Re: Target -->Librarian as censor

[Johanna Halbeisen Rebecca Johnson School]

I'm on the side of the kids.  But I realize I've been limiting the choice of
my K-2 kids simply because our library is so huge and supervising them in
the whole space is overwhelming.  I've done two things.  One, I've created a
"Picture nonfiction" section, taking nonfiction books for the k-2 range and
putting them in Dewey 'clumps' giving each a name and a picture
(like{591-599 is Wild Animals with a picture of a snake and a tiger).  This
gives the kids greater access to nonfiction, both the books and the concept.
I found when I worked in a smaller library, that the younger kids after
becoming familiar with the picture nonfiction, could find dinosaurs and
sports books in the older kids' nonfiction (I also used the same silloette
(sp?) on these sections.)  I've had wonderful success with the picture
nonfiction and would be glad to give greater detail on it if anyone is
interested.
        The other thing I do to help all kids find books they can read is
teach them the five-finger test.  I tell them to read the first page of the
book and put one finger up every time they come on a word they don't know.
If they have five fingers up at the end of the page, _maybe_ (I stress that)
it is too hard for them, but they need to be the judge.  I also make lots of
reading level indications on books (like easy readers and the easier books
in the fiction section).
        I am more concerned about older kids who read at a low level finding
books they can read.  I stress to every class that 'E' on our picture book
call number is put there because the people who did the cataloging thought
that picture books are easy.  I say, in fact, some are easy and some are
pretty hard reading.  So I call them picture books.  And I do a presentation
on picture books of interest to older kids.  This gets the older ones
exploring the picture books.  Good for everyone.

--
Johanna Halbeisen, LMS                  We are confronted by
Rebecca M. Johnson School(k-8)          insurmountable opportunites.
Springfield, Massachusetts                              Pogo
jhalbei@k12.ucs.umass.edu