PM.png" /></a></div>
So, into Nature it will go where hopefully many people will have a chance to explore it's beauty and the world beyond it.Talihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14206947552741336246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-10047050446658071502012-10-25T21:55:00.000-04:002012-12-08T09:21:44.595-05:00Helpful Complaints<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well, it was bound to happen. Yesterday I walked into
the lower library to find a colleague in distress. When I asked her if
she needed some help finding books, I think she uttered something like,
"I hate this new system." My eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
Really? I had never heard anything like that before. I downplayed my surprise and sincerely asked, "What do you mean?"
(Because in all seriousness, it's this kind of honesty that we hope for
from all of our users so that we can improve Metis to better serve everyone, not just the students.) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
To
answer my question, my very literate colleague added, "It was easier
when you just searched by the author's last name." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hmm? Sometimes, I
thought. But what if you don't know who the author is? And then it
dawned on me that this was her first visit to our library since her
leave of absence last year. She had never attended any of our 5 to 10
minute introductions that explained
Metis.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Gesturing toward the computer, I asked, "May I show you how to use the catalog?" We typed in the title of the first book and found it
exactly where she had been looking based on her intuition. We
proceeded to type in the next two titles and it turned out that we
actually don't have them in our collection. Her fourth request had an
"ask" logo on top of the image in the catalog which means that there is
some special circumstance going on, and the browser should ask
the librarian about it. Did my colleague leave the library totally satisfied? Probably not since she walked
away with only one book when hoping for four. But we'd be hard pressed
to blame it on Metis. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Before implementing Metis last year, we
promised our administrators that if our new system did not work well for
everyone, we would promptly resurrect Dewey. We truly welcome
questions, concerns, recommendations and even criticism, if it helps to
enhance our community's library experience. Yesterday's exchange was
definitely helpful. We will look into the two missing books to see if
we should add them to our collection. Unfortunately, her fourth book
is out of print so we can't do much about that. (Amazon doesn't even
have a copy.) And lastly, with pleasure, I will continue to show anybody
who wants to learn, how to use the computer catalog to search for books
using Metis.</span><br />
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Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13876366707105824850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-70462220054714541582012-10-18T22:33:00.000-04:002012-10-18T22:33:40.431-04:00Addressing the "Dewey Dilemma"
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My
colleague received an email sent by a college professor, in which she expressed
valid concerns that echoed frequently asked questions regarding the “Dewey
Dilemma.” She wondered how our creation of Metis could possibly be worth the
time and effort when ultimately, all we have done is created a “parallel
dimension” of Dewey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
understand how daunting it is to think of adopting a brand new system that
replaces Dewey. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Metis is far more than Dewey “without the numbers.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Metis
is an investment: an investment of time, energy, labor, sweat and yes, sometimes
tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But ultimately it continues
to be an investment that pays off on a daily basis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Last
week for instance, a second grade teacher dashed into our library with about 45
seconds before our Kindergarten class was scheduled to arrive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She asked, “Is this a bad time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to find some books on
voting.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before Metis, I would
have suggested that she come back in 45 minutes or at the end of the day in
order to not disrupt the expected class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I no longer had to do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead, I welcomed her and simply pointed to the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Community” section and said to look
under Government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within minutes
she returned to the checkout desk, and handed me 3 books (one fiction, two
non-fiction) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>exclaiming,
“Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s so organized in
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If
our library collection were still arranged using The Dewey Decimal System, this
quest for multiple books on voting would have taken much more time, and in all
likelihood, required assistance from a librarian. This kind of independent, and
successful searching for books happens every day, by teachers and students
alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So to us, the four
librarians here at Ethical Culture, the last thing Metis has been, is a waste
of time. </span></div>
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Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13876366707105824850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-4770929766039159332012-10-15T18:37:00.000-04:002012-10-15T18:37:58.682-04:00<br />
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<img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlfipbLihPqy18TBnrTCSWvyjePjcw2Hky8VCAMSLr8MTNE3hmKUb5n7yRWPzsZtEI5rTKax_5NXAFjocaz2qoWygwVp1cYyD0AIFBoS90dGm5ADj7MUZ8qBXp8XRSG6HTMljHyC3yPRu/s400/Picture+16.png" width="400" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.slj.com/2012/10/technology/social-media-technology/debating-the-demise-of-dewey-fostering-user-centered-collections-trumps-sticking-to-tradition/" target="_blank">If you missed our chat on Twitter, take a look at this well-crafted summary on the School Library Journal website. </a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-58895235710819826912012-10-13T09:29:00.001-04:002012-10-13T09:29:53.232-04:00Wonderful conversation on TwitterIn a Twitter chat on October 11th, the four of us joined <i>SLJ</i> experts and dozens of other thoughtful library professionals to chat about leaving Dewey and making an alternative system. So many great ideas and comments!<br />
<br />
We are taking some time to review the questions we discussed and will expand on our answers (beyond the 140 characters). Check for the FAQ on our website, soon.<br />
<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-25310475180137779252012-10-07T07:28:00.000-04:002012-10-07T10:29:23.706-04:00Chat with us!School Library Journal will be hosting a Twitter Chat on October 11 at 9:00 p.m. (Eastern).<br />
<br />
Join us to discuss reasons for staying with or leaving Dewey, questions about Metis, concerns about student learning, ideas about better signage...or just say "hi."<br />
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Tweet you soon, #sljdewey !Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-71078146780894549042012-10-05T15:23:00.003-04:002012-10-07T07:24:39.126-04:00Smile!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week I took my 3 girls to our local public library for some new reading. My 4 year old happily deposited herself on the floor with a basket of paperback Berenstain Bear books. My 7 year old went off to find something new in the series section. And my 10 year old wanted <i>Smile</i> by Raina Telgemeier, so she walked over to the Graphic section. Two minutes later she came back to me and said she couldn't find the book. So, we walked over together looking for the letter "T" and scanning the shelves.<br />
No luck.<br />
We went over to the computer catalog to look up the book and found that its call number is "J GRAPHIC 617.46 T" in some branches or "GRAPHIC 617.465 T" in others. Alright, close enough, I thought, and we headed back over to the Graphic section to find the non-fiction.<br />
No luck.<br />
Having no choice at this point we walk over to the librarian's desk to ask for help. "Oh, yeah," she says, "that's actually in the non-fiction section."<br />
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WHAT?!? Who thought that putting a graphic memoir in Dentistry was a good idea? But more than that, who is actually going to be able to find that book? Not only because the cataloging is not intuitive but because the call number makes no sense in relation to where the book is actually shelved.<br />
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Over on LM_Net there has been a rousing discussion about the pros and cons of trying alternate classification systems. One of the arguments against alternatives, is that children can walk into any library and find a book in the same place. Well, that might be but it seems at NYPL it depends on the branch you're in. Let alone if you happen to be in Queens where it would be under "617.64 T" or in Brooklyn where you'd find it in "J FIC TELGEMEIER." Some might argue that this is an exception, but it's not. Maybe we've gotten so used to "tweaking" Dewey that we don't even realize how different it is from place to place.Talihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14206947552741336246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-89494487964250709242012-10-04T11:47:00.000-04:002012-10-05T13:17:43.486-04:00Labels have arrived<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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Our Category Labels are here!</div>
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Come take a look and pre-order what you need for your
library.<br />
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<a href="http://metisinnovations.com/index.php/labels" target="_blank">http://metisinnovations.com/index.php/labels </a></div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848764078108822035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-13538553625696889982012-10-01T07:58:00.000-04:002012-10-01T07:58:14.033-04:00Our Article in October Issue of SLJWe are very excited about the latest issue of SLJ. It features an article by the four of us about Metis: why, what and how. You can find it at <a href="http://www.slj.com/2012/09/librarians/are-deweys-days-numbered-libraries-across-the-country-are-giving-the-old-classification-system-the-heave-ho-heres-one-schools-story/" target="_blank">Are Dewey's Days Numbered?</a>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01099965866055702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-42066561492746033242012-09-29T13:14:00.000-04:002012-10-03T20:43:52.419-04:00I Want a Truck BookIt has been a whirlwind of a summer and every time I sit down to write a post something else needs to be done: books need to be cataloged; laundry needs to be folded; corn needs to be husked. But today is the day!<br />
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You might be reading this because you managed to attend our presentation at ALA <a href="http://connect.ala.org/node/179024" target="_blank">"I Want a Truck Book."</a> I had the pleasure of sitting on a panel with Gretchen Casserti from Darien Public Library and Debbie Cooper from Stark County Library on using different cataloging systems with the zero to 5 set. This was such a great experience! Often, as a professional, you wish for the time to examine your practice in a thoughtful way. Writing this presentation really helped us begin to articulate what exactly we have done and why we created Metis. If you want to check out the slides you can find them on <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/balaskaplan/i-want-a-truck-book-metis-presentation" target="_blank">slideshare</a>. I've also posted my original intended speech <a href="http://metisinnovations.com/index.php/2-uncategorised/20-alsc-presentation" target="_blank">here</a> but if you've ever heard me speak you'll know that what actually was said wasn't really the same as what I wrote. It does have all of the same points and helps to explain the slideshow.</div>
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We've been working this summer on writing a FAQ, a how-to workbook, and reproducing our labels so that other libraries can use them. Hopefully, you're going to start seeing some of this posted here soon. As always, if you have any questions please send us an email.</div>
Talihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14206947552741336246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536150203615518955.post-40697957114725198232012-09-27T14:33:00.003-04:002012-09-28T11:11:14.313-04:00The Joy of Metis<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A couple of my
favorite things about our new category system Metis, are the proud independence
and literal joy I witness daily when students begin their search for books to
take home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today for instance,
a second grade girl called out, “Andrea, will you help me find a book?”
Answering her with my standard reply, I said, “Sure Alice. What
kinds of books do you like?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Funny!” she
declared emphatically.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“OK, so where do
you think you could find a funny book?” I asked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Confidently, she
pointed to the humor shelves. Within moments she picked up a book
called <i><u>Spooky Riddles</u></i> and started reading out loud…seemingly, to
whomever would listen: “What yard will kids never play in?” she bellowed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She grinned as 4
other students came toward her quietly and curiously, waiting for the
answer. “A graveyard,” she roared. This triggered not only a stream of
laughter, but also a desire for everyone else to pick up his or her own joke
book. While the other students took turns cracking each other up with
their own jokes, Alice made her way back to me and questioned privately,
“Andrea, what’s a grave yard?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ahhhhh…the joy of
independent browsing.</span>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13876366707105824850noreply@blogger.com0