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Children's Writers' Workshop Troy Public Library - What Is It? What's 9" x 6", white background, colorfully decorated, imaginatively created and eagerly awaited by children, library staff and parents? CHILDREN'S WRITERS' WORKSHOP BOOKS AT THE TROY PUBLIC LIBRARY! Underwritten by the Friends of the Troy Public Library, the Children's Writers' Workshop has proved one of the library's most popular and successful programs. And this year- the Young People's Department of the Troy Public Library expects to publish its 1000th book! In 1983 when the program first began, it was unique, especially to this area, and the first few years saw waiting lines on sign up day. Many of the area libraries now offer a similar program. In recent years, we have found the number of participants and volunteers decreasing. In an effort to boost participation, this year we are offering the workshop during April instead of during the summer vacation. Three separate workshop sessions are scheduled for children in second grade through middle school. The workshop will take place mornings Monday through Friday during the April school vacation. We also plan a session Tuesday evenings for older kids, ages 10 through high school. Both of these sessions will be held at the Main Library, 100 Second St. A third session will be offered Wednesday afternoons for home schoolers at the Lansingburgh Branch, 114th St. & 4th Ave. So what is so special shout this program? Simply, it gives children a chance to write and illustrate a story in a non-threatening and non-competitive atmosphere. And, magic can happen. In the 1985 workshop Tasha Hollingsworth wrote Through Tasha's Eyes, her personal story, the story of a young girl's grief over the death of her uncle from a drug overdose. Former library director Ruth Eveland and former Young People's librarian Janice Toomajian, one of the workshop's founders, were so moved by her story that they sought a wider audience. 10,000 copies of the book were published as a drug education pamphlet by Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Albany and distributed to schools and libraries. Tasha, and hence, the Children's Writers' Workshop gained national attention when she appeared on the Today show, participated in a press conference and signed copies of her book. Over the years all kinds of magical books have been dreamt of and realized. In 1997 young people wrote about many things. Some books were non-fiction, some were purely imaginative. Topics included a trip to Yankee Stadium, summer and vacations, princesses and pirates, dragons and monsters, baseball and boating, dogs, whales and dinosaurs, grandparents and families, immigration and pen pals, music and space mutants. Volunteer instructors are an integral part of the workshop. We are looking for people who like working with children and enjoy the writing process. Volunteers help writers to focus on topics, develop their ideas, and revise and lay out their stories in picture book form. High school and college students are welcome to volunteer. High school students might also choose to participate in the Tuesday evening session, Children of parent volunteers can be automatically enrolled in the workshop. The schedule follows: Main Library: Second grade through middle-school - Monday- Friday, April 13-17 from l0am to 1pm Ages 10 through high school - Tuesdays April 7-28 from 7-9pm Lansingburgh: Home schooled children - Wednesdays April 8-29 from 1-3pm Please consider joining us in April as a participant and/or volunteer. Sign-up for the sessions will begin on Saturday, March 7, 1998. Sign up in person at the Main Library or call 274-7071. A reception will be held in May to view the published books and to honor the authors, their families and the volunteers. The author is given the first opportunity to check out their book at the reception. After three years the book is withdrawn and given to the author to keep. To volunteer and/or for more information call 274-7071, Young People's Services Department. In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation 
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