Comments on Fairfax Library Foundation: Hey, check out the winners!

Thanks to the Fairfax Library Foundation, I was ab...

2009-05-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Fairfax Library Foundation, I was able to attend a great BER seminar led by Deborah Hipes, an expert in children's and young adult literature. Deborah's enthusiasm for YA literature was contagious. She covered hundreds of great new titles, and she also discussed ways in which librarians and teachers could use those titles in programs and for specific recommendations to teens. I've already shared much of the information with my Youth Services team at my branch, and they're also impressed with the quality of Deborah Hipes' information and teaching. Many, many thanks to the Fairfax Library Foundation!

A Conference Result Several key points I learned ...

2009-04-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

A Conference Result

Several key points I learned in workshops at the 2009 Computers in Libraries conference, held March 30 – April 1 in Crystal City, have resulted in a special campaign at George Mason Regional Library in honor of National Poetry Month.

These key points are:
1. Build partnerships and collaborate in the use of staff and materials.
2. Engage people – involve your staff and your customers.
3. Use your own photography to engage your community, document events, and publicize activities.

When the Youth Services staff at George Mason was planning a book display for National Poetry Month (#2 Engage People), I decided to see what others were doing (#1 Partnerships and Collaboration), and began surfing the web.

As I was browsing www.poets.org, a site sponsored by the Academy of American Poets, I discovered an event called “Poem in Your Pocket Day.” I thought incorporating this event into our display might generate interest and enthusiasm with our customers.

Working on a sign, I could not locate an appropriate graphic. Remembering another key point (#3 Use your own photography), I staged a photo. When I shared the completed flyer (attached) with branch manager Kay Rzasa, she encouraged me to also post it in the staff kitchen, and invite staff to participate between ourselves on April 30. In addition, she asked me to share the flyer with others in the library system for their possible use.

All of this resulted from just a portion what I learned at Computers in Libraries. Thank you, Fairfax Library Foundation, for sponsoring my attendance.

Susan Ujka Larson
Youth Services Manager
George Mason Regional Library

I'm now half way through my Newbery class thanks t...

2009-03-03T17:39:00.000-08:00

I'm now half way through my Newbery class thanks to the Friends Scholarship and I am loving it!

It's an online class and I'm "meeting" people from across the country and reading the best of children's literature. There have been great discussions and we have been delving into not only the winning books themselves but the thinking of what makes a book win awards over others just as deserving. It's also caused great discussions at work and home as everyone seems to have an opinion on what was the best or worst Newbery winner and the book that was robbed of the title.

Thank you so much for sponsoring me in this class - it helps me to know that the Library is where I belong and it's fun too!

I'm now half way through my Newbery class thanks t...

2009-03-03T17:02:00.000-08:00

Thank you Fairfax Library Foundation for the schol...

2009-02-18T14:16:00.000-08:00

Thank you Fairfax Library Foundation for the scholarship to attend the 2009 Computers in Libraries/Internet @ Schools East conference. Keeping current with the latest in technology broadens my ability to meet the needs of our library customers. What I learned at last year's conference about Twitter, Creative Commons, Wikis, Facebook applications, blogging, Web 2.0, digitization, the International Children's Digital Library, RSS feeds, del.icio.us, and speed searching broadened my ability to respond to questions, troubleshoot equipment, teach Internet and online database use, and understand the needs of those in today's generation who spend so much time interacting with and through technology. I'm excited to continue my education and sharpen my knowledge and skills for serving library customers in Fairfax County.