During School Library Month, it's a great time to reflect on the various purposes of a school library. So, what do you do at your school library?
Find books for recreational or leisure reading.
Find books needed for research assignments.
Learn how to use online subscription resources, such as our databases - that are designed for students.
Learn how to access and use our e-book collection.
Read newspapers and magazines.
Consult the librarian, that would be me, about reading or school project matters - I'd be happy to help!
Also...
Collaborate with other students (or teachers with teachers) on school projects...and/or catch up with friends.
Discuss ideas and how to go about making them happen.
Research ideas and concepts by taking advantage of all of the resources the Library offers.
Try out some Web 2.0 apps.
Create new information using Web 2.0 technology.
Design alternative presentations for what you have learned.
Also...
Read blogposts, and add your comments.
Contribute information to a wiki.
Listen to a podcast, and/or create one yourself.
Use social bookmarking to record books you have read, write reviews, and share with others.
Network safely through appropriate social media.
Join BookChat!, our school book discussion group.
This is not a complete list at all. How many of the items listed above have you participated in? There are probably quite a few that would be new for you.
Remember...our school library is here for you! Plan on taking advantage of its many resources!
If you are reading this, you have already seen the new look for the high school library media center website. So, what do you think of it???
There are many elements to click on --- my greeting, access to our print book/ebook collection, subscription database access, tutorial on using wikis, link to my Diigo page for links of interest, and more. From time to time, I will add/delete/rearrange parts of the webpage.
After you check it out, please post a comment on this blog to let me know how you like it. Suggestions are welcome too.
I can't wait to hear from you!
Now that January is almost over, have most of your New Year's resolutions fallen by the wayside?
Whatever your answer to that question, it is not too late to resolve to read more during the year ahead. That's a realistic resolution too -- one at which you can be successful!
Not sure what to read? I hope you'll stop by our school library, and I will be happy to offer you some suggestions. That's part of my job, and I always like to see someone walk away with a great book in hand.
January is also the month when the American Library Association announces its annual award winners in various categories. To view the entire list, go to http://www.ala.org. I will share some of the winners here for you to consider.
Michael L. Printz Award - award for literary excellence in young adult literature
2011 Winner:
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
2011 Honor Books:
Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick*
Stolen by Lucy Christopher*
The YALSA Teen's Top Ten Winners' List for 2010 includes:
*Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Heist Society by Ally Carter
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
*Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
*If I Stay by Gayle Forman
*Fire by Kristin Cashore
*Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year!
Our school library owns the starred titles. Remember that you can easily take advantage of our interlibrary loan program to borrow titles from other school and public libraries. We receive deliveries, at no charge to you, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Please feel free to ask if you have questions about this program.
There are so many good book choices out there for you to read!
Even if you start with just 15-30 minutes a day reading a book just for fun, you will be amazed at how quickly you will become a much better reader. Not only will you become a better reader, but you will develop a new, healthy, lifelong habit! Those 15-30 minutes will likely increase to a longer period without you even noticing. That's what happens when you let a good book grab your attention.
So, don't wait any longer! Get into the reading habit - you'll be glad you did!
