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


Showing posts with label advocacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label advocacy. Show all posts

20.10.11

ALA Toolkits - TL advocacy

Advocacy for Teacher-Librarians - by the American Library Assocoation

ALA Toolkits to help TLs advocate on a variety of issues:
  • Building Level Toolkit: NEW!
  • Crisis Toolkit
  • Instructional Classification Toolkit
  • Parent Outreach Toolkit
  • School Librarian's Role in Reading Toolkit  
  • School Library Program Health and Wellness Toolkit
  • @ your library Toolkit for School Library Programs
Each toolkit contains Powerpoints, Handouts, Strategies, Annotated Bibliography, Scenarios, Elevator Speeches, Self-Assessments and other materials.

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Fond memories of local libraries... CBC North by Northwest

Are libraries important to you?
"Poet, translator and Zen Buddhist teacher Peter Levitt, who lives on B.C.'s Salt Spring Island, believes passionately in the importance of libraries. He recently submitted a letter to North by Northwest explaining how libraries have changed his life." Aired on North by Northwest - CBC
Scroll down to listen to the audio link.

You can also read the many comments left by listeners.

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19.10.11

Education Reform and the SKILLs Act - TL advocacy

Twenty-First Century School Librarians and Their Impact on Career and College Readiness

It is interesting to see what our American colleagues are up to! See videos of these presentations.
"On October 17, 2011 AASL held a congressional briefing, "Education Reform and the SKILLs Act: An Analysis of Twenty-First Century School Librarians and Their Impact on Career and College Readiness."  Presented in conjunction with Representative Rush Holt (N.J.) and Senator Jack Reed (R.I.) the panel included:

  • Carl Harvey, school librarian, North Elementary School (Ind.), AASL president
  • Donna L. Haye, assistant superintendent, Atlantic City Public Schools (N.J.), an AASL Distinguished School Administrator
  • William A. Mayer, university librarian, American University (D.C.), international speaker and leader on the changing face of services in libraries
  • Kathy Mortimer, parent from Henrico County Public Schools (Va.) an AASL National School Library Program of the Year
  • Connie Williams, National Board Certified Teacher Librarian, Petaluma High School (Calif.), AASL legislative committee chair
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18.10.11

Bathroom guerilla - Panorama Field Trips

Take Your Kids on a Field Trip - Virtually

Nancy S. writes:
"Here's the first of my (Season 2) promotional posters for the staff bathroom mirrors.  I used ComicLife 2 to create it, taking info about some Panorama websites and 'jazzing' it up a bit with some ideas for classroom use."

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26.4.10

Superheroes in your Library

Here is a library promotion idea from Dawne Murray in Surrey.
(I added a few additional links and ideas.)

Superheroes in the library
or
"The Library League"
or
The League of Extraordinary Reading
or
The Super Reading Team
or
...

===========================
        
The campaign is entitled: "Superheroes in your Library"

Capitalize on the excitement around graphic novels!

        The accompanying slogan is:
        Reading brings you endless power! (or make up your own)

There would be a team of superheroes associated with the library;
Fiction Boy, Non-Fiction Girl and Reference Bot.
        
The students participate in developing the superheroes.  They could submit drawings for the design of the characters.  (The drawing aspect might engage students who perhaps would not normally participate in library events.)  In brainstorming sessions, create a list of powers or attributes for each character.  This leads into lessons reviewing differences between Fiction and Non-Fiction.  (Fiction Boy's powers might include: can list all the names of popular authors in the blink of an eye,  can name favourite picture book illustrators at lightening speed, creates amazing characters faster than anyone, brings imaginary creatures to life, etc. )

Students use ComicLife to produce a series of adventures and present them to younger kids.

Use the superhero images on bookmarks, notices and on the staff newsletter.  Draw up and paint large superhero mural sized posters.  (This art project could work as a collaborative unit for an intermediate teacher.) Start your campaign with a superhero themed day when students are invited to dress up as a superhero of their own choice or of their own design.

A graphic novel or superhero themed novel would be a great kickoff for a school-wide reading campaign. (see lists below)  


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Using comics in the classroom ( a mini-comic) created by Dawne.

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Some superhero books for kids:

Picture books:
Max, by Bob Graham
Superdog: The Heart of a Hero, by Caralyn and Mark Buehner
Superhero ABC, by Bob McLeod
Superhero, by Marc Tauss

  • Chapter books:
Babymouse: Our Hero! By Jennifer and Matthew Holm
Magic Pickle series, by Scott Morse
MAXimum Boy series, by Dan Greenberg
Melvin Beederman, Superhero series, by Greg Trine
Shredderman series, by Wendelin Van Draanen
The Adventures of Captain Underpants (and its many sequels), by Dav Pilkey


22.4.10

Bathroom guerrilla marketing

If you are trying to "sell" a resource, idea or library service to your staff, consider using Nancy's great suggestion and put up a "flyer" advertising the fact in the staff washroom, above the mirror or other prominent location. Your captive audience will be sure to get the message.

Eluminate session on Libraries and crisis!

School Library "Crisis" Seminar

Chris Harris - an administrator on the crisis in school library
Buffy Hamilton - librarian - blogger - "The Unquiet Librarian"
(View in Firefox or Internet Explorer - Safari won't load the Eluminate archived presentation properly)
"It's the most exciting time to be a teacher librarian. The opportunities for learning have never been more rich. The studies prove the value of the role of strong school libraries in student achievement. Yet, the pink slips are flying. Where do we go from here?"

Chris Harris:
His slides to support his presentation:

1. Cuts will happen
  • (money is tight everywhere)
  • (marketing rather than advocacy)
2. Don't be an easy target
  • (don't make it easy for decision makers to chop you!)
  • (do compelling work that makes you indispensable)
3. It's probably too late now
  • (we have to plan for the future..not rear-guard action for today.)
  • (this year's budget is already a done deal)
  • (communicate to your admin often, with high value, high interest info.)
4. Increased achievement
  • (help make this happen for students)
  • (show our 21st century skills and relevance)
Buffy Hamilton:

We will look at 5 “librarian Iifestyle changes” we can make as library professional to “express" and "flip on" our best qualities so that we can evolve and adapt to the changing landscape/environment to become more effective librarians, and consequently, library programs.

1. Make our practice/data transparent.
  • web-based mindmap of duties
  • flickr archive of projects
  • youtube of work you're doing
  • blogs
  • make teaching a priority
  • Embrace Instructional Leadership
2. Promote participatory culture
  • mobile computint
  • ereaders
  • re-think collection
  • coolective intelligence
3. Bulid your collaborative tribe

4. Tap into the wisdom of the crowd
  • ie webinars
5. Be an advocate for access, multiple literacies.

8.4.10

“What Does a Teacher Librarian Really Do? Ask a TL!”


Saw this video (see link below) posted on the "Wanderings" blog (http://wanderings.edublogs.org/)
A nice boost for the job of being a TL.



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29.3.10

A timely article from Jamie McKenzie

Why We Still Need Libraries and Librarians
By Jamie McKenzie, ©2010,


"Given the literacy and comprehension challenges facing schools in this decade — especially those presented by the new information landscape — we need libraries and librarians now more than ever."

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4.3.10

Gotta Keep Reading- video

Hello all,
Here's a great 5 minute "Gotta Keep Reading" video from Ocoee Middle School
Talk about promoting your program!!
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24.2.10

"How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All"

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Salon.com has an article/interview with Marilyn Johnson who recently published a book about librarianship:  "This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All,

The interview can be found at:

The Amazon link will let you read the first few pages:
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18.2.10

"You Are the Future of Libraries: No Pressure"


"You Are the Future of Libraries: No Pressure" by David Lankes
Path to the Future, a University of Maryland Libraries Speaker Series, College Park, MD.
Abstract: If libraries are obsolete in 10 years, it's your fault. It's my fault too. As Alan Kay once said "the best way to predict the future is to invent it." So since we are the people ultimately responsible for creating the future, we are the future of the library. Assume for a moment "they" are right ... you know, them. The ones who say that the Internet/ Mass Digitalization /Search Engines/ Wikipedia/Document Right Management/ Whatever is going to put libraries out of business. Assume that the stacks are bare, the coffee bars are empty, and the ivy is left to run riot over the columns. Is there still a library? If that strikes you as an odd question, let me ask you another one. Is the future of the library a question of stacks, coffee bars or ivy?