2001                                                         2002

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Last updated May 31, 2002

Interested in Free Trial Subscriptions to the WALDO databases?  

May-June 2002

May-June News

Accessible Archives, produces on-line databases of PRIMARY SOURCE material from 18th & 19th century American Newspapers. These are massive databases consisting of more then 350 million key word searchable words from FULL TEXT SEARCHABLE DOCUMENTS. The database is now "FIVE TIMES THE SIZE OF BRITANNICA" growing at a rate of 20 million new words added annually. For a free trial, contact Janet Jamal at the School Library System office at (914) 345-8500 ext. 122 or jjamal@swboces.org .

Office Dynamics Inc. is offering a $250 award to one new member of the New York Library Association (NYLA), to help defray the cost of attending the NYLA Conference from October 23rd-26th in Buffalo, NY. A new member is defined as someone who has been a NYLA member for ten years or less and who is a current member of the New Members Round Table. The OFFICE DYNAMICS/NMRT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD is intended to encourage new members to participate in both NYLA as well as its New Members Round Table (NMRT).

To obtain an award application and/or for more information, contact:
Nomi Naeem
Adult Servies Librarian
Brooklyn Public Library
Eastern Parkway Branch
1044 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11213
Tel: (718) 953-4225
m.naeem@brooklynpubliclibrary.org

Applications must be postmarked by July 31st, 2002 and received by August 3rd, 2002. The winner will be announced on August 13th, 2002.

Click Here for a printable Office Dynamics application form: http://www.nyla.org/nmrt/odapplication.htm 

The Washington Irving ballots have been counted!  Thanks to all of you who participated.  With more than 4,000 votes cast, the winners in the following categories are:

[top May-June 2002]

Manhattanville College Announces New Course Offering

Past Into Present: 
Honoring Our American Historical Landscape Through Literature for Children and Young Adults

LIS 5446/EDU 5446 - 3 Credits

Instructor:    Karen Patricia Smith

Dates & Times:    Monday, June 24 - Friday, June 28  -   9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location:    Manhattanville College Library - Conference Room

For further information about the course, call Rhonna Goodman at (914) 323-5277
For registration, call the Registrar's Office at (914) 323-5337

The Palmer School of Long Island University offers a variety of courses in a condensed format over the summer on current topics in the library and information science field. The following courses will be offered at the Pace University, Pleasantville campus. (To view complete course descriptions, as well as the entire summer schedule, go to www.palmer.cwpost.liu.edu )

LIS 900P- Promoting Your Library
Westchester. M-F, August 12-16, 9:30-4:30
The goals of library promotion are to strengthen the place of the library in the community and to ensure support- philosophical, practical, and financial. This course will examine the principles and practices of promotion and communication in all types of libraries. It will include public relations, marketing, advertising, advocacy, and multiple forms of media.
Taught by Susan DiMattia, editor of "Library Hotline" and "Corporate Library Update", and Ernie DiMattia, President and CEO of the Ferguson Library (Stamford)

LIS 901G- Teaching in Libraries: Instructional Materials & Methods
Westchester. Tuesdays & Thursdays, July 2-25; and two Fridays, July 19 & 26; 6:00-9:00 pm
The main goal of this course is to provide students with the necessary background to teach effectively in any library setting, be it public, academic, school, or special. By the end of the course, students will have created an action plan that can be implemented immediately in response to an instructional need. Students not only leave the course with a theoretical foundation in the current approaches to user education, but also come away with a practical approach to implementing that theory.
Taught by Rebecca Albrecht, Coordinator of Library Instruction at Purchase College

For a registration brochure please send your name and address to:
Evangeline Booth
Program Director, Manhattan Campus
Palmer School of Library and Information Science
ebooth@liu.edu 
212-998-2680
or
Alison Dickey
Assistant Dean
Palmer School of Library and Information Science
adickey@liu.edu 
914-773-3384

In partnership with St. John's University, the Bilingual/ESL Technical Assistance Center (BETAC) has developed two graduate courses.  The Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program will be offering two graduate courses this summer in Westchester for educators who work with English Language Learners (ELLs) and are interested in ESL or Bilingual certification. Each course will be free of tuition cost contingent upon student enrollment. A $100.00 SJU registration fee will be required for each course.  Interested teachers should contact Dr. Roy Fernandez for additional information at (914) 345-8500 ext. 134 or via email at rc1fern@aol.com. 
View brochure

[top May-June 2002]

Literacy

School Library Call to Action

First Lady Plans School Library Meeting for Principals, Superintendents
As part of an ongoing effort to make libraries and education her focus as First Lady, Laura Bush plans to gather 175 principals, superintendents, and other school administrators for a meeting at the White House June 4 to talk about the value of school libraries. The half-day gathering will feature talks by Carnegie Corporation President Vartan Gregorian; Susan Neuman, assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education in the U.S. Department of Education; and Keith Curry Lance, director of library research service at the State Library and Adult Education Office of the Colorado Department of Education. Lance will present empirical evidence for the impact of good school libraries on student achievement.

Mrs. Bush wants to get the attention of education administrators, Institute of Museum and Library Services Director Robert Martin told American Libraries, and show them the kind of outcomes that are possible when librarians and teachers work together. IMLS is cooperating with the First Lady and the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries in planning the invitational meeting.

The American Association of School Librarians and LM_Net, the original listserv for LMS, have joined together to offer suggestions for heightening the awareness of this event. The following is the text from their Call to Action.

We need to do our part on the local level to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.

We urge you to do the following:

1. Schedule a formal meeting with your school principal to talk about the upcoming White House event. If you can't do this before the event, then do it afterwards.

The focus of the meeting should be on:

(1) the Information Power Mission--"to ensure that students are effective users of ideas and information."

(2) the roles and functions of the library media program:

    - learning and teaching

    - information access and delivery

    - program administration.

(3) vision and plans for the future.


We want you to emphasize the outputs of your program - the services and teaching that you do.

For example, Mike Eisenberg describes these outputs as

    - teacher of information and technology literacy

    - advocate for reading

    - manager of information resources, systems services

Describe the specific actions on how these are being carried out in your particular school.

2. Write an accompanying memo to the principal outlining the above with supporting evidence.

3. Send a one-page, 2-sided handout to teachers and parents describing the mission-functions-actions-vision-plans of the library and information program.

4. (optional but recommended) Convene a group of building-level teacher-librarians to meet with the district administration and do 1-2 above.

This is a unique opportunity to tell our story! Let's do it!

Tools to help you in your local efforts can be found at:

http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy   

http://www.ischool.washington.edu/lm_net  

*The American Association of School Librarians is a division of the American Library Association

School Library Materials Aid Consolidation

NYSED has received a number of calls regarding the SED proposal to consolidate School Library Materials Aid, Software Aid and Textbook Aid. The recently passed NYS Budget did NOT consolidate these aids. They remain the same as in previous years, i.e. library materials are $6 per pupil.

Recently we received word that the New York State Reading Association is supporting "New Century Libraries" legislation. Their memo of support will be posted on the www.nysl.nysed.gov website along with other letters of support and endorsements. Go to New Century Libraries section.

[top May-June 2002]

African American Children's Book Festival

Saturday, June 8, 2002 - Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Theodore D. Young Community Center
32 Manhattan Avenue, White Plains, NY

Meet Your Favorite Authors and Illustrators:  Earl Anderson, Toni Trent Parker, Diane Patrick, Sandra & Miles Pinkney, and Natasha Tarpley

Directions: From the Westchester County Center: Continue North on Tarrytown Road (Rte. 119).  Turn right on Manhattan Avenue (see Crossroads Shopping Center on left).  For more directions, call the Center at (914) 989-3600.  

Partial Proceeds will benefit the Theodore D. Young Community Center
Produced by Kids Cultural Books, Stamford, CT (sister organization to Black Books Galore!)

The English Resource Center, a nonprofit and non governmental organization (NGO), is located 500 miles east of Moscow on the Volga River in the city of Cheboksary. Established by a Peace Corps volunteer and Russian teachers of English language, it provides resources for the English speakers of the Chuvash Republic. Supported by dues from its membership, the English Resource Center is a multipurpose library with more than 1000 books, a small video collection for all ages, and five computers. Because there are few Russian sources of English language materials, the ERC is dependent on resources sent from English speaking countries. The list below enumerates the needs. If you can be of help, please contact by email julieburmeister@yahoo.com or by telephone 631-537-0832.

I)  Reference
    Dictionaries
    Lexicon
    Biography: authors
    Thesaurus
    Science: health, medicines, addictive drugs
    Quotations
    Idioms, expressions, slang

    Concise Encyclopedias
    History: US, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe,
    Central and South America
    Music
    Art
    Sports
    Film and Theater
    Religions
    World cultures
    Law: history, terms, institutions

II)  Literature: award winning ( unedited, unadapted, and unabridged)
    Fiction and Nonfiction
    Young Adult
    Adult: post World War II
    Poetry and Plays

III) ESL Methodologies with literature as a focus
    Russians have learned languages by studying grammar texts because they have had very little access to English literature, especially modern literature.

IV) Science Periodicals within in the last two years

"Your Vacation Memories Will Last A Lifetime..." A map issued by the New York State Canal System describes travel destinations from Tonawanda to Whitehall along the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca canals. The total length of 524 miles offers family fun in beautiful settings. Boat or fish on the water; bike, hike, or picnic at the locks; visit museums, the quarry, or the wildlife refuge nearby. The canals are fully operational from early May through early November. The NYS Canal System opens May 6 for the 2002 season.

This is a NYS paper-document depository item. Copies are available free from the New York State Canal System by calling 1-800-4CANAL4 (1-800-422-6254). General information can be found at http://www.canals.state.ny.us .

This notice is one in a series of regular announcements that the New York State Library is posting to improve access to New York State government information. 

[top May-June 2002]

The summer reading program manual is available at: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/summer/  Click on the link for the summer reading program manual. At the bottom of the page is a link to last year's "2001: A Reading Odyssey" manual as well.

In recent years, the Internet has become an increasingly important resource for consumer health and mental health information. With support from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI) in Orangeburg, New York has developed a new on-line publication entitled Mental Health Resources on the Web for Families. The brief reference guide is intended to introduce family members of persons with serious mental illnesses to the Internet and to provide them with an annotated listing of key mental health sites.

The publication is available for free download, either at the NKI web site at http://www.rfmh.org/nki/mhguide.pdf or by accessing the OMH web site at http://www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/resources/ .

[top May-June 2002]

Highlights from the May 15, 2002 - No.10 Technology & Learning and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).

[top May-June 2002]   [2001-2002]

April 2002

April News

(Please note change of location for April 10th)

The School Library System is sponsoring two all-day workshops as a follow-up to our publication, The K – 12 Library Information Literacy Workbook. These workshops will focus on using this curriculum with teachers in the implementation of the New York State Learning Standards. The March 1st workshop was held at Southern Westchester BOCES School Library System, 2 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, New York from 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.  The April 10th workshop will be held at Southern Westchester BOCES in Valhalla (directions)  - from 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.  

March 1, 2002 – Dr. Ruth Greenblatt presented strategies and examples for bringing our document to life. If we are to enhance our presence within the school, we need to be able to work with administrators and faculty. Action plans were developed by participants to accomplish this goal.  The bottom line is student success.

April 10, 2002 – Pam Berger has developed interactive Web tours to help educators learn strategies to successfully integrate the Internet into the curriculum. Technology greatly influences the way in which librarians facilitate student learning. Ms. Berger will present strategies that will enhance our curriculum and engage students as active learners.

The cost for the series is $ 45.00.

Please contact Janet Jamal regarding your attendance by: telephone 345-8500, ext. 122; fax 592-4438; or e-mail jjamal@swboces.org.

ReadAloud posters for 2002 in Chinese, English and Spanish are provided, designed and produced as a public service to the libraries of New York State by SIRS Publishing, Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida, a Corporate Partner of the Great New York ReadAloud.

Idea Sheets with tips on how to host a ReadAloud are available on the New York State Library's website at: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/readaloud/racover.htm.  If you would like printed copies of the Idea Sheets, or have questions about the ReadAloud, please contact Tiffany H. Allen, Statewide ReadAloud Coordinator at the New York State Library, (518) 486-4863 or via e-mail tallen@mail.nysed.gov.

On Wednesday, April 3rd, the Reference Committee of Westchester Library Association will hold its 2nd Annual Reference Roundtable at the Pleasantville Campus of Pace University.   

The program will specifically focus on what search engines you can use when Google doesn't deliver and "sites about sites," an examination of websites, e-mail, newsletters, and print sources currently available to librarians.  This is an opportunity to hear your fellow librarians share first-hand knowledge of current relevant search strategies.  The meeting will begin as 12:30 pm.  Feel free to bring your lunch.  Coffee and tea will be available at the meeting.  

For more information and to let us know you plan to attend, contact Noreen McGuire at nmcguire@pace.edu.

(from Westchester Library Association Newsletter - Spring 2002)

National Library Week will be observed April 14-20, 2002 with the theme @ your library.  More information about National Library Week is posted at http://www.ala.org/pio/nlw/nlw2002/intro.html.  

Many school library media programs also celebrate the month of April as School Library Media Month.  More information about School Library Media Month is posted at http://www.ala.org/aasl/slmmonth.html.

Thursday, April 25, 2002 at 10:00 a.m.
White Plains Public Library

A panel of four Waldo librarians (Judith Liebman from Mercy College, Gloria Meisel from Westchester Community College, Brian Mikesel from St. John's, Paula Moskowitz from Manhattanville) and the directors of the Westchester Library System libraries, will discuss collaborative ideas on providing improved services to their constituents.  Refreshements will be served.

On Thursday, April 25th at 9:30 am, Westchester Library Association members have been invited to tour the newly-renovated Harold L. Drimmer Library and Learning Resource Center at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, New York.  Doubled in size and equipped with hundreds of new computers, this 108,000-square-foot building features dramatic open spaces, large windows, and state-of-the-art information and research facilities.  

The new library also includes a cutting-edge media theater, two computer classrooms, and a spacious computer lab.  

For additional information and registration, contact Tracy Wright at 793-5055 or at tjwright@westchesterlibraries.org.

(from Westchester Library Association Newsletter - Spring 2002)

SLMS 2002 Conference

SLMS 2002, "Information Literacy @ Your Library" will take place May 2 - 4 at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye Brook, New York.  Co-hosted by SLMSSENY, this year's conference is packed with innovative and useful workshops, notable authors and keynotes, storytellers and vendors.  

For additional information and registration forms go to www.slmsseny.org or http://www.slms-nyla.org/ 

National Library Legislative Day

The 2002 National Library Legislative Day will be held on Tuesday, May 7 with a full day of briefing on Monday, May 6 at the Holiday Inn on the Hill in Washington, D.C.

It is crucial that librarians, trustees, and library supporters from every NY Congressional District meet with their elected officials to discuss issues of interest to every type of library. This year's issues include the reauthorization of LSTA, access to government information, telecommunications, and intellectual property. For information on these and other issues, visit the ALA Washington Office website at www.alawash.org.

To register, fill out the registration form.

The Holiday Inn on the Hill (800-638-1116) is making rooms available at the ALA rate. For additional hotels, check the Washington office website. Participants are expected to make appointments with their representatives and should coordinate with others who share these officials. When confirmed, please e-mail or send the appointment times to Mary Berman at the address below.

If you have any questions, please contact either of the NYS coordinators:

Mary Rinato Berman
Deputy Director
Westchester Library System
914-674-3600, extension 260
mberman@wlsmail.org 

Robert Bellinger
Associate Director, Staten Island Branches
NYPL
718-720-5766
rbellinger@nypl.org 

The SLMS 2002 Leadership Retreat will be held August 5 - 6 (6th - am only) at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.  The topic will be "School Library Ethics in the Digital Age" with presenter Doug Johnson, Director of Media and Technology for the Mankato Public Schools.  For further information please contact: Sara Johns  johns@northnet.org , 518-523-2474 ext. 139 or Christie Frost-Wendlowsky  cfrost@mail.sctboces.org , 607-739-3581 ext. 2703 or go to their website at http://www.slms-nyla.org/dates.html.

[top April 2002]

In support of their commitment to socially responsible corporate citizenship, following the completion of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Gateway is donating up to 4,500 computers.

Grant consideration is limited to eligible organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit entity, with priority given to schools and community centers whose programs help enhance access to technology for traditionally under-served communities.

These systems were supplied to the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for use during 2002 Olympic Winter Games to track official event results, statistics and standings for athletes, coaches, spectators, officials and the media. Any organization interested in being considered must complete an online application; faxed or written applications will not be accepted.

The application will be posted on the web site from April 2 to July 31, 2002. 

If you would like additional information about Gateway's Olympics PCs Donation Program, when it becomes available in April, Please visit http://www.gateway.com/olympics/donations.shtml 

The Westchester Library Association is reinstating its award for the best School Library/Public Library Cooperative Project.  This award will be presented at the Annual Conference in May beginning in 2003.  

This award recognizes those school and public librarians who have worked together to benefit children and young people.  

Why not consider describing your collaborative efforts?  This type of endeavor is limited only by your imagination.  The project should be undertaken between April 1, 2002 and March 30, 2003.  

All applications should be completed and returned not later than April 10, 2003 to:

        Tracy Wright
        Eastchester Public Library
        11 Oak Ridge Place
        Eastchester, NY  10709

Additional back-up material may be submitted with each application.  

If you have any questions, please contact your local public or school library system.  

The Intellectual Freedom Committee of NYLA is calling for nominations for the 18th annual Intellectual Freedom Award sponsored by NYLA and SIRS. Nominees can be individuals or groups in New York State who have met and resisted attempts at censorship or have otherwise furthered the cause of intellectual freedom.

Those submitting names for consideration for this award should provide the following information about the nominee:
-the duration of the nominee's support of intellectual freedom
-the incidents that are especially noteworthy
-support from local and state organizations, community members and others
-relevant supportive data such as newspaper articles, letters of commendation, etc.
-names, addresses and phone numbers of two people who will be contacted to provide evidence and support for this nomination

The winner of the 2002 Intellectual Freedom Award will receive a plaque and a uniquely-designed piece of jewelry. The chosen library will receive a plaque and a gift certificate for a SIRS product. This award will be presented at the NYLA Conference, in Buffalo, October 2002.

Forms can be obtained from the NYLA office and forwarded by June 15, 2002 to:
Ellen Rubin
29 Queen Anne Lane
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
845-221-0249

WHAT IS GIANT STEP?
Any library that takes small steps to rise above the ordinary is commendable, but when an institution beats all odds to achieve greatness, or does something so innovative as to fundamentally change its relationship with the community, that deserves special recognition. The Gale Group and School Library Journal have developed The Giant Step Award to honor the school library or public library that demonstrates the biggest improvement in serving children and/or young adults during the past three years.

$10,000 AWARD PLUS MORE
The Giant Step Award includes a $10,000 cash prize to the U.S. or Canadian library that has risen to provide exemplary services to young people. The winner is also granted a selection of Gale Group reference materials, a gala celebration, and a feature article in School Library Journal.

MAKE AN IMPRESSION
What have you done that has transformed your library and its presence with students? Have you bolstered program attendance beyond all odds? Demonstrated how your library impacts student learning? Helped integrate the library into the curriculum? We want to hear about your giant steps!

ACT TODAY
Giant Step Award nominations will be accepted from February 1 through May 31, 2002. The winner will be announced in September 2002.

Follow the entry guidelines below, or receive a printed copy by calling School Library Journal at 212-463-6759.

THE GIANT STEP APPLICATION PROCESS
Who is eligible?
U.S. and Canadian school library media centers (an individual library media center or entire district's library media services programs) and the youth services departments in U.S. and Canadian public libraries that partner with local schools (a single library/branch library or an entire library system).

Previous applicants may resubmit their application if the project meets the time frame.

What will judges look for in an award application?
Materials that prove significant advancements in your library that have most improved services to students in the last three years. What documentation should I provide?

Please provide six copies of the application form
http://a330.g.akamai.net/7/330/2540/12b6bc505aec38/slj.reviewsnews.com/contents/pdf/GiantStepApply2003.pdf , along with a thorough explanation of how your library has taken a giant step (there are four questions on the application form that will guide you).

Applications must be received by May 31, 2002.

Supportive information will be helpful to the judges. Feel free to include innovative projects from students, planning documents, annual reports, brochures, newsletters, statistical reports, testimonial letters, press clippings, videos, photos, Web site addresses, or printed Web site pages.

Who will judge the entries?
School Library Journal editors will prescreen applications. Five judges--two from school libraries, two from youth services departments in public libraries, and one Gale Group curriculum specialist--will recommend a winner. The judging committee may also schedule library visits to help in the decision-making process.

Note: School Library Journal and The Gale Group reserve the right not to give the award in a given year if a suitable winner is not found.

How will I know if my library has won?
The winning library will be contacted in mid-August.

The application can be accessed from SLJ's Web site, SLJ.com. For questions about the application, call Demetrius Watson, SLJ departmental secretary, School Library Journal, 212-463-6759.

[top April 2002]

Janet M. Welch, State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner of Libraries, announced that as of Tuesday, March 26, 2002, two new databases are available through NY State Library's EmpireLink /NOVEL Project. The two new databases are: Gale Group's Business & Company Resource Center and Infotrac Junior.

- Business & Company Resource Center contains 2,385 titles, 1,617 full text; 500,000 company profiles, Investext reports, Thomson financial Securities Data. Business & Company Resource Center meets core curriculum requirements for undergraduate and graduate case study work in finance, economics and marketing, and provides a wealth of information for anyone researching prospective employers. Whether your users are graduate students, business professionals or casual investors, this comprehensive database provides highly respected information sources.

- Infotrac Junior is designed especially for junior high and middle schools. It features the titles most critical to their libraries and the curriculum as identified by school librarians. Infotrac Junior Edition provides information back to 1995. Additionally, the databases include full text newspaper articles from the Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service and 300+ full color Rand McNally maps.

HOW TO REGISTER*:

a) If your library is a current subscriber to Gale's Health Reference Center database through NY State Library's EmpireLink project, your library does not need to register for the above two databases - your library will automatically be registered for the above two databases. When you log on using the URL for Gale's Health Reference Center, you will also have access to the above two databases.

b) If your library is a current subscriber to Gale's Health Reference Center database through NY State Library's EmpireLink project, but your library does not want access to one or either of the above Gale databases, please let us know by completing the information listed under the section "Current Subscribers" of the online registration form posted on NY State Library's website: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov./search_bank.html (Please note: there is an underscore between the word "search" and the word "bank").

c) If your library is NOT already registered to receive Gale's Health Reference Center database through NY State Library's EmpireLink project, and you want to receive one or both of the above databases, please contact Janet at the School Library System office at 345-8500, ext. 122 or jjamal@swboces.org.

TRAINING
There are plans to provide regional training sessions throughout the State within the next few months. As soon as training dates and sites have been confirmed, this information will be announced. Because it is so late in this academic and school year, training sessions will be scheduled early next fall as well.

Empirelink is a pilot project of the New York State Library that provides the people of New York State with free access to full-text online commercial databases through their libraries. It is funded though a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). It is the first step in the implementation of NOVEL the New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.

If you have any questions, please contact Janet at the School Library System office at 345-8500, ext. 122 or jjamal@swboces.org.

The New York State Library is pleased to announce that the contract for Dialog @ CARL database, offered through the EmpireLink project, has been extended for one year for the period April 1, 2002 - March 31, 2003.

The EmpireLink Project is supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to The New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

If you have any questions about this contract please contact Janet at the School Library System office at 345-8500, ext. 122 or jjamal@swboces.org.

[top April 2002]

The No Child Left Behind Act

The No Child Left Behind Act was signed by President Bush in January 2002. No Child Left Behind reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and establishes a revised framework for education areas such as assessment, accountability, teacher quality, reading, limited English proficient students, and State/local flexibility.

More information about NCLB - and its impact upon New York State policy, programs and schools - is available at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/deputy/nclb/nclb_home.htm.

[top April 2002]

Red Hook Middle School is using the Rosetel system for video conferencing. If you know of any middle school book clubs that have access to this system and are interested in "hooking up" please have them respond to Patricia Byrne directly at pbyrne@rhcsd.dcboces.org or 845 758-2241. 

http://www.SummerOncampus.com  is an online-only database-driven summer program directory, especially geared for NY middle and high students: It provides descriptions, contact information and active email and website links for hundreds of (day & residential) Arts, Sports, and Academic summer camp programs for kids 8-18 on college campuses throughout New York State.

Renee Benson, Managing Director, Mental Health Association in New York State is asking school and public libraries statewide to help observe Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, May 5th - 11th. The purpose of this week (in the middle of May which is National Mental Health Month) is to disseminate information to communities about the needs of children and families who are affected by mental illness.

Participating Organizations

MHANYS, in collaboration with Families Together, a non-profit organization of and for families of children with special emotional, social, and behavioral needs, and VESID, the State Education Department's Office of Vocational and Educational Services to Individuals with Disabilities, want to raise public awareness about the growing number of children who are recognized as having emotional and behavioral disorders. These groups also hope to educate communities about the impact these disorders have on families.

To assist school libraries with materials and services for this population, MHANYS will provide free Children's Mental Health Week toolkits. By March 15 the items will be on-line and also available by telephone. Items will include press releases, public service announcement ideas, fact sheets on children's mental health, and suggested activities for community awareness.

For more information on the organizations discussed above:
    VESID: http://web.nysed.gov/vesid 
    MHANYS: www.mhanys.org 
    Families Together: www.ftnys.org 

Also the following may be of interest:
On-line Calendars (showing National Mental Health Month and many other mental health and general health month observations) www.medinfosource.com/resource/healthobserve.html and www.mhsource.com/advocacy/observe.html 

For additional information, please contact Cassandra B. Artale, Library Development Specialist I, New York State Library at 518/474-1479 or cartale@mail.nysed.gov.

[top April 2002]

[top April 2002]  [2001-2002]

March 2002

March News

For more information and to let us know you plan to attend, contact Noreen McGuire at nmcguire@pace.edu.

(from Westchester Library Association Newsletter - Spring 2002)

For additional information and registration, contact Tracy Wright at 793-5055 or at tjwright@westchesterlibraries.org.

(from Westchester Library Association Newsletter - Spring 2002)

The 2002 National Library Legislative Day will be held on Tuesday, May 7 with a full day of briefing on Monday, May 6 at the Holiday Inn on the Hill in Washington, D.C.

It is crucial that librarians, trustees, and library supporters from every NY Congressional District meet with their elected officials to discuss issues of interest to every type of library. This year's issues include the reauthorization of LSTA, access to government information, telecommunications, and intellectual property. For information on these and other issues, visit the ALA Washington Office website at www.alawash.org.

To register, fill out the registration form.
The Holiday Inn on the Hill (800-638-1116) is making rooms available at the ALA rate. For additional hotels, check the Washington office website. Participants are expected to make appointments with their representatives and should coordinate with others who share these officials. When confirmed, please e-mail or send the appointment times to Mary Berman at the address below.

If you have any questions, please contact either of the NYS coordinators:

Mary Rinato Berman
Deputy Director
Westchester Library System
914-674-3600, extension 260
mberman@wlsmail.org 

Robert Bellinger
Associate Director, Staten Island Branches
NYPL
718-720-5766
rbellinger@nypl.org 

The Intellectual Freedom Committee of NYLA is calling for nominations for the 18th annual Intellectual Freedom Award sponsored by NYLA and SIRS. Nominees can be individuals or groups in New York State who have met and resisted attempts at censorship or have otherwise furthered the cause of intellectual freedom.

Those submitting names for consideration for this award should provide the following information about the nominee:
-the duration of the nominee's support of intellectual freedom
-the incidents that are especially noteworthy
-support from local and state organizations, community members and others
-relevant supportive data such as newspaper articles, letters of commendation, etc.
-names, addresses and phone numbers of two people who will be contacted to provide evidence and support for this nomination

The winner of the 2002 Intellectual Freedom Award will receive a plaque and a uniquely-designed piece of jewelry. The chosen library will receive a plaque and a gift certificate for a SIRS product. This award will be presented at the NYLA Conference, in Buffalo, October 2002.

Forms can be obtained from the NYLA office and forwarded by June 15, 2002 to:
Ellen Rubin
29 Queen Anne Lane
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
845-221-0249

WHAT IS GIANT STEP?
Any library that takes small steps to rise above the ordinary is commendable, but when an institution beats all odds to achieve greatness, or does something so innovative as to fundamentally change its relationship with the community, that deserves special recognition. The Gale Group and School Library Journal have developed The Giant Step Award to honor the school library or public library that demonstrates the biggest improvement in serving children and/or young adults during the past three years.

$10,000 AWARD PLUS MORE
The Giant Step Award includes a $10,000 cash prize to the U.S. or Canadian library that has risen to provide exemplary services to young people. The Winner is also granted a selection of Gale Group reference materials, a gala celebration, and a feature article in School Library Journal.

MAKE AN IMPRESSION
What have you done that has transformed your library and its presence with students? Have you bolstered program attendance beyond all odds? Demonstrated how your library impacts student learning? Helped integrate the library into the curriculum? We want to hear about your giant steps!

ACT TODAY
Giant Step Award nominations will be accepted from February 1 through May 31, 2002. The winner will be announced in September 2002.

Follow the entry guidelines below, or receive a printed copy by calling School Library Journal at 212-463-6759.

THE GIANT STEP APPLICATION PROCESS
Who is eligible?
U.S. and Canadian school library media centers (an individual library media center or entire district's library media services programs) and the youth services departments in U.S. and Canadian public libraries that partner with local schools (a single library/branch library or an entire library system).

Previous applicants may resubmit their application if the project meets the time frame.

What will judges look for in an award application?
Materials that prove significant advancements in your library that have most improved services to students in the last three years. What documentation should I provide?

Please provide six copies of the application form
http://a330.g.akamai.net/7/330/2540/12b6bc505aec38/slj.reviewsnews.com/contents/pdf/GiantStepApply2003.pdf , along with a thorough explanation of how your library has taken a giant step (there are four questions on the application form that will guide you).

Applications must be received by May 31, 2002.

Supportive information will be helpful to the judges. Feel free to include innovative projects from students, planning documents, annual reports, brochures, newsletters, statistical reports, testimonial letters, press clippings, videos, photos, Web site addresses, or printed Web site pages.

Who will judge the entries?
School Library Journal editors will prescreen applications. Five judges--two from school libraries, two from youth services departments in public libraries, and one Gale Group curriculum specialist--will recommend a winner. The judging committee may also schedule library visits to help in the decision-making process.

Note: School Library Journal and The Gale Group reserve the right not to give the award in a given year if a suitable winner is not found.

How will I know if my library has won?
The winning library will be contacted in mid-August.

The application can be accessed from SLJ's Web site, SLJ.com. For questions about the application, call Demetrius Watson, SLJ departmental secretary, School Library Journal, 212-463-6759.

The Westchester Library Association is sponsoring a bus trip to Albany.  The bus will leave from the Marriott on White Plains Road (RTE. 119), Tarrytown, promptly at 8 a.m.  It will return at approximately 5:30 p.m.  The cost of the trip is $15.00.  For further information about the trip call Van Kozelka at 232-3508.  

Registration form for the WLA Library Legislation Day Trip on Tuesday, March 19, 2002.  

( Submitted by David Karre on behalf of the NYLA Legislative Committee )

NYLA Lobby Day

Invite your state legislators into your library to see what is happening. Look at the programming already on your calendar, and give your legislator's local office a choice of dates for a visit, also known as a photo opportunity. Every library in the state is providing services every day worthy of a visit.

While your legislator is in your library, use the time wisely to point out what is being provided with state funds, as well as what additional programs, resources and facilities would be provided if the New Century Libraries bill was passed and funded. Show him or her the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Thank them for their support to date, and tell them you will be waiting and watching for the additional funding needed now, more than ever, to help in the economic recovery of our state and to provide the informational and recreational needs of New Yorkers.

It is one goal of the NYLA Legislative Committee to have each State Senator and Assemblyperson in a local public, school, academic and/or special library. Each library staff can contribute to our success by offering these personal invitations. This is a great contribution to make to the library community.

The New York State Library is pleased to announce that the contract for Dialog @ CARL database, offered through the EmpireLink project, has been extended for one year for the period April 1, 2002 - March 31, 2003.

The EmpireLink Project is supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to The New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

If you have any questions about this contract or the EmpireLink Project, please contact Mary Elizabeth Jones, via e-mail. mjones@mail.nysed.org 

(Reprinted from ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 11, Number 2, February 4, 2002)

The Administration's FY2003 Budget was released today and includes increases of $13 million for library programs under the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Last year's funding was $207 million but included a large number of set-asides. The budget de-funds the set-asides from FY2002. The total for library programs would be set at $182 million. Also included would be $10 million under the National Leadership Grants program for library professional recruitment. Statistics gathered by Library Journal in May of 2000 show forty percent of the current library professionals are nearing retirement.

Emily Sheketoff, Executive Director of the American Library Association's Washington Office, expressed pleasure at the increase for library programs. 

Funding for school library materials, recently included in the reauthorized "Leave No Child Behind" ESEA reauthorization, would be set at $12 million, the same level as funding for FY2002. Unless funds for this program achieve a level over $100 million it does not become a block grant to all states but remains a competitive grant administered by the Department of Education.

"One of our legislative priorities this year will be to educate Congress on the importance of an increase of funding to make this money available to all states," said Sheketoff. "In order to have a real impact on young children's reading ability and life-long enjoyment, a big increase in funding will be necessary to update school library collections," she said. "Since the Administration's focus is on teaching children to read, what is available for them to read is of equal importance, and should be equally funded."

http://www.SummerOncampus.com  is an online-only database-driven summer program directory, especially geared for NY middle and high students: It provides descriptions, contact information and active email and website links for hundreds of (day & residential) ARTS, SPORTS, and ACADEMIC summer camp programs for kids 8-18 on college campuses throughout NEW YORK STATE.

Reading Is Fundamental: TVShow 306: "Older Students and Literacy". A program addressed to the Middle and High School Students. One of the Guests will be the 9th. grader Alejandro Gac-Artigas, a writer, a role model; author of "Yo, Alejandro: the story of a young Latino boy"(isbn:1-930-879-21-0) and "Off to Catch the Sun: Short Stories and Poems". (isbn: 1-930-879-28-8) To read reviews of Alejandro Gac-Artigas' books by the American Library Association, International Reading Association, Teachers, Students, etc., go to www.amazon.com  or www.bn.com 

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Exchange is an hour-long monthly television program designed to keep educators, librarians, and parents informed on the latest developments and trends in children's literacy. Each show profiles
exemplary literacy programs and volunteers, offers practical tips and strategies for educators and parents, and highlights great books to share with children.

This year, RIF is celebrating its 35th anniversary and the milestone of placing more than 200 million books in the hands and homes of children who need them most.

RIF serves children and families in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. off-shore territories in programs that operate in schools, libraries, community centers,etc. Today, thanks to public-private partnerships, RIF is the nation's largest children's and family literacy organization.

Call the RIFNet Access Hot Line at 1-800-590-0041 for more information. To find out where host sites and reception is available Go to http://www.rifnet.org/access_map.html RIFNet In Your Area and Click on your state

Tip to use Alejandro's books in the classroom:
Several schools are using Alejandro's books, "books written by a peer", as following: 
1.- they give the students a chapter to read
2.- they discuss the chapter in class 
3.- they ask the kids to write something similar based on their own personal experiences.

For additional information, please contact Cassandra B. Artale, Library Development Specialist I, New York State Library at 518/474-1479 or cartale@mail.nysed.gov.

[top March 2002]

This Current Awareness site from North Carolina provides monthly bibliographies of the most recent educational literature from an extensive collection of journals.  It also provides reviews of new journals and other materials, matching articles with education and technology topics, which are linked to short citations for the articles so educators can easily find the information on their topic of interest.  

http://landmark-project.com/ca/index.php3 

(from "The Gateway" Vol. 3, Issue 2 Monroe #1 BOCES)

PC OUTRANKS TV AS MOST IMPORTANT 20TH CENTURY INVENTION
Teens see television as the least important invention of the 20th Century. At least that's the opinion of the 500 teenagers who responded to a recent survey measuring American's perceptions about inventing and innovating.
Source: Lemelson-MIT Program http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/index02.html 

FUN AND LEARNING AT THE MEDIA LAB
The Media Lab at MIT is known as a place of great innovation. Researchers at the Media Lab believe that children lean by doing, so their collaborations with teachers and schools are often focused around having students design and build things themselves.
Source: Distance-Educator.Com http://www.distance-educator.com/dn/dn2.phtml?id=6189

NEW DIGITAL DIVIDE STUDY: A NATION ONLINE
The U.S. Department of Commerce released a new Digital Divide study, "A Nation Online: How Americans Are Expanding Their Use of the Internet." The report shows the rapidly growing use of new information technologies across all demographic groups and geographic regions. The study indicates that higher rates of growth in both computer and Internet use have been occurring among those groups with lower rates of use, such as those with lower income, with less education, from racial groups with low rates, or over 60 years of age. There is a wealth of information in the report, which can be found at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/dn/nationonline_020502.htm 

IRVING CALLS BUSH PLAN 'DIGITAL DISTORTION'
The Commerce Department report is not without critics. Larry Irving, former assistant secretary of commerce, helped draft previous version of the report. He thinks the optimistic tone of the report is being used to justify cutting support for the programs that helped make progress possible. "I would call this a digital distortion," Irving said. "Do you think these numbers would be where they are without public investment?" While it is true that traditionally unwired segments of the population are getting online in record numbers, they are still fall far behind the national average. See http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,50279,00.html for more detail.

ABANDONING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
The Bush Administration, in its FY 2003 budget, stripped over $100 million in public investments previously available for community technology grants and IT training programs. Last week, the administration released "A Nation Online," the latest nationwide study on computer and Internet use in America. The report takes the position that the digital divide is no longer a major concern. Advocates for expanding Internet access and skills to all of America's citizens disagree strongly. The Benton Foundation, a long time advocate of public interest use of communications, has accused the Bush White House of "abandoning" the national strategy to bridge the digital divide. See http://www.benton.org/press/2002/pr0211.html for more detail.

AN INTERNET CONTENT PLAN
Newton N. Minow, former head of the Federal Communications Commission, and Lawrence K. Grossman, former president of NBC News and PBS, have proposed to Congress that it use $18 billion from upcoming FCC auctions of radio spectrum to fund the digitization of educational material. The two advocate the formation of a Digital Opportunity Investment Trust [DO IT], which would be used to support efforts to get public domain materials from
universities, museums, and libraries onto the Internet. In a recent interview, the two told BusinessWeek that their plan could revolutionize K-12 formal education and lifelong learning."[The government is] spending $2 billion a year to connect every classroom to the Internet, but we spend virtually nothing on content," said Grossman. "So when they connect to the Internet, the uses of it for educational purposes are extremely limited. And certainly the training of teachers is virtually nonexistent." See http://biz.yahoo.com/bizwk/011208/z84e9yszp3yhcddzgaacsq_1.html 

SHARE YOUR STORY
The Internet's Impact on School Project (IISP) is a study that asks middle school and high school students about how they use the Internet for school, what they think about their experiences with the Internet for school, and what they might change about the way that the Internet is being used for school now and in the future. This project is being done by the American Institutes for Research and the Pew Internet & American Life Project (PIP). The project is currently seeking stories from middle and high school students on how they use the Internet for school. Additional information about the online data collection, rules for the submission, incentives for students participating in the contest, and the study itself can be found at http://www.air.org/yourstory

KIDSMART FOR INTERNET SAFETY
KidSmart is a new U.K. Internet safety education program run through schools, targeting not only pupils but teachers and parents as well. The KidSmart site, at www.kidsmart.org.uk, offers a range of free resources on Internet safety, aimed at helping parents, teachers and young people to stay safe online and get the most out of the Internet. Teachers can download lesson plans and worksheets to help them reinforce the key points of the KidSmart program. For parents, there are "Safe Surfing Tips" The information at this site nicely compliments CoSN's "Safeguarding the Wired Schoolhouse" initiative: http://www.safewiredschools.org 

MAKING AMERICAN TECHNOLOGICALLY LITERATE
The National Academies of Science have recently released a provocative report entitled "Technically Speaking: Why All Americans Need to Know More About Technology" ( http://www.nap.edu/books/0309082625/html/ ), The report
has strong recommendations that society, and schools in particular, are confusing technology competency with technology literacy.

A Report Card on Handheld Computing
Power, portability, price: handhelds are gaining momentum in schools. We ask pioneers in the field for the pros and cons. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2002/02/handheld.html 

Robots, The Next Generation . . .
Four exciting robotics packages challenge elementary, middle, and high school students with high-tech problem solving. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2002/02/robots.html 

Washington Wire: No Child Left Behind
We summarize the newest K-12 legislation, which gives a boost to disadvantaged students, reading, after-school programs, and public school choice-while holding schools strictly accountable.
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2002/02/washingtonwire.html

The Age of Exploration
This tour includes sites that provide general information about the Age of Exploration and sites with very specific orientations, such as biographies of explorers, the study of navigation, and cartography. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/explorwt.htm 

Want the best Web site for a topic? 
Search the Readers' Web Picks database for educators' web site recommendations. http://www.techlearning.com/content/reviews/articles/choice.html 

SITE FOR SORE EYES?
Need the best of the Web for teaching and learning? Check out Site of the Day every day - and take a look at the archives too. http://www.techlearning.com/content/outlook/webpicks/archive.html 

(From TechLearning News which is a bi-monthly update from Technology & Learning and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN))

[top March 2002]   [2001-2002]

February 2002

February News

Upcoming Events

Database Training

On Tuesday, February 5, 2002 at Southern Westchester BOCES in Tarrytown, there will be a Database Training.  The morning session will be a ProQuest Hands-on-Instruction and the afternoon session will be about ABC/CLIO Databases.  

For further information you can call Janet Jamal at 345-8500 ext. 122 or you can go to http://www2.lhric.org/libsys/calendar/database_workshop2.htm. 

Washington Irving Children's Book Choice Awards

Library Council Meeting

 Elementary and Middle/Secondary School Meeting

Library Information Skills Workbook: From Print to Practice

Children's Librarian/School Librarian Member Get-Together

Awards, Grants and Scholarships

SLMSSENY Awards

The Bea Griggs Memorial Incentive Grant funds programs that encourage young people to use libraries. Its goal is to recognize exemplary programs which enhance library services to children and young adults. The Scholarship Award provides financial incentive for education in the field of school library science. Its goal is to encourage and support a student who has chosen to pursue a career as a school library media specialist or a school library media specialist who is continuing education in the field.

Contact Joyce Zawistowski at 37 Rosaline Lane, Newburgh, NY 12550 (845) 564-9528 for an application 
or
download one from the SLMSSENY website www.slmsseny.org 

All award applications are due by February 15, 2002

Does Your School Need a Security System?

Library Public Relations Council Seeks PR "BESTS"

All libraries are invited to participate in two great competitions sponsored by the Library Public Relations Council for 2001 promotional pieces. The national contests recognize the best the country's libraries have to offer in promoting their services. 

The "L.PeRCy Awards" are given for excellence in library public relations. This competition honors outstanding achievement in seven categories: Annual Report; Library Service Brochure; Program Announcement (maximum size 8 ½ x 14); Materials/Book List; WWW Page (one page hard copy); Special Event/Project (one promotional tool that does not fit into any other category); and @your library ALA Campaign. The winning entries of the "L.PeRCy Awards" will be selected by a professional panel of judges on the basis of originality, visual impact, effectiveness and clarity of message. Competition winners will be notified by mail in May, 2002, and the Awards
Ceremony will be held at the American Library Association conference in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, June 17, 2002. 

All entries must have been produced in 2001. In each of the seven categories awards will be given in two divisions based on library budget and population served. Entries must be postmarked by February 28, 2002. 

Libraries should submit five copies of each entry to: "L.PeRCy" Susan Ferris, Greenwich Library, 101 W. Putnam Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830. One entry per category will be accepted. Please include the library's name, address, category, and size of population served, plus the name of the contact person and phone number. 

The second competition sponsored by LPRC is for "Share the Wealth Packets," also with a postmark deadline of February 28, 2002. There are no specific categories for this contest. Librarians are invited to select their best public relations pieces produced in 2001 and submit them for consideration. No posters or videos can be accepted due to size, shipping and duplicating problems. Packets of forty to fifty items judged "PR Bests" will be distributed to the L.P.R.C. membership next summer. A Certificate of Merit will be sent to each library that submits an entry chosen for the "Share the Wealth Packets." 

Libraries are invited to submit up to six entries in this competition. Send five copies of each item to: "Share the Wealth," Beth D. Weinstein, Director, Marketing and Communications, Brooklyn Public Library, Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238. Please include with each entry the library's name, address, and the name of the contact person with a phone number. If an item is selected, we will need 200 copies to include in the packets so please put aside that number.

For entry forms contact sferris@greenwichlibrary.org.

NYLA Lobby Day is set for Tuesday March 19, 2002. School Library Media Specialists and other librarians should travel to Albany to thank our elected officials for the library legislation and ask for funds to support our programs. We need to share our concerns and communicate our future needs. The state's categorical aid to school libraries rose from $2.00 to $6.00 per capita in the past few years. This was accomplished by encouraging our elected representatives to increase aid to the school libraries. This year's proposal by the Regents will consolidate library, textbook and software categorical aid. This is called Instructional Materials Aid and will be spent on instructional materials in response to students' educational needs. State representatives need to hear from you about this and other library initiatives presented in New Century Libraries legislative initiative.

Due to the state legislation that created school library systems, we are able to locate and share library resources. However, much work remains to be done if our students are to meet the learning standards and educational goals that we set. We need the resources proposed in the New Century Libraries initiative. NOVEL would make additional information databases available to our students and staff. New Century Libraries bills S3714/A7349 need to be passed.

If we want library resources to be available to users, if we want to advance our profession, and improve academic performance then we need to inform our elected officials of our situation. When does this happen? It happens on NYLA Lobby Day, March 19th. Who promotes our work and ideas? School library media specialists and others do by presenting our ideas to New York state representatives.

New York State needs to find solutions that will give our residents and students access to accurate, current, reliable and relative information to satisfy their needs. Ask your state elected officials to support the library legislative initiative. Join us in Albany on March 19th!

(The above information is from Arlene Weber Morales, representative on the NYLA Legislative Committee)

Advocacy Activity in preparation for NYLA Lobby Day

Make it your New Year's Resolution to invite your state legislators into your library in February to see what is happening, in preparation for New York Library Association Lobby Day on March 19. Look at the programming already on your calendar, and give your legislator's local office a choice of dates for a visit, also known as a photo opportunity. Every library in the state is providing services every day worthy of a visit.

While your legislator is in your library, use the time wisely to point out what is being provided with state funds, as well as what additional programs, resources and facilities would be provided if the New Century Libraries bill was passed and funded. Show him or her the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Thank them for their support to date, and tell them you will be waiting and watching for the additional funding needed now, more than ever, to help in the economic recovery of our state and to provide the informational and recreational needs of New Yorkers.

It is one goal of the NYLA Legislative Committee to have each State Senator and Assemblyperson in a local public, school, academic and/or special library before the NYLA advocates visit them in March. Each library staff can contribute to our success by offering these personal invitations. This is a great contribution to make to the library community, especially if you cannot travel to Albany later.

State Budget and Libraries

[top February 2002]

On December 18, conferees for the FY2002 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill (H.R. 3061) concluded their conference. Approval of the conference report by the House of Representatives and Senate followed. 

Included in the conference report for library programs under the Institute of Museum and Library Services was a total of 197.6 million. Both Houses had previously reported bills that listed library programs at $168 million, the President's requested level, but in conference a large number of earmarks were added. The conference report may be accessed on Thomas, under the House Rules Committee web site.

The new school library resources program, established under the recently reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act, approved by Congress and still to be signed by the President, would be funded by appropriators at $12.5 million. The Senate bill had set funding at $25 million, but the House bill had no funding for the account. In conference, appropriators sometimes reach agreement by splitting the difference, and that happened in many education line items. Because this will be a new program, the Department of Education will decide on guidelines and set up a process for grant applications. Notification for comments on guidelines will be published in the Federal Register. According to the new law, if funding goes over the $100 million level, the program will become a state formula grant. The conference report is available on THOMAS, under the House Education and the Workforce Committee web site.

(Note: A word of explanation is in order, since ESEA passed and quickly thereafter appropriators voted on their conference report. Authorization occurs every five to six years and sets the overall level for programs so when ESEA was reauthorized, the funding level for the school library resources program was set at $250 million for this year and *such sums* as may be stipulated for succeeding years. Appropriators decide how much of that amount to spend, either up to the limit or somewhere below the limit so appropriators chose for this year to spend $12.5 million for the school library resources program).

Courses

Regent Bowman has recently asked our assistance in helping him locate English Language Arts teachers in New York State middle and high schools who are using technology in the course of teaching English. On behalf of the National Research Center on English Learning and Achievement (CELA) we ask for your assistance. CELA is the only national research and development center funded by US Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) to conduct research dedicated to gaining the knowledge needed to improve students' English and literacy achievement in schools across America. As part of that mission, we are conducting a study of technology integration in middle school English Language Arts classrooms. Regent Bowman is interested in having a broad cross-section of uses identified and in learning of teachers who ask students to:

ß Use word processing
ß Develop power point presentations
ß Create web sites or home pages
ß Use technology for research projects, e.g. the Internet, subscription databases, CD ROM’s

If you have any questions, please visit the CELA website at http://cela.albany.edu, or contact Regent Bowman at
518-442-5032, or jebowman@albany.edu.

NYSL Telecommunications Seminar

On November 26th, the New York State Library, Division of Library Development held a seminar that focused on the New York Virtual Electronic Library (NOVEL) Initiative IV-enhance the availability of high-speed telecommunications for New York's libraries across all regions of the State. Approximately 40 people heard Hanford Thomas, Project Director, Statewide Wireless Network at NYS Office for Technology discuss the draft proposal for a statewide wireless network. While the immediate thrust of this proposal is directed at New York State agencies which are dealing with public health and safety issues, he invited libraries to comment on the proposal and to seek membership on the advisory council related to statewide wireless network issues. It will take approximately three to five years to build this network. Joseph O'Neill and Karen Prescott discussed the AT&T Internet Services State Contract and the various Internet service configurations that this contract provides.

Based on comments by the attendees, there appears to be a strong need for further seminars focusing on telecommunications issues. These include exploring ways to create a broadband network so that all NY libraries can provide equitable, reasonably priced access to electronic information resources, a discussion with various telecom providers on broadband telecommunications needs, and meetings with government agencies who could help libraries with cooperative telecommunications efforts locally and regionally. For more information on the Statewide Wireless Network proposal and the AT&T Internet Services contract, go to the New York State Library, Library Development web site  http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/library/novel/#initiatives. If you would like to have a part in NOVEL as we move forward, join NOVEL-L -- a forum for discussion of the NYS Library's NOVEL Initiative at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/library/novel/novel-l.htm.

Interesting Websites

New Century Libraries 'NOW MORE THAN EVER' Flier Accesible on Web

The NOW MORE THAN EVER flier for New Century Libraries can be accessed on the New Century Libraries web site at www.ncl.nysed.gov. Point to 'Important Links' and click on "Now More Than Ever".

The flier is also available as a Word document. To obtain an electronic copy of the file, send an email to Valerie Chevrette at the New York State Library at vchevret@mail.nysed.gov, or call 518/474-5961.

Other materials that can be accessed on the New Century Libraries web site include those from the Public Library Toolkit and those from the workshops sponsored by the New York State Library and Libraries For the Future.

TechLearning News

Awards of Excellence 2001
Winning software and Web sites that celebrate excellence and innovation. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/200112/awards.html 

Databases
Want information for a project or idea? Search the Educators' Outlook database for articles and Web Tours. http://www.techlearning.com/content/working/articles/search_w.html 

Site for Sore Eyes?
Need the best of the Web for teaching and learning? Check out Site of the Day every day - and take a look at the archives too. http://www.techlearning.com/content/outlook/webpicks/archive.html 

CoSN in the News
The December 2001 issue of Technology & Learning Magazine included a special insert on Internet Safety, based on CoSN's Safeguarding the Wired Schoolhouse initiative. Readers will find detailed information on complying with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and references to additional resources at the CoSN web site. http://www.cosn.org 

Technology Leadership Town Hall Meetings
CoSN is cosponsoring a series of free teleconferences on important policy and leadership issues. February's satellite Town Hall meeting will be on Copyright within Distance Learning. The teleconference will focus on the Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act and how it affects schools. TEACH extends the instructional broadcasting exemption from copyright infringement liability to distance learning. The broadcast is scheduled for February 7, 2002, 4:30-6:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Register online at http://www.serc.org 

From TechLearning News which is a bi-monthly update from Technology & Learning and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)

[top February 2002]   [2001-2002]

December 2001/January 2002

December/January News

At the request of our School Library Media Specialists we are compiling regional data for informational purposes only.  This information will be kept at the School Library System.  You can either print this document from the website or complete the hard copy attached to the Newsletter.  Please complete and return by either fax or mail to the School Library System no later than January 4, 2002.  The School Library System fax number is (914) 592-4438.  

AASL Awards for 2002

$51,000 in awards, grants and scholarships available from AASL in 2002

The deadline to apply for the 2002 awards, grants and scholarships offered by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is February 1, 2002, unless otherwise stated. Applications for many of the awards are available on their webpage http://www.ala.org/aasl/awards.html ; all are available from the AASL office. 

AASL Collaborative School Library Media Award 
The $2,500 award, sponsored by Sagebrush Corporation, recognizes and hopes to encourage collaboration and partnerships between school library media specialists and teachers in meeting educational goals outlined in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning through joint planning of a program, unit, or event in support of the curriculum and using media center resources. Applicants must be AASL personal members. 

AASL/Highsmith Research Grant 
The grant, up to $5,000 donated by Highsmith Inc., is awarded to conduct innovative research aimed at measuring and evaluating the impact of school library media programs on learning and education. Applicants must be AASL personal members. 

ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant
The grant, up to $1,750 donated by ABC-CLIO, is given to school library media associations that are AASL affiliates for planning and implementing leadership programs at the state, regional, or local levels. 

Distinguished School Administrators Award
The $2,000 award, donated by SIRS Mandarin, is given to a school administrator for developing an exemplary school library media program and making an outstanding and sustained contribution to advancing the role of the school library media center. Nominations must be made by AASL personal members. 

Distinguished Service Award
The $3,000 award, donated by Baker and Taylor, recognizes a librarian who has made an outstanding contribution to school librarianship and school library development. Nominations must be made by AASL personal members. 

Frances Henne Award
The $1,250 award, sponsored by the Greenwood Publishing Group, is given to a school library media specialist with five or fewer years in the profession to attend an AASL conference or ALA Annual Conference for the first time. Applicants must be AASL personal members. 

Information Technology Pathfinder Award
(formerly the Microcomputer in the Media Center Award)
The award, donated by the Follett Software Company, recognizes library media specialists for innovative approaches to information technology in the school library media center. The award, $1,000 to the school library media specialist and $500 to the library, is given in two categories -- elementary (K-6) and secondary (7-12). Applicants must be AASL personal members. 

Intellectual Freedom Award
The award, $2,000 to the recipient and $1,000 to the media center of the recipient's choice donated by SIRS Mandarin, recognizes a personal member of AASL who has upheld the principles of intellectual freedom. Applicants must be AASL personal members. 

National School Library Media Program of the YearAward
The award, $9,000 ($27,000 total) in three categories donated by Follett Library Resources, recognizes large and small school districts and a single school for exemplary school library media programs that are fully integrated into the school's curriculum.  Application deadline is January 4, 2002.

School Librarian's Workshop Scholarship
The scholarship, $3,000 donated by Jay W. Toor, president, Library Learning Resources, is awarded to a full-time student preparing to become a school library media specialist at the preschool, elementary, or secondary level. The recipient must pursue graduate level education in an ALA-accredited library school program or in a school library media program that meets the ALA curriculum guidelines for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The scholarship process is open from October 1 to
March 1. Application, instructions, and reference forms are available online during that time period. Application (which should be submitted online) and all materials must be received by March 1, 2002.

For more information or an application for any of these awards, contact:

AASL Awards Program
50 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
800-545-2433, ext. 4383
aasl@ala.org 

Paraprofessional of the Year Award

Library Journal Editors Seek Nominations for LJ Paraprofessional of the Year 2002

Library Related Courses

Graduate Credit Classes for Librarians and Teachers

Conversational Spanish for Educators

Interesting Websites

THE WHITE HOUSE released "The Freedom Timeline," a website that offers 5 stories, a quiz, and a teacher's
guide. The Timeline is designed to help children learn about liberty, democracy, and freedom.

The White House has announced other efforts for children, families, and schools in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. They are described below. Links to them are available at the "Helping Children Understand the Terrorist Attacks" website: http://www.ed.gov/inits/september11/index.html 

--------------------
The Freedom Timeline
--------------------
This Timeline spans 1777 to 1948 and includes stories about a Quaker woman who, in 1777, learned of a sneak attack at Valley Forge and warned General Washington's troops; how Harriet Tubman liberated 300 slaves through the Underground Railroad; France's gift to the U.S. -- the Statue of Liberty; how the March of Dimes contributed to a cure for polio and liberated Americans from the fear of this disease; and U.S. efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the people of war-torn Berlin in 1948 by dropping food from airplanes. The Timeline was added to the White House website for kids during Veterans Awareness Week (November 12-16, 2001) in hopes of extending opportunities to learn about liberty, democracy, and freedom throughout the year. http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/11-2001/11152001a.html 

----------------------------
Friendship Through Education
----------------------------
Secretary Paige has reported that the response to President Bush's call for schools and students to take part in the new "Friendship through Education" initiative to promote communication between U.S. students and students in predominantly Muslim countries has been strong and growing since it was announced on October 25. The initiative is led by a consortium that is expanding links between U.S. students and students in countries with Muslim populations. The initiative website has received more than half a million hits, and an estimated 350 schools in the U.S. are establishing relationships with schools throughout the world. "One of the best ways to combat terror," the Secretary said in a press release, "is to build strong and lasting relationships between American children and those from other countries and cultures, and Friendship through Education helps us do that. ... I'm delighted that so many schools here in the United States and abroad have responded to the president's call, and I encourage every school to get involved in this important and rewarding project." http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/11-2001/11162001.html 

------------------
Lessons of Liberty
------------------
On October 30, President Bush, Secretary of Education Rod Paige, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi kicked off "Lessons of Liberty," an initiative that encourages schools to invite veterans into classrooms. The idea is that by sharing their experiences with students, veterans can help students reflect upon the importance of the ideals of liberty, democracy, and freedom that America's veterans have defended for over 2 centuries. http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/10-2001/10302001.html 

The Alliance for a Media Literate America (AMLA) was founded this past June.  It serves as a place where people who work in media literacy can come together, exchange strategies, find support and resources, and share expertise.

Recent events have underscored what we already know — media education is a critical part of preparing citizens for the digital age. Your support of AMLA will go a long way right now. Check out their website http://www.AMLAinfo.org for membership information.

New Storytelling Listserv Info

A newsletter that provides quality articles, tips, stories and products for the speaker, trainer, teacher and storyteller. http://www.greatstoryteller.com/index.htm 

Subscription Instructions: Go to http://www.greatstoryteller.com/newsletter.htm and click on subscribe.

[top December 2001/January 2002]

TechLearning News

[top December 2001/January 2002]   [2001-2002]

November 2001

November News

[top November 2001]

NOW MORE THEN EVER: EDUCATION COMMISSIONER MILLS REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT 
TO "NEW CENTURY LIBRARIES" AT NYLA PRESENTATION

"Libraries are needed now more than ever, and we must sustain the effort we've begun," said Education Commissioner Richard P. Mills as he reaffirmed his commitment to "New Century Libraries" at the NYLA Conference. Mills was the featured speaker at a program addressing the future of "New Century Libraries" in Albany.

Commissioner Mills addressed a standing-room-only crowd as he recounted numerous emergency and support efforts by libraries across the state following the terrible events of September 11. Mills asserted that libraries are critical to New York's recovery from the crisis. "The business community is behind us," he said. "They see what libraries do as more important than ever to economic development."

Mills then pointed out that levels of library service currently available remain grossly uneven. Urging the library community to continue efforts to secure "New Century Libraries" funding, he encouraged members to accept invitations to speak on behalf of the measure. Mills commented, "There can be no turning back, no loss of nerve."

Mills referred to the Regents Commission on Library Services as the initiators of what has become a united effort within the library community to secure better support for all types of libraries. He said, "We set the Commission up as a group that could challenge our assumptions and move us in one direction. Now for the very first time, the family of libraries came together behind one idea and is moving in one direction."

The Commissioner thanked the library community for their "extraordinary effort" on behalf of "New Century Libraries." Lauding those who held meetings, wrote reports, and actively engaged in other advocacy efforts, Mills charged all to continue the hard work. "Those of you who've done that, do it again. Those of you who have not yet done it, get out there now," he said.

The Commissioner asserted his fierce commitment to realizing all aspects of "New Century Libraries" funding for all types of libraries. "To those who say 'which parts of New Century Libraries do you really want' I say, 'we're going to do all of this - we love all of our children.' "

Earlier in the NYLA conference, Mills had been presented with the Outstanding Advocate of Libraries Award. "I am very honored," he said. "But we need to press on." Urging the audience to "figure out where to put your shoulder to the wheel, and push with all your might," Mills said emphatically, " We need this now more than ever, and we're going to get it."

[top November 2001]

U.S. Government and Libraries

Invite a Veteran

From the U.S. Department of Education and the President of the United States:

President Bush asked schools to invite veterans into classrooms to speak during Veterans Week, which begins on Veterans Day, November 11, 2001. He announced this "national effort to bring together veterans and students all across America during the week of Veterans Day, to give our young examples of duty and courage at a time when both are sorely needed."

"November 11th is Veterans Day, and it also marks the 2-month anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Thousands of our men and women in uniform are overseas helping to secure our freedom & bring to justice those responsible for attacking America on September 11th. They are acting with the same courage and sense of purpose as the veterans we honor on Veterans Day."

To help us remember, the Lessons of Liberty website provides...

* activities schools & communities can use to observe Veterans Day http://www.va.gov/pubaff/celebam/acts4vd.htm

* a teacher's guide that includes statistics on America's wars, guidelines on how to display the flag, a history of Veterans Day, & more http://www.va.gov/vetsday/docs/vetkit01.pdf 

* 14 essays that discuss national symbols & customs such as the U.S. flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, taps, gun salutes, & the American Bald Eagle http://www.va.gov/pubaff/celebam/caindex.htm 

The website, the President's remarks, & the Department of Education (ED) press release are at

http://www.va.gov/Veteranedu 
http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/10-2001/wh-011030.html 
http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/10-2001/10302001.html 

Lessons of Liberty is a joint initiative of ED & the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Your Energy . . . Your Choice

A pamphlet prepared by the New York State Public Service Commission describes how to shop for electricity and natural gas. The PSC has opened the state's energy industry to competition, and in order to benefit from the competitive market, you may want to shop among service companies selling energy in New York.

Additional information is also available at http://www.dps.state.ny.us/EnergyCompetition.html .

[top November 2001]

Interesting Websites

Office of Homeland Security

http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland 

Multicultural Information

This list of websites might be helpful to those searching for multicultural information. 

The first two suggestions feature cultural and linguistic diversity:

http://www.tesol.org 
Teachers of Eng. to Speakers of Other Languages

http://www.cal.org 
Center for Appplied Linguistics

http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/multicultural 
Multicultural Pavilion from UVA *very thorough*

http://www.nameorg.org/resources1.htm 
Great links from Nat'l Association for Multicultural Ed.

http://www.crede.ucsc.edu 
Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence

http://www.harlemlive.org/main.html 

http://www.naacp.org 

http://www.hispaniconline.com 

http://www.princeton.edu/~mcbrown/display/faces.html 
Faces of Science: African-Americans in Science

http://www.nclr.org/policy/edu.html 
Nat'l Council of la Raza

http://www.nyu.edu/education/metrocenter/highlights.html 

DigiNews

RLG DigiNews is a bimonthly web-based newsletter intended to:
* Focus on issues of particular interest and value to managers of digital initiatives with a preservation component or rationale.
* Provide filtered guidance and pointers to relevant projects to improve our awareness of evolving practices in image conversion and digital preservation.
* Announce publications (in any form) that will help staff attain a deeper understanding of digital issues.

The October, 2001 issue of RLG DigiNews is now available at http://www.rlg.org/preserv/diginews  
-------------------------------------
The October 2001 issue, Volume 5, Number 5, includes:

Feature Articles:
Digital Object Library Products, by William Lund
Benchmarking Conversion Costs: A Report from the Making
of America IV Project, by Maria Bonn
Highlighted Web Site - American Family Immigration History Center
FAQ - Digital Paper

[top November 2001]

TechLearning News

A bi-monthly update brought to you by Technology & Learning and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).

November 1, 2001 - No. 25

Selected Articles

1. $1 Million for BellSouth Foundation's Power To Learn
2. Schools' ITFS Service Is Safe for Now
3. Television Can Be Good for You
4. Web-Based Technology Competency Assessments
5. Taking Lego One Block Beyond
6. New at TechLEARNING.com
7. CoSN News
---------------------------------------------------------

IN THE NEWS

$1 MILLION FOR BELLSOUTH FOUNDATION'S POWER TO LEARN
Four exemplary schools in the Southeast have been selected to receive $250,000 in technology grants, under a new BellSouth Foundation initiative called "Power to Learn." The goal is to investigate best practices in accelerating learning by integrating technology school-wide. Source: BellSouth Foundation http://www.bellsouthfoundation.org 

SCHOOLS' ITFS SERVICE IS SAFE FOR NOW
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided that the expansion of spectrum for wireless devices won't come at the expense of the school community. Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS), a distance learning technology, is safe, at least for now.  Source: FCC http://www.fcc.gov/3G 

WEB-BASED TECHNOLOGY COMPETENCY ASSESSMENTS
The California Technology Assistance Project's (CTAP) online interactive teacher-assessment portal, called CTAP2, will help the state assess its teachers' professional development needs and measure the results of efforts to train California teachers. Source: California Technology Assistance Project http://ctap2.iassessment.org 

TELEVISION CAN BE GOOD FOR YOU
Some types of television may actually be good for the viewer. A study from the Department of Human Ecology at the University of Texas supports the view that the effects of television viewing depend on program content and genre. Source: Science Daily http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/09/010924061623.htm 

TAKING LEGO ONE BLOCK BEYOND
A Lego hobbyist has created a Lego robot that can solve Rubik's Cube. The challenge lie in building a Lego robot precise enough to twist a cube accurately yet strong enough to do so without deforming itself. Source: The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/11/technology/circuits/11RUBI.html 

----------------------------------------------------

NEWS FROM COSN

USDE TO HOLD REGIONAL CONFERENCES
The U.S. Department of Education is hosting regional conferences for improving America's schools, based on President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" plan for comprehensive education reform. The three-day meetings are scheduled for Nov. 13-15 in Reno, NV and Dec. 17-19 in San Antonio, TX. Teachers, parents, school counselors, state & local education officials, federal program coordinators and others will attend. For more information on the conferences, visit. http://www.ncbe.gwu.edu/iasconferences 

----------------------------------------------------

NEW AT TECHLEARNING.COM

NEW FEATURE: PDQ - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT QUICKTIPS
You'll find the latest ideas to spruce up your professional development grab bag - from preparing materials to presenting effective workshops to anything and everything that anyone who helps others to use technology needs to know. http://www.techlearning.com/content/outlook/pdq 

READER-WRITTEN ARTICLES

* Calling the Space Station...Are You There?
A group of 9th graders voyaged into the seas of space -- and said hello to the International Space Station, all with low-tech ham radio equipment. Students watched the Station move into range and when it did, the students made contact and talked to the astronauts. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/spacesta.htm 

* Technology's Role in Creating the Shared-Learning Environment
Today students can learn from others via the Internet; they can learn with their teachers; they can teach their teachers; and they can learn at a distance with hundreds of other students. Within the school environment, shared learning allows for an exciting and rich experience for all involved. Read this discussion of how it happens. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/sheilag.htm 

* What is Technology Integration and Where Does it Happen?
People in the teaching profession have different views of what technology integration is because each person is in a different phase of the game and few understand how to play. In this article, you'll find out what one educator thinks it is and where it happens. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/adamgarr.htm 

T&L FEATURES

* In-Service: Posting Student Work on the Web
For the new-to-technology educator, ways to make Web publishing happen for you and your students. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/200110/inservice.html 

* Spotlight: Scanning on the Cheap
Thought you couldn't afford a quality scanner for your school? Think again. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/200110/spotlight.html 

DATABASES
Want information for a project or idea? Search the Educators' Outlook database for articles and Web Tours. http://www.techlearning.com/content/working/articles/search_w.html 

SITE FOR SORE EYES?
Need the best of the Web for teaching and learning? Check out Site of the Day every day - and take a look at the archives too. http://www.techlearning.com/content/outlook/webpicks/archive.html 

[top November 2001]   [2001-2002]

October 2001

October News

Elementary and Middle/Secondary School Meeting

The first get-together of the elementary and middle/secondary school librarians will be a joint meeting on Tuesday, October 23^rd at 3:00 P.M. at the Scarsdale High School Library. The program will focus on the American Memory Collection from the Library of Congress and its practical application to the K – 12 curriculum, especially in the area of DBQ’s. Phyllis Di Bianco, school library media specialist and Natalie Farina, high school English teacher from Scarsdale High School spent a week this past summer, as Fellows at the Library of Congress. They will share their experiences as well as providing lessons for curriculum integration. At the end of the presentation, there will be time for hands-on exploration. You are welcome to extend an invitation to an interested faculty member.

Please contact Janet Jamal at the School Library System regarding your attendance. (345-8500, ext. 122 or jjamal@swboces.org).

Proquest Professional Education Collection Access

Each participant in the School Library System will be receiving a free two-year online site license to the Proquest Professional Education Collection produced by bigchalk, Inc. This subscription includes remote access. It’s content is intended primarily for teachers and administrators. The cost for this service is being underwritten through Categorical Aid funding from New York State. Additional details regarding a hands-on workshop and local access will be distributed later in the month.

[top October 2001]

Sponsored by Southern Westchester BOCES School Library System
Presenter:  Faith Rogow, Ph.D., Insighters Educational Consulting
Friday October 19, 2001 at The Purchase College SUNY Library, Purchase, NY

Media literacy consists of a series of communication competencies, including the ability to ACCESS, ANALYZE, EVALUATE and COMMUNICATE information in a variety of forms including print and non-print messages. Interdisciplinary by nature, media literacy represents a necessary, inevitable and realistic response to the complex, ever-changing electronic environment and communication cornucopia that surrounds us.

To become a successful student, responsible citizen, productive worker, or competent and conscientious consumer, individuals need to develop expertise with the increasingly sophisticated information and entertainment media that address us on a multi-sensory level, affecting the way we think, feel and behave.

Today's information and entertainment technologies communicate to us through a powerful combination of words, images and sounds. As such we need to develop a wider set of literacy skills helping us to both comprehend the messages we receive, and to effectively utilize these tools to design and distribute our own messages. Being literate in a media age requires critical thinking skills which empower us as we make decisions, whether in the classroom, the living room, the workplace, the board room or the voting booth.

Classroom Training on Mandarin M3

This half-day M3 training is for librarians and staff who have been using M3. The training will be a review of M3 with questions. Some topics to be covered are:

• Group Editor
• Cataloging
• Circulation
• Reports
• OPAC
• Inventory

We ask that you please e-mail questions that you would like to be addressed to David Cook at davidc@sirs.com by October 26, 2001.

There will be two sessions of this training. You are welcome to attend either session. Please return the registration form or contact Janet Jamal regarding your attendance at 345-8500, ext. 122 or jjamal@swboces.org by October 26.

[top October 2001]

Curricula

New Irish Famine Curriculum

The new Irish Famine Curriculum stresses response to catastrophe. In the next several weeks school library media centers in every school building in New York State, public and private, will receive a copy of The Great Irish Famine Curriculum, to be available to teachers of all subjects, elementary and secondary. School Library System Directors have received a copy and have been asked to alert their members to this mailing. In addition, all superintendents and principals have received information on the distribution of the curriculum.

At first glance the curriculum appears to be about Irish history and the impact of the famine in Ireland. But a closer look reveals lessons that emphasize the importance of compassion for fellow human beings, the worldwide impact of catastrophic events, and local efforts that can provide relief for people who are suffering.

Although the curriculum is centered around the famine in Ireland in the 1840s, lessons in music, literature, economics, and other subject areas focus on understanding the messages of historic events and the importance of responding to crises in a humane way. The themes of the curriculum are particularly relevant during these unsettling times.

The Great Irish Famine Curriculum has been forwarded to school library media centers so that school library media specialists can make it available to all staff. It can be inserted into a three-ring binder and appropriate portions made available for teachers to copy specific units and accompanying handouts. Posters and color prints are included in the curriculum, as well as 150 lessons that are tied directly to the New York State Learning Standards and core curricula. 

The Curriculum has been developed to help teachers meet the provisions of a 1998 amendment to the Education Law that requires instruction about the mass starvation in Ireland 1845-1850 (Education Law § 801, Chapter 697). The Curriculum makes accessible to students in New York State the history of the Great Irish Famine in the context of Irish history and culture from a global perspective.  In addition, it is specifically designed to encourage the exploration of key concepts and develop essential skills outlined in the seven learning standards areas.  The curriculum includes exploration of social studies concepts such as history, culture, religion, economics, scarcity, democracy, citizenship, public policy and demographics, as well as issues in science and the environment.  It enables students to examine and understand the intersection of art, music and literature with science, culture and history.  

Additional copies are available from the State Education Department's Publications Sales Desk, Third Floor Education Building, Albany, NY 12234. The charge is $15.00 per copy, which includes shipping and handling costs. Checks and purchase orders (with an order form) can be used and should be payable to the State Education Department. For further information, please contact Mary Daley, State Education Department liaison to the curriculum (518) 474-8773; or mdaley@mail.nysed.gov 

Beyond Blame, a Reaction to the Terrorist Attack

Education Development Center (EDC) has produced a minicurriculum titled "Beyond Blame, a Reaction to the Terrorist Attack." See http://www.edc.org/spotlight/schools/beyondblame.htm. The materials focus on understanding concepts of Justice and are particularly focused on mitigating the hostile climate for nationalities who may be blamed or victimized by reactions. The lessons address: 1) What is Justice? What is the injustice here?; 2) Has the past been just?; 3) How can you prevent injustice? The materials are free and can be downloaded or obtained from EDC in hardcopy.

[top October 2001]

New York State EmpireLink

The Health Reference Center-Academic (HRC-A) database will continue to be offered through New York State Library's EmpireLink project. The renewed one-year contract covers the period of January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002. If funding is available, additional years are possible. 

Additional information may also be found at the New York State Library EmpireLink web site: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/library/emplink or the Help Desk at 1- 877-277-0250. Look for further information on all the EmpireLink databases in your mailing from the School Library System. 

[top October 2001]

Interesting Websites

"New Century Libraries" Web Site Makes Materials Easy To Access

New York State Consumer Guide to the Do Not Call Telemarketing Registry

The "New York State Consumer Guide to the Do Not Call Telemarketing Registry" was prepared by the New York State Consumer Protection Board. The "Do Not Call" Registry, which went into effect April 1, 2001, is intended to protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing sales calls. The Guide is a concise brochure which includes information on how to register, the terms of consumer enrollment, enforcement, exceptions, frequently asked questions, and a complaint checklist.

To obtain print copies of "New York State Consumer Guide to the Do Not Call Telemarketing Registry", contact the New York State Consumer Protection Board at:

1-800-697-1220 or 1-518-474-8583

The brochure is also available online at http://www.nynocall.com/guide.html. For further information or assistance on this or other consumer-related matters, contact the New York State Consumer Protection Board at 1-800-697-1220 or visit the CPB's Web site at: http://www.consumer.state.ny.us.

[top October 2001]

TechLearning News

A bi-monthly update brought to you by Technology & Learning and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).

September 15, 2001 - No. 22

Selected Articles

1. Arizona Funds a Statewide Educational ASP
2. Americans Divided on the Importance of Net Use for School
3. Census Bureau Counts Computers
4. New at TechLEARNING.com
5. CoSN News
---------------------------------------------------------

ARIZONA FUNDS A STATEWIDE EDUCATIONAL ASP
The Arizona School Facilities Board has signed a contract that will give every school in the state free Internet access to more than 250 software titles. The $27.9 million deal is the largest example to date of the application service provider (ASP) model. 
Source: Arizona School Facilities Board http://www.sfb.state.az.us/sfb/sfbpub 

AMERICANS DIVIDED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NET USE FOR SCHOOL
A recent Associated Press poll found that the American public is roughly evenly divided on the importance of students being able to use the Internet for schoolwork. About half said those surveyed said Internet skills are extremely/very important and the other half said they are somewhat important or not important at all.
Source: USAToday.com http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2001-08-20-internet-schools-poll.htm 


CENSUS BUREAU COUNTS COMPUTERS
Nine out of ten American children, ages 6 to 17 years, had access to a computer in 2000, with 4-in-5 using a computer at school and 2-in-3 with one at home, according to a Census Bureau report. Census figures showed that 54 million households, or 51%, had one or more computers in 2000, up from 42% in 1998.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-147.html 

----------------------------------------------------

NEW T&L FEATURES

* Web Animation: Learning in Motion
As the Latin animare means "to give life to," so can we give life to our curriculum and students' learning experiences through the use of animation. Here, we offer practical tips and guidelines as well as some thoughts on why this medium's time has come.
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/200109/animation.html 

* Weaving a Unified Web: One District's Solution
Fairfax County, Va. is pioneering standards for Web servers, tools, and technologies. Here's the why and how.
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/200109/weaving.html 

* Building from Within: Two Professional Development Models That Work
What do a small school of limited means and a large district with a big budget have in common? Both built successful technology training and support programs using in-house resources. Follow their lead for making technology professional development happen in your school.
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/200109/building.html 

NEW WEB TOURS

* Hispanic Heritage Month
These Web sites are starting points for exploring the diversity, history, and rich contributions of Hispanic peoples during Hispanic Heritage Month and anytime. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/hispanic.htm 

* Online Science Experiments
These experiment, project, and activity sites include objectives, illustrations, materials, procedures, and additional links. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/sciexper.htm 


TEACHER PREPARATION RESOURCES FROM GLEF
The George Lucas Educational Foundation has released new web content and a companion VHS cassette on Teacher Preparation, the latest in its Teaching in the Digital Age series. This collection of articles, resources, video documentaries, and interviews profiles exemplary programs providing new teachers with deep content knowledge, extensive field experience in the classroom, and skill with technology. More than 20 national experts and program representatives participated in interviews for the series. See http://www.glef.org/tphome.html for access to the full collection of resources.

GLOBALIZING THE CURRICULUM
The Longview and Copen Family Fund, are working with iEARN to explore how web based courses can assist teachers to integrate online project based learning into their classrooms and globalize their curriculum. Beginning October 1, 2001, iEARN will offer a series of curriculum specific online professional development workshops. Each eight-week course will bring US and international educators together to learn how to integrate online collaborative projects that meet local/state/national curriculum objectives into the classroom. To learn more about each course and enroll visit http://www.iearn.org/professional/online.html 

[top October 2001]   [2001-2002]

September 2001

Dealing With Trauma: Some Websites to Help Children and Their Adults

Welcome Back

Please contact Janet Jamal at the School Library System office regarding your attendance (345-8500, ext. 122 or jjamal@swboces.org).

[top September 2001]

Conferences

Here’s the website for the preliminary conference program and the button for registration information: http://www.nyla.org/office/conf00/prelim.htm

[top September 2001]

In Preparation for "November is New York History Month"

Check out their website at http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/historymonth/index.html. Posters will also be available.

E-mail: plord@mail.nysed.gov

Website: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/services.html

[top September 2001]

For a free trial go to http://library.cqpress.com The user ID is waldo. The Password is trycq (all lower case) The trial is good through 10/01/01.

To establish a 30 day free trial please contact Janet Jamal at the School Library System office (345-1500, ext. 122 or jjamal@swboces.org).

[top September 2001]

The report is on the Texas State Library web site at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/schlibsurvey/index.html

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/schlibsurvey/index.html.

To obtain print copies of Life Pass it On, call the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry at 1-877-752-3175 and follow the directions. The brochure is also available online at http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/donor/index.htm. Also available at the website is an online enrollment form and additional information.

[top September 2001]

The survey will be available from September 5, 2001 to September 26, 2001 at METRO's web site – http://www.metro.org/wbt. You are encouraged to visit METRO's web site during that time to complete the survey.

METRO will be experimenting with online learning this fall by offering "Decision-Making in Digitization," an online workshop facilitated by Ms. Jane Pearlmutter, Director of Continuing Education for the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Library and Information Studies. Ms. Pearlmutter conducts frequent workshops and online courses on issues and applications of new information technology. For more information about this class, please visit METRO's web site at www.metro.org, see the description in METRO's upcoming catalog or contact Susan Salomone at ssalomone@metro.org.

The Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO) is pleased to announce the availability of its Fall 2001 Professional Development Catalog on the METRO web site at: http://www.metro.org/pdfs/catalogfall2001.pdf.

Because the catalog is a .pdf file, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. Reader is available to download free of charge at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html.

[top September 2001]

The Center for Instructional Support and Technology at BOCES Southern Westchester has a new website – www.swboces.org/cist.

The BOCES School Library System website can still be accessed directly through http://www2.lhric.org/libsys.

The following website has a section on copyright – www.nysbmta.org.

http://www.manhattan.edu/library/opacs.html

http://www.manhattan.edu/library

Calling all teachers, technology coordinators, and administrators! Technology & Learning is now accepting entries for its 2001 Education Technology Leaders of the Year program (formerly the Teacher of the Year program). Our mission: to honor educators who have exhibited leadership, vision, and creativity in using technology to advance teaching and learning. Entry forms are available at http://www.techlearning.com/content/contest/toty/2001_cfe.html. Deadline: October 15th.

http://caret.iste.org

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

http://www.perry-lake.k12.oh.us/phs/Perritechweb/1.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/26/technology/circuits/26SADD.html

VOICE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES READING AND WRITING FOR DYSLEXIC USERS