Competency #9: Internet

I used Google to find the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) website: http://www.famlit.org/

This national organization's focus is to promote literacy programs for disadvantaged children and their families. It receives funding from corporations and foundations. It is of interest to me because it partners with community organizations like libraries to address the literacy issues in the under-served populations of those communities. The website provides links to programs that NCFL supports nation-wide as well as links like "Tools for Literacy Programs" which offers resources related to professional development and suggestions for starting literacy programs.

Competency #8: Research/Visual Multimedia

http://www.nald.ca/library/research/benseman/famlit3/7.htm

This picture was taken from a report on a Family Literacy project in Manukau, New Zealand. Manukau is a city near Auckland with a large population of Maoris. This visual represents the four educational components that the study was based on. 

It is relevant to my area of interests because it illustrates the importance of evaluating and addressing the literacy needs of the whole family.

There are no copyright restrictions.

Competency #7: Image

This image captures perfectly the theme of this blog, which is family literacy! I am interested in programs that target family literacy and how libraries can promote family literacy through programming. I located this through Google's image search. There is no copyright link.

Competency #6: Citation Pearl Growing Search

For this search strategy I decided to enter a the book title, From Outreach to Equity, to focus on the outreach aspect of my topic. I selected the subject heading, "Libraries and Community," which led me to the title, Pop Goes the Library:Using Pop Culture to Connect with Your Whole Community. I clicked on a the same subject heading for this title and this led me to more relevant titles. I could have gone on and on, feeling like Bullwinkle, or was it Rocky?, rolling down a hill in snowball that getting bigger and bigger!

Competency #6c: Successive Fraction Approach

I used the ERIC database for the Successive Fraction Approach search strategy. I entered the search terms: librar* AND family literacy. I selected Abstract as my search limiters. I received 93 results, many were very specific to my topic. From the subject headings, I selected the search term, "Public Libraries," and stayed with the search term "family literacy." This resulted in 29 precise hits. I found this search to be extremely effective in narrowing my search and offering more relevant hits.

Competency #6b: Browsing Search Strategy

For this search, I used the Library Literature Database. Using the search terms, "family literacy programs," I retrieved 60 records. I decided to browse the subject headings and selected "Public Libraries/Services to illiterates" and received 140 hits, some relevant, some interesting but not entirely relevant, but well worth the effort.

Competency #6a: Building Block Search Strategy

For the building block strategy I used the Academic Search Complete database. I used the following search terms:

Public libraries AND Literacy Programs AND Families. I was rewarded with 19 hits, most of which are very relevant to my topic. I selected abstract as my search limiters.

Competency #5: Tagging/Indexing/Cataloging

Crash Course in Storytime Fundamentals: early childhood(1) libraries(1) library school(1)literacy(1) non-fiction(1) observations(1)programming(1)

 Retrieval in the Digital Age: information retrieval(2)

	Title	Author	Date	Tags	Rating	Comments	Shared
1	Crash Course in Storytime Fundamentals	Penny Peck	2008	early literacy			3
2	Information Representation and Retrieval in the Digital Age (Asist Monograph Series)	Heting Chu	2003	ISAR			447/28

 permanent link

Librarything url: http://www.librarything.com/

This is a good resource for toddler and preschool storytime planning and presentation.

Competency #4: RSS

I chose an RSS feed from School Library Journal called School Library Journal: Early Learning News: http://feeds.feedburner.com/SchoolLibraryJournal-EarlyLearningNews.

I chose this because it is relevant to my area of interest which is Family Literacy and Library outreach programs and it would be an excellent source for information on early literacy, federal and state funding for programming, studies relevant to literacy, and any important updates.

Competency #3: Podcast

Outreach and Programs

Author Talk Schedule and Podcast Archive 
The Library hosts Author Talks during the academic year. The talks are held in the first floor reference area of the Library from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Can't make it to the Library on the day of the Author Talk? You can listen to the talk by clicking on the Listen / Download links below. You can also use iTunes to subscribe to the Library's podcasting RSS feed and automatically receive future author talks as they are uploaded.

I used google and searched for Libraries and Outreach. I found the website of the Muskingum Public Library where they offer podcasts of Author talks. I think this is an excellent outreach service to people who want to enjoy library programs, but can't make it into the library.

The library's web address: http://www.muskingum.edu/home/library/about/outreach.html

Competency #2: Related Blog

Name of Blog: Youth Services at Grand Prairie Public Library

Youth Services @ GPPL - http://ys-gppl.blogspot.com/

Help us, Adults!

In an effort to better serve you, our library community, the Youth Services Department would like to ask you about library programming -- what you attend, why you don't attend, what kinds of programs you would like to see... Please pick up a programming survey in the library and answer a few questions for us. Return the survey to the youth services desk by March 1, 2005. Not only will you have helped us understand how we can best serve our community, but you will be entered in a drawing to win one of two prizes: 20th Century Children's Book Treasury, which collects 43 of the most loved children's picture books in one beautiful volume or America the Beautiful, the glorious suitable-for-kids-and-adults alike pop-up book by artist Robert Sabuda. In addition, the first 100 people to complete the survey will receive a special "Celebrate Libraries" pencil. The survey is open to all adults ages 18 and up. One survey per adult, please.

 

I found this blog using Blogspot. This blog was created by the Youth Services Department in the Grand Prairie Public System in Texas.  I chose is because it is useful to explore what other libraries are doing within my area of interest. Networking and sharing ideas with other librarians who work with youth and families is an important, inexpensive way to develop effective, interesting programs.

LS 5013 Competencies 1: Introduction

I have created this blog as a requirement for LS 5013: Information Storage and Retrieval. The purpose of this blog is to serve as a place where students can post and view the course competencies assigned to the class by the Professor.  Another function of this blog is to serve as a place for information exchange.

My area of interest is youth services in the Public Library, specifically in outreach to groups who do 

not visit the library. I am interested in developing family literacy programs. I welcome any ideas, suggestions, comments on this and other library related issues.