Library Links

"Content that might be of interest to Teacher-Librarians..."


7.11.13

Apprendre le français – Cours et exercices gratuits avec Bonjour de France

Un « cyber-magazine » éducatif gratuit
"Bonjour de France est un « cyber-magazine » éducatif gratuit contenant des exercices, des tests et des jeux pour apprendre le français ainsi que des fiches pédagogiques à l'attention des enseignants de français langue étrangère (FLE). À travers ses différentes pages, ce magazine se veut aussi un outil de promotion de la francophonie. De nouvelles rubriques interactives apparaîtront régulièrement afin que ce site soit pleinement un lieu de ressource et de partage."

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Books Of Remembrance

Consult the virtual version of the Books of Remembrance.
Spend some time in remembrance of those who fought for Canada. Read their names and in many cases, view their picture, their gravestone and read a short biography.

"The Books of Remembrance are kept in the Memorial Chamber located in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. Each day, a page in the Books of Remembrance is turned to commemorate those who gave their lives in service to Canada."

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"Order in the Library"

A flash game to teach shelving order

This flash based game is good for individual students who want to learn or refresh shelving skills. Use it with your library club members to remind them how Dewey works. You could also use this in a "Game Show" format with a whole class. The tutorial reviews shelving basics and the game lets you practice what you've learned.
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6.11.13

ArtBabble

A showcase high quality art-related video content
"ArtBabble is a website that showcases high quality art-related video content from more than 50 cultural institutions from around the world. ArtBabble is an energetic place to learn for everybody who loves and has an interest in art and particularly for educators who can use it as a way to support their classroom activities. ArtBabble brings art content from different places and perspectives together, easily accessed and found."

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Make It @ Your Library Launches Makerspace site

Interested in makerspace projects?
"In collaboration with Instructables.com and the American Library Association, Make It @ Your Library has introduced www.MakeItAtYourLibrary.org, a new website tailored to librarians interested in implementing makerspace projects in their libraries. Fully searchable, Make It @ Your Library connects users to projects, based on library-specific search criteria."

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25,000 Authors at Your Fingertips - NoveList

"Is your favourite author a tea-drinker?"
NoveList has added information about 25,000 authors, including nationality* (where an author has lived, or lives now), author cultural identity** (identity with, or membership in, a particular ethnic, national, or cultural group), author gender, and links to author websites. (Are they a dog person or a cat person? Did they go to college, and where did they go? Do they have a blog? Are they a tea-drinker or a coffee-drinker?) How do you find all of this information? In an author's record in NoveList, you'll see several tabs -- choose the tab called "More about this Author." You'll see the Author Characteristics information near the top, followed by website links. Some authors will also have notes providing even more information about them.

Example: Alice Munro

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5.11.13

Book Club Conversation Starter Questions from TableTopics

Launch fun and engaging conversations

Consider using (or creating your own) "table topic" cards to jumpstart book conversations:
When someone finds a really good book, they want to share it with their friends. And, after they've all read it, they want to talk about it. Our Book Club edition helps launch fun and engaging conversations about the books people love. These questions provide an easy way to explore things like the plot, the setting, the characters and so much more.

Sample questions (from the 135 total)

  • will this book be relevant 30 years from now
  • what one question would you like to ask the main character
  • what life lessons are found in this book and do you agree with them
  • which specific details created the setting for you
  • what alternative title would you give this book

Mrs. ReaderPants: Thematic Lists

Good review site for MS and YA lit.


"What are you in the mood for?" When my library kids come in and want a book recommendation, this is usually my first question. This is a listing of some of the (admittedly somewhat random) issues that have recently struck the fancy of my teen and preteen readers. All titles listed are middle grade or young adult fiction titles.

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Promoting your collection

Some ideas to create buzz!

Naomi Bates (TL in TX) offered great ideas on LM-Net to promote books in your collection. I've paraphrased some of her suggestions below. (I've also posted a link to her blog at the end of this post.)

  • Get out your dystopia....put it out, keep it out, display it.  HOT genre right now!
  • Pull some short sports reads for the boys who are reluctant borrowers. (Try pairing non-fiction & fiction books.)
  • Set up a data projector, AppleTV or whiteboard and project book trailers while kids are browsing.
  • Display books you've read. (And booktalk them!)
  • Look for "best friends".  Find a title that has TWO copies and shelf talk it. The friends may want to read the title together
More from Naomi on Bulletin Boards (monthly themes)

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Off-quoi? | OffQc | Quebec French Guide

Parler français comme un Québécois!
This site is a treasure trove of "québéc-isms" for teachers and students wanting to sound more Canadian when they speak French. Lots of examples of the language in natural settings and some videos too! (Be warned - not all posts are appropriate for school-aged students, so teachers will want to be selective and possibly "re- present" content rather than simply linking to it.)

Lots of extras to explore: such as,  Using "tu" to ask a question in Québec.

(Ça fait-tu du sens?)
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4.11.13

School LIbrary Impact in Infographic format = videos

School Libraries Impact Studies
Download this clear 1-page infographic that presents highlights from all of LRS's school library impact studies. (Scroll down for seven part video series, produced by Sean Lamborne, LRS Research Fellow, in November 2010 on School Library Impact.)

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What new technologies mean for storytelling - NYTimes.com

Writers tell us what new technologies mean to writing

LEE CHILD: "Technology has changed practically everything to do with "being a writer"

"The Internet has changed (and keeps changing) how we live today — how we find love, make money, communicate with and mislead one another. Writers in a variety of genres tell us what these new technologies mean for storytelling...."

Interesting multipaged, multi-authored article on tech and text.

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Open texts at SUNY

Free University level texts

"The Open SUNY Textbook program will publish 15 books this fall on subjects such as Anthropology, Business, Computer Science, Education, English, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Music Education, and Physics. Open SUNY Textbooks will be made available for download at www.opensuny.org. "

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Ideas for Using iPads for Digital Storytelling

Access a host of tools for digital creation

"If you own an iPad, you have access to a host of apps and tools for creating digital stories. Use them for creative expression, communicating information, entertaining, expressing comprehension, tutoring purposes, and much more. Here are just a few ideas:

•  a narrated slide-show story to demonstrate the understanding of new vocabulary.
•  a screencast (a recording of interactions on a computer or iPad display) to explain a complex scientific concept.
•  an audio or video interview of grandparents for a family history project.
•  a historical narrative using images and audio.
•  a first-person audio journal of a historical person.
•  explain a mathematical concept with a screencast.
•  audio podcast to practice reading and speaking in a foreign language.
•  a portfolio of work with personal narrative.
•  a character story or a personal journal with a musical soundtrack.

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Bookshelf · Digital Public Library of America

Browse the DPLA collection visually

"The DPLA bookshelf is an easy way to search DPLA's books, serials, and journals. The darker the shade of blue, the more relevant the results. Click on a spine for details and related images. Book thickness indicates the page count, and the horizontal length reflects the book's actual height."

Many materials are available in Full-text from associated institutions. See example below:
[LINK] to publications on "American Poetry".

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Young Adults and Children's Services Magazine

Digital versions of YAACS

"News, reviews, booklists, program ideas or descriptions, event or conference reports, felt story patterns, research you've been pursuing, or anything else of interest to children & teen specialists in BC libraries. "

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What Would Katniss Read?

Plot elements and Appeal factors for budding "tributes"
"This handy chart (created using PiktoChart)was developed by NoveList contributor Molly Wetta for the article "What Would Katniss Read?" appearing in the November/December issue of Kids & Books."

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Fly Through 17th Century London

A realistic animation of Tudor London

"Six students from De Montfort University have created a stellar 3D representation of 17th century London, as it existed before The Great Fire of 1666. The three-minute video provides a realistic animation of Tudor London, and particularly a section called Pudding Lane where the fire started. As Londonist notes, "Although most of the buildings are conjectural, the students used a realistic street pattern [taken from historical maps] and even included the hanging signs of genuine inns and businesses" mentioned in diaries from the period."

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