Thursday, April 30, 2009

Some schools shelve traditional libraries

Medill Reports - Chicago, Northwestern University: 2009 April 30

"A library is something you expect at every school. But for some Chicago elementary schools libraries are on a back shelf to other priorities. That means teachers have the added duty of building specialized libraries in their classrooms."

Book festival stays young at heart, mind

Canada.com: 2009 April 30

"The Vancouver Island Children's Festival may be in its 23rd year, but it shows no signs of growing up.

The event will be held on Saturday at Vancouver Island University."

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Delta trustees consider education cuts across the board

South Delta Leader: 2009 April 29

Tish Sladden with the Delta Teacher Librarian's Association made an exuberant appeal for support for her "homegirls."

"We teach them to read well, we teach them to read widely, and we're always, always soldiers in the battle against ignorance and illiteracy."

In Circulation - BCTLA: 2009-10 BCTLA Executive Election Results

In Circulation - BCTLA: 2009 April 29

"The elections and appointments for the 2009-10 BCTLA Executive were held at the BCTLA AGM on April 18, 2009.

Your 2009-10 BCTLA Executive:

President: Heather Daly (Coquitlam)
First Vice-President, Chapter Relations: Sylvia Zubke (Vancouver)
Second Vice-President, Advocacy: Karen Lindsay (Victoria)
Past President: Bonnie McComb (Saanich)
Communications Officer: Halia Hirniak (Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows)
Recording Secretary: Al Smith (Kelowna)
Treasurer: Chris Evans (Vancouver)
Working and Learning Conditions Chair: Amanda Hufton (Richmond)
Continuing Education Chair: Lynn Turner (Terrace) and Michele Farquharson (Vancouver)
Publications Coordinator: Al Smith (Kelowna)
Senior Editor, The Bookmark: ­Angie MacRitchie (Kelowna)
Conference Chair: Bonnie McComb (Saanich)
Liaison Chair: Moira Ekdahl (Vancouver)
Web Steward: Val Hamilton (Vancouver, retired)"

Canadian Library Association | CLA: News (04/29/2009)

CLA: News (04/29/2009)

"The Advisory Committee on Intellectual Freedom of the Canadian Library Association is pleased to announce that Kim Bolan, longtime reporter for the Vancouver Sun, is the winner of the Association’s 2009 Award for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada."

WebJunction-BCLA [OCLC]

OCLC: 2009 April 29

"WebJunction, the leader in online learning for library staff, is working with the British Columbia Library Association (BCLA), British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association, and the British Columbia Library Trustees Association to launch WebJunction–British Columbia, the first WebJunction learning community created for libraries outside the United States."

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Why a duck? Exploring Duck Duck Go

Neverendingsearch: 2009 April 28

"A new search engine seems to have lots of people quacking."

http://duckduckgo.com/

Sun columnist wins B.C. Book Prize for Simon Fraser work

Vancouver Sun: 2009 April 28

"Books about explorers George Vancouver and Simon Fraser were among the winners when eight writers, one illustrator and one publisher received BC Book Prizes on the weekend."

Monday, April 27, 2009

Ministry Committee posting

Novel evaluators for Grades 4-7 English program
Referenced on:
http://www.bctf.ca/opportunities/MinistryCommittees.aspx

Congratulations to the Winners of the 25th Annual BC Book Prizes

BC Book Prizes: 2009 April 26

Congratulations to the winners of the 25th annual BC Book Prizes:
  • Lee Henderson, The Man Game
  • Daphne Marlatt, The Given
  • Gabor Maté, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction
  • Stephen Hume, Simon Fraser: In Search of Modern British Columbia
  • Katarina Jovanovic & Philippe Béha, The King Has Goat Ears
  • Polly Horvath, My One Hundred Adventures
  • Stephen R. Bown and Douglas & McIntyre, Madness, Betrayal and the Lash: The Epic Voyage of Captain George Vancouver

Visit our 2009 Prizes page for details on all the titles that were recognized this year.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

North Shore Outlook - Spinning yarns

North Shore Outlook: 2009 April 23

"What’s the deal with teen vampires in young people’s fiction? Not just teen vampires, either. What about teen werewolves, teen ghosts, teens with super powers...

Invoke the word “Twilight” in a seventh grade class anywhere in North America – and other places too, the Harlequin-type books about a teen-vampire romance, published in several languages have recently been translated into Arabic – and chances are a host of girls, and maybe even a few boys, will respond with the same enthusiasm."

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

School resources lacking

Coquitlam Now: 2009 April 21

"A recent survey has shown that 10.9 per cent of British Columbia's children now attend independent schools. This is a clear indication that parents are not satisfied with our public education system."

The U.N.'s World Digital Library

TIME: 2009 April 21

"Four years ago, U.S. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington proposed the establishment of an online forum that would allow libraries and museums across the globe to share valuable cultural and educational data with anyone who had access to the Internet. On April 21, UNESCO and the Library of Congress officially unveiled its $60 million joint effort to do just that."

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Liberals failing education

Invermere Valley Echo : 2009 April 21

"Listening to the question period recently, I was appalled at the lack of proper response to NPD questions about health care and education."

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Historical treasures to be shown online

Historical treasures to be shown online
Vancouver Sun: 2009 April 14

"PARIS — One of the most ambitious attempts to connect an often bitterly divided world through an “intellectual cathedral” will be launched here next week.

The World Digital Library, a U.S. Library of Congress initiative backed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is a joint effort of institutions from 19 countries bringing to a single website some of the world’s greatest historical treasures."

AASL releases new guidelines

Final publication in the standards and guidelines trilogy

AASL: 2009 April 14

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has released the much-anticipated publication "Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs." These guidelines, along with the "Standards for the 21st-Century Learner" and "Standards for the 21st-Century Learner in Action," complete an essential professional development package for school library media specialists. This publication can be purchased on the AASL pages of the ALA store at http://www.alastore.ala.org/aasl.

"Empowering Learners" provides leadership principles that address how and what is required to master a changing school library environment that is driven by learners and the learning process. It builds on a strong history of guidelines published to ensure that school-library-media-program planners go beyond the basics to provide goals, priorities, criteria and general principles for establishing effective library media programs. The publication advances school library media programs to meet the needs of the changing school library environment and is guided by the "Standards for the 21st-Century Learner" and "Standards for the 21st-Century Learner in Action."

"The release of 'Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs' completes the triad of updated AASL tools school library media specialists need to lead their library programs," said Ann M. Martin, AASL president. "'Teaching and Learning' guidelines within the book include collaborative partnerships, the role of reading, multiple literacies, effective practices for inquiry and assessment. 'Empowering Learners' provides guidelines and actions for library media specialists to take to ensure students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. School library media specialists need this critical publication because it is the essential connector required to create a 21st century library media program."

Explaining how the three publications work together, Martin said, "The 'Standards for the 21st-Century Learner' is the framework for developing curriculum and focuses on the learning process. The 'Standards for the 21st-Century Learner in Action' provides support in teaching the fundamental skills identified in the 'Standards for the 21st-Century Learner.' And 'Empowering Learners' places these skills in an environment conducive for developing students who are successful and competent in today’s global world."

"These guidelines will shape how we lead our students into their futures. The 'Standards for the 21st-Century Learner,' the 'Standards for the 21st-Century Learner in Action' and, now, 'Empowering Learners' will shape our programs and our teaching and need to be on every library media specialist's desk. My copies will soon be as highlighted and filled with notes," said Sara Kelly Johns, AASL immediate past president.

The American Association of School Librarians,
www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library media services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library media field.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Pat Kirkey and Jim Gillett Recieve the 2009 Alan Knight Memorial Award

In Circulation - BCTLA: 2009 April 9

The BC Teacher-Librarians' Association and the Editorial Board of The Bookmark recognize the contribution to communication in teacher-librarianship made by the submission of outstanding articles to The Bookmark. Each year an award committee is formed in one of B.C.’s school districts. This committee selects the most outstanding article in The Bookmark for that year and the Alan Knight Memorial Award goes to the contributor(s). For 2009, the award recipients are Pat Kirkey and Jim Gillett from Central Okanagan School District, School District 23.

In The Bookmark’s
Spring 2008 issue, Kirkey and Gillett contributed an article entitled “A Crash Course in Staging a Major Literary Event”. Along with that article they provided sample letters, forms and schedules to help interested readers plan their own event. This author event guide was well received by many readers and demonstrated how useful a resource The Bookmark can be.

On behalf of the BCTLA I would like to congratulate Pat Kirkey and Jim Gillett for their outstanding work in The Bookmark!

Angie MacRitchie
Senior Editor, The Bookmark

Puyallup principal gets censure for protocol slip

Puyallup principal gets censure for protocol slip
The News Tribune, WA: 2009 April 12

"A Puyallup principal was disciplined after e-mailing School Board members about the value of librarians in light of looming budget cuts that may slice library staffing nearly in half.

Guy Kovacs, principal of Edgerton Elementary School on South Hill, received a letter of reprimand for going outside the chain of command, not for commenting on impending budget reductions, Puyallup district spokeswoman Karen Hansen said."

Saturday, April 11, 2009

English 'losing out' to literacy

Education English 'losing out' to literacy
BBC: 2009 April 9

"English lessons are dying out and being replaced by literacy, the leader of a teaching union claims.

Children no longer have the freedom to read for pleasure or express themselves in writing, says Mary Bousted of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers."

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Canadian Library Association | CAPL: News (06/04/2009)

Canadian Library Association CAPL: News (06/04/2009)

"Ottawa, Ontario - The Canadian Association of Public Libraries (CAPL) and Brodart Canada are pleased to announce Judith Saltman, AssociateProfessor with the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies at the University of British Columbia, as the 2009 recipient of the CAPL/Brodart Outstanding Public Library Service Award. Sponsored by Brodart Canada, the award is presented annually for outstanding service in the field of Canadian public librarianship."

2009 Young Adult Canadian Book Award

Canadian Library Association CLA: News (04/08/2009)

"(Ottawa, April 8, 2009) - The Young Adult Services Interest Group of the Canadian Library Association/Association canadienne des bibliothèques is pleased to announce the 2009 Young Adult Canadian Book Award winner and Honour Books for books published in 2008. The award is generously sponsored by Tutor.com.

Chanda’s Wars by Allan Stratton, published by HarperCollins, is the winner. The Honour Books are Would You by Marthe Jocelyn, published by Tundra Books, and The Apprentice’s Masterpiece by Melanie Little, published by Annick Press."

2009 Book of the Year for Children Award

Canadian Library Association CLA: News (04/08/2009)

"(Ottawa, April 8, 2009) - From an astounding collection of children’s literature produced by Canadian authors and publishers in 2008, the Canadian Library Association / Association canadienne des bibliothèques (CLA/ACB) has selected its 2009 Book of the Year for Children Award.

This year’s winner is The Shepherd’s Granddaughter by Anne Laurel Carter, published by Groundwood Books. The award is generously sponsored by Library Services Centre."

Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award

Canadian Library Association CLA: News (04/08/2009)

"(Ottawa, April 8, 2009) - The Canadian Library Association / Association Canadienne des Bibliothèques is pleased to announce the 2009 winner and honour books for the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award. The award is generously sponsored by Library Services Centre.

The winner is Mattland (Annick) illustrated by Dusan Petricic and written by Hazel Hutchins and Gail Herbert. Honor books include Thing Thing (Random House) illustrated by Nicolas Debon and written by Cary Fagan, and Jenneli’s Dance (Theytus) illustrated by Chris Auchter and written by Elizabeth Denny."

On Tour › BC Book Prizes

On Tour › BC Book Prizes

"Every year a selection of shortlisted authors hit the road to promote the BC Book Prizes. The authors tours the province, connecting with students, librarians and community members throughout BC."

School Librarians Win World Book Award

School Librarians Win World Book Award
4/9/2009 11:37:00 AM - School Library Journal

"Five teacher-librarians from the Brockport Central School District in the Rochester area of New York have won their library the 2009 World Book/ALA Information Literacy Goal Award. The award was designed to encourage innovative and effective information literacy programs in public and school libraries. The teacher-librarians were recognized for their program “Information Literacy Continuum.”"

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Boost doesn't cover increased costs

Boost doesn't cover increased costs
Langley Times: 2009 April 8

"Editor: Every time someone writes a letter to a local newspaper lamenting the shortfalls in education funding, Education Minister Shirley Bond writes back, defending her government’s devastating record on education and stating that the Campbell Liberals are providing the “highest funding ever” for education."

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Lynn Turner Receives 2009 BCTLA Honorary Life Membership

In Circulation: 2009 April 7

The BC Teacher-Librarians' Association is pleased to announce that Lynn Turner is the recipient of BCTLA Honorary Life Membership.

Lynn is the exceptional teacher-librarian at Thornhill Junior Secondary School in Terrace, B.C. Over her career as a teacher-librarian, Lynn has been a tireless advocate for school libraries at the school and district level. Within Terrace and the surrounding area, she has taken up the opportunity of working with public and academic libraries by acting as a leader to foster a continuum not only of learning but also of technology and service.

Lynn has been BCTLA’s Continuing Education Chair for at least a decade and has made a significant impact at the provincial level. In this time, Lynn has made valuable contributions as a member of the BCTLA Executive and has played an important role in ensuring that northern B.C.'s teacher-librarians have a strong voice at BCTLA.

As Continuing Education Chair, Lynn has:

  • Made numerous presentations on behalf of school libraries;
  • Developed brochures to support new teacher-librarians and teachers;
  • Developed contact information for teacher-librarian speakers;
  • Contacted teacher education programs to promote teacher-librarian education;
  • Coordinated the K-12 Information Literacy Scope and Sequence Project.

In addition, she will be presenting on the K-12 Information Literacy Scope and Sequence with members of the project team on Saturday, April 18, 2009 as part of the BC Library Conference.

Lynn will be recognized as a 2009 recipient of BCTLA Honorary Life Membership at the BCTLA AGM and Spring Council, 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Holiday Inn Express Metrotown in Burnaby, B.C.

Christine Evans Receives the 2009 Ken Haycock Professional Development Grant

In Circulation: 2009 April 7

The BC Teacher-Librarians' Association is pleased to announce that Christine Evans is the 2009 recipient of the Ken Haycock Professional Development Grant.

Chris was awarded her Diploma in Teacher-Librarianship from UBC in 1991. She is currently a 0.6 teacher-librarian at Tyee Elementary School in Vancouver where she runs a school library program based on cooperative program planning and teaching. She has embraced technology as part of her program, teaching database use, search strategies, and website evaluation.

Since 1991, Chris has been a member of BCTLA and VTLA (Vancouver Teacher-Librarians' Association). Chris has served as VTLA's Secretary and Treasurer and is currently Co-President. Chris has also been an active member of the VTLA's Professional Development Committee, assisting in the organization of VTLA's annual "Winter Tonic" event. In 2004, Chris was a member of the organizing committee of the BC Teacher-Librarians' Association Conference which was hosted by Vancouver.

With support from the Ken Haycock Professional Development Grant, Chris will attend the International Association of School Librarianship conference in Padua, Italy, from August 31st to September 4th. The theme of this year's conference is, "School Libraries in the Picture: Preparing Pupils for the Future". Chris will attend pre-conference and workshop events at the conference and will write an article about her learning and experiences for a 2009-10 issue of The Bookmark.

Chris will be recognized as the 2009 recipient of the Ken Haycock Professional Development Grant at the BCTLA AGM and Spring Council, 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Holiday Inn Express Metrotown in Burnaby, B.C.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Education’s high-tech future

Goldstream News Gazette: 2009 April 6

"It’s about as big as a day-planner and much, much lighter than 300 textbooks.
Flicking from virtual page to virtual page, teacher Devon Stokes-Bennett deftly navigates through her electronic book, highlighting passages of Marley and Me. She looks right at home in this brave new world of education."

Profs blast lazy first-year students

TheStar.com: 2009 April 6

"University professors feel their first-year students are less mature, rely too much on Wikipedia and 'expect success without the requisite effort,' says a province-wide survey to be released today.

And guess what? In this case, many students agree with their profs."

Friday, April 3, 2009

Children’s Publishers Address CPSIA Testing and Labeling Provisions - 4/2/2009 1:36:00 PM - Publishers Weekly

Children’s Publishers Address CPSIA Testing and Labeling Provisions
Publishers Weekly: 2009 April 2

"The Consumer Product Safety Commission has said it will not enforce the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act when it comes to “ordinary” books printed after 1985, and legislation was introduced last week that potentially would exclude ink-on-paper and ink-on-board books from the Act entirely. But for publishers of novelty and book-plus formats—which account for a significant chunk of sales, especially in mass-market and special-market channels—the CPSIA will remain in full force, with all of its costly testing, certification and labeling requirements."

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

LOC even more 2.0 - NeverEndingSearch - Blog on School Library Journal

LOC even more 2.0 - NeverEndingSearch - Blog on School Library Journal

"Last January I blogged about the Library of Congress sharing its photographs on Flickr. Those photos now boast more than 15 million views.

A lot more sharing is about to happen."

www.bivinteractive.com - Local publishers building e-book catalogues

Business in Vancouver: 2009 April 1

"Self-Counsel is digitizing its catalogue of 300 business, do-it-yourself and other educational books – 200 of which will be converted and formatted for e-book readers such as Amazon’s Kindle by the end of 2009."