All posts by Angie

Books, Communication, General

Books in the Spotlight: Bikes

Sometimes CMLE will highlight several books that have some factor in common. We hope they will give you ideas for your collection, or influence an activity, lesson plan, or display!

Since May is National Bike Month, we thought it would be fun to share several different book lists all featuring the subject of bikes, as well as some suggestions for bike-related activities! Do you have a favorite book about bikes, or someplace in particular you like to ride? Share with us in the comments!

Looking for children’s books about biking? Check out this list from Bicycling.com! Some of the titles from the list include:

Gracie Goat’s Big Bike Race by Erin Mirabella, illustrated by Lisa Horstman
“Gracie Goat doesn’t know how to ride a bike and is so scared she refuses to try. Fortunately her Grandma convinces her to face her fears. Children will relate to Gracie’s self-doubt as well as her persistence in this sensitive, upbeat story.”

Along a Long Road by Frank Viva
“Speed off on an eventful bicycle ride along the bold yellow road that cuts through town, by the sea, and through the country. Ride up and around, along and through, out and down.”

If those books inspired you to try some bike-related activities, check out this free hidden pictures coloring page of a bike trail. Or get extra creative and try some bike painting!

Animals riding bikes is always fun too, so watch this video of Duck on a Bike by David Shannon being read aloud:

For older readers, YALSA has compiled this list of YA books with bikes to enjoy! Some of the titles from the list:

Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) by Sue Macy
“Take a lively look at women’s history from aboard a bicycle, which granted females the freedom of mobility and helped empower women’s liberation. Through vintage photographs, advertisements, cartoons, and songs, Wheels of Change transports young readers to bygone eras to see how women used the bicycle to improve their lives.”

Racing California by Janet Nichols Lynch
Evan is shocked when the amazing Tour de France winner Dash Shipley asks him to join his team for the Amgen Tour of California. Against his parents’ and girlfriend’s wishes, Evan risks missing his high school graduation to participate in the grueling eight-day bicycling race.

 

 

Finally, don’t miss this list of books for adults to “inspire your riding” for National Bike Month! From books like Cycling Home from Siberia  to Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance you will enjoy your bike-themed reading journey!

Happy biking!

Communication, Research, Resources

New Project Launched: MN Water Research Digital Library

Minnesota has a new digital repository, all about water research. The Minnesota Water Research Library has digital materials in PDF format and “provides one-stop access to all types of water research, enabling water managers, researchers, engaged citizens and others to easily find, share, and coordinate research to support their efforts to protect, conserve, manage and restore water in Minnesota.”

PALS (Project for Automated Library Systems) and the MN Water Research Library are looking forward to working together and providing an example to other state agencies looking for a way to manage their digital materials.

Read more about this project here!

CMLE, Communication, School Media Specialist, Visits

Next week: Visit Buffalo High School Library with CMLE!

Attention CMLE members and library fans: we are approaching the date for our next CMLE Group Library Visit! 

The new date for this Group Visit is Tuesday, May 9th at 2pm.

We are working on visiting all types of libraries, as we are a multitype system. We have much more in common in services and programs and materials, than the small differences in the focus of our different libraries.

On Tuesday, May 9th at 2:00pm we will be visiting the library at Buffalo High School. We are so excited to be able to take our members to another one of our system’s great libraries! Last month, Mary was able to tour this library and enjoyed seeing their colorful displays, fun programming, and the rest of the exciting work happening at this high school library.

Will you join us? Let us know:

Are joining us for our Buffalo High School visit?(required)

Would you like to go out afterward for snacking and talking?

Children's services, School Media Specialist, Training

Register now for EdCampMidMN 2017!!

Join us for EdCampMidMN 3.0 

As with tradition, we are traveling around central Minnesota. This year Dr. S.G. Knight Elementary School will host!

 

EdcampMidMN is an open, participatory, dynamic and free professional development conference. Edcamp brings together those who understand the complexities and promises of learning – actual teachers, administrators, and educational support personnel. Rather than being lectured to by experts, Edcampers facilitate their own discussions about relevant pedagogy or promising technology, and share with each other effective learning practices.
Books, CMLE

Read with CMLE: Goodreads books for May!

Looking for your next great read? We hope you will join us in our CMLE book groups! Take a look at what we will be reading during the month of May:

For our group CMLE Librarian Professionals we will be learning about persistence while reading Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth.
“In this must-read book for anyone striving to succeed, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows parents, educators, athletes, students, and business people-both seasoned and new-that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a focused persistence called “grit.” Why do some people succeed and others fail?”

For our fiction group CMLE Librarians Enjoying Books we will be reading The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton.
“Fiona Sweeney wants to do something that matters, and she chooses to make her mark in the arid bush of northeastern Kenya. By helping to start a traveling library, she hopes to bring the words of Homer, Hemingway, and Dr. Seuss to far-flung tiny communities where people live daily with drought, hunger, and disease. Her intentions are honorable, and her rules are firm: due to the limited number of donated books, if any one of them is not returned, the bookmobile will not return.”