ALA Releases Gaming Toolkit

From the Announcement – http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/march2009/olosgamingtoolkit.cfm

Libraries are changing and dynamic places, and no better evidence of that exists than the spread of gaming in the nation’s public, school and academic libraries.

In recognition of this trend and the increasing value of gaming to literacy improvement, the American Library Association, with assistance from a $1 million grant from the Verizon Foundation, has developed an online toolkit to aid librarians in serving this growing constituency.

The Librarian’s Guide to Gaming: An Online Toolkit for Building Gaming @ your library offers content contributed by expert gaming librarians across the country. The toolkit includes a wide range of resources to help librarians create, fund and evaluate gaming experiences in the library.

Toolkit – http://librarygamingtoolkit.org/

Source: American Library Association

Rock & Roll Library Tour! THE HIGH STRUNG are coming!

Are you looking for a high-energy, summer reading program?

For the past five years the quirky, carefree, energetic music of Detroit’s The High Strung has been electrifying patrons across the nation with their sunny three-part harmonies and witty, lyrical bravado. This year the guitars that accompany the band’s catchy sing-along choruses are roaming the country again, headed in your direction, and the show is only getting better.

Read more→

Rock & Roll Library Tour! THE HIGH STRUNG are coming!

Are you looking for a high-energy, summer reading program?
For the past five years the quirky, carefree, energetic music of Detroit’s The High Strung has been electrifying patrons across the nation with their sunny three-part harmonies and witty, lyrical bravado. This year the guitars that accompany the band’s catchy sing-along choruses are roaming the country again, headed in your direction, and the show is only getting better.
Read more→

Library Journal Index of Public Library Service

Congratulations to the five (!!) Vermont public libraries rated among the 256 best in the country in Library Journal’s new index of library service :

Stowe Free Library
Sherburne Memorial Library (Killington)
Fairfax Community Library
Craftsbury Public Library
The Lincoln Library

The “all star” ratings are based on per capita usage as reflected in circulation, visits, program attendance, and public internet usage, and are reported in peer groups based on operating budget. For the full article and to see how your library rated, see Library Journal, 2/15/09, pp. 26-33 and visit www.LibraryJournal.com/ljindex2009.

Y’all are an inspiration!

Amy C. Grasmick, Director
Kimball Public Library
Randolph, VT

New Primary-Source Database for Schools and Libraries

A new primary-source database, with on-site search, is now available for schools, libraries, educators and students. Its features include 15,000 images plus documents, narrations, video/audio clips and organized slide shows. Incorporated into the text are also secondary sources, such as links to Google Books.

Group access to the site is free for all schools, libraries, educators and students. Click here for access. http://www.awesomestories.com/newsletters/february-2009-highlights

Ten Libraries, Literacy and Gaming Grants Announced

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Literacy and Outreach Services is seeking applications from public, school and academic libraries interested in developing and implementing innovative literacy gaming services for youth ages 10-18.

This program is part of ALA’s Libraries, Literacy and Gaming initiative funded by Verizon.

Ten $5,000.00 grants will be awarded to libraries clearly demonstrating creativity, capacity, sustainability and a strong commitment to literacy-related gaming services. In addition, the winning libraries will receive ongoing support and technical assistance from a team of nationally recognized library gaming experts. Winners will be announced during National Library Week, April 12-18. The grant application is available online at http://librarygamingtoolkit.org/rfp. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm, Friday, March 20.

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NETSL Spring Conference Registration Open

Registration is now open for the New England Technical Services Librarians’ 2009 Spring Conference.

Visit http://www.nelib.org/netsl/conference-2009.htm for the complete program and a link to the mail-in registration form. Online registration will be available very soon. (We’ll post another announcement to this list as soon as it’s available.) We look forward to seeing you there!

NETSL Annual Spring Conference Program 2009:

Working the Cataloging Landscape: Fishing, Mining, and Harvesting

Friday, April 17, 2009
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sign-in begins at 8:30 a.m.

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