Semester Complete

I submitted my final projects for LIS 6530 (Young Adult Literature) on Tuesday and just wrapped up the last lecture. As of about 5 minutes ago, I am officially done with Spring/Summer 2012 term!

On the flip side, I am saddened by the fact that I won't be taking another class taught by Suzanne Todd...

I'll share my final grade when it's officially posted.

Four Becomes Five

As part of my final for LIS 6530 (Young Adult Literature), I am required to read four books on a single subject/topic and then write a paper explaining how the books contribute to the overall theme. Expanding upon the literature review I first began in LIS 6510 (Current Literature for Children: Infant - Grade 3), I am continuing to read my way through Holocaust Literature; however, this time the primary audience is tweens and teens. Selecting just four books has proven to be a challenge and I wanted to choose books in which I haven't yet read...and books that were written from different angles. It looks like I'll be covering five...

 Once by Morris Gleitzman

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli

The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman

Emil and Karl by Yankev Glatshteyn

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys



Once by Morris Gleitzman is the first book in a series of four with the fourth still yet to be published. Naturally, I couldn't resist reading the others. Here's a passage out of the second book, Then:

"One of the Hitler Youth at the front of the marching column yells something to he others and they all stop.

Right next to us.

Four of the Hitler Youth step out of the column and stride towards us. Behind them, a Nazi soldier raises his gun like he's keen to join in.

My insides are throbbing with fear.

I get ready to throw myself at the Hitler Youth if they touch Zelda.

But it isn't Zelda that they touch. It's Cyryl. They grab him and slap him and punch him really hard. His mother lets out a shriek, but when they turn to her she smothers her mouth with her hand.
They punch and slap Cyryl some more.
I get furious.
I can't help it. When I see how much those Hitler Youth thugs are enjoying what they're doing, I stop being Wilhelm and take a step toward them.
As soon as I do, I come to my senses. What am I doing? I'm not a fighter. I can't protect Cyryl. All I'm doing is getting my family into trouble.
Genia grabs me and pulls me back.
The jolt makes the Richmal Crompton book fall out of my shirt onto the ground. For a moment I think I'm sprung. I brace myself to be arrested.
But nobody notices.
Mrs. Szynsky is too busy helping Cyryl to his feet. The Hitler Youth thugs are too busy taking their places back in the column.
I crouch down to grab the book.
Just before my hand makes contact with it, the Hitler Youth leader yells something again.
I look up. He's not yelling at me, he's yelling at the column to start marching again, which they do.
But as the column marches off, one of the other Hitler Youth, not one of the thugs, stares at the book on the ground in front of me.
And does an amazing thing.
He grins at me. And with a small movement of his hand, so the other Hitler Youth can't see him, he gives me a thumbs-up.
I blink. Did he really do that?
Is he telling me he's a Richmal Crompton fan too?
I grab the book and stuff it back inside my shirt and stand up and try to look like nothing has happened.
Nobody seems to be looking at me.
Well, hardly anybody.
The Hitler Youth column is halfway across the square now, but the boy who saw the book is still throwing glances back in my direction."

Inside a Toddler's Brain

Via Facebook, the following image which details the inside of a toddler's brain has been making its rounds. It certainly gave me a chuckle.

I think this image should've been inside the front cover of my children's literature textbook and included in my programming class. Children's librarians should take note...

Image by Melissa Balmain - Parenting magazine

Maurice Sendak Exhibit

On Thursday, February 16, my friend Janet (and fellow MLIS candidate) cruised across the state to visit Spring Lake District Library in order to check out the exhibit: "In A Nutshell: the Worlds of Maurice Sendak."

An article by Dawn Veltman in the Muskegon Chronicle details the exhibit:

Sendak is the illustrator of more than 100 picture books. The exhibit explores the influence of Jewish culture and history in his works, revealing the push and pull of New and Old World and how his artistic journey led him deeper into his own family’s history and his Jewish identity.

This exhibit is a study of Sendak’s illustrations, showing connections between his iconic works and Sendak’s childhood, family and the popular culture of the time.

Eight double-sided panels will feature illustrations of ferocious creatures, curious children and vibrant neighborhoods, alongside thematic descriptions of the Jewish culture and history that influenced his themes and works.

The press release...
Traveling exhibit on beloved author 

I obtained permission to photograph the exhibit -- images can be downloaded (which allows you to zoom in and read the text).

30Y.30L Tour (#26): Rawson Memorial District Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Tuesday, January 17, I interviewed Kate Van Auken, director at Rawson Memorial District Library, over a delicious lunch at Nick's Country Oven in Cass City.

I first met Kate last August when I toured the library and did a write-up titled Rural Gem: Rawson Memorial District Library. At our initial meeting, I learned that Kate was also enrolled in LIS 6510. Just a few weeks later, we found out that we'd be working together in a group for class projects with fellow student (now alum) Darlene Hellenberg. Both Kate and Darlene have been contributors for Hermionish.

Location
Rawson Memorial District Library is located in downtown Cass City, Michigan which is about 15 miles east of Caro, the county seat of Tuscola County. From my home library (Sandusky District Library), Rawson is 30 miles southeast or 40 minutes. To give an understanding of the library's location for those not familiar with the area, RMDL is about 100 miles north (roughly 2 hours) of Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, on Wayne State University's downtown Detroit campus.

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget
RMDL serves the Village of Cass City, Elkland Township, Elmwood Township, and Novesta Township. The population in the area is about 9,000 giving the library a Class 3 designation. According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 3 library serves a population of 7,000 to 11,999 and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 30 hours per week;
• Employ (at least 30 hours per week) a director with at least a Level 3 certificate.

Other relevant facts and figures:

• Operating budget: just over $300,000
• 32,000: number of items in the collection
• 60,000: the number annual circulation hovers around
• Staff: 7 part-time, 4 full-time
• 60: the number of hours open to the public each week

About the Director
Background: Kate studied business and marketing at Clemson University. Ten years ago, this month, she took the reins and became director of Rawson Memorial District Library.

As mentioned earlier in this post, she is currently working on her MLIS degree via Wayne State University's online program and expects to graduate in spring of 2013. "The MLIS definitely enhances my on-the-job training. I think it makes you more committed."

Favorite part of the job: "All the social aspects. I love the programming and my staff. You get to be a part of people's lives." Kate added, "If you want to sit behind your desk and do reports -- that's one thing -- but you should be out at the desk and circulating like the books."

Review sources: "New York Times Book Review, People magazine, BookPage, Kirkus, Library Journal...I look at a lot of different things."

Advice to those entering the profession: "No matter what position you have in the library, you'll learn lots from other staff. Listen, listen, listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth."

Notes and Observations

• Like Bad Axe Area District Library, RMDL also shelves juvenile and young adult non-fiction materials with the adult non-fiction collection.
• Beverly Dear, director of Sanilac District Library, and Kate split the subscription cost for BookPage. 
• Favorite collections to buy for: young adult and non-fiction.
• In the past, RMDL has had a program: patrons can donate to a charity and their library fines will be forgiven.
• The library has a middle school book club!
• In April of 2004, Rawson Memorial District Library's young adult area was featured in the Voice Youth Advocates (27, no1, p 28 - 29) -- YA Spaces of Your Dreams. 
• The library serves Amish populations. 
• Prior to joining Rawson, Kate was the evening coordinator for Baker College in Cass City.

More photos to come...

30Y.30L Tour (#25): Bad Axe Area District Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Wednesday, January 11, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mimi Herrington, director of Bad Axe Area District Library.

Like Nartker (director of SDL), Herrington has consistently been a go-to person for asking questions pertaining to the LIS-field. For example, just last summer Herrington provided me with the BAADL's collection development policy which put LIS 7340 (taught by Dr. Holley) into rural library terms for me.

My connection to BAADL: When I was working in Huron County as Shelter Operations Manager / Legal Advocate (and interim Executive Director, for a spell), I was putting in incredibly long hours. The distance between my home and work was 40 miles. By the time I was back in Sandusky, the local library would often be closed; therefore, I opted to procure borrowing privileges from BAADL which was based on an annual fee. The fee of $40.00 was well worth it to me as I would no longer feel guilty about using the library's services for free. Thus BAADL became my library away from home, allowing me a quiet place to work on homework and projects before heading home to unwind. Since leaving my post in order to focus on graduate school, I still frequent BAADL as a place to study and use the library's collection for projects (e.g. LIS 6510 with Suzanne Todd).

Location
As the library's name hints, BAADL is located in the City of Bad Axe, Michigan which is the county seat of Huron County. For those not familiar with the area, Huron County is located at the tip of the Thumb -- a peninsula of a peninsula. From my home library (Sandusky District Library), BAADL is 35 miles northwest or about 45 minutes. From Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, BAADL is 112 miles north or about 2.5 hours.

The library is located just off of Huron Avenue -- next to the court house, City Hall, and Bad Axe Police Department.

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget
Bad Axe Area District Library serves the Bad Axe school district which is compromised of the following townships: Bingham (portions), Colfax, Grant, Lincoln, Meade, Verona, and Sheridan. The population for the area is between 6,400 - 6,600 giving the library a Class 2 designation.

According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 2 library serves a population of 4,000 to 6,999 and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 20 hours per week;
• Employ (at least 20 hours per week) a director with at least a Level 4 certificate.

Facts and Relevant Figures:

• Operating budget: $248,000
• BAADL has a staff of 7 -- one of which is full-time (the director)
•  36,000: number of items in the collection
• 73,000: annual circulation which is up from last year
• 56: number of hours open to the public each week

About the Director
When Mimi was home visiting the area from Chicago, she saw an ad in the paper for an opening with Bad Axe Area District Library. Longtime director, Marilyn Berry, was retiring. "It planted a seed in my head," said Herrington. "It's such a great job: being up late grading papers versus being the director of a beautiful library." Mimi has been director since September 2003.

Like many librarians, Herrington was in the education field for several years before entering the LIS field. (Even before her years as a teacher, Mimi practiced law!)

Favorite parts of the job: "Successful children's programming...seeing the excitement...a really good book club -- everyone has read the book...watching them get into the book and characters. Watching children read and learn."

Favorite review sources: Publishers Weekly and Booklist.  (Note: Mimi got me addicted to PW. I get so excited reading about trends and upcoming books!)

Advice to those entering the profession: "I'm very glad I had my legal and education background. It's been so helpful to me. I feel really comfortable. Take an array of classes...stay well-rounded. You see all aspects of society."

Notes and Observations

• Elimination of the personal property tax will cut about $100,000 in revenue to 6 Huron County libraries. Putting it into local terms, its the equivalent to a 10% cut or eliminating 1 service day.
• During Mimi's first month on the job, an issue with the library's insurance popped up. Thanks to her background in law, she was able to quickly and comfortably draft a memo to an attorney to have the issue resolved.
• The library participates in the New Parent project (Huron Medical Center) by supplying the kit with information about the library and its services to babies and families. 
• A rarity worth noting, Bad Axe Area District Library has had excellent collaboration with the schools in the area! Every fall students visit and are provided with a library orientation. Mimi has given presentations to teachers about Michigan e-Library and the many resources available to them as well as administered surveys to students about their various library needs and interests.
• BAADL has a janitor that works 6 days a week for about 2 hours a day at keeping the library looking pristine and beautiful for everyone to enjoy.
• Youth and young adult non-fiction items are shelved with the adult non-fiction collection. Orange dots on the spine labels help patrons identify youth materials.
• Interesting reference questions:
  (1) When MeLcat was likely new on the scene, the library received a phone call from an out-of-area woman looking for a specific dessert recipe. BAADL had the cookbook, copied, and faxed the recipe to the woman's home library.
  (2) An author writing a book was researching bank robberies committed in the 1960s -- specifically looking for information about a blown safe.
  (3) Research was conducted by several local authors including Jacki Howard, author of The Thumb Pointed Fingers, and Richard W. Carson, author of Murder in the Thumb.
  (4) Locating a wedding announcement from 1963 for a 50th wedding anniversary party. 
• Special collections: Tumblebooks, cemetery records, local history, Bad Axe Historical Society books and records, BAHS yearbooks, microfilm collection, Golden Jubilee, and the Wall of Flame. 
• My favorite quote from interviewing Mimi: [About her library job] "I never get that pit in my stomach on Sunday nights."

Road Trip: Where the Wild Things Are

Last semester in LIS 6510, a fellow student shared information about an interesting (and on-going) exhibit at Spring Lake District Library that features beloved author and illustrator Maurice Sendak.

MLive article about the exhibit: Here's where the wild things are

The exhibit runs until Friday, February 24.

Road trip! (planned for Thursday, February 16)...

Bibliography: Holocaust Literature for Children

As promised, I am sharing my bibliography...

To facilitate my selection, I used the Books and Authors database available via the Michigan eLibrary. The majority of the books were inter-library loaned from libraries and universities throughout Michigan, several items were available at the 5 libraries in which I hold cards, and the remaining materials were purchased for my private collection.

Note: Clicking on the book covers will take you to the relevant WorldCat entry.

Adler, D.A. (1997). Hiding from the Nazis. New York, NY: Holiday House.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Karen Ritz
ISBN: 9780823412884; OCLC: 35566065

Overview: This work of non-fiction not only gives the reader a history lesson about World War II and the Holocaust, but also makes it a personal experience. Adler tells the story about a young girl who placed into hiding with several families. By the end of the story, the war ends and the girl is to be reunited with her parents. Like many young children who were cared for by foster families, Lore has grown attached and the memory of her biological parents has faded with time. At the story's close, the reunited family is living in the United States and Lore is learning to trust her parents. Of note, Holiday House recommended this book for children ages 7 and up or grade level 2 and up. A review by School Library Journal recommended this piece for grade levels 2 - 4.

Illustration notes: On page 21, Ritz depicts a scene in which after receiving a warning of incoming Nazi soldiers, a young Lore is being whisked away by Cornelia via bicycle. In the background, the reader can see a rural scene that includes a farmhouse and a windmill.

Opinion: While this work is, indeed, a work of non-fiction, it reads much like any children's picture book, but with a touch more of history interwoven into the story. In comparison, I did not enjoy this book as much as some of the other pieces selected for this project; however, I feel that Adler's work would be perfect for introducing the topic of World War II and the Holocaust to young children.

Adler, D.A. (1995). One yellow daffodil: A Hanukkah story. San Diego, CA: Gulliver.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Lloyd Bloom
ISBN: 9780152005375; OCLC: 31241447

Overview: Morris Kaplan, a flower shop owner, goes about his day-to-day life until one holiday season changes things up a bit for him. Kaplan gets invited to light Hanukkah candles with a local family who are regular customers of the flower shop. During his visit, Kaplan mentions that he used to celebrate Hanukkah every year when he was still living in Poland. As the story progresses, you learn that he was a prisoner at Auschwitz and saw a single daffodil growing in the middle of nowhere. Kaplan said to himself, "If that daffodil can survive here, maybe I can, too." Adler writes, "Morris knows that luck, more than anything saved him. But he feels the flower saved him, too." Of note, a review by Booklist recommended the book for children ages 5 - 8 while the publisher cites ages 6 and up.

Illustration notes: On page 26, a full-page illustration features Morris Kaplan sitting on a rock within the yard at Auschwitz. His hand is holding his chin while he looks to be studying a single, small daffodil poking out of the ground. This illustration powerfully moves the story by giving the reader an actual image of what his surroundings looked like.

Opinion: This item came in late via interlibrary loan and I almost did not include it for this project as I had already finished part I. I must admit that I was completely moved by this story with tears running down my cheeks. I highly recommend this book.

Bunting, E. (2002). One candle. New York, NY: Joanna Cotler Books.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrator: K. Wendy Popp
ISBN: 9780060281168; OCLC: 47717793

Overview: This story takes place in modern times during a family's Hanukah celebration. Every year the grandmother and her sister, Rose, are asked by the grandchildren to retell a story about their time at Buchenwald, a concentration camp during World War II. The two sisters worked in a kitchen preparing food for German officers. With the advent of Hanukah, the grandmother decides to steal a potato in order to make a candle to mark the Festival of Lights. Each year while telling her story, the grandmother partakes in a similar activity by carving out a potato and lighting it as a candle.

Illustration notes: Popp's illustrations look almost like antique photographs with rich colors full of emotion and expression. On page 9 of the story, a full-page illustration depicts the two sisters sharing a tender moment while the potato sits on the table before them.

Opinion: I was moved by this story. Bunting does a great job with weaving a piece of piece of historical fiction that could be supplemental to a classroom discussion on World War II and the Holocaust.

Deedy, C.A. (2000). The yellow star: The legend of King Christian X of Denmark. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Henri Sørensen
ISBN: 9781561452088; OCLC: 43561646

Overview: This story tells the legend of King Christian X standing up to the Nazis when they occupied Denmark. Unlike most occupied countries, this country's leader refused to fly the Nazi flag atop his palace and had it removed much to the regime's chagrin. When the regime demanded that Danish Jews wear yellow stars on their clothing, the King countered by wearing it himself and his people followed.

Illustration notes: On pages 18 - 19, Sørensen depicts a pensive King Christian with his hand on his chin. He doesn't stop there. Above and beside the King, the reader gets a visual of his thoughts: a Danish military being defeated -- an airplane with a billow of smoke, a severely damaged naval ship, and a rubble-strewn city with a tank crawling through the streets. The illustrations are rich and full of warm colors. Sørensen's style reminds me a touch of Claude Monet's work.

Opinion: I enjoyed the spirit of this book -- standing up against evil. At the end of the book, there is a two-page spread titled "Author's Note" which explains that the story is merely a legend or tale; however, the author offers several facts about Danes during the War. Based on the illustrations and the story itself, I can see this book appealing to readers and teachers alike.

Drucker, M., Halperin, M. (1993). Jacob's rescue: A Holocaust story. New York, NY: Bantam.
Category: Chapter Book
This book does not contain illustrations
ISBN: 9780553089769; OCLC: 26857810

Overview: Like many other Holocaust stories, this story is set in Poland; however, it is based on a true story (Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis and Dr. Samuel Oliner). The story begins in present day when a Jewish family is gathered for a Passover Seder and two non-Jewish members are present, the Roslan family. The children are curious about their connection to the family. Inquiring about the strangers' presence, a story of survival is recounted -- the Roslan family hid young Jacob from the Nazis during World War II.

Opinion: According to the publisher, the age range for this book is 9 and up. Following the publisher's recommendation, this book would be appropriate for students in the third grade. I found myself not able to put this book down as I wanted to know Jacob's story. This book will be recommended to other readers interested in the topic.

Feder, P.K. (1995). The feather-bed journey. Morton Grove, IL: A. Whitman.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Stacey Schuett
ISBN: 9780807523308; OCLC: 0807523305

Overview: Feder weaves a tale of a grandmother's story of survival as a child in Poland during World War II. When leaving their home for the Jewish ghetto, the family's feather bed is brought with them and serves to keep six children warm during the harsh winter. Through a hole in the wall of the ghetto, she is able to escape and live in the care of a farming family in rural Poland and then in a Jewish colony in the woods. After immigrating to America after the war ends, a large package from Poland is received via mail with a portion of the original feather-bed inside -- turned into a pillow due to an unfortunate fire.

Illustration notes: Throughout the book, Schuett's colorful illustrations take up approximately the top 2/3 of each page. On page 19, the illustration depicts the grandmother (as a child) in a secret compartment between the basement and the main floor of the house. Above her, the reader sees the boots of two soldiers and a female character embracing a young child. The grandmother is looking towards the ceiling in her compartment and has an anxious look on her face.

Opinion: I must admit that I was quite annoyed by the children in this book. Between arguing and subsequently destroying a pillow and then the incessant interruption of their grandmother, I was disappointed by the way Feder chose to portray the children in this story. In reflection, it does not seem that the children are even slightly remorseful at destroying a family heirloom. Beyond the children's reproachable behavior, the story was quite enjoyable.

Hesse, K. (2004). The cats in Krasinski Square. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrator: Wendy Watson
ISBN: 9780439435406; OCLC: 54501550

Overview: This story takes place in Warsaw, Poland during World War II. The story focuses on two girls who escaped from the Jewish ghetto and their plans to smuggle food to their family and friends. Hearing that their plan has been thwarted, they creatively devise a back-up and create a disruption at the train station using the stray cats found in Krasinski Square. The Nazi's dogs go crazy and the girls are able to collect the food from fellow supporters. At the end of the story, the food is delivered to the wall separating the ghetto from the mainstream city with the last page describing the disturbing dissonance between the two worlds: "And the music from the merry-go-round floats in the air, rising, tinsel-bright, above Krasinski Square."

Illustration notes: Overall, the illustrations in this piece are relatively bland and give off a washed-out feeling. Pages 22 and 23 host a two-page spread which depicts the cats of Krasinski Square being released in the train station with the soldiers' dogs charging. Chaos and confusion in the scene is quite apparent and the reader can see the smugglers leaving the scene with their parcels of food.

Opinion: Up until the story's climax, I found the story to flat and relatively uninteresting. Perhaps, if the illustrations were more colorful the story might be a bit more engaging. A child might not understand the story because not much background or explanation is given as to what a ghetto is and what is happening in Poland.

Hoestlandt, J. (1995). Star of fear, star of hope. New York, NY: Walker.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Johanna Kang
ISBN: 9780802783745; OCLC: 31207413

Overview: This book is set in Paris, France during the Nazi occupation in World War II. The story tells the tale of two girls, Helen and Lydia, who are best friends and get separated by the infamous regime. Lydia is staying at Helen's house for her 9th birthday and due to a serious of mysterious events asks to go home shortly after midnight. Helen's father takes Lydia home and she is never seen again as the dates in the story coincide with the infamous Vel' d'Hiv Roundup. At the story's close, Helen as a grown woman reflects back on situation and hopes that Lydia is out there somewhere. Star of Hope, Star of Fear won several awards including ALA Notable in 1995, Batchelder Award in 1996, IRA-CBC Teachers Choice Award in 1995, Sydney Taylor Book Award in 1996, and the Graphics Prize at the 1994 Bologna Book Fair.

Illustration notes: The two-page spread illustration on pages 21 and 22 depicts a very long line of Jews carrying what meager personal belongings they were allowed to possess. The characters in the far-right to the middle of the illustration are shown in detail; however, as the line continues to the left of the page, the detail becomes less apparent which gives the reader a sense of perspective.

Opinion: While I thoroughly enjoyed this piece, the story reeks of nostalgia and sentimentalism which typically do not appeal to young children. Based on that statement, I was surprised to see that the book won as many awards as it did. Setting aside the nostalgia, I found the readability of the text to be quite personable and engaging in a conversational tone which is likely to draw in any reader. Also worth noting, the story was translated from French by Mark Polizzotti.

Johnston, T. (2004). The harmonica. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Ron Mazellan
ISBN: 9781570915475; OCLC: 51899117

Overview: In Poland during World War II, a Jewish family immerses themselves in music to forget the events surrounding them. A father gives his son a harmonica shortly before they are separated. The son is sent to a concentration camp where he continues to play the harmonica for comfort. A German officer hears of his talent and summons him to play each night and giving him extra bread in return. The boy feels conflicted about playing the harmonica and is told by a voice in the night that it is giving others comfort, too. Of note, the publisher recommends this book to children age and 8 and a review by School Library Journal recommends the book for children in grades 3 - 6.

Illustration notes: On pages 11 - 12, a two-page spread depicts the boy playing his harmonica while his mother and father dance to the music. The boy's eyes are closed showing his involvement and concentration in creating the music. By his parents' expressions, they are experiencing much pleasure and joy in the music.

Opinion: I loved this book and appreciated the literary exploration of conflicted emotions.

Lakin, P. (1994). Don't forget. New York, NY: Tambourine Books.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Ted Rand
ISBN: 9780688120764; OCLC: 28294704

Overview: Sarah wants to surprise her mother with a homemade cake as a birthday present. She finds a recipe, makes a list of ingredients, and walks into town for her shopping. Each store that she visits offers a piece of advice and reminds her, "Don't forget." At last, she ends up at the Singers who have numbers tattooed on their forearms. Sarah has always been uncomfortable around them because of their "secret." The Singers not only help Sarah with her ingredients and baking the cake, but take time to explain their so-called secret which really isn't. Their message ties in with the title of the book, "The numbers should never be a secret, my little Sarahla. If no one knows about bad things, they can happen all over again. Don't forget." Of note, a review by School Library Journal recommends this book for children in grades 1st - 3rd.

Illustration notes: The illustration on pages 17 - 18, which supports the quote above, depicts Mrs. Singer showing and explaining to Sarah about her tattoo. Sarah's expression shows curiosity.

Opinion: I found this story to be both heartwarming and educational. Differing from many books about the Holocaust, the story focuses on postwar life in a predominately Jewish neighborhood.

McDonough, Y.Z. (1997). Anne Frank. New York, NY: H. Holt.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Malcah Zeldis
ISBN: 9780805049244; OCLC: 36037799

Overview: McDonough appropriately tells the story of Anne Frank for young readers. The book covers her move to Amsterdam from Germany as well as life in the secret annex. Rich and vivid illustrations help move the story yet are simple enough for young readers to grasp and understand. The book closes with Otto, her father, publishing the diary after her untimely death in a concentration camp. Of note, a review by School Library Journal recommends this book for children in grades 3 - 5 while the publisher cites ages 7 and up.

Illustration notes: Folk artist Malcah Zeldis created a full-page illustration on page 8 that depicts a Nazi tank and soldiers marching into what is likely Amsterdam, Netherlands. Airplanes fly overhead and several houses look to be on fire within the story's background. The childlike illustrations make the book very visually appealing for young readers.

Opinion: I enjoyed this book and the gentle way that McDonough chose to introduce Anne Frank and tragic story to children. I also fell in love with the illustrations and will now seek out more work by Malcah Zeldis.

McDonough, Y.Z. (2005). The doll with the yellow star. New York, NY: H. Holt.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root
ISBN: 9780805063370; OCLC: 50292827

Overview: McDonough's story follows a young French girl by the name of Claudine who is sent to the United States to live with her aunt and uncle after France becomes occupied by the Nazis. The title of the story is derived from Claudine's doll, Violette, who also has a yellow Star of David stitched onto her clothing. As the story progresses, Claudine becomes separated from Violette when the ship transporting them to the United States catches fire. At the end of the story, after being reunited with her father, the girl discovers her doll in a wooden chest purchased at an auction sale.

Illustration notes: At the top of each chapter, a small full-colored illustration is featured with a couple of full and partial page images also included in each chapter. On page 62, Root shares an illustration of Claudine being reunited with her Papa in America. In reading the story's text, it is explained to the reader that Papa has aged during their separation and the illustration supports the storyline. The father figure looks to be more grandfather-like.

Opinion: According to reviews by School Library Journal and Booklist, the cited age range for this book is grades 3 - 5. Because of the beautiful illustrations, relatively large font size, and overall readability, I found this book suitable for students in the late second grade (advanced reader) and certainly appropriate for most readers in the third grade. While the main character was French, I was somewhat reminded of the American Girl-themed books which I always enjoyed. I would recommend this book to others.

Nerlove, M. (1996). Flowers on the wall. New York, NY: M.K. McElderry.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by the author, Miriam Nerlove
ISBN: 9780689506147; OCLC: 31131868

Overview: Nerlove tells the story about a Jewish family residing in Warsaw, Poland during World War II. The story focuses on the day-to-day survival of the family with the main character being a young girl named Rachel. To pass the time and brighten their dark apartment, Rachel paints brightly colored flowers on the walls. At the end of the book, the story abruptly ends when the family is taken to a Warsaw ghetto. The story closes with the following, "Rachel's dreams, along with those of the thousands of other Warsaw Jews, faded like the flowers on her apartment walls. And then they were gone forever." Of note, a review by School Library Journal recommends this book for children in grades 1st - 4th.

Illustration notes: On page 17, Nerlove depicts a scene in which Rachel and her father are painting flowers on the walls of their apartment. Rachel looks to be enjoying herself while her father looks peaceful and reflective.

Opinion: While I appreciated the author's note at the end of the book, which gave a brief history lesson, I must admit that I did not enjoy this book. I understand that the Holocaust was a very dark time; however, the way in which the story closed, I do not feel as though it is appropriate for the age group unless time is devoted to prepare a lesson plan.

Rubin, S.G., Weissberger, E. (2006). The cat with the yellow star: Coming of age in Terezin. New York, NY: Holiday House.
Category: Chapter Book
This work contains photographs and artwork which are cited at the beginning of the book
ISBN: 9780823418312; OCLC: 56096669

Overview: Rubin and Weissberger developed a biographical piece that tells the story of the children being held prisoner in Terezin, a former military fortress in Czechoslovakia. Formatted as both a chapter and picture book (with real photographs), this book describes day-to-day life and the many coping strategies exhibited by the children. Many people living in Terezin were "transported East" to death camps. The book ends with several of the female roommates being reunited as adults. Of note, the publisher recommended this book for children ages 8 and up thus making it appropriate for those in the third grade.

Illustration notes: On page 23, a large black and white photograph which depicts a group of children who performed the opera Brundibár is displayed. In reading the book's explanation of the photograph, it is a truly amazing image.

Opinion: When I first selected this book, I imagined it to be an illustrated picture book that told the coming of age tale; however, when I cracked it open, I was pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful work of non-fiction complete with real photographs. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it would be very appropriate to use when introducing the Holocaust to young readers.

Russo, M. (2011). I will come back for you: A family in hiding during World War II. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Marisabina Russo
ISBN: 9780375966958; OCLC: 694616188

Overview: In opening the book, the end papers are decorated with old family photographs. Before the story begins, a glossary of terms is offered for the reader. Russo's book tells the story of a young girl asking her Nonna about the charms on her bracelet. The grandmother tells the story behind each charm which adds up to her story of survival during World War II. At the end of the book, an afterword provides the reader with a brief history lesson. According to the publisher, the age level for this book is 5 and up with the reading level cited at kindergarten and up.

Illustration notes: Page 13 is devoted to an emotionally-filled illustration that depicts Nonna as a child looking into an open window where both of her parents are reacting to distressing news. In her haste, the little girl spilled the bucket of chicken feed. The characters' facial expressions look pained and solemn.

Opinion: This is an absolutely beautiful historical story that is set in Italy. The vivid illustrations both added to and supported the story. I appreciated the fact that Russo chose to use a family heirloom to tell a story.

Sim, D.M. (1997). In my pocket. San Diego: CA: Harcourt Brace.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Gerald Fitzgerald
ISBN: 9780152013578; OCLC: 33968843

Overview: Sim shares an autobiographical story about young children being evacuated from Nazi-occupied countries via the Kindertransports. Dorrith, the author and main character, describes the travel and missing her parents. Ultimately, she ends up in Scotland and enjoys living a relatively normal life in which she can play outdoors with friends. Unlike many similar stories, this piece ends before she is reunited with her family making the book's focus on the Kindertransport. Because of the very short sentences and font size, I could see this book being appropriate for children in the 2nd - 3rd grades. Of note, a review by School Library Journal recommended this book for 3rd - 4th grades.

Illustration notes: Pages 7 and 8 feature a very vivid two-page spread with the story's text embedded in the upper left-hand corner. Fitzgerald depicts four children sitting outside on a beautiful sunny day socializing and eating lunch on a yellow blanket. Sim writes, "At last, the time stopped. A big boy said we were in Holland. We sat in a green field and ate cheese sandwiches. We sang songs to the Dutch people who helped us. One song was about a mermaid. They gave us milk and chocolate. Soon we were on our way again." The illustration adds to the story by giving the reader a rich visual image of the scene.

Opinion: While I loved this book, it lacked the fulfilling family reunions that other books about the Holocaust often share. On the other hand, it is realistic because there wasn't always the family reunion. Because of the beautiful illustrations by Fitzgerald, I could easily see children enjoying this book.

Sonderling, E. (1997). A knock at the door. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Wendy Wassink Ackison
ISBN: 9780817244347; OCLC: 35673527

Overview: Sonderling tells the story of a young girl who stumbles upon an isolated German farm during World War II. The Schmidt family takes her in without question and the mysterious girl works on the family farm. Several months later, a German soldier knocks on the door looking for a Jewish girl who escaped from the camp. At that moment, Mrs. Schmidt mentally makes the connection and denies housing a Jewish girl. While cleaning the horse stalls, thankfully the girl is aware of what is happening and takes refuge under a pile of hay. After the soldier leaves empty-handed, the girl identifies herself and the Schmidt family pledges to keep her safe. The story ends with the girl reconnecting with her brother after the war is over.

Illustration notes: On pages 12-13, a two-page spread depicts the Schmidt's kitchen with Mrs. Schmidt looking at the mysterious girl. In this image, the girl looks tired and haggard with a faraway look on her face. The text reads, "She helped Mrs. Schmidt with the cooking and sewing. Mrs. Schmidt wondered about the girl. Someone had taught her how to sew and clean, but the girl never spoke about herself. This girl always seemed sad, and she never smiled."

Opinion: Because this book was created via the Publish-a-Book Contest in 1996, I had trouble finding it as well as locating reviews on its content. Worth noting, the author was born in 1985 and his grandmother is a survivor of the Holocaust. Sonderling gleaned stories from his grandmother which inspired him to create this story. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found the illustrations to be gorgeous. In comparing this book to others, I think it would be appropriate for 2nd grade and up.

Thor, A. (2009). A faraway island. New York, NY: Delacorte Books.
Category: Chapter Book
This book does not contain any illustrations
ISBN: 9780385736176; OCLC: 310399735

Overview: Translated from Swedish by Linda Schenck. Thor tells the story of two sisters who left their family behind in Vienna and took refuge on a rural Swedish island with two foster families. Initially Nellie and Stephie struggle to adapt to their new home; however, by the end of the book both sisters become part of the island community. The story explores the concept of how it feels to be an outsider.

Opinion: When selecting this book, it should be noted that the publisher deemed the age group to be 8 and up and a review by School Library Journal cited the age range of grades 5 - 8. I could see many younger students struggling with this book; however, more mature and advanced readers would likely thoroughly enjoy it. I enjoyed the perspectives offered by this story and would like to look into some of Thor's other work. Of note, this book won the Batchelder Award in 2010 and the list Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People in 2010.

Vander Zee, R., Sneider, M. (2007). Eli remembers. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
Category: Picture Book
Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth
ISBN: 9780802853097; OCLC: 71812646

Overview: Based on actual events, this piece focuses on the history of a Lithuanian-American Jewish family. The story is told by Eli, a young boy, who each year observes his family's sadness during Rosh Hashanah without understanding why. Upon taking a family trip to Lithuania and visiting the Ponar Forest, Eli learns that seven of his family members were killed by Nazis and buried in a mass grave -- hence the lighting of seven candles and his family's sadness. Of note, the publisher recommends this book to children ages 6 and up.

Illustration notes: On the final page of the story, Farnsworth created an image that shows the grandfather and Eli facing each other and holding hands. Eli is looking up into his grandfather's eyes. The illustration fully supports and extends the text, "I looked up at my grandpa. Tears were rolling down his face. He held out his arms to me. I climbed up out of the put and went to him. 'It's okay, Grandpa,' I said. 'It won't be a secret anymore. I'll always remember.'"

Opinion: This beautiful book shares the story of a family's history, but rather hesitantly -- "Some things are too difficult to talk about." I thoroughly enjoyed it and will recommend it to others.

Vos, I. (2000). The key is lost. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
Category: Chapter Book
This book does not contain illustrations
ISBN: 9780439291378; OCLC: 42392169

Overview: This story is translated from Dutch by Terese Edelstein. Vos weaves a cat and mouse story of a Jewish Dutch family, the Zilverstijns, in hiding from the Nazi regime. Due to a number of unfortunate discoveries, the family goes from one safe house to the next and shares their triumphs and tragedies. The story ends with the defeat of the infamous Third Reich.

Opinion: It should be noted that the publisher deemed the age group to be 8 and up and a review by School Library Journal cited the age range of grades 4 - 7. Unlike A Faraway Island, this book's readability is much more appropriate for younger readers as the font size is larger and the book's overall length is considerable shorter. As far as my personal opinion goes, I couldn't put this book down and recommend it those interested in this theme or topic.

Williams, L.E. (1996). Behind the bedroom wall. Minneapolis, MN: Milkweed Editions.
Category: Chapter Book
Illustrated by A. Nancy Goldstein.
ISBN: 9781571316585; OCLC: 33948236
(Note: the cover image reflects the Scholastic edition)

Overview: Unique in perspective, this story follows a German girl who is a member of the Jungmädel, Hitler Youth for young girls. At the beginning of the story, she idolizes Hitler and the Third Reich. As the story progresses, she learns that her parents are harboring a Jewish mother and daughter within their home and finds herself pulling away from the Jungmädel which ultimately puts everyone in danger.

Illustration notes: Black and white illustrations are sprinkled throughout the book. On the bottom of page 130, Goldstein depicts Korinna and her mother at the kitchen table. At this point in the story, she learns of Rachel's illness. In contrast to Korinna's cockiness at the beginning of the story, this illustration shows her "stunned silence" by way of her facial expression.

Opinion: When selecting this book, it should be noted that the publisher deemed the age group to be 8 and up and a review by School Library Journal cited the age range of grades 5 - 8. When I first started reading this book, I was very skeptical because of the perspective offered by Korinna. In fact, I was disheartened by her callousness and cruelty. Without repeating myself, I was pleased to see her personal growth and the discovery of compassion for others.

Other books considered while working on this project:

Bunting, E. (1989). Terrible things: An allegory of the Holocaust. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society. ISBN: 9780827603257; OCLC: 19517516

Fleming, C. (2003). Boxes for Katje. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
ISBN: 9780374309220; OCLC: 48966566

Kacer, K. (2001). Clara's war. Toronto, Ontario: Second Story Press. ISBN: 9781896764429; OCLC: 46624591

Kacer, K. (1999). The secret of Gabi's dresser. Toronto, Ontario: Second Story Press.
ISBN: 9781896764153; OCLC: 45400651

Krinitz, E.N., Steinhardt, B. (2005). Memories of survival. New York, NY: Hyperion.
ISBN: 9780786851263; OCLC: 62934340

Polacco, P. (2002). Christmas tapestry. New York, NY: Philomel Books.
ISBN: 9780399239557; OCLC: 48761333

Propp, V. (1999). When the soldiers were gone. New York, NY: Putnam.
ISBN: 9780399233258; OCLC: 38096948

Wood, J. (2004). Coming on home soon. New York, NY: Putnam.
ISBN: 9780399237485; OCLC: 53356086

30Y.30L Tour (#18): Opperman Memorial Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Thursday, December 15, in the middle of working on a final exam for LIS 6510, I took a break to meet with Glenna Ford, director of the Opperman Memorial Library in Kingston, Michigan.

Out of the libraries selected for this project, Opperman Memorial Library and Reader's Cove are the most unique. Why? Reader's Cove is a private library and Opperman is a cross between a district library and school media center. In other words, it serves both the general public as well as the students and teachers within the school district.

How did I know about Opperman Memorial Library? I first heard about it this past summer when I took collection development (LIS 7340) with Dr. Robert Holley. The class was broken into small groups based upon our library interests with each group required to select or create a library to serve as a model of sorts and one of the groups in my class chose the Opperman Library in Kingston...

Location
Opperman Memorial Library is located off of M-46 in the front part of Kingston High School. From my home library (Sandusky District Library), OML is 18 miles, or about 20 minutes, away. In terms of Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, OML is about 90 miles, or 2 hours, away from the downtown Detroit campus.

History
From the library's website:

It was 1970 that the Kingston Community Library merged with the school library. Jacquelin E. Opperman was the first librarian. It was years later after her death (April 18th, 1980) that her successor Aneita Denhoff had the library renamed Jacquelin E. Opperman Memorial Library. A picture of her hangs in the library along with a biographical sketch and a story about the mark she made on the community. During holidays her ceramics that she made are showcased.

Notes from my visit:
Jacquelin studied at Central Michigan University -- majored in English and minored in Library Science. She graduated in 1958. The new principal at the Kingston school viewed libraries and librarians as useless. If she wanted a library, then she had two months to get it up and running -- which she did.

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget
Opperman Memorial Library serves the Village of Kingston plus four townships: Dayton, Kingston, Koylton, and Wells. To date, the library serves a population of 4,080 -- which is up in comparison to years previous.

Currently, the library is designated as a Class 1 agency, but based on the recent population numbers, there is a possibility that the Library of Michigan might raise OML to a Class 2.
According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 1 library - serves a population of 3,999 or less and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 15 hours per week.
• Employ (at least 15 hours per week) a director with at least a Level 4 certificate.

Other relevant facts and figures:

• OML currently has a collection development budget of $8,000.
• The library is open 46 hours and employs two staff members.
• Part of the school's operating budget covers the library. Think: utilities, copier costs, and cleaning...
• 35,963: number of items in the library's collection.
• Circulation data: 2011 = 13,020 (as of 12/15); 2010 = 12,122; 2009 = 15,974; 2008 = 17,791

About the Director
Glenna Ford first came to Opperman Memorial Library 9 years ago when a staff position opened which would allow her to work where her children went to school. Just two years after joining the Opperman staff, she became library director.

Her favorite part of the job: "Working with the patrons."

Advice to those entering the profession: "Get to know the public. Each individual person is different. You get know what they want and expect out of you and the library. It takes time."

On the late Jim Rancilio: "He was a mentor -- my go-to person. I miss him."

Notes and Observations

• Prior to visiting the library, one of my friends inquired about library security -- since the agency is housed within a school building. In interviewing Ms. Ford, I learned that security really isn't an issue. The library is small enough that it is easy to keep track of patrons and Kingston being a small, close-knit community certainly helps. 
• The library can be used by the public during school hours. 
• A bonus to students: if they can't find what they need in the juvenile non-fiction section for a class project, the adult non-fiction collection is just a few feet away. 
• During the nine years in which Glenna has been with Opperman, she has not experienced a challenge to library materials.
• The library has two special collections - 5 books written by a local author (see slideshow) and the Kingston Enterprise, the local newspaper which is no longer in print, on microfilm.
• Because she would be working for the school, Glenna was subjected to many of the same background check procedures as a teacher.
• A separate room, accessible to library staff,  houses the teachers' collection. 
• The children's collection is housed in a room located off of the main library area.
• Remember Channel One? The digital broadcast equipment is located in the library.
• Opperman has an amnesty week for overdue books during Library Week in April.
• The library is a popular lunchtime hang out for students. Thankfully, I took most of my photos beforehand! 
• I love how Glenna alternated spine label colors for the picture book collection. Example: All of the As are one color and all of the Bs are a different color! It makes for easy browsing and shelving.

Fall 2011 Grades

Click on image to enlarge...

The Dirty Life

The very first friend in which I made after moving to the sticks just six years ago is Andrea. She highly recommended the book: The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball and said that I would likely relate to it.

Taking three classes, two of which were literature-based, I didn't have much time for pleasure reading this past term so it was tabled until at least mid-December. A family member was between books so I lent The Dirty Life to them and soon learned that they were moved by the piece and admitted to devouring it in just a few sessions.

Since I am officially on winter break, I have carte blanche to stay up late and read whatever my heart desires. Last night, I finished the book and all I can say is: holy cats! What a terrific read. And yes, I certainly related to the book.

One of the gorgeous and highly annoying things about Mark's personality is that, once he bites into an idea, he'll worry it to death, exploring every possibility, expanding it to the point of absurdity and then shrinking it back down, molding it around different premises, and bending logic, when necessary, to cram it into a given situation. No matter what he is doing or saying or thinking, the idea is perking away in the background of his formidable brain, details accruing. Bits of it will surface, iceberglike, in a burst of chatter, but the bulk of it remains hidden until whole thing appears at once, fully formed and fiercely defended (p. 57 - 58).

My dirty life: plowing with a 1937 JD this
past August

Kimball apparently described me to a T.  (insert sheepish grin)

Publishers Weekly said the following about The Dirty Life: 

Kimball chucked life as a Manhattan journalist to start a cooperative farm in upstate New York with a self-taught New Paltz farmer she had interviewed for a story and later married. The Harvard-educated author, in her 30s, and Mark, also college educated and resolved to "live outside of the river of consumption," eventually found an arable 500-acre farm on Lake Champlain, first to lease then to buy. In this poignant, candid chronicle by season, Kimball writes how she and Mark infused new life into Essex Farm, and lost their hearts to it. By dint of hard work and smart planning--using draft horses rather than tractors to plow the five acres of vegetables, and raising dairy cows, and cattle, pigs, and hens for slaughter--they eventually produced a cooperative on the CSA model, in which members were able to buy a fully rounded diet. To create a self-sustaining farm was enormously ambitious, and neighbors, while well-meaning, expected them to fail. However, the couple, relying on Mark's belief in a "magic circle" of good luck, exhausted their savings and set to work. Once June hit, there was the 100-day growing season and an overabundance of vegetables to eat, and no end to the dirty, hard, fiercely satisfying tasks, winningly depicted by Kimball.  

I loved the write-up by NPR: 'The Dirty Life': From City Girl to Hog Butcher

My dirty life: picking rocks this past summer

My Thoughts:
If non-fiction is your cup of tea and you enjoy reading memoirs, I highly suggest this book -- particularly if you are interested in the "country life." Even if non-fiction isn't your ideal read, I found this book to be very entertaining. It made me laugh, sigh, and even get misty-eyed.

Want the book?
ISBN: 9781416551607; OCLC: 555638400; WorldCat: The Dirty Life; MeL: The Dirty Life

(Thank you for recommending such an enjoyable read, Andrea!)

30Y.30L Tour (#11): Eastpointe Memorial Library

On Monday, December 5, I took a road trip down to Eastpointe, also known as East Detroit, and met with Sue Todd, Assistant Director of Eastpointe Memorial Library. I've been asked, "Why Eastpointe?" Well, the answer is simple. Sue Todd is adjunct faculty at Wayne State University and my instructor for LIS 6510 (Children's Literature: Infant - 3rd Grade). I have thoroughly enjoyed her class and wanted to get a chance to chat with her about the LIS field and thank her for a wonderful semester.

Location
I had to laugh when thinking about how to write this section. If you have been following the 30Y.30L posts, you'll notice that I cite mileage and general direction from Purdy-Kresge Library in Detroit. Well...this library is just a hop, skip, and a jump from campus.

Eastpointe Memorial Library is just 10 miles northeast of Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, on Wayne State University's downtown Detroit campus. For those living in the Thumb area, EML is 75 miles southwest of Sandusky District Library.

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget 
Eastpointe Memorial Library serves primarily the City of Eastpointe, but also the surrounding areas which include Harper Woods, Roseville, and Saint Clair Shores. I was astounded by the population numbers: Eastpointe (32,422), Harper Woods (14,236), Roseville (47,299), and Saint Clair Shores (59,715) -- giving the library's service population a total of: 153,672. Because the library's primary service area is Eastpointe and the population is less than 49,999,the agency falls under a Class 5 designation.

According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 5 library serves a population of 26,000 to 49,999 and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 50 hours per week.
• Employ (at least 35 hours per week) a director with a Level 1 certificate. The director will complete the New Director’s workshop within one year of becoming a director and complete the Advanced Director’s workshop within two years of becoming a director.

You may have noticed that the libraries visited thus far have been a Class 1 - 3 agency which requires the director to have a minimal of Level 3 - 4 certification (depending on the class size); however, when a library is designated as a Class 4 or Class 5 agency, the director is required to have a higher certification. Here is the low-down on library staff certification from the Library of Michigan:

Level 1 certification requires:
(a) A master’s degree or its equivalent from a library school accredited by the American Library Association, and
(b) Four years of full-time library employment, or its equivalent, after receiving an MLS.

Level 2 certification requires:
(a) A master’s degree or its equivalent from a library school accredited by the American Library Association.

Level 3 certification requires:
(a) A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, and
(b) Completion of the Beginning Workshop offered by the Library of Michigan.

Level 4 certification requires:
(a) A high school diploma or equivalent, and
(b) One year of full-time library employment after receiving high school diploma or equivalent, and
(c) Completion of the Beginning Workshop offered by the Library of Michigan.

Eastpointe Memorial Library has an operating budget of $708,000. Comparing the budget to just two years ago, EML experienced -33% change!

Other relevant data:
Number of items in collection: 69,320; annual circulation: 158,038.

About the Assistant Director
Sue, an alumna of the School of Library and Information Science at Wayne State University, began her career in the LIS field 27 years ago when she first started at Eastpointe Library while working on her MLIS. However, certainly worth noting, she was a library aide during her middle school years and worked, while in undergrad, cataloging dissertations for Michigan State University's library.

According to the library's website, her first professional position was that of Adult Services Librarian. The year 2004 was a big one for Sue! It's when she first started teaching for the SLIS program at WSU and she became the Youth Services Librarian. Almost 5 years later, in spring of 2009, Sue became the Assistant Director of Eastpointe Memorial Library.

Favorite Part of the Job:
"Talking to the patrons. We have a good collection and good people on staff -- it's what keeps them coming back. The two go hand-in-hand: without the collection, we won't exist; without the people, we won't exist." Sue also enjoys when patrons who used the library as children come back with children of their own.

Advice to those entering the profession:
Sue offered tons of advice throughout the interview! "Every job can apply to the LIS field...Know your patron base...If you see a patron coming out of the stacks empty-handed, ask them if they need help finding something...Make yourself available and approachable...You need to adapt to different personalities...Be open-minded. Be flexible. Jobs will be available. You need to make yourself relevant."

Notes and Observations

• Due to budget cuts, the library no longer has pages on staff. Everyone pitches in and shelves these days.
• EML has a parent-teacher collection in the youth department.
• The library has a wonderful courtyard/patio that is used for story time and the summer reading program.
• Youth services typically has the most sections to navigate. 
• Sue finds the collection shelved under J398.2 the most difficult to weed. 
• EML is participating in the Geek the Library campaign.
• The library belongs to the Suburban Library Cooperative.
• By the time I left the library, it was 6:30p and dark! I couldn't take any exterior photos. (I didn't get home until 8:30p.)
• EML is one of the few libraries in the Metro-Detroit area that has a Christmas tree on display during the holiday season.