Sharpest Knife in the Drawer!

Every Thursday you’ll get this short, fun, relevant newsletter. It will contain a quote or smile about the library and those who love it, an idea you can use to promote your library or reading in general, and an occasional shameless plug for the programs I offer. Enjoy! 

If you are new to us or have missed any previous issues, you can read them all at www.smartlibrarians.com. And please tell your friends about it!

In this issue:

Sharp as a Knife!

Quotable

You are a TEACHER!

All Aboard the Arctic Express!

Sharp as a Knife!

Growing up in a small town in Alabama in the 60’s, I carried a pocket knife with me everywhere – even to school! The single blade Barlow knife I had carried since I was 8 was replaced when I was 10 by a gift from our Scoutmaster – a genuine Swiss Army Knife. Now, in addition to whittling and sharpening pencils, I could pick my teeth, tighten a screw (Phillips or slotted!), poke a hole in leather or open a bottle of wine. That last one was pretty useless for a 10 year old Baptist kid from a dry county!

I thought about my Swiss Army Knife recently while reading an article by Bob Reilly, where he talks about school librarians, saying,

“…applicants for these jobs have to be able to perform a "Swiss Army knife" array of duties. The reality is that the position of librarian…has evolved very quickly into curriculum leader and technology expert, in addition to the traditional librarian stuff.”

“Jeesh! It seems to me that there should be some mention of "healing the sick and raising the dead" in such job description documents. But this is how it's getting to be almost everywhere.”

It’s a good read. You can read the rest of it by clicking here. 

Quotable!

"The most important asset of any library goes home at night -- the library staff."

-- Timothy Healy, former president, New York Public Library.

Encouraging reading – from 45 Ideas in 45 Minutes – Promoting the Library and Its Value to the School

#4. Refer to yourself as a teacher and your library as a classroom. Words mean things. You ARE a teacher and your media center IS a classroom. One reason your colleagues talk out loud at the copier when you are teaching a lesson (something you would NEVER do in THEIR classroom), may be because they don’t see you as a teacher or your classroom as a classroom. Use the words teacher (or teacher/librarian) and classroom when you talk, when you write, and even when you think!

All Aboard Arctic Express!

It’s not too early to be thinking about the holidays! One of my favorite programs is Arctic Express, a reading show that talks about the many holidays celebrated around the end of the calendar year, all over the world! Find out more about this fun and educational program by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Here’s what they are saying about Tommy Johns Presents!

“If you are looking for a program that will engage your children and educate them as well...boy do I have a performer for you!”

Debbie Turner, Jesup, GA

Let me know how I can help! See you next week!

Encouraging kids to read, I am
Tommy Johns
Educational Entertainment Specialist

PS – Don’t forget to share this newsletter and blog with your colleagues!

www.TommyJohnsPresents.com   
tommy@tommyjohnspresents.com  
Call 770-315-3339 or Toll Free at (866) 490-READ