A few of the latest Libraries to have made headlines. Councilwoman Gerrie Shipske (District 5) wants special district assessment to fund Long Beach library system. She makes several good points about the benefits of public libraries, but I’m not sure how crazy I am about relying on specialty groups for funding. Sounds a little “iffy.” [...]
Funds Will Assist LB Employees During Economic Crisis It was a very sobering meeting on the Long Beach Board of Education tonight (1/26/09). The topic was to be the huge cuts coming to education funds once Sacramento has its way. Of course, the Long Beach librarians were there in number. We know from experience that [...]
“Omigod! I would totally kill for her API!” We had an interesting discussion at our faculty meeting yesterday morning: if we could have any intervention to raise student achievement, what could it be? “Raising student achievement?” This is Edu-code for test scores and everyone knows it. And I had an epiphany. I know a great [...]
In a few weeks I’ll be presenting at the annual TRLD Conference (Technology, Reading, Learning and Diversity) in San Francisco. The title of my presentation, session 2309, is “A is for Access, Create an Inclusive Library with Universal Design” This is a similar presentation I gave to the Long Beach Teacher Librarians, focusing on what [...]
This one’s a wowzer! From the Los Angeles Times (reported by Richard C. Paddock, 1/10/09): “In what may be the first attempt in California to unseat an entire school board, high school students and supporters who want to oust all five members collected enough signatures to put the issue before voters, the Tuolumne County clerk said [...]
Last week 6th grade science classes spent two days researching minerals. Sounds like a boring project, I know. I attempted to create an assignent accesible enought for everyone to complete it, but while still reinforcing fundaental research, reading, and writing skills. Lesson plan, resources, and worksheet are included.
I read just about every new novel that comes into our library before the kids get hold of it. The Orca Sounding series offers high-interest books about topics teens will actually be interested in, but written at 3-5 th grade reading levels, making these short and relevant novels accessible even to struggling redaers. Here are [...]
This morning’s Los Angeles Times came with a fascinating, and for hysterical librarians like me, rather exciting headline: “New California law protects school journalism advisors. The act, said to be the nation’s most stringent, prohibits school administrators from retaliating against advisors for trying to protect student press freedoms.” According to the article by Robert Lopez, over the [...]
I was about a third of the way through a book I checked out from my local public library, Worlds Without End : The Exploration of Planets Known and Unknown, by John S. Lewis. I was enjoying the fascinating, well paced, and layman- accessible discussion about how our solar system got the way it is, but then [...]
The Counselor that shares my library office told me just before we left for Winter Break: “I’m impressed; the kids tell me you decorate for EVERY holiday. They love being in here!” She must have been admiring the twinkling colored lights adorning the book return and the garland of mini homemade presents (including in Christmas, Kwanzaa [...]
