JESS3 / The State of The Internet from JESS3 on Vimeo.

ISLMA/LBSS GRANTS

Apply now to the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) Library Book Selection Service (LBSS) Endowment Fund for an opportunity to purchase sets of the Illinois Children?s Choice books for your school or public library. 

Libraries may apply for a complete set of titles in one appropriate level, Monarch, Rebecca Caudill, or Abraham Lincoln Award.  The library must be registered for the selected Children?s Choice Award by May 15, 2010 in order to be eligible for LBSS Grant Funds.

Applications The application will be available after March 15, 2010. All application forms must be submitted by May 15, 2010.

The FY2010 School District Library Grant Program, commonly referred to as the School Library Per Capita Grant, awards have been announced. Olympia Libraries have been awarded $1,367.31. Funding is based on a maximum of $0.75 per student for those attendance centers that meet the grant qualifications. Olympia High School Library Media Center will receive $420.55. Olympia Middle School Library will receive $302.02. Olympia North Learning Center will receive $204.21. Olympia South Learning Center will receive $229.19. Olympia West Learning Center will receive $211.34. The purpose of this grant is to enhance the school district’s school library program. The grant is noncompetitive and established in legislation.

Olympia High School has also been awarded $500 from the Olympia Foundation for Education for a Digital Creation Studio. The Digital Creation Studio will target all high school students. The OHS Library Media Center purchased 4 digital voice recorders, 8 headphones, and 7 microphones. This equipment is enhancing the teaching of podcasting, video casting, audacity, Photo Story, moviemaker, Moodle and other software applications for 21st century learners.

February is....
Celebrate Black History Month with Free Trial:

Free Trial: African-American History Online:
Provides expansive and in-depth information on the people, events, and topics important to the study of African-American history.
Username: olystudent
Password: read
Trial Ends: 2/25/2010

APRIL IS? .

National Poetry Month 
Poetry 180: a poem a day for american high schools

Poets.org has tips for librarians: ways to develop greater visibility for poetry during April and throughout the year. Also included are library success stories from previous celebrations. 

Check Scholastic's web page for even more Poetry Month fun. Some of the activities include making I Spy poetry projects with Jean Marzollo and viewing a webcast of Jack Prelutsky, the nation?s first Children?s Poet Laureate.

   MARK YOUR CALENDAR    

• March 7 - 13, 2010, Teen Tech Week.
• March 15, 2010, applications open for Library Book Selection Service (LBSS) Endowment Fund.
• Olympia Spring break: March 19 - 28, 2010

• April 11-17 Libraries are the heart of their communities. National Library Week 2010 (April 11-17) will be celebrated with the theme, "Communities thrive @ your library."
   

•  

ING AHEAD

2010 ILLINOIS YOUNG READERS' BOOK AWARDS

• Monarch Award
  2010 Monarch Master List
   
• Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award
  2010 Master List
  2010 Resources
   
• Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award
  2010 Annotated Master List with Websites

NEWS FROM THE ABE BABES

Hey, everyone!  The Abe website has now been updated for the 2010 award year (2009-10 school year).  Check it out at www.islma.org, under "Grants & Awards -- Abraham Lincoln Award".  Among the new information is the final vote tally for the 2009 award, the list of 75 semifinalists from which the new 2010 Master List was selected, the annotated 2010 Master List with author websites, new 2010 bookmark copy masters, spine label masters, and Abe graphics, and more. 

New at the top of the site this year is a section of "Bonus Materials" sent to us by several of our Abe authors or their publishers or agents.  Also at the top of the site is the link to the Battle of the Books wiki -- feel free to post your questions about the new Abe Master List titles for the 2010 award. 
Hey, everyone! Just a reminder that you have until midnight February 24, 2010, to submit your library's votes for the 2010 Abe winner. Use the online ballot (www.islma.org under Abraham Lincoln Award, in the section on "Voting"), and be sure to submit ALL the votes you collected from your eligible readers on ONE online ballot. The winner will be announced Friday Feb. 26 at the DuKane Institute, then emailed to you, posted on ISLMANET, and posted on the Abe website.
Also, keep sending me your Double Deuces for 2010 -- we have 13 so far. We'll post the list to the website shortly, but I'll accept names until June 1 (some kids like to finish all 22, even though the voting is over). So if you have some "late" Deuces later this spring, send them in and we'll update the list periodically. Kathy S. Abe Award Steering Committee

THE GREAT SUNFLOWER PROJECT   

While your summer patrons are reading on the wild side, invite them to participate in The Great Sunflower Project. Organizers send out Lemon Queen sunflower seeds for you to plant, then once the plants are grown you document the amount of time it takes for five bees to visit the sunflower.  Organizers use the submitted data to study the bee population.  Bees are an important part of growing food, yet it seems their numbers are declining and this study can help scientists understand what is happening.  Take a look at the Great Sunflower Educational Gardens pages for more ideas about how your library or school can participate.  

Bees and other creatures may be small, but they are part of the WILD creatures around us.

USPS KITS 

Would you like to receive education kits from the United States Postal Service?  These kits tie current stamp offerings to instructional activities and usually come with posters and educator guides.  To be added to the distribution list, send your name, school name and address, grade level, number of students, phone number, and email address (optional) to:

                 USPS Education Program
                Attn:  Jean Schladrman
                1735 N. Lynn Street; Suite 5016
                Arlington, VA  22209-6432