SLS News Archive: 2018.10.04

Happy October! 

 

…and Happy Day after BEDS Day!  You may have already noticed that the “Fall 2018 BEDS Public School Data Form” has changed significantly. Item “7. School Library/LMC,” asks only whether the school has a library, and in all of your cases, with the answer being “yes,” then asks about the number of certified Library Media Specialists, whether the library is shared between schools, and the total number of titles in your library as of yesterday.  To see the complete form, go to http://www.p12.nysed.gov/irs/beds/IMF/Public/PublicBEDSForm.pdf.  We were told that the data collected this year focus only on Commissioner’s Regulations 91.1 and 92.2.

 

Greater Rochester Teen Read Week

The Greater Rochester Teen Read Week is October 15-19, 2018.  This year’s author is Laurie Halse Anderson, who will be appearing at a number of events at local public libraries.  Please see the attached flyer for dates/times and more information.  Most of Laurie’s books are available in both eBook and AudioBook in our Regional OverDrive eBook collection.

 

OverDrive’s Big Library Read (YA) is Underway

From October 1-16, the YA novel, The Girl With the Red Balloon, by Katherine Locke, will be available simultaneously, worldwide.  A bit about the book:

When sixteen-year-old Ellie Baum accidentally time-travels via red balloon to 1988 East Berlin, she’s caught up in a conspiracy of history and magic. She meets members of an underground guild in East Berlin who use balloons and magic to help people escape over the Wall—but even to the balloon makers, Ellie’s time travel is a mystery. When it becomes clear that someone is using dark magic to change history, Ellie must risk everything—including her only way home—to stop the process.

Additional information is available at https://biglibraryread.com/current-title/ and a letter from the author and a discussion guide are attached.

 

WXXI Update

The October WXXI Education Newsletter is found at https://www.wxxi.org/sites/default/files/2018octobernews2.pdf.  Their October 2018 Off-Air Highlights are attached.

PBS Kids offers Scratch Jr. Coding resources including coding lessons and activities, self-paced workshops and how-to videos, and supplemental resources.  For more information go to https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/pbs-kids-scratchjr .

 

NewsBank Reminder

This is the second year of our SLS-provided pilot of NewsBank, a resource primarily useful to secondary school libraries.  Depending on usage at the end of the school year, either the SLS will continue to provide this resource to the region, or NewsBank will return to the list of databases available for purchase by individual districts.  The America’s Historical Newspapers site has undergone a significant overhaul.  Please see the attached handout for a review of changes.  If you need access information, please contact Katie Bertrand at katie_bertrand@boces.monroe.edu.

 

Follett Destiny Issues:

Since the beginning of the school year, there have been a number of issues with Follett Destiny.  Other BOCES are experiencing similar issues and most appear to be related to Destiny v.16.0, which was released last summer.  Sally and Joe have been working diligently to resolve the problems you have been having and things seem to be running more smoothly at this time.  Please contact Sally Bailey if you continue to experience problems.  We are maintaining a detailed list of issues and we will be discussing our concerns with Follett leadership in the near future.

 

St. John Fisher M.S. in Library Media

St. John Fisher is now accepting applications for their next online cohort, which begins in May 2019.  If you know a currently NYS Certified teacher who is interested in becoming a School Librarian, please point them to the information found at https://www.sjfc.edu/graduate-programs/ms-in-library-media/.

 

We’re looking for a few volunteers…..

To read and evaluate this year’s SLS MiniGrant applications.  The applications and materials will be posted online for evaluation.  The committee will meet from 2:30-3:30 on Wednesday, October 10, either in person or via Zoom, to determine the recipients.  The only requirement is that you did not submit a MiniGrant application this year, and that you’re willing to give an hour or two of your time to read the applications and attend the meeting.  If interested, please email katie_bertrand@boces.monroe.edu.

 

Your Monroe One BOCES Library Services Team

 

Click here to see an archive of older news blasts (starting September 2018).