the Virtual Bookmark

Fall Activities Report now online

The BCTLA Executive has produced a summary report of activities. 

 Download file and read about the exciting projects completed or underway. 

  http://bctf.ca/bctla/pub/reports/2009%20BCTLA%20Fall%20Activities.pdf

Library Program Self-Assessment regime-72

SD #72 Campbell River

Submitted by Ruth Kline

CRTL’s: Library Assessment

In 2007, the teacher-librarians were involved in questioning whether the school libraries meet the standards recommended by the Canadian Association for School Libraries.  We as teacher-librarians applied for a Collaboration for Growth Grant through the Core Pro-d Committee of the School District.  During this professional development, it became evident that change was needed  and that we needed to make it effective within our libraries.  Our goal has been to have a collective voice to add our input into a new Library Policy for Campbell River School District.  We met as a group six times to read articles and discuss “Achieving Information Literacy: Standards for School Library Programs in Canada” and we developed our own evaluation rubric based on our discussions and the readings from the book. 

 

Download Rubrics (PDF: http://bctf.ca/bctla/pub/documents/libraryprogram/SD72TLAssessment.pdf

School District 72

Library Program Assessment

School:    

Teacher-Librarian:   

Date:    

Vision

Campbell River School District libraries promote the development of independent, lifelong learners and readers.  They emphasize the collaboration of all participants in education (students, teachers, administrators, parents) and focus on resource-based learning, using a wide variety of information sources and strategies.

Core Values

Libraries of Campbell River School District shall allow all patrons:

• access to the collection, resources and services of a teacher-librarian
• a friendly, stimulating, open and supportive learning environment
• opportunities to learn with a variety of resources and strategies within a flexible environment

Goals

Goal 1:  Provide appropriate staffing to implement an effective district-wide library program.

Goal 2: That each school develop a site-based library committee consisting of classroom teachers, school administration and school teacher-librarian.

Goal 3:  Provide for more effective student learning through collaborative processes in planning, teaching, and assessment between the teacher-librarians and the teachers.

Goal 4:  Provide up-to-date library resources in a variety of formats and technologies to meet the diverse needs of all learners.

Goal 5:  Provide appropriate school library facilities and equipment and access to ICT to meet the learning and teaching needs of an effective school library program.

 
  

Download Rubrics (PDF: http://bctf.ca/bctla/pub/documents/libraryprogram/SD72TLAssessment.pdf

 

 

DEAR 2009 Posters for members- now online

DEAR 2009 Posters for members- join the challenge Oct.26, 2009!

The BCTLA is again sponsoring the Drop Everything and Read Challenge to promote the value of reading.  Large colour posters will be printed by the BCTLA and mailed to schools by the BCTF some time in the fall. To assist your school's challenge we have the posters available online in addition to VP Karen Lindsay's blog and Facebook. 

If you are new to this initiative visit the links below to get a backgrounder.

• Watch for announcements at the BCTLA website and BCTLA Forum at Google Groups.
• Follow our DEAR 09 Campaign at: http://bctladear.blogspot.com/

Now Available! the Bookmark-June 2009

Now available!

the Bookmark Vol 49 Issue IV June 2009

Enjoy our celebration issue. Have a great summer.

Articles in the bound edition hyperlink back to this blog, so readers can participate in the content. Provide feedback to authors or just add your own contribution.  Watch for the 50th Anniversary Special Edition in October. All members and Chapters are invited to submit articles, news, stories, photos or anecdotes from their region.

Deadline for submission is September 15th, 2009.
Upload at :http://bctf.ca/bctla/contacts.html

Have a great summer break!
the Bookmark staff, Angie MacRitchie and Al Smith

http://bctf.ca/bctla/pub/bookmark/2009SummerBookmark.pdf

Annual Report on Ontario’s Public Schools 2009

People for Education Annual Report 2009

http://www.peopleforeducation.com/annualreportschools09

 

WANTED:
A RENEWED
VISION
FOR PUBLIC
EDUCATION

People for Education is supported by thousands of individual donors, and the work and dedication of hundreds of volunteers. We also receive support from the Atkinson Foundation, the Canadian Auto Workers, the Toronto Community Foundation, the RBC Foundation, TD Bank Financial Group, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Education. Every year, parents and principals in schools across Ontario take the time to complete our survey and share their stories with us.

Brief:

FUNDRAISING, FEES AND VOLUNTEERS
· The percentage of elementary schools raising more than $20,000 per year has more than doubled since 2001.
· 63% of secondary schools charge fees for labs and course materials.
· There are over 100,000 volunteers working in Ontario’s schools.
· Overall, Ontario schools and parents raised $595 Million in 2007/8 through things like fundraising, fees, vending machines,
and corporate and charitable donations.

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
· 7% of schools with Grades 7&8 have a Design and Technology teacher, compared to 22% in 1998.

LIBRARIES, READING AND LITERACY
· 49% of Grade 6 students say they “like to read.”2
· Only 55% of elementary schools have a teacher-librarian, most of them part-time, compared to 80% in 1998.

________________________________________________

People for Education is a registered charity working

to support public education in Ontario’s English, French

and Catholic schools.

P.O. Box 64, Station P

Toronto, Ontario

M5S 2S6

phone: 416-534-0100

fax: 416-536-0100

e-mail: info@peopleforeducation.com

website: www.peopleforeducation.com

iPhone drives change...bestselling author, Clancy going digital...

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2009/01/29/tom-clancy.html

Tom Clancy, the bestselling writer of espionage thrillers, is going digital with his spy game.

Publisher Penguin Group announced Thursday that it will begin releasing Clancy's novels in several e-book formats beginning Feb. 3.

Electronic books, or e-books, can be downloaded onto a Mac, PC or Sony Reader directly from the publisher. They are only available online.

The first Clancy book being made available is The Hunt for Red October, the initial Jack Ryan novel and a work that catapulted him onto bestseller lists in 1984.

Clancy, author of Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Rainbow Six and The Teeth of the Tiger, is still in great demand by readers, according to Amazon.com and Sony Reader.

Clancy, who lives in Maryland, is known for packing his novels with fast-paced action and abrupt plot twists.
______________________________________________________________
Author Tom Clancy, shown in May 2004, has a deal to create e-books of bestsellers like The Hunt for Red October. (Kathy Willens/Associated Press)  ( CBC )
_______________________________________________

Penguin announced initiatives to move heavily into electronic formats late last year, including content that can be loaded on a mobile phone or iPhone.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090129/entertainment/20090129_books_tom_clancy

Download HuntForRedOctober

OLA Exemplary School Libraries Report

 

http://www.peopleforeducation.com/school-libraries

 

Exemplary School Libraries in Ontario January 29th, 2009:

Researchers at Queen's University and People for Education release a new report.

 

School libraries have the potential to transform schools, to increase literacy and improve student achievement.

Our study found that exemplary school libraries are the central hub of their schools, prominently placed and central place of activity and learning. The teacher-librarians are leaders in their school and outstanding teachers. Both the library and the teacher-librarian are recognized as playing a critical role in supporting the educational outcomes of the school.

Students in these schools report high levels of satisfaction and engagement with their school libraries. They are active readers and the majority also want to have more opportunities to use the school library.

The study identified a number of ongoing challenges including funding and policy to support school libraries.

One of the most practical findings in the study was that the support of the elementary school principal was found to be vital. Without support of the elementary school principal, exemplary school libraries cannot exist.

 

Govenor General Award Winning author Nino Ricci at the coalition press conference. "As someone who grew up on school libraries I can testify to their formative influence. They were crucial not only in turning me into a writer, but perhaps more importantly in turning me into a reader."

http://www.peopleforeducation.com/school-libraries

theBookmark- Fall 2008 Edition: now online

theBookmark- Fall 2008 Edition: now online

The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians' Association are pleased to announce the release of another professional PSA journal.  Feel free to post your comments, opinions or contributor responses in the BCTLA Forum or this Virtual Bookmark blog. If you are at the 2008 Conference, look for Angie MacRitchie or any Executive member if you wish to share ideas in person. Have a great October!

Volume 49 Issue II can be viewed here or from the BCTLA web site.

http://bctf.ca/bctla/

http://virtualbookmark.typepad.com/the_virtual_bookmark/print-bookmarks.html

Victoria BC Conference 2008

http://www.sd61.bc.ca/gvtla/victoria.htm

____________________________________________________

Download Promotional Docs:

| Download bookmarktostaff.doc

| Download coverlettertoteachersbctlaconference.doc

| Download overviewofsessions.doc

The Greater Victoria Teacher-Librarians' Association will be hosting the 2008 B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association Conference at Spectrum Community School on October 24th, 2008, preceded by an Author’s Festival throughout Greater Victoria schools on October 23rd.

The concept of “change” in our Conference theme is key. Change is one of few constants in the work of educators, and teachers and teacher-librarians work together in many different ways to support literacy.

Moreover, working together to change students' attitudes towards reading opens doors and levels playing fields -- positively impacting students both in school and beyond into their adult lives.

This year's keynote speaker, Richard Van Camp will be sharing good medicine stories that inspire and empower on Thursday evening, October 23rd at 7:00 pm in Spectrum Community School's Theatre .

Friday, October 24th will offer various plenary sessions and a wide range of workshops.

Compulsion to Connect?

COMPULSION TO CONNECT? FACEBOOK ADDICTION DISORDER?
by Judith Comfort, Dr. Charles Best Secondary

If you are worried that you, or a friend might be addicted to Facebook, answer this questionnaire, HONESTLY. If you score above 80 - acknowledge that you have a problem and immediately seek help from a parent, family doctor, teacher or counsellor.   

"The Facebook Addiction Test (FAT) is the first validated and reliable measure of addictive use of the Facebook."

Answer the following questions using this scale:

1 = Rarely
2 = Occasionally.
3 = Frequently.
4 = Often.
5 = Always.
0 = Does Not Apply

1. How often do you find that you stay on Facebook longer than you intended?
2. How often do you neglect household chores to spend more time on Facebook?
3. How often do you prefer the excitement of the Facebook to face-to-face friends?
4. How often do you form new relationships with fellow Facebook users?
5. How often do others in your life complain to you about the amount of time you spend Facebook?
6. How often do your grades or school work suffer because of the amount of time you spend on Facebook?
7. How often do you check your e-mail before something else that you need to do?
8. How often does your job performance or productivity suffer because of Facebook?
9. How often do you become defensive or secretive when anyone asks you what you do on Facebook?
10. How often do you block out disturbing thoughts about your life with soothing thoughts of the Facebook
11. How often do you find yourself anticipating when you will go on Facebook again?
12. How often do you fear that life without Facebook would be boring, empty, and joyless?
13. How often do you snap, yell, or act annoyed if someone bothers you while you are Facebook?
14. How often do you lose sleep due to late-night log-ins
15. How often do you feel preoccupied with the Facebook when off-line, or fantasize about being on Facebook?
16. How often do you find yourself saying "just a few more minutes" when on Facebook
17. How often do you try to cut down the amount of time you spend Facebook and fail?
18. How often do you try to hide how long you've been on Facebook
19. How often do you choose to spend more time Facebook over going out with others?
20. How often do you feel depressed, moody, or nervous when you are off-line, which goes away once you are back on Facebook?

Results: add up your score

After you've answered all the questions, add the numbers you selected for each response to obtain a final score. The higher your score, the greater the problem your Facebook usage causes. Here's a general scale to help measure your score:

20 - 49 points: You are an average Facebook user. You may surf Facebook a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage.

50 -79 points: You are experiencing occasional or frequent problems because   of Facebook. You should consider their full impact on your life.

80 - 100 points: Your Facebook usage is causing significant problems in your   life. You should evaluate the impact of Facebook on your life and address the problems directly caused by your Facebook usage.

DOWNLOAD:
Download facebook_addiction_disorde1.doc   |  Download facebook_addiction_disorde1.pdf

________________
Works Cited:

Adapted Source: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/17996

Comfort, J. "Compulsion to Connect." Dr. Charles Best Secondary School Library. URL.< www.bestlibrary.org >, 2008.