In Memory of Amanda Jura

December 8th was the anniversary of the death of Amanda Jura, she was my student at Heartland School. She loved to be with friends, shop, swim and she loved to color Winnie the Pooh pictures. It was one of the hardest moments of my teaching years, to mourn a life lost so young and so tragically. So, to honor Amanda's memory I'll bring her to life in Web 2.0, tag her name 3 times, and post a sweet photo I took of her many years ago at a Christmas Party.
It’s been 16years since Amanda’s death, her friends still miss her every day.

Story Time Cautions

This is a cautionary tale, a word to the wise, or remember to preview all sharing from children. This is a true story of sharing by a sweet faced 8 year old girl at a recent storytime. I do a social skill based storytime at the local shelters and this week the skill was, "making an apology" or restitution. After telling a story and reading a book about a little boy who got in trouble, the girl waved her hand in the air and wanted to know if she could tell what she did to get in big trouble. I let the group know the ground rules for sharing, but she is still bouncing up and down wanting to tell her story. Against my gut instinct I agreed to let her tell.
Ana's Story:
Okay, so, one time we got a dog, and he went in my brother's room and peed on his blanket. (so far it's ok). Then, I wrapped the dog in the blanket {I am getting worried}, and put the dog under the bed. Then, my brother came in and took the dog and put it in the freezer {my mind is screaming damage control, damage control}. Then we went to bed, my dad got up in the morning and got mad because when he opened the freezer he found the dog. { I start talking about being kind to animals...} oh, she says, the dog wasn't dead he was still breathing because we wrapped him in 4 blankets!!! {me- tries to bring the group back to topic, "did you say you were sorry?"} oh no! my brother was mad we took the dog out of the freezer, because the dog peed on his blanket. { at this point, it was clearly time to do our craft}

Show and/tell Rules:
#1 all items or stories must be previewed by the presenter
#2. Establish clear boundaries and items which can be shared
#3. Limit time
#4. Use protective interrupting (protect the child from themselves or protect others)
#5. Report/confiscate if necessary (I had a child bring a bullet for show & tell once)

40 Developmental Assets

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world."

The Library Detective

Poor Nanny, Poor Nanny the man in the wheelchair yelled at us. We thought he needed to know about getting a replacement social security card, but now all we heard was "poor nanny, poor nanny". Suddenly it dawned on me he was saying, 490 (it was like a game of Mad Gab).

More Mab Gab talk and I finally figured out he wanted to looked up someone he was in Vietnam with, who had died in combat. I knew you could search the memorial wall online so I put in the name and I had the information. He almost started crying when he had the printout in hand.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall USA

Crystal and Mary, Library Detectives!!!

ChaCha Reference Questions

ChaCha questions to the guides.

Can you answer these in less than 3 minutes and in under 160 characters, using a reliable website.

• How long would it take a dragonfly to travel from New York City to Mexico City?
• How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
• Wut does ipatid mean? (I should give a prize for anyone who gets this)
• Will Jimmy and me get married?
• How many people lived in the United States of America in 1759?
• What is Hannah Montana's phone number? I want to ask her out on a date?

You want more? Let me know?

Overheard at the Library

A young man talking on his cell phone: Yeah, mom I'm coming home, I'm at the corner waiting for the bus. pause... it will be here in 15 minutes. (in truth- he had just signed onto to a 60 minute computer with his friend, they were watching you tube videos.)

After her mom had slapped her hand, A four year old little girl sitting at a computer said this, : "Stop hittin' me, or I'll beat your f----- ass", (the mom stopped, and continued helping the child on the computer)

“Left Behind” series (at the library)

Very nice red briefcase left in the lower parking lot. A very panicked woman called to ask if we had found a briefcase, it was full of confidential material. She was very lucky, it was found untouched.

Ask me anything, I'm a Librarian!!

Imagine this conversation:
Woman: My computer is broke
Me: Silence
Woman: I need laptop repair books so my husband can fix it.
Me: Searching Horizon
Woman: One more thing: it needs to be a dummies repair book, my husband he's not very smart.
Me: OK, here is the section to look in, there will be several books about repairing computers.
She leaves, she returns about 15 minutes later:
Woman: See, I found it, it is perfect for my husband.
Book Title: PC and Laptop repair for Dummies.

Hmmmm, Is it time to call for a computer repair geek???

Big O! Clicks

The grand opening of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha. The bridge design reminds me of, The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge in Boston, MA.

This photo of the fiery explosions could be a metaphor for the discussions surrounding the bridge. I love the bridge!!!

Big O! Clicks

After the much needed rain in Omaha. We call this Yucca plant "Grandpa Joe". It is a transplanted soapweed from the Sandhills. I dug it up and moved it to Omaha in 1984, the year my Grandfather died in Rushville, NE. The plant is thriving.

Ring, Ring Reference

Patron on the phone:
"I am looking for a book that was written about me"

Me: " Do you know the title"

Patron: "Yes, Living Successfully with Screwed Up People, (laughter)

We did have the book.

“Left Behind” series (at the library)

• In a plastic bag: 1 can of Dr. Pepper, 1 can of coke, 3 starbusts candy tubes (dinner?)

• Left behind in the elevator: One small size rolling suitcase and matching duffel bag, both full. Did not open to see contents.

"Left Behind" series (at the library)

• A beard shaver with charger

• One pair of size 13 tennis shoes.

Ask me anything, I'm a Librarian!!

A young man, "Do you have any books on....".
Turns to his Dad, "What is it I like dad?",
Response, "Cars",
Young man to librarian, "Books about the ocean".
They go out to look for the books. Back at the Elevator,
Young man, "How could you forget I liked dinosaurs, dad", holding 3 dinosaur books "I like dionsaurs".

Do not Forward, Do not pass Go!!

Think before forwarding email, the basics.

1. Check with Snopes.com, before you send on something you want me to believe if it is the least bit questionable.

2. Remove all previous addresses of those who emailed it to you.

3. Do not send me emails requiring me to forward this email to _ of my friends and back to you. Not gonna happen.

4. Enter a subject in the subject line.

Ask me anything, I'm a Librarian!!

Asked at 7:00PM

"Is today Thursday?"

Big O! Clicks

I have a new camera and will be posting photos from Omaha in this Blog. First photo from my garden, apparently my garden is growing more then vegetables and produce. Is this a Walking Stick?