[Young Adult and Children's Services Discussion List] Warm and Fuzzy Animals NOT Recommended

[Rashaa Al-Sasah]

>From what I understood, we can't add this info to the directory.
Its open to the presenters which is why we use the listserve to discuss
with each other privately. Only the presenter can change their page and the
info on it.

Best,
Rashaa

On Tue, Feb 25, 2020, 6:16 PM Becky Farwick <bfarwick at newportlibraryri.org>
wrote:

> Please be sure to add this information to the presenters directory!  It is
> important information to have.  Thank you for sharing.
> Becky Farwick
> YA Librarian
> Newport Public Library [newportlibraryri.org]
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.newportlibraryri.org&d=DwMFaQ&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=L_-4KCeL1NFTCgbBWGLXptRx_tYoPpZbpMOWv0nrAy0&m=_iRVwpkPqVGcx7_XZU_8QzhkAI2QppG49ZAv63_gXRY&s=25QAXedfdTRgAPUUOBIByzWbpMHKUG6lw_Sn2Z36CyI&e=>
> 300 Spring Street
> Newport, RI 02840
> 401-847-8720 x206
>
> All for free. All for you.
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 19, 2020 at 1:42 PM Kimberly Usselman <kusselman at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I'll third that.  I booked them a couple years ago when they were new
>> (were they in a showcase one year?).  I remember not being very impressed
>> afterwards, and having some communication issues with her.  I haven't had
>> them back.
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 19, 2020 at 12:51 PM Renee Perron <rperron17 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I can second that. Had a similar experience when we hired her for a
>>> program a couple years ago at the Pawtucket Public Library.
>>>
>>> Renee Perron
>>>
>>> On Wed, Feb 19, 2020, 12:39 PM Rashaa Al-Sasah <rashaa at wwpl.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi everyone,
>>>>
>>>> I just wanted to warn anyone thinking to book her for programming that
>>>> I just had the worst experience with a presenter. Nancy was hired by Anne
>>>> Mclaughlin just before she retired for a program this morning and she
>>>> ensured and advertises that there is no cap on the audience, I had been in
>>>> contact with her the past two months and we had discussed all of this prior
>>>> to today. However, when she arrived this morning I was told we were only
>>>> allowed 25 kids at a time and she would not budge on this, I offered her
>>>> several options for seating as well as assistance from myself and
>>>> other staff for the program but she refused. We had probably 150 kids show
>>>> up which our room can accommodate and we have had animal performers in the
>>>> past handle the large crowds like this without issue. At one point She even
>>>> kicked several families out of the room but I insisted that they go back
>>>> and there were still several empty seats in the room at this point. I asked
>>>> if we could extend and have more kids in each session to
>>>> accommodate everyone. She agreed but when I had a group of 50 kids come in
>>>> for the second group she announced that there would not be any petting of
>>>> the animals. Several people left at that point upset. I also had 75 more
>>>> people waiting. She had agreed to do another group for $100 more but that
>>>> was not going to work for me if she was not allowing them to pet the
>>>> animals! So we had to turn away the remainder of the families. She was
>>>> extremely rude to me, my staff and the families. She yelled at several
>>>> little ones for getting out of chairs. It was really very bad overall. We
>>>> are now having to do extra work apologizing to everyone for this as it was
>>>> not what we had agreed to nor what she advertises on her presenter
>>>> directory page.
>>>> " Note: If the audience is large, we improvise and have a few
>>>> presentations during the time allowed so everyone has a chance to pet the
>>>> animals." Above is from her page however she told me that she would
>>>> not be willing to accommodate everyone who was here and she also did not
>>>> let them pet the animals. I also don't think she is well suited to work
>>>> with young children as she wished everyone to remain in chairs and listen
>>>> to her talk about how she breeds rabbits which she then told parents they
>>>> could purchase from her. It was overall just a very terrible experience.
>>>> I hope your February vacation is going better!
>>>> Best, Rashaa
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *Rashaa Al-Sasah, MLISHead of Teen ServicesPronouns:She/Her*
>>>> *West Warwick Public library *
>>>> *1043 Main St.*
>>>> *West Warwick, RI 02893*
>>>> *401-828-3750 ext.2*
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> RIYAC at listserve.ri.gov
>>>> http://listserve.ri.gov/mailman/listinfo/riyac
>>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> ~ Kimberly Usselman ~
>>
>> "Because that's what Hermione does,' said Ron, shrugging, 'When in doubt,
>> go to the library." - J.K. Rowling, *Harry Potter and the Chamber of
>> Secrets*
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