Don't Be Afraid To Be Silly: CYA Storytelling and Booktalking iTea Is a Great Success

On Wednesday February 6th, CYA had the pleasure to host the Mississauga Public Library at the “Stellar Storytelling and Brilliant Booktalking iTea!” Daria Sharanewych, the Manager of Children’s Services at the Mississauga Library, and the rest of her team shared their wisdom about providing children’s programming. If you were in the Inforum or just passing by you probably heard funny voices, great stories, and tons of giggles! The Mississauga storytelling team brought smiles to everyone’s faces and let us remember what it is like to be a child, including being extremely silly!

Programming for children is not a specific skill that is taught at the iSchool. The iTea was a great way to observe and understand the process behind storytelling and booktalking. The staff of Mississauga Public Library presented their favourite programming ideas that they incorporate on a regular basis. There were stories with books, stories without books, songs with books, and songs without books! Many of the staff engaged the audience by including them in the stories, which felt awkward at first, but everyone was quick to reignite the kid inside them.

The biggest recommendations from the children’s services team were to just be yourself, and do what feels comfortable! Picking stories you actually love will invest your performance with that love, and the children will feed off of it. One of the children’s staff even recommended practicing in front of the mirror! Another piece of advice was to not worry about being silly in front of your audience, because children want to have fun. Engaging children in the performance also makes the experience more personal.

The hour iSchool students spent with the Mississauga Public Library was a memorable experience that will help many future children and youth librarians. Many students left with smiles on their faces, and with many ideas for programming!

Now that the iTea is over, a great idea is to start reading lots children’s books and find out what your preferences are. Even practicing your performances with friends, family, or a mirror is a great idea. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or ideas too! Many children’s librarians are experts and are always willing to share programs that have been successful. Overall, the “Stellar Storytelling and Brilliant Booktalking iTea” was a great success!

-- Contributed by Sarah Gauthier, CYA member, 2013-14 Co-Chair

Recap of CYA fundraiser and book drive

         From November 26^th-28^th, the CYA held a fundraiser and book drive at the iSchool in support of the Children’s Book Bank, a charitable organization that provides free books and literacy support to children who attend schools in Toronto’s Regent Park community. During this event, the CYA successfully raised $400 and collected a big box of books! We attribute this success to the efforts and generosity of CYA members and the larger iSchool community. A month before the event, the CYA promoted the fundraiser and book drive on Facebook, the CYA mailing list, MISC digest and posters around the iSchool. During the fundraiser, CYA had tables set up in the iSchool lobby and CYA members volunteered their time selling beautiful handmade items crafted by the Stitch n Bitch group. Some of the items sold include hats, flower pins, a headband, shawl, cowl, tea towel and a kindle case.

The CYA also raised money by selling tickets for raffle prizes. A raffle ticket could be bought with a $2 donation and 3 raffle tickets could be bought with a $5 donation. Those who donated new or gently used children’s book for the book drive received 3 raffle tickets per book.

There were 4 prizes to be won:

Grand Prize - Winter Care Basket, containing:

- handknit hat

- chocolate fondue set

- diffuser with vanilla scent

- two hardcover books: Marley & Me by John Grogan, Irma Voth by Miriam Toews

- MISC travel mug for hot beverage

- winter-themed mug

- assorted travel-sized body lotions

- two MISC shot glasses

- assorted chocolates and candies

Second Prize: MISC Organic Tote Bag containing MISC merch:

- water bottle

- USB key

- travel mug

- mug

- shot glass

Third Prize:

- MISC USB key

- MISC mug

- MISC water bottle

- MISC shot glass

Fourth Prizes:

-  five winners received one MISC USB key each

The prizes for the draw were generously donated by CYA members and MISC council.

The CYA remains committed to raising awareness about the information needs of children and youth populations to the larger iSchool community. We thank everyone who contributed to the success of the fundraiser and book drive!

-- contributed by Ramona Sansait, CYA co-chair

Visit to the Children's Book Bank

A few months (!) since the last post, but here we are...

Yesterday (November 17, 2011), the CYA group had a field trip to the Children's Book Bank, where we were hosted by the charming and engaging Jackie Flowers (past Co-Chair of CYA). It being a chilly day at the end of November, we had a few less people come than anticipated, but our group of five had a lively and interesting discussion. Our topics ranged from the founding and business operations of the Children's Book Bank (thanks to founder Kim Beatty for her insights), to discussions of book talks, story times, outreach, and more.

As it says on their website:

"The Children’s Book Bank is a registered charitable literacy organization that provides free books and literacy support to children in low-income neighbourhoods.

From its store-front location in the Regent Park neighborhood, The Children’s Book Bank collects, recycles and distributes free books to children who need them across Toronto."

Such a great service!

While we were there, a large group of kids from a local after school program came in. It was fun to see their curiosity and excitement at getting to take home a book of their own. Some kids made a beeline for a certain book (obviously, they had been to the Book Bank before!). Others had a more difficult time choosing just one, and exchanged their selection several times. In the end, everyone chose a book to take home and keep as their own, with the assistance of volunteers and librarian Jane Crist.

The Book Bank also has a fundraiser coming up on Monday, Nov 21; you can find out more details on the Children's Book Bank blog.

Thanks again to Jackie Flowers, Kim Beatty, and Jane Crist at the Children's Book Bank; we had a wonderful time!

~Val Stevens, CYA Chair (2011-2012)

TIME FOR A FIELD TRIP!

It's time for us to finally take a tour of the Children's Book Bank (see post below). 
Please RVSP to cya.ischool@gmail.com


Date:  Tuesday, February 9th
Time:  4:00pm - 6:00 pm
Cost:  2 tokens for the streetcar


WE'RE REALLY EXCITED!!!

Upcoming Field Trip: The Children's Book Bank

Yesterday afternoon, the iSchool student chapter of Librarians without Borders (“LWB”) organized a panel session featuring individuals who are doing inspiring work to bring literacy and libraries to different high-needs communities, both domestically and internationally.  The founder of The Children’s Book Bank, Kim Beatty, was on the panel and she spoke about how her organization came to be. 

Ms. Beatty's idea to form a book bank for children came from her volunteer work in running book drives.  After delivering books to children in low-income neighbourhoods, she learned that there is a huge demand by these children to own their own books. 

Something we should stop to consider for a moment is how valuable a free book is to a child who has never been able to own a book because of its cost.  It's probably difficult for most of us to understand.  

The Children’s Book Bank opens its doors to children five days a week.  It is a fresh, clean space, organized to help children make a meaningful book selection.  The book that the child selects is their book forever.  Children may take one book home with them each visit and some children visit every day.    

Watch this short news segment video of The Children’s Book Bank featured on their website (http://www.childrensbookbank.com/ctv1.html) to get a glimpse of its impact. 

Children and Youth Advocacy is organizing a tour of The Children’s Book Bank in the coming weeks.  Email cya.ischool@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining us for a trip to this wonderful place and we’ll send you the details (date: TBD). It's a trip you don't want to miss!


-Jackie Flowers, Co-Chair

CYA Book Salon - Wed Nov 18, 6-8:30pm @ Red Room on Spadina

The CYA Book Salon

Date: Wednesday Nov 18th
Time: 6 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: the Red Room
(Spadina south of College)

What are some of your favourite children's books? 

Help us brainstorm a list of book titles for a book donation to 

Toronto's Children's Book Bank!

Come have a few drinks or snacks and chat with others 

about favourite children books!

Meet Toronto illustrator and Ceramicist Audrey Hudson. She is joining us to give some insights about the approaches illustrators use in  children's books to connect with  readers.

See Audrey's work:
http://www.2caramels.blogspot.com/
http://www.audreyhudson.ca/

The Children's Book Bank is located in downtown Toronto & supplies children from

ages 2-12 with free books & also provides literacy support & workshops

                   http://www.childrensbookbank.com/

Thank U - BAKE SALE for Children's Book Bank (Tues Nov 17)

THANK YOU to all the Volunteers from  CLA, Librarians Without Borders and CYA 

for baking and selling at the Bake Sale for the Children's Book Bank!!!

THANK YOU to Everyone who donate or bought baked goods today!!!!

****RESCHEDULING of CYA Book Salon to November

 *Just wanted to let you know that CYA is moving the date of its Book
Salon into November.  We have the opportunity to have an illustrator
join us and need to do some rescheduling to make things work. It will
most likely be later in November 18th or 25th. There will be an email
later this week to confirm

 However, Save the date to check out the film "Where the Wild Things
Are" on Friday Nov 6th (most likely in the evening at a theatre near
school).*

 *We'll send out a more detailed announcement soon about the Nov 6
Movie Night and the CYA Book Salon.

Cheers,
Jackie, Andrea & Kate
CYA Co-Chairs

*Children & Youth Advocacy Group @ iSchool*

Email: cya.ischool@gmail.com
Blog: http://cya-ischool-utoronto.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=30356226034
Google Group & Listserv: http://groups.google.ca/group/cyaischool

U of T iSchool Courses that examine CY issues

Last year the CYA worked incredibly hard to encourage the availability of courses examining issues involving children & youth. Thanks to Wendy Newman, Brenda Halliday and Rhonda McEwen for creating courses (at times creating them with lightning speed) that give students the opportunity to learn more about children and youth within the context of information studies.

• INF 2303H Issues in Chidren's and Young Adults' Services (Winter 2010)
  
• INF 2139H Young People: Collection Development
  
• INF 2196H New Media and Information Practices of the Young (Fall 2009)

The following courses is also still found on the course list so we look forward to seeing what next steps can be taken in with these courses in mind.

• INF 2140H Young People: Current and Emerging Information Practices
  
• INF 2180H Archives: Access, Advocacy and Outreach (will not be offered in 2010-2011)
  

 Beyond the Jump - full descriptions of courses

Exhibit: Osborne Collection-Cinderella Went to the Ball (till December 12)

From the iSchool:

Leslie McGrath, who is head of the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books at TPL, and an iSchool PhD graduate, has extended an invitation to iSchool faculty and their students interested in children's literature and publishing, to a talk and exhibition on Thursday Sept. 24

This Thursday Sept. 24th at 8PM, the Toronto Public Library will be opening an exhibition of children's literature entitled "When Cinderella Went to the Ball: 500 years of Fairy Tales."

The exhibition is at the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books, which is housed in the Lillian H. Smith Library on College Street - only a 10 minute walk from U of T!

Michael Solomon, the art director at Groundwood Books (a fantastic children's book publisher in Toronto), will give a talk on light and shadow in children's books.

Thanks to the iSchool, Brenda Halliday & Michele Collins for promoting the event!

CYA 2009-2010 - Ways to get involved

Greetings CYA members,

• What does advocacy meant to you and what expectations do you have about the CYA?

• What issues or topics are you interested in terms of advocating for children and youth?

Keep these questions in mind as you look over my ideas for the CYA Group in 2009-2010 and let me know what you think or any suggestions.

Is there anything you would like to take charge of, the more people involved means the more variety in CYA during the year and give members a great experience that will add to their professional development and resume.

1. Administrative Details

1A) First year Co-Chair:

In first year and looking to get involved?

There is a Co-Chair position available for a First year student (from any stream or area of focus). This can help to ensure the continuation of the CYA Group by establishing a possible line of succession.

Drop an email to let us know that you're interested (cya.ischool@gmail.com)

2. 2009-2010 PROPOSED PLAN

As the 2nd Yr Chair, Kate has proposed using the topic/theme of ACCESS to organize activities for the 2009-2010 year:

2A) Access to quality information by REVIEWING materials

Focus: Build skill in reviewing and analyzing materials for children & youth or information professionals working with them by:

• Provide CYA members with a method to individually advocate for children & youth (now & post graduation)
• Assess materials in terms of critical analysis & collection development (negative & positive perspectives)
  
• Reviewing materials in a range of formats (publishing, technology, Internet links),
• Learn about assessment criteria for journal reviews (genres, age/audience, production, visuals, intention/goal/best uses),
• Provide opportunities to peer review and publishing of reviews by CYA members through meet ups & blog
• Establish an accessible archive of links for: Professional development (Skill building tools and resources on literary analysis, review writing/publishing), Resources (C&Y's literature/film/music/software/hardware/blogs/websites/databases), or Issues & Trends (research/groups/initiatives)

Possible activities:

• BOOK CLUB: monthly or semester, alternate or combine picture books, early readers, or YA (fiction or non-fiction)suggested by CYA members or pulled from awards lists (preferably in the TPL library system so people can access it)

• WORKSHOPS: writing book reviews

2B) Access to RESOURCES

Focus: Resources for information professionals working with youth & children, as well as, resources for youth & children to use.

Let us know if YOU have any suggestions.

*LISTSERV:

- Sign up for our LISTSERV (http://groups.google.ca/group/cyaischool?hl=en)

We use it for any time sensitive announcements & to share links (Sharing events, submission requests, seeking or giving advice, and updates on CYA business & blog (on a bi-weekly or Monthly basis).

*BLOG:

The newly created BLOG (http://cya-ischool-utoronto.blogspot.com/) is an archive of resources/information/links and gives CYA members an opportunity to contribute/ publish about CYA issues & resources. The blog is accessible to the general public and contributors could refer prospective employers etc. to the website to see their published work or involvement.

BLOG provides opportunities for CYA members to volunteer/participate.

• LISTINGS (Internet Links, book lists, databases, online tools, professional associations, youth committees, programming) GRANTS
  
• REVIEWS (literature, websites, journals, organizations, programs)
• PROFILES / INTERVIEWS (individuals-authors, illustrators, information professionals, etc..; organizations or events incl. conferences, academic or non-academic/independent or corporate/local or international events)
• ARTICLES or BLURBS on research, issues, trends, current events, technology, strategies (programming, administrative, jobs, )
• CYA (overview of meeting minutes, i-School curriculum & faculty, events, courses, areas of further interest)

*WORKSHOPS:

• What topics interest CYA members for this year?
• Book Reviews &/or Awards
• Literacy Initiatives
• Storytelling / Programming
• Funding or administrative issues for children & youth programs & initiatives (grant writing, government resources)
• Children & youth issues outside of the library setting

*TOURS or SPEAKERS:

Ideas to explore depending on interest:

• North York Central Library,
• Children's Department at Northern District Library,
• a Youth Advisory committee,
• book stores? (Beguiling, Mabel's Fables, etc.),
• Toronto's Gay & Lesbian Archives, Toronto Zine Library,
• Art Gallery of Ontario (Education Division), other museums, galleries,
• Community or Professional Organizations - Storytelling Toronto (formerly Storytellers School of Toronto),
• Faculty of Information Alum or one of the Professional Organizations.
• Authors or Illustrators or Storytellers/Performers - the Canadian Society of Children's Authors Illustrators and Performers,

Cheers,

Kate Johnson
2nd Yr CYA Chair
cya.ischool@gmail.com

Some background info on CYA...

In 2006, the first student group dedicated to issues involving children and youth was launched as YPFIS. Their mandate was the following:

YPFIS is a brand new group formed in 2006 in the hopes of engaging an extracurricular presence, within the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information Studies, for careers in librarianship for young people. We aim to increase awareness of this option, and by extension, the importance of public and school libraries.

Participants worked on:

• attracting guest speakers,
• arranging tours of relevant facilities,
• organizing a children and youth literature focused book club,
• collecting print and electronic resources,
• investigating professional associations, and
• coordinating film screenings.

YPFIS hoped to serve as a means to share knowledge amongst peers, allow for networking with individuals currently working with youth, promote enthusiasm for this career path, and instill an ethic of professional development among participants. Their long-term goal is to implement a program whereby FIS students can gain practical experience serving young people.

Faculty name changes lead to the group adapting their name to the Children & Youth Advocacy Organization or CYA. Over the 2008-2009 academic year, CYA members organized a campaign to address the lack of availability in courses that dealt specifically with children & youth issues in terms of information studies.

In November 2008, a course request was submitted to the Dean asking for the two courses listed on the curriculum to be reinstated in the course time tables. (FIS2140H Young People: Current and Emerging Information Practices & FIS2139H Young People: Collection Development). The research and discussions prompted by this request encouraged Wendy Newman to create (very quickly!) a brand new course, INF2303H Issues in Children's and Young Adults' Services, that is being offered for a second time in Winter 2010.

To keep things moving, CYA members formally approached the Dean and the Faculty of Information with a report addressing the lack full-time faculty to teach children's and young adult services to the Library, Archives, Information Systems and Museum Studies students.

The goal of the report was to:

• Express the concerns of and testimonials from the student body and current information professionals
• Offer research on current issues and scholars in children's and young adult services
• Offer possible solutions to the current coursework shortfall
• Describe benefits to the Faculty of Information from implementing these solutions.

The CYA believe that if the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information wishes to be a true leader for other North American i-schools, it needed to consider strengthening its curriculum of academic programs or courses for information students on children and young adults.

It is exciting to see that the i-School is recognizing the importance of youth within information studies within the new course curriculum. Over the summer, Brenda Halliday returned to teach a Collection Development course for Children and Youth and INF2196H New Media and Information Practices of the Young is a great new addition to the curriculum.

Welcome to the CYA's new blog!

Welcome to the blog for

the University of Toronto's

Children and Youth Advocacy (CYA) Group

We believe that young people are an important part of any information community. Our membership is open to i-school students and faculty from any "stream" (library/museum/information systems/archives etc.) who are interested in services to children and youth. Alumni, as well as students and professionals from beyond i-school's information community, are also encouraged to join in the conversation.

Stay updated on new events, research and discussions to do with children and youth advocacy issues with the CYA's other social networking tools.

CYA@ischool - Google Group & Listserv

http://groups.google.ca/group/cyaischool

You can also join us on our listserv: http://groups.google.com/group/cyaischool?hl=en

CYA (Children & Youth Advocacy) on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=30356226034