Washington School Teacher Librarians

Education reform is a series of battles. Some are won, some are lost, and some take a long time to make a difference. Defining teacher librarians as a core component of basic education is battle won. So is a set of school library standards (California now has the go-ahead to work on library standards).

The economy is taking its toll on education reform and other battles. For example, this just arrived from American Libraries Online: "Basic education reform came to the state of Washington May 19 with the signing by Gov. Christine Gregoire of a bill (PDF file) that adds a credentialed, but not necessarily funded, teacher-librarian in every K–12 school to the definition of what constitutes a basic education. The timing was wrought with irony, however: Several weeks earlier lawmakers had responded to the nation’s ongoing economic crisis by slashing $1 billion in state aid to education for FY2010, triggering the reduction in force of several thousand teachers—among them school librarians—in Bellevue and elsewhere in Washington State...."

Deal or No Deal - Will there be a Google Book Settlement?

Publishers Weekly carried an article by Andrew Richard Albanese on "Deal or No Deal: What if the Google Settlement Fails?" It looks like the Google Book Settlement, which was steaming along at a fast pace, now faces the the real possibility of failure. The 5/25/09 article includes a helpful timeline of the Google Book Search project.

• 10/2004 -- Google Print launched
• 12/2004 -- Google Print Library Project (with 5 libraries)
• 6/2005 -- AAP asks Google to stop scanning for 6 months
• 9/20/2005 -- Authors Guild files suit against Google for copyright infringement
• 10/2005 -- Internet Archive and co-founder Brewster Kahle launch Open Content Alliance (OCA).
• 10/19/2005 --Five major publishers, coordinated by AAP, also sue Google
• 11/2005 -- Google Print renamed Google Book Search
• 12/2005 -- Microsoft launches the beta for Microsoft Live Book Search Project
• 8/2006 to 12/2007 -- Google rapidly expands its book-scanning efforts and partnerships with libraries and publishers
• 5/2008 -- Microsoft kills Live Book Search after digitizing 750,000 books
• 10/28 -- AAP, Authors Guild, and Google announce a settlement under which Google will make payments totaling $125 million, including $35 million to establish a Book Rights Registry
• 11/2008 -- The court overseeing the Google Book settlement grants “preliminary approval” to the deal.
• 2/2009 -- Harvard librarian Robert Darnton publishes an essay crystallizing opposition to the Google Book program
• 3/2009 -- Google officials say that its publisher partner program now has more than 20,000 members
• 4/2009 -- Brewster Kahle and the Internet Archive/OCA file a motion to intervene, asking that the court overseeing the settlement alter the deal, citing the fate of orphan works. The motion is denied, but the judge invites comments and objections from the IA.
• 9/4 and 10/7/2009 -- Dates set by Judge Denny Chin to opt out of or object to the settlement, and the new date of the fairness hearing
  

Google's Book Grab - Brewster Kahle Editorial

Internet Archive director Brewster Kahle wrote a timely guest commentary on "Google is Committing a Book Grab: New York Court Ruling Could Change the Future of Libraries Forever". See the Viewpoint section of the Bay Area News' Contra Costa Times, Sunday May 24, 2009.

Over the years, I've visited Internet Archives from time to time, usually to use the "Wayback Machine" to see what various websites looked like in 1996 or so -- back in the early days of the web. Check out what you favorite website looked like back then -- just plug in your URL and select a date for a trip down memory lane.

Now, the Internet Archives captures and stores text, moving images, audio, and much more. This is a good time to learn more about open content vs commercial digitization projects and become vocal. Baynet Libraries featured Brewster earlier this month in San Francisco.

iLoveLibraries

The American Library Association has updated its iLoveLibraries website, which features library news from all types of libraries -- public, academic, school, and special libraries. Now, readers can:

• Post their favorite stories to Facebook, My Space, blogs and other social networking applications.
  
• See library-related videos, thanks to a YouTube feed.
  
• Connect with other library lovers, including Congress, about library issues.

This is an important and timely development, because it will enhance grassroots library advocacy. The featured news item is one that calls for action ("take action") related to legislation that would exempt books from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which seeks to protect children age 12 and younger from lead and phthalates in products targeted to children. (H.R. 1692). The iLoveLibraries site provides background information on the issue, recommends actions, and enables readers to contact members of Congress, stay informed, spread the word, and learn more.

ANIMOTO School Library Program Video

Napa Valley School District Librarian Kate MacMillan created an ANIMOTO to showcase the 2008/09 school library program. What a powerful, free, and fun idea for promoting the school library program! Check out the high-energy video (below). It is not too late -- you can do it too! What words and images will be in your ANIMOTO?

Friends of West African Village Libraries

Santa Clara University is working with the Friends of African Village Libraries, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to reading material and other information in rural villages in sub-Saharan Africa. FAVL refurbishes community-donated buildings, buys books by local authors, sending donated books, and pays librarian salaries.

CSU is offering a Semester Abroad Program called "Burkina Faso: Reading West Africa Program". Program Director is Michael Kevane. Here is the Semester Abroad description: "The Santa Clara University Fall Semester Study Abroad/Immersion in Burkina Faso is a study abroad program for students with at least one year of university-level French or equivalent interested in combining academic work on the literature and development challenges of West Africa with immersion and community-based learning experiences in public libraries in small towns and villages in rural areas. Students spend the first six weeks of the program in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, the second six weeks in a rural village in southwestern Burkina Faso, a week in Dogon country, on the Burkina-Mali border, and a final two weeks back in Ouagadougou."

A portion of the CSU student learning experience includes living in a village for six weeks and working with FAVL to create two books for village libraries. Students will learn photography in order to capture local images, publishing software, and preparing books for printing a small print run.
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Footnote 1: E-Book readers such as Amazon.com's Kindle and the One-Laptop-Per-Child computer can provide thousands of books to each library. The Internet Archive is a powerful source of free, open content.

Footnote 2: The FAVL effort reminds me of several books: Masha Hamiltons' "The Camel Bookmobile" (Kenya) and Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin's book "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time." (Pakistan and Afganistan)

Footnote 3: See also July 18, 2007 San Jose Mercury News article on SCU and FAVL.

Libraries on U.S. Postage Stamps

Larry Nix's Library History Bluff Blog covers a lot of topics, including bookwagons, Carnegie Libraries, library bookmarks, YMCA libraries, and stamps.

This week, he posted about U. S. Postal stamps that feature libraries. I was familiar with several of the more recent images such as the America's Libraries ABC and the Library of Congress, but was surprised at how many stamps there were overall.

UC Riverside Library "HUG" video

Library budgets are getting cut everywhere. Here is a video of a large and loud "Library HUG" protest by AFT faculty members in April 2009. Protestors held hands, surrounding the library building, chanting "We love the library!" Libraries could use a lot more hugs by supporters of all ages.

In this instance, students and faculty were supporting pay raises for UC librarians.

LINK TV adds Open Book TV

American Libraries Direct carried the following announcement: "Open Book TV is a new weekly program that premiered May 11 on Link TV. Created and hosted by Ina Howard-Parker and directed by Diane Paragas, the series focuses on the writers and storytellers living and working in a different spot on the planet each week. The premiere featured writers and other artists—including actors and musicians—currently living and working in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The program will rebroadcast on Link TV on May 13 at 11:30 p.m. Eastern time. In addition to the weekly half-hour broadcast, each guest segment will be released as an independent short film online through blogs, websites, and social media...."

I listened to the introductory episode. It's goal is to be local (Brooklyn, NY) yet global. The music and pace is slow and easy. It has the feel of a documentary.

Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry - supports school standards

ALA and the Oklahoma Library Association reports: "Saying it would turn back the clock on decades of education reforms, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry May 8 vetoed Senate Bill 834, legislation that would have allowed local school administrators to ignore more rigorous state standards and create their own academic benchmarks and rules. Granting control to local districts with no strings attached could have led to making the school library, the library media specialist, and library funding optional...."

California does not yet have state standards for school libraries, but the Board of Education has called for standards, which will be written or drafted this summer. It is about time!

Book Recommendation Websites

The California School Library Association's listserv often has fun end-of-school posts. One theme was on book recommendation sites. Here they are:

• Nancy Keane's "Readalike" website is full of book recommendations. You select a book from a list of: If you liked [this book]...you'll like [these other books]. It includes lists of Readalikes, Read Alouds, Readership - targeted lists, school subjects, specialty lists, themes, and values. Acknowledgement at the end of the lists: The reading lists were started as part of a librarian collaborative project, All Together Now, begun by Dale Copps.
• ATN (All Together Now) Collaborative WIKI - includes online videos.
• TeenLinks at Hennepin County Library. Includes teen recommendations.
  
• "This One Next" allow you to register and search a database for "What should I read next?" The registration page states: Enter a book you like and the site will analyse our database of real readers' favourite books (over 65,000 and growing) to suggest what you could read next. (You can register on the results page and build your own favourites list).

Early Childhood Reading Grants - Target

Library listservs are spreading the news about an early childhood reading grant announced by Target. Read details below or on the Target Store Grants website.

Reading is an essential element in a child’s educational process. Reading grants are awarded to schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations, supporting programs such as weekend book clubs and after-school reading programs that foster a love of reading and encourage children, from birth through age 9, to read together with their families.

Guidelines

Target will accept grant applications online between March 1 and May 31, 2009, for programs taking place between October 1, 2009, and September 30, 2010. You will receive notification about your request by September 30, 2009. Most grants average between $1,000 and $3,000.

Apply Online

You may apply for grants from March 1 through May 31:

• Apply as a 501(c)(3) organization
• Apply as a school, library or public agency

Meeting with Elected Officials - Advocacy 101

The American Library Association's Washington Office has produced an Advocacy 101 video to help prepare library advocates on visiting their elected officials. ALA TV follows three library advocates as they visit and meet with legislators and staffers. Hear their comments on expectations and experiences. Well done. Now it is your turn to meet with your legislators.

Expecting a Surge in (Library) Usage this Summer?

American Library Association Media Relations Manager Macey Morales is asking ALA members to send her stories. It appears that she is seeking stories about public libraries, but school, academic and special libraries have stories too! Here is her request:

As libraries throughout the country continue to experience an increase in usage, the American Library Association is gathering stories on how libraries are preparing to meet summer demand for your services. Since many families can't afford to go on vacation this year and will continue to turn to the library as a free resource, we would like to know how your library is preparing. Tell us about any new programs, resources, staffing impact, use of volunteers, etc. that will help you manage what will be a busy summer. Your stories may appear in media relations outreach being done by ALA to highlight the value of libraries and librarians.

Check out ALA's Public Information Office blog, Visibility @ your library^®

Stimulus Dollars 4 Libraries - Capstone Press Webcast

On on Thursday, April 30, Capstone Press hosted a 1/2 hour webcast on "5 Steps to Advocate for Stimulus Dollars for Your Library". Webcast program material and links are on their website and other websites including the ALA "Know Your Stimulus" site.
Thanks go to Capstone Press for offering the webcast and supporting material.

5-Step Program:
1- Become informed. Become informed about the stimulus package and what funding and visibility opportunities are available. Think BIG. Money is going to school superintendents. You need a LOUD VOICE. Here are some pots of money:

• $53.5 BILLION in state stabilization funding. This can be used for school libraries, such as materials budget and positions. NOTE: The state of Illinois chose to use 100% of their share for education.
• $13 BILLION for Title I schools. Over two years.
  
• $650 Million for NCLB EETT (Education Technology) grants for Fall 2009. This is primarily for middle schools.

2- Determine your target. You must show positive impact on student achievement. Identify your school's top priorities or "hot spots" and describe how the school library addresses the priorities.

• Title I -- learn the estimated allocation for your district. Learn how much is for schoolwide vs specific students. focus on library resources to support these students, implement research-based programs, and include parent involvement.
• IDEA programs. Identify decision makers (principals, district library and curriculum directors) and influencers (superintendents, school board members). Be proactive -- how can your library goals meet the goals of decision makers?

3- Gather Your Facts. PROVE that strong school libraries increase student achievement by citing data-driven facts. For example about 20 state studies show that more reading, more access, more books increases student achievement. Also use your STATE and LOCAL INFORMATION. Back up a statement like "Every dollar invested in the school library pays off in higher student achievement."

4- Make a Plan. Your plan must specifically state/demonstrate value and have no reoccurring costs. (Caution: funding staff is a reoccurring cost, so focus on other costs.)

• Set a goal. Be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely). Use budget estimates such as $20/book average. Reinforce the statement that your proposal has a positive impact on student achievement.
  
• Make your Pitch. Practice. Set up a specific appointment with your principal. Consider leave-behinds. Be positive. Follow-up.
  

5- Be LOUD.

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NOW is the time to ACT. Act LOCALLY. Read up on the stimulus dollars and the guidelines from ALA, Capstone Press, and others. Create a proposal for your specific library program. No one else will do this for you (unless you have or create a library or Friends of the Library team).

Go for it!

2009 CYRMA winners

Paula Dacker, Senior CSLA member of the California Young Reader Medal Award (CYRMA) Committee reports the winners for 2008-2009:

PRIMARY - Stanley's Wild Ride by Linda Bailey, Kids Can Press







INTERMEDIATE - Sheep by Valerie Hobbs, Farrar, Straus and Giroux







MIDDLE SCHOOL/JR. HIGH - Heat by Mike Lupica, Puffin Books







YOUNG ADULT - Sold by Patricia McCormick, Hyperion







PICTURE BOOKS FOR OLDER READERS - Mystery at the Club Sandwich by Doug
Cushman, Clarion Books