Podcast Interview with Author Marc Aronson

Marc Aronson is an editor, a publisher, and an author of historical nonfiction for young people. He writes the "Nonfiction Matters" column in School Library Journal, and also hosts the Nonfiction Matters blog on the SLJ website. I met up with Marc at the 2008 School Library Journal Leadership Summit in Hollywood, Florida to talk about his latest and perhaps most controversial book, Unsettled: The Problem of Loving Israel. We had such an interesting conversation that I hardly edited the recording at all. I hope you'll find meeting Marc as fascinating as I did. Please feel free to join our conversation by posting comments on The Book of Life website.

AUDIO:

Florida Judaica Librarian Job Announcement

The University of Florida Libraries is currently recruiting for the Head of the Price Library of Judaica. The position is responsible for the overall management and collection development of the Price Library of Judaica. A detailed description of the duties and qualifications for this position can be found at http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/pers/careers.htm.

The Price Library of Judaica, with holdings exceeding 90,000 volumes, is a regional library of excellence in Jewish studies in the Southeast. The Library is built on the core collection of Rabbi Leonard C. Mishkin of Chicago. At the time of its acquisition by the Smathers Libraries in 1977, it was the largest personal library of Judaica and Hebraica in the United States.

Formally dedicated in March 1981 to support the teaching and research missions of the Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida, the Library is named for Isser and Rae Price, whose sons, Jack and Samuel Price of Jacksonville, Florida, established a fund to support sustained development of its collections.

The Price Library of Judaica is a well-balanced Jewish studies collection of notable depth and scope. Its diversified holdings of uncommon research materials in English and other languages support scholarship in virtually every aspect of the Jewish experience. Materials relevant to the ancient, medieval and modern periods await advanced students, visiting scholars and casual readers who possess a curiosity about a creative people with 4,000 years of recorded history.

If you know of a potential candidate please inform them of this opening or have them contact Bonnie Smith, Employee Relations & Development Coordinator at the University of Florida, Smathers Libraries – bonniesmith@ufl.edu.

Local Library Appearance by Author Seth Bramson

Friday, January 9, 2009 at 7:00pm, local author Seth Bramson will appear at the North Miami Public Library (835 NE 132nd St, North Miami) to speak about his book L'Chaim: The History of the Jewish Community of Greater Miami. The event is free and open to the public.

Bramson is the author of 14 books on and about Florida transportation and south Florida local history. He is Historian in Residence at both Barry University and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida International University and he is the senior collector of Miami memorabilia and Floridiana in America. At his presentation, Mr. Bramson will talk about Greater Miami's Jewish history beginning with the arrival of the area's first permanent Jewish settler, Isidor Cohen, in February of 1896.

Are YOU Valuable?

In these days of shrinking budgets, it's more important than ever that librarians be able to show that their libraries provide value. After all, you don't want to be the "fat" that gets trimmed when your organization tightens its belt (sorry for the mixed metaphor)!

AJL wants to help YOU prevent such a dire situation. That is why we are flying Joanne Roukens down from New Jersey to offer her acclaimed "VALUING LIBRARIES" workshop!

On Thursday, January 8, 2009, from 10am to about 3 or 4pm, Joanne will lead us through hands-on exercises that any library can use to clearly demonstrate its value to patrons, management, and other stakeholders. She'll teach us to evaluate our programs and services, calculate the "return on investment" to our institutions, and articulate the value of our libraries in a demonstrable way.

I attended this workshop when it was held at the Association of Jewish Libraries annual convention last June in Cleveland, OH, and I must tell you that it was absolutely amazing. Not only is Joanne an intelligent and entertaining speaker, but the importance of the content is absolutely crucial to libraries. The tough economic times make it especially relevant, but we all know that libraries need to prove their value at all times, so that we don't get taken for granted. Although the program is coming to South Florida on a work day, I'd say it's absolutely worth missing one day of work for a session that can help your library on such a profound level.

The workshop will be held at CAJE (Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education) in Miami, at 4200 Biscayne Blvd. There is no charge for the program (original $15 fee has been waived!), and kosher lunch will be provided to participants for free. RSVP is required: email info@sfaj.org.

Joanne Roukens was named the New Jersey Library Association's 2007 Librarian of the Year. She's the Executive Director of Highlands Regional Library Cooperative in Denville, NJ, which serves 975 libraries in a 7-county region. Above, you can see Joanne's terrific attitude, as she poses with the NJLA SuperLibrarian mascot.

German Library Director Addresses Jewish Librarians' Convention

Barbara Schneider-Kempf, the Director General of the Berlin State Library in Germany, has accepted an invitation to speak at the Association of Jewish Libraries annual convention in Chicago in July, 2009. She will present the findings of the Berlin State Library's study of books stolen by the Nazis and incorporated into German libraries. According to the German newspaper Die Welt, it is estimated that up to 150,000 of the books at Berlin's Central and Regional Library headquarters are thought to have been stolen by the Nazis from Jews, freemasons, social democrats, and others persecuted under Hitler's regime. A major aim of the new research project is to identify volumes that can be restored to the original owners or their heirs.

"In keeping with our convention theme of 'Empowering Librarians for the 21st Century,' we owe this amazing opportunity to electronic communications," said AJL President Susan Dubin. "An AJL member read about the study online and posted a link to AJL's listserv; our convention committee read that posting and subsequently emailed the Berlin State Library. We're excited to be able to connect in this way, and we're so pleased that we'll soon be connecting in person."

The Association of Jewish Libraries' 44th annual convention will be held July 5-8, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. Librarians, archivists and scholars from numerous disciplines will meet to share their interest in Judaica librarianship and related areas. Ms. Schneider-Kempf's presentation, "Stolen Books: The Third Reich's Exchange Center and the Prussian State Library,1933-1945," will be a highlight of the convention, and will complement the keynote address by Northwestern University scholar Peter Hayes who has written numerous books on the Holocaust. For more information about AJL and its convention, visit www.jewishlibraries.org.

Jewish Films Showing in Ft. Lauderdale

The Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival will be showing two Jewish-interest films December 19-21, 2008 at Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6th St., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301.

The First Basket
Directed by David Vyorst
Documentary, 83 minutes

Did you know that a Jewish kid from New York scored the first basket in the NBA? When Ossie Schectman, a Jewish kid from Brooklyn, made the first basket for the New York Knickerbockers back in 1946, who knew it was the precursor of today's NBA? For Jewish immigrants, especially youth, sports played an important role in helping them assimilate. By the 1920s, almost all urban Jewish neighborhoods had a basketball team. When these teams evolved into professional leagues by the late 1940s, Jewish players and coaches led the way.

December 19 at 6:30pm, December 20 at 5:45pm, December 21 at 4pm


The Secrets
Directed by Avi Nesher
Drama / Israel, 120 minutes
Nominated for 8 Israeli Film Academy Awards 2007

THE SECRETS spins the tale of Naomi (Ania Bokstien), the gifted, pious daughter of a prominent rabbi who faces a crossroads when her mother dies and she is expected to immediately marry her father's protégé, for whom she has no attraction. She convinces her father to postpone her marriage so she can study at a women's religious school in Safed, the ancient center of mystical Judaism, in order to prepare herself for the sacrifices she will make as a wife.
Naomi befriends Michelle, an appealing, free-spirited, and equally headstrong fellow student. When the pair encounters a mysterious ailing foreigner, Anouk (the iconic French actress Fanny Ardant), they secretly lead her through a series of kabbalistic cleansing rituals in the hopes of easing her suffering. This risky journey into forbidden realms leads to a growing attraction between the two young women and opens up overwhelming new horizons and the desire to be true to themselves, no matter the cost.

December 19 at 8pm, December 20 at 7:30pm, December 21 at 1:45pm and 7pm

Chanukah Storytelling

Chanukah Happening, a storytelling event, will take place at Temple Sinai in Delray Beach on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 6:45pm. Admission $5. The Palm Beach County Storytelling Guild says:

Chanukah is a special time for storytelling! We retell the story of the Maccabees to rekindle our courage and faith. We carry within us many personal and family stories and favorite folktales about the holiday season. They may be stories that move us to tears or laughter, inspire, teach, and/or learn. Come share them with us and we will offer latkes and dreidels in return!

Contact Elisa Eisenman at 561-499-0712. Temple Sinai is located at 2475 West Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach.

Local Appearance by Author Mark Werner

Mark Werner, author of Army Fatigues: Joining Israel's Army of International Volunteers, will speak on Sunday morning, December 14th, 10:00 AM at Temple Beth Am, 5950 N. Kendall Drive Miami, FL 33156. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to librarian Etta Gold at egold@tbam.org or 305-667-6667 ext. 128.

Author Mark Werner will chronicle his experience during some of the most traumatic years in Israel's recent history, the second Intifada. He'll talk about the daily lives of Israeli soldiers and civilians, ofering an insider's view of Israel's armed forces, as well as a portrait of a democratic society structured on self-defense. The author also explores the motivations of his fellow volunteers, for whom volunteering is often part of a personal journey as well as a personal commitment to the war on terror.

Mark Werner is a successful corporate lawyer and the son of a Holocaust survivor, who grew up with a strong connection to Israel.

In Memorium: Margot S. Berman

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of SFAJL founder and member Margot S. Berman on November 23, 2008 at age 79. She was the beloved and loving mother of Melissa Berman and Carrie Berman and wife of the late Irwin Berman. Margot Berman was born in Germany, coming to New York City at age 8. Despite a lifelong battle with Gaucher’s Disease, she lived a life of courage, ideas and grace. Margot Berman established the Temple Beth Am Library in Miami in 1965 and it soon became one of the standard bearers of the SSC division (School, Synagogue, Community Center) of the Association of Jewish Libraries. She was also instrumental in the formation of that international organization (AJL). Margot went on to write How To Organize A Jewish Library: A Source Book And Guide For Synagogue, School, And Center Libraries, the primary book on the subject and very much in use today (still in print!) by librarians across the country. Margot served as president of both the national organization and the local chapter. Through her story hours and book programs, she inspired countless children to become lifelong readers and served as mentor to synagogue librarians across the country. The funeral service will be held on November 30, 2008 at 10:30 am at Lakeview Cemetery in Ithaca, NY. Donations in her memory may be made to the Association of Jewish Libraries, which is establishing an award in her honor. In addition to her devoted family, Margot leaves behind many friends who also deeply adored her.

Where the Girls Are

Two items of interest for you today related to Jewish girls and women:

1) 614, the HBI ezine, "Sparking Conversation Among Jewish Women"

614 is the electronic magazine of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, and it's a magazine meant to spark conversation among Jewish women. As explained on their website, "The idea of 614 is not that there is one commandment missing. Rather, it is about the idea there is always room for innovation and exploration."

The current issue of 614 is called "Jewish Fiction Goes Outside of the Box," and it's their second annual issue on Jewish books. You can read fascinating essays by authors Joanna Hershon, Tova Mirvis, Laurie Gwen Shapiro, Dara Horn, Jenna Blum, and Gina Nahai. Check it out at www.brandeis.edu/hbi/614.

2) Yaldah Magazine Wins $100,000!

Back on September 24 I blogged about Leah Larson, the teenage founder of the magazine Yaldah, which is written, edited, and published by and for Jewish girls. Leah's mother Evelyn had entered the Wells Fargo Someday Stories Contest, in hopes of winning money to support expansion of Yaldah. I encouraged you to vote for Evelyn, and it looks like many of you heeded that call. Evelyn has won the grand prize of $100,000! Mazel tov to Evelyn, Leah, and all the girls who contribute to Yaldah!

Meeting Minutes: November 17, 2008

Minutes of the November 17, 2008 SFAJL meeting at Hagen Ranch Road Branch of the Palm Beach County Library.

Present: Sandy Birch, Sandy Gottesman Breger, Rita Cimbal, Len Edelman, Heidi Estrin, Dr. Jerry Glantz, Bea Gold, Etta Gold, Tsipi Keller, Selma Levy, Diane Malakoff, Jeff Marks, Wendy Peppercorn, Annette Rindner, Arlene Ritholtz, Rabbi Tobias Rothenberg, Yettie Ruskin, Walter Spielman, Ruth Weiner, Martyn Winston, Lee Wixman, Shirley Wolfe, Meyer and Helen Zaremba

I) Heidi called the meeting to order at 12:35pm, and thanked Adam Davis, Jeffrey Marks, and Karen Spano for hosting us.

II) Heidi distributed information regarding some new AJL resources, i.e. a list of books relevant to Israel’s 60th birthday and the web site of the new AJL podcast. Additionally, she reported on her attendance at the School Library Journal Leadership Summit, where she collected some information to pass along to AJL colleagues:

• School Libraries Work, a study on the positive impact libraries make on their schools
• The Playaway, a new format of audiobook akin to an iPod
• Vicki Cobb's new science experiment book and her interactive video component ("We Dare You")
  

Walter passed around a DVD and purchase information of a new documentary called “Swimming in Auschwitz” (www.swimminginauschwitz.com), and Etta offered free copies of her temple’s founding rabbi emeritus Rabbi Baumgard’s memoir Finding My Way to God.

III) Heidi asked again for volunteers to guest edit our newsletter “Headlines & Footnotes.” Yettie Ruskin spoke about how much she enjoyed writing about her synagogue in the latest issue of the newsletter. Furthermore, she suggested that it’s a good way to raise your profile within your own institution. However, no volunteers spoke up.

IV) Three speakers addressed our gathering today:

a) The first speaker was an unexpected guest who spoke about the ambitious manuscript that he hoped to publish and donate to university libraries everywhere. Meyer Zaremba and his wife Helen had researched and compiled a collection of 120 Yiddish songs translated into English. Their passion for Yiddish and delight in the music was infectious and entertaining.

b) Next we heard from Dr. Jerry Glantz who has recently published a biography of his father, renowned cantor Leib Glantz. The talent and influence of Cantor Glantz was impressive and the tributes to his inspirational voice are awesome – even praise from Albert Einstein! This volume comes complete with 2 cds of Cantor Glantz’s singing, from which Dr. Glantz played several excerpts. The book is titled The Man Who Spoke to God, published by The Tel Aviv Institute for Jewish Liturgical Music, 2008 and is available online at www.TheManWhoSpokeTo God.com.

c) Our final speaker/author was Tsipi Keller who has recently published a collection of Israeli poetry translated into English titled “Poets on the Edge,” by SUNY Press, 2008, also available online at www.sunypress.edu or orderbook@cupserv.org. Tsipi, a writer of fiction herself, has published translations in the past, but this book was an ongoing project of hers for many years. In many instances, she was able to work closely with the poets whose poems she interpreted. Twenty-seven contemporary Hebrew poets are represented in this brilliant anthology.

IV) During ‘Good and Welfare,’ we learned that Sue Kirshner, librarian an B'nai Torah, has recently undergone hip surgery and that she recently lost a grandson. Heidi raffled off 2 copies of The Hanukkah Mice by Steven Kroll to all members whose dues were current. Finally, we wrapped up our meeting with a tour of the Hagen Ranch Road library, which has only been open for about 4 months. Branch Manager Karen Spano graciously walked us through this marvelous, state-of-the-art building and pointed out the many new and improved modes of library operation present therein.

We ended our meeting at 2:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted by
Etta D. Gold

AJL Launches Podcast, Book Give-Away

New Podcast

Author talks, lectures on Jewish literature, panel discussions, and workshops are among the offerings of the newly launched Association of Jewish Libraries Podcast. Available at www.jewishlibraries.org/podcast, the program provides audio that enhances and enriches the listener's appreciation of Jewish book culture.

The podcast will include material recorded at the Association of Jewish Libraries annual convention, as well as recordings of Jewish literary events across North America. A wide range of topics will be covered, from the academic to the hands-on, from children's literature to technology.

"Jews are book lovers, and Jewish librarians even more so," says Susan Dubin, President of the Association of Jewish Libraries. "The AJL Podcast gives us a way to share our enthusiasm with others, without geographical or scheduling restrictions. Now everyone can learn and enjoy!"

How to Listen

New podcast episodes will be posted every few weeks. Listeners can hear the show online at www.jewishlibraries.org/podcast, subscribe via iTunes or other feed readers (using the feed http://feeds.feedburner.com/ajlpodcast), receive episodes by email via FeedBlitz, or listen by phone at (651) 925-2538.

Book Give-Away

To celebrate the launch of the podcast, AJL is offering a Jewish book give-away. Forward this press release or post its contents on a blog or web page to be entered into a drawing for five Jewish interest books from Hachette Book Group. Be sure to CC jewishlibraries@gmail.com on any forwarded messages or to email us about any posts. Complete contest rules and information about the give-away titles can be seen at jewishlibraries.org/podcast - click on the Contest page in the sidebar. Deadline for entry is December 12, 2008.

Chapter Meeting on November 17, 2008

The South Florida Chapter of the Association of Jewish Libraries will hold a chapter meeting on Monday, November 17, 2008, from 11:45am to 2:45pm. Free dairy lunch will be included. The meeting will be held at Palm Beach County Library's Hagen Ranch Road Branch.

At this meeting we will have an Author Double Feature. Our guest speakers will be:


Tsipi Keller, editor and translator of Poets on the Edge: An Anthology of Contemporary Hebrew Poetry


Jerry Glantz, author of The Man Who Spoke to God, a book/CD set on the music of Cantor Lieb Glantz (Jerry's father)



If you are interested in attending this meeting, please RSVP to SFAJL President Heidi Estrin via info@sfajl.org.

Lecture Series at Alper JCC in Miami

Roslyn Berrin & Family Sponsor
The Ray Berrin Memorial Lecture Series at Alper JCC

Ray Berrin is fondly remembered in the South Miami-Dade Community as a founder and longtime supporter of the Dave and Mary Alper JCC as well as the Berrin Family Library, which bears his name. Roslyn Berrin and her family are sponsoring a free monthly lecture series in memory of their beloved husband, father and grandfather. The Ray Berrin Memorial Lecture Series will be held at the Alper JCC, 11155 SW 112th Avenue, at noon on the third Wednesday of each month and will include a free luncheon by reservation only. Featured speakers are rabbis from local congregations who will discuss current books of Jewish interest. The series of seven lectures, running from November through May, is free and open to the community.

"Ray was always interested in the Jewish Lecture Series held at the Kendall Public Library and overseen by its librarian, Phyllis Levy," Roz Berrin said. "Now that Ms. Levy is the Director of The Berrin Family Library at the "J," we thought it an appropriate time to resume the lectures as a memorial to Ray."

The first event of the lecture series will take place on November 19, 2008 with Cantor Mark Kula of Bet Shira Congregation speaking about the book Judaism and Justice: The Jewish Passion to Repair the World by Sidney Schwarz and Ruth Messinger. This selection explores the relationship between Judaism, social justice, and the identity of American Jews.

All RSVP's for lunch must be received by Thursday the week prior to the lecture. For reservations or information about this and future lectures, contact Phyllis Levy at 305.271.9000 ext. 243 or plevy@alperjcc.org. The Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center on The Jay Morton-Levinthal Campus, located at 11155 SW 112th Avenue in Kendall, provides recreational, educational, cultural and social programs for the entire community. The JCC’s extensive facilities include a complete fitness center, a preschool and after school programs, summer and specialty camps, sports leagues and classes, a cultural arts center and programmed activities for all ages. For complete information, log on to www.alperjcc.org or call 305.271.9000.

The Book of Life Podcast

I've just posted the November episode of my podcast, The Book of Life. This episode is called "Tribalism."

Are you a member of the tribe? Which tribe? What is a tribe, anyway? In this episode, we take a look at the Klezmer Company Orchestra's CD "Beyond the Tribes," the documentary film "The Tribe," and a book by photographer Rafael Goldchain, "I Am My Family." Links and samples, as always, are available at www.bookoflifepodcast.com. Please send comments and questions to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com.

Local Appearance by Author Seth Bramson

Not only is this a local appearance, it's a local author too, with a book on a local topic! On Monday, October 27, 2008 at 7:30, Seth Bramson will appear at Books & Books in Bal Harbour Shops. His book is L'Chaim: The History of the Jewish Community of Greater Miami. According to the notice from Books & Books:

Beginning with the arrival of Miami's first Jewish settler, Isidor Cohen, in 1896, Bramson's exciting story takes us through Miami's early days to the present and includes the years of "restricted clientele," as well as the Jewish-owned buildings, businesses, stores, clubs, hotels, restaurants, schools, temples and philanthropic organizations.

Bramson's unique writing style, coupled with a host of never-before-published photographs and a website of special features, invites the reader to take a historic look at the people and places that have made the Jewish impact and influence on the area such an important part of the fabric of the community. [Note: I tried to find this "website of special features" so I could provide a link to it, but couldn't locate it. If you find the URL, please post a comment!]

Also at Books & Books/Bal Harbour next week, author Harold Kimmel will speak about his book I'd Bark But You Never Listen: An Illustrated Guide to the Jewish Dog, Tuesday October 28, 2008 at 7:30pm.

Teaching with Comics

I've just received word from Lissette Mendez, the program coordinator for Miami Book Fair International and the Florida Center for the Literary Arts, that there will be a special program about teaching with comic books on Friday, November 14, 2008. This is a great opportunity to learn something extremely cool, that your students can really relate to. As Lissette says, "MAUS is a literary classic, but there are many, many comics that can be used in the classroom." (Art Spiegelman, author of MAUS, will be at the Fair this year, by the way.)

Full details are included in the press release below.

The world of comics comes alive at the 25^th Anniversary Miami Book Fair International with a new component dedicated to comic books and graphic novels. Presented in collaboration with Diamond Book Distributors, the Comix Galaxy will present sessions with creators/authors, a gallery exhibition of original comics artwork, and the participation of comics publishers and retailers, as well as a day of free panel discussions for librarians, educators, and parents who want to teach using comic books and graphic novels. The School of Comics: All About Graphic Novels, Comic Books and Manga will be held on Friday, November 14, at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Wolfson Campus, 500 N.E. Second Ave., Building 7, Room 7128. A complete list of Comix Galaxy panel discussions is listed below:

10-10:50 a.m. Welcome Session: Panel Discussion with Arlene Allen, Robin Brenner, Adam Johnson, Tom Kealey, Francoise Mouly and David Serchay
Witness the explosion of graphic novel and comics related blockbuster movies and television shows, such as Heroes on NBC. The success of graphic novels began in a place where it was least expected: the library. Facilitators will discuss what led to this point and what can be done to capitalize on this new form of literacy.

11-11:50 a.m. Graphic Novels: Introducing an Exciting Format that Draws New Readers! Facilitated by Librarian David Serchay
Graphic novels have an increased presence in libraries, and while titles are not suitable for all ages, more and more titles are being created for younger readers. They are even being used in classroom activities and reading lists. Serchay discusses what sort of graphic novels are available, and how to discern age-appropriateness. Why librarians and educators should have them in their library (or collection), how to purchase, catalogue and shelve them, how to publicize the collection, and how to make use of it in the library, media center or classroom.

1-1:50 p.m. Welcome to Manga! What is this stuff from Japan? Facilitated by Librarian Arlene Allen
This entry-level session will be a gateway into the world of Japanese manga comics. How should librarians and educators select manga and create manga reading clubs? Is there a difference between manga and anime? Adding manga and graphic novels to a collection can deliver circulation numbers and bring in an entirely new and different reading population.

2-2:50 p.m. A Deeper Look At Manga: The world of the Otaku
Facilitated by Librarian Robin Brenner
Robin Brenner’s appearance courtesy of Bookreporter.com and TeenReads.com
Due to its origins in Japanese culture, manga carries with it an entire world of iconography and meaning. Beyond the characters--Pokemon, Naruto, Sailor Moon and Fruitsbasket, there are themes and languages that are part of each genre within the manga format that continue to delight, entertain and even educate a generation of new readers. What is Shojo, Yaoi, Shonen, or Josei? This session will reveal the deeper, hidden meanings in the language of the Otaku, or fan of manga.

3-3:50 p.m.Comics and Writing: Shake Girl, The Stanford University Graphic Novel Project
Facilitated by Professor Adam Johnson
Professor Adam Johnson created a unique project for Stanford University's Creative Writing Department combining comics creation and creative writing. In just ten short weeks, his students created a phenomenal story based on true events that took place in Cambodia--the graphic novel, Shake Girl. During the course of the program, the students studied the craft of storytelling through this exciting medium, and collaborated to write and publish their own book. Johnson will discuss the development of this program and what it can mean to writing programs of all levels.

Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions, but it is not required.

The School of Comics: All About Graphic Novels, Comic Books and Mangais free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register visit www.miamibookfair.com and click on Comix Galaxy. To obtain more information, please contact Lissette Mendez at 305-237-3940, Lissette.mendez@mdc.edu.

Author Double Feature

November's chapter meeting will be held on Monday, November 17 at the new Hagen Ranch Road branch of the Palm Beach County library system. At this meeting we will enjoy an Author Double Feature! Our two guest speakers will be:

• Tsipi Keller, editor and translator of Poets on the Edge: An Anthology of Contemporary Hebrew Poetry
  
  
• Jerry Glantz, author of The Man Who Spoke to God, a book/CD set on the music of Cantor Lieb Glantz (Jerry's father)

More information about our speakers will be forthcoming as the meeting draws near. Be sure to mark your calendars!

Cybils Nominations Open Through October 15

Nominations for the third annual Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (the Cybils) are open now through Wednesday, October 15th. The goal of the Cybils team (some 100 bloggers) is to highlight books that are high in both literary quality and kid appeal.

We who care about quality Jewish literature for kids can take this opportunity to nominate some of our own favorites, and bring attention to some deserving titles. Anyone can nominate a title in any of the award categories, so go for it! Your opinion matters.

This year, awards will be given in nine categories (Easy Readers, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Fiction Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade Novels, Non-Fiction Middle Grade/Young Adult Books, Non-Fiction Picture Books, Poetry, Young Adult Novels). Anyone can nominate books in these categories(one nomination per person per category). Nominated titles must be published between January 1st and October 15th of this year, and the books must be in English (or bilingual, where one of the languages is English). To nominate titles, visit the Cybils blog (www.cybils.com) between now and October 15th. A separate post is available for each category - simply nominate by commenting on those individual posts. If you are not sure which category to choose for a particular book, a questions thread will also be available.

Between October 16th and January 1st, Cybils panelists (children's and young adult bloggers) will winnow the nominations down to a 5-7 book short list for each category. A second set of panelists will then select the winning titles for the different categories. The winners will be announced on February 14th, 2009.

Palm Beach County Library Association

For those of you located in Palm Beach County, you should be aware that you are invited to the Palm Beach County Library Association's next quarterly meeting! You are also invited to send them photos of your library (if it's in Palm Beach County) for inclusion in their new web site (Visit pbcla.info to view how the libraries are being showcased.)

PALM BEACH COUNTY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
2008 1st Quarterly Meeting

Featuring the resources of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County
Presented by Tony Marconi, Artifacts Curator
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
2:30 Networking
3:00 Business Meeting and Guided Tour
Historical Society of Palm Beach County
300 North Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL
561.832.4164

RSVP by October 10, 2008 to khoffecker@vpslibrary.net, 561.434.5103

Also on October 15...

FYI, October 15 is also Blog Action Day, when jillions of bloggers around the world will be posting on the topic of Poverty. My Book of Life podcast will be participating. Visit bookoflifepodcast.com on or after October 15 to hear from Cyan Ta'eed of Blog Action Day, along with authors Eric Kimmel and Aubrey Davis.