The first PUFFIN Library Lab in July was the brainchild of my LPL colleague Lindsay. It was a cross-department program, and she rocked it!
You know what? I'll just let her tell it. I'll even let her call me by my legal name because what type of jerk changes their first name when they get married for Internet purposes and doesn't tell anyone IRL about it. I mean, honestly. I'm the worst. --Bryce
Hi, everybody! Lindsay the Technology Librarian, here. Last month, Sara and I ran a super fun light painting program for elementary school aged kids. I first learned about light painting at an ILEAD conference last year, where I saw a couple of librarians testing it out. The idea percolated in the back of my head until Sara invited me to join the Fizz Boom Read fun this summer. As a kid, what could be more fun than standing around in a dark room waving flashlights around while your picture is taken? Sara agreed, and the fun began.
This might be a good time to point out that I've really
mostly worked with adults over the past 7 years. I teach adult computer classes
and do adult Reference. Suffice it to say, I was pretty nervous about this
program. Does anybody else out there get the jitters when challenged to work
with an age group outside of your comfort zone? Here’s what worked for me: rehearsing
the general flow of what I wanted to say, being prepared for different
levels of learning, and just owning what makes me, me. (A potential fourth:
making sure any tech equipment works!) The first two can take some time and
thought. The 3rd one has taken me years and is still a work in
progress. So what if I stumble over words sometimes or crack lame jokes about
cats during classes? That’s me. I’m human. Adults seem to take it in stride, so
I told myself kids would too. And if all else fails? I pretend I’m super-outgoing
Lindsay and not binge-watch-Star-Trek-on-Friday-nights Lindsay. What do you all
do to ease your nerves?
I shouldn’t have worried so much; the program was a blast!
