Beth Gallaway presents: Pain in the Brain (Library Behavior)

Thanks to all of you who participated in the WMRLS workshop "Pain in the Brain" that I facilitated on Wednesday morning, June 10 at the WMRLS headquarters in Whatley MA! Notes, slides, photos and podcasts (somewhat muted audio - be sure to turn up the volume!) follow.

Audio from all sessions is online at http://www.gabcast.com/index.php?a=episodes&id=30366.

Beth G.

Notes: Icebreaker: Things we find rewarding about working with teens

Links: http://www.delicious.com/informationgoddess29/brain

Drawing Exercise

Drawing Exercise Audio: http://www.gabcast.com/index.php?a=episodes&query=&b=play&id=30366&cast=141871&castPage=

Group 1: Draw a TEEN, from a LIBRARIAN pov

• androgynous
• ipod
• cell phone
• texting
• talking
• trendy clothing
• eyes are - asleep or bored
• piercing
• love wikipedia
• barefoot or expensive sneakers that are untied or sandals in winter
• packs
• text the pack when alone
• unlit
• tattoos
• emo hair
• food & drink
• trail of trash
• waste
• games
• facebook or myspace
• chewing tobacco, sunflower seeds

Group 2: Draw a LIBRARIAN, from a TEEN pov

• old (at least over 25)
• concerned with enforcing rules (no skateboards, no cell phones, no talking loudly, no running, no food & drink, no FUN)
• "Do Not Disturb" sign
• behind a desk
• frowning
• bun & specs
• image may depend on where you grow up and the environment
• shushing action
• fists
• ruler!
• alone
• computer screen as a wall

Group 3: Draw a TEEN, from a TEEN pov

• important thing is being watched (through a magnifying glass)
• in a group
• high tech (cell phone, laptop, ipod)
• designer clothes
• librarian: you're too loud
• being judged all the time
• fashion
• concern - is he looking at me? am i measuring up
• hormonal
• multiple groups
• look older & sophistcated alone, younger when with parents
• insecure
• self-absorbed
• adults are insignificant - interfering annoying sound
• hungry for adult approval, ear to bend
• play it off as cool
• pulled in multiple directions (social pressure, school, etc)

Group 4: Draw a LIBRARIAN, from a LIBRARIAN pov

• androgynous
• many hats all at one time
• cape with a bolt of lightening
• superhuman
• flat shoes
• specs
• smiling
• pleasant
• computers AND books (Twilight)
• pulled in many directions
• social pressures

Questions for the group:
Are there any similarities in these images?
Does we all look like this? Do teens?


Slides: http://www.slideshare.net/informationgoddess29/wmrls09brain

Wmrls09brain

Audio for Slides & Discussion:
Behavior Lecture & Discussion, Part 1
Behavior Lecture & Discussion, Part 2

Handouts:

• Handout: Understanding the Brain
• Handout: Brain Tip Sheet
• Handout: YALSA's Young Adults Deserve the Best: Competencies for Librarians Serving Youth
• Handout: Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents
• Book Coupon: Connecting Young Adults and Libraries, 4th Edition
  

West Springfield Public Library Promotes Summer Reading 2009 on YouTube

New Monday Hours starting July 1

Starting July 1, the Greenfield Public Library will have new Monday hours: 1:00pm - 8:00pm with hours the rest of the week remaining unchanged: Tuesday and Wednesday 9:30am - 8:00pm, Thursday and Friday 9:30am - 5:00pm, and Saturday 9:30am - 2:00pm.

With the monies budgeted by City Council, the Library will be able to remain open on Mondays, reducing service hours instead of closing for the day. Despite an overall budget cut and a loss of three positions, the Library staff is dedicated to remaining open as many hours as possible to serve the residents of Greenfield and the surrounding communities. Though saddened we will be losing Monday morning, the staff looks forward to seeing everyone throughout the summer and the rest of the year.

New Infotrac Password as of July 10!

For libraries that use cookie authentication to access the Gale databases, the password will be changing on July 10 and you will need to re-set the password at each workstation in your library.

If all the computers in your library have a static IP address, you are unaffected by this and do not need to do anything!

You will soon receive a letter that includes the confidential password that you will use to re-authenticate your workstations. Under the terms of the state’s licensing agreement with Gale, this password is for use only by library staff responsible for database access and is not to be shared with other staff or with patrons.

If you have questions, feel free to contact Shirley Keech at skeech@wmrls.org or 413-665-9898, Ext 125.