OEMA Newsletter
  
An Electronic Newsletter
of The Oregon Educational Media Association
Volume 16 No. 3
November, 2003

FROM THE PRESIDENT"S KEYBOARD - Linda Ague

Well here it is the beginning of another month and no conference to go to. I guess that will give me time to go through the stacks of stuff I still haven't organized from the last three. My staff doesn't even want to make eye contact with me anymore because they just can't put one more "great idea" on their plate. With any luck you have found a way to take a more conservative approach. So I guess it is time to sort out and reflect and still try to hang onto that conference energy that is such a rush. Maybe eating all the leftover Halloween candy will help.

An issue that all of us will need to attend to is the future of OSLIS. At AASL many of the schools or districts that presented were touting district or statewide resources. The OSLIS site was impressive by comparison. It may be that for many of us it was a resource dropped in our laps. We were not all involved in the hours and hours of work required to secure the funding or design and maintain the site so we take it for granted. We have begun exploring the post-grant era for OSLIS and the conversation continues. If you have any insights about the "who and how" of keeping the site current, please share them with me.

Finally, we had our final meeting of the 2003 conference committee a few days ago just to wrap things up. One of the things we talked about was the different perspective on conferences and on OEMA in general you get when you are on one of the committees. We all related that time when we believed that the folks who were directing OEMA and its conferences were some elite folks who certainly couldn't have day jobs. Well they did and they do and we need more of them with a lot less grey hair. The 2004 committee is in place but come September, they will be looking for all manner of folks to help in a small way. contact Gregory Lum to get you on the list now. And in a few months we are going to be looking for folks to run for various offices on the board. Let me know if you are interested in a board position. Your job won't actually start until August but like most things in the education world, there is a long running path until you get to make the final jump.

Remember to share all the good stuff happening in your library. Keep the energy flowing.

OREGONIAN ONLINE FREE TO K-12
The Oregonian Online is available to all K-12 Oregon students on both the OSLIS elementary and secondary pages. Coverage includes all staff-written reports, special interest stories, editorials, columns, letters to the editor, sports reports and more. It is made possible with funds granted from the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act.

2005 BEVERLY CLEARY NOMINATIONS REQUESTED

The Beverly Cleary Committee is taking suggestions for the 2005 Beverly Cleary Award nominated books. They should, of course, be quality literature--fiction or nonfiction--published in 2002, and third grade reading level (taking into account vocabulary, graphic support, physical layout of the books). Please send any ideas to jann.tankersley@dayton.k12.or.us

JOANN KLASSEN REPRESENTS OEMA ON eLEARNING TASK FORCE

JoAnn Klassen will represent OEMA on an "eLearning Distance Education Summit-Planning Focus Group". The eLearning Distance Education Summit is scheduled for Jan 26, 2004. The focus group will convene on Nov. 12, 2003. The group will address the needs of distance education stakeholders from around Oregon.

RETIREES HONORED AT FALL CONFERENCE

"FIRST TIMERS" CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP

A new scholarship was created to support library media staff, both certified and classified in attending the fall conference and joining OEMA.  The scholarship covers 1 year of membership and registration costs.  This year’s scholarship recipients were:  Diana Henigan-Librarian at Alameda Elem in Ontario and Gloria Wurdinger-Library Assistant at Gervais HS.  It was difficult to choose only two recipients out of 21 strong applications.

LESSONS TO GO

During the OEMA Conference, participants carrying an intriguing toy of a boy riding a bicycle generated curiosity from the people they passed. The source of these fascinating objects? Chapman Hill Elementary’s LMS, Debbie Straw, and her two jam packed hands-on sessions called, “Lessons to Go!”

The African folk toy was from a Salem store called Ten Thousand Villages, and Debbie had ordered them to pair up with the book called Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams. (Galimoto is a Reading Rainbow book). Debbie’s Mom Janet sewed several purses (that several lucky participants won) for activity that accompanied The Big Green Pocketbook by Candice Ransom. Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss gave Debbie the excuse to make ooblecks so her students could have a great story experience!
Pete’s a Pizza by William Steig provided an hilarious drama enactment complete with baby powder (flour), water (for oil), paper cheese (for the cheese), and paper shapes (for pepperoni). Janet also knit several white mittens and Debbie suggested using the furry mice from the cat toy section, and other mini animals to put in the mitten.

When participants held up a weed whacker, a life jacket, and handcuffs, Debbie introduced The Inside-Outside Book of Libraries by Roxie Munro, and revealed the unusual collections that specialized libraries have. She also handed out Braille bookmarks, McDonald’s Corporate Office Braille menus, and talking book material from the State Library. Sharing cultural differences in How My Parents Learned to Eat by Ina R. Friedman, we watched in amusement as participants attempted to use chopsticks to pick up and eat marshmallows. Easier said than done!

Despite the continued infiltration of high technology in our lives, hands-on activities are still exciting and informative. The popularity of Debbie’s sessions show this very clearly.

2004 C0NFERENCE AT ASTORIA AND SEASIDE

The 2004 OEMA Fall Conference will be October 8 & 9, 2004, on the North Coast. Featured authors are Nancy Farmer and Dorothy Hinshaw Patent. Dorothy will share her books on Lewis & Clark through a slide presentation at Friday's author dessert. At Saturday's banquet, Nancy will share her thoughts on her award-winning book, The House of the Scorpion. Plan ahead, invite a colleague, see you at the beach!

IT WORKS FOR ME: Suggestions to make our worklife easier

Meg Miranda, librarian at Westland Middle School in Corvallis has volunteered to submit a monthly column to the newsletter. Meg's idea is for OEMA members to share some relatively simple thing that you have done to make their worklife a bit easier. Meg will collect the ideas and send the "column" to the newsletter editor each month.
IF you have a tip or idea that helps make your life easier, please share it with us. Send your suggestion to Meg.Miranda@corvallis.k12.or.us

Meg's contribution: As I multi-task all over the library I often misplace my pen, or someone borrows it and doesn't return it because I've moved on to help solve another research dilemmas. When I found pens on a rope at the local stationery store I knew this one frustration was solved. I now have three pens that I can wear like a necklace - I color coordinate them with my outfit!

MORE ON ADRIAN'S WINNING GRANT

October's newsletter reported on the No Child Left Behind Grant which went to Adrian School District in Malheur county. Elma Witty is the teacher librarian for the K-12 school who gave permission to include this information in the newsletter.

"As I heard about the Improving Literacy grant, I discussed it with an efficient friend (parent/community member) who is now student teaching.  She said she'd help and we found 3 or 4 other staff members who gave input and helped write parts of the application.  Our site council chairman wrote about test results; a high school teacher wrote about possibilities for an after school program; the teacher-in-training wrote about how research supports our requests; the business manager helped figure out costs for staff time and for equipment and did the e-filing of the application; a teacher who has done some grant writing checked the application over and made suggestions, as did the superintendent.  Very much a group effort! "

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR VISITS SALEM'S MYERS SCHOOL ON "READING DAY"

Libby Hamler-Dupras, Teacher-Librarian at Myers & Fruitland Elem. Schools in Salem, reports that award winning author Francisco Alarcon visited Myers Elementary School on Friday, October 24, as part of the school's "Reading Day" and a celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Francisco Alarcon is a children's author and poet who has received many awards including the Pura Belpre Honor Award, one of the most prestigious awards in Latino literature. The Pura Belpre award is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association and the National Association to Promote Library Service to Spanish Speakers.

Alarcon spoke to students throughout the day and read from his books. He also autographed copies of his books for students. "Reading Day" is one of the biggest events at Myers. It is sponsored by the Myers Parent Teacher Organization.

SPRING TERM AT GEORGE FOX

George Fox University will offer the course Core Collection Development EDFL554(3 semester hours) online with two face to face Saturdays Spring term (January 17 - May 3). Registration will begin online December 12 @edfl.georgefox.edu

NW REGIONAL LAB JOURNAL ON SCHOOL LIBRARIES

The current issue of "NW Education", published by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory is entitled "Nexus of Knowledge-The School Library in the 21st Century." The magazine consists of terrific articles featuring libraries, library media programs and teacher-librarians and champions from the Northwest.

The magazine is issued in print and online, and can be duplicated and disseminated without permission. It is a good read and a great tool for telling our stories featuring local people. Take a look at http://www.nwrel.org/nwedu/09-01/index.asp#article

MOCK PRINTZ WORKSHOP

Who was Michael L. Printz anyway, and why should he have an award named in his honor? If you'd like to find out, plus read some great books for teens published in 2003, sign up for the Mock Printz Workshop. You'll read 10 YA books in advance, then discuss and vote on your favorites at the workshop.

TO REGISTER: Send an email to Ann Harrison annha@multcolib.org with your name, address, phone number and email address. Payment will be on site the day of the workshop, so please bring cash (exact change only please) or a check made out to the Oregon Young Adult Network. Participants will receive a list of the titles to be discussed shortly after they register. If you have any questions about the workshop, please email Ruth Allen at rutha@multcolib.org.

FOURTH ANNUAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL

Experience the magic of storytelling at Multnomah County Library's fourth annual Tapestry of Tales Family Storytelling Festival, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21 and 22. The festival features performances by four renowned storytellers performing in a range of styles at a number of venues throughout the Portland area. The festival features a workshop and Story Swap on Friday. Performances include four family matinees geared for all ages on Saturday and a finale on Saturday evening for adults and older children. Admission to the Story Swap and performances is free and the public is invited to attend. More information is available at http://www.multcolib.org/events/tales/

NICOLE RUBEL SPEAKS ON NOV. 18

Children's author and illustrator Nicole Rubel, who has published over 60 children's books, including the Rotten Ralph series, will be speaking at the Wilsonville Library, Nov. 18 6:30 on The History of Collage and how it's led to the creation of Grody's Not So Golden Rules. She invites all members of OEMA to come!

SCHOOL LIBRARY RESEARCH TO WATCH

The Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL) at Rutgers University has been awarded a U.S. federal grant through the Institute of Museum and Library Services which will provide a tool for school librarians to use to measure the impact of school libraries on student learning.

The outcome of the project will be both a functional model for measuring the impact of effective school libraries on individual
student learning, and packaged materials that school librarians and school organizations may adapt and implement to facilitate tracking and documentation of student learning in their school libraries. The project will design and test instruments and procedures for tracking and assessing student learning through the school library and adapt these instruments in a resource package, the Student Learning Impact Measurement (SLIM) packet, and in a training institute to implement the assessment.

WIN BIG MONEY FOR YOUR SCHOOL OR DISTRICT

Scholastic Adminstr@tor, Intel, and the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Inc. are conducting a search for elementary, middle, and high schools demonstrating outstanding accomplishments in ten categories, including "Most Innovative Use of Technology", "Best Professional Development", and "Most Involved Parents/Teachers". Tout your accomplishments by applying at
http://www.blueribbonschools.com/award/step1.asp

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS AND BEYOND

Sybilla Cook, retired OEMA member from Roseburg, is excited to tell you all that Highsmith is planning to publish an elementary version of the Battle of the Books tentatively titled, Battle of the Books and More: Reading Activities for the Elementary Grades, K-5. Frances Corcoran and Beverly Fonnesbeck will continue as authors, but they will be joined by Roz Goodman of the Alaska Association of School Librarians. Billy’s role will be to bring everybody together so the new version has continuity with the first.Their manuscript is due the first of April because Highsmith hopes to bring the book out in the fall of 2004.

Between now and December 15th, Roz Goodman is collecting ideas from the Alaska school library personnel, and Fran Corcoran is working with Hawaii and Illinois. Billy would love to hear from other states in the Northwest or elsewhere. One thing Billy learned through all her years of school librarying (sic) is that networking is what makes librarians and their projects valuable. If you are involved in Battle of the Books, and would like to share ideas, please let Billy know. And you can also help by forwarding this note to any other people you know who are involved. Email Billy at sybilla@rosenet.net, or write to her at Sybilla A. Cook, 19 North River Drive, Roseburg, Oregon 97470. We’ll credit you in the book so be sure to include your name, school, and a contact email address or phone number.
Roz suggested the following topics, but you don’t have to limit yourself to these. ANY idea, anecdote, or method of dealing with problems will do!

Benefits of Battle of the Books
Connections to/support for Standards Based/Project Based Learning
Connections to/support for Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning
Connection to/support for literacy (reading/writing) standards
Collaborating with teachers to plan battle activities
Identifying participants and teams
Setting up local battles (bracketing, practice battles, etc.)
Ideas for participation incentives (special events, prizes, practice battles, etc.)
Funding sources to purchase books or other needed items
Games using battle books
Book extension projects
Ideas for using battle books to:
- teach visual literacy skills: interpreting pictures
- build vocabulary
- increase student comprehension skills
- develop higher order thinking skills
- teach information/library literacy skills
Involving parents in the program
Involving community members in the program
Using media for public relations
Websites/vendors offering literature guides
Websites/vendors offering support AV resources (videos, CD’s, audio books)
Websites on book selection, authors, illustrators
Bibliographic information about books and articles about Battle of the Books
Reproducibles (bookmarks, certificates, bracketing-must include permission to copy
Tips for writing good questions (especially for primary grade students)

LIBRARY SIGNS

Jan Brett has added a section of  library signs <http://www.janbrett.com/library_signs/library_signs_main.htm>
to her website.  They include Dewey and a few others plus one where you can generate your own sign. So cool!

THE PEOPLE'S VOTE: 100 DOCUMENTS THAT SHAPED AMERICA

America's history is built on words and ideas.  Which were the most significant of all? Cast your vote: select the 10 documents that best define who we are as a people and what our nation stands for. Go to <http://www.ourdocuments.gov> and click on "People's Vote."

The "People's Vote ," co-sponsored by the National Archives and National History Day, invites Americans of all ages and educational backgrounds to vote for 10 documents from the list of 100 milestone documents chosen by the National Archives, or to write in the documents they think are most significant.  The results of the "People's Vote" will be announced on December 15, 2003, Bill of Rights Day. At  <http://www.ourdocuments.gov> you can see the original speeches, international treaties, Supreme Court cases, patent designs, and Constitutional amendments that changed the course of history.

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS OF NOTE . . . from Karen Wedeking

Valenza, Joyce Kasman. Power Research Tools Learning Activities and Posters. Chicago: American Library Association. 2003. $55.00.

Many devices, activities, questionnaires, handouts, sample communications, student organizers, and twelve full size posters(approximately 17x22) are available to help you develop the research abilities of your students. Use these materials to guide students toward meaningful inquiry, critical data sorting, and quality information. All activities are tied to AASL, ISTE and NET standards.

Hill, Ann and  Julieta Dias Fisher. Tooting Your Own Horn Web-based Public Relations for the 21st century Librarian. Worthington,Ohio: Linworth Publishing.2002   $39.95

The teacher librarian transformed into a cyber- librarian may need the" how to" of marketing  to provide information to students , teachers, staff, administrators, parents, and the community via the library homepage. This book offers a step by step approach to marketing the library program. The emphasis is on starting small and using ideas already in place. Each chapter has a description, planning advise, design consideration, sample forms, surveys, websites and resources.  An index, glossary, and bibliography are included.

SEARCH INSIDE THE BOOK

On Oct. 23, the CEO of Amazon announced a new service that provides searchable full-text access to over 120,000 titles from about 190 publishers. The new service is called "Search Inside The Book". Gary Price provides an overview of this new service at ResourchShelf.com: <http://digbig.com/3dxa>.

READ WRITE THINK

MarcoPolo and the International Reading Association (IRA) provide a wonderful resource of materials at ReadWriteThink. <http://www.readwritethink.org>To start the school year, MarcoPolo provided a new feature for this year. On the MarcoPolo Home Page, there is a link for NEW USERS near the bottom of the page. If you have never used this resource before, take some time to watch a 20 minute presentation of the program. <http://www.marcopolo-education.org/index.aspx>

There are many new lessons for this year. So, if you were a user in the past, click in and check out what is new.

CALENDAR

OEMA Newsletter -- Editor: Sheryl Steinke

Published monthly on the 5th of the month September through May
To receive the OEMA Newsletter by email, subscribe to the OEMA mailing list using the form at http://www.oema.net/telecommunication/list.html

Send news items for the Newsletter to:
* Email: sherylsteinke@comcast.net
* Mail: Sheryl Steinke at 2405 Blacktail Dr. Eugene, OR 97405

Deadline: 1 week before publication, except 2 weeks for the January issue.