Tag Archives: books

Resources, Training

Training Tips: Talk about inspiring books!

It’s January!

It’s time to make resolutions!

(Or goals. Or reflections. Or none of these. You be you.)

Probably most of us in the library world resolve to read books, read more fun books, more diverse books, more books of all sorts.

As a side note: you may want to set up an account on Goodreads, and let them track your reading progress toward a personal goal. I do like doing this – it’s fun for me to see books I’ve read over the past few years!

So, yes. Read books. More. Diverse. Fun. All of these are good things.

And today I want to encourage you all to think about books that inspire you. Books that made you sit down and say “Huh” or “Wowza!” or something else.

Was it fiction? Was it nonfiction? What made you inspired and made you think about something in a new way?

These are the books you can share with your community! Tell them about books all the time, yes. But telling them about a book that had a definite impact on you, one that helped you to try new things, think new thoughts – THAT’S a book that will be easy to share and other people will want to read!

Talk about the books that inspired you, and ask other people about their books. You can start a conversation, learn some new things, and share some of your stuff. It’s good all around!

And we would like you to tell us about books that have inspired you! Email us at admin @ cmle.org, tweet to us at  @CMLELibs, message us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CMLELibraries/, or stop by our office to talk with us! And feel free to comment below!

We are going to start featuring some books that have inspired our members in future articles, so start sending us some titles now!

Inspire us today! Share your best book ideas, so we can spread the word!!

 

Books

We Heart MN: Minnesota Music Part 1

Minnesota has been home to some legendary musicians, but also to some lesser well known talent. Since this topic is so broad, we’re breaking it up into a few different posts. If you have a book about the Minnesota music scene or a Minnesotan musician you’d like to recommend to us, please comment or email to admin@cmle.org!

My Own Devices: True Stories Fom the Road on Music, Science, and Senseless Love by Dessa
“Witty and moving, this debut memoir in essays from the dynamic rapper and singer Dessa, is a candid account of her life in the van as a hard-touring musician, her determination to beat long odds to make a name for herself as a performing artist, and her struggle to fall out of love with someone in her band. In a literary, honest style, evoking Amanda Palmer and Miranda July, Dessa demonstrates just how far the mind can travel while the body is on the six-hour ride to the next rap show.”

First Avenue: Minnesota’s Mainroom by Chris Riemenschneider
“One of the longest running clubs in American rock ‘n’ roll–and most recognizable venues in Minnesota–First Avenue in Minneapolis finally gets the rock-star treatment it deserves in print. Amidst all that history, the book is interlaced with anecdotes, quotes, and occasionally cloudy memories from musicians, employees, and regulars–many of whom are as unique as the club itself. Chock full of concert photos and memorabilia collected from professional photographers and average fans alike, the book is a lavish celebration of a rock ‘n’ roll landmark.”

Got to Be Something Here: The Rise of the Minneapolis Sound by Andrea Swensson
“Beginning in the year of Prince’s birth, 1958, with the recording of Minnesota’s first R&B record by a North Minneapolis band called the Big Ms, Got to Be Something Here traces the rise of that distinctive sound through two generations of political upheaval, rebellion, and artistic passion.”

Books

We Heart MN: Our Somali-American Neighbors!

Since our Central Minnesota area has become home to many Somali immigrants, we want to learn more about their culture and experiences in order to build understanding and community with our new neighbors! Here are some books to help:

Soo Fariista/Come Sit Down: A Somali American Cookbook by Wariyaa. “Somali Americans celebrate a shared heritage at mealtime. No matter what country they first called home, no matter how they found their way to Minnesota, members of this community come together over shaah, kackac, and halwad (that is, tea, beignets, and sweets). Realizing how quickly traditions can change in a culture on the move, Somali American students set out to preserve their culinary legacy by interviewing family members, researching available and alternative ingredients, and testing kitchen techniques. In Soo Fariista / Come Sit Down, seventy recipes for everything from saabuuse (stuffed pastry) to suqaar (sauteed meat) to canjeelo (flatbread) to shushumow (fried sweet dough) honor memories and flavors from East Africa with adjustments for American realities.”

From Somalia to Snow by Hudda Ibrahim
This book “gives readers an invaluable insider’s look into the lives and culture of our Somali neighbors and the important challenges they face. In providing a great understanding of Somali culture, tradition, religion, and issues of integration and assimilation, this book also focuses on why thousands of Somali refugees came to live in this cold, snowy area with people of predominantly European descent.”

Through My Eyes by Tammy Wilson
“After being caught in Somalia’s horrific civil war, Zamzam escapes with her mother, sister, and brothers to America. But when she arrives, she learns that she has to deal with biases and stereotyping she isn’t prepared to handle. Zamzam dreams of making a difference in this world, and she wants to be seen as a person who has value.  Through My Eyes is a story of compassion, empathy, and the importance of eliminating stereotypes to promote social justice. Join eleven-year-old Zamzam as she navigates her way through her new country while embracing her Somali values.”

CMLE, Guest Blogger, Materials

Report from CMLE Mini Grant: Books about Empathy

This is a guest post from Media Specialist Jenny McNew at Talahi Community School. Need a Mini Grant to purchase materials or try an interesting new program at your library? Apply today! 

As I watch the students I work with each day interact with each other it became clear to me that something was different and there seemed to be something missing since our students weren’t being very nice to each other. I pondered this feeling daily and it became clear to me as I watched their interactions that what was missing was kindness and empathy.  

I began to do a little research and found that empathy can and should be taught. As I thought about adding one more thing to the plates of our teachers, it was clear that a great way to teach these topics with an attentive audience was through books. Through a classroom mini-grant from CMLE I have been able to purchase some beautiful books that emulate these topics in an entertaining and engaging way. I purchased, “UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World” by Michele Borba as a professional read for staff to help them help students take on the skills of empathy and kindness. For student discussion I purchased 35 fabulous titles, some which come with great discussion questions to help facilitate conversations with kids.

What I loved about these books is the characters were a mirror of the students we teach. “Listening with My Heart: A Story of Kindness and Self-Compassion” by Gabi Garcia; “I Am Enough” by Grace Byers; “You, Me, and Empathy: Teaching children about empathy, feelings, kindness, compassion, tolerance, and recognizing bullying behaviors” by Jayneen Sanders. As I read to first graders I heard comments like, “Jade’s like Quinn” and “We are all more than enough!” Thank you CMLE for this wonderful addition to our library!

 

Books, Children's services

The Problem with Problematic YA Authors

Books HD (8314929977)

It can be tough to know what to do when an author you love, or one your patrons love, has been accused of, or admitted to, behavior that is somewhere between boorish and criminal. How do you handle their books? What do you tell patrons?

We are sharing an article written by on the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) website, with some ideas you might consider for your library. If you want to chat with us about your library’s collection development policy, talk with us! Or, sign up for our Collection Development Class, part of our Summer Library Boot Camp series on June 14!

“Earlier this year, a few popular YA authors, illustrators, and editors found themselves caught up in the #MeToo movement. With accusations ranging “from abuse of power, to sexual harassment to sexual assault,” some accused have been dropped from publishers or professional organizations, had awards rescinded, and some have issued statements of regret and apology. For me, the problem is deciding how to move forward with books written by problematic authors.

This very relevant blog post makes some valid points about censorship and why immediately pulling the books or not purchasing any future publications by these kinds of authors may not be in line with the ALA Library Bill of Rights. I completely agree with this idea, but I also feel like I need to do more. Keeping problematic authors on the shelf feels a little like I’m giving them a pass, or that what they did in life isn’t really that big of a deal. By keeping the books on the shelves and not taking any action at all, am I passively supporting a problematic author?

Beyond the ALA Library Bill of Rights, I also have a selection policy I follow. Line thirty-three of the policy lists the criterion for selection as “Reputation and significance of the author, producer, and publisher.” Going forward this line could play a more significant role in my selection and weeding practices. Is this a slippery slope? Definitely it is, but I don’t think that should stop anyone from rethinking a selection through. I opt to not buy books that have been reviewed as problematic, why can’t that extend to the writer in some cases? As a school librarian purchasing books, I make judgment calls all the time in regards to what I believe is beneficial for students.

My co-librarian and I do not make these types of choices quickly or on a whim. To address issues with problematic authors, we created an informal process/flowchart for assessing these books.

  • Who is a problematic author? We define this as any contemporary writer who has admitted to inappropriate or illegal behavior or there is enough credible information to support the veracity of the allegation(s).
  • Does the problematic author’s book have any merit? We look at circulation, reviews, and revisit our initial reasoning for buying the book(s).
  • What do our stakeholders think? Initiate discussions with students, staff, and teachers while keeping an open mind to suggestions and varying opinions.

The idea of separating the artist from the art has always been debated and discussed without much resolution. Factors in these kinds of issues are often nuanced and assessed on an individual basis within the court of public opinion. Discussions with students often end with students wanting to keep the books, but also wanting potential readers to know the author’s background so they can make an informed reading choice.

Has this been an issue in other libraries? How do other school libraries navigate social issues while avoiding censorship and maintaining a respectful culture?”

(Click here to get the rest of this article, including a very cute infographic!)