[bksvol-discuss] Re: Spreading the word
- From: "Shelley L. Rhodes" <guidinggolden@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 21:43:09 -0500
Spreading the wordAnd Libraries aren't just for books. At least our library
here in Corry isn't. It is a place to play literacy games, do arts and crafts
(we have a die cut machine with some awesome dies), get movies, play with
educational toys, share ideas with friends, surf the internet, and well yeah
read some good books.
Smile.
And we have books on cassette tape .
Our library is a non for profit organization, they don't get any County funding.
Shelley L. Rhodes, VRT
Guide dogs for the Blind Alumni Association
www.guidedogs.com
Reading a book is like rewriting it for yourself. You bring to a novel,
anything you read, all your experience of the world. You bring your history and
you read it in your own terms. -Angela Carter, novelist and journalist
(1940-1992)
----- Original Message -----
From: Valerie Maples
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 12:03 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Spreading the word
Dear Kim;
After having had mixed results on other levels, I met with our head librarian
at our local library with some trepidation. My fears were totally unfounded,
and he was incredibly interested in finding ways to promote Bookshare, even
being willing to contact the staff and ask if we could keep brochures at our
local library and instruct the librarians about its existence. Unfortunately,
occasionally in this tight economic times or just because the personalities
occasionally you find librarians that feel like you are taking away from their
library, rather than enhancing the gift of literacy. You never know which kind
of library and you will get unless you know them well.
Nichole finally got an opportunity to meet Jan yesterday, and he was
absolutely ecstatic about getting to put a face with the name of a little girl
who has encouraged so many people to get library cards and to begin going to
the library. He has been instrumental in getting me books from out-of-state
when necessary and waving the fees to us so that I could work on a book for
Bookshare. I am incredibly grateful to him. We are still very limited compared
to other cities/states, but he is a gem!
Sadly, the schools on the other hand, are of totally different mind. They all
feel that it is too much work and not worth their time. I probably need to make
contact with the librarians within the schools, but since the special education
teachers or other professionals are the ones to sign the authorizations,
getting in with the librarians usually isn't good enough unless they already
have well-established relationships with the said teachers. On the other hand,
they might be an "inside" ally. The truly sad part is most of our
self-contained classrooms here don't ever see a library, and that is absolutely
criminal in my opinion. I have yet to find a child who hasn't enjoyed the
library, despite expectations that kids who have not been read to or are not
literate would not like it. Every child we have taken to the library has been
in total awe that there are so many different books in one place. The key is in
getting them there within individual, preferably a friend, parent, or teacher,
who enjoys reading. From there you can teach them about book responsibility.
In the meantime, I keep plugging away. Smiles.
Have a great day!
Valerie
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kim Friedman
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 3:37 AM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Spreading the word
Hi, I'm wondering if we could call librarians and ask them "Have you ever
heard of Bookshare?" I'm wondering what they'd make of this. I'm wondering if
librarians, teachers, and folks concerned with literacy out of general
principles might be interested. I know bookstore owners are interested in
making a profit. We are contributing somewhat to their profit margins when we
buy books from them. Just a thought. I think I'll ask librarians near me if
they've heard of Bookshare. Now I must tell them how to contact the
organization we all know and love. Regards, Kim.
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