Christmas Greeting from the Library via Animoto.com

Here's a little brag for the holidays. I sent it out in the district, to the Supt., the tech guys, and everyone I could think of. All of the responses have been great.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

Back to School!

It's hard to believe it, but registration starts next Tuesday, part of which is in the AHS Library, so this is the week school starts for me. We just got the word that the water will still be shut down next from the construction going on for the 2 new buildings on campus and that will be difficult. It will be great when the buildings are completed and they get to the renovation of the library, but it will be several years before that happens. It's going be an interesting year as we all, students, teachers, staff, parents and community learn to have school with so much disruption and so many budget cuts, but I have to say that we have a wonderful spirit of making sure the students succeed. That's an encouraging atmosphere for us all to work in. Here's to a great new school year!

No reading? Not exactly

This seems like a very strange image for any librarian to post, but today I was inspired to do this by an article in the latest issue of LMC, Library Media Connection (March/April 2009, 27:5). It's entitled "Why We Need to Stop Promoting Reading," by Mindy Miner Holland. We all have "READ" posters and bookmarks. The author asks if these promotions are effective. What really makes kids want to read? She decided to ask her students what would motivate them to read. Guess what they said? More books! Better books! I recommend this article to you for her suggestions for going beyond our READ posters and buttons.

Top 10 Web 2.0

From T.H.E. Journal News Update for 2-4-09

Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools for Young Learners

Gail Lovely is adamant about the nature and potential of Web-based learning tools. "Web 2.0 is about trust," she said at a recent talk. "It's about sharing and collaborating." And, she insisted, it's about putting the power to learn and create in the hands of the students. More

This a great list that includes several tools that we all learned to use while completing School Library Learning 2.0, plus some great new ones. Here's to a great 2.0 new year!

How About Hosting a Technology Fair for Teen Tech Week?

From the latest School Library Journal online:
"Looking for a way to integrate your school’s technology program with Teen Tech Week? St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD), Longmont, Colorado has put together an award-winning Student Technology Fair project, and since Teen Tech Week 2009 is just around the corner (March 8-14), now is time to start planning." Read the article here.

New Reason to Use Google Reader

Interesting thing I just discovered with my Google Reader here at school - You can read the pop-up blog posts in Google Reader, even if the home site is one that is blocked at your school site. This is something new to me, at least.

I started following Sarah Dessen's blog (Just Listen, Lock and Key) on LiveJournal, which is blocked here at school. However, when I checked my Google Reader blog roll, I could still read her posts in Google Reader. What a concept! I think it's just great that a web 2.0 tool is helping me to get around the block my district puts on this kind of site. Who knew! Try it for yourself.

CSLA Conference Day 3

Well, so much for finishing my blog posting from the conference. My 24 hours ran out on the Hyatt network and as I was leaving on Sat. in the early evening, I didn't bother to pay for another day. It's truly my hope that wifi will become ubiquitous at conference venues and as an organization we won't be required to pay high fees to give the conference attendees access.

The conference was a great success and hats off once again to all of the planners and organizers. We don't say thank you enough, but we truly appreciate you!

P.S. I highly recommend volunteering to work at the registration desk. You get to see everyone arriving, find friends and make a lot of new ones. It was great fun.