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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Play is one of the five early learning practices that help children develop early literacy skills. Some libraries have the space and funding to create permanent
educational play environments, but most of us don’t have the space or the big bucks</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#1F497D">L</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Below are
some ideas for creating temporary, portable education play experiences and environments in your library.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Forest Grove Public Library uses their Ready to Read Grant to pay for their Saturday morning Early Childhood Discovery Time which is essentially a temporary,
portable education play space. It includes toys, manipulatives, books, and more around a theme or early learning skill with simple instructions/ideas for parents to make the most of their play time with their children. Discover Time materials are put on a
cart that they wheel into the public space in the library for a few hours on Saturday mornings to provide an educational play opportunity. When they’re done, the wheel the cart back into the storage/staff only space.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Any other ideas for libraries with limited space and funding for education play?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Katie Anderson, Youth Services Consultant
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/osl/LD/pages/index.aspx">Library Support and Development Services</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><a href="mailto:katie.anderson@state.or.us">katie.anderson@state.or.us</a>, 503-378-2528<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Follow us:</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ORLibSupport"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D06C92.95BD2390" alt="cid:image004.png@01D0358C.4523C4D0"></span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><a href="http://osl-lis.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="yui_3_5_1_4_1421884432920_794" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D06C92.95BD2390" alt="http://www.thewwwblog.com/images/blogger-logo.jpg"></span></a><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#002163"> </span><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/OSL/LD/Pages/index.aspx"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1659D8;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="99" height="38" id="webImgShrinked" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D06C92.95BD2390" alt="Picture"></span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<a name="1"></a><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AlscBlog/~3/l5mJQrUV56c/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#000099;text-decoration:none">Purposeful Play Programming</span></b></a>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#555555">Posted: 31 Mar 2015 09:01 PM PDT<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Ever envy those fabulous, expensive play spaces some libraries have? You can create a temporary, educational play environment within your existing
library space that promotes adult interaction, is highly inclusive, and creates opportunities for outreach to the underserved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Introducing, SMART STARTS!</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><a href="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2015/04/purposeful-play-programming/smart-starts-2/"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="300" height="199" id="_x0000_i1026" src="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Smart-Starts-2-300x199.jpg" alt="Smart Starts (2)"></span></b></a><a href="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2015/04/purposeful-play-programming/smart-starts-5/"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="300" height="199" id="_x0000_i1027" src="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Smart-Starts-5-300x199.jpg" alt="Smart Starts (5)"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Three years ago, we founded
<a href="http://gepl.org/kids/kids_events/smart_starts"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none">Smart Starts</span></b></a>, a hands-on, interactive environment where adults help children develop early reading, writing, math and science skills through
fun play activities. This drop-in program is offered several times over the course of a few days during weeks we are not holding storytimes. Patrons can come anytime during the posted hours and stay as long as they wish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">The goal of Smart Starts is to provide a richer, more meaningful library experience where adults can play side-by-side with their children,
enhancing learning experiences. Dad John Witte observed, <em><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“The chance to interact with other kids in a learning environment is valuable both for the kids and the parents.”</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Each Smart Starts program has a theme, developed around an educational focus. Six to eight stations are created for each theme. PowerPoint
slideshows display scrolling instructional slides featuring the various stations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Smart Starts has allowed us to embrace the community’s educational initiatives as well as reach out to the underserved. We encourage community
groups to schedule special sessions just for their members.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">CREATE YOUR OWN LEARNING THROUGH PLAY PROGRAM</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Wanted: Head Coach. Find a staff member who will lead others in choosing activities and gathering supplies. You could then recruit one person
to find science experiments, another to work on crafts and a third to handle parent tips and extension activities, etc. Once planned, various individuals can run the program while it is open. Their role is to help visitors get started and model conversation
and play behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Themes</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Brainstorm themes. These can be derived from educational initiatives in your community or staff interest and expertise. Many of our themes
have been STEAM-related. For instance, we have created programs featuring air, measurement, plant growth, patterning and weather. After you have selected themes, search preschool curriculum books and websites for ideas for the activity stations. These might
include . . .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Science Experiments</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><a href="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Smart-Starts-9.jpg"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="300" height="199" id="_x0000_i1028" src="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Smart-Starts-9-300x199.jpg" alt="Smart Starts (9)"></span></b></a>Kids
love to experiment with hands-on science. We have explored how polar bears stay warm in the arctic, compared the speed of objects traveling down ramps and practiced using all five senses. Imagine a child’s face when they smell cotton balls soaked in vanilla,
mint, lemon or garlic!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Crafts</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Offer crafts that can be used to explore the subject further. A kaleidoscope promotes discussions of light. A feeder allows children to observe
backyard birds. A texture collage may prompt additional investigation of the five senses at grandma’s house. These crafts should be accessible to a wide range of developmental levels. The emphasis is process, not product. I always say, “If it looks too much
like the sample, something is wrong!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Mini Library</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Gather a collection of your library’s books, puzzles, and other resources related to your theme ready for check-out. We set out a couple of
beanbag chairs for those who want to curl up with a book. We also provide a sheet explaining the educational research and suggesting extension activities. These materials promote further learning and exploration of the topic at home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Games</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">“Go Fish!” Games are a fun way to encourage learning and repeatedly practice skills. Create and laminate your own matching games and sequencing
cards. Ask for donations of educational games and puzzles or scout for them at garage sales and re-sale stores. Kids also love to play with real objects made into a game. Sort small, medium and large kitchen items. Match socks or mittens. Make sets of 2, 5
and 10 blocks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Other Activities</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Here’s where you can get creative and courageous! Here are some ideas we have tried – with success!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Build walls with stones and play-dough<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">“Mess-free” fingerpaint using instant pudding in a sealed plastic bag<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Bubblewrap hopscotch<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Climb in various moving boxes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Guess the object based on its shadow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">“Paint” a chalkboard with water<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">String cereal, beads, dry pasta and straw pieces on chenille wires and bending them into letter shapes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Create iSpy games with stickers, beads and sequins<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Pretend to be a gardener with a shovel, rake, watering can, spray nozzle, silk flowers, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Make up narrative stories with puppets or dollhouse figures<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Tips for Success</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Patrons are delighted that such an enriching program is not only available at the library, but free. Many intentionally add Smart Starts to
their weekly schedule and arrange to meet friends. Mom Melissa Drechsel remarked,
<em><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“I am homeschooling my kindergarten-aged daughters this year and Smart Starts has been the perfect complement to reinforce some of the things we are learning about at home. We have enjoyed the many activities
at Smart Starts and I have recommended the program to many other mothers with little ones at home.”</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><a href="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2015/04/purposeful-play-programming/smart-starts-8/"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="300" height="199" id="_x0000_i1029" src="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Smart-Starts-8-300x199.jpg" alt="Smart Starts (8)"></span></b></a><a href="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2015/04/purposeful-play-programming/smart-starts-7/"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="300" height="199" id="_x0000_i1030" src="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Smart-Starts-7-300x199.jpg" alt="Smart Starts (7)"></span></b></a><a href="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2015/04/purposeful-play-programming/smart-starts-4/"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="300" height="199" id="_x0000_i1031" src="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Smart-Starts-4-300x199.jpg" alt="Smart Starts (4)"></span></b></a><a href="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2015/04/purposeful-play-programming/smart-starts-3/"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="300" height="199" id="_x0000_i1032" src="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Smart-Starts-3-300x199.jpg" alt="Smart Starts (3)"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">This program has also allowed us to interact with our patrons and attract previous non-users in a whole new way. Adults feel more comfortable
to ask questions, and children enjoy playing with the library staff in this informal setting. The variety of activities and levels of engagement allows all children to participate, including those with special needs and beginning English language learners.
We even host special sessions of Smart Starts for at-risk preschool classes, the local Newcomers chapter and young moms groups from area churches.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Once set-up, we offer the space at various times over the course of a few days. Themes may be repeated every year. This type of program is
also be easily modified to a smaller scale or for outreach at local community events.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Author Diane Ackerman wrote, “Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.” Through activity programs such as Smart Starts, we can provide
a fun, educational environment at our libraries to help equip our local children for a life of learning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" style="text-align:right;line-height:140%"><em><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">(All photos courtesy Glen Ellyn Public Library)</span></em><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">****************************************************************<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div id="attachment_10460">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><a href="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Bari-Head-Shot-1-EditSB-with-Crop.jpg"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="150" height="150" id="_x0000_i1033" src="http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Bari-Head-Shot-1-EditSB-with-Crop-150x150.jpg" alt="Photo by Stephanie Blackwell/GEPL"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Photo by Stephanie Blackwell/GEPL<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="line-height:140%"><em><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Our guest blogger today is Bari Ericson, Youth Programming Associate at the <a href="http://gepl.org/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none">Glen
Ellyn Public Library</span></b></a>. Bari enjoys combining her experience as an art student, corporate paralegal, law firm librarian, preschool teacher and mom to serve local families at GEPL.</span></em><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><em><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.</span></em><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:140%"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">If you’d like to write a guest post for the ALSC Blog, please contact Mary Voors, ALSC Blog manager, at <a href="mailto:alscblog@gmail.com"><b><span style="color:#000099;text-decoration:none">alscblog@gmail.com</span></b></a>.</span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="line-height:140%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">The post
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