Big-Eyed Readers Coloring Page

What is the most popular use for the Big-Eyed Readers?  According to those who took the poll, the answer is a kid's coloring page.  What a fun way to get kids and parents thinking about books and reading.  Copies are free and available by writing to the California Campaign for Strong School Libraries at info@csla.net

Other popular uses for the images (according to the poll) is use as headers in library blogs and school newsletters. A PNG image of the four (top) readers is also available from the California Campaign for Strong School Libraries.  The graphic designs are also available on various products at the Campaign's LIBRARY STORE.

Library of Congress Documentary

Here is a good C-SPAN documentary for your library: The Library of Congress.  
It covers:

• The Great Hall, Reading Room , and exterior of the Jefferson Building
• Some of the treasures among its books, maps, photos, and presidential papers
• The History of the Library of Congress and its Jefferson Building
• The Jefferson Library and other treasures of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division
• The painstaking care of the Library’s collections
• The use of technology to reveal new information about historical documents

Read for the Record

District Library Media Supervisor for Visalia Unified School District, George Pilling, alerted California school library teams to Read for the Record. The book this year is Llama, Llama Red Pajama, and the goal is to read it aloud to 2 million kids on October 6th.

This is a good opportunity to tell the story about the importance of access to books and strong school libraries.

BURN BOOKS

Most Americans have read science fiction author Ray Bradbury's book and movie "Fahrenheit 451" in school.  Bradbury is known for lots of great quotes.  The one about burning books is especially timely today, given the steadily shrinking budgets for our academic, public and school libraries.

This is a great conversation starter and appropriate for classrooms, libraries and board rooms. Remind your friends and families about the importance of reading -- pick up a message mug!

Big-Eyed Readers Ask "What Are You Reading?"

What are you reading? We want to know! What a great conversation starter.
See the new "What Are You Reading?" design series at cafepress.com/designclass and select individual reading characters or several together.  These big-eyed readers peek over their books, taking time to listen to what books you are reading.  Enjoy!

Please tell us which character is your favorite by taking our 4-question POLL.  Thank you!

Linda Darling-Hammond Addresses Lack of Funding for School Libraries

From AASL Hotlinks (September 2011):

Former Presidential Advisor Linda Darling-Hammond Addresses Lack of Funding for School Libraries In a recent speech at the Save Our Schools March in Washington, D.C. Stanford University Education Professor and former advisor to President Obama on education, Linda Darling-Hammond explained the extent of the trouble public education is in, and mentioned the lack of funding for school libraries. “We are here to say it is not acceptable for the wealthiest country in the world to be cutting millions of dollars from schools serving our neediest students; to be cutting teachers by the tens of thousands, to be eliminating art, music, PE, counselors, nurses, librarians, and libraries (where they weren’t already gone, as in California)…” she said.http://ed.stanford.edu/news/darling-hammond-mess-we-are

Teenagers Are Reading: Keeping Book Industry Afloat?

The other day, Dr. Stephen Krashen shared this post with California School Library staff and supporters: Sara Stevenson presents evidence that teens are indeed reading and might even be "keeping the book industry afloat."

California teacher librarians have responded with an immediate and enthusiastic "yes", students are reading and love books and their libraries (school and public).  Now, get the word to parents and policymakers to stop cutting budgets and support strong school libraries!  Learn what a strong school library is by going to the California Campaign for Strong School Libraries site.  Learn the minimum standards for school libraries and demand that your school meets or exceeds the standards.  Promote and advocate for implementation of model school library standards.