Authors for Libraries program

The Association for Library Trustees, Advocates,Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) has created an "Authors for Libraries" program.  The ALTAFF website includes information about each author, including links so visitors can check for details on author tours, reading group tips, and more. 

What is particularly useful is that the authors have each provided a quote about libraries that libraries and library advocates may use in their newsletters and on websites.

Run down the list of authors and their books.   Find your favorite authors and see what they have to say.  Then look at them all.  What a resource!
Examples:

• Barbara Kingsolver
  The Lacuna, 2009 Quote: "'I'm of a fearsome mind to throw my arms around every living librarian who crosses my path, on behalf of the souls they never knew they saved.' I wrote these words more than 10 years ago in an essay called 'How Mr. Dewey Decimal Saved My Life.' Now, in a world where kids are often strapped for both resources and valid information, I believe in libraries as havens of salvation  — more than ever." 

• Margaret H. Baroody The Unexpected Visitor, 2010
  
  
  Quote: "Our school library took me to worlds I could only visit in my mind, but it exercised my imagination and shaped my dreams. I shall be forever grateful. Growing up in a home with no magazines and few books, Monday mornings became the highlight of the week."
  
  
  ALTAFF invites libraries to join their "Authors for Libraries" program.  Members will receive The Voice for America’s Libraries and details about how you can help advocate for libraries.

Snapshot Day - ANIMOTO PROMO

Once a year, libraries of all kinds take a "snapshot" of their library. This includes data points such as the number of visitors, books checked out, courses taught, photos of what was going on at the library on one day. Here is a mini-music video or animoto of Snapshot day at Granite Bay High School, posted by Julianna Hedstrom Teacher Librarian.

The snapshot captures lots of students on computers, in Julianna's classes on research techniques. Says the learning center is open for students before school, after school, and during lunch. Photos of wall signage (Research Lab) and promotions (Banned Books Week).  Check it out.

Campaign for Strong School Libraries

We support strong school libraries and the new Model School Library Standards.  Join us!  

What is a strong school library?

What are the Model School Library Standards? 

The California School Library Association rolled out the first phase of its Campaign for Strong School Libraries. Here is the graphic -- get one for your websites or blogs.  Next, CSLA will introduce a PUBLIC campaign site and begin outreach to individuals and institutions.  Stay tuned!

 

Athletes as Readers and Leaders Program at College of San Mateo

Check out this beautiful student video about the College of San Mateo version of CSLA's best practice, Athletes as Readers and Leaders.

Film student Alex King created the video project for the College of San Mateo Digital Media Department.  His campus customers were Library Director Lorrita Ford and Child Development Center Director Louise Piper.  Last year, Lorrita took the program concept and "shopped" it with Louise and campus athletic leaders.  The rest is history. For other samples of Alex King's films, see A.K. Film Production and Editing.

At CSLA's conference exhibit, "The Doctor is IN" partnership advice booth, the Athletes as Readers and Leaders program was a popular example of a wonderful and rewarding partnership program.  See the "how to" tutorial at athletereadersleaders.csla.net/ -- Thanks go to program creator Napa Valley Schools Director of Library Services, Kate McMillan. Be sure to click on the link to Kate's high energy animoto music video.

Patrick Nelson Wins 2010 CSLA Advocate for California School Libraries Award

The 2010 CSLA Advocate for California School Libraries Award was given to Patrick Nelson, President of Mrs. Nelson's Library Services, in recognition of his advocacy efforts for strong school libraries.  It was a treat to meet Patrick f2f. Congratulations!

Patrick knows many, many childrens authors and illustrators.  He invited them to help advocate for school libraries through donations of reproducible artwork, precious illustrations. Thank you!

Some of the many illustrators: Brian Selznick, Aliki, Caroline Arnold, Joe Cepeda, Marla Frazee, Kazu Kibuishi, David Shannon,and Marianne D. Wallace.

FRESNO USD Superintendent Michael Hanson - Library Advocacy Video

Thanks from Fresno Unified on Vimeo.

Well said!  FRESNO USD Superintendent Michael Hanson won the California School Library Association's 2010 Administrative Leadership Award.  The award honors administrators with direct responsibility for a schoo or group of schools who havemade influential, unique and sustained contributions to effective school library program, furthering the integral role fo the library programs in elementary and/or secondary schools.   

WEED IT/Book Cart Drill Team Winners 2010

Librarians love to have fun!  Here is S Berkeley Public and Berkeley Unified School District's "Weed It!" a parody of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" with lyrics by Jessica Lee, vocals by Jack Bau. Lyrics are posted on Willard Middle School Library blog:

They told me they don't want to read around here.
Don't wanna see your books, they're so yesteryear.
The boredoms in their eyes, and their words are really clear.

So weed it, just weed it.

Can't find the new books. Patrons have to ask.
'Cuz they're buried in those overstuffed, sagging stacks.
If you want 'em to read, you better clean up your act.
So weed it.  'cuz you wanna be read.

Just weed it.  Weed it.  If it's gettin' old, delete it.
If it smells funky.  If it's all jacked.  If it says "negro" where it
should say "black,"
Just weed it.
Just weed it.
Just weed it.
Just weed it.

Pluto's a planet, and pandas are racoons.
And someday a man is gonna walk on the moon.
Your items that don't circ should be cleared out real soon.
So weed it. Just weed it.

You have to show them that libraries aren't lame.
You're playing with their minds.  This ain't some kind of game.
Outdated information's a professional shame.
So weed it.  'Cuz you wanna be read.

Just weed it.  Weed it.
If it's gettin' old, delete it.
If it smells funky.  If it's passé.
If it shows how to do macramé.

Just weed it.    Weed it.
If it's gettin' old, delete it.
If it's been taped up and superglued,
If it says Berlin is still split in two..

Just weed it.  Weed it.
Just weed it.  Weed it.
Just weed it.  Weed it.
Just weed it.  Weed it.

Thank you, Michael Jackson, for the inspiration.
Thank you, Jack Baur of Berkeley Public Library, for the amazing vocals.

Comments from Berkeley USD District Library Services Coordinator Becca Todd:
"I just wanted to add a few words of encouragement to those considering
pulling together a team for next year. It is SO fun!! And it really
doesn't take that much time and equipment (unless, of course, you are
rewriting lyrics and singing like our dynamic duo of Jessica and Jack.
That did take extra time!) Our "cart" people only rehearsed together
twice, sometimes with "air carts" (similar to air guitars) and rolling
chairs, and we were able to have one rehearsal with our whole wonderful
crew of seven on Thursday, just before coming up on Friday. So don't think
you have to amass a bunch of carts in order to practice; in fact, air
carts and rolling chairs gave us an additional sense of flexibility which
served us well when the carts we wound up using were 12" taller -- and not
flat-topped! -- than the ones we'd anticipated. On to Pasadena 2011!"

Wrestlemania Reading Challenge -- Teen Read Week 2010

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is sponsoring World Wrestling Entertainment’s WrestleMania Reading Challenge as part of Teen Read Week. AL Direct reports that more than 60,000 students in 1,700 school and public libraries in the United States and Canada are expected to participate in the hopes of winning an all-expenses-paid trip to WrestleMania XXVII in Atlanta on April 3, along with $2,000 and books for their local sponsoring libraries.

Human Chain Moves Hawaian Library

See the video of the human chain from the old to the new public library. Librarian says "Libraries constantly morph and evolve into new things..."

From the Big Island News:

October 25, 2010 – KAPAAU, Hawaii
Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Karin Stanton
It was moving day for the books at the old Bond Memorial Library, headed down the road to a newer, nicer home at the North Kohala Public Library.
But in order for the books to make it there, a little community kokua was needed. And according to librarian Janet Lam, they did it the old fashioned way.
Nearly 2,000 volunteers lined up on the Akoni Pule Highway on Saturday to form a human chain, so they could pass the thousands of books – or huki puke, in Hawaiian – over a mile and a third down the road to the new library.
In order to accomplish the goal, nearly every able bodied resident in North Kohala was needed. Lam says the entire population of the North Kohala area of Hawaii Island is about 6,000.
The library got the help it needed, from folks between the ages of 9 to 90.
The entire effort was inspired by the story of King Kamehameha the Great, born in the North Kohala region, who organized a similar human chain during his reign.
One challenge facing libraries in modern times is relevancy… organizers hope the huki puke excercise will establish a vested interest in the survival of the new facility.
And as evidenced by this small town’s big effort, the public library remains a beloved part of North Kohala’s way of life.