A step closer, a step farther.
I love the Angus Glen Library. Really I do. From the very start, it's modernized approach to knowledge surprised and thrilled me. For one, the "shhh-we're in a library" rule doesn't apply here an there's an entire department dedicated to teens. Although these changes have been made to appeal more to the youth (me included, we were starting to move away from libraries) there seem to have been quite a few things lost in the transition.
Vogue and various fashion magazines are really fun and full of advice for the everyday life, but I can get these almost anywhere. I don't go to the library to read something I can access anywhere else. Moreover, scholarly journals which I enjoy occasionally (but are far too expensive for me to subscribe to, especially when I'm not interested in every issue) are hard for me to even FIND in the library.
There's a balance that needs to be struck between the appeal to our interests and our need to BUILD interests. I might be going overboard, but when was the last time I really heard advertising for a library debate group? a discussion group? an actual book club? (although I am part of the online one) Probably not the most popular options for todays youth, but I think that they underestimate us sometimes. We are intelligent and we do have priorities apart from boys, make up, fashion, and ourselves. (Oh God I make us sound shallow) (and Yeah...I'm a debater...can you tell?)
*I really hope I don't sound like a radical anti-fun kinda gal right about now*
One thing that I do congratulate the Teen department about is their mentioning NaNoWriMo!! I've been a reader of the nano works for a long time, and am planning to participate this year. The only problem is that it's much more fun to do this sort of thing as a group (be it internet or real life) and I'm quite sad that we don't have this sort of collective activity at the library...it's one reason i chose to apply to join TAG. Unfortunately, my application was lost and now I have to reapply, but both of my contact numbers were also lost with the previous application. If any of you bloggers haven't heard of NaNoWriMo, you're missing out on a crazy idea (whether you choose to experience it or not), go to www.nanowrimo.org and check it out.
Hoping to apply again soon,
Miss Anne Thropic
Isabelle
posted by Anonymous @ 8:51 p.m.
5 comments
5 Comments:
i must say that i disagree with your views on the magazines in the library. you may know that i published a comment in support of teen vogue, and i think that the library, especially angus glen, has great selection. i don't think that they need scholary journals - something i have never even heard of before - because i dont' think that people would read them. people come to the library to relax and get some good reading material, and i think that scholary journals are way above anything a teen would actually be interested in reading.
i never said that you said to get rid of the magazines. i just think that scholary journals - hopefully you can explain to me what they are - don't sound like typical reading material. i'm sure that i'm not alone in saying that i don't know what it is. you say that the library must support teen's needs, and not only their wants. how will they need something when they don't know what it is? all i'm saying is that scholary journals may be useful for somebody in an IB school (another term i'm not familiar with), but i don't think that they are the needs of a typical student. while i am only going to be in gr. 10 this year, my sister happens to be going into gr. 12, and has never needed anything that the library hasn't been able to offer.
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Jen and Isabelle:
Sorry, this is my second time to post this comment.
Yes, we see everything that is posted. Unfortunately, when you post, it is not matched with what you post so this takes me a few minutes to match it to the original comment.
I am a bit behind, at the moment, we were short staffed and the computers were down for a couple of days at Ag. This is my weekend off but I am trying to catch up to you guys.
Online Databases: Ebscohost, Masterfile Premier has scholarly journals about 1976, to be exact. Try there for your academic needs. Another online databases is Oxford Reference Centre Gold: same thing scholarly journals.
Sometimes, if you have the title and issue of a journal, you can even pick it up off google. I had an architect come in one Saturday mornning needing a article. He was all in a panic. I googled and came up with the article. He was surprised how quickly I was able to get him the information he needed. Architectural Digest, Scientific American and some of the scholarly journals do allow texts of their articles but not always full text articles. This is where you need a database.
If you want more information about the Online Databases, please come into any of our branches for a quick tutorial. We have done it over the phone but it does work better in person.
Andrea has held classes for the online databases, a few times. Let her know if you think this would be worthwhile.
I mentioned to Andrea about the book clubs. See her response at the top of today's blog.
Andrea has tried to run many programs since she started at AG. Some like our Leadership program, last year are a big hit and this year, it did not go. Our Creative writing program is going this summer.
We are finding during the academic year between school, clubs, etc. students do not want another activity.
Jen, IB is international bacclaureate (i am not sure if it is spelled correctly). It is a prep course. The students I know in these courses are hoping to go to U.S. or international colleges and universities. I don't think everyone does this but the young people I know have this as their goal.
It is different than the gifted program because it focuses on the whole student. They make invaluable contributions to the school and local communities. The students in this program also focus on their own personal growth. I am just sharing what I was told by the Student Council President.
Any other questions, I am always ready to answer,
Catherine
Isabelle,
Our volunteer schedule is full, for the summer. Our problem is that we have more volunteers, than opportunities. There are a number of students like you who need 150 hours or more.
Information Markham might be able to help you with other opportunities.
Look for one day events, in the community. Milliken Community Centre has a children's festival that they might need help with on the first or second weekend of September.
At the moment, we have about one hundred volunteer applications and a small number of spots to fill, in the fall.
Catherine
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