Students, get help with StoryTube!

Remember when I wrote about Gail Borden’s video book review contest, and how I hoped they would provide cameras for those who don’t own one? Well, they are! Today!

Students in first through sixth grades are invited to visit Gail Borden Public Library from noon to 2 p.m. today to get help taping and uploading StoryTubes entries. The StoryTubes contest is about describing your favorite book on a YouTube video, with chances to win $500 in books. Participants should bring the book they want to talk about or locate it at the library, plus any props they want to use. A parent must be present to give permission. Taping will take place in the South Story Room off the Youth Services corridor of the library, 270 N. Grove Ave.

Tags: Books, children, contest, Elgin, Gail Borden Public Library, Illinois, kids, StoryTube, video, youtube
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StoryTube!

Now this is just awesome. Elgin kids in grades 1-6 that are served by Gail Borden Library can submit videos inspired by their favorite books to Youtube to be entered into a contest. The competition is between us and four other public libraries across the country. The winner will receive $500 in books for herself and $1,000 to go to her school or library.

So far there is one entry. Check it out!

I would’ve been all over this when I was a kid! My one hope is that Gail Borden can provide a video camera for the students whose families do not own one. It’s not the highest quality, but I will offer the use of my digital camera’s video capabilities if there are any kids out there reading this who need it.

If you know any children in the area, spread the word about this contest! And throughout the rest of the month, keep searching “Story Tube” on Youtube in order to find the video entries as they come in. This is such a great way to encourage both reading and the use of new technologies.

Tags: Books, competition, contest, Elgin, Gail Borden Library, Illinois, public library, public schools, reading, StoryTube, youtube
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Book Review: Snow Flower And The Secret Fan.

This month I participated in the contemporary fiction book club at Gail Borden Public Library. (There are also non-fiction, mystery, “great books,” and Spanish book clubs, as well as one for people in their 20s and 30s and another held online instead of in person. More info available in pdf form here, under “Library Newsletter.”)

This is the book we discussed:

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan takes place in 19th century China. It’s narrated by an 80-year-old woman looking back on her life, focusing on her relationship with her “old same.” The book helped me better understand past Chinese cultural practices, particularly footbinding and marriage. What was really interesting was the idea of the “old same,” basically a best friend that a girl is matched up with at a young age and expected to be loyal to for life. In some aspects, the old same relationship is supposed to be more serious and committed than the husband and wife relationship. What a different way of thinking! When I was 10 or so and wearing a best friend necklace and feeling jealous if my BFF had a sleepover with someone else, I would’ve loved hearing about the idea of an old same. This book made me remember those old days and the closeness I felt with friends that isn’t usually there now that I’m an adult. If a friend lies to me or blows me off now, sure it’s annoying, but I move on. At a younger age I felt completely devastated and even sick, just like the characters in the book do. Back then I remember girls getting into fights over who was whose best friend and feeling extremely hurt if a supposed “best friend” told someone else a secret first. It’s interesting to think that the emotions I felt towards my friends in the 1980s were similar to emotions women in China in the 1800s felt.

This book also made me wish I knew more about history. I mean, the book is fiction and is written by an American. I know she did tons of research in China, but it was hard for me to know what to believe. I am trained to read things with skepticism. How does that apply to fiction? Were the emotions the main character felt similar to emotions I’ve felt in the past, because the main character was created by an American woman? The main character in this book questions and quietly criticizes aspects of her culture. Did the women really do that back then, or is that the American author throwing in her two cents? It would take major research for me to know.

Overall, I’m glad I read it. I was exposed to a different time and culture, as well as a new experience–the book club, which was interesting. While I saw a book mostly about relationships, particularly female friendships, many of the other women saw a book mostly about footbinding and oppression of women. They were horrified and I was less so. Still, I did learn that footbinding involves breaking the bones in the foot and folding the toes over. I had no clue about that before. I just thought it was wrapped up so circulation was cut off and the foot didn’t grow any bigger. OH NO, it’s much more than that. Here’s a photo for your delight:

(From Shanghaiguide.com)

Tags: book club, Lisa See, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
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