Volume 33 Number 6 February 2010

NewsletterNow is the time to be a vibrant, visible, and vocal library activist. s school boards, superintendents, and administrators through- out California are deciding how to cope with budget cuts, Aremember to make every effort to advocate for strong school library programs for all students. Write newspapers and visit politicians, school board members, and be visible and collaborative in your school community. Invite parents, community members, local politicians, and school board members to your library to see how the students benefit from your teaching and literacy efforts. Present workshops to parents and teachers about cybersafety, databases, Google tools, plus Web 2.0 and Classroom 2.0 tools. Use the extensive advocacy toolkits provided to you on the CSLA Web site, www.csla.net. Convince educational leaders that the library program should be an integral part of the educational experience of every child. It would be wonderful if every child could have the latest technology, ebook readers, and plenty of engaging books at home to read for pleasure. But that is not the reality for the students and families we work with. Are we going to stay silent and let the economic problems “close the book” on libraries and “shelve” librarians? What’s Inside Of course not! How many local “Best Sellers” have you recruited? Forward them Stephen Krashen’s letters Governmental Relations...... 2 (available at http://sites.google.com/site/sdkrashen/home/letters) and teach them how to advocate for school libraries. Plan group visits to your local school board to tell them about the Leadership For Diversity...... 3 great collaborative teaching in your library. Submit monthly reports to your administrator that Educational Technology...... 4 describe your lesson collaboration and the content standards that your lessons meet. We look for- Web Pathways...... 5 ward to the Model Library Standards being approved within the next few months, so that you can demonstrate how directly they are aligned to core content standards (See Barbara Jeffus’ Legislative Liaison...... 6 article.) Guest Column...... 8 In January, Connie Williams and I attended the ALA Midwinter Conference in Boston, Massa- California Department chusetts and met with American Association of School Librarians (AASL) leaders from several of Education...... 9 states. ALA President, Camila Alire’s Frontline Advocacy presentation, with Connie Williams on Public Relations...... 9 the panel, was well-attended. The audience was eager to hear about CSLA’s “Best Sellers” campaign for strong school libraries and possibly replicate it in their states. They enjoyed Northern Notes...... 10 Connie’s reference to our One Book-One Conference book by Peggy Klaus, Brag: Tooting Your Southern Snippets...... 11 Own Horn Without Blowing It as well. Anna Koval, Sandy Schuckett, Debbie Abilock, and Claudette McLinn were a few of the CSLA members who attended ALA Midwinter. We Calendar...... 12 attended AASL Affiliate meetings Saturday and Sunday, talked with exhibitors, and went to a campaign event for Sara Kelly Johns. The weather, in the 30s and 40s seemed cold to Califor- nians, but with no rain or snow, Bostonians thought it was spring. ALA members, please vote this spring for Sara Kelly Johns, past president of American Associa- tion of School Librarians AASL, for President of the American Library Association! She’ll be great! Finally, thank you to Jane Lofton and Marie Slim and all Southern Section Board members who planned and the wonderfully successful Joyce Valenza Webinar on January 23!

Warmest wishes, Rosemarie Bernier, CSLA President Governmental Relations Consider…. multi-faceted approach to Legislative Day in the District. Challenging times present many opportunities to educate all stakeholders to the benefits of strong Aschool library programs for California students. A positive approach will reap positive responses. Our message must be united and program-based even though we may be facing cuts at the local level. California School Library As you read this newsletter, the tone on Calib is turning positive with the great school Association library slogan voting, but we must put forth the idea that black armbands and coffins are 950 Glenn Drive, Suite 150 not what School Board members need to see. Their jobs are horrific in this budgetary Folsom, CA 95630 climate. Every component of the educational team is in crisis, it is what our program does (916) 447-2684 | (916) 447-2695 Fax [email protected] | www.csla.net for students that must be emphasized, not jobs. (And I know that it is hard to make that differentiation right now...but we must.) As we march into March and April we need to We have provided general staff respon- sibilities to assist you when contacting stay focused on the program. the office. If you are uncertain who on staff should address your question, Much has happened since the last newsletter. CSLA’s Legislative Committee has developed please contact Deidre. a multi-faceted approach to this year’s Legi-Day, which will culminate on Friday, April 16, Deidre Bryant 2010 with district visits to our legislators across the state. CSLA and the California Library Executive Director [email protected] Association will co-host this effort with appointments being scheduled in the next few • Office operations and weeks. Watch Calib and the CSLA Web site for updated details explaining how to sign-up administration for your legislative visits. CSLA and CLA are working in unison to supply legislative • Executive Board liaison • Northern and Southern Sections contacts for each legislator as this newsletter goes to press. Board liaison • Membership development April 16 seems so far away, what can we do to promote the program before then? Calib has • Staff management been alive with requests to write emails to Education Secretary, Arne Duncan. There have • Staff liaison to Vice Presidents and their respective committees been requests to write letters to our California legislators. Take letter writing as your • Oversee Web site content February challenge. (*Check the link at the end of the article for a sample email.) in conjunction with various committees Our March “march” will be with our classroom teacher colleagues. All of us must seize the Carolyn Tienken CMP moment and be noticed at the CTA-CSU-CU rally on Thursday, March 4. Call your local Conference and Exhibits Manager [email protected] teacher’s union and find out what they are doing for this statewide event. Rally your fellow • Conference program logistics librarians to attend with Dr. Seuss hats, a positive banner, and/or large recognizable picture coordination books. Be a presence. If there will be speakers, ask if you can speak to what school library • Exhibits coordination • Conference Committee liaison programs bring to our students. We should be at every rally in the state; and provide a Teri Bearden photo opportunity for every local newspaper. Membership Services Associate [email protected] Your committee is putting together a packet of talking points and handouts to make it as • Membership processing, new easy, energized, and practical to inform all stakeholders, including legislators, to the and renew • Membership database management benefits of a strong school library program. Watch for more updates…write letters and get • Conference registration ready to march on March 4. Legislative Day in the District on Friday, April 16 will be the • Journal advertising coordination grand culmination! • Administration support • Job Hotline coordination • Conference registration support *Send an email to Arne Duncan, [email protected], with the subject line “Budget Ques- Please update your records accordingly tion.” Susan Thompson wrote: “Research has shown that student achievement occurs in and forward to any departments for that have an adequately stocked library and school librarian on site. School database and billing purposes. libraries and appropriate staffing MUST be ensured in the President’s budget.”

2 CSLA Newsletter, February 2010 LEADERSHIP FOR DIVERSITY Evolution of the Vanden High School Multicultural Book Club - By Amanda Carter, LDF Committee

he California Content Standards set a reading goal of two million words by the time students reach the 12th grade. The challenge is how to motivate my Thigh school students to read them. The answer was obvious: give them books that they can’t resist – books on a variety of topics, with a variety of characters, including those who look like them, reflecting their backgrounds. The next question was how can I, one person, reach the most students, and the answer was to enlist their teachers to share the good word.

Another challenge facing our school, like many others, is closing the academic achievement gap between our ethnic and socio-economic subgroups. Again, I felt that I could do my part by encouraging our teachers to utilize multicultural texts in the curriculum. Many excellent novels had been purchased for the English depart- ment but were not being taught, because many of the English teachers, especially the new ones had never taught or read them.

So I started a multicultural book club for the teachers (and interested staff members) in our district. The district, recognizing the value of the club, supported the club with professional development hours, and the purchase of books when funds were available. We read several of the books sitting on the English department shelves – A Yellow Raft in Blue Water and Their Eyes were Watching God, and the teachers began teaching them.

In selecting the books, I tried to represent a wide range of cultural perspectives, including Hispanic, African-American, Native American, and Filipino. In addition, we read selections that represent the subcultures found in our classrooms, such as in The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth girl. We’ve read about an autistic teenager in The Curious Incident of Dog in the Night Time and an overachieving high school student in Catalyst.

Results have been gratifying. Throughout the years we have had 20 participants, from eight curriculum areas. My book “ambassadors” have done a great job of keeping some books constantly in circulation – First Part Last, The Kite Runner, and Miracle’s Boys, to name a few. I have had to buy so many copies of Monster by Walter Dean Myers that it is permanently on my purchasing list. I’m sure that the Susan increase in circulation during the past few years (75% since 2005) Martimo has been in part due to the referrals of my colleagues. Retiring Most gratifying of all is that our school has made progress in closing pplause and appre- the achievement gap, as we were recognized in 2009 for this achieve- ciation to Susan Martimo as she counts down days ment by being selected as a California Distinguished School. Though until her retirement from the California Department it is difficult to make a direct correlation between the book club and A of Education. test scores, I know that it plays a part. Among her many contributions, Susan is a CSLA past president, former conference chair, key developer on the CDE document, Check It Out!, author of Where Do I Start? A School Library Handbook, and most recently the adminis- trator of the CDE Curriculum Frameworks Office, home to the CDE school library work. Thank you, Susan! On to a new chapter.

3 CSLA Newsletter, February 2010 EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY • Awareness of the issues surrounding intellectual property, copyright and fair use; Information Illiteracy a • Criteria for selecting useful Web sites (visible and invisible); • How to think critically about information tools, including National Pandemic Web sites, blogs, wikis, and other social networking sites; • How to think critically about materials retrieved through - By Glen Warren, Technology Committee information tools like databases; you have been hanging around the educational technology • Ability to search for information effectively; world you would be very familiar with the concept of • Ability to locate materials in or through libraries; If Digital Natives, and Digital Immigrants (Mark Prensky, • Ability to utilize information effectively; and 2001). It reflects the observation that we have a generation that has • Ability to use information ethically through appropriate grown up in the digital age and their native language and/or dialect quotation, paraphrasing, summarizing, and citation. is digital. Compared to the folks like me that had to learn the 2.0 These observations are just a few examples of the struggles that world as an adult, the digital world comes naturally for our kids. many and are experiencing. It is time for us to The focus of this conversation about Digital Natives and Digital help reshape and repurpose the next wave of educational technol- Immigrants has for the most part been on the teachers who need to ogy evolution, to move beyond technology proficiency and get catch up with their students in the area of all things digital. This is a back to the basics of inquiry, research, critical thinking, etc…aka real trick when currently some of the technology we would like to information literacy. use most is not allowed within the school network. More than ever, educational technology needs the expertise of a This situation has created another concept the educational group of teaching professionals who are prepared to round out a technology world is very familiar with hearing: the great student currently anemic educational diet that is void of inquire, research, Power Down. The Power Down concept refers to students and creative, and critical thinking. Educational technology needs the teachers who are not allowed to use the technology that is common expertise of 21st century Teacher Librarians. If you would like to in their world, and makes school feel less connected to their assist in advancing this essential educational message in California, personal lives, making school less relevant. As frustrating as all of please contact Glen Warren at the Orange County Department of this is, immigrate or native, power up to power down, it is all pale Education at [email protected], as we sharpen our message. in comparison to an educational technology issue we have not faced head on within educational technology circles and has reached a national breaking point. I am referring to the national pandemic of widespread K12 information illiteracy! 2010 Enhancing Student Sadly, this information illiteracy pandemic that am referencing in Learning Through the this article has no hard data. If you do know of hard data about this Technology Award subject please contact Glen Warren at [email protected] as soon as possible. However, there are plenty of antidotal observations that – Sponsored by Follett Software Company are being reported across the country from our institutions. One in a long line of antidotal observations is coming Put your best 21st century technology skills to the test to from of California librarians who are reporting that their showcase your story of successful technology integration. We undergraduate students do not have the most basic information want to hear how you are using and promoting your use of literacy skills that are needed to be successful. We also are receiving technology tools within your school or district, as well as the antidotal reports of new Information Literacy classes for university ways you are collaborating with teachers to combine technology freshmen being created in California colleges and universities in an with curriculum to research or present information. Your entry attempt to make up for the lack of knowledge and wisdom of the must demonstrate how you are “bragging” about your technol- incoming freshman. ogy programs throughout your broader school community, and incorporate one or more of the CSLA’s three core messages of Here are some of the general observations, antidotal as they may “equitable access,” “school library standards,” and “strong school be, that are coming from higher education librarians, and reflect libraries build strong students.”* Award candidates must be how our students may be technologically proficient, but informa- CSLA members who are credentialed Teacher Librarians, tion illiterate, and woefully ill prepared as 21st century learners. working at the site or district level. The award includes a cash • Awareness of the flow of information, from event through stipend of $1,000. documentation of an event; • Awareness of the difference between the “visible” and *For more information about the CSLA’s core messages, please “invisible” Web (freely available Web sites and licensed or download the CSLA’s “Best Sellers” flyer by visiting: http://www. subscription sites); csla.net/bestsellers/BestSellersCampaignFlyer2009.pdf • Awareness of the differences between magazines and journals; 4 CSLA Newsletter, February 2010 Web PATHWAYS Cyber Citizenship for Elementary and Secondary Students By Glen Warren, Technology Committee

ere are some of the wonderful resources that are providing free materials for educating students and teachers on the broad subject of cyber citizenship. The following sites have been reviewed and are excellent resources if used in the appropriate context. Here are Hsome suggestions: For Elementary Students: General Materials for All Students: Children’s Way and Woogie World – This site from Children’s Cyber Smart Week – Developed from the Cyber Safety Week, Way has targeted lessons that are wonderful for the elementary/ this program offers the same elements of the Cyber Safety primary age students. Many of the lessons are free, and some Week in a format ready for individual/district use. require a small fee. http://www.woogiworld.com/whp/ http://Web.nmusd.us/cybersmartweek

Cyber Hero (Pilot) – This site is for elementary school sites, Cyber Safety Week – Direct from Santa Ana Unified and administrators, teachers, and students. It will provide reports to Maggie Barnes Team here is a set of lessons in power point the school about student learning in the area of cyber citizen- format that you can use to host a cyber safety week at your ship. The site is a limited version of Woogi World that allows school. These materials are for all age levels. access to the cyber citizenship learning areas only. We are http://www.sausd.us/14431028114414493/blank/browse.asp?a looking for pilot teachers from elementary, any takers. Contact =383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=60688 Glen Warren at [email protected]. Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use (CSRIU) – For to High School age: Nancy Willard is the force behind this wonderful resource Web site. Nancy’s materials are an important contribution to cyber FBI SOS Program – The FBI-SOS Internet Challenge is an safety education. The materials provided by Nancy are safe and Internet safety program designed to help students recognize responsible for educational leadership. potential dangers associated with the Internet, email, chat http://cyberbully.org/documents/ rooms, and social networking sites. http://www.fbi-sos.org/index.cfm OnGuard Online (FTC Resource) – OnGuard Online provides practical tips from the federal government and the Smart AUP (Pilot Version) – A fast easy tool to measure technology community to help you guard against Internet students’ understanding of a standard AUP. Acceptable Use fraud, secure your computers, and protect your privacy. Policy (AUP): a policy that contains provisions for students’ use http://www.onguardonline.gov/ of the Internet and network in a school district and is written as a contract between the parent and the school. The FTC also offers a wonderful parent resource in both http://aup.fbi-sos.org/ English and Spanish that contains information about: social- izing online, communicating online, moblie phones, computer, Digital Citizenship Education – requires a sign in, and parental controls, privacy, and a glossary of cyber words. The provides connections with Social Studies, ISTE, AASL, and pdf can be found at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/ Economic Standards. consumer/tech/tec04.pdf the bulk order form is: http://www.digitalcitizenshiped.com/Default.aspx http://bulkorder.ftc.gov Additionally, here is the link for the above Web site of connec- tions with national education standards K- 12 grade. Anti Cyber Bullying Sites: http://www.digitalcitizenshiped.com/Standards.pdf Cyberbullying Research – The Cyberbullying Research Center is dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyber bullying among adolescents. http://www.cyberbullying.us/

5 CSLA Newsletter, February 2010 LEGISLATIVE LIAISON $250 per ADA revenue limit cut enacted as part of the final 2009-10 budget agreement would simply continue into the GOVERNOR UNVEILS 2010-11 fiscal year. 2010-11 STATE BUDGET Proposed 2010-11 Budget Consistent with the approach used in the current year to accrue Education Portion of the Budget “natural and seemingly painless savings” from a lowered Proposi- Contains Substantial Cuts; Other Budget tion 98 minimum spending level, the Governor proposes the Sectors Hit Far Worse following: - By Jeff Frost, Legislative Liaison • K-12 Growth and COLA - The administration projects an Stating that the United States confronted the most severe economic additional savings of $252 million from declining K-12 crisis since the Great Depression in the last year, he indicated that enrollment. For the first time in Proposition 98 history, the while California is slowly growing out of the recession, the primary national economic recession will result in a -0.38% COLA revenue drivers for the budget such as capital gains taxes. Income calculation and thereby allow the state to reduce K-12 on wages, sales tax, and corporate taxes are all down. As a result, revenue limits by $206.6 million. In addition, the DOF the state faces a $19.9 billion two-year budget shortfall. $6.9 confirmed that an adjustment to the deficit factor will be billion of this is for the current fiscal year and $13.3 billion is the made to reflect the negative COLA. 2010-11 projected shortfall. The administration attributes the increased “budget gap” to three primary causes: 1) Erosion in the • K-3 CSR Reversion - Utilizing the lower Proposition 98 value of $7.2 billion in savings enacted this past year” in the Funding Guarantee, the Governor proposes to revert $550 February and July budget adjustments, including court decisions million of unclaimed CSR funding as General Fund savings. that have “blocked” solutions enacted by the Legislature in 2009; 2) $1.4 billion in additional program costs associated with popula- • Economic Impact Aid (EIA) Reversion - A reduction of tion and caseload driven programs (such as prisons and Medi-cal); $64.3 million in General Fund and substitute with available and 3) $3.4 billion in decreased General Fund (GF) revenues. Proposition 98 Reversion Account funds for the Economic Impact Aid Program. While the Governor has indicated that it is his intention to “protect” public school funding, this budget makes substantive cuts • Unfortunately, the Governor’s proposed budget also contains to schools in the 2010-11 fiscal year. These cuts are outlined below: $1.8 billion in cuts to K-12 spending that will be felt by districts. This is approximately a $300 per ADA cut. K-12 Education Budget Solutions The basis of the Governor’s assertion that he is “protecting” • $1.2 billion “Administrative Cost Reduction” to School education stems from creative interpretation and manipulation of District Revenue Limits - As explained by administration the Proposition 98 constitutional funding guarantee. By using staff, this proposal will “protect classroom spending, reduced General Fund estimates in the current year and asserting including spending for teachers and principals” by prohibit- that we are in Test One funding status for the prior, current, and ing school districts from reducing teacher and site principal budget years, the Governor proposes to revise the 2008-09 and SACS codes when implementing this budget reduction. In 2009-10 budget agreement and reduce the K-14 constitutional addition, the Governor’s budget proposes to “prevent funding guarantee for the current year and 2010-11. The result is [districts] from using future funding increases to augment that Proposition 98 minimum funding levels are revised downward central administration at the expense of classroom fund- from the Legislative Analyst’s November estimates: $50.7 billion to ing”…and “prevent districts from shifting central adminis- $49.9 billion in 2009-10 and $51 billion to $50 billion in 2010- tration costs to school sites.” 11. So, while claiming he is “protecting education,” the Governor has found a way to lower K-12 spending by $1.8 billion. • $300 million reduction to County Office and School District Revenue Limits - The Governor is again proposing 2009-10 Budget Changes to “eliminate barriers to contracting out to enable school Technically there are no actual mid-year spending cuts proposed in districts to achieve cost savings” that will enable county the budget. However, the reduced Proposition 98 minimum offices and districts to better manage this revenue limit cut. spending level allows the Governor to propose reverting $252 This proposal is similar to last year’s proposal by the million in reduced ADA funding from lower K-12 enrollment and Governor to allow districts to negotiate a reduction to the $340 million in “unused” K-3 class size reduction (CSR) funding school year as a way of managing cuts. In short, under the to the General Fund as savings. For districts, this proposed $250 Governor’s budget proposal, LEAs will take a revenue limit per ADA budget year reduction would not result in lowered cut whether this “reform” is enacted or really produces savings. year-over-year funding. Instead, this “cut” ensures the one-time

6 CSLA Newsletter, February 2010 • $45 million reduction to County Office Revenue Limits that these substitutes be paid at the rate they received before - As explained by administration staff, this proposal will they were laid off if they work more than 20 days within a “require county offices of education to consolidate services 60-school-day period. and functions” and may include county offices of education forming regional consortia to provide these services. The • Staffing Notification Process — The Administration Governor asserts that this consolidation of county offices will proposes to change the staffing notification window for “achieve economies of scale and reduce administrative costs.” teachers to 60 days after the state budget is adopted or amended. Current state law requires that school districts • $122.7 million reduction to CalWORKS Stage 3 Child notify teachers by March 15 of the year before the layoff, Care Funding - The Governor is proposing to achieve well before the state typically adopts its budget and districts additional ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund savings by know how much funding they will receive. reducing eligibility for Stage 3 to “California’s neediest families.” Summary Is this what “protection” should feel like? In this new world, • $77.1 million reduction to Child Care Reimbursements perhaps a $2.4 billion cut is protection. Given that the difficulty of - The Governor proposes to reduce reimbursement rates for getting Democratic members to support the budget solutions on licensed‑exempt providers from 90 percent of the ceilings for the non-Proposition 98 side of the budget, there is greater risk that licensed family child care homes to 70 percent. This proposal the Proposition 98 cuts proposed in this budget will grow. It is affects all voucher programs, including the Alternative likely to be a very long summer of budget negotiations. Payment Program ($12 million), and CalWORKs Stage 2 ($37 million) and Stage 3 ($28.1 million) programs.

Education Policy Issues in the Budget The budget also lays out several substantive policy issues in the budget that will also have significant fiscal implications. These include:

• School District Administrative Costs – As discussed above, Good News! the budget contains a reduction of $1.2 billion targeted to Karen Joesten was honored school district central administration. The cut would be to recently with the Santa Clara the revenue limit and the policy would be implemented Unified School District’s through statute. The proposal would limit the proportion of Certificated Employee of the funding school districts can spend on central administration Year Award in 2009. Karen is to prevent them from using future funding increases to the Cabrillo Middle School augment central administration at the expense of classroom Teacher Librarian. funding. Also, districts would be prevented from shifting central administration costs to school sites. Besides her normal library duties, Karen can be found engaged in all sorts of student- • County Office of Education Administrative Consolida- centered activities for all grade levels and all tion - The budget makes a reduction of $45 million to students including English Language Learners county office of education administrative costs through a cut and the Community. She to the revenue limit. This proposal would require county serves on district committees and writes grants offices of education to consolidate services and functions, for computers and other school resources. She which may include county offices of education forming works with students one-on-one to ensure regional consortia to provide these services. reading comprehension and to help under- stand homework assignments. • Teacher Seniority - The Budget proposes to change state law to give local school districts the flexibility to layoff, assign, reassign, transfer, and rehire teachers based on skill and subject matter needs without regard to seniority.

• Substitute Costs - The Budget proposes to eliminate the provisions in state law that require teachers who have been laid off to receive first priority for substitute assignments and

7 CSLA Newsletter, February 2010 GUEST COLUMN California Read-A-Thon - By Helen Murdoch, San Marcos High School

school library staff, we all know that the more students read the better they do on standardized tests and in the Asclassroom. But, how do we get students into our libraries? How do we get them to connect with books and us? We do book talks, visit classes, collaborate with classroom teachers, and put on programs, all of which reach some students. In my library, competitions and contests are often the most successful; students love to participate in something big where others are involved (and the lure of a prize doesn’t hurt).

In the summer of 2009 I began a book blog on my Library Web site, which led me to read other book blogs on the Internet. There are tremendous numbers of them out there, including many by Teacher Librarians. In October I found out about and participated in a 24-hour read-a-thon and had a wonderful time! I enjoyed giving myself time to read a lot, post about it, and read other people’s book reviews. I got some great reading suggestions, met interesting people, and felt as if I was part of a larger (virtual) community. I posted a short blurb about it on CALIB and Jackie Siminitus suggested I put on a read-a-thon for California school libraries. I hope library staff will visit other blogs/Web sites to see what other So, here it is, a few months later, and the California Read-A-Thon schools are reading and doing. Benefits to participating: is a reality! Here’s the basics of the Read-A-Thon (more detailed information is on the Web site): • Become part of something bigger than just your school • Connect with other school librarians (social networking) • Friday, April 16 and/or Saturday, April 17, 2010 • Set up a school blog/Web site or add to your current site • Open to all school libraries in California • Encourage reading • Schools sign up to participate on the California Read-A- • Bring students into the school library and encourage even Thon Web site http://californiareadathon.blogspot.com more meaningful interaction between library staff and our • Students, staff, and teachers read for as much or as little of students. the time as a school wants, then they write reviews of what A few schools have signed up already; I hope many more choose to they’ve read join us. Remember, you get to decide how this event looks at your • Teacher Librarians/classified library staff post the reviews on school. You can work with one class or a few students, or you can their school library blog or Web site (don’t have a library get the whole school involved. Whatever level of participation you blog? What a great opportunity to get one going! It’s free and choose remember that taking risks or trying something new is what easy.) often leads to improvement and the best learning experiences. • During Saturday, library staff may choose to participate in the optional mini-challenges. I have prizes from vendors who were at the November CSLA Conference in Ontario. An example of a mini-challenge: “Write a paragraph describing a book you’ve read that has a person of color as a main character and why you think it’s important to read books containing people of color.” There are no right or wrong answers and winners will be chosen at random from all who choose to participate in each mini-challenge.

8 CSLA Newsletter, February 2010 California Department of PUBLIC RELATIONS Education We Have Seen the Light! With Love “Best Sellers” and from CDE Educational Technology! - By Barbara Jeffus, CDE Liaison - By Glen Warren, PR Committee

odel School Library chool Libraries and school librarians are essential for student Standards Update: Last success in the 21st century! It seems obvious but yet some- Mmonth we reported that each Show it is often missed that students living in the information and every comment submitted on the draft age require information literacy mastery. Clearly, information library standards document was considered. literacy includes digital literacy and cyber citizenship. Teacher And once again we thank you for the meticu- Librarians whether they are in the library or in the classroom are lous and thoughtful reviews made evident by often leading the way in preparing students to be good cyber your comments. In early January the revised draft began its climb citizens, not just technology users. up the approval ladder for inclusion in the March agenda packet for the State Board of Education (SBE). When the document We have seen how Santa Ana Teacher Librarians created Cyber completes this detailed review process, it will be posted on the SBE Smart Week and see how it was quickly accepted by the Educa- Web site as a link to the draft within the agenda item at http:// tional Technology community: http://web.nmusd.us/cybersmart- www.cde.ca.gov/be/ag/ag/index.asp. week. We have seen how Teacher Librarians created the Smart AUP and Once the agenda is posted, that is the signal for a show of support how that was adopted and promoted by CTAP: http://www. for the standards. If you, your school, your district, your “Best myctap.org/index.php/administrators-and-data/36-administrators- Seller,” or an organization to which you belong has a stake in and-data/162-new-assessment-tool-aims-to-improve-students- students having and achieving the library standards, that will be the awareness-of-school-aups. time to say so in writing. The model school library standards are a necessary first step, but only the first step. They do not address how We have seen how Teacher Librarians have lead the way to create the standards should be taught or what they look like in practice. resources that are ready for students to learn cyber They do not show the correlation between content standards in citizen skills in a way that is not scary: http://www.screencast.com/ other subjects and library standards as initially hoped. They will, users/scottdow/folders/Woogi%20World%20CyberHero%20 however, declare officially from the state level that what happens in videos/media/c8688ba0-3f1e-433e-a1c6-2df5636643d0. and through school libraries is important for the six million plus We have seen how Teacher Librarians welcomed CUE and other students of California. technology leaders to the table with us to create the new state content standards for school libraries that included digital literacy There are California Teacher Librarians already demonstrating how standards: http://www.cue.org/conference/2010/sessions/4. library standards fit hand in glove with core content standards and the integration of technology. Consider recording these lessons on We have seen Teacher Librarians at school sites across the state video. Make it a point to save the lesson plans that demonstrate the provide invaluable support and leadership in the area of educational cooperative planning and teaching of this integration. Implementa- technology. tion with the spotlight on good integration practices will be What we have not seen is all these wonderful people that are necessary and very exciting. leaders in the educational technology arena individually invited to become official “Best Sellers” of school librarianship! Survey Plea: This year’s online school library survey is filling very slowly. Though it will be available through April 2010 at http:// May I encourage you to reach out to our many friends in the www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/lb don’t wait. After the categorical programs educational technology world and welcome them to voice what directors hear about the survey this month, just think how nice it they already believe, that school libraries and Teacher Librarians are will feel to report it as completed! And just in case you do not essential for student success in the 21st century! remember the password, it is the same as last year and the same for To sign up new “Best Sellers,” just go to the tutorial and register all. Type it just as it appears here: @YourLibrary them so we can get a good sense of who are our advocates. See www.csla.net/bestsellers. It is from these data that our “Best Sellers” get an accurate snapshot of our libraries. Please and thank you!

9 CSLA Newsletter, February 2010 California School Libraries SNAP! ebruary is “Love Your Library Month” across the US. In California Fwe are celebrating our love of school libraries by sharing photos of how library professionals are CSLA Annual Conference making a difference in our schools and libraries and in our students’ achievements! Thank you to Tom Kaun, Northern 2010 with CLA in Section President, for the idea and creating a flyer that outlines Sacramento the “rules” for capturing student photos, etc. Click here to open I am pleased to announce that Wendy Chason has agreed to be the flyer for the rules and the photo release form. Every photo Conference Chair; and with this announcement is exciting must be accompanied by a release form. Happy snapping! news about our Annual Conference. We are always looking at ways to increase attendance and enhance the experience for our vendors at the same time. CSLA has been exploring the opportunity to collaborate with the California Library Association (CLA) on a joint conference. Through several separate and joint meetings between both association’s leader- NORTHERN NOTES ship and staff, there was strategic discussion about conference events, exhibit dates, and joint activities. Following these -By Donnine Davis, Northern Section Editor discovery meetings, it was unanimously agreed by both associations’ Boards of Directors to collaborate on a combined Saturday, January 23, at the Casa Grande High conference for 2010. School Library in Petaluma, CSLA NS Region 1 We are very pleased to announce this year’s theme and dates hosted a public viewing of Dr. Joyce Valenza’s – “Navigating the New” in Sacramento, November 12-15. On CLA had these dates reserved for 2010, and both CLA and webinar: “Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools for Learning.” This webinar was a fantastic opportunity to interact directly with Dr. Valenza, the CSLA staff have been working with Sacramento venues to increase exhibit space and hotel accommodations while at the inspirational Teacher Librarian and author of the NeverEnding- same time minimizing the financial impact on both associa- Search blog for School Library Journal. High five to Jane Lofton tions. The confirmed venues are the Sacramento Convention and the Southern Section for inspiring us all with the wonderful Center, the Sheraton Grand, and the Hyatt Regency. Staff will webinar, if you hosted an event in Northern Section please send announce when you can make your hotel reservations. photos and ideas generated to [email protected] by February The tasks ahead of us are creating the schedule of workshops, 19 for the next newsletter. concurrent sessions, keynote presentations, award programs, and exhibit hours. The joint exhibitor and sponsorship Upcoming events! prospectus is in the works. Region 1 - February 27, Berkeley, Battle of the Booktalks We know you are eager for details. Watch CSLA’s Web site (followed by NS Board meeting). and future issues of the newsletter for more details on what promises to be one of our biggest and most exciting confer- Region 2 - March TBA, Citrus Heights (Sacramento area) - Tour ences as we “Navigate the New” together! new HS library, Martha Rowland’s new book list. Diane Alexander, State President Elect Region 3 - April 24, Northern Section will be co-sponsoring the local CUE Conference. Central Valley CUE has graciously invited us to coordinate a library media strand as part of their efforts. This provides NS Region 3 with the opportunity to network with BRAG! technology folks outside of our usual group and to show them what Teacher Librarians can do to support their technology efforts. Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It, by Peggy Region 1 - May 15, Napa Valley - YA booktalking and Brag! Klaus, was the One Conference, One (End-of-year Reports). Luncheon at local winery and honoring Book from the 2009 CSLA “Embrace retirees while we go for the gold hosted by Region 1 (followed by the Serendipity of Learning” Confer- NS Board meeting). ence. Watch a video and see Jeanne’s PowerPoint presentation from the Membership Forum during the conference to recall Don’t forget the application for the Jewel Gardiner Memorial how to promote how school librarians help every student in Scholarhip is available on the CSLA Web site at http://www.csla. the school. Brag video http://www.youtube.com/ net/awa/scholarships.htm#northern. Also, if you are planning to watch?v=yGrOzWqTwv8 and Presentation http://www.csla. honor that special retiring librarian in your district, how about net/pdf/BragConferencePresentation.pdf. Tell a story, rather sending a donation to this fund? Contact Cathy Johnson for how than list what you do in the library. As Jeanne Nelson says, to donate at [email protected]. “So many people in the organization are shining lights, doing amazing things, and not ‘tooting their own horn.’ [It’s] definitely Watch for updates to workshops at http://sites.google.com/site/ needed more than ever.” cslanorthernsection/home.

10 CSLA Newsletter, February 2010 Southern Snippets

SLA Southern Section is also very happy to announce that we now have a full recording of the January 23 Web 2.0 CTools Webinar with Joyce Valenza. Please be aware that the webinar was a free member benefit. Everyone has access to the webinar wiki at http://joycevalenzawebinar.wikispaces.com, with lots of good information from the webinar, but we are sharing this private recording only with CSLA members and paid registered attendees. Essentially we are respectfully asking to you maintain this link as a proprietary membership benefit and not forward it. The recording works the same way as the original webinar did: • Click this link: https://nexus.sjsu.edu/recordings.html Join the CSLA Southern • You will go to an Elluminate page in your browser. On Section Workshop the calendar on the right, select January 23. PARTY: Palms MS for Advocacy, Reading/ • Click “David Loerstcher’s session.” Research, Technology, and You Keynote Speaker: Dr. Stephen Krashen • On the next screen, select the “Guest” bullet, enter your email address and name, and click “Play.” outhern Section is hosting its annual all region workshop on • The next page display will warn you if you need to install Saturday, March 27, 2010 at Palms Middle School in Los Java. Java is required to access the session. Then, click on SAngeles. Palms is centrally located just off the 405 and 10 the recording link to download the recording.jnlp file. freeways at 10860 Woodbine Street, Los Angeles 90034-5499. The workshop will run from 8:00am – 2:30pm and will include • Open the recording.jnlp file. Respond “Allow” to the breakfast and an optional lunch. pop-up dialog asking if you want to give Elluminate access to your computer. The workshop features noted educator and library advocate • The recording will begin. Please be aware that it includes Stephen Krashen as our keynote speaker, two sets of terrific the entire session, including the pre-session time. You can concurrent sessions, a vendor exhibit, raffle baskets, and, of course, use the controls in the bottom left corner to fast-forward a great opportunity to socialize and network with old and new through any part of the session. school library friends. And, for the first time, we will also feature a Library Learning Tools Smackdown session on the latest Web 2.0 Unfortunately, the “Wizard of Apps” video portion did not display tools. The Smackdown follows the concept introduced at NECC well during the webinar or in the recording. We recommend that and AASL last year consisting of a panel presenting their favorite you visit http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=443 to view it in its Web 2.0 tools and inviting audience input and participation, with original form as part of Joyce Valenza’s K12 Online Conference all the ideas added to a wiki. Another new feature this year will be Presentation. the collection of new or gently-used books for a school library in Finally, don’t forget to contribute to the webinar wiki at http:// need. Details on this collection will be announced soon. joycevalenzawebinar.wikispaces.com. The workshop begins with registration at 8:30am and ends with an optional lunch at 1:00pm and the Smackdown from 2:00pm – 2:45pm.

Workshop information is available as follows: • Workshop Flyer: http://csla.net/calendar/socal.htm • Register online: http://www.regonline.com/csla_ss_wrshp_2010 • Wiki: http://cslassworkshop.wikispaces.com/

For questions about the workshop, please contact Jane Lofton, Southern Section President, at [email protected] or (818) 865-8010.

Southern Section Board Meeting

11 CSLA Newsletter, February 2010 2010 Calendar Click here to visit CSLA’s online calendar page >>>

February 27 Northern Section Berkeley - Battle of the Booktalks. Region 1 - Flyer February 27 Northern Section Board Meeting March TBD Northern Section Citrus Heights (Sacramento area) - Tour new HS library. Region 2 - Flyer 950 Glenn Drive, Suite 150 March 27 Southern Section Workshop Folsom, CA 95630 Palms Middle School, 10860 Woodbine Street, (916) 447-2684 Los Angeles, CA 90034-5499 May 1 State Board Meeting - Sacramento Information California School Library Association August 13-14 State Board Meeting - Sacramento Newsletter, the official publication of the California School Library Association, is November 12-15 “Navigating the New” Annual Conference published ten times a year and sent to all Sacramento Convention Center members. (Collaboration with the California Library Association)

Membership Professional ($100), Associate ($45), Paraprofessional ($45), Students ($45), Commercial ($100), Institutional ($125), Sustaining ($500).

Address correspondence to CSLA Newsletter, 950 Glenn Drive, Suite 150, Folsom CA 95630 (916) 447-2684

Deadline All material for the April issue of the CSLA Newsletter is due to: Susan Maass ([email protected]) by March 15, 2010.

Editorial Board NewsletterVolume 33 Number 6 | February 2010 Editors: Column Contributors: Office: Susan Maass Grace Hernandez Deidre Bryant State Editor Leadership for Diversity Committee Executive Director [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Donnine Davis Pam Oehlman Teri Bearden Northern Section Editor Legislation Committee Membership Services Associate [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Melody Hubbard Barbara Jeffus Tracy Brown Southern Section Editor Liaison, CDE Director of Creative Services [email protected] [email protected] and Web Development [email protected] Sandy Schuckett Liaison, CTA Carolyn Tienken CMP [email protected] Conference & Exhibits Manager [email protected] Glen Warren Public Relations Committee Dawn Wood [email protected] Staff Accountant [email protected] Lesley Farmer Technology Committee CSLA Web site address [email protected] www.csla.net

12 CSLA Newsletter, February 2010