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Call me nosy, but I love finding out what's circulating in other libraries. Which is why I love our new Extra Helping column, "What Are They Reading for Fun?" We're beginning to see some repeats (hello, Stephenie Meyer!) but lots of surprises as well.
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| Interview |
| District Fires Sick Librarian |
 All Angela Page wants is her job back. The former media specialist at Liberty Middle School in upstate New York was fired last December for not showing up for work since 2004. But Page had a good reason. She got terribly sick from her mold-infested library, which resulted from a leaky roof. Now Page is suing the Liberty School District for $2 million in federal court. SLJ talked to the 52-year-old librarian about her long ordeal—and what the future holds.
When did you make the connection between your illness and the leak in the library?
Biologically, we all have a toxic load that we reach. I was shelving books and starting to trip over my own feet. I was getting dizzier and dizzier, and I didn't know why. I wasn't putting it together that, of course, "This place has been leaking for 13 years, the books have been covered in mold for 13 years, the rug has been absorbing the water, and the particle board shelving is puffing up it's so wet." I just wasn't thinking that it was settling in my body too and causing all these problems. When I was first sick, I couldn't have had a conversation. I couldn't remember what I was talking about. My brain was fried, and I've done a lot of medical stuff to get better. read more... |
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| News and Views |
| Schools Cut Back on Other Subjects to Focus on Reading, Math |
Are teachers spending less time on science and social studies to focus on their students' reading and math scores? You bet, says a new report that analyzes how much other subjects are suffering as a result of districts trying to meet the strict requirements of No Child Left Behind.
Since President Bush's signature education law was passed in 2002, the majority of school districts—62 percent—say they've increased the time teachers spend on English language arts (ELA) and math, says the Washington, DC-based Center on Education Policy (CEP). read more... |
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| Georgia District Approves Single-Sex Education |
Don't expect to see Dick and Jane sitting in the same class if they're attending Georgia's Greene County school district. In a unanimous vote, the school board recently approved a plan to separate all classes by gender at the beginning of the 2008-2009 academic year.
While some school districts have experimented with single-sex classes, this may mark the first time that an entire public school system has converted to single-sex education, says the district. The move only exempts a public charter school that operates independently from the rest of the system. read more... |
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| Remarkable Reads |
| My Viking Friends |
| Oh, those crazy Vikings! Warriors, sailors, explorers, pirates-what's not to like about these guys? Even the most reluctant reader can be lured into cracking open a book if there is promise of plundering and pillaging. Check out the BBC's online Viking resource, packed with great information and activities, including a chance to loot a monastery via the Viking Quest game. |
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BULLER, Laura. Vikings. illus. by Rich Cando. DK. 2007. ISBN 978-0-7566-2940-3.
Gr 4-7-Part of the "History Dudes" series, this title will have even reluctant readers convinced that history is the bomb. read more... |
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| What Are They Reading for Fun? |
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It's a given: Word gets around, but who knows where it started? Everyone everywhere is reading "The Spiderwick Chronicles," and with good reason beyond the release of the movie. Scott Westerfeld's titles turned up again in our survey, and, no surprise, the "Alex Rider" books. Still, though, there are regional favorites.
Maryann Owen, Racine Public Library, WI:
In one word: Series. Our readers are drawn to books with a tie-in to movies and TV shows, such as "The Spiderwick Chronicles" (S & S). Also popular are fantasy titles, including Rick Riordan's books about Percy Jackson and the Olympians, beginning with The Lightning Thief (Hyperion, 2005); Scott Westerfeld's Uglies, Pretties (both S & S, 2005), et al; and Stephenie Meyer's vampire novels (Little, Brown). Kids and adults alike are anxiously awaiting the third Christopher Paolini book, Brisingr, sequel to Eragon (2003) and Eldest (2005, both Knopf). Paul Langan's realistic fiction series "Bluford" (Townsend) has a wide readership in this area, as do some of the old standards, The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys. Biographies circulate well,
including the "Hip-Hop" series (Mason Crest), which features brief information on popular recording artists. read more... |
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| Librarian's Internet |
| Won't You Have a Piece of Pi? |
| www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson335.shtml |
Each year on March 14, many math teachers take a break from their normal class routine to plan a party in honor of Pi (3.14...). Why not celebrate Pi Day in your library as well? (By the way, some folks celebrate at exactly 1:59 p.m. because Pi carried out to more decimal points is 3.14159.)
This recently updated article gathers tons of links to Pi-related math and non-math activities and lessons for kids in grades 3-12. Some of the most creative links include Pi Day Poetry, Pi Webquests, Pi necklaces, a Pi Day trivia game, and even Pi Day songs. If you want even more inspiration, check out how the quirky folks at the Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco celebrate Pi Day—just go to www.exploratorium.edu/pi/, where you'll find a great activity schedule as well as Pi haikus and limericks and printable PDF posters.—Gail Junion-Metz
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| Director |
Grandview Heights Public Library
Columbus, Ohio
Grandview Heights Public Library, in a suburb of Columbus, seeks a visionary, creative leader to fill its Director's position, soon to be open due to retirement. The Director is responsible for guiding a staff of 32 FTE in providing services, programs, and collections, in addition to embracing and introducing technologies that meet the needs of a highly educated, professional community.
To see all positions available through the SLJ Career Center, click here...
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