Hello LMS Staff!

This blog is being created to keep you up-to-date with what is going on in the library throughout the school year.   Of course you may always link to the library website by clicking here:  http://www.usd416.org/vnews/display.v/ART/47652eee96d79

Relay for Life

I am participating in the Relay for Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, for the first time coming up in June.  My family has put together a team in honor of my younger sister Jill, who is fighting pancreatic cancer.  Many of you have had experience with cancer, either personally or with loved ones and friends.  But this is my first time to be one of the primary caregivers for someone dealing with this devastating disease, and now I understand.  Besides the horrible symptoms she’s going through, it also makes me mad that Jill’s young grandchildren aren’t going to have personal memories of her.  I really don’t like asking people for money or donations, but anything you would be willing to pledge would be most appreciated.

You can go to my personal Relay for Life web page to make an online donation OR make a pledge or donation in the library.

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/suedavison

Thanks so much!

Evaluating Web Sites

Because students commonly go to the Internet for nearly all the research they do, I’ve made it my mission to make sure they at least realize that all web sites are NOT created equal.  I have a multi-lesson unit I use with sixth graders every year, and it is reinforced during 7th and 8th grade when students do various research projects.  They seem to especially enjoy the examples I show of “bad” or bogus websites, and they seem to get the idea that a person can’t believe everything he finds in print, especially on the Internet.  Here is a link to the five qualities I ask them to look at on a web site:   http://www.usd416.org/vnews/display.v/ART/48b83b5f8bfd3

New Books Recently Added to LMS Library

Books added to the LMS Library collection in Fall 2009. 

If you take a minute to glance over the list, you’ll see that although more of the books are fiction, I am still trying to keep a balanced collection of non-fiction books , too.  Research shows that boys, in particular, often prefer informational books to novels, but they aren’t often encouraged to read non-fiction.  I feel that when students use the Internet for nearly all of their informational needs, they are missing one huge advantage an actual book can provide, which is the BIG PICTURE.  Looking up details on a web site is great, but to grasp underlying concepts students still need someone (an author or teacher) to put it in context.   I encourage more teachers to offer extra credit or some type of incentive for our kids to read true books in your content areas–lots of our non-fiction books have AR quizzes to help us make them accountable, especially in the Social Studies and Science areas.  I know Jeremy gives “Cat’s Points” for AR quizzes on history books, with double points awarded for those set before 1900, and there may be other teachers doing something similar.
Sue

Library Field Trip

You probably remember hearing about the Library Field Trip last spring.  For three years now, we have taken students who qualify (by reading at least 12 of the William Allen White books) on a field trip in May.  We take them to Borders and Barnes & Noble bookstores in Overland Park where we let them pick out books we purchase for them to keep.  We use all of our book fair profits every year to let students select books up to that year’s dollar limit ($25 per student in ’09, and $27 each in ’08 and ’07.) The PTSO has been generous in providing the transportation and lunches for the students.  Last year 67 students qualified.

This year we are adding an additional requirement for students beyond reading the books (and of course passing the AR quizzes.) Students will be asked to comment on each of the books they read on a wiki I have created for that purpose at http://libraryfieldtrip2009-2010.wikispaces.com

Check it out!  Lots of kids have been posting messages, and some even know how to write a complete sentence!

Movie License

Our district has purchased a performance license for 2009-2010 that allows our staff to legally show copyrighted entertainment  DVD’s or videotapes from most major producers, even if they do not fall under the copyright “fair use” guidelines.   With a license from Movie Licensing USA we can show movies legally for non-teaching activities such as Family Movie Nights, Before- or After-School programs, Student Rewards, Holiday Events and more. ( It also covers outside groups that use our facilities, such as PTSO. )Video productions from companies other than the ones listed below are NOT covered.   For more info, go to www.movlic.com

Columbia Pictures
DreamWorks Pictures
Fine Line Features
Focus Features
Hollywood Pictures
Lionsgate
Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer (MGM)
Miramax Films
NBC Universal
New Line Cinema
Paramount Pictures, Paramount Classics, Paramount Vantage
Picturehouse
Sony Pictures
Touchstone Pictures
Tri-Star Pictures
United Artists
Walt Disney Pictures
Warner Bros.
Warner Independent Pictures

Try our new Flip camcorder!

It’s so easy to use for creating short video clips.  And you can post them on a SOCS web page, too.  Lots of possibilities for capturing & sharing student work!

LMS's Flip Camcorder

See a sample “Flip” video on the library web page at:
http://www.usd416.org/pages/uploaded_files/Jul_31_2009_-_VID00076.mov