Lead to the Normal

We need to normalize mistakes and bad hair days. Not knowing the answer to questions even though we are library workers. We need to normalize mental health and medication and therapy. We need to normalize sleeping through our alarms and being late for work or having a cold and not being able to come in. We need to normalize apologizing to each other. We need to normalize empathy and neurodivergency and compliments.

Too much of our professional lives are wasted on trying to live up to ideals that don't exist. Everyone has bad days. If you are a leader, please talk about your bad days, your mistakes, and the times you accidentally slept through your alarm. The more normal you can make basic humanity, the more likely your human workforce will care to stick around.

Book Review: "Loonshots" by Safi Bahcall

In “Loonshots,” Safi Bahcall aims to “show you how the science of phase transitions suggests a surprising new way of thinking about the world around us – about the mysteries of group behavior.” 

Bahcall combines psychology, history, human behavior, and, surprisingly, physics, to explain “why good teams will kill great ideas, why the wisdom of crowds becomes the tyranny of crowds when the stakes are high, and why the answers to these questions can be found in a glass of water.” While the author achieves the stated purpose, I think the detailed histories weren’t entirely necessary to get his point across.

The arguments of “Loonshots” are presented concisely in the prologue. The book continues in three distinct parts: Engineers of Serendipity, The Science of Sudden Change, and The Mother of All Loonshots.

If you appreciate understanding the motivations behind decisions, “Loonshots” will be difficult to put down. The book is an easy read for non-scientists with funny subtext, illustrations, and stable metaphors. “Loonshots” is also exceptionally well-written with descriptions such as that of Vannevar Bush who was depicted as “a tall, thin, upstanding preacher’s son, who swore like a sailor and dressed like a tailor.” Those who generally find history inaccessible will also appreciate Bahcall’s cinematic-style retellings of major historical events. 

Additionally, I feel that anyone who runs an organization of any kind should read, at least, the first half of this book. Through “Loonshots” we learn that both soldiers and scientists are needed to spur innovation, but the two sides rarely communicate well with each other. Bahcall helps explain how to create and sustain an environment where employees are invested in company outcomes and are able to generate new ideas. 

As an aside, I feel that the tenets of “Loonshots” could be grasped just by reading the prologue and summarized in full with one-third the words. Bahcall is a scientist and clearly wants the reader to understand how and why his theories have come to light. The result is an iceberg of a book that floats due to significant mass, but whose point can be seen clearly enough.  

Book Review: Recursion by Blake Crouch

Brilliant neuroscientist Helena Smith set out to map human memory in an effort to save her mother from Alzheimer’s.  She instead creates the means to command time itself through memory, and of course big money wants a slice of the tech.  Helena fights big corporations, time, and memory itself resulting in a page-turning thriller that can only be described as the love child of The Terminator and Quantum Leap. 

While Helena fights big corporations,memory, and time, innocent Detective Barry Sutton gets swept along the maelstrom.  He fights his own personal demons and past memories as he struggles to help Helena in her ultimate mission and their connection ignites a love story that nothing can seem to kill. 

Recursion is one of those novels that you know is going to be big before it was even published.  It’s the kind of book that you hope someone will turn into a movie - an albeit really expensive movie - but a future blockbuster nonetheless.  Blake Crouch’s latest triumph has romance, a strong female protagonist, murder, action, and enough hard science fiction to rival Andy Weir’s The Martian.

Despite Recursion’s foundation in the hard sciences, degrees in neither physics nor biology are required to truly love this book.  It isn’t about the science but rather how the science affects the people we loved, love now, and will love in the future.  Release date: June 11, 2019.

Book Review: The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull

The Ynaa, an alien species, arrive on The Virgin Islands to teach its inhabitants “a lesson.”  They shower their new neighbors with advanced technology but their generosity is tempered by a violence we humans fail to understand, or forgive. 

It is also thirst-quenching to hear from people of color about people of color, especially in the speculative fiction community.  Through The Lesson we hear the cadence and spirit of the VI natives while the story touches on issues of racism, classism, and gender roles. 

The Lesson combines the ambiance of Rosewater by Tade Thompson with the eerie dread of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey while tensions mount between the humans and the Ynaa.  This book is refreshingly difficult to classify with elements of historical fiction, science fiction, romance, and political thrillers. 

Looking at humanity through the eyes of these aliens brings forth our strengths and weaknesses in stark relief, making us ask ourselves, did we learn The Lesson or will there be a sequel to tell us what happens next?  This is a piece you can add to your book discussion lists as the content is ripe for debate.  Suitable for grades 8+.

What Kind of Librarian Are You?

In my almost ten years as a librarian, I have had the opportunity to work in different kinds of librarianship.  I was a school library media specialist for six years, seven if you include my field experience.  I was also an academic librarian and professor for two years.  Now I am a public librarian in adult services.  I think many of us stumbled along before we happily landed where we are.  Less of a calling and more of an arriving.  You don't need to KNOW where you are going, but you do need to know who you are.  Here is what I have learned along the way for those of you who are still trying to figure out...

WHAT KIND OF LIBRARIAN ARE YOU?

Elementary School Media Librarianship

I began as a school library media specialist for many reasons, but I mainly got the cert because I wanted to be as marketable as possible.  I entered librarianship later in life.  I was married with a kid and dogs and a mortgage and car payments.  I needed a job after graduation as soon as possible.  Common sense just dictated that if I had both my public and media specialist certs I would find a job faster.  I also wanted to be available for my kid.  I had heard that public librarians have "terrible hours" and so when I was offered a job as an elementary school media specialist I said yes.  

Pros: 

• The money was amazing.  This is probably because it was an affluent district but in general, I find that media specialists make more entry level than the other types of librarianship I have experienced.  As a ten-month employee, you can also work elsewhere in the summer and make even more.
• You are the boss as soon as you walk in the door.  You are the director of your library.
• Did I mention you get to make all of the decisions?
• You get to expose children to reading!  It can all begin with you.  Some of those kids will look back on their years with you as a reason for their future success.  
•  You get to teach.  I didn't know I would love teaching when I started but I really grew to love it.
• The hours are great, as long as you are a morning person.  Roughly 7:30-3:00 with every holiday off and then some.  
• Benefits are pretty amazing too.

Cons: 

• You are the boss.  That means if anything goes wrong, it's on you.  It also means that you have to do everything yourself.  In public and academic libraries (for the most part), there are departments that handle different parts of librarianship like shelving, purchasing, circulation, etc.  When you are a media specialist that is all on you.  You might get lucky and have an assistant, but that is happening less and less as libraries and librarians are being cut from schools.  
• You are a teacher which also means you need to do lesson plans, know the IEP's of every student in your classroom, and have to do assessments and classroom management.  This is definitely tougher when you're a media specialist at the elementary level.  I ran elementary libraries in two different district schools and taught grades 1-5 at both schools. And I couldn't use the same lesson plans for both libraries because they didn't have the same collections! 
• Collaborating with colleagues is difficult.  When they bring their students to your class it is their period off.  It's doable, but you never seem to get as much information on the class you are teaching as you want or need.
• Budget.  You're lucky if you have one at all.  To get the supplies, books, and databases you need for your students might take grant writing, fundraising, or working with local parent groups or educational foundations.  
• Isolation.  You'll most likely be the only person in your building who does what you do.

Who should be an elementary library media specialist?

Someone who loves small children.  Who doesn't mind being interrupted constantly.  Who has the patience of a saint.  Loving arts and crafts is a plus.  Also loving reading aloud stories to children.  Being organized is essential!  Being a classroom management deity helps too.  That one you won't know going in, but you'll need to get there.   Perfectionists should avoid this one.  Young kids disrupt plans.  If you aren't comfortable going with the flow at a moment's notice, this job will really irritate you.  If this sounds like you, then maybe you should consider being an elementary library media specialist.

High School Media Librarianship

Being an elementary library media specialist for one year was more than enough for me.  I didn't like it and so started looking immediately.  I landed a job as a high school library media specialist and stayed there longer than anywhere else thus far.

Pros: 

• Still the boss.  
• Classroom management is easier.
• No grading.
• You don't teach every day.
• You may or may not need to do lesson plans.
• You have more flexible time and can prioritize projects to your needs.
• Collaboration with faculty and administration is much easier.
• Budget is probably higher.

Cons:

• Still the boss.  It's all on you if you still screw it up.
• Your library will probably be used as a study hall, computer lab, and/or testing center a lot.
• You will be called upon to do a lot of tech stuff that may or may not have anything to do with librarianship.
• Isolation.  You'll most likely be the only person in your building who does what you do.

Who should be a high school library media specialist?

Someone who enjoys teaching more complicated material and mentoring students.  You need to enjoy being in charge and taking the initiative on school-wide projects.  At the high school level the media specialist often works closely with administration being an almost go-between for faculty interests.  This position is for those with initiative who won't be intimidated by lack of parameters.  If this sounds like you, then maybe you should consider being a high school library media specialist.

Community College Academic Librarianship

The place where I was a high school librarian was just too far from home so I accepted a position as an academic librarian in the same town where I live.  Most academic librarian positions require at least two masters: one in librarianship and another in a specialty.  Community colleges don't always require that though and I was able to get in without an additional degree.

Pros:

• You are a specialist now.  You focus on one thing and that's all you have to worry about it.  The larger the college or university, the more this is true.
• Prestige.  You're a professor now with all of the social perks that entails.  
• If you have a particular area you would like to research, this kind of position will support those endeavors.
• Classroom management is barely a thing since most of your students are adults or are about to be adults.
• You get to teach more than as a high school media specialist but not as much as an elementary media specialist.  It's a sweet spot.
• The content and research questions are even more complex.
• You may also serve the public which further diversifies your daily encounters.
• You will likely be able to take courses at that college or university for free as will your spouse and dependents.
• Holy budget batman!  You have plenty of money to do what you need to do.
• Collaboration is a breeze and such a delight.
• Might get your own office.
• Flexible schedule.

Cons:

• The prestige of professorship comes at a price.  There is a lot of ego in academia.  You will need to kowtow.
• Tenure isn't just about how long you've worked.  It's far more complicated and definitely intimidating.
• More chauvinistic than other forms of librarianship.  
• Getting a position can take multiple interviews and a grueling process. 
• Some positions will follow the "publish or perish" model which means you need to publish in order to stay.
• Promotion means more money but your duties won't really change.   You'll always be doing the same thing.

Who should be an academic librarian?

If you like your T's crossed and your I's always dotted this might be the place for you.  Academics require precision and lots of rules following.  Drinking the koolaid is key so know and love the culture of the college or university before going in.  If you want to focus on just one kind of librarianship (cataloging, marketing, tech services etc.) this will allow you to do that.  If this sounds like you then you may want to be an academic librarian.

Public Librarianship

I always thought of myself as super-organized and competent...until I became an academic librarian.  It was just too rigid for me.  So I decided to try my hand at public librarianship.  At the writing of this post I've only been here three months, but it has been long enough for me to see the differences.

Pros:

• Very laid back atmosphere compared to education-associated librarianship.  Rules are based more on common sense and empiric evidence than inspired by ego or liability.
• You are open to the public so the range of questions you get varies greatly.  
• Oodles and oodles of every kind of book and DVD and audiobook, not just curriculum-related.
• Quirky colleagues.  No seriously, public librarians are definitely delightfully weirder than any other kind.
• Opportunities for advancement abound.
• Benefits still good.

Cons:

• You will need to be on the reference desk a lot more than any other librarianship I have experienced.  Having someone there to answer the phone or email or chat will dictate your schedule.
• You will need to work nights and weekends far more than education-associated librarianship.
• Off days can sometimes be boringly quiet.  But then again you get a lot of work done those days.
• No one knows you're a librarian.  Prestige is absent.  I keep getting called a receptionist.
• Questions can get repetitive because no one reads signs.
• Pay is comparatively low.
• You'll probably have to share an office.

Who should be a public librarian?

Someone who can turn on a smile and keep it on.  You will be dealing with the public daily and customer service is number one.  Rules are more like sensible guidelines in public libraries where you need to decide what to enforce when, and you need to choose wisely.  Again, not a place for perfectionists or those with high anxiety.  A better place for diplomat types.  You never know what is going to happen in a public library!  Being kind of quirky is a plus.  If this sounds like you then you should seriously consider public librarianship.

WHAT KIND OF LIBRARIAN AM I?

I follow rules that make sense but I think for myself.  I love creativity and so too much structure confines me.  I prefer prioritizing my day as I see fit because I am a big self-starter.  I never need to be motivated; my work ethic is borderline obsessive and I am very high energy.  I love being in charge and making impactful decisions.  I enjoy leading teams and collaborating with others on projects.  I adore brainstorming and coming up with solutions to problems.  I like prestige, but it's not as important to me as other things.  I don't like being confined by job descriptions.  This may be considered anti-union, but I get bored easily, and so I'm always happy to help someone else do their job.  I don't mind doing more work than everyone else as long as the product is excellent.  I'm a selective perfectionist.  In some things I demand excellence.  In others, I really don't care.  I love people.  Helping people, serving people, talking to people.  Yet I'm still an introvert, so I can't be inundated with people all day every day.  And I love teaching!  Whether 1:1 or on stage in front of thousands, teaching needs to be a part of my life.

I could have been happy in any kind of librarianship because it was never about the content for me.  For me it always comes down to the people and the culture of the place.  I would have been happy staying as a high school media specialist but only to a point.  Like I said, I get bored.  I would eventually want to learn something new and when you're in a school there is no advancement unless you leave teaching and turn to administration outside of librarianship.  Few school districts are large enough to have a supervisor of just libraries.

I could not have been happy as an elementary librarian or an academic librarian.  I didn't like the rigidity of either.  Too many rules and not enough opportunity for innovation.  Neither had advancement opportunities so the boredom issue would have happened eventually anyway.

And so here I am in public librarianship.  I get to deal with people but it's not constant.  Some days more than others.  I have to work nights and weekends and summers but I get so much time off it doesn't feel onerous at all.  The pay is lower than I would like, but I'm only in an entry-level position at the moment so I'm not worried.  There will be many chances to try new things and make more money.  Policies and procedures are sensible and don't require a committee to update them.  Teaching is still a part of my life, often extemporaneous but sometimes formally planned.  And everyone is just as weird as I am.   I think I've found the kind of librarian I am.

Hair in All the Wrong Places: A School Library Journal Book Review

Published August 2016 Issue

Gr 5-8-- Like most 13-year-olds going through puberty, Colin Strauss has to deal with extra hair, body odor, and growth spurts, but turning into a fledgling werewolf makes things a lot more complicated. Forced to live with his bitter grandmother because his high-powered lawyer parents couldn't be bothered with him, Colin slumps through eighth grade, constantly bullied, harassed by figures of authority, and convinced that he is a total loser. A turbulent and hazy night changes all of this when he gets bitten by a werewolf. Fellow middle schoolers will commiserate with Colin's life challenges. Secondary characters are well-developed, as are the supernatural elements of the story. However, the pace of the first half of the novel often makes it difficult to understand what is happening, requiring frequent rereads. Once the plot is established, though, it is a real page-turner right up until the satisfying end. Several unrealistic characters border on hyperbolic, such as a hired principal who has "absolutely no qualifications," a teacher who has "a particular hatred for students and other teachers," and the only doctor in town, "a notorious drunk who [is] just as likely to fall asleep during an appointment, as he [is] to diagnose the common cold as Ebola." There are explanations for some of this behavior revealed later on, but most of the adults encountered in this work are cruel and incompetent.

VERDICT Hand this one to students interested in supernatural creatures of all kinds, light romance, humor, and action.--Carina Gonzalez, Lawrence High School, NJ

BUCKLEY, Andrew. Hair in All the Wrong Places. 237p. ebook available. Month9Books. Jun. 2016. pap. $15. ISBN 9781942664987.

Pinned to the Cause

Every night, before I go to sleep, I lay out the jewelry I'm going to wear for the following day on my jewelry box.  I'm organized like that.  Guess that goes with the whole librarian stereotype.

This morning I realized that the only piece of "jewelry" I had selected to add to my ensemble last night was a lone large safety pin.

I dithered.  I've read both sides of the arguments: for and against wearing of the safety pin.  I was at first excited about the concept, but then the potential magnitude of the statement I would be wearing for all to see gave me pause.

Was I ready to step in if I saw someone being mistreated?  I've learned through experience that the theory and practice of such are very different things.  You like to think you'll stand up for your principles and defend other's rights to their own, but it's not that easy for many reasons.

The Inspiration Behind Your Procrastination

When I began reading The Big Thing I was expecting organizational charts, schedules, and/or tips on how to be creative like people who do it well.  I was expecting a convert, but was instead amused to learn that the author herself still struggles with her creative process on a daily basis.

The Big Thing by Phyllis Korkki, on How to Complete Your Creative Project Even If You’re a Lazy, Self-Doubting Procrastinator Like Me, was a fascinating read.  Mostly because I am not lazy, neither am I self-doubting, nor a procrastinator.  I suppose that means that I am also not humble, but the point is that The Big Thing  was not written for people like me.  If I say I’m going to do something, it gets done and it gets done well and it gets done quickly.  That’s just the way I have always operated and I never quite understood why people ever struggled to get things done…

...until I read this book.

My husband, like the author, has been struggling with a “big thing” of his own.  He too is trying to write a book and it’s incomprehensible to me how much of a challenge it is for him for stick to a schedule and just write, especially when it’s something he claims to be so passionate about.  

According to Korkki, the obstacles to creative project completion aren’t really about time management.  At the core, it’s about psychology, as well as a smattering of other surprising suggestions like posture, breathing, and recognition by cognitive authorities in your medium.  In other words, it’s mostly in your head!  Not to demean these challenges, by any means.  The struggle is certainly real, as Korkki clearly demonstrates in this memoir-style account of her trying to complete this very book.  But it’s all about defeating the naysayers of your subconscious.

I found some parts of the book to be a bit too tangential though.  Some of the reasons behind laziness, self-doubting and procrastination that Korkki explores I found to be a stretch; more of a stream of consciousness thought experiment than proven methods to overcome these obstacles.  As long as you keep this in mind, this book is definitely helpful, to those who call themselves procrastinators, as well as the people who attempt to live with them.  Less of a manual on HOW to complete those projects, as why you didn’t complete them in the first place.

About The Big Thing

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harper (August 9, 2016)

A New York Times business journalist explains why it’s important for people to pursue big creative projects, and identifies both the obstacles and the productive habits that emerge on the path to completion—including her own experience writing this book.

Whether it’s the Great American Novel or a groundbreaking new app, many people want to create a Big Thing, but finding the motivation to get started, let alone complete the work, can be daunting. In The Big Thing, New York Times business writer and editor Phyllis Korkki combines real-life stories, science, and insights from her own experience to illuminate the factors that drive people to complete big creative projects—and the obstacles that threaten to derail success.

In the course of creating her own Big Thing—this book—Korkki explores the individual and collaborative projects of others: from memoirs, art installations, and musical works to theater productions, small businesses, and charities. She identifies the main aspects of a Big Thing, including meaningful goals, focus and effort, the difficulties posed by the demands of everyday life, and the high risk of failure and disappointment. Korkki also breaks down components of the creative process and the characteristics that define it, and offers her thoughts on avoiding procrastination, staying motivated, scheduling a routine, and overcoming self-doubt and the restrictions of a day job. Filled with inspiring stories, practical advice, and a refreshing dose of honesty, The Big Thing doesn’t minimize the negative side of such pursuits—including the fact that big projects are hard to complete and raise difficult questions about one’s self-worth.

Inspiring, wise, humorous, and good-natured, The Big Thing is a meditation on the importance of self-expression and purpose.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Phyllis Korkki

Phyllis Korkki is an assignment editor and reporter for the New York Times Sunday Business section.

Follow Phyllis on Twitter.

You Don't Need Religion to Raise Good Kids!

I wish this book had existed ten years ago when I was starting my family.  Parents are often vilified for choosing to raise their children secularly, but this book provides a wonderful grace-filled guide on how to do it thoughtfully.  Katherine Ozment, a former Christian, and her husband Michael, who was raised Jewish, knew they didn’t want to raise their children in religion.  They knew the negatives of a religious upbringing, but were surprised to discover how much was lost by having made that choice.  They discovered that their children missed biblical references when reading literature in school, had little sense of community, and lacked the family traditions that accompany religious holidays.  

There was something missing.

In this chronicle of Ozment’s search for “meaning, purpose, and belonging in a secular age,” we are exposed to her fears, bravery, failures, and successes.  Ozment also delves deeply into the psychology of why religion is such a popular choice and how to make those connections in other ways.

Grace Without God is brimming with practical suggestions and resources for people of all faiths (or not-faiths) on how to navigate our burgeoning secular worlds without depriving our children of the joys many of us experienced growing up within a religion.  It IS possible to provide children with a moral compass, and answers to their spiritual questions without compromising your beliefs.  This book is a must read for anybody struggling to define themselves religiously, or looking to raise their children secularly.  I already have a list of friends to whom I will be handing this one too!

About Grace Without God

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper Wave (June 21, 2016)

Meet “the Nones”—In this thought-provoking exploration of secular America, celebrated journalist Katherine Ozment takes readers on a quest to understand the trends and ramifications of a nation in flight from organized religion.

Studies show that religion makes us happier, healthier and more giving, connecting us to our past and creating tight communal bonds. Most Americans are raised in a religious tradition, but in recent decades many have begun to leave religion, and with it their ancient rituals, mythic narratives, and sense of belonging.

So how do the nonreligious fill the need for ritual, story, community, and, above all, purpose and meaning without the one-stop shop of religion? What do they do with the space left after religion? With Nones swelling to one-fourth of American adults, and more than one-third of those under thirty, these questions have never been more urgent.

Writer, journalist, and secular mother of three Katherine Ozment came face-to-face with the fundamental issue of the Nones when her son asked her the simplest of questions: “what are we?” Unsettled by her reply—“Nothing”—she set out on a journey to find a better answer. She traversed the frontier of American secular life, sought guidance in science and the humanities, talked with noted scholars, and wrestled with her own family’s attempts to find meaning and connection after religion.

Insightful, surprising, and compelling, Grace Without God is both a personal and critical exploration of the many ways nonreligious Americans create their own meaning and purpose in an increasingly secular age.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Katherine Ozment

Katherine Ozment is an award-winning journalist and former senior editor at National Geographic. Her essays and articles have been widely published in such venues as the New York Times, National Geographic, and Salon. She lives in Chicago with her husband and children.

Find out more about Katherine at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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PARCC is NOT a graduation requirement for the Class of 2016!

IMPORTANT: PARCC is NOT a graduation requirement for the Class of 2016

On Friday, May 6 the NJDOE and the Education Law Center reached a settlement on a case that has far reaching implications for graduating high school seniors. The settlement provides important protections for students in the Class of 2016 who have met all other requirements for a diploma, but have not fulfilled the new testing requirements imposed by the NJDOE.

Key points of the settlement are as follows:

• By this Friday, May 13, Districts should provide information about the portfolio process to parents/guardians of all students who still need the portfolio review to graduate. 
• The portfolio process is available to all students, regardless of IEP status. 
• Districts have been granted the power to oversee the portfolio review process. Districts may: 
• Determine whether or not a student has met the graduation proficiency standards. 
• Set portfolio requirements OR collect previous classwork to fulfill the portfolio requirements (or a combination of the two). 
• Administer portfolio assessments in a student’s native language. 
• Allow students awaiting final review of portfolios to participate in graduation ceremonies. 
• Districts must provide staff assistance for students completing portfolios. 

Full details of the settlement are available here. The Department of Education’s guidance on the settlement is available here.

If you have additional questions about the implications of the settlement for students in your school, contact Stan Karp of the Education Law Center at skarp@edlawcenter.org.

A Dangerous Place: Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

A Dangerous Place is Jacqueline Winspear's 11th book in the Maisie Dobbs series.  It is spring, 1937 in the British garrison town of Gibraltor.  Late 30's Gibraltar is a place of "between," full of transient people, clashing cultures, and dangerous opinions.

Maisie Dobbs, the lead character, is also "between."  A woman of many talents, principal of which is as an investigator.  However, personal tragedy has led her to flee her profession, or at least she tries to.  Trouble seems to have a way of following her.

Murder, lies, and wartime propaganda make this a page-turning read, but without the extreme highs and lows of typical suspense thrillers.  This book, obviously written by a seasoned author, seems to flow effortlessly.  The characters and setting are all so well detailed that the reader is quickly immersed in the history of this tumultuous time; a definite recommendation for anyone studying the underlying emotional motivations behind World War II, and the economic impact that still arrested much of the world after World War I.

The reason I gave this book three stars instead of more is because of the ending.  The entire plot is a slow burn of untangling twists and revealed truths.  However, what would be the climactic reveal felt like it was delivered as an afterthought to the main character's next venture.  This may be a customary  tactic for Maisie Dobbs novels, I don't know.  This is my first.  But rather than hungrily making me want to read the next book, I instead just felt robbed of my "aha" moment that I had been climbing towards.

Either way, if you are a fan of historical fiction, Winspear is definitely an author you should add to your list.  She is a very talented writer.

Author Links:  www.jacquelinewinspear.com and Facebook

City of Blades: A Divine Read

City of Blades is the second book in The Divine Cities series by Robert Jackson Bennett.  It tells of the continuing war between two peoples:  the Saypuri and the Continentals who once enslaved them.  While reading book one, City of Stairs, isn't required to enjoy this book, it is recommended to fully understand some of the motivations behind the main characters.

Saypuri General Turyin Mulaghesh - a secondary character in City of Stairs - takes center stage in this novel.  She is a blunt, gritty, seasoned veteran who constantly struggles to reconcile her duty as a soldier with the unimaginable amount of blood that she's seen, and spilled.  Hailed as the "Hero of Bulikov," for an impactful battle that occurred in the city of the same name, she presents a constant contradiction of self.  Is she the hero that everyone claims her to be or is she the monster that she recognizes from her own past?

Mulaghesh enters retirement at the beginning of the book but, through a direct request from her old friend Shara Komayd, (who is featured in book one City of Stairs), serves her country for what she believes will be the last time.  But the catch is...Shara won't tell General Mulaghesh what the mission is.

City of Blades is a story of dying gods, religious fanaticism, terrorism, and the red tape of bureaucracy.  While categorized as an epic fantasy, I felt that this book had a heavy amount of mystery to it as well.  Much of the story revolves around relentless attacks in back-water Voortyashtan, which is occurring the same time that the administration is also trying to rebuild their harbor, as well as their economy.  What General Mulaghesh must discover is who is behind the attacks, whether or not the divine are involved, and how many more people are going to die under her watch.

Robert Jackson Bennett not only has a female as the main character in an epic fantasy story, but she is a soldier in her late middle years.  This is not generally typical of epic fantasy and I know because I've read a lot of it!  Yet Bennett nails it and has created a strong and complex character who can serve as a role model for readers and a template for future writers.  You've definitely never met anyone like Turyin Mulaghesh!  The author actually presents many female characters throughout the book and constantly breaks stereotypes.  It is so refreshing.

Recommend this book to fans of military fantasy, (such as author Myke Cole who consulted on City of Blades), epic fantasy, urban fantasy, fantastic mystery, dystopias, and even science fiction.

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I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

The Forgotten PD: Meeting Face to Face

I <3 professional development.  I enjoy attending conferences.  I am energized by giving workshops.  I delight in learning from my online personal and professional learning communities and even reading independently on various topics to better myself.

But, in my opinion, there is a type of professional development that is under-celebrated that I have recently revisited and need to shout about.

Talking to your neighbor!

Back in the Genrefication Saddle

Almost two years ago I began a mission:  to genrefy my fiction section.  I did lots of research, attended workshops, and picked the brains of other librarians who have already made that journey.

And then I had twins lol...

So we are back to the challenge of genrefying my fiction section again!

If you recall, I was at the point where I was applying a genre to every book in my library.  I have picked up where I left off and am currently in mysteries.  A teacher recently asked me for mysteries and it rekindled my realization that a genrefied fiction section is such a desired service for my library!

I will keep you apprised, especially since I am publicly declaring that I am back on this mission.  Hold me accountable!  :)

Is Checking Out Too Big a Price to Pay?

I did some weeding in my library today.  I placed books of interest to adults in the faculty room and books of interest to teens in the library entrance.  I sent an email to staff telling them where to find the books.

I was really surprised by the response.

Teachers immediately started looking at the cart before I had finished rolling it into the faculty room.  Teachers also came out of their way to visit the library in order to view the books I had put aside for teens.

Why?

ESSA: Victory for Libraries!

ESSA:  What you need to know!

ESSA stands for the Every Student Succeeds Act, a new bill signed in last month by President Obama.  ESSA is basically a renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 and seeks to fix many of the issues found in NCLB (No Child Left Behind).

In short, ESSA gives the states more power over how to teach our students. Basic changes include:

•          The number of tests and the grades tested remains the same, but states now have the flexibility in how and when they administer those tests.
•          Common Core is no longer required by states.
•          Accountability goals are now almost entirely up to the states.
•          “Failing” schools have more choices regarding interventions for improvement.

how does this affect libraries?

It's Not Your Library

I am a lucky librarian!  I work in a gorgeous, air conditioned two-story 5,000 square foot space.  My administration has always been super supportive and I have spent almost $100,000 of grant money renovating my library.  I have a full-time assistant!  I am never micro-managed, my suggestions are given serious consideration, and my requests are frequently not only met, but exceeded.  Every year has been better than the one before in regards to getting what I need to make my program soar.

In short, I have been very very happily spoiled.

I grew accustomed to always getting what I wanted for my library.  Not in a petulant way.  It was just my normal.

However, this year, things changed.  Things changed without my input.  Things changed that had absolutely nothing to do with me or what would work best for MY library.  Protestations fell on deaf ears and I'm ashamed to admit, I was a little shocked.

I'm sharing this story not because I think my administration made the wrong call.  It's the exact opposite.  I think they made the right call!  They chose what would best serve our students as a whole; not what would just serve my library.  But that can be a hard lesson.

Dear Sucky Librarian

The following blog post is an homage to Dear Sucky Administrator, written by Tony Sinasis on his blog, Leading Motivated Learners, which you can find here.  This is the librarians’ version. Thank you Tony for the inspiration.

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Dear Sucky Administrator Librarian,

I am sorry for the choice of words, but you know who you are and you are pretty sucky at your work as an educator and specifically as an information leader.

You are the librarian who gives the rest of us a bad name. You are the librarian who perpetuates the "mean librarian" feeling that permeates many a school community. You are the librarian who creates a "Fortress Library" and sends the message to students and teachers that you are not interested in collaborating, sharing or being transparent about your practices. You are the librarian who spends more time in the back office fixing books, cataloging, and doing "important" work instead of being in classrooms and interacting with students and staff. You are the librarian who does not value relationships with the people around you and is only focused on shhhhhshing people, saying no, and protecting your precious books. You are the librarian who doesn't foster a sense of trust in your school. Basically, you are sucky at your job because you have lost the focus on what matters most in education - KIDS!

Fortunately, it is not too late to turn yourself around and go from sucky to at least halfway decent. Here are some things to avoid in your attempt to exit "sucky-ville"...

Coping with Personnel Change in Your School

Change is scary. It means having to rethink and possibly undo everything you've been doing up until that point. It means revisiting your own incompetence. It means spending a lot more time doing what should be easy. And for a library media center, change can mean the end of your own program. Especially if it's a change in administration. All of us have read stories of amazing library media centers with dynamic librarians at the helm paving the way with innovation and grace. And I would venture to say most if not all of those libraries were able to do the things they do because they had a supportive administration.

 A supportive administration listens to your ideas and then brainstorms with you to come up with solutions. They are willing to compromise and may even have the ability to give you the money you need to get started. A supportive administration recognizes that it needs to constantly learn and evolve, and more importantly will allow you to teach them about librarianship and its ideal role in a school community. In short, a support administration is...supportive. They have your back, and in turn, you have theirs. They help you out, you make a rigorous program and facility that bolsters the school community and positively affects student learning outcomes, and you make the administration look good to boot. It's a win-win-situation. It takes time to create a relationship like that though. You need to get a feel for each other's work flows, management styles, and preferred methods of communication. And even if you have the exact same vision, sometimes it just all comes down to personality. Either way, when you have a school where the library media specialist and the building administrators mesh, it's a beautiful thing. So then what do you do when something threatens to change all of that?!

OneTab Chrome Extension for Teachers

I learned about a new chrome extension (also available for firefox) on the House of EdTech podcast.  It has been such a game changer for me and my work flows that I just had to share it with you.

It's called OneTab:  www.one-tab.com.