Posts Tagged ‘News’

Opportunity to speak up

Friday, February 11th, 2011

Next week Decatur Librarian Cecilia Barham, Decatur Youth Services Librarian Katie Morris and Newark Library Director Megan Suffling will attend Library Legislative Day to discuss proposed budget cuts with state legislators.

They will also give the legislators letters and notes written by patrons expressing the importance of the libraries in Wise County. If you would like to submit a note, visit your local library before the end of the day Monday and fill out a card with your name, address and what the library means to you.

The proposed cuts are severe, so if you appreciate your library, let your voice be heard. Read the Feb. 13 edition of the Messenger for more information about how these cuts will affect the libraries in Wise County.

You can also learn more about the issues on the Texas Library Association website.


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Library wins award

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

For the second consecutive year, the Decatur Public Library earned the Achievement of Excellence Award from the Texas Municipal League. The library also won the award in 2006.

It’s a prestigious award that was given to only 27 libraries in the state of Texas this year, and librarian Cecilia Barham said it’s rewarding to see that their work is impacting the community.

“I just think it means we’re doing something right,” said Barham. “It’s awarded based on how you’re serving your community, and this is a formal acknowledgement that we’re meeting our community’s needs.”

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Awards announced in January

Monday, February 8th, 2010

whenNewbery Medal winner – “When You Reach Me,” by Rebecca Stead

lionCaldecott Medal winner – “The Lion & the Mouse,” illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney

The Association for Library Service to Children announced the winners of its book and media awards during the American Library Association midwinter meeting in January. Among those named were the winners of the Newbery and Caldecott medals.

I remember my elementary school librarian explaining the significance of the awards. She showed us the beautiful artwork in the Caldecott books and shared rich stories with us from the Newbery winners. It wasn’t long before I was searching out those books with an award seal when I went to the library. They were “guaranteed to be good.”

The ALSC has lists of past winners on its web site (Newbery and Caldecott), and I enjoyed browsing through them while looking up the most recent winners.

Some of my favorite Newbery books that I read as a kid included “Sarah Plain and Tall,” “Dicey’s Song,” “Bridge to Terabithia” and “A Wrinkle in Time.”

What are some of your favorites?


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Author mix-up

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Recognize this?

brown-bear

What about this? Look familiar?

chickachicka

That’s what I thought. Of course, you recognize them. They are two beloved children’s books by Bill Martin Jr.

Ever seen this one?

ethicalmarxism

Didn’t think so. Even at a glance,  it’s pretty obvious which book or books are appropriate for children. Apparently, it wasn’t very obvious to the Texas State Board of Education. Last week the Associated Press reported (“Confusion bars children’s author from curriculum”) that the board, in all its brilliance, banned the work of Bill Martin Jr. and Bill Martin from elementary school curriculum.

I know the covers are easily confused, and “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” just sounds like a natural extension of Marxism, but this mistake could have been avoided with some relatively simple research. Apparently no one did the proper research, and it was a classic case of assuming someone else did the homework.

If they’re making decisions about what our children will study in school, shouldn’t they all be doing their homework?

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Posted in Authors, News | 6 Comments »

Train of thought interrupted

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Last night didn’t go quite as I had planned. Instead of getting to prattle on about books on my blog and leisurely recall those I have read during the last decade, I had to actually write news stories … my, umm, real job.

Anyway, I will deliver the list as promised, probably on Thursday, but in the meantime I thought you would find this interesting.

Miep Gies, who helped hide Anne Frank, dies at 100

It has been years since I read “Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl,” and I had no idea anyone associated with Anne Frank was still alive. Obviously, Ms. Gies was not only brave, but also loving and generous.

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