July 2009

Pleased to be selected to present at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago. Flew in on a red eye, took a nap in the lobby, and gave a speech about Dia de los Muertos @ La Puente Library (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ccMPUwkcXQ) to 175 of my colleagues. Following this opportunity to present and participate in a panel discussion, attended informative sessions, and networked with colleagues.

Programs

• The La Puente Library offered four teen programs this month. Each class had room for seven teens, all of whom crafted distinctive bowls to decorate their bedrooms or kitchens.

• The library also offered four art classes for kids this month. Children created multimedia, three-dimensional wall hangings in vibrant colors. These programs attracted 56 patrons!

• Families were entertained by two special events @ the library. The Wildlife Company provided a discounted program (as we’d planned in coordination with West Covina Library). The program engaged 70 patrons, all of whom lined up to pet a boa constrictor after the show. Two weeks later, 50 folks were amused by the free insect program provided by San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control (including the library manager and myself! How cool are insects?)

• Approximately 20 adults, children, and young adults continued to participate in three distinct California Library Association Art Exchange programs, according to age. The art was mailed to the Lemon Grove Library (children’s art), Valencia Library (teen art), and Hoopa Branch Library (adult art).

• We also offered six family gaming programs and one family movie.

• The La Puente Library offered two special story times in late July featuring books about safety, followed by an art activity in which the children created entries for the Just Be Ready Art Contest sponsored by Los Angeles County.

Volunteers

The La Puente Library teen volunteers assisted with summer reading program sign-ups, prepped for family events, attended young adult programs, made signs, cleaned and displayed books, watched/made videos about how to volunteer at the library (myspace.com/lapuentelibrary), developed craft ideas, and helped children create art activities for story time.

Literary Notes

• The Library Instruction Cookbook, a text to which I contributed, was launched, and shortly sold out at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago.

• Edited NextReads picture book and young adult lists:

o Delatte, M. (Ed.). (2009). Picture Books. NextReads Web site: http://www.nextreads.com/Display2.aspx?SID=bb9919d2-8923-4f93-a94d-63b73df56656&N=191408

o Delatte, M. (Ed.). (2009). Teen Scene. NextReads Web site: http://www.nextreads.co=m/Display2.aspx?SID=bb9919d2-8923-4f93-a94d-63b73df56656&N=193895

• Read numerous children’s books, and, of these, I read the following books at story time: Bee-Wigged by Cece Bell, the tale of a child-sized bee who uses a Peruvian guinea pig as wig, and Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, which features a self-explanatory title, by Mo Willems.

Committee Work

As a member of the Holiday Breakfast Committee, I assisted in the decision-making process, as we continue to consider locations for the breakfast.