April is School Library Month

April is School Library Month, and celebrating school library successes may be more important now than ever before.  The American Association of School Librarians has a web page full of links to activities, resources, and professional development opportunities.  YA librarians, get your teens involved in four writing contests this April.  If you can't view the special school Library Month Update at the bottom of this email, just go to the following link to find lots of ways to help your community celebrate our special month:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslissues/slm/schoollibrary.cfm

Thanks for all you do every day to make the school library a critical partner in student learning!


Susi
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Susi Parks Grissom
AASL Region VI Director-Elect (2009-2011)
Travis TAG Vanguard/Academy Library
Dallas ISD
susi.grissom@sbcglobal.net
214.232.1419

Opening Day!

Tomorrow, Monday the 28th is the official Opening Day of the Rita and Truett Public Library in Wylie, Texas.  Part of the new Wylie Municipal Complex, the library portion is around 44,000 square feet, more than six times larger than the former location.  The new facility has a Children's Area with a Storytime Room, flanked by a beautiful tree entrance (above, with Abby) and puppet theater, a specially-designed Teen Room, a Bluebonnet quiet reading room, study rooms, a 16-seat computer lab/classroom, meeting room and board room.

Some patrons were able to get a sneak-peak at the new library during a Gordon Korman author visit and signing on March 23rd. Certainly, after a several-months-long closing while the library transitioned from one space to another, many library patrons will be as excited as I am to grace the doors on Opening Day! 

Spotlight

I am very excited to see a feature in American Libraries Direct this week by one of my favorite professors from TWU.  Jeanette Larson provides some background on El día de los ninos / El día de los libros, highlighting several fun, useful titles for celebrating this special celebration of books and children.



Building a culture of literacy through Día
Jeanette Larson writes: “A group of children gather in the children’s area to listen to a story. At first glance, this could be a program occurring any day of the week in any library across the country. However, it is a special day, April 30, and the children are enjoying books like Book Fiesta! by Pat Mora and Sip, Slurp, Soup, Soup Caldo, Caldo, Caldo by Diane Gonzales Bertrand. On April 30, 1997, the first annual El día de los ninos / El día de los libros was celebrated in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.”...


From Booklist Online, here are a few features / graphic novels that are high up on the check-out list.  I am really looking forward to giving Bad Island the twice over.  



Featured review: Bad Island
TenNapel, Doug. Bad Island. Aug. 2011. 224p. Grades 6–10. Scholastic / Graphix, hardcover (978-0-545-31479-4).

If you thought Lost had cornered the market on fun stories that balance relationship dynamics with the adventure of being stranded on a mysterious island, please direct your attention to TenNapel’s latest. Fresh offGhostopolis (2010), the quirky cartoonist tells a story of a family that winds up stuck on a mysterious and deadly-creature-filled island that hides, quite literally, a huge secret. Families have been getting stuck in danger-infested environments since Journey to the Center of the Earth, but TenNapel grafts on a sci-fi element right out of Transformersto give it some zing, and his creatures, which harken back to his early work on Creature Tech (2002), have a cool biological ickiness to them. Though father, mother, teenage son, and tween daughter face the various dangers like a gang of Indiana Joneses, their family stresses are believable, particularly those of the son, who must renew his commitment to a family he had been about to abandon before they all landed hip-deep in weird. A clever, old-fashioned adventure with some modern twists and a lighthearted tone, this, like TenNapel’s previous work, is not to be missed.  — Jesse Karp

Top 10 graphic novels for youth, 2011

Ian Chipman writes: “As the list of the best graphic novels for children and teens reviewed in the past 12 months in Booklist suggests, it was a good year for sweeping, seafaring adventures, but all of the books point to the remarkable versatility of the comics format to deliver thrills, laughs, and ideas to all kinds of readers.”...

Review

This looks like it would be very informative and relevant to youth (and other ages) in today's technologically saturated environment.  Timely and insightful, this information may open our sometimes-blind eyes to the trail we leave every time we take a digital step.

Digital Footprint: Watch Where You Step.

Dec. 2010. 21min. Learning Zone Express, DVD, $79.95. Grades 9-12. 
REVIEW.  First published February 18, 2011 (Booklist Online).

Your digital footprint (“data trace left by activity in a digital environment”) can affect your life in both positive and negative ways, according to this production, which explains how daily digital activities (including Internet, mobile phones, ATM machines, surveillance cameras, and more) are recorded. In an authoritative but nonpreachy manner, the principal narrator explains the concept of digital identity, talks about sexting and social networking, and offers advice about how to use technology in safe, productive ways. Intercutting the information are interviews with teenagers providing real-life examples of friends and others who experienced the consequences of posting embarrassing pictures online or inappropriate Facebook messages. Social-network privacy settings and picture tagging are discussed, as are ways social media is useful for highlighting accomplishments and developing professional networks. Several references to reactions from colleges or prospective employers make this production useful for older teens, but younger viewers and even adults will find the tips helpful.

— Lucinda Whitehurst

An Appeal

With daily updates on federal and state loss of funding for libraries, and updates from school districts across Texas, slashing teacher and library jobs and educational resources, it is a very sad time for libraries and education in Texas, and across the nation, I am sure.  Grassroots planning and appeals to policymakers and politicians are in dire need.  Here is one appeal to TLA members I received today, with helpful tools on making an appeal for maintenance of library funding simple and quick. I urge any supporters of education, library programs, literacy and cultural/intellectual protection to follow these steps to appeal to lawmakers to stop further cuts to important funding.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dear TLA Member,


We need your help. As you know, we are all in the fight of our lives to protect library funding.  At the state level, we are working on making legislators aware of the dramatic cuts in state funds for key library programs, such as TexShare, Loan Star Libraries, and the K-12 database programs. In addition to losing state funding, we are also poised to lose millions in federal funding, which would affect Library Systems and interlibrary loan (among others).

We need to make sure every state representative and senator receives thousands of messages from local constituents. We need librarians AND members of the public to contact elected officials. TLA has created numerous tools to make it easy and non-threatening for anyone to advocate for libraries. The tools are in place, BUT WE MUST HAVE YOUR HELP IN REACHING THE PUBLIC. Below, you will find a list of online tools and activities to undertake, as well as a draft message you can send out to your own network of supporters and friends.

Please continue to contact your state legislators throughout the session. Use the email link below to send your own messages and PLEASE help us spread the word!  It will take only a few minutes to send an email, sign the online petition, and join the Facebook cause (Save Texas Libraries). Contact your friends, personal networks, colleagues, students, faculty, local organizations, and any potential library supporters you can reach. The session is far from over, and we must continue our advocacy efforts.

I. TOOLS

Link (http://capwiz.com/ala/tx/issues/alert/?alertid=22992501&PROCESS=Take+Action) to ready text for emailing legislators.  You can use this link yourself and make it available to anyone else to send emails. It takes just a couple of minutes.

Sign the TLA online Petition (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/texas_libraries/). It takes just a couple of minutes at most.

TLA Advocacy website (http://www.txla.org/take-action) - has quick info and links for taking action and PDF files of issue papers and current budget information.

Help us make our message viral on social media:
  · TLA’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/TexasLibraryAssociation. Link to us from your personal page, your library’s page, and your other Facebook pages. Here is a sample description to include:
“Texas Library Association  Take Action NOW!! Helps us protect funding for our state’s libraries. This link is set up to send an email to your legislators. Pass this link along to everyone and anyone to have them send an email to help restore library funding.”
  · Join the Save Texas Libraries Cause on Facebook and recruit others.

Updates on the legislative session are posted at: http://www.txla.org/texline-updates. 

PDFs of bookmarks and tent signs you can print and use are available online.

Talking Points at http://www.txla.org/local-talking-points.

II. SAMPLE MESSAGE to Email Out to Friends, Colleagues, and Networks

Dear Friends,

I am contacting you as a passionate supporter of libraries. As you know, the proposed state budget eliminates many key educational programs. Statewide library programs have taken a particularly hard hit: all state funding for the direct aid program to community libraries was zeroed out as well as state funding for online resources for public, academic (higher education), and school libraries.
I am asking for your help to speak out for our state’s libraries.  Please contact state legislators and ask them to restore state funding to libraries. In just about five minutes, you can take three key actions.

1)      Email your state legislators. The Texas Library Association has an automated site with ready text for emailing that will get your message directly to your own individual elected officials. Go to TAKE ACTION.
2)      Add your name to the TLA online petition “Save Texas Libraries.”
3)      Spread the word and get others to email also. Share this message with other library supporters. You can also join the social media campaign to raise awareness.
·        TLA’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/TexasLibraryAssociation. Link to us from your personal page, your library’s page, and your friends and board groups  pages.
·        Join the Save Texas Libraries Cause on Facebook and recruit others.

Thank you so much for you passion and commitment to Texas, education, and libraries.

Sincerely,


Thank you for your commitment to Texas libraries!

Gloria Meraz
Director of Communications
Texas Library Association
3355 Bee Cave Road, Ste. 401
Austin, TX 78746
512/328-1518; 800/580-2852
(fax)512/328-8852
www.txla.org

In the News

Here are some interesting tidbits I received by way of ALA's American Libraries Direct.


March 11 - A woman jumped to her death from a 4th floor walking bridge inside Salt Lake's main branch.  It was the third public suicide at this location in the last five years.  Makes you wonder if the "Help Desk" staffers were out to lunch! Is the library plagued by a prodding poltergeist, or is there just something encouraging (or discouraging) in the layout of the library, that makes this building the suicidals' plummet of choice? Surely Salt Lake City has other monuments or structures 4 floors or more!


March 12 - An America's Most Wanted suspect was arrrested at the Pleasant Hill branch of the Dakota County Library in Hastings MN. He was found inside the library using a computer, after police located his car in the parking lot.  He is suspected in the 2008 murder of his girlfriend. And some people think libraries are boring!


Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport now offers an e-book library to awaiting travelers.  The "in transit e-library" offers over 400 Chinese and English titles, as well as 2,000 print titles. E-book readers and iPads are available, with ePub and Zinio format.  Although the e-books are not downloadable to patron passenger's own devices, the availablility of this service assists in alleviating traveler boredom while they wait through long layovers and delays.


"Old Fashioned Innovation" - This is absolutely one of the best uses of old equipment I have seen!  What wonderful, innovative people librarians can be!  http://www.district87.org/bjhs/ereader_cabinet.htm

Youth Appeal

New Super-Hero releases from Stone Arch Books will surely be popular with young readers, especially with the boom of Super-Hero movies and tie-ins in the last few years.  With the near-arrival of the Warner Brothers' Green Lantern movie (scheduled release in June), young readers may especially be excited about this title.  Stone Arch always provides good high/low offerings with colorful graphics and good quality.  I'm a fan of Stone Arch, and am looking forward to their new DC Comics Super-Hero series!



 
All the DC Super Hero adventures!

Will the Fastest Man Alive create a race for the library shelves? Will the Guardian of the Galaxy start an out-of-this world buzz about titles kids will be clamoring to check out?  Based on the response to our other DC Super Heroes chapter books, prepare for your circulation to blast off when you add the adventures of Flash and Green Lantern to your collection.  An exclusive bonus! Guardian of the Earth andShell Shocker have limited edition 3-D lenticular covers while supplies last!  Original stories from Stone Arch Books paired with the fantastic art and timeless appeal of DC Comics characters make these chapter books a must-purchase.

In Memoriam

I was saddened to recently hear of the passing of Brian Jacques.  Jacques was a longshoreman, long-haul trucker, merchant mariner, railway fireman, a boxer, bus driver, a British bobby and a milkman before creating stories such as those in his well-known imaginative Redwall series. The series involves courageous tales of quests, riddles and victories of animal residence of Redwall Abbey. Mr. Jacques died February 5th in Liverpool, at 71. The Liverpool newspapers reported that he died after emergency heart surgery. A Memorial Service will be held at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on the 4th March 2011 at 11.00am. This will be a celebration of his life and his achievements, supported by his family, friends and members of the public who wish to pay their respects. 

www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/arts/09jacques.html
Images from various sources; Google Images