Kindle your reading habit!

Your new reader is here!

Amazon just introduce Kindle, an e-book reader. While it is kind of pricey, if boasts NY times bestsellers for $9.99 and claims it can hold up to 200 books! Amazon is offering support for this wireless device too- saying that it offers 90,000 titles that can can be accessed with Kindle.

It might be possible to use it as your RSS reader too- Amazon will sell you monthly subscriptions to magazines, books, newspapers, and even some blogs. But don't worry about ordering today- the Kindle sold out in 5.5 hours and isn't scheduled for re-release until late December. Hmm...folks must be ready for this!

Marians in October!

Here are some resources we talked about at Marians tonight:

Kim presented on TRAILS- an tool from Kent State for realtime assessment of information literacy skills. All Adams 12 High Schools are going to use this with their freshman this year. Several of our Middle Schools are already using this. (I'll even try it)

CAL- Get Radical at the DIA Holiday Inn November 8-10

Several professional development opportunities for you:
Librarian Days at the Tivoli in Denver February 1st and 2nd

K12 Online conference...going on right now! Many great workshops and exciting events! I just finished one by a 8th grade math teacher called Release the Hounds. Tomorrow, I want to start the class on COPYRIGHT...it looks helpful too!

Kim doesn't want us to forget Colorado Council for International Reading conference in February 6-9...Tools for Literacy

Cool! See you at all these!

LIbraries- Front page Denver Post!

The Broncos pull off an overtime win- but the picture on the front page of the Denver Post is the companion to an article about Public Libraries. How cool is that? Check it out...the article talks about the changing role of libraries to include-

• 37 million online transactions
• librarians as research trainers
• teen attractions
• askcolorado.org
• laptop check out

Love to hear your comments on this one!

Register for Teen Read Week!

Did you know you might get a free book if you register for Teen Read Week with YALSA?

Here is an excerpt from their site:

Why should you register? YALSA is a non profit organization that depends on its members for support. By registering, you are letting us know that teen literacy is a concern and you are willing to do something about it! By registering, you are telling YALSA that this program is worthwhile, and we will continue to sponsor the week.

Be sure to download the Teen Read Week LOL logo to include on your promotional materials and check out the official Teen Read Week products brought to you by YALSA and ALA Graphics. Also- visit the Plan Your Event section of the YALSA site and the Teen Read Week Wiki.

GOOD LUCK getting ready for October!

Check this out for new info!

Joyce Valenca has a wonderful new tool called VoiceThread. She developed a presentation for database use called: Why I Love Databases. It’s a good idea- I think we should adapt it for our own schools!

Axel Wins!

Wow- I caught the Channel Four Denver News...and saw our own Axel Reitzig accepting a huge check on behalf of his school. Seems like it might have been the Qwest Technology grant!

I'll try to update this as we find out more...but in the mean time- congratulations Axel and Trail Ridge Middle School!

Phone Home!

OK gang- we just found a way to help collect books at the end of the year. First, we create a list of ALL BOOKS OUT.

Then, we work with our attendance person to set up a parlant call. (Phone Home!) She helped us get our own account using the school software. We input the list of names with overdues and set up the time and date the call will go out. Then- I record a message to the parents and save it. Once we are all done, the calls go out when we specify and the books come rolling in!

Tonight will be the 3rd time we have tried it- and I am amazed it its success! Try it!