OELMA  News
An Official E-Newsletter of the 
Ohio Educational Library Media Association
 - Fall 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
Scholarship & Awards Honorees
Banned Books Week
Litcon 2016
Whatcha Readin'
Buckeye Kids Read
INFOhio Update
West Region Update
East Region Update
Northeast Region Update
QUICK LINKS
2015 FORMS & EVENTS

FOLLOW US 
 PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
 Angela Wojteck

Thank for you taking the time to read this Fall edition of the OELMA newsletter. It is so hard to believe we are here again-back to a new school year. As we transition back to our normal school/work routines, I tend to think back on my summer months and the many new things I have learned which will help me this school year become a better librarian and teacher. I recently became a Google Certified Trainer and worked all summer on workshops and studying for the exams. It was much more work than I ever anticipated, but afterwards I felt so proud of myself. I did what others have told me was very difficult and I succeeded. This is exactly the same feeling our students have when they accomplish their learning goals-be them inside or outside of the typical classroom environment.

As librarians, we serve our students, teachers, and community-and we really do have the potential to provide those we serve with the tools they need to accomplish their dreams and aspirations. Reflecting on how we can constantly improve those tools and make them more relevant and current is important, but just as important is being that person that can be depended on-whatever the goal or need. Be visibly present in your schools-walk the halls in-between classes, talk to teachers, eat lunch with staff and/or students, join your PTSA (and volunteer with them), attend football and other sport games, and take an active role in the school community. You can have all the training and certifications to be a librarian and library leader for others-but being present and visible is almost just as important to make those lifelong impacts for your students. Sometimes it is not about passing tests or succeeding at a goal--sometimes you can make a difference by just being you. 
Here is one VERY exciting OELMA event coming up this fall-so be sure to mark your calendar today!
 
October 3rd-OELMA's Mix, Mash, Make, and Maya events--what a day we have planned for our OELMA members! We have been busy planning some exciting events such as touring two libraries (Driving Park and The Columbus School for Girls) as well as our annual meeting and awards event--with special guest, author Maya Van Wagenen, author of the book-Popular:  Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek. There will also be a few more surprises in store for you-so you will not want to miss this event. Please register today!
 
Registration is now open at:
http://www.oelma.org/events/2015-author-and-awards-evening
 
OELMA wants to know if you are presenting at this year's AASL Conference in Columbus! If you are presenting a session or are part of a panel, please complete this form linked below and we will email out a master list as we get closer to the conference in November. 
We are excited to see OHIO School Librarians representing at the National level-- go O-HI-O!

Complete the form here!

 
Join Us for OELMA's Awards Recognition Ceremony
Christina Dorr & Michelle Lombardi, Co-Chairs
Scholarship & Awards Committee

OELMA has planned a fun evening to honor our 2015 Scholarship & Awards winners, and you're invited! Join us on Saturday, October 3rd as we celebrate this year's honorees with a variety of presentations showcasing each one's skills. The recognition ceremony will be followed by a presentation from Maya Van Wagenen, author of Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek, concluding with an author and awards reception. The festivities will take place at Columbus School for Girls' Unicorn Theater and Ruch Dining Room. Visit http://www.oelma.org/events/2015-author-and-awards-evening  to register. We hope to see you there!
"Celebrating Banned Books Week in Your Media Center"
Susan Yutzey, Past President

This year ALA celebrates Banned Books Week September 27 through October 3.  Banned Books Week is the national book community's celebration of the freedom to read.  Bookstores and libraries across the country draw attention to the problem of censorship by mounting displays of banned and challenged books and hosting a variety of events (Banned Books Week).  
            Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a record number of book challenges in schools and libraries.  Since 1982, more than 11,300 books have been challenged according to the American Library Association.  In 2014, there were over three hundred book challenges to the Office of Intellectual Freedom.  Many more book challenges go unreported.  In 2014, the top ten books challenged included many that we circulate in our media centers:

1.      The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie
2.      Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
3.      And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
4.      The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
5.      It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
6.      Saga by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples
7.      The Kite Runner by Khaled  Hosseini
8.      Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
9.      A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
10.   Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Why is it important to draw attention to the issue of censorship through Banned Books Week?  According to ALA, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.  Removing or restricting access to books challenges our First Amendment rights. Banning and challenging books will continue; however, it is through the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out that ensures these books will remain on the shelves of our libraries and bookstores.
Banned books displays and other events are among the ways school librarians frequently call attention to the issue of censorship.  As a school librarian at Upper Arlington High School, I would ask my library helpers to read through the list of banned and challenged books and then list the books they had read from that list.  Many of them were in awe at the list and especially the reasons why a book had been challenged or banned.  Taking photos of them with the respective book and displaying it on bulletin boards or in display cases was a way for other students to see the extent to which their right to read could be challenged. 
The ALA website is a great resource for learning about Banned Books Week as well as providing ideas for activities and displays.  Here is the website-   http://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources.

Sue Subel and I attended ALA in June.  While there we participated in the Banned Books Readathon.  This is the second year that ALA has hosted the Banned Books Week Virtual Read-Out booth, in which attendees read short passages from select banned books in front of a camera and explain why the book matters to them.  When Banned Books Week comes around, the videos will be posted to the official Banned Books Week YouTube channel (youtube.com/user/BannedBooksWeek), which features celebrities, authors, and librarians reading their favorite passages.  I read a passage from John Green's Looking for Alaska.  Doing a Banned Books Readathon in your high school media center might also be a great activity to call attention to the problem of censorship.

How do you call attention to the issue of censorship during Banned Books Week?  Inquiring school librarian minds would like to know - so send us photos of your thoughts and ideas (oelmasdy@gmail.com) and we'll post them to the OELMA Facebook page.  You can also post them to Twitter. (#OELMABannedBooksWk).
Litcon 2016
Lori Guerrini

Hey Middle School and High School Teacher Librarians,
              Let's - Get - Excited!!
OELMA is breaking the mold and presenting an AWESOME event and we're inviting you, teachers in your building, and for the first time in OELMA history, your students to attend a full-day of everything YA!
 
Why should you get excited? Because we think you will answer YES to at least one of these 10 questions!
  1.  Do you love teen and YA literature?
  2.  Do you have students who love reading teen and YA books?
  3.  Do you wish you could bring teen and YA authors to your school but just can't find the funding?
  4.  Do you wish you could know more about writing teen and YA books?
  5.  Would you love to have your students and teachers be in workshops led by authors and writing  experts?
  6.  Would you love to meet, and have your students and teachers meet TWELVE  published teen and  YA authors in person?
  7.  Would you and your students and teachers love to get books signed by amazing teen and YA  authors?
  8.  Wouldn't you and your students and teachers LOVE to get dressed up as your favorite teen or YA  book character AND hang around other people dressed as their favorite character?
  9.  Wouldn't you love to provide a fun AND educational literary opportunity for your students and  teachers?
  10.   Wouldn't you love to go on a field trip to an amazing event after all the standardized and AP tests  are completed?
If you've answered YES to at least one of these questions, then you need to:
Make Plans to Attend OELMA's Inaugural Event...
LitCon 2016
Teen and YA Literature Professional Development for You, Teachers,
          Students and Public Librarians!
 
Please Save the Date for LitCon 2016:   Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Location:   Kent State University
 
Registration will be limited, so make plans now to attend LitCon 2016 and be ready to register in early fall.
Download the  printable flyer here  and share it with your teachers and students.

More information, including a LitCon 2016 website and registration information coming soon. Keep watching your OELMA communications.
"Whatcha Readin'?" Being a Reading Role Model
Brandi Young

Do students ask you what you are currently reading? Do you love to book talk? Do you model best reading practices for your students - what a reader does before, during and after reading?

If you are doing some of these things (or all of these things) that's amazing! But, would you like to take it further? Imagine if you were a reading role model for your students. You'd be surprised by how quickly your library media center could be buzzing with the sounds of students discussing books with you, other teachers, and their peers.
 
If you've said yes to any of these questions, then take the conversation further using the ideas below:
  •      Have a small space that is dedicated to show what you are personally reading. This can be done in several ways:
  1.     a small bulletin board hanging inside or outside of the library media center. If the bulletin board is outside the library, think about the marketing aspect - it will bring kids inside the library to ask you about the book. Simply print a picture of the book cover and hang on the bulletin board. Be sure to create an eye-catching sign that says: "Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss [insert name here] is reading:"
  2.     utilize the space on the front/side of your circulation desk as a "bulletin board" and add the printed out book cover and the sign mentioned above.
  3.     have a special area that displays the physical copy of the book you are reading (instead of a printed cover) with a bookmark sign that says: "Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss [insert name here] is reading:"
  4.     combine idea #1 and #3
  5.     combine idea #2 and #3
  •      Once you have your space up and running and students are asking you about what you are reading, step it up to the next level.  As you read your book, keep post-it notes and a pen next to you and record:
  1.     meaningful quotes
  2.     thoughts/responses you have while you read
  3.     questions you have while you read
  4.     connections you make to yourself, the world, other literature, etc.
Essentially, you are doing the before, during and after reading process on post-it notes (like many of our students are encouraged to do by their English Language Arts/Reading teachers). But, instead of leaving your post-it notes inside your book, you would hang them on your bulletin board or in the area you are using to display the book you are currently reading. This shows your students that all readers go through a process of digesting the information they are reading, not just young or struggling readers. You are being a responsible reading role model for them and since you don't have to "force" the students into this as an assignment for class, they become more interested in this process when they see another adult thinking this way about what they read.
 
In my experience, all it takes is one student liking a quote I liked or seeing a comment I made about a section in the book for that student to then strike up a conversation with me about that quote or comment. The student doesn't even have to have read that particular book, but because of the display of my reading process, a discussion has been born about the book - what I like about the book, do we have that book in the library, can that student check it out, etc.
Then before long, a spark lights the fire, and all the students are talking to each other about what they are reading.
  •      Want to take this a step even further? Get your teachers to buy in. Have them do all of the same steps above, with the most important step being to display what they are reading. In order to get buy in from the teachers, create the "Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss [insert name here] is reading:" yourself so the teachers do not have to make anything. Encourage teachers to hang the sign in their classroom and either display the physical book or a printed photo of the book cover next to their new sign. The teachers who participate in the program in any degree mentioned above (display and/or post-it notes) get put into a drawing for a candy bar, coffee, bookmark, gift card, etc.
Create a culture of reading role models in your school. Start the spark, light the fire. 

 
Buckeye Kids Read
 
Get your students engaged with reading and active in the voting process with Buckeye Children's and Teen Book Awards!  These awards are completely decided by children in the state of Ohio; they nominate their favorites and then vote on the top candidates to determine the winner.  Students can vote at their grade level, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, or Teen, between now and November 10 at   www.bcbookaward.info .   We are also currently accepting nominations for the 2016 award at   www.bcbookaward.info .  Follow us on Twitter @buckeyekidsread and Like! us on Facebook to be among the first to hear the winners when they are announced!
 
Show Your OELMA Pride with the OELMA badge
Brandi Young, one of our Central Region Directors, has designed a Credly badge that OELMA members can use in their email signature lines, in presentations they prepare for various conferences, and for other online profiles.  To claim your OELMA badge, log in to www.credly.com   and use the
claim code: 
F97-447A-B76 .  Here is a short video tutorial prepared by Brandi to help you through the process:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-saGFePXUc8 .
INFOhio Update: CAT/CAT Jr. Changes
4th Grade eBooks Renewed, New Flyers

 
Welcome back to 2015-16 from all of us at INFOhio! We've made many changes over the summer, just a few of which are listed below. To see even more, go to the list of updates on our website.  And if you have ideas of ways we can work to make INFOhio's resources even more useful to you, let your   2015-16 Users Council representatives know. They are our eyes and ears in the field to make sure we meet student needs.

CAT/CAT Jr. Updates-Interface updates, New Material Types, New Reports
The INFOhio integrated library system underwent dozens of updates over the summer, most of them behind the scenes. Changes you will notice include:
  • A link to ISearch replaces the link to Discovery Portal. (The search term used to search the library catalog is automatically carried over to ISearch when a student clicks the button. No need to retype.)
  • EAUDIO material type added.
  • Lost Items report added and several other reports updated.
Those are just a few of the changes to the system. To see a complete list, refer to page 3 and 4 of the  INFOhio Summer 2015 Enhancements/Changes document.
 
Storia eBooks-Available for Free for 4th Grade
Please make sure that your 4th grade teachers know that again this year they have access to a special collection of 160 eBook titles through  Scholastic's Storia courtesy of INFOhio. The 160 titles, 58 fiction and 102 nonfiction, were specially chosen to support Ohio's 4th grade standards in English, math, social studies, and science. A spreadsheet with the complete list of titles is available on the Storia information page at infohio.org/goto/storia .
Teachers who had an account last year can use their same account. Teachers who had an account last year and have moved to a new district this year, or who otherwise have a new email, should log in to their account using their old email and then update their account information with the new email.
Logging in is easier this year for students because a teacher can now assign one "class code" for all students to use rather than a different username for each student. See  Storia Class Codes for more information.
Fourth grade teachers who want to start using Storia can request an access code at infohio.org/goto/getstoria .
 
Updated/New Flyers-Beginning Readers, Tech Skills, College & Career Readiness
For 2015-16, INFOhio has updated the following flyers. All are available in INFOhio's Toolkit at infohio.org/goto/toolkit .
West Region Fall 2015

What an exciting time to be a media specialist in the state of Ohio!  I absolutely love seeing good things percolating all over the state. So as you all (hopefully) know, later this fall the AASL national conference is being held in Columbus.  What a fantastic location! It's a central one that just begs OELMA members from across the state to attend. But wait, there's more! Before the conference, we all have the awesome opportunity on Oct. 3rd to visit some great local libraries, celebrate some of OELMA's finest, but most of all hear the absolutely fabulous Maya Van Wagenen, author of Popular, speak!
 
In terms of what is shaking in the West OELMA region,  we had a fun, informative, and engaging Innovative Learning EduConference on May1.  It was the perfect event to get us pumped for new technologies and changes that people are initiating right now! 
 
Now in the works for this fall is a workshop called The Five People You Will Meet in the Library. The workshop is being designed to highlight the resources found in OHMeansJobs, teach how to manage student accounts, and also explore specific programing that you can do in your media center to serve your students' career advising needs. This session supports the new law of HB 487 requiring ALL districts to have board adopted policy and plan for grades 6-12 that addresses career advising.
 
East Region Fall 2015
Kris Baker & Lisa Garrison

Kris Baker - District Librarian, Field Local Schools
Every year a brand new crop of bright-eyed Kindergartners arrive at my two elementary schools.A look of nervous excitement greets me from every student in the bus line.  Those same students walk quietly into the library during their class time.  Some students are library veterans, others have little experience with visiting a library.  Am I really going to hand over my new, pristine library books to these little children?Much to the chagrin of my library secretary, the answer is yes!These are the children that truly love books.  They love to hold them, look at the illustrations, turn the pages and embrace every aspect of the book.  I have prepared myself for torn pages, scuffed up spines and loss of the new book smell.  The real job is teaching book care before the first checkout.I decided to share two of the resources that I have found to help our new visitors learn the true meaning of loving a book.
●    A gem of a resource ­­the blog, Kindergarten. . . Kindergarten by Kathryn Warner.  She has created a PDF book that makes clear connections between the dos and don'ts of book care.I had a great time adding spilled juice and mud (watercolor paints) to the card stock book that is linked on her page.I laminated and bound it with a spiral comb.
●    I also like to read aloud A Perfectly Messed Up Story by Patrick McDonnell.  In the book Louie is troubled by globs of jelly and messy fingerprints throughout his story.  This leads to a great discussion about book care.
 
Lisa Garrison - ­­Teacher Librarian, Seton Catholic School in Hudson
My library is not shaped like a conventional library. It is a very long, narrow space; essentially it's a rectangle. When I started in January 2012 (yes, I was hired mid­year!) I didn't know quite what to expect. The previous librarian was amazing in her willingness to help with ALL of my questions. I believe I bombarded her with emails multiple times a week the first few weeks. As I was becoming more comfortable with the layout of the library, I was realizing that I needed to make some changes to make it more functional for me. I needed to make this space my own. So my first order of business was to change the YA section to be in one easy to find area. Due to limited space and an expanding collection the YA books were at the top of the fiction section. I did a bit of rearranging and was able to get all of the YA in one section. The students loved it. Fast forward to this past summer. Yes, I had made some other big "minor" changes (weeding the nonfiction completely and changed some spine labels) at the end of last year I set my eyes on a bigger prize: getting rid of a half­wall that divided my long rectangle  shaped library in half. This wall was part of the original room when one side of the room was the computer lab and the other half was the library. This wall obstructed my view of the students. It had to go. Plus, my desk was right in front of the doors. I couldn't sit at my desk and get work done without having people constantly staring at me. My principal was very open to my idea and over the summer, the half­wall was taken done. It is amazing how open the space is now! My desk is off to the side (where the wall was) and I can see everyone! Most everyone who has visited the library has made a comment about how more open and bigger the library seems.
 
The East Region is excited to offer Makerspace on a Budget.  Our session will feature the crafty skills of Marian Phillips.Please join us on Tuesday, October 20th 4:30-­6:30 at Streetsboro High School, 1900 Annalane Dr, Streetsboro, OH 44241.
Northeast Region Fall 2015
We have all been there!
Michelle Smart 

  Turning a negative into a positive isn't always easy.  School libraries often take a hit when districts need to cut back; so what do you do when you are faced with adversity in your library?  I was given wise advice once from an instructor (Meghan Harper) about working in school libraries.  "When given lemons make lemonade."   Dr. Harper used to say that quite a bit during classes at Kent State.  Over the years working as a school librarian, I have continued to keep that philosophy.  My aide was cut--that's OK at least they kept the certified librarians in my district, lets look for more volunteers.  Budget cuts, hmmm let's put on a Scholastic Book Fair, I can use the points and/or money to supplement.  "I want you to take over the televised morning announcements"--students to the rescue.  Five morning announcement teams of 11 students each should cover it.   "Oh by the way, we have added technology classes to your schedule this year--you don't mind do you?"   I got this, it is an opportunity to open doors for collaboration with the teachers.   I have a cartload of books to be processed of course, but it will get done.  I don't write this to complain about my job, I love the work I do and working with the students is what I love most.  My district is relatively well off so I haven't faced cuts and obstacles like many others.  Just remember to keep your chin up, pat yourself on the back.   You do great work,  provide excellent service and always do it with a smile on your face.

Dear Hank Williams  by Kimberly Holt Willis.  A book that will make you laugh and cry.  Tate shares her family life in letters to Hank Williams in 1948.  He is the star of the Louisiana Hayride and Tate needs a pen pal for school.  She tells of her famous movie star mother and photographer daddy, but as the letters continue to be written we find out the truth about Tate's real life.  It will tug at your heartstrings.  Great book for Tweens who like to read books written in a letter format.  
Ohio Educational Library Media Association 
17 South High St. - Suite 200  
Columbus, OH  43215-3458
 
This information is provided exclusively for OELMA members. 
Call 614-228-4733 or send e-mail to oelma@assnoffices.com 
Visit us on the web at www.oelma.org