This Pew Research Report on Why People Like to Read is over a year old but I'm guessing the reasons have not changed much in the interim. I love the infographic!                                                                                              Katie

I think you'll all be wowed by this short documentary video about physics teacher Jeffrey Wright. The film maker, Zack Conkle, was a student of Jeffrey Wright's and certainly knew a fantastic story when he saw one. I hope you'll share it with others.     Katie

If you would like to beef up your collection of American Indian literature check out these award winning titles! at the American Indian Library Association website.

Last week I attended a Culturally Sensitive Libraries workshop in Anchorage and among other wonderful things, which I'll share with you in the future, I learned about the Chilkat Valley Story Board. This is housed in the Haines Public Library. The Story Board is on/in a piece of technology called a Microsoft Surface Table. I encourage you to watch all the videos to learn about the contents of the project and how it was created. This is an amazing and wonderful use of technology to make information (in this case about the local culture) more readily available in a new format combining text, maps, photos and more.  Enjoy and ..... think about ways your community of patrons could make use of this technology.        Katie

I think you'll find this Pew Research Center post very interesting on why parents value printed books still as we move into a much more digitally focused life style. The comment on modeling reading will be a good one to share and I especially like this quote on the value of print books engaging multiple senses. “When you read a book, a proper kid’s book, it engages all the senses. It’s teaching them to turn the page properly. You get the smell of paper, the touch.” We know from recent research that learning done while utilizing multiple senses is more deeply instilled in our brains.

I don't think this negates our need to offer eBooks to our students. They need to know how to access eBooks in a variety of settings if they are going to be successful in college and in a wide variety of career choices. This report does reaffirm the need to maintain choices in formats and especially at the elementary level where we are working to instill a love of reading. This data will be very valuable to share with administrators setting library budget levels. It begs the argument that we need more funds, not less, in order to provide both print and digital formats.                                                                           Katie

NPR has published a delightful list of summer reads compiled by Mara Alpert from the Children's Literature Department of the LA Public Library. The post is titled Field Trip because each book can in turn lead to an outing or adventure.               Katie

I just happened across this Elementary Library Routines esource you might want to tag or bookmark to look at before you head back to school in the fall. Looks to be full of wonderful tips and tricks, including after a couple clicks this Library Rules Jeopardy Game. What fun! Katie

As  you put together your orders for next year be sure to check out school librarian Travis Jonker's Top 10 list for 3rd & 4th graders published here in School Library Journal. I know you'll have most of them but you might find one or two new titles to add. He provides a link to his list from last year and promises lists for the younger and older grades in the future so watch for them too.           Katie

Here is a timely activity you might be able to fit into your remaining time with students this spring. Peter Reynolds, author/illustrator of "The Dot" has generously created this template for Dream Seeds where students may collect their dreams. What a nice way to send them off for the summer, with some goals and aspirations to work towards!

                                    Katie