Here is a great site you might want to add to your library web page(s). Science Fair Central has project ideas, timeline guides, parent resources and more. It would be great if our students could integrate video clips in their projects or just use them to learn about their chosen area of study.

If you haven't visited the professional development section of the Curriculum Department's webpage you may want to check out the offering for credit courses offered as s collaboration between Atomic Learning and IT4Educators. The classes include topics like Blogging for Teacing and Learning; Digital Storytelling in the Classroom; Google Docs in Education and Internet Resources for Educators.  You can find more information at the IT4Educators webpage.

is weeding out books that aren't circulating, especially now that it is getting harder to find ways to get these books to potential readers.  And what about those books that need to come out because they're obsolete and full of misinformation.....well, here is a way to give those books a new life!   http://www.recyclart.org/2010/09/library-information-desk/

Did you know that TeachingBooks.net now has a resource page on elementary level Series Books?  From "Artemis Fowl" to "The Zack File" each of the almost 50 entries has a link to an audio introduction by the author and then links to all of the other resources collected by TeachingBooks on the series.  This doesn't necessarily mean a comprehensive list of the series but does include resources  for teachers where titles tie into the curriculum, such as "Afternoon on the Amazon" in the Magic Tree House Series. Many of the series entries have links to webpages  created by the publisher for young readers. Check it out (after logging in ) at TeachingBooks.net in the FNSBSD Online Resources.

Did you know there are a number of items available at Library Media Services to support teaching the "constitution?" Go to Destiny at http://destiny.k12northstar.org, Elementary folks login at your school and then set your "location menus" to All District Library and check the box next to District Media. Secondary folks go to Destiny and then select either the District Media collection for video/DVDs or the Library Media Services collection for books. Then click on Resource Lists in the left hand menu at either location. Look for a list titled Constitution Day.
Elementary library staff may want to  create Resource Lists for their school.

Elementary staff could also see if this vendor has anything they'd like to add -
http://www.gallopade.com/client/email/COND1005.htm

And, last but not least,  be sure to checkout what is available at Discovery Education in our Online Resources at -
http://www.k12northstar.org/library-media-services/online-library-resources
After login do a search on "constitution" and be sure to look at Discovery's new feature called Theme Page in the left hand menu. They have a Theme Page just for Constitution Day which groups all their videos and related materials.

And as always if you have recommendations for additions to the LMS collections give us a call at 452-2000 x243 or send us an email at lms@k12northstar.org.

Be sure to check out this blog post if you want to keep on top of how iPads can function in a library setting. We hope to pilot a couple iPads as OPACs and as I explained in the documentation I submitted recently to initiate library equipment standards for our district, student computers in the libraries need to function as much more than access to the catalog. They need to be access to the online resources the district and the State pays for; they need to be access to PowerSchool for students and parents who don't have computers at home; and they need to be a productivity tool for students. The apps described here look like useful steps towards turning a iPad into a powerful tool in the library. Let me know what you think!    Katie