Having a Ball in Calera

April 25, 2014
Having a Ball in
Calera
Calera Public Library hosted its 6th Annual Fairy Tale
Ball on March 1st for over 500 children. 35 volunteers
were dressed as princesses, princes, fairies, the Mad
Hatter, Cruella de Vil, and other characters from books
that can be checked out from the library. An afternoon
tea was held for all the little princesses to get ready
to go to the ball. Furniture, books, and shelves were
moved in order to make the space into a ballroom
where everyone was able to dance. The program was
a magical experience for kids of all ages!
Edited by:
Stephanie Taylor
St. Paddy’s Day
Woodville Public Library’s Preschool Reading
group celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on March 12th.
A leprechaun snuck into the library while the kids
were making arts and crafts and stole the children’s
golden beans. A trap was set for the leprechaun but
he was sneaky. All he left was footprints and two
golden beans.
Bank on Books
Between February 17th and March 7th, students
from Vakket Elementary School (VES) participated
in the Bank on Books program in conjunction with
the Pelham Public Library. Bank on Books is a
reading and financial literacy program and a part of
the Smart investing@your library grant the library
received in January. Smart investing@your library
is a partnership between the American Library
Association and the FINRA Investor Foundation.
During the program, VES students came to the library
and received book bucks and prizes for the books
they checked out. At school, each class competed
against the other rooms in the grade to read the
most books. The winning class in each grade won a
set of books for their room. Congratulations to all of
the students at VES for their hard work!
Vestavia Hills Fun
In February
Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest’s Preschool Pals
monthly event in February starred Mo Willems’
Elephant & Piggie (above). Over 120 preschoolers
and their parents watched these two friends act out
three of their favorite stories, after which everyone
made Elephant & Piggie puppets to take home.
Storyteller and author Willy Claflin (below) visited
the library for a Family Night Story-Fest with his
good friend Maynard the Moose. Willy is a featured
storyteller at festivals across the country and several
of his books have won numerous awards, including
the Texas Blue Bonnet.
Have You Met...
Armstrong-Osborne
Public Library
Vickie has made a lot of progress toward her goal
ofkeeping the library essential by adding e-books
to the collection, updating the circulation system,
making the facility more handicap accessible, and
Armstrong-Osborne Public Library in Talladega has starting a website and Facebook to keep patrons
been a part of Director Vickie Harkins’ life for many informed. Getting to meet new people and talk to
years. She started working there in high school, regulars is one of Vickie’s favorite parts of the job.
but left to become a teacher. Five years ago, she Not only does she enjoy getting to know them, but
answered her calling to become a librarian and their chats help her find out what they need and how
returned. A year after that, she became director. the library can provide for them.
Vickie strives to make the library the heart of the
community. It’s currently a vital part of residents’ One of the most enjoyed programs the library hosted
in the last year was the Christmas Rock Out with
lives and she plans to keep it that way.
entertainer Mark Seymour. Attendees of all ages
learned about different instruments and had a blast.
Additionally, the library hosts a plethora of other
regular programs like story time which pulls 40 to 60
kids at each event and a monthly brown bag program
that invites a different speaker to each session to
teach a new skill. A professional landscaper was
the guest speaker recently, and attendees learned a
lot about caring for plants in winter months.
Library staff members from left to right: Lea
Ann Coley, Vickie Harkins, Beth Farmer, Jill Van
Landingham, Tabitha Bishop
Dr. Seuss Programs
Orange Beach
At APLS
APLS celebrated the career of Director Rebecca
Mitchell at her retirement party on April 17th.
Librarians from all over the state (and even a few
out of state!) gathered to congratulate her on this
momentous occasion. After twelve years as Director
at APLS and over forty years as a librarian, Rebecca
has greatly impacted our state and made countless
contributions to the profession of librarianship.
A very special thank you goes to the retirement party
planning committee: Scott Burbank, Vanessa Carr,
Kevin Goff, Alisa McLeod, Clyde Mills, and Kelyn
Ralya. The committee put a lot of effort and time
into making it a beautiful celebration
Orange Beach Public Library celebrated Dr. Seuss’
birthday at story time on February 25th. Toddlers
and preschoolers dressed like the Cat in the Hat and
had their pictures taken. The group sang Dr. Seuss
songs, and Ms. Patsy read Green Eggs and Ham
to the kids. Additionally, the Orange Beach Publix
provided a birthday cake.
Tuscaloosa
Library Associates Shelly Tingle (below left) and APLS Board Member Donna Dickey (right) presents
Kaitlyn Spetka (below right) celebrated Dr. Seuss’
Rebecca (left) with a plaque.
birthday at Tuscaloosa Public Library dressed as the
Cat in the Hat and Yertle the Turtle on March 1st.
Former APLS Assistant Director Hulen Bivins
traveled from South Carolina to give Rebecca a
present from the Chief Officers of State Library
Agencies (COSLA).
Alabaster March
Programs
Bobby Joe Seales, President of the Shelby County
Historical Society, visited Albert L. Scott Library
for Homeschool Happening: Absolutely Alabaster
History on March 10th. He gave an interactive multimedia presentation on Alabaster’s history. He also
brought several items for students to take home.
The library introduced Isabelle, the new American
Girl of the Year 2014, at the March American Girls
Club. She celebrates creativity and talents which
prompted the Alabaster girls to put on a talent show.
During the gathering, girls showed off their singing,
dancing, baton twirling, and artwork.
Odenville Display
Odenville Public Library knows how to appeal to
teens! With their Steam Punk display, they showed
off themed books aimed at young adults.
Red Clay Readers
The Red Clay Readers Book Club, started by AL.com,
is inviting the entire state to join their club! The first
book on the list is To Kill A Mockingbird. AL.com
posts updates to examine six to eight chapters of
the book on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Fifteen authors are on board to give their insight as
well. On Wednesdays, anyone wanting to participate
can join in on the discussions. For more information
visit the website: http://goo.gl/y2HUlJ
The Book Nook
Title: The Thingamabob
Author: Il Sung Na
Reading Level: PreSchool-Grade 1
ISBN: 9780375861062
Reviewed by: Kathy Handle
Library: Arab Public Library
Review:
Kids will love learning the word
Thingamabob! Children will enjoy the silly elephant
trying to figure out what to do with the word.
Everything comes together when he shares the
thingamabob with his friends to stay dry.
Title: Don’t Call Me Sidney
Author: Jane Sutton
Reading Level: K-Grade 3
ISBN: 9780803727533
Reviewed by: Angela Dewberry
Library: Millbrook Public Library
Review: This great rhyming book will be popular
with children. I would use it to encourage everyone
to think of words to rhyme with their names. This
book could be read aloud to a class, with children
before bedtime, or in a one-on-one situation. It
would even be good to use it to encourage learning
new words, which can be exciting!
Attention: APLS Job Announcement
DIRECTOR
ALABAMA PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE
(STATE LIBRARY AGENCY)
The Executive Board of the Alabama Public Library Service, headquartered in Montgomery, is seeking
qualified applicants for the position of Director. The Alabama Public Library Service is an autonomous state
agency with primary responsibility for library development, state reference and interlibrary loan service,
and library service to the blind and physically handicapped. Director’s responsibilities include planning,
organizing, and coordinating a balanced program of public library services, evaluating the effectiveness of
public library service, ensuring that the public is well informed of public library services, and establishing and
maintaining effective working relationships with governmental agencies both state and local, civic community
groups and the general public.
The current budget is in excess of $9,399,000 and there are 31 staff members and seven executive board
members. Minimum qualifications are an M.L.S. or M.L.I.S. from an ALA-accredited school, and a minimum
of three years of professional library administrative experience. Highly desirable additional qualifications may
include public library management experience, state library agency administrative experience, experience
in working with local, state and federal government offices, strong written, oral and interpersonal skills, and
an ability to deal with multiple constituencies in a complex library environment. Competitive salary plus
usual fringe benefits (vacation/sick leave, health insurance, and state retirement plan.)
Send cover letter, resume, and names, addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) references to: Mr.
Ronald A. Snider, Chairman, APLS Search Committee, RSA Battle House Tower, 11 N. Water Street, Suite
1200, Mobile, AL 36602. Written applications only, no telephone inquiries or faxed applications will be
accepted. Applications must be postmarked no later than May 15, 2014
EEO/AA Employer