TECH TRENDS

• Tech Issues Hamper Student Access to Obama's Speech
  While many schools refused to stream President Obama’s speech to children on their first day of school last week, others simply could not.
  
  From Baltimore to Los Angeles, some schools experienced technical glitches that froze President Obama mid-word. And students at Center School District in Kansas City were offered taped versions of the speech instead of watching it live, as the district claimed streaming wasn’t possible because of a lack of technology. (The district did not return a call for comment.) more » » » 

Blogs

• ShelfTalker: A Children's Bookseller's Blog
  Alison Morris, Children's Book Buyer, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley, Mass.
  The Best Book You've Read in the Past Ten Years
  We're currently conducting an interesting exercise at Wellesley Booksmith that I thought some of you might like to participate in as well. This October marks the 10th anniversary of our store's openin...
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• A Fuse #8 Production
  Elizabeth Bird, Children's Librarian, Children's Center at 42nd Street
  Librarian Preview: Chicken House Spring 2010
  You may ask yourself, "Why is there an imprint of Scholastic named 'Chicken House'? What on earth do its books, which encompass a fine range of imported European titles, have to do with the abod...
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• A Fuse #8 Production
  Elizabeth Bird, Children's Librarian, Children's Center at 42nd Street
  Tomie, Can You Hear Me?
  Y'all know Jarrett Krosoczka, right? Aside from beating out Jon Scieszka in the Hardest-Picture-Book-Creator-Name-To-Pronounce Award he happens to be the author of such ludicrously fun picture books ...
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• Practically Paradise
  Diane Chen, Librarian, Hickman Elementary School, Nashville, Tennessee
  Doug Achterman's Haves, Halves, and Have-Nots dissertation
  "Any school or district that decides not to invest in school library programs must account for that decision in terms of the public charge of equitable access to a quality education for all publi...
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NEWS

• Capstone Launches Book Buying Rewards Program
  Looking to add a bit of mileage to your book buying experience? Capstone Publishers hopes it can help, recently launching its first rewards program.
  
  For every book purchased through one of its six imprints, Capstone is tagging teachers, librarians, and even parents with points, which they can then apply towards new titles. more » » » 
• Nominations Open for the I Love My Librarian! Award
  Know a librarian whose work has improved the lives of people in their communities? The New York Times, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the American Library Association (ALA) are encouraging the nominations of public, school, college, and academic librarians for the I Love My Librarian! Award.
  
  The public can nominate a librarian online until October 9, and each will be judged by a selection committee based on their quality of service to library users, demonstrated knowledge of the library and its resources, and a commitment to helping library users. more » » » 

WATCH AND READ

• YA Novel Rolls onto the Big Screen
  Whip It (PG-13), a comedy/drama based on a YA novel by Shauna Cross (who also penned the screenplay), premieres in theaters on October 2, 2009. Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut with the movie, a coproduction between Mandate Pictures and Barrymore’s Flower Films, which will be distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures. Ellen Page, the young Canadian actress who won critical acclaim for her role as the title character in Juno (2007), stars as Bliss Cavendar, an independent-minded teenager who feels out of place in her small Texas town and balks at following the rules. more » » » 

JOB OF THE WEEK