News+from+the+SLS+Director



John P. Monahan, Director, Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES School Library System

 **Click Create and Collaborate Project 2010- Follow-up- Posted by John Monahan - 5/23/2011** I would like to acknowledge the following school library media specialist members of the Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES School Library System who participated in the Click, Create and Collaborate Project 2010. Twenty library media specialists from Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES joined with a similar number of library media specialists from Southern Westchester BOCES in a unique curriculum project that highlighted the integration of Web 2.0 tools and the use of digital media in enhancing inquiry-based learning for students through the use of 21st Century Tools. The Click, Create and Collaborate project offers school librarians a leadership opportunity to add new skills to assist you in collaborative efforts with teachers and enrich your multi-faceted program with students. The library media specialists who have completed the initial program (September- December) can tell you more. Over the next week, every participant will receive **multiple ** copies of a recently printed project brochure, “Click, Create and Collaborate: Web 2.0 Tools to Support Inquiry-based Learning.” These brochures may be distributed to members of your faculty and others of your choice. If you need additional copies please contact me. School LMS interested in participating in the project for next year are welcomed to contact members of this year’s project. I am proud of the following colleagues listed by name, school and district who participated in Click, Create and Collaborate this year. Their school contact information is available on our SLS website at [] see Library System Information. Susan Ackerman-Leibowitz - Fox Lane MS, Bedford Karen Baker - Seven Bridges MS, Chappaqua Vikki Bradley - Bedford Hills ES, Bedford JoAnn Bronschidle - Mahopac MS, Mahopac Nancy Brown - Fox Lane HS, Bedford Amalia Connolly - Mohansic ES, Yorktown Cathy Gelman - Somers MS, Somers Laura Jensen - Rippowam-Ciaqua ES Rippowam Cisqua School Elizabeth Krieger - George E. Fischer MS, Carmel Noel MacCarry - Pequenakonck ES, North Salem Teka McCabe - Briarcliff MS, Briarcliff Susan McCormack - Buchanan-Verplanck ES, Hendrick-Hudson Renee Menzie - Brookside ES, Yorktown Diane Moller - Lewisboro ES, Katonah-Lewisboro Pam Morrison - Croton-Harmon HS, Croton-Harmon Sudha Narsipur - Brookside ES, Ossining Tara Phethean - Todd ES, Briarcliff Linda Randel - Anne M. Dorner MS, Ossining Cynthia Sandler - North Salem MS/HS, North Salem Leleith Smith - Peekskill HS, Peekskill  Please visit the Click, Create & Collaborate Grant Project Wiki http://clickcreatecollaborate.wikispaces.com to learn more about this year’s project. I have attached an application for interested participants for 2011-2012. I encourage everyone in our Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES School Library System to participate. Please call me if you have questions. We need completed applications by Friday, May 27. Thank You, John Almost all of the school libraries in our Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES School Library System are signed up and are receiving a number of online database titles through NOVEL and your membership in our School Library System. These resources continue to include a few high end collections from Gale and a good selection from EBSCO as well. You may forget about some of these offerings as you focus more on your paid subscriptions. In addition the “free” subscriptions that come to us from the NY State Library are lumped together with the offerings from Gale and EBSCO that you already pay for. I will look forward to receiving your renewals and any new databases that you are adding. In the meantime, I would also suggest that you review the NOVEL (NY State Library Titles) databases at []. I know that you have to spend carefully and in this process you want to have the most informed choice. You will receive renewal lists next week for your paid subscriptions. ===“Standards for the 21st-Century Learner"[| Lesson Plan Database] - **posted by John Monahan 4/20/11** === ===**I hope that you enjoyed some days away and have returned with renewed energy for the final stretch. I have not looked very closely at this “Lesson Plan Database” so it will be interesting to hear your reviews as you explore it. Here are the details:** ===
 * NOVEL Databases Through School Library System and NY State Library 2011-2012**- Posted by J Monahan- 5/14/2011.

The American Association of School Librarians ( AASL ) announced the launch of the "[|Standards for the 21st-Century Learner Lesson Plan Database]," a public, online database providing school librarians a fast and user-friendly way to create and share quality lesson plans with their peers. Building on the template provided in “Standards for the 21st-Century Learner In Action,” the [|Lesson Plan Database] is an interactive resource and tool to support school librarians and other educators in teaching the essential learning skills defined in the AASL learning standards. The database serves as a catalyst for collaboration, as school librarians and teachers work together to create projects that weave content and skills into engaging learning activities. To register and begin using the Lesson Plan Database, visit http://aasl.jesandco.org. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Best, <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 5pt 3pt;">John
 * State of Idaho adopts Information Standards** - Posted by John Monahan 2/23/2011

<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Congratulations to Idaho in being the newest State to have Information Standards approved for their students! <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: auto 0in;">A link to the Idaho’s newly approved Information and Communication Technology Standards: [] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: auto 0in;">Framework was based upon ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) NETS Standards: [] and incorporated components of AASL 21st-Century Learner standards

Posted by John Monahan 2/22/2011 - **Information Update- Mandate Relief** Dear Colleagues, We had a recent victory as the Board of Regents did not act on possible relaxation of Middle School Mandates that included 7th and 8th grade Library and Information Skills. We must continue to be advocates for our programs and be aware of any possible recommendations that surface. Please be aware that Governor Cuomo's Office has created a Web site with information for the Mandate Relief Team []. The site includes a place for public comment which might be an opportunity to share your thoughts against the elimination of these requirements for library instruction classes and voice support for 7th and 8th grade Library and Information Skills. In the February 18 //News and Notes,// Senior Deputy Commissioner John King outlined the Mandate Relief Options discussed at the February Board of Regents Meeting []. As you are aware changes in Middle School curriculum requirements, including classes in library and information skills, are some of the options being considered. To view the Senior Deputy’s comments, click on February Meeting of the Board of Regents, then scroll down to Mandate Relief and Flexibility and Executive Proposal on State Aid to School Districts. These proposals (and many more) are currently being reviewed by Governor Cuomo’s Mandate Relief Redesign Team, which is scheduled to report to the Governor on March 1st.

**I strongly recommend** that you visit the //News and Notes// link and register to receive this monthly report. There are many changes being considered and we need to be aware.

Posted by John Monahan 10/14/2010

Some of you attended a Will Richardson workshop in May 2009 that was sponsored by the Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES School Library System. Mr. Richardson believes strongly that library media specialists, teachers and and students should incorporate the Read/Write Web to revolutionize teaching and learning in the 21st Century. In a recent interview, Will Richardson has charaacterized teachers as not having a web presence. He feels that too many teachers are "un-Googleable". You can see this article at <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Change Agent]

Posted by John Monahan 10/1/2010 - Visit from NYLA President.

I had the opportunity to visit with Kathy Miller who is the President of NYLA. Kathy is nearing the end of her term and she wanted to visit a few select Public Library Systems, 3R Library Councils and a few School Library Systems. I am honored that she asked to visit Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES. Although it was short notice and the visit had to be scheduled during the school day, many of you addressed your concerns to Kathy about school library issues. You were also quite clear and eloquent in expressing the key instructional and enrichment role that school library media specialists perform in the school every day.

I did ask Kathy to appear before camera with me after our visit:

[|K.Miller Visit.wmv]

Posted by John Monahan 9/30/2010

Have you visited the BOCES Professional Library site recently. Please go to []. Click on search the Union and look at the list of new items available to borrow for you or your teachers and administrators. Our welcome video may be accessed by clicking on message from John Monahan. The message is also available here at []

Posted by John Monahan 2/1/10

It was a wonderful experience spending the past three days at the AASL Conference and hanging with some of the best library media professionals that anyone would have the opportunity to work with. Our P/NW BOCES SLS was again well represented at the 2009 Conference. We participated in workshops, engaged colleagues from all over the US and we held our own in conversations about key issues toward working for excellence in School Librarianship.

As I return from the positive experience in Charlotte, North Carolina, I will join with other Library System Directors in pleading our case to avoid another 10% cut this January in funding that has already been promised for this year. If you have the chance contact your local legislators and let them know that School Library Systems and all libraries are important to you. Please visit [|www.nyla.org] for more information on issues or contact me. Information about legislators may be found at the SLS page [] and click on State and national Government.

John Monahan Posted 11/11/09

At the Middle/Secondary LMS Network Meeting, there were a number of items shared by colleagues as part of our Library Roundtable Discussion. Since the meeting, I have been asked about the Amazon Book Widget that Karen Baker, LMS at Seven Bridges MS in the Chappaqua SD shared. Karen has invited us to take a look at the and she told us more. Thanks, Karen.

<span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif;">To create the carousel widget, go to the link below and follow the steps shown. You can put a maximum of 10 items in each carousel, which is why I used 3 separate ones. The process is pretty simple, although you do need to know how to copy and paste the final HTML code into your website.

<span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif;">Amazon Carousel Widget

<span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif;">[] <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif;">At first I was hesitant to link our library books to Amazon, but I realized that it is a good tool for the students to use to find out more about the books. They can read reviews, “see inside the book,” etc. which may help generate interest in checking the book out of our library. The kids who have seen the widget thought it was very cool…! BTW - You do not need to join Amazon Associates to create widgets, although there is no way to edit them if you are not a member. You will need to go back to the first steps and create another widget if you want to change anything (but that’s not a big deal). Posted by John Monahan, November 12, 2008.

Library Media Program Evaluation-

As many of you know, the State Education Department has asked for further input on the revised School Library Media Program evaluation. I have received comments from some of you and I am asking others to please review the document at your earliest convenience. There are 24 target areas in this draft evaluation and we will need to send our comments soon. You may comment below or email the LISTSERV. Thank you for your consideration.

Posted by John Monahan, November 16, 2009

Here are 6 newer technologies that will impact education in the near future. Do you agree? []