SLJ HEADLINES: DC Set to Axe Half of its School Librarians.


DC may lose school librarians in many of their schools next year. Read the SLJ article here. This is EXACTLY why you should join us for the SCASL Summer Institute. Register for the SCASL Summer Institute and gather data for the State LMS survey!

We all need to work to keep this from happening in SC. Register today for the SCASL Summer Institute where you will learn how to collect and present data to your parents,  school administrators and district officials that proves you make a difference for children. DC officials say that school librarians do not make a difference in reading scores. Let’s prove in SC that we do make a difference!



Two job security actions you have control over:

1. Register and attend the SCASL Summer Institute entitled “Dabble with Data: School Librarians and Student Achievement.” The link to download a registration form.
2. Gather the data needed for the State LMS survey and then complete the survey soon. Don’t wait because then you might never get around to it. Read all the messages on the list during the past few days offering instructions and helpful hints.

The job you save may be your own!



Kathy





Kathryn F. Sutusky

Information Technology Specialist

SCASL, President

NBCT 2002

Eau Claire High School

ksutusky@richlandone.org

Yes, you read that right.  This is an advertisement for our next SCASL Annual Conference, March 6-8, 2013 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC.

Snapshot Day Photos

Click HERE to download a registration form.

Feel free to use our PayPal account, but email SCASL Secretary Diane Ervin for specifics!

Christian Haynes Margaret Ehrhardt Student Scholarship Sponsored by SCASL Christian is a senior at Fort Dorchester High School where he volunteers in our library media program through our district student volunteer program.  Christian works at a variety of duties in the library including circulating materials, working with technology and helping students.  He also works part time at a local Wendy’s after school and on weekends.  He plans to use his scholarship toward a two year degree in culinary arts and business management.  He has already completed a two-year culinary arts program in our school, and he hopes that will help him with his future academic work.  He has been involved in many other activities during his high school career including student council, the Treehuggers Club, and student volunteering.  

Linda Allison Media Paraprofessional of the Year Sponsored by Follett Library Resources Linda Allison has been a member of the Wellford Academy family for over 12 years, and with Spartanburg District 5 for over 30 years.  This commitment to our school community is invaluable, and her impact reaches far beyond the library shelves.  She knows almost every student by name and often knows their parents and grandparents, forming connections with families that are vital in a high-poverty school such as ours.  She not only knows the students and their families, our faculty and staff claim her as a family member and look to her for guidance and support both in and out of school.

Konni Shier Nancy Jane Day Scholarship

Konni Shier is earning her Certificate of Graduate Study in Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina while teaching English at Midlands Technical College. She completed her MLIS in 2011. Konni also has her M.A.E. in English and Secondary Education from The Citadel and her B.A. in Italian Literature from Florida State University. She has taught English in SC colleges and universities since 1990, and she has worked in circulation, reference and monograph acquisitions at USC-SOM Library, Clemson University, Cañada Junior College, R. C. Edwards Junior High School in Clemson, and Morrison Elementary School in Clemson. Konni is dedicated to information literacy. Inspired by her online English students, she wrote, produced, and directed ten video lessons on academic integrity, using library sources, and writing with sources in MLA style. She uses digital storytelling, and various web-based mapping and cartooning technologies in her teaching, and hopes to examine information literacy instruction in virtual schools. Konni is especially passionate about materials and services for boys and the Latino populations. 

Elizabeth Miller

SCASL Distinguished Service Award

Sponsored by Follett Software Company

Beginning her career in the classroom 44 years ago, Elizabeth taught at both elementary and high schools where in her last teaching position, she was the chair of the social studies department.  She earned both her MLIS degree and Specialist degree at what was then the College of Library and Information Science at USC and was elected into Beta Phi Mu, Beta Omega Chapter.  She joined the SLIS faculty in 1994, at a time when no public K-12 school in South Carolina had Internet access.  In addition to teaching classes at USC related to children’s materials and technology, Elizabeth worked as a consultant to the South Carolina Department of Education, Office of Instructional Technology and Office of Education Design.  She wrote the curriculum for two state-wide technology initiatives (SC-Online I and SC-Online II) using a train-the-trainer staff development model and taught workshops throughout the state of South Carolina for regional instructional technology specialists and school librarians. For nine years, Elizabeth wrote an annual print publication, the Internet Resource Directory for K-12 Teachers and Librarians that was awarded the Media & Methods Award.  For the last 13 years, Elizabeth has authored WebMARC, an electronic database of curriculum based Internet resources.

Elizabeth has served on the SCASL Executive Board as the USC School of Library and Information Science Liaison and Awards Chair.  She has served on several SCASL committees, including the Children’s Book Award.  Elizabeth has been a frequent presenter at SCASL conferences and other state school library professional association conferences. 

WHEREAS, media centers provide an equitable, fiscally responsible strategy for sharing resources; and

WHEREAS, school library programs are essential for creating a balance between children with access to information outside of school and children who do not have access; and

WHEREAS, school librarians are certified teachers who facilitate access to information, equipping students and faculty with the skills needed to locate, evaluate, and apply the information ethically and effectively; and

WHEREAS, media specialists make a positive difference to the students and schools they serve by not only recommending quality literature, but also through collaborative planning and co-teaching with faculty,
promoting technology integration, serving on curriculum committees, and designing programming.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Nikky R. Haley, Governor of the Great State of South Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 2012 as

SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA MONTH

throughout the state and encourage all South Carolinians to recognize the contributions of school library media programs in our schools.

DISCUS plugged SCASL and our conference on its page!

http://scdiscus.org/mug-winners-at-scasl-2012

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scasl/sets/72157629257311872/

Picture Book

• 3rd, LMNO Peas by Gilbert ES
• 2nd, Jackson and Bud’s Bumpy Ride by Mt. Zion ES
• 1st, Hot Rod Hamster! by Ninety Six Primary School

Children’s Book

• 3rd, Bad News for Outlaws by Arden ES
• 2nd, The Small Adventures of Popeye and Elvis by Limestone Central ES
• 1st, Red Pyramid by Fairfield Magnet School

 Junior Book

• 3rd, Skeleton Creek by A.R. Rucker MS
• 2nd, Mission Control This Is Apollo by Sanders MS
• 1st, Skeleton Creek by Edgewood MS

Young Adult Book

• 3rd, Once a Witch by Aynor HS
• 2nd, Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Irmo HS
• 1st, Unsigned Hype by Columbia HS

You and your library program play an enormous role in the lives of your students.  All around the country, school librarians have been losing jobs as budgets are slashed.  In our own state, school librarians are being asked to do more, often with less help and money.

Several people responded to my request on the SCASL listserv for information regarding how their library programs have been affected by the recession.  The two biggest victims?  Assistants and budgets.  These are just a few of the responses I received:

• In Laurens 56, all three elementary schools lost both their assistants and budgets. (Donnis Sleister)
• In Anderson 1, all library assistant positions were cut in 2009-2012.  (Mary Oren)
• All of Lexington 2’s library assistants were reassigned to other positions beginning this school year. (Debra Arvay)
• All of Richland 2’s media center budgets were cut to zero this school year. (Amy Whitfield)
• Several media specialists have had to assume extra duties:  Kris Kirkindoll in Lexington 4 now must cover two schools; Karen Metropolis in Beaufort has had to take over the role of textbook coordinator (formerly an assistant principal’s job); and both Merry Valkenburg in Abbeville 60 and Heidi Davis in Barnwell 45 have been given courses/activity classes to teach during two instructional periods each day in addition to their regular duties.

Never before has advocacy been more vital!  SCASL has been hard at work advocating for our state’s school library programs. One of our priorities has been to inform those with budget decision-making authority  about the role school librarians play in educating South Carolina’s students.  Two mailings have been sent to your superintendents, principals, and state and national legislators:

• In August they received the Media Center Messenger whose lead article was “Why You Need School Librarians and School Libraries:  An Open Letter to South Carolina Principals and Superintendents.”
• In February they received the brochure created by the Advocacy Committee reminding them of the role we play and inviting them to schedule a visit to a school library to witness our work first hand.

However, nothing is more powerful than each of us advocating for our own library programs by demonstrating the impact we have on our students’ education.

The SCASL Advocacy Committee is again sponsoring Snapshot: A Day in the Life of SC School Libraries.  Your participation will focus your school community’s attention on the work you do and provide SCASL with data to use in future advocacy efforts.

Last year, approximately 38% of our public school libraries participated in SCASL’s Snapshot Day.  South Carolina school librarians are dedicated to enriching the lives of our students.  If we expect our legislators and administrators to support us, then we must be willing to demonstrate our dedication to our students through strong school library programs.  Participating in Snapshot Day is an excellent way to demonstrate your dedication and provide you with data you can use to advocate for your own program.

To support you as you plan your Snapshot Day, the SCASL Advocacy Committee has created a wiki full of resources.  You’ll find ideas and downloadable documents to assist you as you plan, market, and sponsor your library’s Snapshot Day.  You’ll even find a page dedicated to using the data you gather to promote your own program!  Please visit the wiki at

http://snapshotday2012.wikispaces.com/

To further encourage participation, the SCASL Advocacy Committee is providing fabulous prizes.  Those who complete the survey by midnight on May 3^rd will have their name entered in a drawing for four fabulous prizes:

• 2 paid registrations to the 2012 SCASL Summer Institute
• 2 paid registrations to the 2013 SCASL Conference

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions about this initiative.  Let’s celebrate the successes of our library programs and provide our administrators and legislators with proof that we are making a difference!

Fran Bullington, SCASL Advocacy Committee Chair

fran.bullington@gmail.com

You can check out the pictures at Flickr. Want more information? Visit the Learning Commons Unconference at SCASL on Thursday, March 15 at 3PM!

- originally shared by Monica Riveri on the SCASL Listerv

 
After getting the great idea from the TL Virtual Cafe Webinars: PD with a Twist and Wii Learning: Engaging Students through Gaming Technology, I had to do a technology petting zoo for the teachers at my school. (THANKS Tamara Cox, Matthew Winner, Tiff Whitehead, and Meghan Hearn!)
 
So today was the day! I had ipods, ipads, wii games, flip cameras, websites, ibooks, follett shelf, and more set up throughout the learning commons. Teachers came during their planning times from 7:50 on. I had light refreshments and drinks. Posters were posted around the room with specific apps, websites, and projects to do in each of the different categories. The teachers got a lot out of it (& I loved it!).
 

You can check out the pictures atwww.flickr.com/photos/blcbzyb/sets/72157629127876540/.

 
I SO love my job!
 
Enjoy,
Monica
 
Monica Roveri
Bethel Elementary Media Specialist
monica.roveri@clover.k12.sc.us

1.  Facilitators – people to introduce the speakers at each concurrent session and scan the name badges for professional development credit – http://tinyurl.com/6pe3l2r

2.  Working in the Information Booth or the Facilitators Booth – you will be either answering questions (Information Booth) or giving out the introductory bios and scanners to the facilitators (Facilitators Booth).  These two locations are across from the Registration Booth in the main lobby. – http://tinyurl.com/729dujz

3.  Conference Store – selling SCASL supplies, giving out Book Award bookmarks, etc. – http://tinyurl.com/7zjb6hk

Ellen Bunch had the following to say about the Christmas Reading Challenge:

“We started the challenge during the Christmas break to motivate our students to read over the holidays. Each school counted the minutes read within the dates of our ½ day of school until the day we returned. The school with the most minutes read/per child, won the trophy! (It’s a beautiful trophy that Pat Jennings, Boiling Springs Elementary, had made at Larry’s Trophy Shop.) This year Cooley-Springs Fingerville Elementary won. They will be the defending champions for the challenge next year.”

Christmas Reading Challenge

Christmas Reading Challenge Hmwk Pass