National Poetry Month

In 1996, the Academy of American Poets had a great idea. It introduced National Poetry Month. This is popular in the schools and libraries, and can be used to encourage poetry along different themes. This year's National Poetry Month Poster was designed by Paul Sahre -- it is a question written on a steamy window: "Do I Dare Disturb the Universe?" I handed a copy of the poster to my college-age daughter and she snapped it up! That is a very good sign.

The Academy of American Poets website includes a tab especially for educators called the Online Poetry Classroom. One program that is co-sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English is the Poetry Read-a-Thon.

There is also a "Young People's Poetry Week in April, sponsored by the Children's Book Council. Year-round is the Library of Congress-sponsored Poetry 180 - a poem a day for American High School Students. Have you looked at the Library of Congress' Poetry "home" page to see what's happening?

My favorite poem appears above in the second line of the blog title:
The more you read, the more you know.
The more you know, the smarter you grow.
The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice, when speaking your mind, or making your choice. - anon.

In years past, the American Library Association's Young Adult Library Services Association promotes poetry slams and other poetry programs. Ever text message mini-poems to your friends or family? It is one fun way to catch their attention!

Athletes Show Strengths as Reading Mentors

Fresno's Central High School has a new class of athletes trained as reading mentors. Teacher Librarian Janet Melikian has trained 15 high school athletes to read to groups of Central Unified School District elementary students, and lead discussions about healthy diets and exercising. [See photo by Eric Paul Zamora from Fresno Bee.] Members of the football team, led by Grizzlies quarterback D.J. Tate and offensive lineman Joe Cisneros are "coached" by Teacher Librarian Janet Melikian, who:

• Helps the high school students polish their reading-aloud skills
• Advises them on how to steer discussions with the younger kids to nutrition and fitness.
• Selects sports- and fitness-related picture books appropriate for 1st-3rd grade and purchased with funds donated by the athletic department.

Two of America's top issues are related to increasing literacy and healthy kids. Janet's initiative tackles both by empowering high school athletes to be role models for younger students. This is another example of an "Athletes as Readers and Leaders" program, but the first I've seen that adds a healthy eating component. Young students are left with the message to "keep our grades up and stay healthy." Kudos to athletes and coaches of Central High!

Library as a solution: literacy, youth leadership, healthy kids (youth obesity)

Read-With-Kids and Win a Disney Vacation!

Reading is Fundamental wants all to spread the word about its "Read with Kids" challenge. Here is their write-up for blog announcements:

For a second year, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and US Airways are working together to help children nationwide discover the joy of reading. Starting April, adults are invited to join the 2009 Read with Kids Challenge and help collectively log 5 million minutes spent reading with kids. You’ll have the chance of winning a family vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort® and more great prizes. Get on board!

See also the book lovers blog.

California Authorizes School Library Standards

Cause for celebration during the darkest days for California school libraries, when many school library staff are getting pink slips in anticipation of job cuts due to inadequate school budgets. California School Library Association President Connie Williams and California Department of Education Library Consultant Barbara Jeffus shared the good news: The State Board of Education today cast a unanimous vote to authorize "...the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop statutorily required standards for school library services, as model standards."

This action has taken YEARS. This is excellent news. Thank you, California State Board of Education! And thanks to the many, many advocates over the past 20+ years for making this happen. PORTIONS FROM California School Board March 2009 Agenda:

RECOMMENDATION

The California Department of Education (CDE) recommends that the State Board of Education (SBE) authorize the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) to develop statutorily required model standards for school libraries.

SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSION AND ACTION

September 1977: The SBE adopted California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5 CCR), Section 16041, regarding the resources that may be provided in school libraries.

March 1972: The SBE adopted 5 CCR Section 16040, definition of “school library services” and “school library.”

SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES

California Education Code (EC) Section 18101 requires that “The State Board of Education shall adopt standards, rules, and regulations for school library services.”

The SBE adopted 5 CCR for school libraries that defined school library services and listed resources that may be in school library collections.

Other than providing definitions of various aspects of school library services, specific standards and rules for school library services have not been adopted.

Standards for school libraries should include the intersection between information literacy, including technology skills, or what many are calling 21st century learning skills, and the content area standards. The emphasis is on what students should know and be able to do. In addition, quantifiable numbers could be included for staffing, collections and resources, and facilities. The proposed standards will provide guidance to schools and districts to implement effective school library programs.

The CDE has published documents that relate specifically to school library programs. They include:

School Libraries in California: A Report to the California Legislature Pursuant to Chapter 1650, Statutes of 1963, and Chapter 1337, Statutes of 1965 (1968).

The Crisis in California School Libraries, A Special Study. Prepared by Program Evaluation and Research Division, CDE (1986).

Check It Out! Assessing School Library Media Programs: A Guide for School District Education Policy and Implementation Teams (1998).

The CDE conducts an annual survey of school library programs and publishes the results as part of the CDE Fact Book and Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Web pages.

The resulting California School Library Model Standards document should include the following elements:

• Background including EC sections with links to more details and a current snapshot of California school libraries based on survey data and national comparisons.
  
  
• Summary of the research base with links including, but not limited to, studies in 16 states, new California research, access to books studies, Florida study on library circulation and reading scores.
  
  
• California school library content standards, also known as information literacy or

21^st century learning skills, and correlation with California academic content standards as appropriate.

• Quantifiable standards for staffing, collections, and resources, including technology and equipment, and facilities based on national and state statistics and research.

• Appendix: May include research process options, sample policies that relate to implementing standards, links to resources, examples of integrated information literacy skills and state content standards, Commission on Teacher Credentialing regulations, and distinguished schools matrix.
  
• 
  

Proposed time line:

March 2009 SSPI begins discussions with interest groups and experts

March 2009 SSPI proposes project to SBE

April 2009 Public Input

March – August 2009 CDE staff prepare draft document

September – October 2009 Online field review of draft standards

October – November 2009 Final edits

January 2010 SBE approval

FISCAL ANALYSIS (AS APPROPRIATE)

The estimated cost to edit and publish the document is $24,000. The CDE will work within existing resources and request in-kind assistance from the California School Library Association and other interested parties. Meetings will be held via teleconference and other cost-effective uses of technology or in conjunction with previously scheduled and funded meetings.

Library-based JobSearch Help Desk - North Carolina

In recognition of the role of public libraries in hard times, North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced a program for training public librarians to become "employment guides" in helping the public find jobs. The Public Library-based JobSearch Help Desk program recognizes that most employers no longer accept in-store, paper-based employment applications and that many job seekers go to the public library for guidance and Internet access.

The Governor's press release states: “Getting our people back to work is my number one priority,” said Gov. Perdue. “More and more job seekers have turned to their public libraries for help to learn about and apply for jobs, creating a surge in demand. This project will make an immediate difference in our ability to help citizens.” The press release concludes "In addition to an increase in job searches, the State Library reports that nearly five million North Carolinians are card-carrying library users, and their use of libraries is up sharply. Growth in materials being checked out, customer visits, and especially Internet use at libraries continues a trend."

Library as a solution: employment research, job applications

Football Stars Read - Athletes as Readers and Leaders

Several years ago, Napa Valley Unified School District Librarian Kate MacMillan started a program for school athletes to read to younger children and to talk about the importance of reading. The Athletes as Readers and Leaders program was featured in February 2009 on the Napa Football News website. Kate said "when Troy Mott, the Napa High football coach, told me that the article had been posted on the Napa High Football Website, I couldn't resist sending this link. I think it shows how our coaches believe in the importance of the student athlete as a role model for younger students. This year we have also involved the sports leadership class at Vintage high school in the program and hope to include more athletes from different sports. In addition, our videographer films and edits the visits to show on our local education cable station."

Kate was able to get a small grant for the picture books. She says "The players take the book home and practice before they read…. Also Coach Mott has the players include this activity in college and scholarship applications." This is a wonderful win-win-win-win model. Kudos to Kate, coach, and kids.

Library as a solution: literacy, youth leadership

ALA Advocates for Rural Broadband to Public Libraries

The Federal government stimulus package includes grants to be awarded for broadband technology. The "kick-off" to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2008 Broadband Initiative took place on March 10, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Public Meeting of NTIA's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program included a live webcast. From the comfort viewing the webcast from sunny California, it was clear that the room was packed and at least 1,750 were viewing the webcast. The last portion of the hearing was devoted to Q&A. It was good to see that Alan Inouye, director of the American Library Association Office of Information Technology Policy, asked for the dates of upcoming public meetings and stated that he hopes that grants to service providers will make access and discounts available to public libraries.

Public Meeting Description: The U.S. Congress has appropriated $4.7 billion to establish a Broadband Technology Opportunities Program for awards to eligible entities to develop and expand broadband services to rural and underserved areas and improve access to broadband by public safety agencies. Of these funds, $250 million will be available for innovative programs that encourage sustainable adoption of broadband services; at least $200 million will be available to upgrade technology and capacity at public computing centers, including community colleges and public libraries; $10 million will be a transfer to the Office of Inspector General for the purposes of BTOP audits and oversight. Up to $350 million of the BTOP funding is designated for the development and maintenance of statewide broadband inventory maps.

Presenters included:

• Anna Gomez, Acting Administrator, NTIA, US Department of Commerce.
  
• Tom Vilsack, Secretary of US Department of Agriculture. See Rural Development website.
• Michael J. Copps, Acting Chair, FCC.
• Rick Wade, Senior Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff, US Department of Commerce.

Panel on Broadband initiatives, statutory requirements and timelines included:

• (Moderator) Mark Seifert, NTIA Senior Advisor
• Dr. Bernadette McGuire-Rivera, Associate Administrator, NTIA
• David Villano, Assistant Administrator for Telecommunications Programs, USDA Rural Development
• Scott M. Deuchman, Acting Senior Legal Advisor to Acting Chairman Copps, FCC.
  

There will be a comment period before the grant rules and regulations are determined. Then, the grants will be given out as fast as possible. The ALA will be actively working on behalf of broadband deployment to rural public libraries.

Library Themes - March

Advocating for libraries is on-going, not a one-shot effort. One way to stay visible is to regularly contribute to print or online publications. Some contributions can be about issues of the day and how libraries or specific library programs are the solution. Or, provide fun items such as library themes. In March, two examples come to mind: "Read Across America" day on or near Dr. Seuss's birthday and James Madison's birthday, March 16 -- Freedom of Information Day.

Read Across America Day is geared to younger ages, but is fun for all. Each year, more and more people own those tall red and white striped "Cat in the Hat" hats. This is a good time for photo opportunities on kids, books, and Cat in the Hat readers.

The American Library Association celebrates Freedom of Information Day. Free and open access to information created at taxpayer expense is a basic principle of American democracy. This is a day to celebrate, be vigilant, and exercise your right to know. This is also a good day to learn about today's battles in America to keep public information free, versus privatizing information in our increasingly online world. This is also a good day to learn about other countries where national libraries have been burned or otherwise destroyed in order to destroy a people's history.

NPR's Librarians

Burlingame Teen Outreach Librarian Amy alerted California librarians to "As a Matter of Fact" by National Public Radio Librarians. Senior Librarian, Laura Soto-Barra heads a team of serious but fun librarians who support NPR Reference, Broadcast, and Transcripts. According to their blog, "As A Matter of Fact is a blog by and for the audio-loving, fact-finding, truth-seeking, pop-culture-fiending, news-addicted librarians of the world. Of course, you don't need to be a librarian to read it."

Hope the blog stays a mix of fun and timely tips. I like the way it humanizes an important but often invisible cog in the news organization, the librarians. Wonder if it could be a model for other libraries? Visibility is a good strategy for keeping pink slips at bay. Thanks for the heads up, Amy.