Barr, Patty 1950-

PERSONAL:

Born May 19, 1950, in Springfield, IL; daughter of Robert F. (a history teacher) and Phyllis (a social worker) Williams; married John Barr (an attorney), 1970 (marriage ended, 1985); children: Jay, Jill. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: University of Illinois, B.S., M.S. Politics: Democrat. Religion: United Methodist. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, travel, singing.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Decatur, IL. Office—Lincoln School, 700 N. Buchanan, Monticello, IL 61856. E-mail—barpa@sages.us.

CAREER:

Kindergarten teacher at public schools in Pekin, IL, 1972-74, and Ila, GA, 1974-76; library media specialist at public school in Decatur, IL, 1990-2002; Monticello District 25, Monticello, IL, library media specialist, 2002—. BabyTalk, family literacy teacher, 1989—. Decatur Choral Society, vice president, 1995-99; Theatre 7, president, 2002.

MEMBER:

American Library Association, American Association of School Librarians, Illinois School Library Media Association, Illinois Reading Council, Delta Kappa Gamma, Sigma Alpha Iota, Beta Sigma.

WRITINGS:

(With Beverly J. Obert) Capturing Readers with Children's Choice Book Awards: A Directory of State Programs, Linworth Publishing (Worthington, OH), 2004.

SIDELIGHTS:

Patty Barr told CA: "My coauthor Beverly Obert was the inspiration for our book. I have used children's choice awards in Illinois wherever I worked as a media specialist and have found them to be great motivational tools for reading. We wanted to put together a directory of all the children's choice awards in the country, so the idea for the book came about."