Council Meeting Minutes 3/08

SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEM COUNCIL MEETING


Meeting Date: March 11, 2008 Minutes Taken By: Ann Voorhees


Members Present:
Mary Nellenback, Auburn
Susan Cutri, Cato-Meridian
Dessa Bergen, Jordan-Elbridge
Arlene Hertzog, Moravia
Rachel Lewis, Skaneateles
Dawn Sedorus, Southern Cayuga

Lori Willey, Union Springs
Jean Ferguson, Weedsport
Lisa Carr, Seymour Library

Ann Voorhees, SLS - CO BOCES



1. Introductions and Welcome: The SLS Council meeting commenced at 12:30 pm.

2. SCOOLS Catalog: The updates and maintenance of our SCOOLS catalog for 2007-2008 was paid for with funds from an LSTA grant. As part of our activity report, you will be asked to complete an online questionnaire concerning your satisfaction with and suggested improvements to the SCOOLS catalog. Please respond to the questionnaire – we welcome your comments.
The SLS Coordinators in our area will be meeting with Harry Chan and his staff on March 26th to discuss New Acquisitions Update Procedures, Union Catalog Deletions Procedures, Union Catalog Overlay Procedures, and an Overview of future developments concerning SCOOLS.

3. OPALS: We will have OPALS training with Dan Weeks on May 6th and May 7th. One day will feature an orientation for the new users who will be converting to OPALS this spring. The second day will offer updates and information for veteran users.

4. Database/CCD CoSER: The 2008-2009 Database Requests form has been sent to each Council member. Please return your completed database request forms to the SLS. The School Library Systems Association (SLSA) has arranged database trials and is negotiating statewide pricing for databases. Information about the various trials will be distributed through the SLS listserv.

5. AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner: A copy of the new standards was distributed along with a related article by Gail Dickinson. The SLMS Leadership retreat in August will feature a workshop discussing the new standards and how to implement the new standards into practice. This is a potential topic for our annual meeting in September. Please begin looking at the new standards and how they relate to current lesson plans and practices. The standards are located on the AASL page: http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/learningstandards/standards.cfm



6. NYS Summer Reading Program: The theme of the 2008 NYS Summer Reading Program is; Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library (Children), and Metamorphosis @ Your Library (Young Adults).
The SLS has a copy of the program outlines along with the activity sheets, puzzles and coloring sheets. You may borrow our copy or access http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/summer for further information.

The SLS has purchased and distributed Summer Reading posters to all our school libraries.

7. Advocacy: The Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES –SLS has granted permission for other School Library Systems to adapt their brochure “Powerful School Libraries Produce Powerful Learners” for advocacy in our schools. The SLS Council members have been asked to provide suggestions and guidance on the information, which could be added to this brochure to showcase our SLS and our individual schools. We will discuss this topic at our SLS Council meeting in May. Please contact your council members with suggestions and comments. We hope to have a brochure ready for September. The SLS has sent electronic copies of the brochures to all library media specialists. If you would like a hard copy –please contact the SLS.

8. National Poetry Month: The Academy of American Poets is sponsoring the first national Poem In Your Pocket Day! The idea is simple: select a poem you love during National Poetry Month then carry it with you to share with co-workers, family, and friends on April 17. You may locate program ideas for National Poetry Month, and also register to have a poem a day e-mailed to you during the month of April at the official website - http://www.poets.org/

9. School Library Media Program Evaluation: The rubric developed by Fran Roscello as a yearly review of school library programs may be located at: www.emsc.nysed.gov/nyc/Library/RubricsJan2004.doc The SLS utilizes this rubric with member libraries for self evaluation and for program development.

10. Other: The SLS has extra copies of the newest edition of Scholastic’s “School Libraries Work”. Please contact the SLS if you would like additional copies.





Dates to Remember:

April 2008
School Library Month
4/13 – 4/19 National Library Week

MAY 2008
5/1-5/3 SLMS – Tarrytown – Doubletree
5/6-5/7 OPALS Training
5/12-5/18 Children’s Book Week
5/13-517 International Reading Association Toronto
5/13 SLS Workshop – Web 2.0 Tools 8:00-11:30
5/13 SLS Council 12:30-3:00

JUNE 2008
6/13-6/16 Book Expo Toronto
6/19 SLS Dinner @ the Sunset
6/26-7/2 ALA Annual Conference Anaheim CA

AUGUST 2008
8/3-8/5 SLMS Leadership Retreat – Cornell University – Barbara Stripling & Gail Dickinson - AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner


DISTRICT REPORTS:

AUBURN: Mary Nellenback reported that the Auburn libraries are at full staffing (after 12 1/2 years) with Library Media Specialists and Aides in each building. The district has requested a Library program audit with SED.

CATO-MERIDIAN: Sue Cutri was pleased to report that the elementary library will be updated, and hopefully a LMS will be hired in the elementary school. The Middle school library has been weeded.

JORDAN-ELBRIDGE: Dessa Bergen reported that the district is thinking of adding another SLMS. Currently one LMS is shared by the two elementary schools. Dessa would like anyone who is currently involved in their school/district curriculum committees to please contact her about their involvement.

MORAVIA: Arlene Hertzog has also been weeding. She will send some weeded magazines to our troops overseas (a link to the site featuring this project will be sent to our SLS listserv). Arlene is promoting a “Battle of the Books” program. Her principal would like to challenge another school to participate in this program. If you are interested in participating please contact Arlene.

SKANEATELES: Rachel Lewis reported that the author Joseph Bruchac gave presentations the elementary and middle schools.

SOUTHERN CAYUGA: Dawn Sedorus will be presenting programs concerning OPALS and the BOCES Media Catalog at the Superintendent’s day. Dawn gives her art teacher discarded books to use in the students “altered books” art projects.

UNION SPRINGS: Lori Willey reported that Tim Green would be visiting their district on March 27th. Farmer Minor and his pig Daisy will present a program during April.

WEEDSPORT: Jean Ferguson reported that the Fulton LMS visited her libraries to gather information about OPALS. Tedd Arnold will present a program in the elementary school in April. The Weedsport Middle School is hosting a “Battle Of The Books” program.

SCRLC: Jean Currie will retire at the end of March. Jean has been a valuable asset to our Council – We all wish her well in her retirement.

Seymour Library: Lisa Carr reported that the library would host special events for students during the National TV Turnoff week beginning on April 21st. The library is now offering digital downloading of books (through the FLLS) – see the library webpage for further information.
Cayuga Reads has chosen “The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Walls for our 2008 fall program. A schedule of events – including an essay & poetry contest is being developed. Copies of this title are available at the library and through the SLS.

Meeting adjourned at 3:00 pm

Respectfully submitted, Ann Voorhees, School Library System Director

NOVELny Database Webinar

The New York State Library is pleased to announce that online training
sessions (“webinars”) for the EBSCO Publishing content included in
NOVELny, a pilot project for the Statewide Internet Library, will be
offered at no charge to all library types. These 45 minute sessions will
be conducted by EBSCO Publishing.
Webinars are scheduled for May 28 (Wednesday) at 3:30 PM,
and June 20 (Friday) at 1:30 PM.
These webinars offer librarians and library staff the opportunity to
learn about databases and database interfaces available for children,
young adults and adults as part of the NOVELny pilot project.
These sessions will preview the new EBSCOhost 2.0 features which will
debut this summer, which will be incorporated in the EBSCOhost databases
included in NOVELny.
Also highlighted will be NOVELny promotional materials available from
the NOVELny web site (http://www.novelnewyork.org) and free training and
support resources available from the EBSCOhost support site
(http://support.epnet.com), including resources specific to EBSCOhost
2.0.
Online registration for the webinars is available at:
http://www.novelnewyork.org/training.php
For more information about this webinar, contact David Fiske at the
State Library, Division of Library Development by calling 518-486-4857
or by email at dfiske@mail.nysed.gov.

School Library System Council Meeting Minutes

SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEM COUNCIL MEETING


Meeting Date: November 6, 2007 Minutes Taken By: Ann Voorhees


Members Present:
Mary Nellenback, Auburn
Susan Cutri, Cato-Meridian
Dessa Bergen, Jordan-Elbridge
Arlene Hertzog, Moravia
Diana Wendell, Port Byron


Lori Willey, Union Springs
Jean Ferguson, Weedsport
Jean Currie, SCRLC
Sheila B. Anderson, Seymour Library
Mary Kay Worth, Superintendent – Southern Cayuga

Ann Voorhees, SLS - CO BOCES



1. Introductions and Welcome: The SLS Council meeting commenced at 12:30 pm. Ann Voorhees welcomed all to the first meeting of the 2007-2008 school year.

2. SCOOLS Catalog: As you know, the SCOOLS catalog was updated this summer. Each district can now scope down to the district or building levels for searching. As with any new upgrade, some glitches were detected and corrected. The SCOOLS catalog now consists of 1.3 million titles, and 3.3 million holdings.
This current upgrade allows each school library system to add new titles/holdings to the SCOOLS catalog. This will enable participants to keep the catalog current. For the OPALS districts, the new records will be downloaded remotely and added to SCOOLS. The SLS will provide non-OPALS libraries with zip drives to enable these libraries to download records from their systems to be added into SCOOLS. The SCOOLS technicians are developing a program to enable us to do mass deletions once a year.
Many other BOCES regions are adopting the SCOOLS model. Eventually we hope to link with other BOCES regions union catalogs.
Remember to be responsible borrowers and lenders – check SCOOLS daily for ILL requests.

3. OPALS: The OPALS online newsletter has been sent to all. Remember to configure the OPALS desktop circulation jar used to circulate books offline. Also, make any changes to your calendars as needed. We will have an OPALS trainer from Montreal in the spring. Many have requested a User’s group meeting – the SLS will distribute dates & times. Six districts now participate in OPALS.


4. Database/CCD CoSER: You have been sent database previews as they become available. The 2008-2009 Database Requests form will be sent to each Council member by the end of November. Preliminary requests for services will be sent to your districts in December. Please return your completed database request forms ASAP after they are received. This year, databases purchases increased and two districts participated in CCD.

5. Future SLS Workshops: The January 15, 2008 morning workshop will feature a distance-learning program sponsored by the Library of Congress – with the topic being “How to navigate the LOC online programs, including the American Memory, etc. Topic suggestions for the March and May meetings included; website tools and designs, weeding, and ALA Graphics READ software training.
Kathleen O’Dean will present a full day workshop on middle school and young adult literature on March 31, 2008. This workshop is sponsored by the CO and TST BOCES SLSs and will be held at Wells College. All LMS, and teachers are welcome to attend.

6. NYS Summer Reading Program: The theme of the 2008 NYS Summer Reading Program is; Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library (Children), and Metamorphosis @ Your Library (Young Adults).
The SLS has a copy of the program outlines along with the activity sheets, puzzles and coloring sheets. You may borrow our copy or access http://www.summerreadingnys.org/ for further information.
The SLS will purchase Summer Reading posters for all libraries.

7. NYS Library Legislative Initiatives:
· A proposal to increase Library Materials aid from $6.25 to $10.00 per student.
· NOVEL will become state funded and become the Statewide InterNet LibrarY.
· $ 8 million for system aid to be made permanent.

8. Federal Legislation – The SKILLS ACT: The Skills Act is still in Committee. This Act, if passed, would require school districts, to the extent feasible, to ensure that every school within the district employs at least one state-certified school library media specialist in each school library; Establishes as a state goal that there be at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in every public school; Broadens the focus of training, professional development, and recruitment activities to include school library media specialists; Ensures that funds will serve elementary, middle, and high school students; and Requires books and materials to be appropriate for and engage the interest of students in all grade levels and students with special learning needs, including English language learners.




9. We The People:
· We the People Bookshelf: “Created Equal” is this year’s theme – applications to receive these titles may be located at www.ala.org/wethepeople
· Picturing America provides schools with collections of posters depicting works of American art and other resources. Applications available at
http://www.ala.org/ala/ppo/currentprograms/picturingamerica/picturingamerica.cfm

10. Smithsonian Museum: an interactive website featuring material which will be housed in the National Museum of African American History can be located at: http://nmaahc.si.edu

11. Other: The SLS has copies of “Who Needs A School Librarian? You Do!!” Please contact the SLS if you would like copies.
The SLS has purchased the “TeachingBooks.net” database for all districts.


Dates to Remember:

January 2008
1/11-1/16 ALA Mid-Winter Philadelphia
Evaluation Strategies”. In this distance learning program, join LOC staff to examine web sites and create evaluation criteria that make the World Wide Web the research tool 1/15 SLS Workshop – 8:00am-11: 30am “The Internet: Fact or Fiction; Web Site it can be. (1-hr interactive presentation; 2-hr hands-on-workshop).
1/15 SLS Council Meeting 12:30-3:00

March 2008
3/11 SLS Workshop 8:00-11:30
topic TBA
3/11 SLS Council 12:30-3:00
3/18 Legislative Day –Albany
3/31 Kathleen O’Dean (http://www.kathleenodean.com/) - Wells College 9:00am-3:00pm

April 2008
School Library Month
4/13 – 4/19 National Library Week

MAY 2008
5/1-5/3 SLMS – Tarrytown – Doubletree
5/12-5/18 Children’s Book Week
5/13-517 International Reading Association Toronto
5/13 SLS Workshop TBA 8:00-11:30
5/13 SLS Council 12:30-3:00

JUNE 2008
6/13-6/16 Book Expo Toronto
6/19 SLS Dinner @ the Sunset
6/26-7/2 ALA Annual Conference Anaheim CA

AUGUST 2008
SLMS Leadership Retreat – Cornell University


DISTRICT REPORTS:

AUBURN: Mary Nellenback reported that the Auburn libraries are at full staffing (after 12 years) with Library Media Specialists and Aides in each building. Tim Green will speak at West Middle School in November. Classroom sets of his book will be purchased. The K-3 library curriculum is structured so all students receive the same lessons during a specified time period. This ensures that students who move from one Auburn school to another do not miss any library lessons.

CATO-MERIDIAN: Susan Cutri reported that the high school Teen Read Week “Who Wants To be A Teen Week Millionaire” was very successful. The Middle School Library will be weeded this year.

JORDAN-ELBRIDGE: Dessa Bergen reported that they are hoping to add a LMS in her district.

MORAVIA: Arlene Hertzog reported that she and William Gillespie are settling in to their new positions.

PORT BYRON: Diana Wendell has added a Tech Tuesday program for school staff. A survey taken during Teen Read Week showed that students in her district choose books recommended by friends most frequently with their second choice as the result of library displays.

SOUTHERN CAYUGA: Mary Kay Worth, superintendent, reported that both school are now automated with OPALS. In October, the high school held a book character pumpkin-carving contest.

UNION SPRINGS: The elementary schools held a “Name That Title” contest. Farmer Minor and his pig Daisy will present a program In April as part of the “Read for Minutes” challenge.

WEEDSPORT: Jean Ferguson reported the Tim Green spoke to their Middle School students. His messages about learning and reading were great for Middle School students.

SCRLC: Jean Currie announced that she would be retiring at the end of March 2008. The SCRLC is embarking on a Regional “Tools Of History”. This project could include any archival materials owned by school libraries (yearbooks, etc.)
SCRLC will charter a bus for those attending ALA midwinter.
The SCRLC offices have moved across the street to 108 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca. SCRLC will hold an open house on November 28, 2007
The new offices contain a nice training room, which may be booked by SCRLC members.

SEYMOUR LIBRARY: Sheila B. Anderson reported that the Seymour library would be hosting a “Food For Fines’ program from November 15 – 30, 2007. Library patrons will be able to pay off their fines by donating non-perishable food items.


Meeting adjourned at 2:30 pm

Respectfully submitted, Ann Voorhees, School Library System Director

SCRLC - Library 2.0 Webinar Series

Greetings -
SCRLC is delighted to announce the first session of our Library 2.0 Webinar Series, Social Networking -- What Does it Mean for Libraries? If you have wanted to learn more about the social networking tools on the web, but find it hard to leave the library, this session is for you! You'll be able to learn about social networking tools, how libraries are using them, and how they may be used in the future at your own computer. You'll be able to ask questions and get answers during the session, and hear those asked by other participants. Complete details and registration information appear at the bottom of this message. Class size is limited and we anticipate a large response, so please register early to avoid disappointment.
SCRLC’s Library 2.0 Webinar Series is designed to introduce library staff members to Library 2.0 communications tools conveniently and inexpensively. The series has been underwritten by the SCRLC Annual Meeting Basket Raffle to minimize costs for participants. Individuals can register for individual sessions or participate in the complete series of five webinars.
Please help us to spread the word about this event to colleagues and co-workers who may be interested. Information about all SCRLC workshops and events is available on our website at http://www.lakenet.org/scrlc/calendar.html
Happy Holidays from all of the staff at SCRLC,
Nora Hardy
South Central Regional Library Council, Ithaca, NY************************
South Central Regional Library Council
Social Networking –
What Does it Mean for Libraries?
Library 2.0 Webinar Series

Date/Time:
Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 1:00 - 2:15 pm
Location:
At your computer! Participants need access to an Internet-connected computer and a telephone.
Instructors:
Linda Braun, Simmons College
Registration:
$5 SCRLC members; $10 non-members
Registration limited to the first 25 registrants.

The web is filled with social networks from Digg to MySpace. Libraries need to find out what social networking is all about and what its impact is on programs and services.

At the end of this webinar participants will understand:
§ What social networking is
§ What social networking tools are available
§ Why people of all ages – children, teens, and adults like to participate in online social networking.
§ How libraries are currently using social networking
§ What libraries may integrate in the future using social networking technologies

SCRLC’s Library 2.0 Webinar Series is designed to introduce library staff members to Library 2.0 communications tools conveniently and inexpensively. The series has been underwritten by the SCRLC Annual Meeting Basket Raffle to minimize costs for participants. Individuals can register for individual sessions or participate in the complete series of five webinars. Complete details and registration information are also available at http://www.lakenet.org/scrlc/calendar.html.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Social Networking – What Does it Mean for Libraries?
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Blogging for Libraries
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Selecting Blogging Software
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
RSS Feeds and Libraries
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Podcasting and Your Library


Instructor: Linda Braun is an adjunct faculty member at the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science, a columnist for VOYA, and has written several books on topics related to teens and technology. She has taught very successful webinars on Library 2.0 technology topics for other NY3Rs Councils.


************************************************************
South Central Regional Library CouncilSocial Networking, February 5, 2008Please email dcapalongo@lakenet.org, send or fax this form and payment by 1/22/08 to:SCRLC, Clinton Hall, 108 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca NY 14850 Telephone: 607-273-9106 Fax: 607-272-0740

Name ___________________________________________________________

Institution ________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________

Telephone (day) ___________________ Emergency* _____________________

Email Address ____________________________________________________
*Emergency phone (home or cell) will only be used for a last minute change or cancellation

REGISTRATION FEE:
________ $5 per person for SCRLC members, including staff from member public and school library systems
________ $10 per person for non-members

SERIES REGISTRATION (Deadline Feb. 5, 2008):
________ $20 per person for SCRLC members, including staff from member public and school library systems
________ $40 per person for non-members

AASL - Standards For The 21st-Century Learner

The AASL released this document at the AASL Convention in Reno Nevada. To access this document go to: http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards. I will also send hard copies of this document to all of you. The periodical "School Library Media Activities Monthly" is incorporating the standards reflected in this document to all the lesson plans presented in this publication.

SCOOLS Catalog

The SCOOLS catalog is being re-indexed. It should be up and running by Monday, September 10th.

Directions on how to search and request ILLs from the SCOOLS catalog are included below.

An Introduction to the New Scools ILL functionality;
for library ILL users

Getting there- A new URL

The New Scools ILL is ready. URL: http://www.scools.org

How to login to your library.

Use the URL above to connect your browser to the SCOOLS Union Catalog. Each user in the ILL database is connected to the particular library that they are associated with. In order to use the system for ILL you will need to switch to your own named library and then login. (This concept applies to the library catalog also and, in time, you will be allowed to import, export, and modify MARC records for your own member library, if you have the permissions.)

• Click the small blue Login link at the page's top right
• Use the drop down lists (UNION, SYSTEM, DISTRICT, and LIBRARY) to select the your Boces then school District then library.
• Login using the username and password (testpass) that you had in the previous system.

Searching

When you are logged into the SCOOLS Union database :

• The name of the library to which you login will appear in the upper left of the page.
  
• The first search tab will display results for your own library.
  
• The next tab will display results from all of the SCOOLS union or from any particular BOCES, or School District, or individual Library you select.

Scoping
Use the "Search Filter" (found next to the Search button) to select any of the SCOOLS BOCES , School Districts, or individual libraries that you wish.

• After scoping a location, the name of that location will appear above the search box.
• You may change your scoping location at any time. Most will wish to borrow from the nearest library so will set the location to their own district or BOCES as a beginning search.

Search

• After a search is made the resulting list of titles will include only the libraries that your scoping selection allowed.
• Click on the an item title to see an expanded view of the record.
  OR
• Click on the coded link in the rightmost column to go directly to the items found only at that site.
  
• When in the expanded display, the left side of the screen shows the BOCES, and District, and Library codes along with the Call Number and barcode of the items searched.
• Hover the mouse over any of the codes and the full name that the code represents will appear in a bubble-display.

Requesting an ILL

This portion of the new ILL system works much the same as the last version did. You will notice a refined interface and a few extra options. Also as you transact each item a history will be generated and sent along with each email.

WELCOME!!

Welcome to the School Library System Blog.

The latest School Library System and related library events will be posted here.