Call for nominees – deadline approaching April 30, 2008
Posted by Melissa Jacobsen in : Opportunities , add a commentIFLA Standing Committee
AASL is seeking suggestions for nominees for membership on the International Federation of Library Association and Institutions (IFLA) standing committee for the Section of School Libraries and Resource Centers. The nominee will be selected by the ALA Executive Board for a four-year term (2009-2013).
Qualifications:
The nominee should be an expert in the field covered by the section (see http://www.ifla.org/VII/s11/index.htm for information about the Section of School Libraries and Resource Centers) and have a working knowledge of at least one working language of IFLA (English is an IFLA working language).
Documentation:
The ALA Executive Board requires that suggestions for nominations be accompanied by a resume. If nominated, IFLA requires that the following be provided:
(a) an indication of acceptance of the nomination by the individual;
(b) a short statement detailing the nominee’s qualifications and indication of present position; and
(c) affirmation that the person can fulfill the working language and travel requirements.
Future IFLA conferences:
2008 – 10-15, August Québec, Canada
2009 – Milan, Italy
2010 – Brisbane, Australia
AASL personal members interested in being suggested as a possible nominee should submit their resume to Julie Walker <jwalker@ala.org> no later than May 5, 2008.
Expenses to attend IFLA meeting/conferences are the responsibility of the individual or his/her institution. IFLA, ALA, and AASL do not provide financial support.
Board of Examiners of the NCATE
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is seeking individuals to recommend for service on the Board of Examiners of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Nominees must have demonstrated expertise in the field of professional education,
skill in the use of evaluation techniques, good writing skills, ability to make impartial professional judgements, and good interpersonal skills.
This appointment is time intensive; support from nominee’s employer is critical for the three year term. Those chosen by AASL/ALA will begin service on January 1, 2009.
Full information on the requirements, etc. can be found on the NCATE Web site.
Nominees are asked to submit a current vitae to Julie Walker <jwalker@ala.org> by May 16, 2008.
AASL News April 30, 2008
Posted by Melissa Jacobsen in : AASL News , add a commentAASL hosts additional events in Second Life
Thanks to all who joined AASL on the dance floor in Second Life last Friday evening. This evening AASL will host its final event celebrating School Library Media Month on ALA Island. Details below.
Wednesday, April 30 @ 6:00 p.m. (SLT)/8:00 p.m. CDT
Podcast and discussion on the importance of school libraries
In the current climate of school budget cuts, school library media programs are one of the first programs to be considered for elimination to alleviate substantial deficits. Listen to a podcast by Julie Walker, AASL’s Executive Director, as she talks about the importance of school library media programs. Discussion to follow.
Register for Teen Read Week
Show your support of teens and literature by registering (it’s fast and free) for Teen Read Week (TRW)! More information, including details about great free stuff registrants receive, can be found on the TRW Web site. TRW 2008 is October 12-18, and the theme is “Books with Bite @ your library.” Visit the Web site for ideas to help plan an event in your community.
Registrants will have access to this year’s logo and YALSA’s pocket-sized “Books with Bite” pamphlet, which offers recommended themed reads for teens, as well as special offers from YALSA’s Corporate Sponsor, Mirrorstone Books, and its Promotional Partners. When you register, please indicate if you would like to participate in YALSA’s 2008-2009 WrestleMania Reading Challenge, which is a program designed to encourage teens to continue their reading beyond TRW and earn a reward for doing so by offering a chance to win prizes donated by WWE, including $2,000 cash for your library. The program will run from October 12, 2008, through January 12, 2009.
ALA Diversity Office extends deadline for research grant proposals
The Office for Diversity has extended its deadline for proposals for the 2008 Diversity Research Grants from April 30 to May 19, 2008. Applicants must be current ALA members, and 2008 proposals must address one of three identified topics:
1. The Impact of Rapidly Shifting Demographics on Information Needs, Services, and Strategies
2. Diversity and Library Services to LGBTQ Communities
3. The Impact of Library 2.0 Initiatives on Services to Under-Served Populations
Since 2002, the office has sponsored the program to address critical gaps in the knowledge of diversity issues within library and information science. Only proposals demonstrating relevance to the 2008 research topics will be considered. For a complete list of the criteria on which proposals will be evaluated, please visit the Diversity Research Grants Web page.
If you are not presently a member of ALA but wish to submit a proposal, please visit the ALA Membership page for information on becoming a member. Applicants must supply membership ID numbers with proposals. Electronic submissions are preferred and should be submitted in a Word document attachment. Email electronic submissions to diversity@ala.org. Mailed submissions should be sent to the ALA Office for Diversity, Attn: Gwendolyn Prellwitz, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611.
For more information, email diversity@ala.org, or call 800-545-2433 ext. 5048.
AASL Blog Book Club April 29, 2008
Posted by maharlan in : Check this out! , 2commentsI know many of us are preparing to end the year. If your library is anything like mine, chaos ensues. It is my busiest time of the year. What a great time to start a book club!!
O.K. I only partly jest. This is to announce the beginning of the AASL Blog Book Club, a chance to read and share with one another. We will select a title, read it together, and use the blogs and comments to discuss the title beginning at a set time. For an example of what we envision see the “Night blog.” Think One Conference, One Book on the blog. Examples of titles can be anything from A Whole New Mind, The World is Flat, or Three Cups of Tea. Think about a title that has some, however nebulous, relation to our profession and that will stimulate discussion. So among all the chaos use the comments to make a reading suggestion. I will post the selected title and reading schedule next week.
Books online April 28, 2008
Posted by Debbie Stafford in : Check this out! , add a commentThere is any number of websites where those interested in music and listen to up and coming artists and even download the music for free. Artists are often those who might not otherwise get noticed. Some artists put the music out for free in order to build an audience. The point is that music fans can listen to music before paying.
There are also sites where readers can download free books. Project Gutenberg is one. Libravox is another where you can download free audio books. Both offer titles that are in the public domain.
Last week I heard about a web site Lookybook.com where readers can preview picture books online, then order directly to Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Book Sense. The key is that you can literally read the whole book online. The web states that books online don’t replace books in the hand but you can use the site to select books you want to read. Publishers are invited to submit books and they don’t take self-publishers.
Looks like an interesting way to promote new and old books. There is quite a long list of picture book artists and authors available, some new titles and some old titles.
Last Day to Vote! April 23, 2008
Posted by Sara Kelly Johns in : Check this out! , add a commentIf you haven’t filled out your ballot for the AASL/ALA elections, today (Thurs.) is tha last day! Dig through your e-mail for the one with your election password from ALA Elections, take a look at the AASL election page <http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aboutaasl/aaslgovernance/aaslelections/aaslelections.cfm> and let your voice be heard. It’s important for school librarians to have a LOUD voice in ALA.
Thanks to all who vote!
AASL News April 23, 2008
Posted by Melissa Jacobsen in : AASL News , add a commentAASL to host two additional events in Second Life
Because of the resounding success of the first two events in Second Life (SL), AASL will host two more events to celebrate School Library Media Month (SLMM). Join AASL and other members for virtual fun and discussion on ALA Island Friday, April 25, and Wednesday, April 30. Details below.
Friday, April 25 @ 6:00 p.m. (SLT) / 8:00 p.m. CDT
Dance to show your support of school libraries
Boogie the night away with fellow avatars on ALA Island and show your support for school libraries. Socialize, pick up some cool AASL goodies, and, for newbies, learn basic SL skills like walking, changing your appearance, communicating, and flying.
Wednesday, April 30 @ 6:00 p.m. (SLT) / 8:00 p.m. CDT
Podcast and discussion on the importance of school libraries
In the current climate of school budget cuts, school library media programs are one of the first programs to be considered for elimination to alleviate substantial deficits. Listen to a podcast by Julie Walker, AASL’s Executive Director, as she talks about the importance of school library media programs. Discussion to follow.
Mesa public school system decides to eliminates teacher-librarian
Because of a substantial deficit of more than $20 million, the Mesa public school system has decided to eliminate the teacher-librarian positions in its 87 schools over a three-year period. The Mesa public school system is the largest in the state, with almost 74,000 students. Currently, each school is staffed with a full-time certified teacher-librarian and a full-time aide. Based on school size, the cuts would staff the school libraries with a full-time resource center specialist and a classified media aide. Smaller schools will be equipped with only a resource center specialist.
At the April 22 board meeting of the Mesa public school’s governing board, a rally was held with approximately 60 school library advocates in attendance. Because of the rally, a study session was held after the regular board meeting to learn more about the issue. More information about the situation is available on the Fund Our Future Arizona Web site. Read an article in the Easy Valley Tribune on the rally.
Wendy Mass announced as guest speaker at Awards Luncheon
Award-winning author Wendy Mass is guest speaker at the AASL Awards Luncheon on Monday, June 30, at 2:00 p.m. during the ALA 2008 Annual Conference in Anaheim, California. Mass is the author of Mango-shaped Space, the winner of the Schneider Family Book Award given by ALA. The AASL Awards Luncheon is an opportunity for members to celebrate the accomplishments of their colleagues. The fee to attend is $49. For more information about this event and more AASL programs in Anaheim, visit the Annual Conference Web page on the AASL site.
Spokane Moms to receive 2008 Crystal Apple Award
AASL is pleased to announce that President Sara Kelly Johns has selected Lisa Layera Brunkan, Denette Hill, and Susan McBurney, also referred to as the “Spokane Moms,” as the recipients of the 2008 Crystal Apple Award. The award is given at the discretion of the AASL president to an individual or group that has had a significant impact on school library media programs and students. The moms started Fund Our Future Washington, which was instrumental in receiving substantial funding for the schools in Washington facing cuts to their school library media programs.
The Crystal Apple Award will be presented to the dedicated mothers during the President’s Program on Saturday, June 28, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the 2008 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California. For more information about this event and more AASL programs in Anaheim, visit the Annual Conference Web page on the AASL site.
AASL News April 16, 2008
Posted by Melissa Jacobsen in : AASL News , add a commentAASL events during National Library Week boost attendance in Second Life
On Monday, April 14, AASL hosted two events in Second Life in celebration of National Library Week. At 6:30 p.m. guests were captivated by Carmen Agra Deedy’s storytelling skills as they sat on logs by a warm campfire. Deedy was kind enough to share streaming audio of her newest book, “Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale” for the festivities.
Later in the evening, Doug Johnson gave a presentation on “Beating the No U-Turn Syndrome: A new approach to teaching and enforcing copyright compliance.” Forty guests joined the hour-long presentation and discussion.
The Laura Bush Foundation announces another round of funding
The Laura Bush Foundation (LBF) announced that it will award Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative (GCSLRI) grants in October 2008. The deadline for school libraries to apply is Friday, June 20, 2008. The application is available on the LBF Web site.
Gulf Coast schools that were damaged in the 2005 storms and schools that are being built in the Gulf Coast region to fill educational gaps created by the storms are encouraged to apply. The LBF urges any schools that want to be considered for remaining GCSLRI funds to apply by the June 2008 deadline.
Enter the LIVESTRONG at School contest and get your students involved in the fight against cancer
The Lance Armstrong Foundation is challenging educators to get their students involved in the fight against cancer. Participating classes will have the opportunity to enter the LIVESTRONG at School contest to win a visit from champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong to their school.
To enter:
1. Teach a lesson from the LIVESTRONG at School curriculum. LIVESTRONG at School offers free online lessons to teach your K-12 students about cancer in an age-appropriate, hopeful, inspiring, and empowering way.
2. Work with your students to answer the question “What does LIVESTRONG mean to you?”
3. Create an entry. Be creative! Entries can be a picture of your class engaged in a cancer awareness activity, a letter written by students, a poster with artwork contributed by the whole class, a video of a skit, or something new you create.
4. Register and submit your entry. (Entries may be submitted by mail, but you must first register online to receive the mailing address.)
All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. CST on May 1, 2008.
Education Week article PDF available on AASL Web site
Visit the Advocacy section of the AASL Web site to view an Education Week article, “Campaigns Spreading To Reverse Downturn In Library Financing.”* The article will be available to all for one year.
*This file may not be reproduced, resold, e-mailed, or transferred in any manner. Any printed copies are for personal use only. Any other printing, especially bulk, is prohibited.
A Gathering of Readers unveiled for National Library Week April 16, 2008
Posted by Wendy Stephens in : Community , add a commentA Gathering of Readers
by Wendy Stephens
In conjunction with National Library Week, ALA President Loriene Roy has unveiled A Gathering of Readers, an online celebration of indigenous schools and their work to promote literacy.
I caught up with Dr. Roy to find out more about the project.
Dr. Roy became involved with supporting tribal school libraries through her connection with ALA president Sarah Long. Long’s presidential theme was “Libraries Build Community,” and Roy wanted to expand that vision to include tribal schools, what she calls a “forgotten aspects of the library community.” In 1998, Dr. Roy began a service project called “If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything” to support leisure reading within those educational institutions.
A Gathering of Readers grew out of Dr. Roy’s ongoing work with tribal schools. The website serves to recognize the ways in which K-12 schools connect indigenous children with literature around the world. Roy cites the low overhead associated with maintaining an ongoing online presence as an easy way to celebrate the integration of literacy with native cultures.
Named with a nod to the largest pow-wow in the U.S., Gathering of Nations, A Gathering of Readers aims to integrate children’s cultural heritage while promoting reading as a lifelong leisure activity.
The site includes an international map with links to pages showcasing participating schools, collections of resources for children, teens, and educators, and online activities derived from indigenous cultures and languages.
The handmade basket featured as the site’s graphical motif is one from Roy’s own home, and Dr. Roy hopes the animal mascot on the home page will be as familiar as the “res dogs” in those students own communities.
I became involved in one aspect of the site through my own participation in the ALA Emerging Leaders program. Our EL group has been contributing to the biographies in the Honoring Authors portion of the Gathering, a database profiling indigenous writers of books for children and young adults. Dr. Roy’s students at the University of Texas, headed by Kit Pilgrim, have been pulling all aspects of the site together.
Roy said that many librarians have been using the website to support collection development, and it has served as a mechanism to expand the audience for many author’s work beyond their own particular geographic area. Roy said the author profiles and book synopses have attracted teachers and librarians in non-tribal schools looking for “authentic voices.” While many of the authors on the site are well-known, other are better-known regionally, and many inquiries related to the site come from those looking for vendor sources for these titles.
School contest to win a visit from Lance Armstrong and fight cancer April 14, 2008
Posted by Sara Kelly Johns in : Check this out! , add a commentHere is a great contest for school librarians to help promote to their schools. Below are details and prize information – the winning school gets a visit from Lance Armstrong (other prizes for runners up). The deadline is May 1, which is very close but not impossible.
Give it a try, Sara Kelly Johns, AASL President
From the website <www.livestrong.org/school>
| Know a teacher who might want to enter? |
|---|
| Use these tools to encourage the teachers and educators you know to enter the LIVESTRONG at School contest: |
The Lance Armstrong Foundation is challenging educators to get their students involved in the fight against cancer. Participating classes will have the opportunity to enter the LIVESTRONG at School contest to win a visit from champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong to their school.
To enter:
- Teach a lesson from the LIVESTRONG at School curriculum. LIVESTRONG at School offers free online lessons to teach your K-12 students about cancer in an age-appropriate, hopeful, inspiring and empowering way.
- Work with your students to answer the question “What does LIVESTRONG mean to you?”
- Create an entry. Be creative! Entries can be a picture of your class engaged in a cancer awareness activity, a letter written by students, a poster with artwork contributed by the whole class, a video of a skit or something new you create.
- Register and submit your entry. (Entries may be submitted by mail, but you must first register online to receive the mailing address.)
All entries must be received by 5 p.m. CST on May 1, 2008.
From: Jennifer Long
Subject: LIVESTRONG at School contest
Team,
As you may know, we are holding a LIVESTRONG at School contest to
challenge teachers to get their students involved in the fight against
cancer. Our goal is to register 200 classrooms by May 1. After teaching
one of the lessons designed for their class, teachers will work with
their students to answer the question “What does LIVESTRONG mean to
you?” and develop an entry to send into the contest.
The class who submits the winning entry will receive a visit from Lance,
with the second-place class receiving LIVESTRONG Collection gear from
Nike and the third-place class receiving a LIVESTRONG at School poster
signed by Lance and wristbands for their entire school. Just for
entering, classes will receive a LIVESTRONG at School poster and
wristbands for the class.
This is a great opportunity for schools to demonstrate their community
involvement and expose students to cancer in a way that is
age-appropriate and inspiring.
Thanks for helping us make this program a success.
JENNIFER LONG
Marketing Communications Manager
Lance Armstrong Foundation
p 512.279.8391
f 512.236.8482
www.livestrong.org <http://www.livestrong.org/>
We unite people to fight cancer. Join Us
<http://www.livestrong.org/Army>
Book Review April 13, 2008
Posted by Debbie Stafford in : Check this out! , add a commentThis week while on spring break I took advantage of down time to read. One title I heard about while at a conference was at the top of the list. So, this post is essentially a book review. The book in question isn’t really about school libraries or information literacy but still found much that school librarians can ponder.
Marzano, Robert J., Debra H. Pickering, and Jane E. Pollock. Classroom Instruction That Works. Alexandria Virginia: ASCD, 2001.
Another different version with some of the same content is available on the McRel (Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning)
Marzano, Robert J., What works in Classroom Instruction McRel
http://www.mcrel.org/PDF/Instruction/5992TG_What_Works.pdf (April 11, 2008)
Marzano and the other authors used a research technique Meta Analysis to find the effect of teaching strategies on achievement. The results are presented in terms of “effect size”. defined as “increase or decrease in achievement of the experimental group compared with that of the control group”. In other words, what strategies give more bang for the buck.
Outlined are nine specific strategies. All of them we do in collaboration with classroom teachers. However some of these strategies strike me as areas where we as school library media specialists excel, specifically these two strategies: Identifying similarities and differences and Non linguistic representations. Through author studies, book talks, read-alouds, library displays both of the above are done daily. Under the first item the authors place classification, another activity we do often with both non-fiction and fiction genres.
Three other strategies: Summarizing and note taking, Reinforcing effort and providing recognition, Homework and practice and not as central to our program, still we do them frequently. Many of us teach note-taking skills as part of the research process. We provide materials daily for reading practice and we provide recognition with reading incentive programs. One caveat, the book does make a differentiation between recognition and awards with the first having a bigger effect size.
The rest of the strategies listed are; Cooperative learning, Setting objectives and providing feedback, Generating and testing hypotheses, Questions, cues, and advance organizers. Since all of us need to advocate for our programs, and look for ways to show how school libraries promote student achievement, reading though this publication and taking a close look at the strategies and suggestions might be useful.
