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1.
What's up in the library?
As you'll see
below, this past month we had visits from NYPL librarians and a
special author visit, and got a chance to meet with finalists for
the National Book Award. I've been working on getting the computerized
catalog updated and running so everyone can see what we have to
offer. I'm busy creating lists for magazine and book orders, having
gotten a bunch of suggestions from students, and just finished writing
a grant for books and display "stuff". As for the library
space -- if you haven't been up to the library recently, you need
to come up and see all the changes: plants, more furniture moved
out (with more leaving soon), and new computers installed (which
should be functional very soon!). It's beginning to resemble
a real library again.
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2.
NYPL librarian visits to continue
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This month,
librarians from New York Public Library met with fifteen 9th
and 10th grade classes from three of our schools (LOMA, New
Design and AGL).
Just what
do the NYPL librarians do when they come to a school? Among
other things, Sara (from the Seward Park branch), Abbie (Chatham
Square) and Anne ( Tomkins Square) provided information on
teen programs,on Teen Central (the library just
for teens), online materials (including eBooks to download,
and the new helpful homework site); passed out "fresh
start" slips ( to clear fines, lost materials from library
records) to those who needed them; and booktalked some great
new fiction and non-fiction titles.
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Sara
discussing the "Fresh Start" program
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This is a great
way to let students know about the materials, services, and programs
the public library has just for them. We'll continue to schedule visits
for 9th and 10th grade students through their English classes. I'll
be in touch with English/ESL teachers regarding scheduling, etc. If
you would like your class to be included in the next round of visits
(in January/February), please let me know.
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3. Students
meet with National Book Award finalists
On Nov. 14th, Maribel Nieves (AGL) and I escorted a group of
students to the teen press conference for the National Book Award
finalists in the Young Adult category. After
a reading by the finalists, there was a reception at Teen Central
(the library exclusively for teens). Those who remembered to bring
their copies of the books got a chance to get them autographed.
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4.
Author Travis Hunter visits with students
On Friday Nov. 17th, Travis Hunter, author of Something to Die
For and four other novels dealing with men and the choices they
make in their lives, visited the library and spoke with students
about writing, life, men, women... and whatever else the students
asked him about!
Travis
autographing his latest book |
Travis
with members of one the book clubs that read his book
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 ..
from
one writer to another... |
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5.
Multimedia in the classroom
Here
are some services we have free access to:
EdVideo Online, a streaming video service that allows
you to download video clips, create "play lists" for your
students, and lots more.
TeachingBooks.Net, which connects you to author and
illustrator programs and interviews, book guides, author websites
and audio excerpts of book readings, and more, all accessible through
a searchable database.
I'll
be sending you more information about these via your e-mail.
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6.
Info and help needed
I've
been spending a lot of time these past few months getting to know
more about the classes, culture and curricula of the five schools
in the building so that I can create a collection and library program
tailored to meet our students' needs and interests. I've collected
syllabi and unit outlines. You might have seen me walking around,
peeking into rooms; I might have asked you questions about your
classes. So what more do I need?
Info:
English and ESL teachers: What books are you teaching and what themes
are you covering this year? ESL teachers, do you have a textbook
that you use? Looking at it would give me lots of information!
Help:
There is a large video collection in the library. I need to know
what is good, what's not; what's covered, what isn't. This is especially
important for the 200+ videos which are not in our catalog -- I
don't want to catalog them if they are too old, on topics that aren't
taught, or are just bad! Science and social studies teachers --
it would be great if you could come down and take a look and give
me some advice!
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7. Freebies
Some things
up for grabs in the library:
-- Lots of old art books!
-- more National Geographics
-- Furniture:
one low
(42" high?) double-sided bookcase with three sections (each
approx. 36" wide).
"Blond" wood similar to one in picture below, but without
divider in middle (and without books!). Can be re-assembled to have
two or even only one section.
two magazine racks, blond wood about 42" high and 38"
wide.
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