Published bi-weekly by
Read to Me, a service of the Idaho Commission for Libraries
In this Issue:
Welcome
Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November;
All the rest have thirty-one,
Excepting February alone
Which hath but twenty-eight, in fine,
Till leap year gives it twenty-nine.
- Old Saying
It's good to have some distractions from winter's chill and cabin fever, and February is chock full of celebrations, from Black History Month to Chinese New Year to Valentine's Day and President's Day. We also mark Leap Year on February 29th. That gives us one extra day to dream of Spring! And while we are celebrating, why not celebrate winter, too.
A snowy day @ my library!
Enter our "A snowy day @ my library!" photo contest and you could win a great book for your library and a case of cocoa for your staff. Do you have a library snowman? Have you been shoveling snow every day for the past 42 days and counting? Is the snow level insane at your building? Send Stephanie or Peggy a photo and we'll publish the winners in the next issue or two. We'll even provide some fun prizes for the runners-up. Creativity counts! Get that camera out and go snap some shots!!
Don't have a camera? Send in your best tips for beating the winter blues and we'll send you a prize!
Meet Jennifer Balls
We are pleased to introduce Jennifer Balls, the energetic and enthusiastic children's librarian at the Soda Springs Public Library. Jennifer has worked in the library field for 3½ years, all at the Soda Springs Public Library. Jennifer loves her job, saying, "I work with the best staff and director in the world. We are currently in the process of getting approval to build a new library." Jennifer works with all age groups of children, including babies. Some of her responsibilities include
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Preschool storytimes - Storytime Adventures
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Lapsit - Book Babies (started this year)
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Afterschool programs - Fantastic Fridays (started this year)
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Puppet workshops - Puppet Playtime (started this year)
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Outreach - Storytime Express
Jennifer was attracted to library service for children because she has an elementary education degree and five children of her own. She says, "Reading and children are in my blood." In addition to her regular duties, Jennifer is currently working on storytimes for all daycares and preschools in the area--8 in all; creating book deposit collections to all daycares and preschools; a Puppet Playtime - puppet shows and puppet making workshops; a program called Fantastic Fridays for elementary age kids featuring crafts, books, snacks, activities (usually the library gets around 100 kids at these). Jennifer also does special story times or participates in assemblies at the elementary school for the teachers there. And, she does the entire summer reading program.
Jennifer loves looking for and finding new ideas. She also loves seeing the reactions of kids when she reads to them. She has lots of favorite authors and books. When asked, she said, " I change all the time. Currently my favorites are Wendolin Van Draanen and her Shredderman series, Jane O'Conner and her Fancy Nancy Books, Judy Schachner and her Skippyjon Jones books, and anything Shannon Hale writes."
As a child, Jennifer says, "I actually didn't like to read as a child or teen. I think it was because it was an assignment/homework to read. I think this helps me to find those books for other children who also don't care to read. Now I can't get enough of it. Weird!"
As for current reading, she adds, "I usually have a few books going at once. What can I say, I love reading!
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Latest e-audio book (yea!) Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper
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Current e-audio book The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman
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Latest Reads The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
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Currently Reading - Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
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Currently Reading - Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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Currently Reading - The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty
Jennifer likes all flavors of ice cream--she enjoys them all! When she isn't working at the library, she enjoys spending time with her family, and she likes to "read, scrapbook, shop, play cello (got one for Christmas, so she just started)." A few other personal tidbits: Jennifer married her high school sweetheart Jonathan after waiting for him on his mission, she played college basketball, has 5 great kids, and everyone in her family has a name that starts with a "J".
Library to Library
Chinese New Year at Boise Public Library
On January 26th, Boise Public Library celebrated Chinese New Year with a special family program. The "Year of the Rat" begins on February 7th. The rat is a symbol of new projects and hard work, which were on display at the library. Activities included coloring dragon masks and making paper lanterns. Library assistant Fiona May read Chinese stories with traditional Chinese music playing in the background. The finale was a dragon parade and a library-safe version of "fireworks." Children stomped on bubble wrap! The event was the brain child of a group called Idaho Families with Children from Asia, who wanted a way to honor their adopted children's culture and to enable their children see other families that look like theirs. According to the U.S. Department of State statistics, more than 6,400 immigrant visas were issued to Chinese orphans in fiscal year 2006. More than 60,000 Chinese children have been adopted since 1991. Families of all backgrounds attended this event which brought a little taste of China to Boise and helped children make important cultural connections. [Idaho Statesman, 1/27/08]
Young Adult Corner
New Teen Program Resource Available Online
A great program resource for teens has just been published online. The first annual Texas Teens Read! manual is now available at www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ttr/2008/manual. The 2008 theme is "Game On! TTR.08", and the manual features eight programs about gaming. Four Texas YA librarians who are members of the Texas Teens Read! Advisory Committee wrote the programs about video games, role-playing games, board games, trivia games, extreme sports, and more.
Only Texas libraries may use the artwork included in the manual which was created for "Game On! TTR.08" by Rod Espinosa, a graphic novelist with Antarctic Press. Please read about Mr. Espinosa at www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ttr/2008/manual/the_artist.html. Librarians outside Texas must obtain permission from Mr. Espinoza.
The "Game On" ideas are so great, you won't want to wait for summer to start. The first program featured is called "Food Fights." Ideas include selecting and eating healthy food, chocolate tasting, banana jousting, holding a food fear factor contest, and sharing favorite recipes. The program guide offers tips on preparation needed for various activities, suggested books to display, bulletin board ideas, refreshments, incentives, and much more. Here is one fun idea: Name That Candy Bar. Test teens' ability to identify a candy bar by only looking at a cross-section displayed on a paper plate. Complete directions and photos for setting up this activity are provided. In fact, you could do a whole series of programs based on the resources provided in just this one section.
Thanks to Christine McNew, Youth Services Consultant at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for sharing with us!
Teens Can Enter YALSA'S Best Promotional Library Song (mp3)
The Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, invites your teens to enter YALSA's Teen Tech Week promotional song contest! Teens may enter individually or in a group (with a maximum of four people). Teens should create a song no longer than three minutes in length to promote libraries and the many technological resources they offer. Entries must be uploaded in mp3 format to http://www.archive.org/ and tagged as "ttw2008". Then, teens should submit the entry form (available in Teen Tech Week Song Contest Guidelines and Official Rules [PDF]) to the YALSA office by midnight, Saturday, March 8, 2008. Winners will be notified by April 7, 2008.
Prizes: All entrants will receive a certificate. A panel of YALSA members will judge the entered songs and choose five finalists, from whom the winner will be chosen. The five finalists' songs will be featured on the YALSA Web site. All finalists will receive one book each from YALSA. The winner(s) will receive one free book plus a $50 gift certificate to a major bookstore and will be interviewed for a press release and for Young Adult Library Services, the YALSA journal. The winner(s)' sponsoring librarian will receive $100 in materials for his or her library from YALSA.
For more information, contact Nichole Gilbert at ngilbert@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4387. Download the Teen Tech Week Song Contest Guidelines and Official Rules (PDF; includes entry form, which must be submitted).
Book Look
Award-Winning Books for Your Library Collection
February is Black History Month and a great opportunity to introduce your young library users to some award winning books by African American authors and then use them all year long.
The Coretta Scott King Award (CSK) is given to African American authors and illustrators for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions, to promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream. The award is designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood. The 2008 award winners are:
2008 CSK Author Award - Christopher Paul Curtis for Elijah of Buxton (ages 8 and up)
Set in the mid-1800s, this is the story of Elijah, an 11-year-old son of escaped slaves and the first child born into freedom in a community in Buxton, Canada, a haven for former slaves. Elijah embarks on an adventure that could ultimately change his life and take away his freedom when he journeys back to the United States. Elijah of Buxton is also a Newbury Honor Book.
CSK Honor Books:
Sharon M. Draper for November Blues
Charles R. Smith Jr. (illustrated by Bryan Collier) for Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali
2008 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award - Ashley Bryan for Let it Shine (ages 4-8)
Beautiful cut-paper collages illustrate three beloved spirituals: "This Little Light of Mine," "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In," and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." The melody lines and an explanation of the origns of the songs are included.
CSK Illustrator Honor Books:
Nancy Devard (written by N. Joy) for The Secret Olivia Told Me
Leo and Diane Dillon for Jazz On A Saturday Night
John Steptoe Award for New Talent These books affirm new talent and offer visibility to excellence in writing or illustration at the beginning of a career as a published book creator.
2008 Winner - Sundee T. Frazier for Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It (ages 9-12)
Ten-year-old Brendan has a passion for science and a penchant for mysteries. When intrigue comes to him in the form of a stranger who turns out to be his grandfather, whom Brendan has never met, Brendan must come to terms with who he is as a biracial child.
Upcoming Events
Grant Opportunities from the Idaho Commission for Libraries
Read to Me. Deadline extended! Apply now to participate in the 2008 Idaho Jump Start kindergarten registration program. The Read to Me Program will send free books for children registering for kindergarten and early literacy packets for parents to anyone who applies. Public libraries, school libraries, or Parent Teacher Organizations may apply. The online application is available at http://libraries.idaho.gov/jumpstart-ap. We're hoping to reach many more families with this important message this year!
LSTA Just in Time. The Idaho Commission for Libraries is currently accepting Just in Time grant applications. These applications will be governed by the JIT grant process indentified in the 2008 LSTA Guide. We will proceed with the 2008 Competitive Grant process as scheduled; Invited Final Applications due February 22, Advisory Council review March 4-5 and the Board of Library Commissioners award April 11th. Submitted JIT applications will follow the JIT evaluation process, and if possible, applications requiring Advisory Council and Board review will be molded into the existing Competitive Grant evaluation schedule for the Advisory Council and Board. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your Library Consultant or the Commission's Grants Officer, Sonja Hudson at (800) 458-3271, (208) 639-4136 or sonja.hudson@libraries.idaho.gov.
Upcoming Events in March
Women's History Month - "Women's Art: Women's Vision" is the 2008 theme for National Women's History Month. This year's theme provides a special opportunity to discover and celebrate women's visual arts in a variety of forms and mediums that help expand our perceptions of ourselves and each other. For more see http://www.nwhp.org/ or http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womenshistory1.html
Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM) - March has been officially designated by MENC: The National Association for Music Education for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM®), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation. This years' theme is "Music Touches Lives." For more go to... http://www.menc.org/guides/miosm/whatis.html
Return Those Borrowed Books Week - As you begin spring cleaning around your office or around your home, you may come across some overdue library books. In this first week of March it is Return The Borrowed Books week. All week long, return books you have borrowed from friends, family, and the library to their rightful owners. For some promotional ideas see http://www.epromos.com/calendar/return-the-borrowed-books-week.html
March 12 - Girl Scout Day - On March 12, 1912 Juliette Gordon Low started the first Girl Scout group in Savannah Georgia with 18 girls. The Girls Scouts became a national organization, and was chartered by the U.S. Congress on March 16, 1950. Today, there are millions of girls involved with Girl Scouts. For more see http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/gs_days/.
March 17 - Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá 'le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig), colloquially St. Paddy's Day or Paddy's Day, is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (circa 385-461), one of the patron saints of Ireland. It takes place on March 17th, the date on which Patrick is held to have died. For more on St. Patrick's Day see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Patrick's_Day or http://www.st-patricks-day.com/.
March 20/21 - 1st Day of Spring (Vernal Equinox) - The date (near March 21 in the northern hemisphere) when night and day are nearly the same length and Sun crosses the celestial equator (i.e., declination 0) moving northward. In the southern hemisphere, the vernal equinox corresponds to the center of the Sun crossing the celestial equator moving southward and occurs on the date of the northern autumnal equinox. The vernal equinox marks the first day of the season of spring. For more see http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/VernalEquinox.html or for some fun 1st day of spring craft projects to go http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/marchholidays/l/blmar21st.htm.
Some other fun days to celebrate include: National Anthem Day - March 3, Johnny Appleseed Day - March 11, First Walk in Space - March 18, Children's Poetry Day - March 21, National Goof Off Day - March 22, Make Up Your Own Holiday Day - March 26 and Tater Day - March 31 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tater_Day)
Author Birthdays:
March 2 - Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss (1904 - 1991). Born in 1904 on Howard Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. Ted's father, Theodor Robert, and grandfather were brewmasters in the city. His mother, Henrietta Seuss Geisel, often soothed her children to sleep by "chanting" rhymes remembered from her youth. Ted credited his mother with both his ability and desire to create the rhymes for which he became so well known. For more on Dr. Suess see www.catinthehat.org/history.htm.
March 3 - Patricia MacLachlan. Born March 3, 1938 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, she is a bestselling U.S. children's author, best known for winning the 1986 Newbery Medal for her book Sarah, Plain and Tall. The book was later turned into a TV movie starring Glenn Close. Her current projects include two books she's co-written with her daughter, Emily MacLachlan: Bittle and Painting the Wind. You can read more about MacLachlan at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_MacLachlan or http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/maclachlan.html.
March 4 - Dav Pilkey. (born in 1966.) He is a popular children's author and artist. Pilkey is best known as the author and illustrator of the Captain Underpants book series. Some of his other works include: The Paperboy, The Silly Gooses and more. For more about the author visit www.pilkey.com/meet-dav.php or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dav_Pilkey.
March 12 - Virginia Hamilton. (March 12, 1936 - February 19, 2002) was an award-winning author of children's books. She wrote over 35 books, including M. C. Higgins, the Great, The Girl Who Spun Gold, The House of Dies Drear and more. For additional information on Hamiliton go to www.virginiahamilton.com/home.htm.
March 20 - Lois Lowry (born in 1937.) She is an author of children's literature who has been awarded the Newbery Medal twice: first for Number the Stars in 1990, and again in 1994 for The Giver, a widely-known and controversial work. Some of her other works include: The Anastasia Series, Attaboy Sam, and more. For more on Lowry see http://www.loislowry.com/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Lowry.
March 26 - Jerry Pallota (born in 1953.) "My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986." Some of Pallota's works include: The Ocean Alphabet Book, The Dinosaur Alphabet Book, The Icky Bug Counting Book, and many more. For more, see http://www.jerrypallotta.com/index.html.
Summer Reading News
Take a Quick Survey to Voice your Suggestions for Future Summer Reading Themes
The deadline is Wednesday, Feburary 13th to take a short online survey for suggestions for future themes. The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) meets in April, and on their agenda is naming the 2010 theme and voting on the concept for the 2011 theme for both children and teens. Now is the opportunity to have a say in future themes and share your great ideas. You can also go to the ICFL summer reading website for a link to the survey. Libraries who participate in the survey will be entered into a drawing for a great summer reading title for "Catch the Reading Bug."
Summer Learning Loss and Your Summer Reading Program
You are probably familiar with the concept of summer learning loss that results in kids losing academic skills over the summer months when they are out of school. That is one of the main reasons public libraries spend staff time and money to put on a summer reading program. But did you know some kids experience more loss than others and the loss is cumulative?
Research shows
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Low-income children and youth experience greater summer learning losses than their higher income peers. On average, middle-income students experience slight gains in reading performance over the summer months. Low-income students experience an average summer learning loss in reading achievement of over two months. (Cooper, 1996)
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Summer learning loss contributes to the achievement gap in reading performance between lower and higher income children and youth. Research demonstrates that while student achievement for both middle and lower-income students improves at similar rates during the school year, low-income students experience cumulative summer learning losses over the elementary school grades. (Alexander & Entwisle, 1996)
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In the elementary grades, "a summer loss of 3 months accumulates to become a gap of 18 months by the end of 6th grade. By middle school, summer reading loss...produces a cumulative lag of two or more years in reading achievement, even when effective instruction during the school year is available." (Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University, 2001)
These are some of the main reasons the Idaho Commission for Libraries offers the summer reading outreach opportunity to reach more underserved children--the children who don't show up at the library to participate in summer reading. They may be in day care, they may live in rural areas located far from the library, they may be English language learners, or they may just have parents who aren't library users. They may be kids who are poor readers or (gasp) who just don't like to read.
By applying for Underserved Children, libraries can receive free paperback books to give away to kids during special summer reading programs held in the community. It requires working with a community partner who serves kids, like your elementary school's summer school or migrant summer school program, the Boys and Girls Club, the summer nutrition program, daycares, YMCA, and many others. Just set up 2 programs--like a storytime--outside the library. Last year Idaho librarians reached 36% more underserved children.
These suggestions for effective ways to reach the neediest youth are offered in Buiiding Effective Programs for Summer Learning, by Peter Johnson, U.S. Department of Educaiton (2000):
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Form partnerships with the schools
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Form partnerships with community groups and services that reach the disadvantages
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Make programs accessible and convenient for parents
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Involve parents
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Involve volunteers
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Make learning fun for everyone.
Here's what some Idaho librarians said about out-of-library programs in 2007:
"We were contacted early on by the STARS to write an article for their summer publication for child care providers. We considered this a networking success and hope to continue building that relationship."
"We have had several parents make positive comments about the program this year and the library's work to encourage children and families to read during the summer months. Many parents appreciated the information about why it is important for a child to read during the summer -- and why it is important for a child to hear his parent's voice reading to him! One father said he had never been around a library that went to as much length as ours to put on a reading activity. He was impressed and enjoyed what his daughter brought home. I liked that comment! It makes one feel the work they have done is paying off in the community. Even though it has been alot of work and I (the programmer) was very tired after each activity, it has been very worth it all!"
"We were able to partner with the school district's free summer lunch program. A weekly storytime was offered during one day a week during the lunch hour. Free books were distributed at that time."
"We had several factors that increased the participation. One of the key factors was the partnerships that we formed in our underserved children programs. With all entities advertising and promoting the program, our community was made very aware of the program. We also feel another factor that contributed was the heavy promotion that we did within the schools. The incentives that were sent out for school visits were fantastic and the kids loved them. They helped generate the excitement of our program."
"Visiting the schools has helped both this year and last year. Giving away books at the free meal programs was new this year and helped draw in more kids."
School Zone
Improving Literacy Through School Libraries
The following excerpts are directly from the US. Department of Education web-site at http://www.ed.gov/programs/lsl/index.html where you can find more information. The Commission for Libraries does not administer or consult on the above mentioned grant opportunity. Those seeking additional information are instructed to go directly to the appropriate web-site for assistance.
Program Description: This program helps LEAs improve reading achievement by providing students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials; well-equipped, technologically advanced school library media centers; and professionally certified school library media specialists.
Who May Apply: (specifically) Local education agencies (LEAs) in which at least 20 percent of students served are from families with incomes below the poverty line may apply. Outlying areas (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are eligible for funds under a set-aside.
Types of Projects: Districts may use funds for the following activities:
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Purchase up-to-date school library media resources, including books;
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Acquire and use advanced technology that is integrated into the curricula to develop and enhance the information literacy, information retrieval, and critical-thinking skills of students;
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Facilitate Internet links and other resource-sharing networks;
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Provide professional development for school library media specialists and provide activities that foster increased collaboration among library specialists, teachers, and administrators; and
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Provide students with access to school libraries during nonschool hours, weekends, and summer vacations.
Application deadline: March 7, 2008
Know the Numbers
Idaho's Latino Community Grows
On January 24th, the Idaho Commission for Hispanic Affairs released a report titled "Snapshot of Idaho's Latino Communities." The report compiles recent data on Idaho's Hispanics and was shared with Idaho lawmakers.
Among the statistics the report cites:
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By mid-2008, one in 10 Idahoans will be Hispanic, and only about one-third were born outside the United States.
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More than 13 percent of Hispanics have professional jobs, up from 10 percent in 2002.
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But only 43.6 percent of Hispanics reported having health care coverage, compared to 82 percent of non-Hispanics.
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Only 51.9 percent of Idaho's Hispanics own their home, compared to 72.4 percent of Idaho's overall population.
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In the 2005-2006 school year, 13.4 percent of Idaho students were Hispanic.
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But 24.1 percent of Hispanic youth reported concern for personal safety as a reason for not going to school, compared to 4.1 percent on non-Hispanic students.
(Idaho Statesman, 1/25/08)
Note: Idaho librarians will have an opportunity to learn about ways to serve Hispanics in their communities when the attend "Reaching Out: Connecting With Your Spanish-Speaking Community" workshop that will be held in various locations around the state. Check the ICFL event calendar and click on "February" for more information.
A Closer Look at The Big Read
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The Big Read provides citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. The initiative includes innovative reading programs in selected cities and towns, comprehensive resources for discussing classic literature, an ambitious national publicity campaign, and an extensive Web site providing comprehensive information on authors and their works. In Idaho, the Boise area is one of 127 communities to receive a grant to put on a Big Read this spring. The Cabin Literary Center (located in Boise) is the grant administrator and is working with a number of community organizations to implement The Big Read.
The Book
The featured book for the Big Read in Idaho is My Antonia, by Willa Cather, a beloved American classic first published in 1918. Told through the lens of memory by the narrator Jim about his childhood friend Antonia, the immigrant experience in the great Amercan heartland unfolds. The book chronicles a simpler time, in contast to our frentic, technology-driven lives, but the themes of youth, friendship, death and renewal remain relevant today. And a book about pioneer immigrants seeking the American Dream can inform the immigration debate that is still with us in the 21st century.
Library Participation
The Ada Community Library in Boise has been a partner in a local community read concept since 2001. Boise was one of the ten pilot communities for the NEA's Big Read in 2006 and have received grants for two consecutive years. This is the third year for the Big Read program in southwestern Idaho. Mary DeWalt, Ada Community's director is actively involved in the project as a community partner and provided some background information for The Scoop. Mary said, "Our responsibilities are to collaborate on the project timeline and activities, ensure a sufficient number of copies of the title in the library's collection, host programming, advocate for it and encourage participation. That includes encouraging other libraries to get involved, keep a schedule of all of the library book discussions, ensure materials get out to the participating libraries, etc."
While not truly statewide, the project is expanding from it's regional roots in southwest Idaho to include participation in other areas of the state. The following Idaho public libraries have expressed interest in participating on some level:
- Ada Community Library (including the Star and Hidden Springs branches)
- Boise Public Library (including the Collister and Hillcrest branches)
- Caldwell Public Library
- Nampa Public Library
- Meridian District Library
- Mountain Home Library
- Hailey Public Library
- Twin Falls Public Library
- Stanley District Library
- Middleton District Library
- Notus Public Library
- Elk City Community Library
- Bellevue Public Library
- Cambridge District Library
- Soda Springs Public Library
- Burley Public Library
- (Lewiston Public Library and East Bonner County District Library have expressed preliminary interest)
Thus far, just two area schools Timberline High School and East Junior High are participating--scheduling faculty book discussions as well as promoting to students.
Other interested libraries should contact Mary. She will ensure they receive a variety of NEA support materials (audio guide, book discussion guides, teachers guides, posters, bookmarks) and may have paperback copies available for libraries that have a need to add it to their circulating collections. The LYNX! consortium should have a sufficient number to go around (reservable), and libraries could ILL to fill requests, of course, Mary added, "I have purchased a few paperbacks through the grant. Libraries without any copies in their collection, or are in need of an additional copy and cannot fit it into their book budget could contact me." Mary also wants to remind librarians that My Antonia is available through LiLI-ABC eAudiobook collection.
Mary concluded by saying, "I think this is a wonderful program and I encourage libraries across the state to get involved. With the discussion materials the NEA makes available, other than ensuring the book is available in sufficient quantity, or at least accessible, there is not a great deal of strain on libraries to participate. If a library offers a regular book discussion group anyway, plugging My Antonia into an existing schedule should actually prove beneficial. As you know, my goal would be to offer a statewide Big Read (like Arizona) to connect us all."
Events
Special events are being spearheaded by The Cabin. All programming is scheduled to take place during March and April and will include a "major" kick-off program mid-March and wrap up program at the end of April (speakers, party). The Flicks movie theater has agreed to screen a related film, and book discussions will be held in many participating community libraries. According to The Cabin's website: "This year's events will develop the theme of immigration and a love affair with America's landscape. Boise, as a stop on the Oregon Trail, was steeped in the immigrant experience. Wallace Stegner described the West as the 'native home of hope,' a new land where lives could begin again. Boise today is home to refugees emigrating from trouble spots around the world. Boise and Idaho also have seen their Hispanic population grow and new cultural traditions become part of local communities. From many perspectives, immigration remains central to our lives. Discussions also will explore Willa Cather's place in literature. " Visit The Cabin's web site for updates on planned events: http://www.thecabinidaho.org/whatwedo/the-big-read.htm.
Tips & Tools
New Books!
The Idaho Commission for Libraries Professional Development Service (PDS) provides access to numerous titles in the field of library and information sciences. Free shipping to and from your library is provided! See http://libraries.idaho.gov/pds for more information. The following are a few of the recent additions.
Guiding Learning with Technology by Margaret L. Niess, John Wiley & Sons, 2007, [371.3 NIESS 2007].
Here are the tools you need to guide your students in learning with a variety of information and communication technologies. Challenging you to think in new ways, this text helps you build a strong knowledge base of the technology that is available to students and teachers.
Library 2.0: A Guide to Participatory Library Services by Michael E. Casey and Laura C. Savastinuk, Information Today, 2007 [025.1 CASEY 2007].
Two of the first and most original thinkers on Library 2.0 introduce the essential concepts and offer ways to improve service to better meet the changing need of 21st century library users. From incorporating technology to reaching the "Long Tail," from getting buy-in to maintaining momentum, all aspects of Library 2.0 are covered.
Listen Up: Podcasting for Schools and Libraries by Linda W. Braun, Information Today, 2007, [371.3 BRAUN 2007].
Here is a timely and timesaving guide for teachers, librarians, and school media specialists who need to get quickly up-to-speed on podcasting. The author covers both content and technical issues.
Children's Literature: A Developmental Perspective by Barbara E. Travers and John F. Travers, Wiley, 2008 [372.6 TRAVERS 2008].
With an understanding of the developmental theory that explains a child's abilities, needs, and interests, future teachers are better prepared to meet the needs of individual children to help them develop their literacy skills.
New Blog in Town
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association now has a blog. The mission of the ALSC Blog is to provide a venue for coverage of time sensitive news in children's librarianship, current issues in the field, and programs, conferences, initiatives, resources, and activities of interest to ALSC members and those interested in children's librarianship. Check it out at http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/index.php.
News Beyond Idaho
I-READ
The Junior League of Des Moines will again be sponsoring I-Read. I-READ is a free literary event with a goal to sign up kindergarten-age children with a library card and to celebrate and promote literacy. The event features storytellers, fun crafts, and a free book for every child (while supplies last). Urbandale Public Library is a sponsoring site for this event on Saturday, February 23 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Your First Book
What was the first book that got you hooked on reading? That was the question asked by the national First Book project, and they received responses from over 100,000 people. The top 50 books are posted on their website at: http://www2.firstbook.org/whatbook/top50.php. Is your first book on the list?
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