Category Archives: school library news

Leaving paper books behind, Napa’s high school libraries embrace online resources

From Napa Valley Register

” The school library. For decades, it was the go-to source for students looking for books to research a topic or write a paper.Not anymore. Today, the library comes to the students – on their smartphones, iPads, laptops or other tech devices.At Napa Valley Unified School District high schools, libraries have transitioned from a room with four walls to a virtual collection of digital resources including e-books, databases and much more.“We’re bringing libraries to the 21st century,” said Kate MacMillan, coordinator of library services at NVUSD.
Schools and teachers are now educating kids using technology such as smart boards, e-books and shared electronic documents such as Google Docs. That means libraries must follow suit.
“We have to be technologically nimble,” said MacMillan.“Everything has changed,” said Jennifer Baker, NVUSD communications media specialist. “Students don’t need to be physically in the library” to use it, she said. “Our goal now is to get the instruction to bring the library directly to the classroom.”“The need for library services or info is not going to go away,” said MacMillan. “We’re just providing it in a different manner.” Library circulation at NVUSD high schools confirms the trend. The number of printed books checked out has dropped significantly over the past years.”

http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/leaving-paper-books-behind-napa-s-high-school-libraries-embrace/article_5a3d1f54-9b2f-5af1-ba46-33733ad2725d.html

California school libraries in woeful shape, audit says

From Central Valley Bussiness Times

” California’s public school libraries are overdue for improved oversight and staffing, says a new report from state Auditor Elaine Howle.According to standards adopted six years ago by the State Board of Education, school districts should now be employing a total of about 7,900 teacher librarians to serve the 6.2 million students enrolled in schools statewide.How many are actually employed? 841, says Ms. Howle.In Tulare County, one of the three counties audited for the core of the report, there is exactly one teacher librarian for 100 schools spread out over two counties.”

http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=31605

‘Drawn Together’: Julie Bowen supports event for L.A. school libraries

from Variety

“‘Modern Family’ star Julie Bowen and renowned cartoonists Jeff Kinney (‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’), Stephan Pastis (‘Timmy Failure’), Lincoln Pierce (‘Big Nate’) and Dav Pilkey (‘Captain Underpants’) will raise money for Los Angeles school libraries at this month’s Drawn Together event.”

http://variety.com/2015/scene/news/julie-bowen-drawn-together-event-1201514574/

Map: Many LAUSD elementary schools in South LA still don’t have library staff

<p?from KPCC News

“Since January, the Los Angeles Unified School district has reopened more than 200 elementary school libraries that had been shuttered during the recession — but almost half of those those that remain closed are in South L.A., including the low-income neighborhoods of South Gate, Huntington Park and Watts.”

http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/04/06/50769/many-lausd-elementary-schools-in-south-la-still-do/

California School Library Association 2015 Centennial Celebration Conference

from KQED.org

“KQED is proud to sponsor the California School Library Association 2015 Centennial Celebration Conference taking place in Burlingame from February 5- 8, 2015.”

http://blogs.kqed.org/education/2015/01/28/california-school-library-association-2015-centennial-celebration-conference/

SF teacher librarians create black lives matter resource guide for classrooms

from the San Francisco Examiner

“In more ways than one, December marked a significant step toward increasing social-justice resources in the classrooms of San Francisco’s public schools. On Dec. 9, the Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution that expands the San Francisco Unified School District’s current ethnic studies course offerings to all public high schools … Also around that same time, a group of five teacher librarians created an online compilation of resources related to the nationwide black lives matter movement that has set off protests throughout the Bay Area and U.S. in recent weeks in response to the deaths of two unarmed black men at the hands of white police officers.”

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/sf-teacher-librarians-create-black-lives-matter-resource-guide-for-classrooms/Content?oid=2915809

Calaveras: Librarian layoffs could have devastating impact on schools

from the Calaveras Enterprise

“The Calaveras Unified School District budget has a $2.5 million spending deficit, and the district was tasked this fall with eliminating about $2 million from its 2015-16 budget. The first phase of cuts, totaling $1.1 million, was initiated in October. Eight teaching positions, three administrator jobs and two maintenance positions were eliminated, and the district’s preschool program will not be funded. To save another $882,500, the second phase of cuts, which will be put into motion in February, includes the elimination of 16 staffers – nine teachers, two bus drivers and five media specialists [librarians].”

http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/news/article_1999ef26-821a-11e4-b01a-9f8e7ed6254d.html

In Rockridge, Oakland schools chief Wilson meets with parents, teachers

from Inside Bay Area

“Libraries, Wilson said, should be an important part of a school where children can do research and have access to technology. He said he wants every school to have a library and he wants it to be a ‘forward-thinking library.'”

http://www.insidebayarea.com/my-town/ci_26971794/rockridge-oakland-schools-chief-wilson-meets-parents-teachers

LA schools superintendent calls for hiring freeze, citing cash shortage

from 89.3 KPCC

“The school board passed a $7.3 billion budget crafted by former Superintendent John Deasy and top staffers, with plans to hire 1,200 new positions. Two weeks ago, KPCC confirmed many of those positions have yet to be filled. Deasy promised to hire 192 library aides to open shuttered elementary libraries across the district. Instead, the number of elementary library staff decreased, and 100,000 students are still without access to campus libraries.”

http://www.scpr.org/blogs/education/2014/10/31/17501/short-of-cash-la-schools-superintendent-calls-for/

Science 4 Kern makes debut in Kern County classrooms

from 23ABC News.com

“The Science 4 Kern program is an innovated mobile lending library that comes equipped with materials to teach fourth and fifth grade students the basics of science. The program, which was funded by Chevron and overseen by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, gives teachers the chance to reserve science equipment that would be too costly for schools to purchase.”

http://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/science-on-wheels-makes-debut-in-kern-county-classrooms-101514

100,000 Los Angeles elementary students still without libraries

from 89.3 KPCC

“About 40 percent of Los Angeles Unified elementary schools still lack the staff to open libraries, leaving about 100,000 students without a way to borrow books on campus, according to figures recently released by the district.”

http://www.scpr.org/blogs/education/2014/10/13/17369/100-000-los-angeles-elementary-students-still-with/

Riverside: Review of policies sought after ‘Fault in Our Stars’ ban

from the Press Enterprise

“Riverside school board members want a thorough review of policies about selecting library books and other instructional materials after criticism over a decision to remove the best-seller ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ from middle school libraries.”

http://www.pe.com/articles/school-751447-book-policies.html

Kings Canyon: KCUSD parents protest use of ‘amoral’ book

from the Orange Cove and Mountain Times

“Upset parents demanded last week that the Kings Canyon Unified School District remove a book [Black Swan Green] intended for freshmen English classes that one father said is ‘inappropriate, amoral and disgusting’…Common Core doesn’t require KCUSD to teach the book. But KCUSD is using a curriculum called Engage New York that includes excerpts.”

http://www.reedleyexponent.com/articles/2014/10/02/publications/orange_cove_and_mountain_times/news/doc542da691a844f639562541.txt

Banned Books Week: works recently targeted in California

from KQED News

“Here in California, the Riverside Unified School District got the week off to a flying start by banning ‘The Fault in Our Stars,’ John Green’s wildly popular young adult novel about teenage cancer patients…Earlier this month, officials at Rancho Cucamonga Middle School closed the school library after a parent tweeted complaints about her daughter coming home with ‘Rabbit is Rich,’ by John Updike.”

http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/09/24/2014/Banned_Books_California