<div dir="ltr">THis came across the OASL listserve this morning and it was so touching that I asked if I could share on kids-lib. <div><br></div><div>Jane</div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Molly Sloan</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:oasl-all@ola.memberclicks.net">oasl-all@ola.memberclicks.net</a>></span><br>Date: Fri, Sep 2, 2016 at 1:48 PM<br>Subject: [oasl-all] an anecdote to encourage you<br>To: <a href="mailto:janec@multcolib.org">janec@multcolib.org</a><br><br><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello OASL friends,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I wanted to relate an anecdote of encouragement as we all start-up the school year and endeavor to find, acquire and promote books that represent all the people of our world. . . <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Today our beloved custodian of twenty plus years (who is African American) walked into our second grade classroom to empty the recycling. A few days ago our second grade teacher had come to me asking for books that featured African American
characters because she has an Ethiopian girl in her class this year. I sent her off with a stack of good ones. Today when our custodian walked in, grumbling at the mountain of recycling the teacher had generated, she turned and saw those books prominently
displayed in the classroom. Her grumbling faded. She shook her head and with tears in her eyes she said, “I am so happy to see these books here.” She stayed for several minutes and looked through many them remarking how she was going to take her granddaughter
to the public library to look for these books. When the second grade teacher related this story to me I said, “I will send you more like them! And shame on us.” Shame on us that a handful of diverse picture books on display is a remarkable occurrence.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve just spent several happy hours primping my library for kids who will be returning to us next week. I’ve got new books and old books and everything in between, fiction, nonfiction, biography, picture books and more up on display.
But everywhere and all around are books featuring characters and cultures that are different than our dominant, Jewish, white culture. I’ve heard and read many discussions of books being either windows or mirrors for people. I intend that this library will
be both for my school community—including our wonderful custodian.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wishing you all a great start to your school year,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Molly<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Molly Sloan | Safranit</b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Portland Jewish Academy Library<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">P: <a href="tel:503.244.0126" value="+15032440126" target="_blank">503.244.0126</a> | F: <a href="tel:503.452-7001" value="+15034527001" target="_blank">503.452-7001</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At The Schnitzer Family Campus<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97219<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.portlandjewishacademy.org/" target="_blank">www.pjaproud.org</a> |
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/PJAProud" target="_blank">Find PJA on Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/PJAtweets" target="_blank">
PJA on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/PJAProud" target="_blank">PJA on YouTube</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.oregonjcc.org/" target="_blank">www.oregonjcc.org</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MJCCPDX" target="_blank">
Find the MJCC on Facebook</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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</div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Jane Corry<br>Youth Librarian-Belmont Neighborhood Library<br>Multnomah County Library<br>503.988.5382</div><div>Oregon Library Association Past President</div><div><br></div><div><i style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:medium">Every adult needs a child to teach; it's the way adults learn.<br>-Frank A. Clark</i><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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