Competency 5: Tagging

Here is the tag cloud for the book Building Fluency Through Practice and Performance Grade 2 by Timothy Rasinski:
american history(1) appropriate for K-5(1) poems(1) poetry(1) reader's theatre(1) resource(1) speeches(1)

I had a very hard time finding books which related to children's theatre and libraries. I finally tried searching for "reader's theatre" and came up with this great find. This book is part of a series to increase a student's fluency through repeated reading of traditional poems, songs, reader's theater, and monologues. I selected this book as it pertains specifically to the topic of this blog -- theatre and children's library. You can see from the tag cloud that not a lot of users has tagged this book.

LibraryThing link: http://www.librarything.com/work/5308162/book/36358091

Competency 4: RSS Feed

Name of the RSS Feed/Website: Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County
Url of the RSS Feed/Website: http://spaces.jerseyconnect.net/nblake/weblog/63.html
Author: Norma Blake, New Jersey State Librarian

I chose this RSS field because it talks about a children's library and theatre who have combined forces and spaces to bring "stories to life." Below is an excerpt from the website:

"Plans for ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, began in 1997 when two colleagues had an idea. Bob Cannon, the former Executive Director of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), and Bruce LaRowe, Executive Director of Children’s Theatre of Charlotte (CTC) each led organizations with great programs for young people…and both were running out of space. Bob and Bruce thought it would make sense to consider creating a new, shared facility, to meet the growing needs of both organizations. But not just a combination library/theatre – they imagined a new type of facility, and an original approach to education, learning and the arts. The more they thought about the possibilities, the more they realized PLCMC & CTC shared much more than a need for more space – they also shared a powerful mission: bringing stories to life."

http://spaces.jerseyconnect.net/nblake/weblog/63.html

Competency 3: Podcasts

I used Google.com to perform the search. Using keywords "entertainment," "podcast," and "library," I finally found an article that the Weekly Volcano (http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/article/2185) had written about Jay Bates who performs a show at the the Puyallup Public Library in Washington. On his website, he describes the show as "a one-of-a-kind, live literary arts entertainment program." (http://www.riverandsoundreview.org/aboutRSR.htm)

I then used Google.com to search for Jay Bates, then Itunes for the actual Podcast and found this podcast entitled "Episode 19: LIVE! Phillip Terman, Elea Carey, and Patrick Bradshaw" which was recorded live at the Puyallup Public Library on May 15, 2008. The direct url is: http://www.riverandsoundreview.org/may1508.mp3.

This episode features storytelling by host Jay Bates, interviews fictional writer Elea Carey with excerpts read from her book and a reading by Phillip Terman, showcases original, live music by Patrick Bradshaw, interacts with the live audience through games, and features a performance of the spoof "As the Publishing World Turns." Bates is quoted in this episode to say, "Drama begins where ritual is broken." This is the crux of my passion to bring theatre into libraries.

This podcast was chosen because it is a great example of how performing arts are infiltrated into the library, from storytelling to music to performances. Bates' website describes the program as an effort " to make the literary arts accessible to the public" through performance. (http://www.riverandsoundreview.org/aboutRSR.htm)

Competency 2: Related Blog

I used http://blogsearch.google.com/ to search for blogs with keywords "theatre" and "stage." The selected blog, About library@esplanade is supported by the National Library Board of Singapore.

The excerpt is chosen from the About library@esplanade page: http://slv.vic.gov.au/about/news/latest/040708.html?rss_news

About library@esplanade

Opened in 13 September 2002, the library@esplanade is Singapore’s first thematic library that offers information resources and services on the performing arts. It is also one of the few libraries in the world to be co-located within an arts complex.

Serving as a one-stop information and knowledge hub for the performing arts, the library@esplanade is devoted to the study and the appreciation of music, dance, theatre, and film. The library’s mix of reference and lending collections, in print and audio-visual formats, facilitates the study and the enjoyment of the performing arts, complemented with programmes, performances, and exhibitions hosted by the library.

Theatre Village

The collection in the Theatre Village holds a strong selection of contemporary play scripts with books covering from the technical aspects to the theoretical study of theatre. The traditions and various forms of theatre are brought to life through the physical displays in the exhibition cases.

I chose this site because it brings into actuality my idea of blending theatre and libraries.