Tag Archives: genealogy

School Media Specialist

School libraries can win $5000 for humanities programming

RainingPlease consider this opportunity that the American Library Association shares below….maybe you are already doing something that is a perfect fit!

Application deadline: Feb. 1-May 6, 2016

“My name is Sarah Ostman, and I’m writing from the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office. I’m emailing to share a $5,000 award opportunity that I think your association may be interested in.

The Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award recognizes a humanities program, held by a K-8 school library in the 2015-16 school year, that broadened students’ perspectives and helped them understand the world.

Eligible school libraries should apply by May 6. You can find more award information and guidelines at www.ala.org/jaffarian or contact me with any additional questions.

The last award was granted to Perry Meridian Middle School in Indianapolis for its “R.O.A.D. I Travel” program, a genealogy project that taught students how to track their family history through documents, interviews and research. Information about this and other past awardees can be found on the website at http://www.ala.org/programming/jaffarianaward

I hope you will share this information with your members and other colleagues. If you have specific libraries in mind for the award, please send me their contact information so I can reach out to them directly and encourage them to apply.

Thank you,

Sarah Ostman,Communications Manager, ALA Public Programs Office”

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/mcehzel, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Save the Date – FREE Genealogy Research Workshop

Genealogy Research Workshop
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Bremer Room, St. Cloud Public Library
4 – 6 pm

Sherlock_holmes_pipe_hatCMLE is pleased to partner with GRRL and genealogy expert, Wendy Sykes, to host this free workshop in early February. Come and learn the basics of genealogy research both for your own personal enrichment, but to better help others too. Come right after school or work; there will be food and drink at this fun and interactive event. Wendy will be highlighting how to use library and free internet resources to search for genealogy records. She will also demonstrate tips and techniques that make the searching easier. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops or tablets to amp up personal learning. No device? GRRL has got you covered. We will have use of ten GRRL laptops during this event! Genealogy is a perfect topic to make all types of librarians shine! Amaze your friends and family with your newfound knowledge and skills. We hope you will join us.

To register, click here. Problems registering? Send email to admin@cmle.org

See our earlier post about Wendy Sykes

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/zethamn, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

St. Cloud library worker thrives on genealogy hunts

graveRecently, Great River Regional Library associate Wendy Sykes made the front page of the St. Cloud Times for her subject expertise in genealogy. Sykes perceives peoples pasts as treasure hunts, and indeed admits with the tricky ones she digs, and digs, and digs, and digs some more! St. Cloud Public Library is lucky to have Wendy’s expertise in house, and it sounds like it is well-used. Sykes leads twice-a-year genealogy classes to teach people the basics of getting started. Library staffers also take the course on the road to different GRRL branches. Did you know that GRRL has a genealogy club that meets the first Thursday of the month? Stearns History Museum has its own club too.

What I found most fascinating was Sykes’ hobby as a volunteer to wander graveyards and take photos of gravestones for the Find a Grave website. Who knew?  The full article is well worth your time…

Image credit: https://unsplash.com/ (Simeon Muller), licensed under CC0 1.0