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
5/09/2008
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.
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.