No Better Time To Read

With the world on high alert, what is one way that we can cope with stress?   Read, by reading we can find meaning about what is happening, dive off into a story and forget our troubles if only for a little while or learn something new.  Grabbing a book off my TBR stack since I am home and not traveling this Spring Break. Happy Reading Everyone!

The Beginning of A New Adventure

Today was the first official day in my new district.  It is the oldest public school district in the state of Texas and I am so excited to work along with this group of educators that are so passionate about students.  I will be sharing my love of reading and all things library at two different campuses with about 1400 students.  I will work along with two library aides that from word of mouth are fabulous, how lucky am I!   As I start on this new journey as a second year librarian I want to be more....

More willing to fail 

More open to new ideas

More willing to share my passion

More inspiring 

More present in the moment

Hoping that your 2017-2018 year is MORE than you imagined!

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill | Book Trailer

This is a current 2017-2018 Bluebonnet Award Nominee.  This book engaged me from the beginning.  It's filled with magic, fantasy and unconditional love.  

New Books at the OBP Library

March 2016

Get A Hit, Mo!

A companion to the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning Don't Throw It to Mo!

Mo is a small boy with a huge love for sports. He is always last to bat, and plays right field.  Will he ever get his chance to help his team win?

 

That's Not Bunny by Bethany Barton

Hawk is searching for his next meal. When he spots a bunny he swoops down and snatches-a carrot!? He decides to try again; he comes up with a cucumber! And then a head of lettuce! How can Hawk be a hawk, if he can't catch a single bunny? He looks at all of vegetables in his nest, he comes up with a great idea for baiting the bunny. But will it work?

 

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville by Pat Zietlow Miller

Altais only thinking about Wilma Rudolph, three-time Olympic gold medalist. She will be in the parade tomorrow. Alta is the quickest kid in town, just like Wilma once was. Alta's shoes have holes but that's okay because Wilma came from hard times, too. But when a new girl with shiny new shoes comes along and challenges Alta to a race? Will she still be the quickest? This story is about dreams, determination, and the power of friendship.

February 2016

 

Simon and Ellis, Spelling Bee Champ: Franklin School Friends  by Claudia Mills

Miss Molinos 3rd grade class is all a buzz about the spelling bee.  Simon is good at everything but when his friend says its boring to always lose to him, it makes him thing about some tough decisions.  He learns that it's not always about winning.

 

Thank You and Goodnight by Patrick McDonnell

Simple pages and pictures of a pajama party with friends showing the magic of a sleepover party.   

 

Ling & Ting: Together in All Weather by Grace Lin

Ninth book in the series that helps the reader to learn about Spring.  For young readers.

January 2016

 

Traveling Butterflies by Susumu Shingu

Great for science when teaching about migration and also life cycles.

 

Tucky Jo and Little Heart by Patricia Polacco

WWII era book based on a true story that talks about the friendship between a young American soldier and a native girl of the Pacific.  It's about friendship, loyalty, and kindness.

 

Waiting by Kevin Henkes

What are you waiting for? Five friends are all waiting for something to happen, waiting is a part of life.  ALA notable childrens book


Library Webpage

Examples of Library/Literacy Activities

Booktrailers using Animoto

Fish In A Tree



Took





Screencast


Screencast on how to create an Animoto




Screencast made with Jing on MakeBeliefsComix.com



Pathfinder

Storms Pathfinder

Libraries at the Crossroads

Harrigan, J. (2015). Libraries at the crossroads. PEW Research Center.  September  2015.  Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/09/15/2015/Libraries-at-crossroads/

I was interested in this article since I will be spending time in a pubic library for some of my internship hours

The findings in the report were very interesting. 

1.  Many of the active users of the library hope that they will continue to provide services that they already do such as lend printed books.  There are also those that want the libraries to adapt to the ever changing world with more and more information in digital form that is accessible anywhere and at anytime. 

2.  Concerns about closing libraries- 

There are differences in opinions across gender and cultural groups.  - Hispanics (78%) said that closing the library would have a major impact on their community,   72% of     women vs men said the same thing,   70% of parents with minors,  and 70% of those aged 50 or older.

3. Library Use-

.46% of people ages 16 and older had used a library in the past 12 months (2015) with 56% of college graduates with an in person visit or bookmobile visit.  52% of those ages 16 and older did the same and 52% of those with annual income between $30,000 and $50,000.  They found that women and those with higher levels of education were more likely to have used a library in the past year. 

4. Ebooks-

People are becoming increasing aware that their local libraries are lending ebooks.  It’s a service that I have used with my own local library and it’s great for those of us that are busy and forget to return books on time.  They automatically get returned.  The reports states that 38% of patrons state that their libraries have ebooks while the ALA says that 90% of libraries do.  It was also stated that those that are older (between 50-64) and lower income are more likely to not know that their library has ebooks for loan.  Only 16% of those that are aware have downloaded ebooks to read.  I find that number to be low.  Why is that?  Is it because people are not aware or due to lack of technology at home?

5.  What people do at their libraries

66% borrowed print books, down from 2012 (73%)

42% asked librarians for help, down from 2012 (50%)

53% use the library as a place to sit, read, study or access media, up from 2012 (49%)

16% attended a meeting, down from 23% in 2012

Interesting  fact is that most of the books are borrowed from higher educated and well off patrons while the lower income households and those with African American descent where more likely to use the help of the librarian.  Also that lower income and Hispanic are more likely to use it for watching or listening to media.  It also states that computers and internet access are used more likely by African American and Hispanic and those with lower incomes. 

6. How are people using the library websites

Searching the library catalog

Reserving or placing holds on materials (print, ebooks, audiobooks, cd, dvds)

Renewing materials

Research or homework help

Online databases

Book reviews and recommendations

Borrow or download ebooks

Check or pay fines for overdue items

7. How libraries contribute to their communities

Learning and Sharing Information Activities

Seek health information

Learn how to use technologies

Learn about community resources and events

Decide what information is trustworthy

Find out about opportunities to volunteer

Job training or finding jobs

8. The public wants libraries to advance education, improve digital learning and serve key groups. 

Education is the foundation of a libraries mission.   85% of people think that libraries should work closely and coordinate with schools in providing resources to children.    Promoting and working with kids to increase and promote reading.   They also believe that libraries should help key groups such as immigrants and veterans and those who want help with technology.  78% of Hispanics believe that libraries should create programs for immigrants or first generation Americans. 

9. Libraries, helping with economic opportunity and workforce skills

52% of Americans say that libraries should definitely create services or programs to help businesses and entrepreneurs.  Hispanics and African Americans are more likely to find value in these programs (60%)

10. Community activists are more likely to use libraries

Visited - Solve a community problem 63%, Individual tried to influence government 59%

Attended meetings – Solve a community problem 28%, Tried to influence government 33%

So in looking at the results – lower income and Hispanics are the ones that believe that the libraries are extremely important to the communities but the finding also said that women and higher income use the library the most; I found this to be very interesting and cannot wait to see if the results will be comparable to what I experience when I start working on our local library in my community. 

pages 51

Reflections on Technology

After a full semester of looking into how social media can play a role in the school library and as a future librarian how you can best use it to advocate for your library and get the word out, I have a whole new group of tools to use. 

There are so many different ways that you can use social media to reach the students and parents as well as the community in which your school is located.  I really liked the ease of use for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vine.  I would have to say that Vine was the most difficult for me and the one that I was not already using.  After my initial fear of trying it out and figuring out what it was, I dove right in.  They are a quick way to get information out and doesn’t require a lot of time to post, a bonus in the busy days of a librarian.

I also got to play around with making Animoto videos, QR Codes, Podcasts, Cartoons, and Screencasts.  These assignments really forced me to go out of my comfort zone and I realized that they really are not that difficult and once you get started they are super quick and really fun.  They are great ways to get students involved and to really see what they are learning in a fun way.  I can’t wait to get my students started. 

I was a fan of reading infographics but not creating them.  Easel.ly was one that I had not used before and after watching the Youtube video, I was able to create my own.  So I learned that they are not that difficult and can really help get your point across in a fast way. 

I enjoyed getting to see the different types of online book communities.  I was very stuck in my own personal choice of Goodreads which I will stay with for my personal use but I am so glad to be introduced to Biblionasium to use with my students at school.  I have already mentioned it to other teachers at my school and hope that they check it out and utilize it as a source for their students.

So not only do we as librarian need to know about books and what’s hot and upcoming.  We also need to be up on social media and how to reach our students and parents as well as learning from other librarians.  We also need to be up on the latest technology and ways to use that technology to showcase student learning.  Many of the things I have created this semester have helped me immensely  in becoming more tech savvy and I thought I had a pretty good grasp on it with all the technology I use daily in my classroom.  So break out of your box check out something new and if fear has you stalling – look on Youtube for videos to show you how.  It’s okay to make mistakes and blunders.  Just keep trying because it’s all about learning.