TeenReads and Children's Book Council

Teenreads.com is collaborating with the Children's Book Council offering teens an opportunity to

share their five favorite books of 2008. The five titles that receive the most "votes" will serve as the finalists for the CBC's 2009 Teen Choice Book Award.A list of nominees can be found at http://www.teenreads.com/features/ccba_nominees_2009.asp, where readers also may find information on how to nominate other titles published in 2008. The deadline for nominating books is January 31, 2009.In February 2009 we will send you information about where readers can go vote for the five finalists. The winner will be announced in May 2009.

Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards

There are many organizations that give out awards for children's books. One is the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. First presented in 1967, these awards are usually announced in June. The three categories are picture book, fiction and poetry and non-fiction. The 2008 winners are:

1. Non-fiction- The Wall by Peter Sis

2. Fiction and Poetry- The Absoulutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

3. Picture Book- At Night by Jonathan Bean

4. Special Citation- The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Horn Book was founded in 1924 by Bertha Mahony to highlight the best in children's literature. For more information and past winners go to http://www.hbook.com/.

Doing Away with Dewey

I attended a library conference where a gentleman from the Perry branch library in Gilbert Arizona spoke about doing away with Dewey. This library is a new facility that uses BISAC, an organizational system bookstores use. They found that in their particular library, the system works. It's a small place, with about 30,000 volumes. According to their surveys, people didn't care about an antiquated system from the 1870's. The more user-friendly BISAC system made for easier browsing and retrieval. Non-fiction is organized by subject, and sub-divided if needed. They maintain that there are few complaints about the new arrangement.

I feel that with all the technology we have at our disposal, we need to find ways to keep patrons coming to our libraries. If our goal is to make it easier for our customers(because that's what they are) to find information, then shouldn't we be doing everything in our power to make that information accessible? How important is it to keep a system that might have been relevant in 1873, but has little relevance today? Wouldn't it make more sense to shelve all books on the same subject together, instead of looking in three or four places? What do you think? I would love to hear your comments.

Try the Ning Thing!

If you haven't yet discovered Ning (http://www.ning.com) - it's time! In their words: "Ning is the only online service where you can create, customize, and share your own Social Network for free in seconds. You can make it public or private and for anything - and anyone - you'd like." Very cool. There are lots of library groups formed and forming, so sign-up (it's free) and join in discussion!
Be sure to check out Library 2.0, Library Youth and Teen Services 2.0, and Librarian Bloggers!

New Newbery Logo ?

Disco mermaids, three children's authors from the Southern California area, have a "solution to the controversy surrounding " The Higher Power of Lucky, the 2007 Newbery award winner. They have created an amusing logo. "Librarians who feel nervous about children finding scrotums in unexpected places, can now freely express their opinions using merchandise with the Newbery Jewels logo and without needing to remove any books from their shelves." One can order tee shirts, mugs, bags etc. from Cafepress with the above image.

As a children's librarian who reviewed said book(see review in Tweens section), I loved the obvious sarcasm of these women. The "moral majority" seem to have nothing better to do than to scan books, looking for "offensive language" and rooting it out. I for one am against censorship. Everyone has a right to their opinions, but from my perspective, does not have the right to tell me (or my patrons) what they can or cannot read.

we are public servants after all...

Since it is an icy New England day here, I am virtually patron free. I have, in fact, checked out only 6 people in 5 hours. However, 2 of those 6 patrons have complained to me about other librarians either at my own library here or at others in our network. I don't think that we should have a third of our patrons unhappy with our demeanor (both complaints were regarding the attitude of the librarian who helped them.) I think it is important to remember that we are public servants, just like our town selectmen and police officers. We are here to serve, no matter how frustrating or silly we may feel a request might be. Libraries are intimidating to many people and it is sometimes difficult to ask for help. I try to remember that my patrons not only pay my salary but may also already feel a little chagrined at not knowing where to find something. We are librarians and para-librarians working in a world that is rapidly deciding that we are obsolete. It is our job to prove otherwise with understanding, good service and a smile. We are here to help.

ALA's 2006 Most Challenged Books

I am begining to feel that I am the only one who sees "And Tango Makes Three" as a story about penguins and their natural instincts...is it sexual?? If it is I missed it completely! -Aorora


The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) received a total of 546 challenges last year. A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school, requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. Public libraries, schools and school libraries report the majority of challenges to OIF.



"And Tango Makes Three" tops ALA's 2006 listof most challenged books

The "10 Most Challenged Books of 2006" reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:

"And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;

"Gossip Girls" series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;

"Alice" series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;

"The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;

"The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;

"Scary Stories" series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;

"Athletic Shorts" by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language.

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group

"Beloved" by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group;

"The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.

Off the list this year, but on for several years past, are the "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger
"Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain