Lindsay Public Library

Lindsay Public Library
The left side of the photo is the original Carnegie building, with the addition seen on the right.

            

 The Lindsay Public Library first opened in March 1899 as a free library to meet the needs of the town.  In June 1904 the library was re-built with the funds that were granted to the town by the Carnegie library funds. The original Carnegie building still stands but now contains only the children and young adult collections while the addition that was built in 1977 serves as the adult and reference section. Additionally, the Lindsay Gallery also operates out of the second floor of the library, sharing its space with the reference department. The Gallery offers the community art classes, courses and workshops for adults and children in addition to varying art exhibits.

YA Literature: Information Resources

I am just putting the finishing touches on my presentation for tomorrow's presentation on resources for YA literature. The amount of resources that are out there is outstanding. I am particularly impressed by the availability of reader’s advisory lists that can help librarians (as well as teachers, parents, clubs, teens… really anyone!) find a variety of materials that will ideally appeal to young adults. It is also nice that the ALA offers courses to help expand our awareness of YA lit, something that would be beneficial to take every few years to keep up with trends and new published materials.

Let’s hope that the presentation goes well and that my anxiety doesn’t show too much!

"Forever" by Judy Blume

"About school, I have two things to say. One, senior year is a bore, except for activities and history..." (p. 118)

Okay, so that quotation has little significance to the actual storyline, but it is still my favourite line!

Forever chronicles the life of Katherine as she finishes her last year of high-school with all of the feelings of social awkwardness and desires to be accepted that are often associated with one’s teen-aged years. Katherine soon finds herself “head-over-heels” in love with Michael,

YA section of the library

Although many of my classmates were disappointed with the YA section of their library or bookstore, I was pleasantly surprised by the one at the new branch of the LPL. It was in the front corner of the library with lots of windows and posters on the wall. The one poster that I noticed the most was of the actor who played Harry Potter that said READ (See below). The display of the books also corresponded with some of the theories that I have been learning about in Philosophy of Libraries, mostly the Principle of Least Effort. Most of the books had the cover facing the reader, rather than the spine, which attracts more readers.

I was impressed with the YA section at the new library and I imagine that it will attract many young adults who are stuck there while their siblings are taking swimming lessons at the YMCA in the same building.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

"I had taken the long way around, but I was finally home. To stay." Chapter 6, p. 99

Hinton's book follows a group of young boys (approx. 16 years of age) in mid-century America. The boys in the town are divided by social class, a typical characteristic of the '50s, and are struggling to discover who they are despite the labels that are put on them. For example, the narrator of the story is from the "Greasers" who are mostly poor and often abused youths.