Last Updated:
July 12, 2008
Welcome to Madison Meadows' Media Center
Please view this video about the importance of libraries.
The Madison Meadows Library Media Center is now in its third year of using the automation software and online resources that make it easier for students and teachers to find information that supports their classroom activities.
These services are provided through Follett Software Company, the leader in K-12 library automation products and services and a recognized leader in education for over 130 years! Please click on: Madison Meadows Library Media Catalog at school or Madison Meadows Library Media Center Catalog from home or http://books.msd38.org to access materials, educational websites and as of February, 2008 books published in electronic format from the Meadows Library Media Center. Students and parents can read free e-books on either Page by Page Books or Read Print Books or Google Book Search. These are free books for students, teachers, and the classic enthusiast.You can search by title or by author and read these classic books. Click on Lexile Reading level for 100,000 books to help you decide what books are reading level appropriate for your child.
Also, try the Magazine
Portal, http://magportal.com/ for
an index of several general interest magazines with articles freely available
on the web, or http://ejw.i8.com/ for more scholarly
journals pathfinders
by subject that includes many journals with free web access. They also
have
a kids
page magazines at http://ejw.i8.com/kids.html that
includes some periodicals. These certainly are not as complete and comprehensive
as EBSCO or Gale
Virtual Reference, but they are free. For general and subject specific
ready reference, see the ALA/RUSA best
free reference web sites combined
index
website
at http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaourassoc/rusasections/mars/marspubs/MARSBESTIndex.cfm.
Finally, Google
Scholar (scholar.google.com) and MSN Livesearch Academic
will link directly to scholarly/peer reviewed web resources if they are
freely accessible, and they index a large number of magazines, journals
and serials.
The distinction between print and web resources is getting blurier all
the time. Many resources that used to be print are now only available
or originally available as digital resources accessed either directly
on the web or through some kind of portal or database.
Here’s what the library is now offering to help our students succeed in their education:
Access to relevant, educator-reviewed web sites along
with book searches using the library automation system.
This service is invaluable as it provides sites that are relevant to
K-12 learning topics, reducing endless “noise” to search through,
and directs children to age-appropriate content that can be used to support
their studies.
An easy way to find books targeted to your students’ reading
level.
This service makes it easy to find books at the students’ reading
level and subject of interest! Students with lower reading skills and
more advanced students can find materials based on their own level of
comfort and capability. As students’ love of reading grows, they become
more successful in their educational pursuits.
Quick and easy searching of multiple sources at the same
time!
Our students and teachers have several sources for information beyond
their own library collection, such as news sites, encyclopedias and paid
databases to which Madison Meadows Library Center subscribes. Hopefully,
the Madison School District or the Meadows community eventually funds this
service so that the library can offer the capability to search all of these
sources at once, reducing the time and frustration of researching each site
individually and having to input various passwords and parameters each time.
With this resource, students and teachers can define search criteria once,
without passwords, and have all results returned in one search! This would
be a wonderful addition, and as the Meadows librarian I will keep advocating
for this One Search service.
A fast and easy way for teachers to search for state-aligned
materials and information to build their lesson plans and curriculum.
Teachers are required to align their curriculum to the state’s standards
for education. Each year, teachers spend countless hours developing their
lesson plans and curriculum to these standards, making sure your student
receives a structured education based on our state’s requirements.
The library provides a service that gives our teachers the ability to quickly
and easily pull a wide variety of support materials into the classroom to
meet the unique learning styles of each student. By saving time developing
class curriculums, they are allowed more time to focus on their students.
With these new services, our library is a powerful knowledge center with resources that help strengthen the connection between the library and the classroom, helping to further promote each student’s success in learning and reading. We look forward to providing our students and faculty with the easiest and very best ways to gather information for their needs and success.
Send comments or questions please contact Ms. Sally Roof, Teacher Librarian Information Specialist at sroof@msd38.org or 602 664-7640
Madison Meadows Library Media Center – Helping Promote Your Student’s
Success
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Madison Teacher/Librarians Mission Statement
The Learning Community of the Madison School District believe that a strong
library media
program is integral to the education of our children. The Madison teacher/librarians
work with students, classroom teachers,
parents, community members, and administration to:
• Provide leadership in the total education program
• Participate as active partners in the teaching/learning process
• Connect learners with ideas and information,
• Prepare students for life-long learning, informed decision-making, a
love of reading, and the use of information technologies.
The mission of the Madison Meadows' Library Media Center is to teach all students to be life-long learners by showing them how to gain information from numerous media. This allows them to feel confident in obtaining pertinent and relevant information on all topics of study. The Media Center is the launching pad for students and parents to procure quickly and efficiently the latest information on most topics.
This resource center offers many services to its students, teachers, and parents. In the Library Media Center, there are over 17,000 books (reference, biography, nonfiction, fiction, videos, books in Spanish and professional teachers' collection), 18 magazine titles, and 200 CD software research programs. The teacher-librarian and school library media specialists cooperate with other individuals in building collections of resources appropriate to the needs and to the developmental and maturity levels of students. These collections provide resources that support the mission of the school district and are consistent with its philosophy, goals, and objectives. Resources in school library media collections are an integral component of the curriculum and represent diverse points of view on both current and historical issues. These resources include materials that support the intellectual growth, personal development, individual interests, and recreational needs of students.
There are seven flat-screen Dell PC computers available to students to search the book, video, DVD and CD collections using the Follett Destiny Library software program. Students are able to perform easy as well as advanced searches by keyword, author, title, or subject entries. The computer produces a bibliographic list of pertinent sources which can be printed out in order for the student to find the books or materials throughout the library. Through these computers, students can also access a filtered internet to expand the capabilities of their research. The Meadows library can be remotely accessed from the students' classrooms and home computers. The Media Center also includes a Computer Lab (Dell PC Lab) where students can access the internet, word process documents, make electronic presentations, or design graphs.
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AVAILABLE SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES FOR STUDENTS
NetTrekker,
Safe Search Engine for students and parents
Madison School District has purchased subscriptions for all teachers,
students and parents for NetTrekker, an award-winning academic search
engine that provides access to more than 180,000 educator-selected
online resources aligned with the Arizona State Standards. Your school
has been assigned a generic login for both student and parents to use.
If you have any questions about NetTrekker direct
them to Kim Thomas, Information Services Department kthomas@msd38.org .The
address or URL: http://www.nettrekker.com
BrainPOP, BrainPOPJr and BrainPOP Espanol can be accessed during school hours and from home. You use BrainPOP with the designated USERNAME and PASSWORD provided by a Meadows teacher, the librarian or the Instructional Technology Department. Also Atomic Learning or http://www.atomiclearning.com. The deignated USERNAME and PASSWORD provided by a Meadows teacher, the librarian or the Instructional Technology Department.
For copyright basics and information please use the following Google wiki resource: http://www.wikihow.com/Understand-Copyright-Basics for general and every changing information.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
For students, their parents and teachers: Arizonans now have access to a wide variety of current online research resources including thousands of full-text articles and images from encyclopedias, journals and newspapers through the Public Libraries. WebFeat Search provides a single federated search that can be used to search across all of the databases seamlessly, either in-library or remotely through your public library.
With funding from the Maricopa County Library District, the Tucson Pima Public Library and through a grant from the U. S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, the State Library is providing free access to several subscription databases for Arizona citizens and schools (which is good news for all of you who are missing the subscription databases we had in the past!).
Here’s a list of the databases that you can access for free:
EBSCO: Masterfile Premier has 5,000 full text Magill
Book Reviews, 500
reference books, including the World Almanac and Book of Facts; 85,000
biographies, 87,000 primary source documents, American
Heritage Dictionary,
and 190,000 photos, maps and flags, includes: Newspaper source has
selected full-text for nearly 30 national and international
newspapers and 200 regional newspapers. It includes television
and radio news transcripts. NoveList finds new
fiction titles. Search by author, title
or series and fid similar tittles, reviews and reading group guides,
and what to read next.
ProQuest: SIRS Discoverer has biographies of U.S. Presidents, information on over 1000 countries and Photo Essays on social issues and global concepts. Also contains: The World Almanac for Kids and an encyclopedia, SIRS Knowledge Source has all educator selected resources. This is an integrated search portal to all SIRS titles and a standalone resource providing multidisciplinary learning tools for enhancing student achievement. A new feature relate resources directly to learning needs, allows educators to quickly locate content for core curricula subjects and complies with standards. This includes: SIRS Researcher a general reference database that contains thousands of full-text articles exploring scientific, health economic, business, political and global issues. SIRS Government Reporter with information by and about the U. S. Government. SIRS Renaissance provides current, dynamic information on music, literature, film, performing arts, culture, architecture, philosophy, religion and visual arts. SKS WebSelect provides quality pre-screened web links to enhance learning for students. SIRS Interactive Citizenship combines cutting edge content with state-of-art technology, creates educational resources for reading, writing and critical thinking skills. Utilizes interactive electronic books as a stand-alone or as a supplement to textbooks.
Grolier offers Encyclopedia Americana, Multimedia Encyclopedia, New Book of Knowledge, American the Beautiful, Lands and People, Popular Science, Spanish Encyclopedia (La Nueva Enciclopedia) Cumbre una encyclopedia completa la cual tambien tiene cronologias y mapas
OCLC FirstSearch databases: WorldCat is a catalog of books, videos, DVDs and Web resources owned by libraries worldwide; ArticleFirst has an index of articles from 12,000+ journals and magazines; Electronic Collections Online, an index to scholarly journals; PapersFirst is an index of papers presented at conferences worldwide; ProceedingsFirst is an index of worldwide conference proceedings; ERIC has annotated references to educational materials; GPO has all types of U. S. government documents; MEDLINE contains all areas of medicine, including dentistry; and the World Almanac.
Gale-Thomson databases :
Health and Wellness Resources Center with Alternative Health
Module Magazines has journals, newspapers, definitions,
directories, and information on various medical issues, drug prescriptions,
etc. The materials are intended for informational purposes only. Business
and Company Resource Center has Investext, PROMT and Newsletters
Company profiles, brand
information, rankings, investment reports; Predicast’s
PROMT database is fully integrated in this database. Opposing
Viewpoints Resource Center allows students to explore many
facets of acclaimed social issues print series, the facts and arguments. Literature
Resource Center has biographical, bibliographical and critical content,
literary
figures of all time periods, all genres as fiction, nonfiction, poetry,
drama, etc. Science Resource Center is an
in-depth, curriculum-oriented science database that provides a one-stop
resource for all science-related
research. Informe is specifically designed for the
research needs of Spanish-speakers, full-text articles from popular
Spanish and bilingual
periodicals. InfoTrac OneFile has news and
periodical articles on a wide range of topics: business, computers,
current events, economics,
education, environmental issues, health care, hobbies, humanities,
law, literature and art, politics, science, social science, sports
and technology. It includes: General Reference Gold:
contains articles from magazines, journals, newspapers many
with full-text and images.
Expanded Academic has ASAP scholarly journals,
news magazines, and newspapers with many full-text and images. LegalTrac is
an index
of articles in law journals, bar association journals and legal newspapers,
articles on federal and state cases, laws, regulations, legal practices
and taxation. Computer Database has computer-related
product introductions, news and reviews in hardware, software, electronics
engineering, communications
and application. InfoTrac Professional Collection is
a collection
of articles from 50+ professional journals for Educators.
It features professional journals published for teachers and administrators.
Access all of these datases in 2 different ways:
1. For the Public Library, enter the libraries URL address The
Phoenix Public Library or any other public library
and click on Database searching on the homepage.
All of the databases will be searched at once.
All users (including students) must:
Have a PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD
2. For the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records website go to: http://www.lib.az.us/extension/statewidedb.cfm You must click on:"Click here to search the databases" and then enter your zipcode.
All of the databases will be searched at once.
All users (including students) must:
Know their ZIPCODE
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Finally Madison Meadows has the following ebooks from Gale Virtual Reference Library or http://infotrac.galenet.com which use the same login instructions:
Descriptions of current titles included in Gale Virtual Reference Library SM. The Meadows Library only has 5 titles from this extensive list. Members of our community who speak languages other than English can use this Gale Virtual Reference Library content in these EIGHT languages: Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Korean. Currently, these are 5 ebook (electronic books) for your use:
CDs, Super Glue and Salsa: How Everyday Products Work
Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of States
Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations
If anyone is having difficulty in using these products, please contact the librarian, Ms. Sally Roof x7640 or sroof@msd38.org
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MEADOWS LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER HAS EBOOKS!!
Why ebooks?
EBooks save space, reduce replacement dollars, used on interactive whiteboards,
increase focus on reading, demonstrate growth in technology focus and funding, and support the demand
for a 24hr library.
A few of the capabilities found within eBooks consist of searching, highlighting,
the ability to utilize a dictionary directly from the eBook, as
well as copying and pasting information into the notes section. What
more could a student ask for when conducting research, or putting together a report?
EBooks also have excellent feature support for special needs patrons… Examples
of these include: sight impaired, learning disabled, Hi/Lo and /or ELL.
Using eBooks
You view the eBooks by clicking the Internet link by clicking on the
preview button provided.
This link opens an Internet browser window that displays the actual electronic
copy of your eBook that’s stored on the Follett system’s
server. This means students, teachers, and administrators can utilize
Meadows’ eBooks from a computer that allows them access to Meadows library’s electronic catalog.
Once you click the eBook link, you can preview it right from the Meadows
library’s electronic catalog .
The eBook preview mode displays one page of the book at a time. Easy-to-understand
icons at the top of the eBook preview window let you go to different
pages or chapters, search for specific words and terms, and even look
up words you don’t know in Merriam- Webster’s Collegiate
Dictionary - all with the touch of a mouse. If during the preview the
eBook becomes inactive for 15 minutes, the eBook will automatically be returned to the eBook shelf.
When the download/check-out period is over, the downloaded eBook immediately
becomes inaccessible.
At the same point, the original electronic copy of the eBook is automatically
put back in circulation so that once again it’s accessible from your library’s electronic catalog.
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Search Tips and further training at: http://www.gale.com/pdf/searchtip/gvrl_tip.pdf
Madison Meadows Library Media Center helps create awareness among our community of the outstanding electronic resources available online at our library, or through remote access.
Although just entering search terms online can work in some cases, there may be a better way to get to quality information. There is a huge difference when conducting a search on the open Internet versus conducting a search on an authoritative database with verified information. You can expect accurate and relevant results from these databases, which is important when seeking homework help or information to help make life-changing decisions.
That's why libraries pay for subscription databases that are filled with only accurate and verified information. While libraries pay for these databases, the community can use them free of charge.
WORLD WIDE WEB AND
SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES 101-
KNOW THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE OPEN WEB AND PREMIUM DATABASES
You’ve heard stories about cyber crime and other potential dangers of using the free Web – from pornography to violence and bomb-making. But the pitfalls of the free Web can be avoided by educating ourselves and, when appropriate, taking advantage of the credible, free and authoritative reference databases available through libraries. Here are some questions and answers:
What is the Internet?
The Internet is a collection of networks, linking million of computers
worldwide. It's just the highway, or transportation system, that allows
you to get to the information stored on computers. The Internet itself
does not contain information; it’s like a giant international
highway.
What is the World Wide Web?
The Web, as it is commonly called, is a way of accessing information
by using the Internet. This is what is referred to as being “online.” The
Web uses browsers, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape, to access
Web sites or Web pages. There is no central index to information available
on the Web, which means finding information is difficult. The Web also
is plastered with ads, many of which pop up on your computer screen.
What is a Web site?
A Web site or Web page is a location on the World Wide Web that you get
to by logging on to the Internet, which takes you to these sites.
What does it mean to be "online?"
This simply means using the Internet as a vehicle to access Web sites.
Who can create and post a Web site?
Anyone can create and post a Web site – any one person, group of
people, organization or company.
Is there a government agency or some watchdog organization that monitors
what is posted on the Internet?
Absolutely not. The Internet is not monitored at all, which is why many
people liken it to the wild, wild West.
What is a browser?
A browser is the vehicle that allows you to get to the Internet, which
is the transportation system. The destination is a Web site.
What is a search engine?
A search engine is a tool that, when you enter a word, looks for related
Web sites in which this word is found. For example, if you type in
Edgar Allen Poe, a search engine will find all Web sites that have
this term in them, from sites that sell Edgar Allen Poe T-shirts to
a travel writer Edgar Poe's Web site. And the first sites that appear
in the search are determined by advertising dollars – the more
advertising an organization buys on the search engine, the higher their
site will appear in the search results. But if you are looking for
accurate, reliable information to write a report about the poet and
writer, Edgar Allen Poe, you have to sift through a lot of hay to find
the needle.
What is a subscription database or premium database?
These are databases of accurate and authoritative reference information
that are created by publishing companies specifically for reference
and research. These databases are filled with easily searchable and
verified information and are sold to libraries, schools and businesses.
Libraries use tax dollars to purchase subscription databases, which
are then available free to patrons and the community. It takes about
one-half the time to conduct a search on a reference database than
it does to use a search engine because all the information found in
the database search is targeted and accurate. You don't have to weed
through T-shirt sites and sites by self-proclaimed authorities to find
the quality information needed.
Here's an example: Searching "Shakespeare" on the Internet produces more than 6 million results, the first of which is for T-shirts. Searching "Shakespeare" on a literary subscription database produced 8 biographies, 1480 literary criticism articles, 1000 articles from literture periodicals, 26 work overviews and 14 bibliographies, all accurate information written by scholars and authorities on Shakespeare -- no sifting or filtering required.
If I'm a student writing a report but can't use Internet sources, then
how can I use these subscription databases?
The Internet is mostly filled with various sites from family photo albums,
commerce sites, individual political viewpoint sites and pornography
sites. This is the Internet-based information that you don't want to
use. However, when you log on to the Internet and go to your local library
site to access subscription databases, this is the content that you want
in the report, not the first Web site that appears when you use a search
engine to research Edgar Allen Poe.
What source of information would you rather use, or have your children
use?
Subscription databases provide a safe research environment for everyone,
especially kids. They are a source of authoritative information for people
who need and want accurate information. Call or visit your local school
or library to find out how to get access to subscription databases and
information resources.
Internet Safety for Kids
Here are a few tips from the FBI about Internet Safety:
There are some very important things that you need to keep in mind when
you are working on your computer at home or at school.
• First, remember never to give out personal information
such as your name, home address, school name, or telephone number in
a chat room or on bulletin
boards. Also, never send a picture of yourself to someone you chat with
on the computer without your parent's permission.
• Never write to someone who has made you feel uncomfortable or scared.
• Never meet someone or have them visit you without the permission of your
parents.
• Tell your parents immediately if you read anything on the Internet that
makes you feel uncomfortable.
•
Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. Someone
who says that "she" is a "12-year-old girl" could
really be an older man.
To read more about new privacy rules, visit the Federal Trade Commission's
Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/kidzprivacy/ This
is the special section just for kids, parents and teachers.
Also, download the FBI's" A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety" either in English or Spanish at: http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguide.htm
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Need more help...
If a student needs more in depth information than our Library Media Center can provide, then the staff directs the students to the web site for The Phoenix Public Library to look up books, videos, cassettes, magazines, and downloadable audio and ebooks for further information. If you are looking for an electronic version of a book try Google Search and note the citation. When you finish writing your research paper or project and you need to cite your references use the helpful NoodleTools which is a suite of interactive tools designed to aid students and professionals with their online research. From selecting a search engine and finding some relevant sources, to citing those sources in MLA or APA style, NoodleTools makes online research easier!
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Arizona Links to Great Reading Resources
There are many wonderful reading initiatives nationally and in Arizona provided by organizations and public libraries. Listed below are but a few of those available:
American Library Association provides a number of reading initiatives, tons of booklists, and other information through its main website at http://www.ala.org and through its divisions: ALSC (Association for Library Services for Children), YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), and AASL (American Association of School Librarians).
Reading is Fundamental helps deliver children's and family literacy programs that help prepare young children for reading and motivate school-age children to read regularly. At http://www.rif.org
Children's Book Council is a non-profit trade organization dedicated to encouraging literacy and the use of enjoyment of children's books and is the official sponsor of Young People's Poetry Week and Children's Book Week each year. At http://www.cbcbooks.org
Arizona Reading Association is a chapter of the International Reading Associations
founded in 1956 as a professional organization for those involved in teaching
reading to learners of all ages. The members are dedicated to promoting high
levels of literacy for all by: improving the quality of reading instruction
disseminating research and information about reading, and encouraging the lifetime
reading habit
http://www.reading.org/association/about/councils_us_az.html
Arizona Literacy Teacher Educators (AzLTE) is a professional organization of teacher educators and others concerned with teachers' professional development that help teachers throughout Arizona teach literacy. AzLTE is particularly interested in enriching literacy practices through a focus on critical and democratic education, and in connecting the various educators of literacy teachers in Arizona. http://www.azlte.org
Arizona Education Association is the largest professional organization in Arizona. AEA was formed more than a century ago, in 1892. AEA continues to take the lead in advocating for support of Arizona's public schools, improving the quality of public education through positive change, and improving the professional lives of teachers and school staff members. http://www.arizonaea.org
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records serves the information needs of Arizona citizens as authorized in Arizona Revised Statutes §41-1331 through §41-1352. Through its divisions, the Agency provides access to unique historical and contemporary resources.http://www.lib.az.us/ This organization provides a list of all public, special, museum, tribal, college and university libraries in the state http://www.lib.az.us/LibDir/tblLibrary_List.cfm and by county http://www.lib.az.us/LibDir/county.cfm
The Arizona Chapter of Special Libraries Association is the leading organization in the state for the advancement of professional information management, a catalyst in the development of knowledge-based economy, and a strategic partner in the information-based society. http://units.sla.org/chapter/caz/library.html
The Public Libraries.com lists all city and county libraries throughout Arizona providing the libraries’ websites. http://www.publiclibraries.com/arizona.htm
Here are some of the best book lists to recommend to your child or teen.
Every year in Arizona, your child can participate in choosing the best
of the best.
Primary school, intermediate school, http://www.bookhive.org/
College Bound Reading List - http://als.lib.wi.us/Collegebound.html
Young Adult Library Services Association Booklists - http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/
Ageless (bumblebee website) Jim Trelease http://www.csusm.edu/csbs/
The Teenreads Great Books List http://www.teenreads.com/features/2006-reading-list.asp
Here is the most comprehensive site for children's literature in Spanish. Under the direction of Dr. Isabel Schon (California State University-San Marcos, CA), the site includes reviews, conferences, and extensive lists of outstanding children's titles that are available in both English and Spanish http://www.multcolib.org/kids/booklists/booksaloud.html
Grand Canyon Reader Award http://www.grandcanyonreaderaward.org
One Book Arizona for kids http://www.onebookaz.org/kids/index.cfm
One Book Arizona for Teens and Adults http://www.onebookaz.org
Northern Arizona Book Festival http://ww.nazbookfestival.org
Arizona book festival http://www.azbookfestival.org
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Media Center Happenings
On February 9, 2006, KJZZ 91.5 FM, Phoenix's local NPR affiliate, broadcasted
the following audio essay from Arcadia High School teacher-librarian
Sharon Ewers, as part of its occasional series, "I Am Your Child's
Teacher." Ewers, the 2005 recipient of the Follett School Librarian
of the Year Award, eloquently and effectively delivered the following
essay, entitled "The Power of Librarians." Sharon's example
is a powerful lesson in advocacy for librarian profession. You can hear
the essay online at audio
essay http://kjzz.org/news/specialreports/2005/yourchildsteacher/index_html.
My name is Sharon Ewers and I am a teacher-librarian at Arcadia High
School in Phoenix. You can probably picture me in your mind—you
know the stereotype—glasses, practical hairdo, shoes with laces,
but what you may not know is that I am your child’s teacher. We
live in the information age and it’s my job to make sure that your
children grow up to thrive in a world that requires, not just knowledge,
but the ability to tap into vast collections of information.
I know, I know—the kids are already experts on the Internet. The
kids know how to Instant Message. The kids type on their cell phones
with one hand. But did you know that a major national study showed that
high school students were actually less adept at finding information
on the Internet than typical adults?
Teacher librarians are more important than ever. Sure, we still do what
you think we do—we help kids find “just the right book;” we
show students how to use a catalog to find their own books; we help them
find answers to homework questions; and we teach whole classes about
how libraries are organized.
We also teach kids about books. Most of us became librarians because
we loved to read. We know that reading is the key to success in school.
In fact, studies in 16 states have demonstrated that children do better
on standardized reading tests if their school has an effective library
program. We’ll stop at nothing in our quest to get your children
to leave our libraries with books in their hands. We spend hours making
sure that we purchase great books for your school libraries. We think
like bookstores in setting up displays to convince your children to take
a book home. We read to groups of elementary school children, making
our voices sound like squeaky little squirrels or gruff lions to bring
the stories to life. Ask your children—they’ll tell you that
the librarian at their school really knows books!
But in 2006, we also teach what’s called information literacy.
We teach your children, not only how to find information, but also how
to figure out if it is the kind of information they need. We teach them
that not all information is created equal, that some sources are better
than others. We teach them to be intelligent searchers and smart users.
We show them that the Internet is a virtual gold mine, but that it takes
a skilled miner to find the gold.
By now, you may realize that teacher librarians have to be experts in
technology. Yes, we have climbed out of the dusty bookshelves of old
to become some of the true movers and shakers in the digital world. Even
the director of technology at Google thinks librarians are savvy. He
said in 2004, that it might be “about 300 years until computers
are as good as, say, your local reference library in doing research.” Teacher
librarians are good at searching, but we are also strong believers in
the old Chinese proverb about fishing: “If you give a man a fish,
he will eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he will eat for a
lifetime.” We teach your children the skills they will need to
live and thrive in the 21st century. Information literacy isn’t
a luxury—it’s a necessity in today’s world.
If you’re lucky, your school has a strong library program. Stop
by today to see what’s new. If you think you’ll find a dark,
dusty pile of books, expect to be surprised!
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MEDIA AIDES@MADISON MEADOWS LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER
Students may elect to be a media aide in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades. This opportunity allows students to learn about the Media Center. Their duties include: help maintain an orderly Media Center, maintain and know how to access the entire collection, process materials for the collection, assist fellow students in the use of the Media Center, develop and update web pages for the school's web site, and learn how to make simple audio-visual equipment repairs. Please join us at this blog site: Meadows LMC Media Aides. Also, please join us at this safe Twitter site: Youth Twitter to create the Library Media Aides' Job Manual for this year.
LETTER TO THE MEDIA AIDES IN THE LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER
2008-2009
I am really excited about this new school year. I have been assigned 32 wonderful students to work with throughout this year. Sixteen will help me during the first semester and another sixteen students in the second semester. I know we will be able to accomplish many projects in the Media Center.
You might want to know something about me. I was a parent at Meadows for over 9 years (1989-1998) because my three children attended Meadows. I have high expectations of you for the school, teachers, and administrators. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Dunbarton College, and a Master of Science degree in Library and Information Science from Catholic University. Both of those schools are in Washington, D.C. I also have a Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University (NAU). I teach according to the guidelines of the National Board Program for Teaching Standards Certification to demonstrate that Meadows Library Media Center adheres to the national standards for quality education. I am a Nationally Board Certified Teacher. I follow the Arizona State Standards across the various subject areas with emphasis on Technology and Work Skills.
Expectations for the Media Aides in my classes are your willingness
to learn invaluable information about how libraries work and can be used.
This will help you in high school as well as college.
•
I will instruct you in the use of the Internet to help the teachers and
other students know the wealth of information contained on this electronic
tool. You will perform various research tasks on the Internet and special
online databases and e-books for fellow students and me.
• You can help me with the school Web pages and prepare SmartBoard demonstrations.
• You use all of the audio-visual equipment: laptop and desktop computers, video cameras, digital cameras, scanners, overhead projectors, Power Point software programs, and the numerous DVDs, CDs and VHS videos owned by the school and used by the teachers.
• You will provide service to the school community and will be a good role model for the other students who are learning how to handle themselves in the Media Center.
• You are assessed and graded on your attitude of cooperation, and willingness to participate.
• A significant paper/ project using a wiki assigned each quarter relating to your duties, as well as some imaginative designing and planning for the web pages, and the use of the library resources from your home. Access the wiki at http://meadowslmc.wikispaces.com/MM+Library+Media+Aides .
• Each of you will be assigned a specific of area of the library shelves that you will be responsible to keep the books in order, so that the materials can be easily retrieved.
• Every day that you are in the Media Center, your homework will be to write on the following blog site http://lmcmeadows.blogspot.com in complete sentences, the activities that you performed for that day and reflect on your accomplishments. This record is for writing reinforcement, to be used as a journal of your activities, for yourself, your parents, and for me.
If you need to contact me, my phone number is 602 664-7640, or sroof@msd38.org. I
hope to be communicating with you via email and the Library Media Center website
http://meadows.msd38.org/html/classes/library.html. I am looking forward to a great new school year!
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BOOK READERS CLASSES@MADISON MEADOWS LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER
At the beginning of each school year, Ms. Roof asks students to become members of the Book Club. The students prefer to meet during their lunch hour and therefore two Book Clubs exist. One group consists of 7th and 8th grade students meeting during Period 4 lunch, the other group consists of 5th and 6th grade students meeting during Period 4 lunch in the Library Media Center or even outside under the shade of a tree. This year the 7th and 8th grade group met every three weeks, the 5th and 6th grade group met every four weeks to discuss a selected book. The books were chosen by the students from the Arizona Library Association's Grand Canyon Readers' Award recommended list of recently published young adult books. The discussions were lively and very interesting. Ms. Roof provided appropriate background information about the books, the themes, and information about the authors. For everyone's information the previous winners are listed at: http:/www.kyrene.org/schools/monte_vista/special_areas/library/libhtm/winners.htm
Ms. Roof, the librarian, and a group of students have formed
A BOOK READERS’ CLUB
ONE GROUP WILL BE FOR 5TH AND 6TH GRADE STUDENTS
ANOTHER GROUP WILL BE FOR 7TH AND 8TH GRADE STUDENTS
EACH GROUP WILL MEET ONCE PER MONTH DURING YOUR LUNCH and LUNCH RECESS
TO DISCUSS ONE BOOK SELECTED FOR THE MONTH.
Books will be selected from the Grand Canyon Readers' Association
http://www.grandcanyonreaderaward.org/inter.html or
Recent recommendations, from student and from their parents!
MEETINGS WILL BE HELD IN THE LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER beginning in September
LIVELY DISCUSSIONS WILL HAPPEN!
MEMBERSHIP IN THIS CLUB IS THE SAME FOR ALL OTHER CLUBS ON CAMPUS
EACH STUDENT MUST BE IN GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING TO PARTICIPATE.
Each book costs $5-$6. There is $50.00 fee to cover the cost of the books.
Make checks payable to: Madison Meadows PTM Use the following Tax Credit
forms at: TAX
CREDIT DONATION
To make an online donation: ONLINE TAX CREDIT DONATION or https://msd38.mytechsupport.com/eca/
PLEASE SIGN UP
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR PARENTS’ SIGNATURE
STUDENT’S NAME______________________
STUDENT’S ID_________________________
STUDENTS’ HOMEROOM________________
STUDENTS’ GRADE______________________
PARENTS’ SIGNATURE_______________________
Please respond by 9/05/2008
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Cyber Library for the Madison Meadows Media Center
Got Power? - Arizona Power! is Here...Find out how parents can be the key to the school librarian's power and how librarians can use this guide with the students’ parents.
The book advocates reaching parents and students with the Arizona specific
information in this parents' guide. Each page is a full reproducible
for the parent or the librarian to use. This book gets the message out
to Arizona parents about school libraries and their impact on education.
School librarians learn how to use these resources with students as well.
Help parents and students make the connections with school libraries,
public libraries, and lifelong learning.
The two Teacher Librarian Information Specialists,
Sally Roof and Debra LaPlante wrote the book, Arizona
Power! A parent’s guide to school libraries. This
is the Arizona version of David Loertscher’s library power series.
This publication is a resource for parents of public, private, charter
or home schooled
K-12 students.
The publication is available from http://www.lmcsource.com in three
ways:
As a book and CD Set: $35.00
As a book only: $20.00
As a CD only: $15.00 (Note: the CD has all the PDF files for each page)
Debra LaPlante at Carol G. Peck Elementary
Sally Roof at Madison Meadows Middle School
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Media Center Happenings
Friends of the Library Program
My 14 student Media Aides and I have had a very productive and positive
3 months during the second semester of the 2008-2009 school year in the
Library Media Center. We soon will have a volunteer adult assistant to
work for 10
hours
per week
to
help me to continue to run a dynamic Media Center. Also I would also
like parent volunteers to recatalog and relabel the last half of the
reference collection. This will help students find the books more easily
and identify the fiction categories more clearly. Please contact me.
As every year, I purchase new books for the library collection. I am
focusing on updating the non-fiction and fiction books. I have listed
numerous titles that parents and friends may want to donate to the Media
Center. With this set of titles it is easiest for you to send me the
money, checks made payable to PTM and I will purchase the book from a
book vendor. These books will be processed into the collection and will
bear a sticker inside the cover indicating who donated the books and
for whom the books are dedicated. It is a special joy for the students
to see their names in the books.
This Friends of the Library Program will continue throughout the year.
It is a chance for grandparents and/or parents to commemorate their child’s
birthday or any special occasion with the donation of a book to the library
collection. I have also included in this Med-o-Gram a form to use when
you donate a book to the Media Center in order to remember a student’s
birthday.
The Madison Community Foundation donates a minimum $300 per library to
support this program and with greater parental participation, the Foundation
may donate as much as $1500 per library. You may select from the following
list recommended by 15 Arizona Teacher-Librarians. I have not listed
the picture books from this list. I know your children would enjoy reading
these books.
Grand Canyon Young Reader Award Nominees for 2009
Tween Books:
• Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley (2006)
• Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle (2006)
• Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs (2006)
• Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick (2004)
• The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Richard Yancey (2005)
• Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury (2005)
• Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass (2006)
• The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson (2005)
• Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (2006)
Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083 by Andrea White (2005)
Teen Recommended (voting optional):
• An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (2006)
•
Chew on This: Everything You Didn’t Want to Know About Fast Food
by Eric Schlosser
and Charles Wilson (2006)
• Clay by David Almond (2006)
• Crackback by John Coy (2005)
• Dairy Queen by Murdock (2005)
• Finding Lubchenko by Catherine Gilbert Simmons (2006)
• Full Service by Will Weaver (2005)
• Impulse by Ellen Hopkins (2007)
• Inexcusable by Chris Lynch (2005)
• Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (2006)
• Rash by Pete Hautman (2006)
• Runner by Carl Deuker (2005)
• Saint Iggy by K.L. Going (2006)
• Sold by Patricia McCormick (2006)
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Happy Birthday! ! From Friends of the Library
Have a special “Friends of the Library” Birthday for your child.
Donate a book in honor of your child’s birthday or you may donate
money and your child can:
•
Pick out a book at the library from the attached “wish list”.
•
Present books to the school on the morning announcements.
•
Dedicate the book to a beloved teacher, parent or friend.
It’s easy:
1) Include a payment in cash or checks (to Madison Meadows
PTM) or you can purchase a hardbound or library bound edition of the
book and give
it to the Ms. Sally Roof, Librarian
2) Fill out the following information:
Child’s Name: __________________________
Teacher: __________________________
Child’s Birthday: _________________
Dedicated to: ___________________________
A dedication card will be placed in the front cover of the book.. Thank you for supporting the “Friends of the Library”. Have a terrific birthday!
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Join Us in Making Our Meadows Library Media Center Even Better!
The School Library Committee ensures that your Meadows Library Media
information center best meets our students’ needs and that our
current program continues to grow and thrive. Please consider joining.
The committee will meet on a monthly or as-needed basis.
Responsibilities of the Library
Information Center Planning Committee
1. Work with the teacher-librarian to establish immediate and long-range
goals
and priorities for the library information center program.
2. Recommend additional resources—technologies, print and media resources.
3. Recommend additional services and activities and procedures to ensure accessibility
to the broad learning community.
4. Offer input on library information center policies and procedures for staff
and students and suggest revision.
5. Serve as a support group or liaison for the library information center in
the community (for example, at board meetings).
6. Volunteer to help organize school-wide projects promoting reading, information
skills, and technology integration—for example, read-ins, literacy nights,
and family technology nights.
7. Support and advise others regarding library-related policies—intellectual
freedom, materials selection, copyright, academic integrity/plagiarism.
8. Participate in policy reconsideration and revision.
9. Advocate for support of the library information center program and its users—for
example, by providing insight into the effects of budget cuts on learners or
by presenting information on parent nights.
10. Participate in regularly evaluating the library information center program
and planning new services and activities.
11. Assist in identifying and addressing needs.
12. Plan media- or technology-related staff development activities.
Please consider joining us and serving learners at the Madison Meadows School
by helping to build a stronger library information center.
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Please return this form to the library.
Yes, I am interested in joining the ___________ School Library Information Center Committee.
Teacher/Administrator/Student/Parent Name_______________________ Date____________
Send comments to the librarian Ms Roof
Update: The Madison Meadows School Library Media Center Committee, consisting of 2 sixth grade and 5 fifth grade students, presented to the Builders' Club on January 9, 2007 their desire to partner with the Builders' Club's Fund Raising activities to purchase more current books for the library, new teen furniture, paint for graphics and neon lighting, and to begin a feasibility study for building a plexi-glass second floor in the library for students. Also the members want to raise funds for more adult staffing in the library to allow the Library Media Center to be open during lunch time for students to use the facilities.
LIBRARY ADVOCATES
Mesa, Fountain Hills, Paradise Valley, Grand Canyon Unified,
Creighton, Tempe Elementary, Tempe Union High School District, Humboldt
Unified, Tucson Unified are all cutting library services this year.
Other districts, such as Scottsdale and Glendale Union have committed to strong
libraries, despite deficits.
Will you help us stand for strong literacy and technology in AZ schools?
Sign our petition and tell lawmakers that you want strong school libraries.
http://www.fundourfuturearizona.org FUND
OUR FUTURE
http://gopetition.com/online/18626.html
Best Practices for Library Media Center Programs and for
Library Media Specialists
Purpose/Philosophy
Effective library media programs are creative, dynamic, enthusiastic,
and committed to the development of a community of learners that is
centered on the student. Library media specialists provide the essential
link
in this program connecting students, teachers, and others with the
information resources they need. The effective library media specialist
draws upon
a vision for the student-centered library media program that is based
on three central ideas: collaboration, leadership, and technology.
Effective Media Center Programs demonstrate that:
•
The program supports the mission, goals, objectives, and continuous improvement
of the school
•
The library media center is staffed appropriately with at least one full-time
certified media specialist who is supported by additional qualified staff
•
Administrative support is ongoing
•
Funding supports a large, diverse, in-depth, school-wide collection
•
State-of-the-art technology is integrated into the learning/teaching
and information-seeking processes
•
Cooperation with other libraries is practiced
Accomplished library media specialists are teachers who
•
understand students and their diverse social, emotional , and intellectual
needs
•
support the learning of all students in the school community
•
encourage and engage students in reading, viewing, and listening for
understanding and enjoyment
•
create an environment of mutual respect and trust
•
use their expert knowledge in acquiring and evaluating, developing and
promoting the effective use of learning resources in different formats
and media, both on-site and remote, to support the instructional program
•
integrate information literacy standards for student learning into the
content and objectives of the school’s curriculum
•
integrate technology for learning and teaching
•
plan instructional units collaboratively with classroom teachers
•
provide leadership in collaborative program planning and teaching to
ensure both physical and intellectual access to information
•
know curriculum programs mandated by the state, district, and school
•
model strategies for locating, accessing, and evaluating information
within and beyond the library media center
•
provide appropriate information, resources or instruction to satisfy
the needs of individuals and groups and foster individual and collaborative
inquiry
•
use appropriate information technology to acquire, organize and disseminate
information
•
manage library programs, services and staff to support the stated educational
goals of the school and district
•
work collaboratively to define policies of the library media program
•
evaluate the library media program and services
•
are committed to program excellence, and remain flexible and positive
in a time of continuing change
•
have effective communications skills, and work well with others in a
team
•
are committed to lifelong learning
•
serve as teacher, instructional partner, information specialist, and
program administrator
References for these practices include
Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning, (1998)
A Planning Guide for Information Power (1999) prepared by the American Association of School Librarians
Program Evaluation: Library Media Services (1998) prepared by National
Study of School Evaluation.
Teacher Librarian: The Journal for School Library Professionals (Dec.
1999) published by Rockland Press
“
Proof of the Power: A First Look at the Result of the Colorado Study” by
Keith Curry Lance
“
How School Librarians Help Kids Achieve Standards” (1999) from
Library Research Service, www.lrs.org