A Wish Finally Granted

 Have you ever wanted to do something, planned it, and never executed it? I have. Let me backtrack a bit.

When I was in the classroom, some of my favorite projects in science and social studies was to have students create their own "School House Rock" videos covering some of the topics we were studying in class. How can I ever forget the parody of Toby Keith's "I Wanna Talk about Me:" "I Wanna Talk about D"...as in DNA. And ubiquitous "For Those about to Breathe" set to AC/DC's "For Those about to Rock." 

When I moved into the library, there was no opportunity for music videos, especially since the daily broadcast took a great deal of time. Then I moved to a high school and had everything planned multiple times only to have hurricanes, ice storms, student absences and more delay production. While I was able to create some animated videos that always included a bit of parody to teach copyright guidelines to staff, I never could manage to get an actual music video from planning to completion.

But finally, after much planning, we have "produced" a music video for the library! Yes, you read correctly! A library music video! Written, produced, directed, and (I apologize now) featuring my voice in parts of it. Starring the most wonderful library team in existence, who bore with my strange directions and then participated by suggesting other ideas as well as dancing and singing....

We hope you enjoy "Read Like a Librarian"

We are only limited by my imagination...and the equipment available. This was made with only an older iPad, the Stikbot app, and an old version of Movie Maker. (It has more features than iMovie and is easier for me to use.) No special mics, no fancy editing machines....And that's OKAY! 

Rabbit, My Guest Blogger

 (An autobiographical tale as told by Rabbit, 

who lives in the Shrewsbury International School 

Bangkok Riverside Junior Library)

A Rabbit's Tale

Once upon a time, there was a rabbit. This extraordinarily handsome fellow, with his dashing smile and superior intellect, lived in a library. Being the rather clever fellow he was, Rabbit spent much of his days reading books to himself, to other animals in the library, and even to a few students who wished to spend time with him. His favorite books, naturally, were by the outstandingly talented Ms. Beatrix Potter.

One day, however, there was such a loud commotion that Rabbit could not continue rereading his favorite book about the Fierce Bad Rabbit! With a grumble, he carried his book towards the source of the disruption.

Wolf was biting Monkey on the tail as Monkey screamed, "Help!"

"Wolf? Monkey? What on earth is going on?" asked Rabbit.

"Wolf is chasing me and trying to eat me!" wailed the little Monkey.

"I'm just playing with you like the children do with us when they are here!" Wolf defended himself.

"Well, it's not nice to try and bite and eat someone! Not even as a game!" Monkey continued to cry as she held her tail close to her.

Rabbit shook his head, his magnificent brown ears flopping forward. "Instead of playing like that, why don't we sit down and read a book?"

Unfortunately for them, Wolf and Monkey had not yet learned to read very well. Rabbit immediately knew how to help them read stories quietly. Naturally, this would also allow Rabbit to have peaceful and quiet reading time.

Carefully, he demonstrated how to read books without using the words. Wolf and Monkey were eternally grateful to Rabbit for his marvelous idea.

Along with other puppets, they then produced this video starring Rabbit.

(Imagine an interruption to a storyteller with someone whispering into one of his long  furry brown ears...)

"Wait a minute, what do you mean I am not the star?" 

As our storyteller grumbles into the pages of his book, the Shrewsbury Riverside Library would like to present to you...

A Message from the Puppets

Enjoy! (And so will Rabbit once he gets over his little tantrum.)

End of Year/Beginning of Year Reflection

 It's the beginning of 2021. We have to reflect on 2020, the year we began with great excitement, and end with not a small amount of trepidation over what might be in store for 2021. 

What have I learned during 2020?

1. Enjoy every moment of work being "normal." Don't wish for that elusive snow day...although that is definitely non-existent in Thailand! Those in cold weather climates, or in the American South which cannot deal well with snow, will understand. Every winter students (and some teachers) hope for a day in which inclement snowy weather cancels school for a day and everyone stays home to play in it. Well, we all know what's it like to have day after day of working and playing from home, and it's not ideal. 

2. Be prepared to do things a bit differently. By starting in education  teaching middle school (those wonderful pre-adolescents!) and then working with elementary and secondary students, has always shown me the need to be flexible and to try new things. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, but the effort and reflection of every activity is necessary. This is how I have learned to adapt to online teaching and having the library continue to serve our students, parents, and staff when in or out of the building.

3. Have fun. Have fun. Have fun. Without some occasions to laugh, giggle, applaud, and cheer, the only thing left is to cry or scream. This is a library. No screaming, please. The rest, especially crying, should be done in moderation and with regards to those who are studying and reading. :-)

4. Don't plan too far in advance. Or maybe plan REALLY far in advance? Last year's Fully Booked Week never happened, and we had been planning events and activities for months. Same with our hoped for March and November 2020 author visits. So now we are all ready with everything planned last year for this March's FBW, and we have hopes for a Fall 2021 author visit...planned REALLY far in advance.

5. When feeling down, read a funny story. If that didn't help, read another one. Keep repeating until you smile. Then repeat more until you laugh. This is best done with an audience of children who are attacking you with puppets. Trust me, it's an experience of a laugh-time.