New School Year, Library program, collections and services

Have you missed the library during the break?

As we approach the new school year, it feels like time goes even faster!
Soon, everybody will meet at the cafeteria to chat about their exciting activities. We all will be busy preparing classrooms and planning the year. I've decided not to wait till this time and send the Library Buzz now.
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During this summer break I often went swimming. I liked its cool water and seeing my granddaughter enjoying the pool! Once I've watched a father and his son competing in swimming. When it became obvious that his son was loosing, the father stopped. To my disappointment, so did the son who although tried hard to win just a minute ago. His motivation vanished as he saw his father's attitude changed. I've caught myself on a thought that it could be a great example of "how not to": as educators, we should not stop moving forward and leading our students to win. They watch us and learn not only from what we say but much more from what we do. So true indeed!

We all have had many good days during the break and gained vigor and strength for new opportunities. We are ready to swim long distance inspiring our students to succeed.
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As you know, our goal is to make our library media program strong and effective. Doug Johnston describes strong school library programs as ones that help students and staff

love reading and writing and thus improve reading scores,

use information resources in a variety of formats

be knowledgeble and comfortable with technology

develop critical thinking skills and advance in learning

grow as motivated and self-directed life-long learners

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Effectiveness of the programs is measured by the degree they impact their schools.
Getting the Most from Your School Library Media Program.
We build our activities around this goal:
Integration of Information Literacy program into the school curriculum is a significant step. This year, Information Literacy course for Grade Six and in Elementary classes are added to an IL unit of the Nineth Grade Study Skills course.

Another step is to continue developing collaborative units . You can use the librarians' expertise in the area of how to use online databases, search library catalog and digital collections, evaluate materials found in the Web, cite sources, compile bibliography, and use social networking tools safely.

Our online collections help you find reliable reference resources, eBooks, professional journals, articles from magazines and newspapers, and learn how to use technology.

We would like to announce a new subscription for Bookflix.com - a source for Elementary students that "pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic". It has a password-free access from campus. From home you have to log in (read more information on Online Collection page).

Besides online databases, you may like to use the collection of educational links at Teachers' Favorites . Let us know how we can save you hours on looking for materials this year!

Come to chat about technology: should you wonder what tool to use or how to incorporate new technology into curricula, let the library and the tech team come to your mind first!
This year we have a school subscription for VoiceThread. This new software allows teachers organize discussions around a picture, video or text and "transform media into collborative space". Last year we used it in Foreign Language, Elementary and Middle school classes. Once tried, you will like it and realize that VoiceThread is much fun for students. VoiceThread Library is a collection of ideas and successful projects run with the help of this tool.
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Two projects that were started last year are also in the list of our goals:

• Adopt a young student aims to build tighter bonds among AIS students and promote reading. Pupils from High School read to reluctant or slow readers from Elementary School and


• Media Helpers (students work in the library as their community service) encourages interactions between students and the library staff.

This year we would like to maintain both projects and involve more students in them.

Please help us expand our services, collections, and professional resources by sharing what you create and letting us know how we can improve our services and collections.