This archive was originally posted at serrc.org/schoollibraries
November 18th – In This Issue…
“Palmer. Girl and School Bus on Rural Road.” ca. 1939 to 1959. Alaska Dept. of Education. ASL-MS146-10-86B-4
SAYL News in Brief
The Alaska Center for the Book Launches “Letters About Literature 2016”
Students in grades 4 through 12 are invited to enter Letters About Literature 2016, a national writing contest sponsored by Alaska Center for the Book and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in partnership with Target Stores. The contest deadlines are December 4, 2015, (Level 3) and January 11, 2016, (Levels 1 and 2). To enter, students must write a letter to an author—living or dead—explaining how his or her work changed their view of the world or themselves. The contest has three competition levels: Level 1 is open to students in grades 4 through 6; Level 2 is open to students in grades 7-8; and Level 3 is open to grades 9-12. See www.alaskacenterforthebook.org. Guidelines and teaching supplements are available for teachers, parents, or librarians at the site.
Alaska Resources Library Loans Education Kits
The Alaska Resources Library and Information Services on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus has been featured in several news outlets recently, particularly in regard to its renowned fur/skull/mount/education kit collections. ARLIS checks out these items to any patron who can reach ARLIS on the road system. As a practical matter, these items are unable to be mailed remotely via interlibrary loan, as they are fragile and much-requested locally. ARLIS works cooperatively with Alaska Department of Fish & Game and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to circulate these to the public. See http://www.adn.com/article/20150925/need-wolf-fur-puffin-pelt-all-you-need-library-card-and-visit-arlis-library
Presentation Discusses Resources for the Hour of Code Event
Claudia Haines of the Homer Public Library and Daniel Cornwall of the Alaska State Library hosted a presentation on resources for Hour of Code, a global computer coding education event held every December. Learn about this event and the resources to hold an event at your library by watching the archived webinar .
[The above from Information Exchange, Newsletter of the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development]
Ben’s Guide to the US Government
The Government Publishing Office recently revamped and updated their popular civics resource “Ben’s Guide to the US Government”.
Improvements include:
• A glossary that includes over 80 terms and definitions
• Downloadable, printable activities that include Word Searches and Crossword Puzzles for each age range
• A downloadable graphic that can be used on library websites to link to Ben’s Guide
As before, material on the site is broken down by age (4-8, 9-13, 14+)
Promoting Childhood Creativity through Libraries Resources
The California State Library, in partnership with Disney, developed a short guide for promoting children’s creativity in libraries—Resources for Promoting Childhood Creativity through Libraries.
Tackling Mental Health Through YA Lit [SLJ]
Scholarships, Grants, and Awards Opportunities
Closing November 30th – Capstone Interactive eBook Matching Grants. Double your Capstone ebook purchasing power. Minimum of $500 towards Capstone Interactive eBooks required by December 15th.
Closing December 1st – Frances Henne/YALSA/VOYA Grant Application. $1000 towards research project.
Closing December 1st – The Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced With Adversity. “$3,000 check + $1,000 travel, along with an odd, symbolic object from his private stash, and a certificate, which may or may not be suitable for framing.”
Closing December 14th — Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries. For first-time recipients. Staffed, designated, and established school libraries with at least 85% Free/Reduced Lunch are eligible. Up to $7,000.
Closing January 15th – AkLA has established a scholarship program to support the education of librarians by providing financial assistance to worthy students pursuing graduate studies in Library Science. Guidelines and application forms are available online.
Closing February 1st – AASL Awards season is open. Ten awards open to school libraries and related programs/faculty ranging from $1,250 to $10,000.
Closing March 1st – Pat Carterette Professional Development Grant. Up to $1,000 to attend a continuing education event in 2016-17.
Training and Continuing Education Opportunities
Opportunities not fitting your schedule? Many of these webinars will later be available as archives.
Thursday, November 19th, 8am – “Why Fit In When You Were Born to Stand Out?”: Programming Using eBook Biographies
Tuesday, December 1st, 10am – What We’re Reading for Spring 2016
Wednesday, December 2nd, 3pm – Remind for Libraries
Thursday, December 3rd, 10am – Trials and Tribulations: Handling Hard Topics for Youth
Thursday, December 3rd, 3pm – Reinventing the Library
[Additional and up-to-date Library Development Training and Continuing Education Calendar.]
As Seen on Alaska School Librarians Facebook
A roundup of resources shared and questions asked on the Alaska School Librarians Facebook group. This is intended to give readers the chance to access resources at work if Facebook is filtered. Only timely questions, announcements, and links to non-Facebook resources are listed here.
11/9 If you could have a mobile app for the AkLA conference, what would you want it to be able to do? I’m not saying we’re definitely gonna have one… but I’m trying…
11/10 Recycling old library books – I know that there was a poster session on a company that does this at the AkLA conference in 2014. Does anyone have the information? OR, a place in Anchorage (or the Valley) that takes books for recycling? Thanks!
11/10 Fun at our school last week. If Cindy Lou is scheduled for a visit to your school, lucky you!
11/10 Please share to your friends and family. For every share, PledgeCents will donate $1 toward our goal. And don’t forget to donate your $1. Every cent counts!
11/12 Way to represent, Laura Guest! [Turnagain students celebrate Alaska Native Indian Heritage Month]
11/12 At the bottom of this brief article is a link to a call an official page. Enter your contact information to get talking points and phone numbers for our state legislators. Of course, you can also go to the state’s website and look them up directly. Whatever you do, please take a moment to call. This legislation could help ensure funding for our school libraries.
11/15 [The House that Reading Built by Donalyn Miller]
11/16 [It’s Monday! Surviving Bear Island Brings Alaskan Wildlife to Readers.]
11/9 [Librarians! Who’s Ready for a Game of Library Bingo?]
Almanac
Today is High Five a Librarian Day! Be prepared.
November is Native American Heritage Month.
November is Picture Book Month
Saturday, November 21 is International Games Day
November 26th is Thanksgiving. Alaska State Library is closed
December 1st marks the sixtieth anniversary of Rosa Parks’ refusal to move to the back of the bus.
[su_frame]December 7th – 13th is the week to plan your Hour of Code Event. Tips: here and here.[/su_frame]
Something You’d Like to See in SAYL Mail?
To share news, success stories, resources, and opportunities, please contact Jared Shucha. The next issue is December 3rd.