First off let me preface this by stating that I am blogging from my cell phone and I am having trouble with using cap locks and grammar keys.
Last night we dropped off a PAL at the El Dorado county library. Carolyn Brooks was our contact and she met us at the door with her family. They were just as excited about the PAL island as we are.
When we arrived Carolyn had already opened a door for us to take the PAL through however door number 1 was not wide enough. We then tried to use the double doors of the main library entrance. We measured the door jams and it was indeed 34 inches wide (the pals are 5' x 34") however, when we tried to fit it through that entry point the door did not open wide enough. It was an automatic door for wheelchair access and the group immediately started thinking of ways to take the door jam or the door brace off. After the El Dorado crew took a few screws out of the door and then someone realized that other door would open just enough to clear 34" leaving us with less than a 1/4 " of space on either side (just enough space to not scratch the wood).
As soon as we put the PAL in the story theater of course Carolyn's sons had to play with the manipulatives. We set up the book displays, banners, manipulatives and I must say it was like leaving our puppy somewhere. After we gave Carolyn a brief tour of how to clean and setup the PAL, and how we utilize the Dig and Build to its fullest potential Carolyn gave us a tour of the library and Jason and I knew that the PAL is in good hands.
We were there for an hour and a half picking her brain and sharing ideas. It was nice to meet someone as passionate about incorporating play and learn in libraries as we are.
Currently Jason and I are driving through Merced county. There are high winds but nothing our professional driver can't handle.
Getting a PAL into another library just days after we received delivery feels like a big victory for all of our hard work.
Great job Wess and Jason! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteRancho CLAers, you are all amazing and what a great outcome of the conference to have Wess and Jason deliver the PAL! I love the analogy of leaving the PAL in El Dorado County as being similar to leaving your puppy somewhere. I'm thinking it's like the time I left my week old baby with grandma and went to Costco - scary but liberating and soooo satisfying!! Congratulations to all of you on a terrific job at CLA - I wasn't even there and this was my best CLA ever. :]
ReplyDeleteHilarious post! How awesome to be a part of PAL history and be there for the first lending! Great job! Thank you so much to the both of you for all the hard work and traveling!
ReplyDelete