[kids-lib] Tidbits from the Library World

Thu Apr 28 13:39:52 PDT 2011

Hello!  My colleague, Jen Maurer, frequently puts together an informational email for school librarians.  I usually forward only the items that apply to public libraries, however I think that this month there are some important issues specific to school libraries that public libraries should be aware of too so I am forwarding Jen's entire email.  The last item is the announcement of the Oregon Battle of the Books winners!

Katie Anderson, Library Development Services
* Youth Services Consultant * Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator *
Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301
katie.anderson at state.or.us<mailto:katie.anderson at state.or.us>, 503-378-2528
________________________________
From: oasl-all at oema.memberclicks.net [oasl-all at oema.memberclicks.net] on behalf of Jennifer Maurer [jennifer.maurer at state.or.us]
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 5:30 PM
To: Katie Anderson
Subject: [oasl-all] Tidbits from the Library World

During this legislative session I’ve been trying to keep an eye on bills that could affect educators.  I started this Tidbits with some summaries of several bills; please note that the list is not exhaustive.

If you don’t have time to read everything, I encourage you to scan the headings for dates and deadlines and for topics that you deem most important.  Sources include American Libraries Direct, Library Hotline, AASL Hotlinks, library journals, ODE, newspapers, and more.

ALA & AASL
Choose Privacy Week is May 1st – 7th
…but you can celebrate it when you like.  It is “a new initiative that invites library users into a national conversation about privacy rights in a digital age,” and that theme works at any time of the year.  ALA’s PrivacyRevolution.org has resources like a video, handouts, and badges and banners for your website.  There is also an archived webinar and slideshow, the last third of which focuses on privacy attitudes of youth.
               http://www.privacyrevolution.org/

                               [cid:image002.jpg at 01CC04FD.19CFD670]
            This image is from the ALA Store.

<http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/lessonplandatabase/lessonplandb.cfm>
ALA Offers Young Adult Readers’ Advisory eCourse July 5th – August 2nd
The facilitated eCourse is bundled with the eBook, The Readers’ Advisory Handbook, for $175.  “Your participation will require approximately three to four hours a week, at times that fit your schedule.  There are no live sessions.  All activities take place on the website, and you will be expected to interact with online content, post to online discussion boards, and complete weekly assignments.  Weekly activities will include learning how to read a book in 10 minutes, using tools to answer readers’ advisory questions, and practicing readers' advisory interactions through real life scenarios.  Instructor Jessica E. Moyer will monitor discussion boards regularly during the four-week period, lead group discussions, and will also answer individual questions.”
               http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=3257

AASL Offers e-Academy Course about Read-Alouds from May 30th – June 24th
The self-paced course will cost anywhere between $100 and $225, depending on memberships.  This is the description for Making a Place, Making a Case for Read-Alouds: A Powerful Teaching Tool for Literacy: “When is a read-aloud more than a great story? When it also ties in critical thinking skills. In this 4-week e-course, participants will learn how to infuse literacy skills while continuing to share the passion and power of a great read-aloud.  Our culminating project will be a collaborative lesson plan that incorporates nonfiction read alouds with critical thinking strategies into a content area while also including indicators from AASL’s Standards for the 21st-Century Learner.”
               http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/conferencesandevents/eacademy/readalouds.cfm

AASL Announces Lesson Plan Database
“The American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) Standards for the 21st-Century Learner Lesson Plan Database is a tool to support school librarians and other educators in teaching the essential learning skills defined in the AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner.” Users can search the database in multiple ways; registered users have the option to bookmark lessons, print to PDF, submit their own lessons, and more; submissions are evaluated by a panel of reviewers; and all lessons align with AASL’s standards and the Common Core Standards.
               http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/lessonplandatabase/lessonplandb.cfm

AASL President Releases Statement about School Library Cuts
In response to the surge of school librarian positions being eliminated, Dr. Nancy Everhart released a statement about the value of school librarians.
               http://tinyurl.com/3hm2pjz

Resources
Booklist Lists Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth
Editors culled this list of the best graphic novels for youth from those reviewed in Booklist over the last year.
               http://tinyurl.com/3jwpeen

Liber8 Offers Classroom Edition of Its Economic Newsletters
“The Liber8 Economic Information Newsletter includes an informative and accessible economic essay on a current economic topic, written by the research analysts of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, and a selection of useful economic articles, data, and websites compiled by the librarians of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Research Library. The Newsletter is published 9 times per year, January through May and August through November.”  Each edition also has a student worksheet to test retention and a teacher’s version with the answers.  Those who are interested in automatically receiving the newsletter can subscribe to the mailing list.  Thanks to Arlene Weible, Government Documents Librarian at the Oregon State Library, for this tip.
               http://liber8.stlouisfed.org/newsletter/classroom-edition.php

EconKids Uses Children’s Literature to Teach Economics
This is from the mission statement of this Rutgers project: “This website provides teachers, parents, and volunteers with ideas for using children's literature to introduce economics to children.  We review new books from leading publishers and makes selections for ‘Book of the Month’ and ‘Top Five’ categories.  Unlike many of the existing websites on economics education, EconKids focuses on younger students in elementary school.”
http://econkids.rutgers.edu/

Oregon Legislature: Bills Affecting Schools and/or Libraries
SB560 Could Affect HB2586, 2009’s Strong School Libraries Bill
In 2009, HB2586 became law.  Basically, it mandated that school districts must also account for a “strong school library program” as part of their continuous improvement plans (CIP).  Fairly soon thereafter, ODE added to the CIP requirements four library questions, which were drafted and recommended by an ad hoc OASL work group.  For many reasons, ODE has not yet updated the related Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR).  Currently, they are waiting for the results of SB560, which could modify districts’ requirements to file CIPs.  Ruth Murray, OASL President, testified against the bill at a Senate hearing in early April, on the grounds that if districts do not have to regularly file their plans, they may not take the planning and actionable items as seriously, and that could adversely affect HB2586.  The Senate passed the bill on April 13th, and it is now awaiting review by the House Rules Committee.
            http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2011/SB560/
            http://www.leg.state.or.us/comm/sms/sms11/sb0560asewd04-05-2011.pdf
            http://hb2586faqs.wikispaces.com/ (A review of HB2586 to help school library staff better understand it.)

SB978 Would Have Created a Task Force on School Libraries

SB978 was formally introduced in the Senate on April 18th on behalf of the Oregon Library Association.  It would have created a 12-member task force on school libraries with the charge of “making evaluations and developing recommendations to provide quality school libraries.”  Because it did not move forward before yesterday’s deadline, this bill is likely dead.

               http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2011/SB978/ (You can read the text of the bill under Full Measure Text in the column on the left.)

SB250 Allows Schools to Opt Out of Education Service Districts

Among other things, proponents say that ESD bureaucracies eat up money that schools could spend on their own speech therapists, classroom teachers, etc.  An argument opponents make is that allowing schools to opt out would create or widen an inequity in districts and services across the state.  According to Oregon Live’s bill tracker, the bill is being reviewed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

               http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2011/SB250/

               http://bit.ly/lIl2FK (sampling of news coverage and opinions)

SB240 Requires School Employees to Report Bullying
Should it become law, Senate Bill 240 would require “school employees to report acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying and acts of cyberbullying.”  It would also allow “remedial action for failure to report” and require schools to “prominently post” related policies.  Yesterday it was passed by the Senate, so it should move to the House.
               http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2011/SB240/
               http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/04/oregon_senate_passes_bill_to_i.html

HB 2732 Requires Students to Apply to College, Apprenticeship, or Military Before Receiving High School Diploma
…Or, students can attend an officially sanctioned orientation about an apprenticeship or training session.  It passed the House yesterday and moved to the Senate.
               http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2011/HB2732/
               http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/04/oregon_house_approves_bill_add.html

Other
AT&T Creates Video About Dangers of Texting While Driving
The 10 minute documentary features stories of real people “whose lives have been adversely affected by texting behind the wheel.”  Personally, I think it’s a touching appeal that teens will likely remember.  There are also related resources like a 90 second preview and footage of students’ reactions after watching the video.
               http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=2964

Victim of Bullying Posts YouTube Video
Alye Pollack is a middle school student in Connecticut who posted a creative and personal video about the bullying she has endured.
               http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/01/alye-pollacks-bullying-video_n_843649.html

Librarian Origin Project Seeks Your Story
Bruce Jensen is collecting stories of how folks came to work in libraries.  “Whether you're a first-year circ clerk or a retired library administrator, Librarian Origin Stories wonders how you joined our merry guild. It's a worldwide exploration of the experiences and backgrounds of all who work to keep these wonderful places humming.  You can be as private as you want; the online survey offers several flavors of anonymity. And if you like, you can request results when you finish the short questionnaire.”
               http://www.sol-plus.net/origin.php

OBOB State Tournament Has Many Winners
The Oregon Battle of the Books State Tournament was at Chemeketa Community College on April 16th.  After helping score some rounds and participating in the ceremony at the finals, I was impressed with how prepared and respectful the students were and how well-coordinated the event was.  Congrats to all participants, to OBOB committee members and volunteers, and to the grade division winners: Valley Catholic Elementary School in Beaverton (3rd to 5th), Cheldelin Middle School in Corvallis (6th – 8th), and Wilson High School in Portland (9th – 12th)!
            http://oboblsta.pbworks.com/w/page/5653627/OBOB-Regional-and-State-Updates
            http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2011/04/brains_and_books_team_up_at_th.html

Thanks,
Jen

Jennifer Maurer
School Library Consultant
Library Development
Oregon State Library
250 Winter Street NE
Salem, OR  97301-3950
503-378-5011
jennifer.maurer at state.or.us<mailto:jennifer.maurer at state.or.us>

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