MLA Scholarship Report #7

From Cynthia Gronroos Of Duluth Public Library:

I attended three sessions at the MLA Conference on Oct. 13, 2011. I also attended the Dessert Keynote Session. The sessions I attended were informative and educational.. I attended 40 in 60: Great Books for Kids and Teens, Children of Incarcerated Parents: Who’s Counting and Why We Care?, and One Book, One Conference: The Stormchasers.

40 Books in 60: Great Books for Kids and Teens

The three booktalkers were well informed about their materials. They kept the interest of the audience with their enthusiasm, even the “just for fun” non-fiction books. They were entertaining as well being educational. I enjoyed the session because of the light-hearted way the booktalkers presented themselves. If the youth Librarians can be this enthusiast doing their job, they could inspire many young readers to enjoy most books, even the ones that they have no interest in. Now I understand why story time is so important, because different type of books are presented opening children’s minds to new types of books. I was pleased to find our library carries most of the books discussed in this session. I was going to attend another, but it was cancelled, I was glad I went to this one.


Children of Incarcerated Parents: Who’s Counting and Why We Should Care?

Rebecca Shlafer informed the audience with the shocking news of the number of children who have parents who are incarcerated in Minnesota totals 10,000 to 15, 000. The number of fathers who are prisoners total 4604, and the mothers who are prisoners total 374. The children of these prisoners are at risk of poor academics, internal behavior problems, external behavior problems, substance abuse and chance of adult incarceration themselves. These children face a difference of housing, 10% are homeless. Parents who are at home have financial difficulties, most make less that $2000 a month.

Ms Shlafer did comment on the education of the prisoners. She claimed that 68% of the population did not graduate from high school. I would have liked if she would have talked more on the subject. I researched the illiteracy of prisoners and it showed that 70% of the prisoners do not read above the fourth grade level. Illiteracy is one source of why some of these prisoners are there. I would have liked that she stressed the children of the incarcerated need to have access to books and education or they could follow in their parents footsteps. Without an education the children’s future looks dim.

She did inform us of two books that she thought were good for the children to read about the family and the parent when the other parent is incarcerated. The books were “Visiting Day” and “Nine Candles”.

Because of confidentially it is very difficult to reach out to these children. She had no clear way to find these children and to get these children to the library and to storytime.

The best advice she gave was “give a child a book and they will read”. I left the session feeling frustrated and helpless. I feel the Librarians and the staff should encourage children to read, suggest to join a children’s book club and maybe with luck one the children who joins the group will be a child of a incarcerated parent wanting to read and educate themselves.


One Book, One Conference: The Stormchasers

Jenna Blum, the author of The Stormchasers was the presenter of this session. As a child she would watch her father at work. He was a writer for numerous television stations and celebrities. She learned by watching him that she would like to write also.

At age four she was staying with her grandparents in Southern Minnesota when she witnessed her first tornado. She loved the excitement that surrounded the storm. She watched the television show The Stormchasers and loved it. She began working with the program and follows the storms whenever she gets a chance. Her writing skills and the love of the storms lead her to write her second book The Stormchasers. She talked of the pressure of meeting a deadline, of having to locked herself in her own house and do nothing but write. She said you either love or hate your agent and publisher. She would have to rewrite parts of her book because of her agents’ or publisher’s input. She expressed to write a book your have to know your subject, research it and enjoy it.

I was happy to know our library has both of her books, Those Who Save Us and The Stormchasers.

I enjoyed going to the MLA Conference. The sessions were interesting and educational. Even though I was feeling helpless after the one session, I still learned a lesson. To be a friendly face and be patient with others may encourage someone to come back to the library.