SLS NewsBlast 2018.12.20​

Happy Holidays!  

NYLA (the New York Library Association) has set their Legislative Priorities (Advocacy Agenda) for the coming year.  These priorities are intended to improve the entire library landscape in general, but of specific interest to school libraries is the goal of increased library aid and legislation to require a certified school librarian in every NY public school.  View the complete document.

 

NYLA’s School Librarian Census.  In order to provide data to further the goal of a certified school librarian in every NY school library, NYLA is again asking the School Library Systems to collect data about staffing in the schools in their region.  Information on individual schools or districts will not be reported/shared, but will be analyzed to show staffing trends across the state, particularly in areas of need.  To assist in this data collection, kindly take a moment to respond to the brief survey. 

Please respond by Friday, January 5, 2018.

 

NYSUT School Library Subject Area Committee.  The following information is shared on behalf of Sara Kimmel, Rush Henrietta High School Librarian and committee member:

As you may be aware, NYSUT (New York State United Teachers) recently created a School Library Subject Area Committee.  I am the Rochester area representative to this newly created committee. At our meeting this past weekend, we drafted a resolution asking NYSUT to advocate to NYSED to extend the mandate for school librarians for EVERY school in New York State.  Before NYSUT can advocate for this request, NYSUT must vote to approve this request with its membership.  View the resolution. 

The School Library Subject Area Committee is requesting ALL NYSUT affiliated unions to vote to endorse the above mentioned resolution at the May 2019 NYSUT Representative Assembly.  As a member of your local NYSUT teachers’ union, please bring this request to your union president and ask them to discuss this with their executive board. We ultimately want our Representative Assembly delegates to vote in favor of this resolution.

In addition to this pathway for placing a librarian in each school, NYLA/SSL (New York State Library Association / Section of School Librarians) is working with SLSA (School Library Systems Association of New York) to gather data on the current status of school librarians and school libraries in our state.  This data will be used by NYLA as placing a librarian in each school is one of their legislative priorities. Learn more about NYLA’s priorities.  

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at s.d.kimmel@gmail.com.

 

WXXI’s January Highlights are attached.  Additional education news can be found at their website at https://www.wxxi.org/education.  Also, WXXI is offering the following professional development opportunity for science educators in January:

What: Project WILD educator training. The goal of Project WILD is to assist learners of any age in developing awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment resulting in informed decisions, responsible behavior, and constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment.  Project WILD's mission is to help students learn how to think, not what to think, about wildlife and the environment. Project WILD (the terrestrial guide) was heavily updated in March 2018. The new guide has new background & science information for activities, heavy STEM/STEAM connections, and career connections. While extra resources for activities are still in the works, a lot of great resources are available for educators utilizing the new guide. Activities in the guide cover in-depth field explorations, hands-on activities, and cross-discipline lessons connecting reading & math with science and social studies. The activities cover grades K-12 and include early childhood adjustments for some of the activities. CTLE credit will be provided by NYSDEC.

Who: K-12 educators, both formal & informal

Where: Seneca Park Zoo

When: Saturday, January 19, 2019 from 9AM to 1:30PM.

Registration: Register with edprofdevel@dec.ny.gov

In NY State, Project WILD is sponsored by NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation’s Bureau of Environmental Education, and funded thru NY’s Return a Gift to Wildlife (NY tax check off program).

 

From RRLC (Tina Broomfield cbroomfield@rrlc.org ):

Call for News Literacy Presentations and Lightning Talks for RIT Libraries Showcase Event

Do you have a unique way or perspective of teaching patrons about news literacy? How do you promote critical thinking in patrons as they navigate online sources, particularly when news becomes viral? What ideas do you have to further build the news literacy skills of your users? Share best practices and projects that have worked for you and your organization, or present a lightning talk on ideas you have for future initiatives, resources, or programs during this one day event.

RIT Libraries will be hosting a News Literacy Showcase on Monday, February 25, 2019 for library staff and information professionals to share, discuss, and learn from one another.  We invite you to submit proposals for 30 minute presentations or 10 minute lightning talks on activities, initiatives, programs, or ideas by January 11, 2019. Accepted proposals will be notified by January 18, 2019.

This event is co-sponsored by RIT Libraries and RRLC. 

Submit a Proposal 

Thank you for your interest!  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Lara Nicosia (ldnwml@rit.edu) or Susan Mee (samwml@rit.edu).

Not interested in submitting a proposal, but would like to attend?  Mark your calendars – registration to follow!

Wishing you a peaceful Holiday Break and looking forward to working with you in 2019!

Your Monroe One BOCES Library Services Team

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