Smart Librarians

October 9, 2013

Every Other Thursday, you’ll get this short, fun, relevant newsletter.  It will contain a quote or smile about the library and those who love it, an idea you can use to promote your library or reading in general, a Common Core implementation idea and a shameless plug for the programs I offer.  Enjoy! 

If you are new to EOT or have missed any previous issues, you can read them all at http://smartlibrarians.blogspot.com/. And please tell your friends about it!

In this issue:

·         Librarians vs. Google
·         Welcome new subscribers!
·         Promote reading with posters – FREE Templates!
·         Common Core Connection - Lexiles
·         Special COMO/EOT Pricing for school visits!
 

Library Quote/Smile –

Librarians are there:

To help, aid, assist. To teach, collate, enthuse. To catalogue, index, arrange, organize. To find, discover, promote, display. To interest, intrigue, amuse and amaze. To instill wonder. To help children, adults, old people, the underprivileged, the rich, the poor, those with voices and those without. To protect resources, to archive them, to store them, to save them for the future. To provide differing viewpoints, to engender thought, conversation, research, fun. To provide the best answer possible, to match the answer to the enquirer, to provide just enough information without overwhelming the user, but enough to always help. To better a local community, a company, a school, a college, an organization, a country, the world.

Google is there:

To make money.

from http://philbradley.typepad.com/phil_bradleys_weblog/2011/06/what-librarians-google-are-for.html

Check out his blog for some really GOOD stuff!

Welcome New Subscribers!

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of leading two workshops at the Liberty County (GA) Media Showcase. I presented Making Yourself Indispensable, a session on being your own best advocate and educating decision makers about the importance of a well-trained media staff and a well-equipped media center as it applies to student and school success. About 45 people attended the two sessions and 28 of those present signed up to receive Every Other Thursday! Welcome aboard! We have almost 300 subscribers now!

Promote (From the “Encouraging Readers and Non-Readers to Read” Section of 45 Ideas in 45 Minutes)

9. Design and print READ posters for top readers, classes, administration, and staff with favorite books. I have designed a series of READ type posters you can use for your top readers and others in the school. I usually print these 11X17 so they are big enough to see, but affordable. Most big office supply stores run specials so that an 11X17 color copy of one of these posters is less than $2.00. Always ask for a teacher/school discount or if they have a coupon in the current ad! You can download the templates at http://tommyjohnspresents.com/posters.htm. You’ll find Million Dollar Bills to celebrate million word readers, posters to promote the library and posters in the style of the ALA’s READ posters. Enjoy!

Common Core Connection

I did not really understand what a Lexile was and how it was different from the traditional reading level until I spent some time reading and watching videos on www.lexile.com. Many of your teachers (and I suspect that MOST of your parents) don’t understand this new important way of assessing readers and matching them with appropriately challenging material. You can glean a lot of good information from the website to help teachers and parents better understand why Lexiles are being used in Common Core and how they are a better tool than the “old way.”

I found this 6 minute video very helpful as an introduction to Lexiles. You may want to provide a link to it in your next newsletter!

Shameless Plug

I will be at COMO (in Macon, October 10-11) in the exhibitor hall, once again teaming up with Ryan Jett of Bound to Stay Bound. We will be giving away a half day of assembly programs and a library program. Stop by and register to win!

Also, if you stop by the booth to schedule a visit (or if you contact me before October 15 by phone or e-mail by that date) and say, “I want the COMO/Every Other Thursday special!” you’ll get 10% off your booking! (If you don’t say it exactly as I wrote it, you can still get the discount! I’m pretty easy!)

Let me know how I can help! See you in two weeks!

Encouraging kids to read, I am
Tommy Johns
Educational Entertainment Specialist
www.TommyJohnsPresents.com
tommy@tommyjohnspresents.com
Call (770) 640-6509 or Toll Free at (866) 490-READ
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