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From: Constance Ross <cross>
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 22:45:29 -0500
From Beverly Booth, Librarian _at_ Madeline Island PL, LaPointe, Wisconsin:
I have to make one more comment here. I was scared to let my thoughts become public, but when I did, I got a nice, personal reply from what Anne of Green Gables would call "a kindred spirit." I felt really good about having taken that really big step (for me). I've been enjoying the conversation and the various twists and turns the thread of conversation is making. But, it seems to me we're getting somewhat lost in this debate.
What we have to remember here, is not "what's a classic," obviously we can debate till we're blue in the face. That won't serve any purpose. What we have to remember is, we are here to encourage kids, in whatever way it takes, to read. Shoving classics at someone won't make them a reader. You've got to take the time and find out their interests, sort of like being a fisherman. My dad taught me to fish when I was younger, and I know that you have to toss out that line, over and over, until you catch their interest. Wiggle and twitch that line, until they bite. And once a kid gets his teeth into a book that he really loves, you don't have to do much more, except occasionally steer them in the direction of another book.
Sure, the debate this month has been great, but let's not get so engrossed in being politically correct about what is a classic, that we forget our focus.
And I have to tell you all, that the summer library reading program this year in the state of Wisconsin, is proof positive that there are readers out there, that there are librarians who care. I'm not only a librarian here at the Madeline Island Public Library in LaPointe, Wisconsin..........I'm also an employee of the Madeline Island Historical Museum. The reading program theme this year is ZAP into the Past, and one of the items that is handed out is a free pass that gets one reader into any state historical site. And it does my heart good, that so many of those passes are coming into the Madeline Island Museum. These passes have been coming from all over the state. It's really been fun to watch them come in. And to see the smile on those little faces when I say "hey, here comes a reader!" when they come in proudly clutching those orange passes.
I'm still quite content with my earlier list of "classics," and I'm quite content to let each and every one of you have your own list. And you know what? We are all correct. Let's just get these kids reading and they'll pick their own classics in their own time.
Cheers to all of you! I've really enjoyed this month's topic!! Beverly A. Booth cross at mail.badgerdial.net Madeline Island Public Library P.O. Box 65 La Pointe, WI 54850 715t7662
Received on Tue 29 Jul 1997 10:45:29 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 22:45:29 -0500
From Beverly Booth, Librarian _at_ Madeline Island PL, LaPointe, Wisconsin:
I have to make one more comment here. I was scared to let my thoughts become public, but when I did, I got a nice, personal reply from what Anne of Green Gables would call "a kindred spirit." I felt really good about having taken that really big step (for me). I've been enjoying the conversation and the various twists and turns the thread of conversation is making. But, it seems to me we're getting somewhat lost in this debate.
What we have to remember here, is not "what's a classic," obviously we can debate till we're blue in the face. That won't serve any purpose. What we have to remember is, we are here to encourage kids, in whatever way it takes, to read. Shoving classics at someone won't make them a reader. You've got to take the time and find out their interests, sort of like being a fisherman. My dad taught me to fish when I was younger, and I know that you have to toss out that line, over and over, until you catch their interest. Wiggle and twitch that line, until they bite. And once a kid gets his teeth into a book that he really loves, you don't have to do much more, except occasionally steer them in the direction of another book.
Sure, the debate this month has been great, but let's not get so engrossed in being politically correct about what is a classic, that we forget our focus.
And I have to tell you all, that the summer library reading program this year in the state of Wisconsin, is proof positive that there are readers out there, that there are librarians who care. I'm not only a librarian here at the Madeline Island Public Library in LaPointe, Wisconsin..........I'm also an employee of the Madeline Island Historical Museum. The reading program theme this year is ZAP into the Past, and one of the items that is handed out is a free pass that gets one reader into any state historical site. And it does my heart good, that so many of those passes are coming into the Madeline Island Museum. These passes have been coming from all over the state. It's really been fun to watch them come in. And to see the smile on those little faces when I say "hey, here comes a reader!" when they come in proudly clutching those orange passes.
I'm still quite content with my earlier list of "classics," and I'm quite content to let each and every one of you have your own list. And you know what? We are all correct. Let's just get these kids reading and they'll pick their own classics in their own time.
Cheers to all of you! I've really enjoyed this month's topic!! Beverly A. Booth cross at mail.badgerdial.net Madeline Island Public Library P.O. Box 65 La Pointe, WI 54850 715t7662
Received on Tue 29 Jul 1997 10:45:29 PM CDT
