5
April
2008
2008 RURAL SCHOOL PARTNERS WANTED / BOOK BONANZA REMINDER / NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, WEEK, DAY / SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA MONTH / LIBRI FOUNDATION GRANTS FOR RURAL LIBRARIES / SCHOOL LIBRARY COORDINATOR POSITION RURAL SCHOOL SIXTH-GRADE PARTNERS WANTED Robin Turk writes:
Sixth grade classes at Colony Middle School in Palmer are looking for rural schools who would like to partner in having online broadcasted discussions about Alaska literature. CMS students will be developing book reviews of Alaska books, creating podcasts and broadcasting them on Radio Free Palmer this summer. Partnering rural schools would be welcome to join us on this technological literature adventure as well. Interested schools would need to have the available technology to use Skype. Skype is a free VOIP service (voice over IP), or talking for free over the Internet. We also hope to use video over IP also supported by Skype. Using Skype would require some kind of broadband connection to the Internet, but other then that is very easy to use and we are just learning too. See http://skype.com/ Interested? Read the letter below from our 6th grade teacher with more details.
My name is Robin Howell and I teach 6th grade language arts at Colony Middle School. My students (about 120 kids) are dedicated readers, writers, and thinkers. We have all made one podcast and we are ready for more. Our 4th quarter goal is to read Alaska genre books, write short, critical, yet entertaining book reviews, and then make a podcast of the written narrative (about 30 sec. to 1 min). It is our thought that tourists who may be visiting Palmer and wandering the aisles of Fireside Books (in Palmer) will be inspired to purchase an Alaskan book to take home to remember our great state. Students will use a first or nick name only so we won’t need to worry about protecting their identity. We would be happy to share some of our better podcasts as a sample of their level of work. We are actively working with our librarian, Robin Turk, in the podcast process. We are also planning on using Skype to expand their understanding of Alaska and the genre by developing “Skype Pals”. Our intention is to connect with students across Alaska to form a technology relationship so they will better understand the book they are reading. Robin Turk is supporting our efforts by sending messages out to state wide librarians. Steve Krueger, our techno wizard for MSBSD is supporting our Skype efforts. Like all great ideas, many hands make light work! We hope to form a partnership with you and support good reading, writing, listening and community building. Thanks so much for your time,
Robin Howell, 6th grade, Colony Middle School
If your rural school is interested in partnering with Colony Middle School, please reply to the school librarian, Robin Turk at: Robin.Turk@matsuk12.us
BOOK BONANZA REMINDER - Deadline April 30, 2008
The deadline for the 2008 Book Bonanza competition is coming up at the end of the month. This year there is an entry form AND the usual essay. For details about how you can enter to win book credits for your school or public library, click:http://www.akla.org/akasl/bonanza/index.html
IS THERE A POEM IN YOUR POCKET: POETRY MONTH, YOUTH POETRY WEEK, POETRY DAY?
April is National Poetry Month, and this year the week of April 14-20 is Youth Poetry Week (almost matches National Library Week), and to make it even better, April 17 is the first Poem in Your Pocket Day.
Poetry may seem obscure to many, but for the last several years the love of poetry has experienced a revival among young people. Poetry slams and contests are flooded with contestants these days.
For some interesting suggestions about how you can make a Poem in Your Pocket day work in your school, library, or community, look at: https://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/406 They even offer a selection of online pocket poems. Guide poetry readers young and old to the pocket poem link at: https://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/409
Several poets have web pages featuring their poetry for younger students. Among them are:
Kristine O’Connell George: http://www.kristinegeorge.com/for_students.html
Joyce Sidman: http://www.joycesidman.com/teachers.html (You can hear her reading her poems, and students can submit their own.)
Joyce S. Wong: http://www.janetwong.com/poems/index.cfm
SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA MONTH 
Not only are we celebrating poetry this month, but we can boast that April is School Library Media Month. If you would like to spread the word in your community or just within your school, check the American Association of School Librarians web site at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslissues/aasladvocacy/schoollibrary.cfm
Here you will find some downloadable School Library Media Month audiospots by Carmen Agra Deedy, a storyteller extraordinaire. There you’ll find spots of a variety of lengths and also some suggestions of how to get them aired outside your school if you have a radio station in your community. At the simplest level, you could air them during school announcements (and possibly throw in a poem, too?).
LIBRI FOUNDATION GRANTS - Deadline April 15
The Libri Foundation is devoted to give grants for collections in rural public libraries through the country. A number of Alaska libraries in small communities have won in the past. For information about how you can apply by the nearest deadline check:
http://www.librifoundation.org/apps.html Here you will find the application and guidelines. School libraries cannot apply, but combined school/community libraries are eligible.
There is also a fall deadline on August 15, 2008 and a winter one on January 15, 2009.
SCHOOL LIBRARY COORDINATOR STILL WANTED - Deadline April 25, 2008
If you or someone you know is interested in a job that allows one the opportunity to travel throughout our wonderful state and to use your expert knowledge in a way that benefits Alaska school libraries, please checkout the job posting on Workplace Alaska at: http://notes5.state.ak.us/wa/mainentry.nsf/WebData/1hp1HomePage/?Open
The job, listed as School Library Coordinator AND Librarian III, is located in Anchorage and provides the opportunity to work with a great Library Development team of the Alaska State Library.
Hopefully,
Sue
Sue Sherif
Posted: Grants, Public Libraries, SAYL Mail, School Libraries
29
November
2006
SAYL MAILNovember 30, 2006
NET SPEAK-UP / LAURA BUSH GRANTS / THANKS / PUBLIC LIBRARY REMINDER
To comment or respond to this blog, please click on the grey number next to Blogletter Number above.
NET SPEAK-UP DAY –
ALASKA INPUT WANTED
Here is a request from the American Association of School Librarians:
Now in its 4th year, NetDay Speak Up’s national online survey invites students, teachers, and parents from around the country to share their input in an online survey. The deadline has been extended with the survey remaining open until December 15, 2006 to allow maximum participation This is an opportunity for students, teachers and parents to participate in the national dialog about science, math, technology, and 21st century workforce skills. Learn more about NetDay Speak Up and how schools and districts can register and participate at <http://www.netday.org/speakup>.
The results of the surveys are shared with participating schools and districts so that they can use the data for planning and community discussion. In addition, the findings and data are used by local, state, and national organizations and government agencies to inform new programs and polices. Additional help is needed to get participation from the following states * AK, AR, HI, OK, DC, ID, MN, MS, MT, NH, ND, NV, RI, SD, VT, WV, WY, IA, WA, KS, UT, DE, NE, AL, ME, IN, NM, OR, and NJ. Please disseminate this information to these states so schools and districts to take part in Speak Up 2006. To preview the Speak Up surveys for students, teachers and parents go to <http://www.netday.org/SPEAKUP/speakup_surveys.htm>
LAURA BUSH GRANTS – Deadline 12/30/2006
Check this website for this year’s Laura Bush Foundation grants competition:http://www.laurabushfoundation.org/web2/index.htm Remember that this grant is intended for school libraries in areas with high poverty levels. The grants are for individual schools, not school districts, and are to be used “to update, extend and diversity the book collections” of the selected school libraries. It would be good to check the website now, because the deadline for asking the Foundation questions about the grant is December 20, 2006, and the deadline for your proposal is 10 days later. Several
Alaska libraries have been awarded these grants in the past.
THANKS
A big round of applause to the school librarians who have filled out their 2006 school library census forms already and appreciation to those of you will be turning them in this week. I keep getting new responses everyday. I think that the information will go a long way to helping us all be able to communicate about school library needs.
PUBLIC LIBRARY REMINDER
If you are intending to use the summer reading order form that you received in October, when you received your participation form, remember that the first deadline is this Friday, December 1. If it is not possible for you to order any extra incentives that your library needs for the 2006 GET A CLUE@YOUR LIBRARY statewide summer reading program, by Friday, the next deadline is January 1, 2007 for delivery in April of 2007. We have ordered basic kits for every public library that returned a participation form, so the order form is for any extras you want to purchase for your library.
If you are wondering where in the world your order form went because you want to order some of the great orange T-shirts to offer as prizes or thank-yous for volunteers, please contact Priscilla McAdara at priscilla_mcadara@eed.state.ak.us or call her at 1-800-776-6566 to get a replacement order form.
I may be traveling next week, so may not be able to respond to emails and phone calls promptly.
Posted: Grants, Public Libraries, Summer Reading, Technology
28
September
2006
SAYL Mail
September 28, 2006
FREE LABELS / STATE LITERACY CONFERENCE / SURVEY / LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE / CLIA AWARDS / READY TO READ, READY TO LEARN / KUDOS TO KARI
FREE SHELF LABELS—ACT QUICKLY
Giving away: 60 plastic shelf label holders. 3/4″ x 3″. Almond color. Will ship free of charge. Email roz99647@yahoo.com if interested.
ALASKA STATE LITERACY CONFERENCE
The Alaska State Literacy Association is holding its annual conference in Juneau, October 19-21. For more information, check ASLA’s website at: http://www.alaskareading.org The theme for the 2006 conference is: Alaska’s Diverse Community: Literacy and Leadership.
The state library conference for this year will also be held in Juneau this school year, February 22-25.
SURVEY ON MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, AND MORE
A survey on SLED has been extended to get more feedback from teachers, librarians, parents, and students. Check it out on the SLED main page (http://sled.alaska.edu). Please encourage your students to respond in the next couple of weeks and also take a second to participate yourself. The group who is working on tutorials for the SLED databases is hoping to get a wide cross-section of users and would-be users to participate.
LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE
The Alaska Center for the Book and the Library of Congress Center for the Book are once again sponsoring this annual competition. Last year an Alaska student finished in the top 20 nationwide. To see how your students can participate: http://www.alaskacenterforthebook.org/ Students in grades 4 -12 are eligible, and this year’s deadline is December 8, 2006. Winners receive Target certificates, which are redeemable online, and lots of glory!
CONTRIBUTIONS TO LITERACY IN ALASKA AWARD
Speaking of the Alaska Center for the Book, the CLIA Awards were announced last week in Anchorage. Corey Hall of the Kenai Community Library and her innovated programs and grant proposals on behalf of Kenai students and preschoolers made her the latest librarian to garner this recognition. (Last year’s winners included school librarian Valerie Oliver.) Judy Ferri, a retired educator from Fairbanks and, like Corey, very active in the State Literacy Association was one of the other honorees in this year’s recognition. Congratulations to both of them for all their hard work on behalf of reading and literacy.
READY TO READ, READY TO LEARN TASK FORCE PRESENTS REPORT
The Ready to Read, Ready to Learn Task Force presented the results of its 10 months of work to Governor Murkowski at a press conference on September 27, 2006 in Anchorage. The report, which focuses on what it might take to make all young Alaskans ready to read when they enter kindergarten and to succeed in their later school careers is available on the Alaska Humanities Forum website at: http://www.alaskacenterforthebook.org/ The vision of the task force will carry forward under the leadership of Abbe Hensley, the new director of initiative, and the work of parents, teachers, and librarians throughout Alaska.
KUDOS TO KARI
Kari Sagel of Sitka School District met with Alaska State Commissioner of Education and Early Development Roger Sampson to discuss issues surround the certification of teacher librarians. Although it is too early to discuss a specific outcome, Kari and a committee of the Alaska Association of School Librarians is ready to take the next step in the negotiations. Hats off to Kari for her leadership in this matter. Stay tuned for the rest of the story…..
TRAVEL
I will be visiting our colleagues in Fairbanks Public Library and School District tomorrow and will be working with others from the State Library in the Denali School District and Tri-Valley Community Library, the Delta Community Library and the Delta Greely School District, Tok Community Library, and Northway Community School Library. I look forward to seeing all of you in the Interior, but will not be answering emails as regularly or my phone at all for the next week. I’ll try to keep up with my email, but it is always interesting to see how I am able …or not…to connect as I travel.
Enjoy this beautiful fall if you still have leaves in your area, and report snow when you have it!
Posted: Early Literacy, Public Libraries, Reading, Uncategorized
