Typically, we do not resort to poking fun about the diameter and depth of potholes just yet, but this year, we have had plenty of winter, and I am already seeing the damage to the roads! How about you? In Canada, photographers got creative and challenged folks to use humor and creativity for those eye sores known as potholes. Just for fun, take a look!
 TO: Minnesota Libraries Contract OpportunityState Library Services welcomes contractors to submit proposals for Every Child Ready to Read 2 (ECRR2) workshops to take place in Minnesota in 2014. We are seeking a qualified contractor to provide and/or develop ECRR2 training materials/lesson plans and deliver six training sessions during the initial contract period for Minnesota library staff. This training project is designed to bolster storytimes, passive programming, and outreach to parents and care providers with up-to-date early literacy research and findings. The initial contract period is anticipated to run from around April 7, 2014 through September 30, 2014. Proposed ECRR2 training sessions will align with the Language and Literacy Development domain of the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota’s Early Learning Standards. Two full-day workshops will be offered in the Twin Cities metro area and will focus on expanding the practice of ECRR2 into librarian-led training for parents and child care providers. Four full-day workshops will be offered in greater Minnesota and will focus on incorporating the messages of curriculum into library storytimes and passive programming for families with children ages 0-6. The contractor will develop lesson plans, select appropriate handouts and deliver the training. Questions related to this solicitation are due to jacqueline.blagsvedt@state.mn.us by February 25, 2014, 4:00 p.m., Central Time. A question and answer document will be disseminated to everyone who posed a question and everyone who received a copy of the solicitation document by February 27, 2014, 4:00 p.m., Central Time. More information on ECRR2 solicitation is published on the State of Minnesota’s Contracting Opportunity website, The reference Number is PT1816. To receive a copy of the complete solicitation or for additional information, contact jacqueline.blagsvedt@state.mn.us or 651-582-8805. |
Joel Lee writes: “CTRL + SHIFT + 4. Those are the only three keys you’ll ever need to press when you want to take a screenshot—and I’m not talking about a primitive screenshot either. You can select which region of the screen to capture, or you can capture entire windows with a single keystroke. Taking screenshots doesn’t have to be a hassle if you use one of these tools. Easy-access screenshots are one of those things that seem like it wouldn’t be useful, yet once you’ve used one you won’t ever look back.”…
Be sure to scroll down when you get to the page to get to the tool comparisons. As is typical, comments include additional tools if you have not found the tool of your dreams!
Read the full post at Tools for creating screenshots compared
MakeUseOf, Jan. 14
In this fast changing world, do you sometimes look for something to help ground you, to fully realize the importance of your role in your school or district? School media specialist extraordinaire Joyce Valenza recently tweeted a really excellent one page handout about what it means to be a School Media Specialist. The document is free to share and spread better understanding about your role in your setting too! Credit for content goes to Carl A. Harvey II , who is the library media specialist at North Elementary School in Noblesville, Indiana. See the pretty version of this doc at http://tinyurl.com/8a82cbr
Do you also marvel about how much great content is available online typically at no cost? In February alone, the Open Education Database (OEDB) folks share 30 possibilities. From what I have seen, most are available in archived format, and don’t even require registration! So, treat yourself to making fabulous you even a bit better!
Get the full list at http://tinyurl.com/l7pzdqu