http://blogs.nsls.info/different Susan Dove Lempke writes about children, their books, and their grown-ups, and about life in the public library. She is Youth Services Supervisor for the Niles Public Library District, reviews for the <i>Horn Book Magazine</i>, and writes a book review column for the International Reading Association's newsletter, <i>Reading Today</i>. Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:38:48 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en So many wonderful blogs, written by thoughtful, insightful, people, bringing out all sorts of interesting points about books for children and young adults. I love them, and the best of them model the respectful analysis that excellent books deserve. But those same people are the very ones who used to spark ... http://blogs.nsls.info/different/2010/01/fragments/ My youth services department has been under construction for 500 years, give or take.  Along the way, I have learned a few things which I thought I'd share with anyone feeling foolish enough to want to attempt a library construction project of their own. I'm starting with the most important thing: 1. ... http://blogs.nsls.info/different/2009/11/under-construction/ Like most of the people reading this, I miss Sharon Ball. Sometimes it takes me completely by surprise.  I'll be driving up Milwaukee toward NSLS and all of a sudden remember, "She's gone!"  And then I think, "That's impossible.  How can that be?" Premature death is always a shock even after ... http://blogs.nsls.info/different/2009/11/i-miss-sharon/ I swore to myself last year after attending the annual Zena Sutherland lecture at the Harold Washington Library that I would hound my fellow NSLS youth services people to go next year.  And here it is next year already! Here's why you should go: 1.  Christopher Paul Curtis is the speaker this ... http://blogs.nsls.info/different/2009/04/why-you-should-attend-the-sutherland/ Back in 2001, I was inspired by the CTA's project where they posted poems throughout the transit system for people to read as they ride.  I thought it would be a very cool thing to plaster the Youth Services Department at the Niles Public Library with poetry.  But I knew ... http://blogs.nsls.info/different/2009/04/hunting-for-poetry/ The morning that the ALSC/YALSA Youth Media Awards are announced is one of my favorite days of the year!  In past years, I've watched the streaming video and enjoyed it immensely.  But this year was even more fun being there in person, hearing the cheers for my committee's picks.  SO ... http://blogs.nsls.info/different/2009/01/yay-its-the-ala-awards/ Here is a link to my Top Ten Books of 2008 for children and teens.  The list was due in mid-October, and of course two months later, I've read many other fine books.  It really makes me wonder how valid anyone's Top Ten truly is.  For me, it's a snapshot ... http://blogs.nsls.info/different/2008/12/top-ten-of-2008/ About a new fiction title, this Kirkus reviewer begins his/her review, "Modestly engaging, ..."  Ouch! http://blogs.nsls.info/different/2008/10/meanest-review-beginning-ever/ As you can see, Ben Franklin paid a visit to the Niles Public Library recently, in honor of a traveling exhibit the library is hosting all about HIM.  Ben mostly stayed in character, though did occasionally show a disconcerting knowledge of the score of the Bears' game.  At the exhibit opening, ... http://blogs.nsls.info/different/2008/10/benjamin-franklin-visits-niles/ I love Something About the Author.  I love all those pretty blue volumes sitting on the shelf.  I love learning about the authors, who are some of my very favorite people.  I love having the perfect resource when a student needs information about an author. But I didn't love it enough ... http://blogs.nsls.info/different/2008/10/fare-thee-well-sata/