Georgia School Librarian Asks Kids: What makes a Library a Library?

The Unquiet Librarian is the name of a blog written by Buffy Hamilton, a high school librarian in Georgia. She has been doing video interviews with students, asking "What Makes a Library a Library", a question asked recently by California blogger Sarah Houghton-Jans, aka Librarian-In-Black.

Check out the answers by high school students:



What would your students say? What would your library visitor "regulars" say? What are some other good questions to ask library users? I'm sure you can come up with some meaningful and fun questions, but here is a start:

• Why are you in the library today?
• Do you remember the first time you visited a library?
• How old were you when you got your first library card? Which library?
• When you come to the library, do you have a favorite section or place?
• Do you have a special "reading place" at home, in the library, or?
• What are you reading or planning to read next? Any recommendations?
  

Book Bike at Chicago Banned Books Event

Gabe Levinson and his Book Bike has been giving books away in Chicago parks for the past two summers. See earlier post. This year, he was invited to be a part of a Chicago Banned Books Read-Out on September 26, 2009.

William Kamkwamba and Library Book on Windmills

Here's a video you MUST WATCH and SHARE widely. See Daily Show with William Kamkwamba

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
William Kamkwamba
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

See also the powerful ABC Interview on how William had to drop out of school, so he looked through the school library and found a book on energy from the wind... Now, neighbors come to his home to power up cell phones thanks to the windmill that William built.

See also the Public Library Association e-mail interview with village school librarian Ms. Edith Sikelo. Be sure to share William's story!

More on William Kamkwamba is available on Ted.com

Banned Books Week - Puppet Video

Lots of activities around Banned Books Week. ALDirect included a mini-video featuring puppets in a library, tossing banned books from the shelves!

Chicken Dance - Can You Dance "The Librarian"?

OK. Watch closely and then practice, practice, practice...

Library LIVE! - Goes Live Last Thursday in August

Library LIVE! is going "live" in August 2009. Orange County Department of Education Library Media Coordinator Glen Warren shared the following announcement about his new broadcast program on School Libraries:

Library LIVE!

Want to get the latest news that impacts school libraries and their learning communities?

Want to spread the news about 21^st century school libraries?

Want to MAKE news about them?

Be a part of Library LIVE!

Beginning August 2009

The Last Thursday of Each Month

Library LIVE!

Starting the last Thursday of August 2009,

Orange County Department of Education, based in southern California, will host a monthly live INTERACTIVE broadcast of Library LIVE!

Each show targets school librarians, media specialist, and technologists across the country, featuring news about the triumphs and challenges facing the 21^st century community.

The Framework of the broadcast will include four spheres of influence within education:

1. Community (educational partners)

2. Curriculum (resources and best practices)

3. Legislation (state and national policy )

4. Technology (technology trends and innovations)

Each show will feature at least one interview, with Q&A time.

And it's FREE.

You can connect TWO ways to the broadcast:

1. Through live web streaming AND/OR

2. through a video conferencing unit (e.g., Polycom or Tandberg).

The video streaming chat feature allows live interactive chat through most district firewalls.

Each broadcast will have its own unique URL link (for web streaming) and IP Address (for videoconferencing). If you would like to be a part of the Library LIVE! experience and receive up to date program information then please sign up at the below link:

http://tiny.cc/O4Ff0

If you have any questions and/or programming ideas, please contact Glen Warren at: gwarren@ocde.us

Library LIVE! -- Monthly broadcast from Orange County

Glen Warren, Coordinator of Media Resources for Orange County Department of Education announced a test broadcast of a new monthly half-hour broadcast called Library LIVE!

The show will feature the latest news in Library Media issues and trends. It is planned for the 2009/2010 school year. He is looking for topics and special guests for his broadcasts, so let him hear from you. Here is Glen's announcement:

Library LIVE! provided a live test broadcast for school librarians through the California K12 High Speed Network on Thursday, June 25th, from 3:00pm to 3:30pm. (Pacific) This is the prototype of the live monthly, half hour, broadcast for the 2009-2010 school year. Thursday's Library LIVE! line up included:

1. The Winner Twins (award winning, authors who are 13 years old)
2. Digital Literacy News
3. Your Ideas for the 2009-2010 School Year

There are two ways to connect to the broadcast. One through live web streaming and the other through a video conferencing unit (like Polycom or Tandberg). We are most interested in testing the live video streaming chat feature. This allows for live interactive chat through most district firewalls. Here is the link for the live video streaming connection: http://www.k12hsn.org/conferencing/scheduler/system/conference.php/6707/stream/live Please use the link a few minutes before the broadcast time to make sure you have the proper plugins. If you have videoconferencing equipment, feel free to connect using the IP address or the CalREN number: IP Address: 207.166.4.2 CalREN Number: 534 000 4097

Please contact Glen Warren at the Orange County Department of Education with feedback of any technical challenges encountered directly at gwarren@ocde.us after the broadcast. Glen Warren Coordinator of Media Resources Orange County Department of Education 200 Kalmus Drive Site Location: 3001 Red Hill
Costa Mesa, California 92626 Phone: 714-966-4208

If your school already has a videoconferencing unit from companies like Polycom or Tandberg, be sure to register your equipment's IP address with Glen. This is an excellent use of your existing technology. Hopefully, you have the unit in your library already. Glen will be showcasing Library LIVE! and uses of interactive videoconferencing at the California School Library Association annual conference this Fall. He has invited Tandberg to exhibit and demonstrate their videoconferencing equipment at the conference, so come prepared to learn what is new and cool.

Glen is a library leader worth watching. He has great ideas and follow-through. He is passionate about the important role of strong school libraries and especially teacher librarians, and plans to use technology and personal networking to spread the word. Glen asks for your ideas for Library LIVE! Is there a library program at your school that is especially powerful that you'd like to share with Glen and the California educational community? This might be just the right forum. Library LIVE! is an excellent way for teacher librarians, their programs, technology tools, and issues to become more visible.

Celebrity Videos -- Charity Do's and Don'ts

Here is a Chronicle of Philanthropy article on the Do's and Don'ts of Charity Videos, with two examples that remind us that strategic planning of the message is important, yet can easily be forgotten when a celebrity agrees to do a video for your cause.

• An Angelina Jolie video on refugees tells viewers to remember the refugees -- a weak message.
  
• An example of a strong message is a video with celebrities like Danny DeVito who tell viewers NOT to give (to a school) unless, that is, you care about little things like your children. The video includes links to make it easy for viewers to donate, and ends with a "thank you."

What would you have a celebrity say to promote your project, cause, or institution? That might be a useful role-playing exercise. It could be a game called "If I were a STAR, this is what I'd say and how I'd say it."

Video Letter to NJ Governor - Strengthen Standards for School Libraries

Kudos to the New Jersey School Library Association. The association created an outstanding open letter (video letter) to NJ Governor John Corzone asking for him to require a certified school librarian in each school. New Jersey Elementary School Librarian Bosiljka Mijaljevic is the voice on the 6:26 minute video.

Save Our Library - Protest Captured on YouTube

World Wide Watch carried a video clip about a June 9th protest organized by Saddleback Valley Unified School District teacher librarians against a school district's plan to eliminate or downsize its library program. Video headline: WorldWatchNow//Cuts Hurt//Librarian Protest. There are no voice-overs or speeches, just the song "Angel" by Sarah MacLachlan.

According to an article in the Orange County Register headlined "Saddleback School Board: Shortfall May Swell $20 Million", Tuesday's school board meeting attracted hundreds of parents, teachers and about 75 students who rallied outside just before the meeting to protest the proposed reduced staffing levels at their school libraries. Here's another article by OCRegister columnist Yvette Cabrera on "Oh, Those Sexy Librarians".

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?

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.

Hi, My Name is Melville Dewey -- a Rap Music Video

Here's a way to drill the Dewey Decimal system into the brains of one and all. This rap music video goes on and on and on. This would be a great live performance by a teen team at the start of each year or for a talent show. Crazy!

Hi, my name is Melville Dewey.
Nice ta meet ya. How you doin?

If you need info, you know where to go.
Go to the Li-brar-y.

The Dewey Decimal Rap is one of Scooter Hayes' Scooter Stories. Scooter Hayes is a Story YELLER.

ANIMOTO for a CAUSE

ANIMOTO has announced it will provide its fancy, professional (fee-based) version to non-profits that have a special CAUSE to promote. Now organizations can use Animoto to promote their cause online by posting and sharing videos on websites, YouTube and social networks. Animoto for a Cause launches today with more than 20 partners including American Cancer Society, Save Darfur, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Teach for America. Applications are being accepted. I've alerted my friends at CSLA, the local YMCA, and you!

Animoto is an outstanding, fun, and easy-to use tool for promoting libraries, literacy, and lots more! Check it out!

2009 Librareo contest - video contest by Gales

Gales has announced a new Librareo video contest. Grand Prize is $5,000. See details on or after April 12, 2009 -- National Library Week. The contest was started in 2007.

NJ Library Video: Job Hunting

The New Jersey State Library created a 30 second video on how people are turning to the library for help in seeking new jobs. YouTube Video is called "Job Hunting". Nancy Dowd actively markets libraries in the state. Well done!

Libraries as a solution: job hunting, Internet access

Thank You For Being a Friend - YouTube

Just discovered this nice library thank you video...



This was done as a salute to the volunteers of the Boerne Public Library. The video uses Andrew Gold's song "Thank You For Being A Friend." Produced by Alicia Rivera and Natalie Morgan in 2007. Well done!

Gumdrops by The Smittens

Gumdrops - what a fun music video! "I really like you, my new librarian...."


Scenes were shot in the Lawrence Barnes Elementary School library, Burlington, Vermont. I spent many a summer in that lovely town. Lots of fond memories. My wonderful, fun-loving cousin eventually became an elementary school principal!

Back to School -- University Library Videos

It's August. Students are headed back to college. It looks like a number of academic libraries are prepared with wild and wacky, young love drama, and other themes to their "introduction to the library" videos. Here are a few examples:

• Fairfield University’s DiMenna-Nyselius Library (drama) - Connecticut.
• University of Tennessee - Chatanooga Campus Library (way too cool)

Bet we'll see many more. This will be a treat.

American Libraries FOCUS

AL FOCUS is the video home of American Libraries magazine. We're also on YouTube. You can comment on videos directly or send feedback or e-mail questions.

This June at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA, there will be several teams of graduate school students from CSU Long Beach and San Jose State University/Fullerton campus doing video interviews of technology presenters and exhibitors. The project is an initiative of the California Library Association IT Section.