Category Archives: Uncategorized

Posted in Uncategorized by

worldsloudestlibrarian's avatartiedyednotebook

There’s a scene in “It’s a Wonderful Life” when Jimmy Stewart demands to know what has happened to his wife Mary, in the version of events where he never existed. The angel, Clarence, refuses at first to tell him. “I’m not supposed to…” he says. “You won’t like it.” But Jimmy turns violent and sweaty, so Clarence reluctantly reveals the horrible truth: She’s a librarian…

It is this revelation that finally convinces poor Jimmy that his life is important, if only to save his wife from that dreadful fate.

A friend of my parents had a similar reaction when he first learned that I was planning to be a librarian. “Not Ashley!” And several of my college classmates, when I told them I was going to grad school to become a librarian said simply, “Oh…” in a surprised but carefully neutral way, as if I had just announced that I…

View original post 720 more words

Greetings from the World’s Loudest Librarian

Posted in Uncategorized by

I’m starting this blog as a way to compile all the web resources, books, craft ideas, songs and fingerplays that I have relied over many years as a children’s librarian.  I hope you find something useful to help you plan storytimes, answer reference questions or find great books to read.  Please reply with your favorites too.

Just a little background: I do a weekly family storytime for all ages at a library in Northern California.  I usually read four or five books, with songs or fingerplays in between, then have the kids play simple instruments (maracas and plastic tamborines) along to a song on the CD player, and end with a simple craft.  For years I resisted crafts (I was actually a little terrified of them, along with puppets and flannelboards), but then I had to fill in for a colleague who used crafts every week.  Since then I’ve been converted: the kids love the chance to use their creativity and their parents love the chance to talk to each other and to help their kids with an easy project.

Most of the project ideas are ones I’ve stolen from the many wonderful preschool web sites out there.  I owe the creators of those sites some serious chocolate, and I’ll try to recognize them here.