This is a guest post from Wanda Erickson, Media Specialist at Upsala Area Schools. Read more about our Extended Mini Grant Program. This program is only available during the FY21 school year.

Since receiving news of the grant approval, I have been hard at work getting titles ordered and specifications set with ABDO.  Chad Swiggum has been an excellent partner, thorough and efficient.  The order was placed, waiting ensued, and finally the books CAME!

 Third Grade students helped to unpack the books.  They were thrilled with the appearance and the content of the titles. 

 As I selected titles, I decided on subjects that supported geography and culture.  I also wanted titles that attracted students in primary grades.  In the grant application, I mentioned I firmly support database usage.  However, we know that younger students take a longer time to develop proficiency in the use of databases.  They tend to look at the videos, have the text read to them, and enjoy rather than research.  With a print title, they still enjoy, but the opportunity to read and research seems greater.  There is less to distract.  

 Well, the books are here!  I have cleaned up the integration into our local Destiny catalog, labeled spines with colored AR labels, and am ready to introduce them to students for checkout.  I will also weed those old titles I mentioned in the application and put them either into classrooms or on the free book table. 

Our elementary school, in cooperation with the district’s community education program, offers summer reading.  The new titles will be ready for students to use all summer.  Along with databases, too.

From the reactions of Third Grade alone, I suspect these titles will circulate well. 

CMLE has been around since I started teaching (1977 I began, CMLE in 1979).  Thank you again for supporting libraries and students for 42 years.