ALASKA LIBRARY NETWORK NEWS 

Kerri Canepa asked me to post this to you all:   

The Alaska Library Network has a new web page! Check out http://alaskalibrarynetwork.org/  for loads of promotional materials for SLED and the Digital Pipeline all available for download and printing. You’ll find brochures, bookmarks, posters and other items. Just click on Products & Services in the lefthand column. Keep up with what’s happening with ALN by clicking on News and also Schedule & Events. As ALN grows, so will the web page so make sure to bookmark the site and visit regularly! SLED has a new toolbar that can be added to your browser! It’s customizable and will search SLED from anywhere on the Internet. Go to sled.alaska.edu and click on “Download the SLED toolbar!” text in the lefthand column. Please note, the toolbar does not work with Safari, so if you use Apple products, download the toolbar in Firefox. The Digital Pipeline now features a series of video tutorials! These are designed to provide step-by-step instruction for using the EBSCOhost interface. The tutorials build on each other by explaining the features of the interface and how to use it for searching for information. Each tutorial is approximately 2 1/2 to 3 minutes in length and can be viewed over and over again. Go to sled.alaska.edu/databases/ and click on the “Need Help?” box on the righthand side of the page to get to the list of tutorials. Please send any comments or suggestions about any of the web sites to: 

Kerri Canepa, Coordinator, Alaska Library Network                                                    Alaska State Library, 334 W. 3rd Avenue, Ste 125, Anchorage, AK
99501907-269-6567 kerri.canepa@alaska.gov 

LIVE HOMEWORK HELP PASSWORD (AGAIN!) 

Live Homework Help is a valuable afterschool service offered on SLED (http://sled.alaska.edu/) or on a number of public and school library websites each day from 1 to 9 PM for students who need help with their homework.  As I wrote last time, it now works with PCs AND Macs, but it requires a password.  Although we can not post or mail that password electronically, we can tell you that it is the password that one uses for the databases on the Digital Pipeline.  If you do not know the password, look at the Live Homework Help page for the toll-free number to obtain it.  Feel free to distribute it freely in paper format, but just DON’T post it on a website or send it to students, teachers, or parents via email.  Remember that students will need to know to use the password if they are asked for a library card number.  Library card numbers will NOT work despite what the screen asks. 

If you would like a couple of cute posters to advertise LIVE HOMEWORK HELP in your school, please contact Priscilla McAdara at priscilla.mcadara@alaska.gov  

SCHOOL LIBRARY COORDINATOR DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 10/1/2007 

Because there were insufficient applicants for my position, the search has been broadened and the deadline extended.  Take a look at the job description to learn how you can apply on Workplace
Alaska at: http://notes4.state.ak.us/wa/PostApps.nsf/0/5A5E395DFF0E09438925735300655EFC?OpenDocument

The position is listed under Librarian III and School Library Coordinator.  It’s one job listed two different ways.  

HOORAY! 

Cheers for all the energetic youth services librarians who gathered in
Anchorage September 11-12 for the first-ever Alaska Youth Services Workshop.  Priscilla McAdara of the State Library Anchorage office commented, “I don’t think I’ve ever been around so many people who had so much passion for their jobs.”   There were 32 librarians in attendance, but there was enough energy in the room to stoke a few small power plants.  

 You can post comments on the blog by clicking on the number next to the post title.

MADELEINE L’ENGLE 1918-2007 

Beloved author Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet and at least 60 other titles) died on Thursday, September 6. To read more about this extraordinary woman and her career, go to her website at: http://www.madeleinelengle.com/ 

BANNED BOOKS WEEK September 29 – October 6 

If you will be celebrating or promoting Banned Books Week at your school this year and haven’t ordered materials, you’ll need to act quickly to get materials from the American Library Association at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SiteSolution.tafsn=catalog&_pn=product_detail&_op=2374

One needn’t buy the posters and bookmarks to draw students’ attention to the importance of the freedom to read.  Your library probably contains books that have been targeting for banning.  Use the American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom website to learn more about Banned Books Week: http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.htm#wtb 

LIVE HOMEWORK HELP CHANGES – IMPORTANT 

With the start of the new school year, you may find yourself referring students in grades 4 through beginning college level to LIVE HOMEWORK HELP, available on SLED (http://sled.alaska.edu) or through your own library’s web page.  The service is available to people within the state of
Alaska from 1 – 9 PM every day. 

The GOOD NEWS is that the people who produce this service, Tutor.com, have finally listened and now offer a Mac compatible version!  The BAD NEWS is that students with very old browsers on either Mac or PC platform may not be able to access the live chat with a screened and trained tutor.  In addition, right now the service is asking people in some circumstances for a Library Card Number.  In Alaska the response should NOT be a library card number, but instead should be the password used for all our proprietary databases on the Digital Pipeline on SLED.  If you do not know this password already, you cannot receive or send it via email or on a website.  Instead, you can call the toll-free number at 1-800-440-2919 to get the password.  Remember you are welcome to share the password with clients of your library to use at the library or at home, but you CANNOT share the password with them via web or email.   (This is part of our licensing agreement.) 

NEW BOOK FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARIES

New at the Anchorage office of the Alaska State Library is THE SUPER3: INFORMATION SKILLS FOR YOUNG LEARNERS by Mike Eisenberg and Laura Eisenberg Robinson.  This 2007 Linworth publication provides a scaled-down version of the Big6 research method that they claim will work for Pre-K through second grade. The Pre-K claim may be a serious stretch since all the examples on the numerous worksheets involve writing, but the 3 skills (planning, doing, reviewing) are a good framework for younger students who are just embarking on research projects or beginning to identify story elements.  Contact Priscilla McAdara at 907-269-6580 or priscilla.mcadara@alaska.gov if you would like to borrow the book. 

AKLA CONFERENCE 2008 – PROPOSAL DEADLINE September 15 

The state library conference will be held in Fairbanks this year.  The dates are February 28   – March 2, 2008.  The Alaska Association of School Librarians will be offering travel grants again this year, and information about how school librarians who are members of AkASL may apply will be posted later in the fall.   In the meantime there are two things that you can do to get ready:  1. You can talk to your principal about the dates and the importance of participating in the type of professional development that the conference offers 2. If you have something to share with other librarians throughout the state, you can submit a program proposal online at:  http://www.akla.org/fairbanks2008/forms/more.php 

SCHOOL LIBRARY COORDINATOR POSITION

There are still a few days to apply for my position as School Library Coordinator.  The job is posted at: http://notes5.state.ak.us/wa/mainentry.nsf/WebData/1hp1HomePage/?OpenThe position is listed under Librarian III and School Library Coordinator.  It’s one job listed two different ways.The closing date is currently posted as September 12 (Wednesday).   

This is a great job, so I encourage anyone who has a solid background and an interest in serving libraries and librarians throughout the state to apply.   

My official duties as Head of Library Development begin September 17, but I will continue to keep you informed via SAYL Mail until a replacement has been chosen.  I’ve just had a wonderful almost two-week vacation with one of my sisters, so I feel energized to wear two hats for a little while, but hope that I won’t be straddling two positions for long! 

CORRECTION 

As reported in the last SAYL Mail, Helen Clark of Fairbanks is indeed leading the instructional technology program at the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, but her duties have expanded, so her official title is: Executive Director of Library Media and Instructional Technology.  Katie Sanders will be serving with Helen and have the title of Director of Library Media Services as indicated previously. 

You can post a comment to this blog by clicking on the grey number next to the title.

Sue Sherif

School Library/Youth Services Coordinator

Alaska State Library

August 23, 2007

WELCOME / NEW POSITIONS – JOB ANNOUNCEMENT / SCHOOL LIBRARY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY / BLOG 

WELCOME BACK

Greetings to all the Alaska school librarians and school library assistants.  I hope the start of your new school year is going well.

Congratulations to all the Youth Services librarians for completion of another successful summer reading program. If you work in a district library office or serve as district library media coordinator, please send me a list of your district’s new librarians and library aides so that I can update the SAYL Mail list and make contact with new personnel.  If you are not a district coordinator, but know of a new librarian or library aide in your part of the state, please send me a note with names and email addresses.  I appreciate your cooperation in keeping the State Library up-to-date on new librarians and other staff changes. 

NEW POSITIONS

The two largest school districts in the state have new people heading their school library media programs:

• Ann Morgester is the newly appointed Library Curriculum Coordinator for the Anchorage School District.  A long-time teacher librarian in the district, Ann is the first to hold this newly-created position in ASD. (Advocacy does work!)
• Katie Sanders, formerly Ladd Elementary School Librarian, was named as Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Library Media Services Director in June.  Her predecessor, Helen Clark, was appointed as head of instructional technology, for the FNSB School District.

Congratulations to all three outstanding school librarians!

I also will have a new position, beginning September 17.  I will then be the Head of Library Development, a position previously held by Nina Malyshev.  Below is a notice of my position that was just posted today on Workplace
Alaska:      http://notes4.state.ak.us/wa/mainentry.nsf/WebData/1hp1HomePage/?Open

Look under View Job Postings.  Search for School Library Coordinator or Librarian III.  The job is listed both ways, but is just one job.  The deadline is September 12, 2007 at 5:00 PM.  The site explains exactly how to apply for the job if you are interested. Below is the main position description.  Be sure to check the website above for complete details.

The position is part of the Library Development team of the Alaska State Library. The Alaska State Library is comprised of two special libraries (Information Services and Historical Collections) and Library Development. The three sections have a combined mission: to work together for the good of the libraries of the State of
Alaska.This position is the School Library Coordinator. The Library Development team provides support and consultation to libraries throughout
Alaska. This position works primarily with school and combined school/community libraries.The position offers consultation and plans training for school library personnel. The key responsibilities of this position include:

• Consultation services to school libraries, including providing general information about school library organization, materials acquisition, budget development, and automation issues as well as copyright, statistics, grant writing, media selection and reading program support;
• Communications and information dissemination, including providing an electronic newsletter for school librarians and writing a regular column for the Alaska Association of School Librarians newsletter, required internal reports, and training materials including revisions of the Handbook for Alaska K-12 School Libraries;
• Training and continuing education activities, including developing and delivering training at workshops and in-services for school librarians and school library para-educators, presenting programs at meetings of the Alaska Library Association, the Alaska Society for Technology in Education, and other related associations. Examples of training offered could be basic library operations, children’s and young adult literature, online electronic resources and other topics related to current library practices and issues; and
• Monitoring and promoting state and national standards for school library programs, survey current programs and assess overall trends and levels of service, advise individuals who wish to become professional librarians, assess potential online services and work to regularize and publicize state school librarian certification standards.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree from an accredited college in library or information science, media services, or a closely related field;
AND
Two years of advanced level professional librarian experience with independent responsibility for multiple functional areas of library work, such as classification and cataloging, reference services, circulation, collection acquisition, development and preservation, or library webpage services. This experience is met by service as a Librarian II with the State of
Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.

SCHOOL LIBRARIANS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 2007 

Drs. Teri Lesesne and Joyce Valenza headlined the week-long face-to-face portion of this summer’s academy this month. 

Ann Morgester unveiled the mysteries of Photoshop Elements and the ALA Read posters software, and Suzanne Metcalfe and Robin Turk are still serving as discussion leaders with me for the 4-week online follow-up portion of the UAA class.  Twenty-four teacher librarians from all over the state are still discussing online some of the issues that were raised in the first week of the class, and all made working lunches go quickly as they shared a variety of titles with enthusiasm.  (I hope to make those lists available to everyone on the AkASL website or wiki after the class is over on September 30.)   It is a great bunch of students and colleagues.  

If you haven’t had the opportunity to attend, and you are a certified library media specialist or teacher librarian, consider attending the next one.  The new school library coordinator will keep you informed about future academies.

***

I am trying this blog again.  (I found an spam catching plug-in that claims to offer protection against an avalanche of nasty spam from Italy.) Let me know if you prefer the blog format, and I will pass your interest on to the person who replaces me.  Remember that you can comment by clicking on the grey number next to the title above.

Sue Sherif,  Alaska State Library