Posted 9:49 am Monday, January 28, 2013
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Performers show off educational acts for librarians
Allison Blankenship leaned over the container, ready to pull out her animal friend. As she coaxed the creature into her arms, a sloth came into view.
Ms. Blankenship, owner and wildlife educator at Zooniversity in the Dallas area, brought with her Sid, a two-toed sloth from Central America.
She said Sid has learned the smartest way to stay alive in the rainforest is to do nothing. So, for 22 hours a day, the sloth sleeps and for two hours a day it eats.
“He's figured out if he does have to move, he should do so very, very slowly,” she said.
Ms. Blankenship was among 11 performers to present at a showcase for librarians at the Harvey Convention Center.
The performers were auditioning, in a sense, for an opportunity to provide children's programs at libraries.
Dona Weisman, director of consulting and training for NTLP, the nonprofit organization that put on the event, said the market for these types of live programs has increased since the early 1990s, but the funding has decreased.
“Libraries need to think outside of the box to get more funding,” she said.
She said Sid has learned the smartest way to stay alive in the rainforest is to do nothing. So, for 22 hours a day, the sloth sleeps and for two hours a day it eats.
“He's figured out if he does have to move, he should do so very, very slowly,” she said.
Ms. Blankenship was among 11 performers to present at a showcase for librarians at the Harvey Convention Center.
The performers were auditioning, in a sense, for an opportunity to provide children's programs at libraries.
Dona Weisman, director of consulting and training for NTLP, the nonprofit organization that put on the event, said the market for these types of live programs has increased since the early 1990s, but the funding has decreased.
“Libraries need to think outside of the box to get more funding,” she said.
Ms. Weisman said despite the proliferation of technology among children today, live programs continue to have an appeal.
Daryl Sprout, owner of Snake Encounters, garnered the attention of the few children in the audience as he used comedy to teach people about snakes.
He brought several of the live reptiles to show off and even used Linda Gray of the Tyler Public Library as a volunteer.
“Everybody say goodbye Linda,” he said as he prepared to place one snake around her neck and one on her head.
Sprout said his appreciation for snakes started when he was 7. He accidently killed a snake he found in his great-grandmother's backyard by leaving it in the car when it was hot outside.
After that, he read all he could about the reptiles so that he wouldn't kill one again. He has 24 snakes, three lizards and a cat.
Brenda Russell, librarian at the T.L.L. Temple Memorial Library in Diboll, said the event was very well done and educational for librarians, who are always looking for resources and programming for patrons.
Melissa Newland, librarian at The Library at Cedar Creek Lake, which is southeast of Dallas, praised the event.
“I thought it was great …” she said. “We were looking for more performers.”
Daryl Sprout, owner of Snake Encounters, garnered the attention of the few children in the audience as he used comedy to teach people about snakes.
He brought several of the live reptiles to show off and even used Linda Gray of the Tyler Public Library as a volunteer.
“Everybody say goodbye Linda,” he said as he prepared to place one snake around her neck and one on her head.
Sprout said his appreciation for snakes started when he was 7. He accidently killed a snake he found in his great-grandmother's backyard by leaving it in the car when it was hot outside.
After that, he read all he could about the reptiles so that he wouldn't kill one again. He has 24 snakes, three lizards and a cat.
Brenda Russell, librarian at the T.L.L. Temple Memorial Library in Diboll, said the event was very well done and educational for librarians, who are always looking for resources and programming for patrons.
Melissa Newland, librarian at The Library at Cedar Creek Lake, which is southeast of Dallas, praised the event.
“I thought it was great …” she said. “We were looking for more performers.”
