Last week, the St. Cloud State University Library held it’s annual Edible Books Festival. As one of the sponsors, CMLE had a front row to the festivities. There were over 40 creations for attendees to look at as well as music and other activities. Many scored cookies or even a slice of professionally baked cake. Check out the pictures below from the event, read more about the event from the St. Cloud Times, or take a listen to KVSC’s podcast about the event.
All posts by John
3 free coding websites
Recently Edudemic wrote about three free coding websites for kids. They based their criteria on ease of use, aesthetics, effectiveness, and it had to be free. The article also discussed each website’s strengths and weaknesses. Drum roll please, the 3 best free coding websites are:
Check them out or tell us how you’re already using them in your class. Need more? Here’s the trailer for CodeCombat where kids learn to code by playing a game!
Get the Google Scholar Button
Do you use the Google Chrome browser? Do you do research online? If you answered “yes” to both of those questions, you need the Google Scholar Button! Actually an extension to your web browser, the button can help you:
- Find full text on the web or in your university library.
- Transfer your query from a web search to Google Scholar.
- Format references in a number of citation styles.
And always remember you can set your Google Scholar Settings at https://scholar.google.com/scholar_settings
Quoting the extension description, “please visit your library’s website or ask a local librarian for assistance.” 🙂
A day in the life of a school librarian
In their recent three part series on school libraries, NorthJersey.com wrote about the High, Middle and Elementary school libraries of Millburn Township. Although in New Jersey, the stories they share are nearly universal across school libraries today.
The first part discusses the work of Millburn High School Librarian LaDawna Harrington. Her work bridges print and digital, but moves beyond the information source. “More than ever we live in a complicated information-inundated world and so students really have to learn to think for themselves,” she said.
Thinking critically about information is important for any life-long learner. “I can’t possibly anticipate what the next technology is going to be,” she continues, “so for me the most important thing is helping students to realize that they need to think critically about the information they’re gathering and looking for, and to provide multiple access points to the collection.”
The second part highlights the work of Millburn Middle School’s Librarian Amy Ipp. Her work prepares them for high school but also continues the love for reading established in elementary school. “One of the things that I really love about the middle school is students are still really interested in the pleasure of reading,” she said, “matching the book with the reader is fun for me.”
Finally, the third part of the series features Glenwood School Librarian Shea Stansfield. Not simply a place to check out picture books, Stansfield works on students’ public speaking skills through research projects. “I have them pick a topic they are interested in and have them choose three things they want to tell the students about, say, skates, bicycles, or LEGOS,” she said, “so when they get into research projects in third, fourth and fifth grade they’re familiar with the process because they’ve done it with something they’re interested in.”
We at CMLE are sure you have your own school library stories to share. Whether they are from your youth or if you are a school librarian living them now, please share them with us in the comments below or email us!
Image credit: http://tinyography.com/, licensed under CC0 1.0
MN Library Legislative Update
The following legislative update was written by Elaine Keefe, library lobbyist for the Minnesota Library Association (MLA) and Information Technology Educators of MN (ITEM).
Received Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 7:25 pm
House Legacy Bill: This afternoon the House Legacy bill was posted online. I am very disappointed to report that funding for regional public libraries was reduced by one-third in comparison to the current biennium. In the current biennium, regional public libraries received $3 million each year, for a total of $6 million. The House bill proposes $1.5 million in the first year and $2.5 million in the second year, for a total of $4 million. Many previous recipients of Arts and Cultural Heritage funds are also slated for reductions from current funding levels, including the Science Museum (down 45%), Civics Education (down 40%), the Duluth Children’s Museum (down 38%), the Southern Minnesota Children’s Museum (down 38%), the Minnesota Zoo (down 36%), the Perpich Center (down 35%), Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations (down 14%), Public Television (down 14%), and MPR (down 6%).
So, where did the money go? The recipients who saw reductions were relatively small programs. The largest recipients received substantial increases, namely the Minnesota Historical Society (up 16%) and the State Arts Board (up 7.5%). Disappointingly, the Minnesota Digital Library, which is part of the Historical Society’s appropriation, received a slight cut – from $600,000 in the current biennium to $580,000. There are also some new appropriations, including $1 million for restoration and preservation of fine art in the capitol complex and $250,000 for the Bell Museum. According to committee staff, they received far more in requests than they could possibly fund, and the decisions were difficult. We have been repeatedly warned that no recipient of Legacy funds has a base budget – we all start over each biennium. This bill seems designed to drive that point home.
Please contact your own state representative and members of the House Legacy Committee between now and Monday to express your concern about the low level of funding provided for regional public libraries. Members of the Legacy Committee can be found at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=89017 Please keep your messages respectful.
The House Legacy bill will be heard on Monday at 12:45pm in the Basement Hearing Room. The committee plans to meet for as long as necessary (up to midnight) to walk through the bill, take testimony and consider amendments before passing the bill.
Senate Legacy Hearing: On Monday evening the Senate Legacy Subcommittee heard presentations from groups seeking funding from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Ann Hutton and Melinda Ludwiczak made the presentation and did a great job. Special thanks to the gang from East Central Regional Library for bringing a large glass blown parrot made by a local artist from a local child’s drawing to display to the committee. They seemed to enjoy it very much. Valerie Horton also testified on behalf of the Minnesota Digital Library.
At the hearing Senator Cohen announced that $3.5 million would have to be allocated from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund for restoration and preservation of art at the capitol. He warned that this would make funding increases unlikely for most recipients of Arts and Cultural Heritage Funds.
House Omnibus Education Bill: Today the House Education Finance Committee passed its omnibus bill out of committee. Before passage the committee considered about a dozen amendments. Rep. Kresha successfully offered an amendment with the RLTA language that had been proposed in the Governor’s supplemental budget bill. We had negotiated a couple of changes to the language with MDE, and I had testified last night that we were supporting the amendment. It went onto the bill today without a hitch. Also notable is that the provision requiring a regional public library board to employ a chief administrative officer who is compensated by no more than one regional library was removed from the omnibus bill after I let Rep. Erickson know that MLA opposed the provision. The omnibus education bill will be heard next week in the House Tax Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.
Senate Omnibus Education Bill: Today the Senate E-12 Budget Division passed its omnibus bill out of committee. The RLTA language was also amended onto this bill this morning. Other provisions of interest in this bill are as follows:
- RLBSS: Modifies the formula and increases funding by $2.85 million over the biennium
- Telecommunications Equity Aid: Increases funding by $3 million ($1.5 million per year) for the 16-17 biennium only
- School Technology: Requires school districts to reserve future growth in the proceeds from the school endowment fund for school technology and telecommunications infrastructure, programs and training
- 1:1 Device Program: Requires MDE to research existing 1:1 device programs and develop guidelines for best practices for Minnesota schools implementing 1:1 device programs
Broadband Grants: The Senate omnibus environment, economic development and agriculture bill was released today. It includes $17 million for broadband grants. The House employment and economic development bill provides no funding for broadband. The Governor’s budget includes $30 million.
Elaine Keefe
Capitol Hill Associates
525 Park Street, Suite 310
St. Paul, MN 55103
(office)651-293-0229
(cell) 612-590-1244
elaine@capitolhillassoc.com
Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/p4m2ool, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0