Library Job Openings across the shore!

Check out some of the jobs available at Libraries on the Eastern Shore of Maryland!
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ESRL's Polaris Implementation Team Wins CML Award

At the 2018 MLA/DLA conference in Cambridge, MD, Citizens for Maryland Libraries presented the 2018 Outstanding Employee/Team Award to the Polaris Implementation Team of the Eastern Shore Regional Library, Inc.

Members of the team included Rick Simpson, Sam Eddington, Mira Beaglehole, Jeff Cross, and Rachael Stein. John Venditta nominated the team for the award in recognition of their work migrating the eight county library systems of the Eastern Shore to a single-database Polaris ILS. "Personally, these coworkers and friends have been an inspiration," said ESRL Administrator John Venditta. "I am proud and honored to nominate them for this award."

You can read more about the award in the CML Newsletter.

Writing Contest Winners Attend Workshop With Jack Gantos

Jack Gantos signs books for Leland and Dailyn

Fourteen local middle school students were recently honored by the Writing Radar Youth Writing Contest. Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Regional Library, the contest received entries from six and seventh graders throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The students were asked to write a personal essay about a strange, exciting, or funny experience in their own lives. The winners were invited to attend an exclusive writing workshop with Jack Gantos, the award-winning author of many books for children and young adults. Grady Adkins, Dailyn Ballard, Hayley Burnside, Elijah Cockey, Leland Courie, Levi Divjak, Kalei Durando, Skye Hendrix, Makayla Newcomb, Annie Phillips, Brianna Quillen, Gianluca Secondi, and Cecelia Tolson all submitted winning entries. 

Eleven of the winners were able to attend the workshop on May 19, 2018, at the Talbot County Free Library, where Mr. Gantos talked about how to set up a journal and mine their own lives for great story ideas. The students each received a signed copy of Gantos’s new book, Writing Radar: Using Your Journal To Snoop Out and Craft Great Stories. 

The students and their families were excited to participate in the event. “Elijah appreciates the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet one of his heroes, Jack Gantos,” said Amber Cockey, parent of one of the winners. “This was a dream come true!”

Award-winning Author Matt de la Pena Visits Libraries

Last month the libraries of Maryland's Eastern Shore were fortunate enough to host the acclaimed children's author Matt de la Peña. Over the course of four days, the author gave nine talks in locations throughout the region including public libraries, schools, and Salisbury University. He spoke to over 1,300 people, mostly comprising fourth and fifth grade students, about his journey from a reluctant reader to successful author.

Mr. de la Peña is the New York Times bestselling, Newbery Medal winning author of six young adult novels (including Mexican WhiteBoy, We Were Here and The Living) and four picture books (including Last Stop on Market Street and Love). Matt received his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University and his BA from the University of the Pacific, where he attended school on a full athletic scholarship for basketball. 

 

Local teachers and librarians were enthusiastic about the visit. "His struggles and victories really touched our students," said Linda Blackmon, media specialist at Preston Elementary. "Personally, as a new elementary media specialist, I really appreciated the details he brought out in reading his picture book.  I can't wait to delve deeper into a picture book with my students and pull out details that a quick read would never see."

The annual spring children's author visit is sponsored by the Eastern Shore Regional Library. For more information, please contact Rachael Stein, Information Services Manager.  

Orphan Island Wins Maryland Mock Newbery

 A room full of enthusiastic Maryland librarians met yesterday at the Queen Anne's County Free Library to discuss five books and select this year's Maryland Mock Newbery winner. On the shortlist were Patina, by Jason Reynolds; Landscape With Invisible Hand, by M.T. Anderson, See You In The Cosmos, by Jack Cheng; A Boy Called Bat, by Elana K. Arnold; and Orphan Island, by Laurel Snyder. After a lively discussion, the vote was cast, and Orphan Island emerged as the winner. The group named one honor book: Patina, by Jason Reynolds.

The official American Library Association Youth Media Awards will be announced on February 12. You can watch the announcements live at 8:00am Mountain Time (10:00 EST)

Thanks to everyone who attended for a great program! 

Writing Radar - Youth Essay Contest

The Writing Radar contest is open to all sixth and seventh graders (including homeschoolers) residing in the Eastern Shore counties of Maryland (Caroline, Queen Anne's, Kent, Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester.)

Entries should be a personal essay on one of the following themes:
What is the most adventurous thing you've ever done? What inspired you to do it?
Write about the best thing that happened to you last year.
What is the strangest thing that's ever happened to you? Write about your experience.

All entries must be written in English. Submissions will be evaluated on content, structure, style, and originality. Two winners from each county will be chosen to attend a writing workshop with Jack Gantos (author of the Joey Pigza series).

We will start accepting entries on January 31st, 2018 and the deadline for entries is March 1, 2018. Winners will be announced at the beginning of April. The writing workshop will take place at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton on Saturday, May 19, 2018. Winners must have transportation to and from the Talbot County Free Library (100 West Dover Street, Easton, Maryland 21601).

There is no fee to participate. All submissions must be 500-1000 words, typed and double-spaced. Entries, along with completed entry and release forms (download below), may be delivered by hand to a staff member at your public library or emailed to writingradar@esrl.org by March 1, 2018. 

Guidelines

Entry & Release Forms

Author Adam Gidwitz Visits the Eastern Shore!

We had a great week with bestselling author Adam Gidwitz! If you weren't there to hear his gruesome and hilarious versions of Snow White and Cinderella, you missed out, but you can experience his wit for yourself in his book, A Tale Dark and Grimm. Or, if medieval farting dragons are more your speed, check out The Inquisitor's Tale, which won a Newbery Honor!