CR2 Blog

Arts and Crafts Workshop for Youth Librarians

Are you the librarian responsible for creating arts and crafts programs? Do you need new creative art project ideas for your Summer Reading Program or other events? Tired of the same ole, same ole. This is your opportunity to develop a portfolio of ideas that you can use with your Preschool through Teen visitors. Learn simple basic techniques for teaching art to all age groups of children and teens. No prior art experience required. This 4 week online workshop is taught by an art professor and experienced library performer who has first hand experience developing library art programs. Interact with other Youth Librarians from around the country and a real art professor. The online class is open 24/7. Access the online workshop at your convenience.

Instructor Valerie Colston, M.A. is an art professor and author with many years of experience developing and teaching art programs as an Art Performer at several San Diego, California local libraries. She teaches 100 Art Ideas for Teachers at the University of California, Extension in San Diego, California and a variety of Art history courses online through colleges and universities. Her 200 Projects to Strengthen Your Art Skills published by Barrons Educational Series was released April 2008.

Here's what youth librarians who have taken the class are saying about the workshop:

"In working on this workshop I have worked also on my Summer Reading Program for our library. Week 3 gave so many ideas to use that it was fun to do them and discover which ones would work well for our young patrons. I now have crafts for at least 2 of the 4 books we will read in my Youth Discussion Group. I am well ahead of the game."

"I really enjoyed answering the questions about the piece of art in the museum. I want to use some of the questions I learned this summer when we read "Chasing Vermeer" because the book deals with a piece of art."

"Thanks for all the help with one of my books for the Summer Reading Program."

"Well, I had not thought about bonding art and books together in one reading hour before, so I got new and interesting views of what to do. Thank you for the wonderful ideas.
I had a great time brainstorming ideas and reading the suggestions everyone had!
I feel I learned how to study a painting in more depth. That a painting is made up of many facets. The lines, colors and textures all blend together to make one painting."

"I gained lots of great ideas from everyone. The ideas were great and I will incorporate some of them into my programs."

"I will keep a copy of the different things I have learned in this session of the class to apply it to painting I encounter. It is exciting."

"I bookmarked several of the sites presented in the lessons which will come in handy when I get stuck for ideas. It also helps reading the other's experiences in working with library patrons in crafts events."

"Finding ideas are hard to find and this is a wealth of information for myself and the library."

"Thank you very much for the wonderful and interesting web-sites, you mentioned. There are so great ideas."

"I was delighted to find some new web sites for inspiration - many of my students love to draw and I hope to integrate some of the cartoon drawing lessons in to our weekly book club meetings, possibly in the creation of bookmarks, etc."

"It has been great having so much information all in one place. I enjoyed browsing through the many websites & links. Many are new to me. I appreciate all of your suggestions for organization, supplies, storage, recycling, and art tips & resources."

"Where do I begin! I have learned about so many resources. I really liked the online scavenger hunt, what a great idea. I also really loved the letter writing with beads."

"This week gave me a great many resources to use in our library. I really had to think for the scavenger hunt but I love the idea and did work our a hunt. I also thought the "wanted" poster was fun as well . . ."

"There really are a wealth of information and ideas to explore."

"I would recommend this class to others. After all I took this class because my supervisor recommended it to me."

This is a non-credit workshop created by Art Teacher on the Net residing in San Diego, California. Indiana Librarians have been approved to receive 12 LEU's for completing the course.

For more information Contact-Valerie Colston @ 858-453-2ART or through email at crafts@artmuseums.com or art259@hotmail.com

Sign Up Today for the May 8, 2009 workshop at http://www.artmuseums.com/youthlibrarian.htm
This is a 4 week workshop only $59.00 (USD) UK, Canadian, Australian and other currency accepted on the Pay Pal secure website.

You may purchase the class online through a secured site or school and Library checks are also accepted upon approval.

Contact:
Valerie Colston
Art Teacher on the Net
858-453-2278
crafts@artmuseums.com
art259@hotmail.com

Aurora, Colo., April 22, 2009 — Current NEBASE libraries will be moving to BCR for their OCLC products and services starting July 1, 2009, as the result of a recommendation from the Nebraska Library Commission and an agreement between BCR and OCLC.

The move of Nebraska’s libraries using OCLC services to obtain those services through BCR is the result of a decision made by the Nebraska Library Commission to dissolve NEBASE as an OCLC network. By obtaining OCLC services through BCR, Nebraska libraries automatically become BCR members and will benefit from BCR’s extensive experience working with libraries and their national membership base.

“BCR has a history of providing some services to Nebraska libraries, and we’re pleased to expand that relationship into other areas,” noted Brenda Bailey-Hainer, BCR’s President and CEO. “Our newest members will benefit from our long-standing relationship with OCLC in providing quality training and service.”

“The Nebraska Library Commission was pleased with responses from BCR to its concerns over NEBASE members’ needs for billing, support and training. We believe working with an experienced regional organization will provide members the same level of service that they had with NEBASE,” says Devra Dragos, NEBASE Director of Network Services.

To assist with the move to BCR, Regan Harper, BCR’s Director of Training and OCLC Services, who is heading up the transition team, will be meeting with Nebraska libraries at a “Farewell to NEBASE” event being held June 25, at the Marriott Cornhusker Hotel, in Lincoln.

About BCR
BCR brings libraries together for greater success by expanding their knowledge, reach and power. They offer a broad range of solutions and their hands-on, personal attention to each member enables them to deliver effective and timely solutions that help libraries keep pace with new developments in technology and services. BCR is the nation’s oldest and most established multistate library cooperative. Since 1935, the BCR team has helped libraries learn new skills, reach patrons, increase productivity and save money. BCR (Bibliographical Center for Research) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Aurora, Colorado. For more information, visit www.BCR.org or email info@BCR.org.

YELLOWKNIFE (April 20, 2009) – In line with the 16th Assembly’s vision of ‘Northerners Working Together’, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) has increased direct funding to libraries for the 2009-2010 financial year. The Assembly has identified “healthy, educated people” as one of the six goals of this vision.

This increase in funding will allow smaller libraries to increase their operations from 20 hours per week to 30 hours per week and will also allow libraries to address cost increases resulting from increased utility rates, shipping rates and service use. Circulation has increased by 69% in the last two years.

“It is important to us that NWT residents have quality library services available to them,” said Minister Jackson Lafferty. “We hope that this increased funding will make additional and improved services available to NWT residents who are on the journey of lifelong learning and literacy.”

The Department of ECE is responsible for providing free public library services to residents across the Northwest Territories. ECE supports libraries in 15 communities in a number of ways and provides direct services to residents in the remaining communities through web and postal service. In conjunction with close to a $270 million investment in education, this increase in library funding is one of the ways the Government of the Northwest Territories is building the future and expanding programming for children and youth.

For more information, please contact:

Shawn McCann
Manager of Public Affairs
Education, Culture and Employment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 920-6222
E-mail: shawn_mccann@gov.nt.ca

The funding increase supports a new vision for the public library system, which is focused on building seamless access to information and services through Alberta’s public library network.

“This is an investment in Albertans,” said Premier Ed Stelmach. “We want to help libraries provide seamless access to books, resources and people for the benefit of all Albertans no matter where they live, work or read.”

Budget 2009 allocates $32 million for public libraries - a $9 million increase over last year. Of this increase, $7 million will go directly to local library boards and regional library systems to deliver basic library services and respond to community needs. The remaining $2 million increase will be invested in technology, helping further the new vision as well as promoting collaboration and innovation within the library network.

“This means someone in Hanna will have the same access to books, programs and DVDs as someone in Calgary,” said Municipal Affairs Minister, Ray Danyluk. “To improve access to library services we plan to harness technology and help libraries work together. It just makes sense.”

Alberta’s vision for libraries builds on feedback heard through extensive MLA-led consultations with library stakeholders last fall.

“Through our consultations, we encountered many Albertans who are passionate and committed to quality library service in their communities,” says Jeff Johnson, MLA for Athabasca-Redwater and chair of the MLA Committee. “We appreciate their ideas on how to create a solid framework for world-class public library service for Albertans.”

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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Jody Korchinski, Communications
Alberta Municipal Affairs
780-427-8862

The Value of One...the Power of Many
Public Libraries Supporting Albertans

SLA@Pratt is the Pratt School of Information and Library Science Student Chapter of the Special Libraries Association, the career fair is aimed at students in the New York metropolitan area on Library and Information Science Courses, and will enable them to meet with a variety of industry recruiters and listen to a variety of scheduled speakers from the publishing industry.

SLA@Pratt will be the first annual SLA career fair, this will provide opportunity for a question and answer session with established figures within the publishing industry, and allow professionals to share their experiences with students.

Based on experience of working with the editors of 200 journals these author workshops provide insight to help new or potential authors and give them the best possible chance of publication helping authors progress successfully through the various stages from pre-submission of the manuscript, to revision and, finally, publication.

James Comments “The career fair is a great opportunity for students to find out more about the publishing world. Emerald is dedicated to providing a network of support for these students and to helping provide them with the necessary knowledge to take with them in to the working world.”

For further information regarding the event visit http://mysite.pratt.edu/~sla/