Category Archives: Public

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CPSC Issues Rule Regarding Lead Standards; More Guidance To Come for Libraries

 As the American Library Association (ALA) has emphasized since first enactment of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), concern for children’s safety is our first priority in providing materials to young patrons.  On August 26, 2009, the CPSC’s final rule on children’s products containing lead was released.  In the rule, CPSC confirmed that libraries have no independent obligation to test library books for lead under the law.  CPSC also announced its intention to release a Statement of Policy specifically providing guidance for libraries with regard to the treatment of older children’s books that could potentially contain lead.  According to our conversations with CPSC officials, that Statement of Policy should be released within the next several weeks. 

 While we await the Statement of Policy, ALA recommends that libraries take the following actions.  If a library is aware that any children’s book does indeed contain lead above the legal limits or otherwise presents a danger to children, it should remove it from public access, for instance by moving it to the non-circulating collection.  We would also ask that if libraries do learn of any books containing lead to please let the ALA – Washington Office know so that we might  share that information with other libraries.  When the Statement of Policy is released, we will promptly notify our members.

 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jessica McGilvray, Assistant Director of the ALA Office of Government Relations at jmcgilvray@alwash.org or 1-800-941-8478.

 Jessica McGilvray,Assistant Director

American Library Association

Washington Office – Office of Government Relations

1615 New Hampshire Ave., N.W., 1st Floor

Washington, D.C. 20009-2520

 

phone: 202-628-8410

fax: 202-628-8419

Public, School Media Specialist

Teen Tech Week

Posted from the Audiobook blog at http://audiobooker.booklistonline.com/
 
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 5:38 am
Teen Tech Week + audiobooks = Amazing
Posted by: Mary

March 8-14 is the American Library Association’s Teen Tech Week, sponsored by YALSA. This is a perfect time to display & promote the audiobooks that have been named as Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. Or ALSC’s Notable Children’s Recordings, as that list includes titles recommended for listeners age 14 and under. And of course, this year’s Odyssey Award winner The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and honor titles Curse of the Blue Tattoo, Elijah of Buxton, and Nation are sure-fire hits with teens. Tomorrow night is parent-teacher conference night in my school – a perfect opportunity to host a “How to Download” hands-on demo in my school library, showing parents how their public library card is the key to 24/7 educational & recreational materials available through the public libary web site. What a bonus that this is also “Read an Ebook Week“  – we’ll be downloading those as well!

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Academic, Public, School Media Specialist

PBS Launches New Online Community for Educators

PBS has unveiled a new online community for preK-12 educators that aims to support the advancement of digital media content in education. “PBS Teachers Connect” provides Web 2.0 tools and opportunities for teachers, school library media specialists, technology coordinators, early childhood educators, and other education professionals to share ideas, collaborate, and support the effective use of technology to enhance learning. The new online community is built around PBS Teachers, the web portal to the wide-ranging multimedia instructional resources and professional development services that PBS offers preK-12 educators. At no cost, educators can search more than 3,000 standards-based classroom activities, lesson plans, interactive resources, and other materials on the PBS Teachers web site, then easily bookmark, annotate, share, and manage their tagged content within the PBS Teachers Connect community. The site also enables educators to form shared-interest groups online. The community features a personalized home page for each user, enhanced user profiles, a searchable database of resources and community members, bookmarking tools, and discussion threads. Additional components, such as private messaging, community feeds, friend feeds, online events, and a digital media gallery, will be available this fall, PBS said.

http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

MN Book Award Nominations are Open!

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The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library

 

Save the Date!
Be sure to mark your calendar for the 21st Annual Minnesota Book Awards gala. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel – Saint Paul Riverfront. Last year’s event was a sellout, so make your reservation early. Information available in early 2009.

Multiply Your Gift to the Book Awards With Help From a Challenge Grant
Even a small gift can provide meaningful help, particularly when matched by the Katherine B. Andersen Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation.

Attention Writers!
Visit the Loft Literary Center to find out about the 2008 Loft Inroads Program that offers writers the opportunity to engage in nine weeks of craft seminars, individual conferences and public readings, all with an established local mentor sharing the participant’s ethnic heritage: http://tinyurl.com/4krqm6

2008 Winning Titles Posters and Bookmarks Now Available
Get yours at your local library today! If you would like a quantity for your bookstore, library or school, contact mnbookawards@thefriends.org.

Minnesota Book Awards free bookmark

The Minnesota Book Awards is a Capital City project, led by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, in consortium with the Saint Paul Public Library and the Office of the Mayor of Saint Paul. Outreach partners and supporting organizations include: the Metropolitan Library Service Agency; Minnesota Department of Education—State Library Services; Minnesota Library Association; and Library Networks for Literature—a project of the Public Programs Office of the American Library Association.

Book Nominations Open

 

Nominations for the 21st annual Minnesota Book Awards are open now through Friday, December 12, 2008.  The eight categories in which books may be entered are Children’s Literature, General Nonfiction, Genre Fiction, Memoir & Creative Nonfiction, Minnesota, Novel & Short Story, Poetry, and Young People’s Literature.  Anyone may nominate an eligible book by completing the nomination form and submitting five non-returnable copies of the book, plus the $40 nomination fee, to The Friends’ office.  Nomination forms and the eligibility and entry guidelines are available online at www.thefriends.org or by calling 651/366-6497.
 

Meet the 2008 Winners!

The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library presents a two-part conversation series with 2008 Book Awards winners and moderator Mary Ann Grossmann, Pioneer Press books editor.  Both events take place in the Magazine Room of Saint Paul Central Library, 90 West Fourth Street.

The first program takes place this Sunday, September 28 at 2 p.m.  You’ll enjoy time with Children’s Literature winner Lynne Jonell (Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat), Readers’ Choice honoree Jill Kalz (Farmer Cap) and Young Adult Literature winner Will Weaver (Defect).

Be sure to return the following Sunday, October 5 at 2 p.m. for these featured authors:  General Nonfiction winner Charles Baxter (The Art of Subtext:  Beyond Plot), Memoir & Creative Nonfiction winner Patricia Hampl (The Florist’s Daughter), Minnesota winner Doug Hoverson (Land of Amber Waters: The History of Brewing in Minnesota), Poetry winner Deborah Keenan (Willow Room, Green Door) and Novel & Short Story winner Wang Ping (The Last Communist Virgin).  For more information, visit us online at www.thefriends.org.

 

Apply to be a Judge

 

Applications for preliminary and final round judges are being accepted for the eight book categories.  Volunteer judge applications and eligibility requirements are available online at www.thefriends.org or by calling 651/336-6497.  Qualified individuals new to the book judging process as well as experienced judges are encouraged to apply.  The deadline for applications is Friday, October 10, 2008.

 

Book Artist Award Nominations

 

Nominations are also open for the 2009 Minnesota Book Artist Award.  This annual award, sponsored by the Minnesota Book Awards and Minnesota Center for Book Arts, recognizes a book artist or long-standing book artist collaborative group for excellence of artistic work, as well as significant contributions to Minnesota’s book artist community.  Details about this award and nomination materials are available at www.thefriends.org or by calling 651/366-6497.  Nominations remain open until Friday, November 7, 2008.