Follow a Library Day on Twitter

Mark your calendars!

Six Dutch librarians have declared October 1 "Follow a Library on Twitter Day." Michael Stephens and David Lee King are helping to promote the event. Read the #followalibrary blog, then on October 1, tweet what your favorite twittering libraries are. Use the hashtag #followalibrary.... 

This is good timing and should work well with America's "Library Snapshot Day (week of October 4)."  Libraries can tweet about what they are planning for  Snapshot Day.

The Suitcase Strategy and the Power of Search

Follett Software has engaged Petaluma (CA) High School Librarian Connie Williams to write a monthly article for its Library Connections blog.  Connie's format is to tell a story or two about using a technology, and then tie it back to the school library.  "The Suitcase Strategy and the Power of Search" is a good example of her strategy.

This is the kind of column that should appear in the general news media, such as local newspapers.  Educators and librarians spend too much time preaching to the choir and not enough time reaching out to the public, public policymakers, and TV/movie producers.

Where Do Good Ideas Come From? -- Conversations and Reading?

Listen to author Steven Johnson's compelling presentation on "Where good ideas come from", then think about how libraries provide 1) the space for conversations and good ideas to percolate and 2) books and other content for individuals to feed good ideas.  How can this presentation or message be used to promote libraries and their programs (book clubs, lecture series, author visits, community gatherings) as incubators for good ideas and innovation?




If you didn't catch Steven Johnson's last statement, here it is: "Chance favors the connected mind"

Libraries -- We Will Survive

Caption: Inspired by the 1978 disco hit "I Will Survive", the lyrics were rewritten to proclaim support for libraries, particularly under the stress of tight budgets. Another version of this video is available, which begins with a send-up of a typically hectic day in the life of a professional librarian.

My Library, My Lifeline -- Advocacy Program and Logo

Look at this fantastic graphic design.  I'm sharing it within LibraryLand and with my Graphic Design classmates.  Simple. Sensational for all sections and seasons. 

According to AL Online, The Cecil County (MD) Public Library launched  “My Library, My Lifeline” to alert the public to possible effects of the economic downturn on library budgets. The library is generously making its high-resolution campaign logo—which it used for campaign postcards and stickers—freely available to libraries and library advocacy groups to help spread the word about the value of libraries. Several libraries are already using it on their websites or for other promotions....

More Literary Book Cakes and Treats

Yum.  Here are some more wonderful cake creations with a literary theme.  See more Cakes and Cupcakes Inspired by Books by Lyndsay Sung of Vancouver-based Coco Cake.

AASL's Learning4Life Initiative on Tour

American School Library Association president Nancy Everhart is going "on the road" to tour exemplary school libraries as a part of her Learning4Life (L4L) initiative.

More information is available at www.ala.org/aasl/visiontour or on her blog at http://outstandingschoollibraries.org.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.

Library Card Plug by Marlo Thomas

Actress/author Marlo Thomas was interviewed at the American Library Association Conference about her school and library memories as a child. She says her library card was very special and made her feel special to have a card for her wallet, the ability to check out books, and the responsibility to return books by a certain date.

Drexel University Assigns a Librarian to Each Student

Philadelphia-based Drexel University announced that it assigns a personal librarian to each new Freshman.  What a fresh idea.  All colleges and universities should use that approach to helping students get off to the right start. 

For more information, contact: Niki Gianakaris, director, Drexel News Bureau
215-895-6741, 215-778-7752 (cell) or ngianakaris@drexel.edu

Act4SL - Advocacy Group for School Libraries

School Libraries Journal carried an article on Act4SL, a group focused on convincing legislators that the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) requires a certified media specialist in every K-12 school.

The group has a read-only page on wikispaces.  It is a clearinghouse on state school library contacts and activities.

Model School Library Standards Approved in CALIFORNIA

YIPPEE!  The excitement began in March 2009, when the State Board of Education asked for Model School Library Standards.  Lots of hard work by lots of dedicated educators and advocates resulted in some very significant standards for California school library programs.  Kudos to all involved.  Here is the press release from the California Department of Education.
______________________________
REL#10-107
CONTACT: Pam Slater
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHONE: 916-319-0818
September 16, 2010
E-MAIL: pslater@cde.ca.govpslater@cde.ca.gov>

State Schools Chief Jack O’Connell Applauds State Board of Education’s Adoption of School Library Standards

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today applauded the State Board of Education for voting to adopt the Model School Library Standards for California Public Schools.

"Students need to know how to access, evaluate, and use information effectively so they can become information-literate," said O’Connell. "The new, rigorous School Library Standards will help our efforts to prepare students for success in the hypercompetitive global economy that is powered by information and knowledge. The School Library Standards complement the newly adopted Common Core Standards in English-language arts. Implementation of these standards will help students to learn and use 21st century skills, apply responsible research practices, act with respect for others when using digital devices, and continue to grow as life-long learners.“

The State Board of Education authorized the California Department of Education (CDE) in March 2009 to develop the School Library Standards based on California Education Code Section 18101 that required the State Board of Education to adopt standards, rules, and regulations for school library services. More than 60 research studies throughout the nation have shown that students attending schools with good libraries learn more, get better grades, and score higher on standardized tests than their peers in schools without libraries.

The CDE worked with the California School Library Association and other education stakeholder groups to develop the newly adopted standards.
The School Library Standards include:

·         Standards for students that delineate what students should know and be able to do at each grade level, kindergarten through grade six; or grade spans, seven to eight, and nine to twelve.
·         Program Standards that describe the collections and resources, including technology and staffing, that are expected in an effective school library that will enable students to achieve the School Library Standards for students.

The prepublication draft of the School Library Standards is posted on the California Department of Education Web page at School Libraries Curriculum Resources: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/lb/. The final publication is expected to be available early in 2011.

# # #

The California Department of Education (CDE) is a state agency led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. The core purpose of CDE is to lead and support the continuous improvement of student achievement, with a specific focus on closing achievement gaps. For more information, please visit http://www.cde.ca.gov or by mobile device at http://m.cde.ca.gov/. You may also follow Superintendent O'Connell (@SSPIJack) on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/sspijack.


Pam Slater
Public Information Officer
Communications Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 5602
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-319-0818
916-319-0100 (fax)
pslater@cde.ca.gov

Top 10 Academic Library Trends

College and Research Libraries News, June 2010, identified 10 top trends in academic libraries:

1. Academic library collection growth is driven by patron demand and will include new resource types.
2. Budget challenges will continue and libraries will evolve as a result.
3. Changes in higher education will require that librarians possess diverse skill sets.
4. Definition of the library will change as physical space is re-purposed and virtual space expands.
5. Demands for accountability and assessment will increase.
6. Digitization of unique library collections will increase and require a larger share of resources.
7. Explosive growth of mobile devices and applications will drive new services.
8. Increased collaboration will expand the role of the library within the institution and beyond.
9. Libraries will continue to lead efforts to develop scholarly communication and intellectual property services.
10. Technology will continue to change services and required skills.