Let's Talk Turkey - strong libraries build strong students

Thanksgiving time is a time to be thankful for what we have, remember the way things used to be and to think about the future. It is a time to sit around the table and talk. Conversations will run the gambit, from world events to how to make a difference. When conversation turns to education reform, it is a good time to "talk turkey" or say it simply: strong libraries build strong students, strong communities.    

Let's Talk Turkey* is available on downloadable bookmarks. Print out a page of mini bookmarks and decorate your holiday table. Why not use them to get a discussion started? Talk books. Talk library. Talk about reading, research skills, digital literacy and preparing students for 21st century skills. 

*Big Eye Readers (animal and career series) are available at the Library Advocacy Store at cafepress.com/csla

Park Ranger Bear Promotes Reading

Do you know some future Park Rangers? 
New Ranger Bear promotes reading and reminds
us to take care of the environment. 

Several versions of this bear are available on free
downloadable bookmarks. Ranger Bear mugs and
more are at CafePress.com/DesignClass site.

Summer Reading Destination

School's out, but summer vacation can get old fast without classmates and planned activities. Make plans for the lazy, crazy days of summer. Walk or ride to the library.  


Make it a destination to:

explore
meet friends
volunteer
start a book club
attend a program

Challenge students to find a favorite reading spot, browse through the magazines and find ones that cover your hobbies or interests.

Invite students and parents to get to know the reference librarians and ask for book and website recommendations. 

Is there a summer reading program? Participate!

• "Dig into Reading" by Collabortive Summer Library Program
• "Reading is SO Delicious" by iREAD

Is there a FRIENDS of the Library group, and if so, are they planning a book sale or fundraiser? Join! Become a library advocate.

Teacher Librarians: A Value Proposition

Here is a value proposition for teacher librarians as key players in building literacy for a strong democracy. Teacher Librarians:

• Provide K-12 student access to books and online resources
• Teach students (and classroom teachers) online research, cyber safety skills, Digital Citizenship
• Are schoolwide literacy and digital literacy specialists
• Reach thousands of students annually
• Have the largest classroom, reaching all students, over multiple years
• Use and offer the most technology in a school (often a computer lab or classroom set of computers, central depository for classroom technology, online library catalog, largest viewing center for presentations)

While Public Libraries play an important role in providing access to information -- especially for preschool, after school, and lifelong -- school libraries play an important role in providing access to information and instruction in how to access information to a "captive" audience of THOUSANDS of students from grades K-12.  This is an extremely important distinction (between public and school libraries or between classroom teachers and teacher librarians.)  Here is why:

• Students visit public libraries on a voluntary, often irregular basis.  However, school libraries have a "captive" audience; classroom teachers take their classes to the library for special research and other assignments, book talks, and to get taught digital literacy skills by the teacher librarian.  
• School students have library classes and free library access time.*  These numbers are potentially a powerful force in increasing literacy and digital literacy.  In California, there is now a set of minimum library curriculum standards for information skills, but no "teeth", funding or incentives for school districts to embrace the standards or rebuild their school libraries. [*except when the library hours are cut or library team reduced or eliminated -- this is an incomprehensible and tragic trend in California and across the country.  In my wealthy community, the middle and high school libraries are now staffed by teacher librarians who are employed 1/2 time and thus the libraries are less accessible to students.]  

Technology companies and other large employers could play an important role in making the argument that school districts should invest in their school library programs and staff.

Learn more about the role and issues related to strong school libraries.  See http://librarycampaign.csla.net  

TV Series "Middle"

A television series called "The Middle" is about a family.  The youngest of the three children loves books and libraries.  See the "I LOVE LIBRARIES" interview with actor Atticus Schaffer who plays character Brick Heck.

Library Volunteers

February is Library Lovers Month, a good time to thank and recognize library and other volunteers.  Marin librarian Tom Kaun asked for library volunteer thank you note cards and recognition items. The Library Advocate takes requests! See designs at http://www.cafepress.com/csla/7817620

National Libraries Day (United Kingdom)

National Libraries Day is devoted to all types of libraries, library users, staff, and supporters across the United Kingdom.  It is celebrated on February 2, 2012.


There are several wonderful posters available for downloading.  Check them out!


Libraries and individuals that celebrate NLD are encourage to tweet about it to the following hashtag: #NLD12


Spread the word!  Get ready to celebrate!

National Mentoring Month - January

January is National Mentoring Month. Given the library is a popular destination of mentors and mentees, it makes sense for public libraries to recognize their role in supporting these teams.  Celebrate this quiet but important role!  Did you know that the President of the United States issued a proclamation making this National Mentoring Month and that libraries are mentioned in the second paragraph?  Here is that sentence:


"At school and at home, in the library and on the field, mentors lift our youth toward their goals and ambitions.  As a teacher, a relative, or a trusted friend, a mentor's steady and dependable support can inspire a child to strive for success and instill in them the confidence to achieve their full potential."


January 26, 2012 is a special day of recognition of mentors.


Some mentoring programs have found the "Mentor, Mentee: Building Futures, Learning Together" graphic design and have ordered journals to give at recognition events later this month. The design includes an older and younger person comfortably reading together, snacking on m&m candies (mentor & mentee), library card alongside the young person, technology mixed in with print books.  Setting? Looks like a library!

The art includes m&m dictionary definitions:


Mentor: 
a wise and trusted counselor or teacher, an influential senior sponsor or supporter.


Mentee:
a person who is guided by a mentor.

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.

Building Futures: Public Library as Destination

YMCA mentoring program "Building Futures" includes public libraries as key destinations for mentors and their young mentees.  Library visits make sense, given the weekly year-long relationship building and mentoring that adults and young people experience.  Mentoring images often show fun activities like the zoo, sports games, or amusement park rides but visiting the local library for the first time, getting a library card, finding a special favorite corner of the library is a comfortable routine that builds future library lovers. Enjoy the video:



Note from Imperial County Free Library Director Connie Barrington on how her library system works with a mentoring program: "I am very proud of our partnership with the Foster Grandparent program in Imperial County, run by Catholic Charities. The Library staff have provided training for working on literacy, we are utilizing a few volunteer grandparents this summer as volunteers and our partnership with the Probation Dept., the Juvenile hall staff and the FGPs assigned to Juvie hall is exemplary. I worked with a small budget provided by Probation and created a special library collection just for Juvenile Hall. The FGPs handle circulation. We have also jointly raised funds for other support for them, such as $ from a local prisoner’s group that bought a “boom box” so the FGPs can utilize ICFL audio books for literacy support. ICFL materials are loaned to the FGPs for use with their “grandchildren” and FGPs refer the children to local libraries."

Library Rap - 2007 music video

How did we miss this 2007 rap video?  Library Rap -- Don't mess with the tigers in the learning lair.

Super Science @ Your Library

American Libraries (AL) Direct carried an item on a program that extends and enhances the science curriculum of its local K-5 schools.  This is the way to collaborate -- ideally school teacher librarians are on the planning team.  Here is the news item:

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh recently developed “Super Science @ your library” using the Campaign for America’s Libraries’ @ your library brand. Developed for K–5 students, the program reaches out to children through the library’s branches to expand on the science curricula taught in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. It features 12 topic areas, which have included topics like inventors, robots, recycling, and wetland habitats....

What If Einstein Could Afford a Library Card?

The clever video, What if Einstein Could Afford a Library Card? was created by Heather Teysko, who adds this commentary: "[California] Governor Brown's budget proposes to end all statewide funding for libraries. That means no more reciprocal borrowing. Libraries will have to charge out-of-area patrons. Information will no longer be freely available to everyone. What would the world have looked like if people like Einstein didn't have free access to a library?"

In difficult times, some really counterproductive and misinformed decisions are made.  It is important to speak up and make visible the implications of ideas and potential decisions that are being made. Access to books and online resources are key to American democracy and innovation.  Why isn't this obvious?  Speak up!  Thank you, Teysko!

Like Father, Like Son : Habits are Learned. Visit the Library.

The Finnish Library Association celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010. In honor of the anniversary, it promoted the important role of the libraries in transmitting cultural upbringing to the next generations.
Script: Markku Rönkkö; Production: Otto Tuotanto Oy; Director: Jappe Päivinen. September 2010

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.

Baby Come Back (Spoof of GEICO Advertisement)

Nancy Dowd posted this fun library video, saying "This wonderful PSA was created by students from the Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark. It won first place in a PSA contest sponsored by the NJ State Library."  Well done!  Makes you smile, too!

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....

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.