If you haven't already shown your support of school libraries across the nation please don't wait...do it now. Go to Molly Raphael, president of the American Library Associations page for an explanation and link to the petition if you are just hearing about this for the first time. Or go direct to the White House web page if you're ready to sign or have signed and want to check on the progress. At this posting there are 19,803 signatures but 5,197 more are still needed!  Talk to you friends, relatives and coworkers.
Let the nation know how much we value SCHOOL LIBRARIES by partici

So, perhaps you secondary folks have a little more time to be figuring out the best way to deliver digital content when it comes to books the students choose to read. You can read Tele-Read's  synopsis of a study just released by Bowker or you can read a longer article at a site called @PaidContent titled "New Stats: Kids Find E-Books ‘Fun And Cool,’ But Teens Are Still Reluctant," which goes has more statistics on both teens and younger readers.   One tidbit says "Respondents to an earlier 2011 survey said that only 37 percent of the children’s books in their houses were bought new, compared to 34 percent hand-me-downs, 17 percent given by others as gifts, and 9 percent borrowed from the library".  They then talk about the problem of handing down an ebook. Lots of other interesting and thought provoking data.                Katie                                              

Check out this Huffington Post article on school libraries and if you haven't already signed the petition to Ensure that Every child in America has access to an effective school library program, please take time to do that as well, either from the article or from this post! It looks like they're just over half way in getting enough signatures.        Katie

Thanks to Nicole Roohi and the AkASL Facebook Group for sharing this wonderful YouTube video parody of "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus".  I hope you not only enjoy it but that it gets your creative juices flowing.        Katie

_According to Prairie Home Companion guest Lynn Rogers, Jewel, a female black bear, is in labor and due to give birth within the next 24 hours.  Check it out on the web cam, installed in her den, at the North American Bear Center's web site. If you miss the big event check the other web cams. Don't miss the lesson plans at the site, too. Lots of science, some math and even poetry!!    The "bear facts" tab includes bear facts on grizzlies and polar bears too.   Librarians, also under the "bear facts" tab is a list of recommn                                                                                                                             Katie

Sign up now for Digital Learning Day 2.1.2012


Join them as they create a national awareness campaign to celebrate innovative teachers and instructional strategies. Technology has changed the way we do everything from grocery shopping, to listening to music, and reading books. It’s time to take action to leverage this potential with more innovative uses of technology in our nation's schools to ensure every student experiences personalized learning with great teaching.  Be sure to check out the map on this page to see what states and communities are already signed up to participate!

Here is a site to share in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.  For older students or adults wanting to know more about Dr. King, there is a wealth of information.              Katie

Besides being an award winning library blog this Read Aloud Tuesdays program sounds like a great idea. IF you're open during recess, and have time away from maintenance chores what a fun way to reinforce the love of reading. Having an entire half hour would allow for progress through a book. Only once a week would not tie up too much time. Check out the photo of the kids listening to her read!  And while you're there look at some of her other  pages, like "Look In The Baskets!"             Katie

_Joel Henriques has generously shared his Printable Toys with the public on his blog. He may think they're for preschoolers but I think lots of older children will enjoy adding some color and using them for a variety of creative activities. Maybe they'll even be inspired to design some of their own! I personally love the Travel Size Paris set and think you could pair this with books like How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World as well as Eloise and the Madeline series, Babar, The Invention of Hugo Cabret and The Inkdrinker series to name a few. You could extend the concept to a world wide display by adding his Sydney Opera House and then maybe having the students create some other notable landmarks.

Learn about a new program created initially in Europe last year and now being introduced in the United States. It is called World Book Night and involves thousands of volunteers giving away  20 books each to people in order to encourage reading. Think about signing up to be a "book giver" or if you are a librarian, think about signing up to be a "book pick-up library."        Katie