Voice is Power: Are You Using Yours?

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. ~ Marianne Williamson

http://www.nikkidrobertson.com/2014/08/voice-is-power-are-you-using-yours.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&m=1

Celebrate NLW with Oxford University Press

National Library Week Celebration!
Free access to all of Oxford University Press’s Online Products

For the entire week of National Library Week, April 13 – 19, all of OUP’s online products will be completely free for everyone in the US! Libraries are a vital part of many communities, whether it is a school, a town/city, the government, a corporation, or a hospital, and we have freed up this unprecedented amount of content to show our appreciation for these libraries. 

Simply use these login credentials on any of our online databases.
No sign-ups are required!

Username: libraryweek
Password: libraryweek

*The login credentials will begin working on April 13th.
For additional information, including a full list of the free online products,
please visit our National Library Week webpage.

If you have questions or experience any technical difficulties please contact us at library.marketing@oup.com. 

AASL Seeks Proposals for ALA 2015 Annual Conference Programs

AASL Seeks Proposals for ALA 2015 Annual Conference Programs
AASL invites proposals for programs to be presented during the 2015 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference. The conference will be held June 25-30 in San Francisco. The deadline for preconference submissions is 11:59 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, May 29, 2014. The deadline for concurrent session submissions is 11:59 p.m. CDT on Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. More information is available at www.ala.org/aasl/rfp.

Library of Congress 2014 Summer Teacher Programs – Teaching with Primary Sources

The Library of Congress is now accepting applications for its week-long summer programs for K-12 educators. Held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the professional development provides educators with tools and resources to effectively integrate primary sources into K-12 classroom teaching, with an emphasis on student engagement, critical thinking, and construction of knowledge.

Tuition and materials are provided at no cost. Selected participants are responsible for transportation to and from Washington D.C., and any required overnight accommodations.

The Library is offering five programs this summer: three of the programs are open to teachers and librarians across the content areas, another focuses on civil rights, and one concentrates on primary sources in science education. (Previous Teacher Institute participants are eligible to apply for the science program.)

Institutes Open to K-12 teachers and school librarians across the content areas

Institute Session 1: June 9-13

Institute Session 2: July 7-11

Institute Session 3: July 21-25

Civil Rights Institute Open to K-12 teachers and school librarians with teaching responsibilities related to the Institute focus

Civil Rights Institute: July 28-Aug 1

Science Seminar Recommended for K-12 educators who teach science or collaborate with science teachers

Science Seminar: July 14-18

Applications are due March 24^th and require a letter of recommendation. Read more and apply now:

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/professionaldevelopment/teacherinstitute/

Edweb hosts free webinar on Reading Information Texts

Reading Informational Text

Focus on Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Tuesday, November 5th at 4pm ET

REGISTER HERE

Attendees will receive a free downloadable booklet of 18 map and graph activities.

Presented by:

Suzanne Zimbler, Assistant Managing Editor, TIME For Kids and Jaime Joyce, Assistant Managing Editor, Education, TIME For Kids

Nonfiction books and articles are often packed with charts, graphs, maps, diagrams and time lines. These graphic features are terrific entry points for students to begin engaging in a topic. They are also important sources of information that contribute to an understanding of the text in which they appear.

In this TIME For Kids webinar, we will share examples of nonfiction articles that have significant visual components, and we will provide Common-Core aligned activities to help support students in grades 2—8 as they work to integrate information from a text with knowledge gained from amap, chart, or other graphic.

We will also focus on the integration of information from two or more sources, print or digital. Of course, today’s students are accustomed to having many sources of information at their fingertips. With that in mind, we will provide tools for helping students evaluate the reliability and accuracy of sources.

Our goal is to help you build independent readers who are capable of conducting their own research in order to become knowledgeable on topics of their choice. These real-world literacy skills are critical across the curriculum, and we invite teachers who focus on all subject areas to join us.

Neil Gaiman: Defender of books, reading and libraries

Neil Gaiman's speech has been making the rounds for a few weeks.  Here is one more chance to read his words and feel his passion for what we do and what we believe in.

Neil Gaiman: Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreaming

A lecture explaining why using our imaginations, and providing for others to use theirs, is an obligation for all citizens

Action Requested: support for NYC school librarians

Dear colleagues all over the country, New York State law requires secondary schools to have either a full- or part-time librarian, depending on the population of the school. Many of us in New York state have jobs because of this law. However, many schools in NYC violate these state regulations, as reported in Monday's Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324769704579006604137520932.html and also picked up by the Atlantic Wire: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2013/08/new-york-city-has-fewer-school-librarians-ever/68217/ Now the NYC Department of Education wants to seek a waiver from the state so that it does not have to staff its schools with librarians. This was just reported on NY1 news two days ago: http://www.ny1.com/content/education/187074/doe-asking-state-to-waive-regulation-requiring-schools-to-employ-librarians So I am writing because there is a petition that was started by Christian Zabriskie, a NYC librarian, that will be sent to Dr. John B. King, New York State Commissioner of Education, to keep librarians in NYC schools. I would like to make you aware of it in case you would like to sign it: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/librarians-belong-in.fb30?source=c.fb&r_by=8579709 Thank you for your support, Patricia ____________________________________________ Patricia Sarles, MA, MLS Librarian Jerome Parker Campus Library 100 Essex Drive Staten Island, NY 10314 718-370-6900 x1322 psarles@schools.nyc.gov http://www.scoop.it/t/help-with-the-common-core-state-standards/ http://paper.li/psarles/1332609247 http://psarles.wikispaces.com http://library.nycenet.edu/common/welcome.jsp?site=6467 To save man from the morass of propaganda, in my opinion, is one of the chief aims of education. Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction ... The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. - Martin Luther King, Jr. The Purpose of Education There is no fiction or nonfiction area of the Internet. - Alan November

Partnership Opportunity with GLSEN Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY

Librarians in Westchester & Putnam County are invited to a “Think Tank"  meeting

Thursday, June 6th from 4-6 pm

320 Birdsall Drive

Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

RSVP by June 5 -  Mary Jane Karger (mjkarger@gmail.com) or(914) 962-3768

As a current Board Member of the Westchester/Putnam County Sub-Chapter of GLSEN Hudson Valley, I have been working with Mary Jane Karger, Chairperson to find ways that librarians can partner with the work GLSEN does to make schools safe for ALL students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender expression.

The project idea we are currently working on is a GLSEN Hudson Valley Book Club, based on a “One Book, One Community” model.  We would like to partner with school, public and academic librarians throughout the region and are looking for a group of librarians to take the lead in helping us plan!

I would greatly appreciate if you could forward this to all your library friends in our region so that they too can be a part of this awesome initiative!  Thank You!

Judy Ashby

Professional Library &

School Library System Coordinator

Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES

200 BOCES Drive

Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

jashby@pnwboces.org

Phone - (914) 248-2392

Fax - (914) 248 -2419

Attention Elementary Librarians -- An opportunity to engage with elementary teachers

NYSECTA is seeking proposals for workshops for statewide conference for elementary classroom teachers.

NYSECTA is a new statewide organization of elementary classroom teachers.  They are hosting a conference in our neck of the woods in August.  They have issued a call for proposals for workshops.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if some our elementary library colleagues -- that means you -- would represent librarians at this inaugural conference?  Think of all of the elementary teachers you might reach and inspire.  Find the application for submitting a proposal:  http://www.nysecta.org//pdf/2013-NYSECTA-Call-for-Programs-Application.pdf

The NYSECTA conference will be held Monday, August 12 through Wednesday August 14 at the Hilton Westchester, Rye Brook, NY.

Additional information about the conference can be found:  https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=NYSE10E

NYSECTA seeking proposals for workshops for statewide conference for elementary classroom teachers

NYSECTA is a new statewide organization of elementary classroom teachers.  They are hosting a conference in our neck of the woods in August.  They have issued a call for proposals for workshops.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if some our elementary library colleagues -- that means you -- would represent librarians at this inaugural conference?  Think of all of the elementary teachers you might reach and inspire.  Find the application for submitting a proposal:  http://www.nysecta.org//pdf/2013-NYSECTA-Call-for-Programs-Application.pdf

The NYSECTA conference will be held  Monday, August 12, 2013 ~ Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at the Hilton Westchester, Rye Brook, NY

Additional information about the conference can be found:  https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=NYSE10E

Goodreads Discussions worth knowing about

Susane Colasanti
Author of All I Need
Monday, May 20 Join discussionon Goodreads

Sarah Dessen
Author of
The Moon and More
Monday, June 25 Join discussion on Goodreads

27 Things Your Teacher Librarian Does -- A Cool Infographic

Another wonderful infographic entitled 27 Things Your Teacher Librarian Does is making the rounds of library circles this week.  Have you seen it?  And it is so true.  How many hats do you wear?  In any given day, how many different technologies, different teachers, different students, different projects.... do you see, help, work on, teach, problem-solve, etc.?   A few years ago, I had the privilege of working with a small group of library colleagues in our Putnam/No.Westchester BOCES School Library System on a Power Point presentation and video about what all happens in our libraries.  We were bouncing around ideas one summer day and I offered up the fact that "it all happens in the library" meaning all subject areas are taught/studied in the library, all students and teachers are served by a library program, all manner of skills are practiced in the library - even though we don't teach them ourselves.  Our video was part of the AASL advocacy toolkit and we all use(d) it for parent meetings and presentations.  With all these great tools, we can arm ourselves for the daunting task of advocating for school librarians, school library programs, and library resources.  We would love to hear about your advocacy efforts.  What works for you?  What additional resources or assistance would be beneficial?  Let us know at SLMSSENY. 

Here are some other advocacy tools.

Strong School Libraries Build Strong Students an infographic created by the AASL Legislation Committee  http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/advocacy/AASL_infographic.pdf

School Library Program Health and Wellness Toolkit  (AASL)

It's National Library Week! Speak up and speak out about your library, your students, what you do!

This is National Library Week. It is a perfect opportunity to write your legislators and let them know how important libraries are to you and about the positive difference libraries make in your community. Libraries need your voice!

Although they continue to be busier than ever, many libraries struggle to maintain budgets, staff, and resources to serve the needs of their communities. Your message of support is important because state governments provide much needed funding for libraries. Without funding, libraries will be unable to continue making available all the resources they do (e.g., books, public access to the Internet, homework assistance) to your community. Like you, families, job seekers, small businesses, and students need their libraries.

If you agree with Walter Cronkite—“Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.”—take this opportunity to write now. Your message will make a difference, and your state library association has provided an easy and effective way for you to write your elected officials to let them know how much you value the libraries in your community. Here is that link:

http://capwiz.com/ala/ny/home/

Consider sharing a personal story about how your public, school, or college library makes a positive impact in your own community. For example, let your elected officials know how much your children depend on their school libraries to help them succeed in school, or explain how much you depend on your public library to connect you to information you need.

Please forward this message to your friends, family, and colleagues in your state. Ask them to take this opportunity to support libraries in their communities, too!

Thank you for advocating for libraries and library staff.

Sincerely,

Michael Dowling
Director, Chapter Relations Office
American Library Association

School Libraries build Strong Students infographic--how can you use it?

School districts are making decisions NOW about what positions to cut and school librarians are vulnerable. Support from people who are not school librarians is crucial, talking to school board members and superintendents, attending budget hearings.

How could you use the new AASL "Strong Libraries build Strong Students" infographic? In an AASLForum message, Virginia school librarian Ann Crewdson said: "The infographic has style! It’s succinct and shows the importance of school librarians in a visually appealing and educational way. I’ve forwarded it to PTAs, Parent FB groups and the superintendent of public instruction in my daughter’s school district. I plan to forward it to more groups and leaders soon."
It's here:
http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/advocacy/AASL_infographic.pdf

Thanks in advance for any ideas, Sara

--
Sara Kelly Johns, School Librarian
Lake Placid Middle/High School Library
Instructor, Mansfield University School Library & Information Technology Program
AASL Division Councilor. ALA Council
AASL Legislative Committee
67 Canaras Ave.
Saranac Lake, NY 12983
johns@northnet.org
skjohns@gmail.com

Librarians at Occupy DOE

They came, we came! Grey haired retirees, union presidents (yes, that IS Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers' Union), administrators, student poets, teachers who quit rather than continue the abuse excessive testing imposes on the most vulnerable students (and all the rest), professors of education, students who organized walk outs in protest of the tests, authors, librarians, musicians, lawyers, parents, grandparents, graduate students of education, education historians, patient spouses (mine!), and more. Susan Polos, librarian in the Bedford School District, pulled me into this and I cannot begin to express my gratitude to her.

It was a small but powerful group gathered in front of the imposing Department of Education fortress. So much information: dots connected that reveal the deliberate unravelling of public education.

Some folks to read in books or on blogs: Diane Ravitch (http://dianeravitch.net), Lois Weiner, Stephen Krashen, Sam Anderson, Nancy Carlsson-Paige. I encourage you to look at the United Opt Out website. We can begin to dismantle this takeover of education by corporations bent on making millions/billions from their irrelevant tests that harm our children. Remind all parents of children in public schools: their children's data including test scores, any services received, SS#s is for sale to the Gates foundation, Rupert Murdoch, and all the testing companies. It is possible for parents to opt out of these tests---and schools are required to provide an alternative learning environment for the testing time. 

The Common Core State Standards are another travesty: Created largely by a representative of a testing corporation and without a single early childhood educator---which explains why they are so developmentally inappropriate. I've heard, but haven't yet verified, that there actually wasn't a single educator in their development. 

What you can do:

Write letters to local newspapers, congressional representatives, state education commissioner, senators, Arne Duncan (whose ties to big testing companies are mind boggling). 

Onward!

Melissa H.

Need a laugh?? Typical School Librarian's Day

Typical School Librarian's Day
by: bootara


Tara A. Thibault-Edmonds

School Library Media Specialist

Rondout Valley Intermediate/Junior High

Accord, NY 12404

Rip Van Winkle Award for Jennifer Donnelly

The Rip Van Winkle Award recipient for 2013 is Jennifer Donnelly.  Join us at the brunch in her honor on Saturday, May 18 at Cosimo's in Poughkeepsie.  Registration is recommended/preferred.  Forms are available on our website http://www.slmsseny.org.  For information contact:  nina.levine@gmail.com.

Join SLMSSENY for Spring Fling Happy Hour!

You are invited to join us for our Spring Fling Happy Hour at Vantage Bar & Restaurant in White Plains on Thursday, April 11 from 4:30 to 6:30pm.  Food and drinks are included in the registration fee:  $20.00/members, $25.00/non-members. Registration is recommended/preferred.  Registration forms are available on our website at http://www.slmsseny.org.  For additional information, contact Melissa at melissa.iamonico@gmail.com or nina.levine@gmail.com.

Speak up/out on behalf of the Bedford librarians

http://mtkisco.dailyvoice.com/schools/bedford-elementary-librarians-don-t-close-book-us

Among the many districts now contemplating and acting on plans to eliminate elementary librarians is the Bedford School District.  Read the article and add your voice to the poll.  Let's add our support to these much needed professionals.

Save the Date for BookFest at Bank Street

"BookFest @ Bank Street

First–mark your calendars! BookFest @ Bank Street 2013 will take place on Saturday, October 19. We will send you an email well in advance announcing when registration will open.

Second–Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo is the keynote speaker for BookFest 2013! Every year, many of you write Kate’s name to answer the post-event survey question “which authors/illustrators would you like to see at BookFest?” After several failed attempts to book Kate for BookFest, they are excited that it’s going to work out this year."

If you would like to be notified by email of this event, please send your new information to Ellen Greene, ellenegreene@gmail.com.