CEO, July 23, 2008

Children’s Event Organizer
Lakeshores Library System and
Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System
Youth Services Update
Issue 319, July 24, 2008

http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskids.htm
http://www.llsmwflschildrens.blogspot.com/

In this issue:
· Ruhama’s Reviews
· 2008 Summer Olympics
· The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy Announces the 2009 National Grant Competition
· Pay It Forward Mini-Grants
· Welcome, Stranger: Public Libraries Build the Global Village
· Events This Week and Next
· Dates to Remember
· Website Faves
· And Finally…….


RUHAMA’S REVIEWS

Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix
http://tinyurl.com/46spg5

Bethany isn't quite sure what's going on--her parents have packed her up and are driving across the country, dropping her off at an unknown aunt's house for an undetermined amount of time. The secrets start slipping, though, as time passes: Bethany learns she had a sister who died several years ago, and her whole family had lived in Sanderfield, IL, where only her aunt lives now. But there must be more to the story, as Bethany finds more and more of her traits mirror her sister's, her mother calls with what sound like delusional stories and her father sends copies of several birth certificates.

Haddix is a master of suspense, and uses two aspects of it to propel this story to its epilogue: discovering the secret (she was cloned) and then discovering who is after her parents. Bethany, her aunt and her cousin are all well developed characters and I enjoyed their relationships. This book, like House of the Scorpion (Farmer), can be a vehicle for discussions about the morality and possibility of cloning humans. Joss, Bethany's cousin, is a preacher with an Evangelical standpoint about much of life, though she never determines what *she* thinks of cloning in her talks with Bethany. This book also is a great one to talk about similarity traits among siblings, as well as some of the quirks of twins. If you're looking for a media tie-in, watch a clip of the X-Files 'Eve' episode.


2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad will be held in Beijing, China August 8 to August 24, 2008. According to Wikipedia, 10,500 athletes are expected to compete in 302 events and twenty-eight sports. It will the first Olympics to be broadcast entirely in high definition TV, and four billion viewers are anticipated. Here are some annotated sites to check out from Surfing the Net with Kids and Librarians Index to the Internet:


Official Website of the 2008 Beijing Games
http://en.beijing2008.cn/

Click on Fun Page for computer wallpapers and screensavers featuring the five Fuwa mascots that represent the colors of the Olympic ring logo and five Chinese traditions. When you put their names together – Bei Jing Nuan Ying Ni – they say “Welcome to Beijing”, offering warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic games. Other worthwhile clicks include Olympic Education (features about the history and culture of the games) and the photo and video galleries. (Surfing the Net with Kids, 7/23/08)


CNN.com: Special Reports: Olympics
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/olympics/

This special report is a central depository for all Olympic news, features and videos coming out of CNN. Currently the stories are divided into categories such a "Road to Beijing" and "China Hosts the World," but expect the structure will change when the games begin. Special video reports (such as Security Worries and Torch Tribute) are featured on the front page. Reader submitted video has its own section called Fan Zone. (Surfing the Net with Kids, 7/23/08)


Kaboose: 2008 Olympics
http://holidays.kaboose.com/Olympics.html

"Celebrate the world's largest sporting event by creating Olympic-themed kids' crafts and participating in kid-friendly activities and games." There are also sport coloring pages and an interview with three-time Olympic medal winner (and mom) soccer pioneer Julie Foudy. (Surfing the Net with Kids, 7/23/08)


Olympic Express
http://olympic.wlb.aw.atosorigin.com/front/index_en.html

Olympic Express is an interactive magazine for kids and teens, published by the International Olympic Committee. The front page features a different sport every Wednesday and Saturday. Archives of past issues are available (look on the left) and can also be accessed via search (look on the right.) (Surfing the Net with Kids, 7/23/08)


The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: An Insider's Guide
http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-srv/beijing2008/beijing_olympics/

"Beijing has never welcomed travelers as eagerly as it is welcoming them now [for the 2008 Olympics]. The Chinese capital is determined to make a fantastic impression during its moment in the global spotlight. The following Web exclusive articles offer a fresh look at Beijing -- plus some practical travel tips." Topics include China tourist visa policies, staying healthy in China, Chinese etiquette, arranging transportation to and within China, and more. From Budget Travel magazine. (Copyright 2008 by Librarians' Internet Index, 7/24/08)


Online Newshour: China Prepares for 2008 Olympics
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/asia/china/2008/

Reports and news coverage by the PBS Online NewsHour about China's preparations for hosting the 2008 summer Olympic Games. Covers topics such as an odd-even car ban during Olympics to reduce traffic congestion and pollution, efforts to increase press freedoms for foreign journalists, and human rights and Tibet. Also includes a comparison of demographic factors for Olympic host cities back to 1980, slideshow about Olympic stadiums around the world, and more. (Copyright 2008 by Librarians' Internet Index, 7/24/08)


THE BARBARA BUSH FOUNDATION FOR FAMILY LITERACY ANNOUNCES THE 2009 NATIONAL GRANT COMPETITION

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is pleased to announce our 2009 national grant competition. The Foundation's grant-making program seeks to develop or expand projects that are designed to support the development of literacy skills for adult primary care givers and their children. A total of approximately $650,000 will be awarded; no grant request should exceed $65,000.

Family Literacy programs funded through the Foundation's National Grant Program must include all of the following components:
· Reading instruction for parents or primary care-givers
· (pre-GED/GED/ESL etc.) literacy or pre-literacy instruction for children
· Intergenerational activities where the parents/primary caregivers and children come together to learn and to read.
Programs can also include additional components such as parent support groups, parent involvement, home visits, and job training.

Visit http://www.barbarabushfoundation.com/nga.html for more information.


PAY IT FORWARD MINI-GRANTS

Pay It Forward Mini-Grants go to one-time-only, service-oriented activities that young people would like to perform to benefit their school, neighborhood, or greater community. Projects must contain a "pay it forward" focus, which is based on the concept of having one person do a favor for others, who in turn do favors for others, and so on, so the results grow exponentially. Maximum award is $500. Youth in grades K-12 are eligible. Applications will be accepted starting September 15, 2008. For more information go to http://payitforwardfoundation.org/educators/grant.html.


WELCOME, STRANGER: PUBLIC LIBRARIES BUILD THE GLOBAL VILLAGE

Public library strategies that help communities successfully welcome New Americans are explored in a new publication from the Urban Libraries Council (ULC). Aimed at senior municipal, county, foundation, and library leaders, "Welcome, Stranger: Public Libraries Build the Global Village" examines successful library outreach at work across the country, and its impact on communities.

Welcome, Stranger" is a guide to finding the areas in which libraries can make a difference and identifying programs that turn ideas into action." The work explores five areas, including:
- Libraries' central role in the collection of formal and informal data on settlement patterns and needs of immigrants and refugees in their communities,
- Libraries' innovations in promoting their services through welcoming signage, websites, collections, and provision of basic services in the first languages of their new residents, making the library more usable and more effective.
- Libraries as leaders in building English capacity, the most important factor in immigrants' chances for success.
- Libraries' roles as key conduits to other local agencies and support institutions, improving opportunities for work, education, health services, and housing.
- Libraries as jump-starts to civic engagement through their encouragement of community inclusion and newcomer.

The publication is available at http://www.urbanlibraries.org/files/ULC_WS.pdf.


EVENTS THIS WEEK

Thursday, July 24
Pioneer Day
Amelia Earhart Day
Cousin's Day
National Drive-Thru Day
National Tell An Old Joke Day

Friday, July 25
National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
Merry-Go-Round Day
Thread The Needle Day
Day Out of Time

Saturday, July 26
National Coffee Milkshake Day
All or Nothing Day
Aunt and Uncle Day
Cow Appreciation Day
National Day of the Cowboy

Sunday, July 27
Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day
National Parents Day
Walk on Stilts Day

Monday, July 28
Hamburger Day
Beatrix Potter's Birthday, b. 1866
National Milk Chocolate Day
Accountants Day

Tuesday, July 29
National Lasagna Day
Chicken Wings Day
National Lipstick Day

Wednesday, July 30
National Father-in-Law Day
Funky Purple Ketchup Day
Comedy Day
National Cheesecake Day


DATES TO REMEMBER

July 24-27 Bix Fest in Davenport, IA
July 30 MWFLS Battle of the Books, Whitewater
November 4-7 WLA Conference, Middleton


WEBSITE FAVES

The World of Opera
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=36&agg=1

This website should prove useful and interesting to the most dedicated opera aficionados and opera neophytes. The World of Opera "brings listeners compelling performances from top American and international opera companies." Beyond just performances, World of Opera goes beyond "traditional, operatic vernacular" to showcase opera as anything but an elitist form of art. Each opera presented here is accompanied by a short introductory article (with an available audio version as well). After the introduction, visitors can view video clips from a performance, listen to interviews which may include a conductor, stage director, and performer of the show. Also available is a short synopsis of the opera, act-by-act, as well as additional links to related NPR stories. Overall, this is a fantastic site dedicated to the World of Opera and it does a remarkable job of making this art form more accessible. (From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2008. http://scout.wisc.edu/, 7/18/08)


Dali: Painting and Film
http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2008/dali/

The late Salvador Dali was a rather brilliant artist and a very effective self-promoter. Throughout his long life he remained interested in the power of cinema and he engaged in a number of collaborative works with Luis Buñuel, Alfred Hitchcock, and Walt Disney. Recently, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) decided to launch both an in situ exhibit and this interactive website in order to explore some of these collaborations. After reading a brief narrative essay, visitors can wander around an interactive version of his 1929 work, "The First Days of Spring", to learn more about some of these projects. Clicking on each element of this surrealist work will take visitors to a different collaboration (such as his work with Buñuel on "L'Age d'or") where visitors can read a bit about each project and also view images, sketches, and photographs related to each project. (From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2008. http://scout.wisc.edu/, 7/18/08)


AND FINALLY……..

Today is the last day of Storywagon!