SLS News Archive: News Home

                 SLS NewsBlast 2024.03.14

Greetings, and happy nearly March Madness! 

Novel NY Update – 

While there is not yet any guarantee, the is encouraging news about the future of NovelNY and other programs related to school libraries and libraries of all types.  Governor Hochul’s proposed executive budget and both the NYS Senate and Assembly One House Budget Proposals include $3 Million in funding for NovelNY.  NYS Senate and Assembly One House Budget Proposals also include an increase in library aid, which ultimately results in your school library system being able to provide you with more resources and opportunities, and an increase in Library Materials Aid (LMA) from the current $6.25 to $11 per student.  The Senate proposal also includes a provision for an adjustment for inflation to LMA going forward.  None of these are done deals until the final budgets are passed and signed by the governor, but it is very encouraging.   If you support these proposals now is the time to express your opinion to your elected representatives.  The New York Library Association has much more information regarding library related budget initiatives on their Library Advocacy Page.  You can also use their “Take Action” Campaign to easily contact your legislators if you so choose.

Upcoming Region-Wide Professional Development

• Spring into Books - April 26, 2024.  Join elementary librarian Stacey Rattner and high school librarian Alicia Abdul in learning about and discussing books for our students. The best of 2023 as well as 2024 titles will be shared with a half day dedicated to each level including middle grade in both. They will add bursts of conversation around enticing readers, activities, and events to plan, and even talking about our own reading lives. Booklists will be provided.  Flyer and registration information are attached.
• Summer Library Conference:  Celebrating Books, Education, & Readership – August 21, 2024, at St. John Fisher University.  The full agenda is a work in progress.  An informational flyer, that will be updated as the agenda is finalized, and registration information is attached.  Also please consider volunteering to present a 40-minute session.  You can submit a Request for Proposal here.

Upcoming Professional Learning (from the SLS team – linked to My Learning Plan):

• Ongoing: Book Party! (2023-2024)
• Jan 16-June 14: LiNC - Librarian Networking Collective (Flyer attached)
• March 20:  Community of Readers
• April 23: Genre Spotlight: Novels in Verse

Other Events and Resources of Interest:

• Media Literacy Virtual Assembly for HS Students - It isn’t too late to participate in the Media Literacy Virtual Assembly for HS Students presented by Julie Smith and sponsored by The New York State Educational Media Technology Association, the week of March18-22, 2024.  The focus is on media literacy and what students SHOULD be doing online. This opportunity is free for all students in NY State. (See attached flyer for more information.) To register: Media Literacy Virtual Assembly Registration (2024).  Please pick which time slot you would like to attend with students.  If you are interested in the recording only, please indicate that.  Note- we have rights to retain the recording for only 30 days.
• The Digies, an annual media festival run by the School Library System of the Genesee Valley BOCES is open for submissions, but the deadline is fast approaching, on March 28.  The Digies submission site is https://digies.gvpls.org/ (the password is: create).  Here are a few things to know about this opportunity:
  • Only faculty and staff can submit to the Digies. Students cannot submit their own work. Same for parents of students unless those parents happen to be employed at the organization to which the student belongs- meaning the student and the parent would have to be in the same school building to qualify in the case of school staff.
  • Only the following three types of organizations can submit student work: schools (including BOCES), public libraries, and arts councils.
  • Entries are open to work created between April 1, 2023 and March 28, 2024. Submissions will close at 4:00pm EST on Thursday, March 28, 2024.
  • For more information about submissions please visit the website https://www.digies.org/submissions.
  • Check out the Digies Submission Checklist 2024 for a list of the items you will need before you start.
• Solar Eclipse Resources
  • Please see our LibGuide for related resources:   Home - School Library System - LibGuides at Monroe #1 BOCES School Library System
  • Kids Discover, one of our instructional database partners, is offering free access to free curated resources for the upcoming Solar Eclipse.
• America’s Field Trip – The National Library Service (NLS) and the Library of Congress are excited to be participating in America’s Field Trip, part of the official celebration of the nation’s semi quincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.  This is a nationwide contest designed to engage young people in commemorating the country’s 250th birthday. From now until May 17, 2024, elementary, middle, and high school students are invited to submit artwork, videos, or essays responding to the question “What does America mean to you?” You can find the official submission guidelines at https://america250.org/FieldTrip/.  Additional information is attached.
• The Greater Rochester Youth (formerly Teen) Read will take place October 21-25, 2024, featuring Veera Hiranandani, author of the Newbery Honor winning book, The Night Diary, and the chapter book series, Phoebe G. Green.  There will be two free programs at MCLS and there may be opportunities to bring the author to your school.  Additional information is attached.
• The Monroe One BOCES Model Schools Service is offering two workshop opportunities that may be of interest.  They are SEL Sensory Bins (one session remains) and Education Escape Artists.  Flyers that include registration information are attached.

Apologies for the long message and the many links and attachments, but there are just so many good things to share right now!

Your Monroe One School Library Services Team