Tessa Fox Reads
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Me

Don't have a library card? It's Library Card Sign-up Month!

9/21/2015

0 Comments

 

Happy September .... 21st! 

So I'll admit it, I've been really slacking on my blog lately, but it's all for a good reason, I swear! For the past 21 days of September I've been busy traveling around the Pacific Northwest, getting engaged(!), starting a second library job, beginning a new semester of graduate school, and anticipating the arrival of/finally meeting my good friends' brand new baby girl! Sounds like I've got a lot going on, right? Well, since I'm sure you'll be willing to grant me a pardon for my recent blogging hiatus, here's the post that I intended to write at the beginning of the month: 

September is Library Card Sign-up Month! 

Picture
It's really sad how many people tell me that they don't have a library card. More often than not, they used to have one when they were younger, but not anymore. But why? Libraries are amazing places for people young and old! And if the last time you went to a public library was as as kid, you're in for a treat, because today's libraries are greater than ever! 

Snoopy is Honorary Chair for Library Card Sign-up Month 2015 and he really wants you to get your free library card so you can access all of the amazing services and resources available at your local library. There's plenty of amazing books for you to check out, but there's also tons of eBooks and audiobooks that can be downloaded directly to your device. There's free Wifi, access to electronic databases, the latest DVDs and more!

Looking to learn a new skill? Libraries offer tons of classes and activities for their patrons no matter what the age. This month at Community Library (one of the libraries where I work) we're offering everything from free chair yoga classes to an Introduction to Facebook course, taught by yours truly. We also have lots of awesome craft activities and book discussions for a variety of ages and interests, and don't forget about the fun and educational storytimes for the kids. Interested in learning more about the fall programming at Community Library? Click here! 

So what are you waiting for? Head to your local library with a photo I.D.
and proof of residency to get your library card today! 


Picture
0 Comments

Library programming: Teaching a Blogging 101 class

6/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Friday I had the opportunity to incorporate some of my personal skills and hobbies into the Community Library's programming for the first (of many) times. How exciting!

There is a large demand for computer classes from our adult patrons, so I talked to my supervisor about leading a class dedicated to blogging, and she was excited to have one (Blogging about teaching a class about blogging .... I know, how meta of me)!

With a journalism degree from Marquette University and having blogged on and off for about four years, I felt that I had a lot of tips and tricks to offer others interested in learning more about blogs or starting one of their own.
Picture
Not only was teaching a Blogging 101 class interesting to the library's patrons – it was a great way to promote my own blog!
I designed the class so it could be beneficial for anyone who attended – from someone who doesn't even know what a blog is, to someone looking to launch a professional blog for a small business. I had five patrons register for the six available spots in the class, and ended up with having four of them attend – not too bad of a turn out for a small rural library on a beautiful Friday afternoon!

One woman in attendance was looking seriously into creating her own blog to curate self-produced content, whereas another was thinking about starting a travel blog to write about her vacations. Another woman in the class wanted to document stories of her experience being a nurse, and the fourth patron was exploring the idea of starting a photo blog for Schlitz beer memorabilia. There was a good variety of topics people were interested in blogging about, and a nice age range of program participants as well, which is always great to see.
Picture
Image via Pinterest.com
Because I am very familiar with and enjoy the functionality of Weebly.com for my blogging needs, I decided to have the class attendees sign up for a free account and publish their first post after giving them some introductory blogging information. We also covered how to use social media to promote a website and blog posts after they are published.

Public library programming is a great way to learn new skills or be introduced to unique hobbies. From blogging basics to yoga classes, craft time to book discussions and beyond – public libraries are always there to support their community members and enable them to be lifelong learners! See what free program is offered at your local library today! 

To view the upcoming programs at the Community Library, stop in and pick up a copy of our program brochure or visit our website, communitylib.org.
0 Comments

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's the Super Summer Reading Program!

5/27/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture

SUPER SUMMER READING 2015

Picture
Superheroes are sweeping public libraries across the country with this year's summer reading program! With separate categories for kids, teens and adults, summer reading programs are a great way to beat the heat and get the whole family reading. Not only will you meet new heroes and heroines through books, but you just might discover some new superpowers of your own (and win a few prizes too)!

Below are the details for the summer reading program at the Community Library, where I work. The kids and teen summer reading programs run from June 8-August 7, and the adult program runs from June 8-July 13. Similar programs can be found at your local library.
Picture
"Every Hero Has a Story"
Kids (ages 0-11)
Kids will be given a bingo-style reading log. Complete a horizontal, vertical or diagonal bingo to receive a program completion prize! Extra bingo forms mean extra entries in the grand prize drawing. Prizes are available while supplies last. This year's grand prize is four tickets to Discovery World in Milwaukee.
"Escape the Ordinary"
Teens (ages 12-18)
Teenagers will be given a bingo-style reading log. Complete a horizontal, vertical or diagonal bingo to receive a prize! More bingo forms mean more entries in the grand prize drawing. The grand prize is a certificate for four VIP wristbands, pizza, and pop at America's Action Territory in Kenosha. 
Picture
Picture
"Escape the Ordinary"
Adults (ages 19+)
As part of the annual summer reading program, read or listen to books to enter weekly drawings and win prizes. The grand prize is a Kindle Paperwhite. Patrons who turn in at least three weekly drawing slips will be eligible to win. 
As the Community Library explains in its program brochure, this year's summer reading program theme aims to, "celebrate heroes of all ages who walk through the doors of the library each day; the heroes who have made their marks on history; the heroes who keep our communities safe, clean, and productive; and high-profile superheroes. From the youngest child to the strongest, mightiest crusader, each and every hero has his or her own story to tell."

What are you reading this summer? Tweet me @TessaFoxReads or use #TessaFoxReads.

Images via Collaborative Summer Library Program
0 Comments

Observing the magic of a public library's storytime program

2/2/2015

0 Comments

 
With the first week of grad school under my belt, I'm already feeling even more connected to the library and information science field, particularly to public libraries. For the first week of my Library Services for Children and Young Adults class, we were instructed to observe a children's storytime at our local library. So, last Monday, I went to the Northside Public Library in Kenosha to observe its weekly toddler storytime and the only way I think I could have enjoyed it more is if I was the librarian interacting with the kids. 

Here's a look at what the storytime looked like from my perspective:

At just before 10:30 a.m., approximately 25 children and their parents, relatives and caretakers gather in the small, colorful storytime room in the southeast corner of the library. The excited hum of the children spikes every so often with a shrill shriek until the librarian enters the room and starts preparing the kids for storytime with the welcome song.
"Welcome, welcome everyone! Now you're here, let's have some fun!" she sings.

The kids all get settled in their places – on their parents' laps, on the floor nearest the librarian and a few of the shyer kids sit on chairs near their caretakers in the back of the room.

The first title of the day is Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn, a book about a young girl's visit to – you guessed it – the library. As the librarian reads the story aloud, she pauses every once in a while to ask the kids a question about the story, keeping their attention.

"Lola and her mom walked to the library, how did you get here today?"
"Do you have a library card?"
"Do you like to find new books at the library?"
"Do you get a snack after you visit the library?"
Picture
Some budding bookworms and their caretakers at the Northside Public Library, 1500 27th Ave., Kenosha, Wis.
Some of the kids answer enthusiastically in mumbled toddler talk, others simply nod or shake their head; one girl continues to twirl her mother's hair, completely unfazed by the activity around her.

"Great listening!" the librarian exclaims as she closes the now finished book. "I'm feeling sort of happy, how about you?" She begins to sing "If You're Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands," and the kids soon begin to chime in.

After the song ends, the librarian picks up a brown, potato-shaped fabric cut-out and places it on a felt board.

"Who do you think this is?" she asks.

A few youngsters pick up on it immediately.

"Mr. Potato Head!" they giggle.

"He looks a little different ... I think he's missing a few things. What does Mr. Potato Head need to be able to see you?"

"EYES!" yell a few kids, as others nearly poke themselves in the pupils, pointing to their own peepers.

The activity goes on as the librarian asks them to identify the body parts used to do things like smell, taste, hear, run and clap. The kids are almost all smiling by now, fully attentive to what their beloved librarian will have them do next. She picks up another book, this one called Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won.

The book is about a group on animal friends who cheer one another up by giving each other fun hats to wear. Every few pages big, colorful letters encourage the children to shout aloud with the librarian, "HOORAY FOR HAT!" as they throw their little arms up toward the sky.

"Good reading! Give yourselves a hand!" the librarian says. "Now let's get up and moving!"

She leads the children in a rousing group rendition of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," repeating the song three times – faster and faster with each repetition.

After the story, we pick up another hat-themed activity. This time, the librarian uses a felt board to put up different types of hats, such as a red firefighter helmet, a blue policeman's hat, a puffy white chef's hat, a sparkly crown, a purple sombrero and more. After identifying all the hats, the librarian brings out a small felt cut-out of a sleeping gray cat, who she explains likes to sleep underneath hats.

As the children close their eyes and count to ten, the librarian hides the cat under one of the hats. When the kids open their eyes, she has them attempt to find the cat by identifying the color of the hats.

"Little cat, little cat, are you under the green hat?" the children croon along with the librarian. "NOOO!? Little cat, little cat, are you under the black hat?"

They eventually find the cat sleeping under the orange construction hat and all rejoice excitedly.

With the sleeping cat now safe and sound, the group jumps along to a counting CD and uses their fingers to get all the way up to ten before sitting back into their seats.

"Look at the time!" the librarian says. "It looks like storytime is over! But not before we sing the thank you song!"

The children sing along, clapping their hands and stomping their feet before they roll their hands in small circles in front of their tummies and wave goodbye.
To watch the group of diverse children all so eager to listen and learn was really special. As you can see, storytimes aren't just for reading to children; they're also to work on age-appropriate developmental skills! If not for free services like this offered at public libraries, I wonder how many of these kids would still be getting similar mental and physical stimulation at home, daycare, or even school?

Watching this tender and invaluable interaction between the librarian, the kids and their caretakers made me incredibly excited for my upcoming class assignment to propose with my own storytime program. Getting a first-hand look at some examples of intellectually stimulating (and fun!) storytime ideas reinforced a lot of the information I've been reading about for my class and gave me some new ideas for future literacy programs of my own!

To learn more about the Kenosha Public Library's weekly storytimes, click here. They're fun – and free!
Picture
0 Comments

New year, new library gig!

1/5/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Community Library, located at 24615 89th St. in Salem, Wis.
I knew that 2015 would bring lots of changes with it, but who knew they would come so soon?

At the end of 2014, I was offered a promotion at the Community Library which I immediately accepted. Now instead of working in the circulation department as a library aide, I'm heading over to the information desk as a library assistant. Tonight starts my first training shift!

This new position comes with more responsibility and higher pay, and I'm equally excited about both. In this new role, I'll be helping patrons reserve and locate library materials, submitting purchase requests for materials not currently in our system and helping with library events and programing. I'll also be functioning as the person-in-charge when a supervisor isn't present, which will include having a key to lock up the library at night.
January also means it's almost time for me to begin my graduate school program. Just this morning I registered for the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee's new student orientation for Masters of Library and Information Science students. I'm extremely excited to jump back into coursework (who would have thunk?), so I've already started reading some of the required young adult books for one of my classes.

I found myself not blogging as regularly as I would have liked to during the holidays, but now that they're over I am rededicating myself to publishing a minimum of three posts a week. Expect a lot of updates about my grad school experience once I begin classes at the end of the month. I also have a stockpile of library-related articles that I will begin posting later this week.

Thanks for reading and following me on this journey! 
0 Comments

A glance into some of the country's coolest bookstores

11/12/2014

0 Comments

 
Have you ever been to a bookstore that just completely blew your mind? I'm not talking about Barnes & Nobel here, folks – I'm talking small, local and independent bookstores.

I recently saw this BuzzFeed Books article called "44 Great American Bookstores Every Book Lover Must Visit," and it got me thinking about some of the most unique and interesting bookstores I've ever been to.

Number one on my personal list of favorites is probably City Lights Books in San Francisco – a bookstore and publishing house that I had the pleasure of visiting for the first time back in September. City Lights is best known for publishing Allen Ginsberg's "Howl" and defending the work against obscenity charges in a high-profile legal case in the '50s. The eclectic bookstore sits across the alley from Vesuvio Café, a bar where high-profile writers such as Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Dylan Thomas and more used to get drunk and write (sounds like a pretty good time to me)!

Complete with an entire upstairs floor dedicated to poetry alone, City Lights is definitely a must-visit bookstore on the Golden Coast. One of the best things about the store is its attitude – which is so easily reflected in its second-floor windows, as seen in the photo below.
Picture
City Lights Books, located at 261 Columbus Ave. at Broadway in San Francisco. Photo retrieved from Wikipedia.
Picture
Picture
Another one of my favorite independent bookstores is much closer to home. NovelTea Bookstore, located located at 5700 6th Ave. in the heart of downtown Kenosha, Wis., combines two of my favorite things: books and tea! 

The small local business offers great deals on used and new books, as well as fresh and delicious looseleaf tea and tea accessories (last time I was there I had an amazing plum oolong, which I highly recommend). Another plus about the shop? You can donate your "unwanted" or already-read books to the store to get a hefty discount off your next purchase! 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
What are some of your favorite bookstores? Share them with me in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter using #TessaFoxReads. 
0 Comments

The defining moment of my first day working in a library

10/28/2014

0 Comments

 
Yesterday was my first day of training as a library aide at the Community Library, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more. I learned how to check in books after they've been returned, as well as how to sort and shelf them. Tomorrow it looks like I'll be learning how to check materials out to patrons, and I'll get my first opportunity to prepare books for delivery to other branches of the Kenosha Public Library system.

But the best part of my first day working in a public library came at about 1:30 p.m. when a  group of 40 elementary school students walked in, decked out in their Halloween costumes. 

As I walked around the library returning books to their proper places on the shelves, I could hear the Head of Youth Services librarian engaging and entertaining those kids like there was nothing more important in the world – all by simply reading them a book.

Story Time wasn't just something these kids were forced to participate in. In fact, I wouldn't believe any of them if they said they'd rather be somewhere else. These children were hanging on the librarian's every word as they actively listened, asked questions, laughed, gasped, oohed and ahhed.

I remember when I was one of those kids (I would have probably been dressed as Jasmine from Aladdin). But if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up back then, my guess is I would have answered veterinarian or doctor. And as I witnessed those children at the library, I had to wonder how many of them would reading really grab. 

How many of those kids sitting in that room right at that moment would continue to find that same enjoyment in reading when they got to high school? What about college? Beyond? Who in that room will grow up to publish novels, illustrate books or be a best-selling author? Maybe none – but perhaps one. 

Not knowing it at the time, it was childhood moments like that Story Time which ultimately made me want to become a children's librarian. And I hope that when those kids are my age, whatever they choose to do will be – at least in some small way – shaped by that moment in the Twin Lakes Community Library. And I can say that I was a fly-on-the-wall observer, watching their dreams take root.
Picture
Photo via the Arlington Kids website, arlkids.com
0 Comments

Guess who got a job at a public library!

10/24/2014

0 Comments

 
That's right, my friends – I did!

I'm officially back in the workforce – part-time, of course, so I'll still have plenty of time to continue blogging before I go back to school for my MLIS in January.

That being said, I am happy to announce that I am freshly employed as a library aide at the Community Library in Salem, Wis.

I'm extremely happy I landed my first official library gig, and it makes it extra special knowing that it's at the public library I actually grew up going to – the place that started it all for me, really.

I'll be working mostly at the circulation desk, floating between the main library headquarters in Salem and the Community Library in Twin Lakes. 

After a month's worth of training, you will be able to find me at either library location where I will be helping patrons locate items, checking out and returning materials and – the best part – issuing new library cards to eager readers and learners!

So next time you're in the area, stop in and see me!

Community Library is part of the Kenosha Public Library System. To learn more about the Community Library, visit www.communitylib.org.
Picture
The Community Library, located at 24615 89th St. in Salem, Wis.
Picture
0 Comments

'Having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card'

10/15/2014

0 Comments

 
If you grew up in the '90s and were a "PBS Kid" like me, I have no doubt that you were singing along to that entire video. I must admit, I shamelessly sing this song whenever I hear the words "library card," so you can only imagine how this fancy little diddy has been stuck in my head all day after getting my brand spankin' new Kenosha Public Library card! 

After weeks of getting settled into my new apartment in Kenosha, I can finally call myself an official resident – library card and all.

So what exactly did my card and I find on our first of many visits to the Northside Public Library? Some pretty amazing things:

1) Lots of people!

I couldn't help but smile when I pulled into a nearly-full parking lot. Upon entering the automatic doors I saw people of all walks of life taking advantage of what the library has to offer. From the little boy staring curiously at a chess board to the a young man reserving a study room; from the two girls feverishly looking up books on the online catalog to the elderly man in a cap reading near a window ... just being in a public library surrounded by diverse books and people feels good somehow.

2) Lots and lots of books to rent (or buy)!

I limited myself to only renting two books from the library, because I'm already reading a few and own a couple others that I can't wait to dig into. I've been super into Ray Bradbury lately, so From the Dust Returned was a must. I also stayed on my Kerouac kick and rented The Haunted Life. 

But as I walked to the circulation desk, I saw the "Friends of the Library Book Sale" shelf, whose proceeds go to improving the library. With most books being just $1, I couldn't help but buy an armful:
  • The Five People You Meet in Heaven,
    by Mitch Albom
  • Tuesdays with Morrie,
    by Mitch Albom
  • For One More Day,
    by Mitch Albom
  • The Burma Road,
    by Donovan Webster
  • The Bookseller of Kabul,
    by Åsne Seierstad
  • The Shoemaker's Wife,
    by Adriana Trigiani
  • A Thousand Paths to Tranquility, 
    by David Baird

I found my selection had a little mix of everything I like: A couple New York Times bestsellers, a bit of Eastern philosophic thought, books about other parts of the world where I would love to travel and some good old fashioned history to teach me a thing or two.
Picture
Today's haul from the Kenosha Public Library.

3) Lots and lots and LOTS of future opportunities!

You know I love libraries for a gazillion reasons, but one that I have yet to mention is their use of bulletin boards! Public libraries advertise so many events going on in the community. During my trip to the Northside Library I got a few ideas of upcoming things to do, including Saturday's Spooky Sprint and Fall Festival, a showing of a travel adventure series film about Budapest and Istanbul in November and, of course, this weekend's Friends of the Library Book Sale at Kenosha's Southwest Library, 7979 38th Ave. 

For a list of all Kenosha Public Library events, click here. I hope to see you at some of them!
0 Comments

A behind-the-scenes look at a historic Kenosha treasure

10/13/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
An old postcard featuring the Simmons Library, date unknown / Photo via Rootsweb.com
This weekend I decided to take advantage of one of the Kenosha Public Library's free events and go on a guided tour of the historic Gilbert M. Simmons Library, which opened May 30, 1900.

The library, I learned, is a Neoclassical building designed by famous architect Daniel Burnham. Burnham was responsible for creating the master plans for a number of prominent cities, including Chicago, Manila and downtown Washington, D.C., so it was pretty neat to learn he left his mark on little ol' Kenosha too.

Former Kenosha mayor Zalmon G. Simmons was responsible for the library's construction after donating $150,000 to erect the building in his deceased son's memory. The 75-foot wide, 60-foot high limestone building was built to last proudly for centuries, as it has – with only a few redesigns and restorations. Fun fact: During the 1980s restoration, the library became one of the first public buildings in Kenosha to be completely wired for electricity.  

But as exciting as the exterior of the building was, I was much more interested in the history found inside.
Picture
The tour gathers around the circulation desk under the dome of the library as our tour guide explains more about the building's history.
Maybe the most interesting thing I learned on the tour was how the library used to operate when it first opened to the public. Upon walking into the open rotunda (the circulation desk above was not yet installed), patrons had two options: West or East. 

If a guest went to the West wing of the building, one would find a librarian behind a desk in a two-story room filled with books. Instead of looking up a book's location on the computer or wandering the shelves until you found it yourself like we would nowadays, you simply told the librarian which book you wanted. Then he or she would walk through the stacks and bring the requested book back to you at the desk. The much more unexciting East wing was filled only with desks and chairs for reading purposes. Today it is filled with DVDs, CDs and audiobooks.

The tour also lead us to a part of the library normally off limits to visitors. If you go up the narrow, spiral staircase, you'll find a small room filled with the air conditioning system. As some of the other people on the tour stooped to avoid the low ceiling, our guide explained that before electric cooling was installed, the small room was used as a medical library by the hospital to store all of its records. 

Next, we descended to the basement of the building to see my favorite part: the children's library. 
Picture
A young boy carefully stacks his books before leaving the library. He ended up borrowing all the books seen here on this table!
Simmons Library was actually not open to kids until 1910, and that children's library only lasted for a few years before moving to a different location. The children's library eventually reopened at Simmons in 1980, but it wasn't until much more recently that the room really began to flourish.

In 2005, the Hannah C. Stocker Children's Reading Room was built through a bequest by the Kenosha Public Library Foundation. Stocker was a retired Kenosha School teacher whose generous donation gave new life to the children's reading room used today. It was great to see so many enthusiastic kids rummaging through the shelves, some of which are still the originals. 

Seeing all these eager readers made me even more excited to become a public librarian, and it was great to learn a little bit more about Kenosha's history in the process. I had yet another great experience at a library-sponsored event, and can't wait to go to the book sale next weekend.
To learn more about upcoming library events, visit www.mykpl.info/s/programs-events.
0 Comments

    Author

    Tessa Fox is the Early Literacy Librarian at the Kenosha Public Library. After working in the journalism and publishing fields, Tessa decided to dedicate her life to books and public librarianship, and went back to school to get her Master's in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she graduated in December 2016. Tessa has been working in public libraries since 2014. Disclaimer: The views expressed here are mine alone and do not reflect those of my employer.


    Connect with me online!

    Picture

    Picture
    Picture

    Picture

    Tweets by @TessaFoxReads

    Archives

    April 2020
    December 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    July 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014


    Categories

    All
    Adult
    Audiobooks
    Banned Books
    Best Picture Books Of The Year
    Book Contests
    Book Crafts
    Book Displays
    Book Lists
    Book News
    Book Reviews
    Books
    Bookshelves
    Bookstores
    Booktalking
    Book Trivia
    Children
    Children's Books
    Community Library
    Diversity And Inclusion
    DIY
    Fantasy
    Favorite Books
    Feminism
    Fiction
    Girl Power Books
    Halloween
    Historical Fiction
    Horror
    Humor
    Kenosha
    Kenosha Public Library
    Librarian
    Librarianship
    Libraries Now A Day In The Life
    Library
    Library And Information Science
    Library Contests
    Library Ideas
    Library Internships
    Library News
    Library Programs
    Mainstream Fiction
    Mike De Sisti
    Milwaukee
    Milwaukee Public Library
    MLIS
    Mobile Libraries
    Movies
    MPL Express
    Mystery
    Nonfiction
    Personal
    Picture Books
    Poetry
    Politics
    Public Library
    Quotations
    Reading
    Refurbished Furniture
    Representation
    Romance
    Science Fiction
    Sci-Fi
    Seasonal
    Self-publishing
    Social Media
    South Milwaukee Public Library
    Storytime
    Summer Reading Programs
    Technology
    Television
    The Journal Sentinel
    Thriller
    UWM Grad School
    UWM School Of Information Studies
    Video
    Webinars
    Western
    What I'm Reading
    Why Books Matter
    Why Libraries Matter
    Women's Fiction
    Writing
    Young Adult
    Youth Services

    RSS Feed