Havin' a Hot Time in the Library This Week!

Whew! It's been hot in here this week.

What? You don't know what I'm talking about? Well, check out the picture I took yesterday of the temperature control panel:

Yes, that's right. According to the control panel, the CHHS Library-Media Center has topped Death Valley as having the high temperature for the day!

HOWEVER, in reality, the temperature started at 72.4. As the day progressed the actual temperature fell to around 60 degrees. This morning, the real temperature started at 50 degrees. By the end of first block, it had increased to a "balmy" 55!

The library, regardless of the temperature, has been full this week, and the forecast is bright for research projects. Therefore, let's talk about one way to find a source.

When one student had chosen a topic, and the teacher had approved it, she immediately headed to the databases. Within one database, however, she found it difficult to find the articles for her source. Why? After all, she typed in the key words from her topic. Together we talked about this. You see, she had a fantastic idea for her paper, but she thought she could only do a topic if journal articles showed up on that subject. I showed her how the articles she could use actually led her to be able to make conclusions supported by the articles, not written in the articles.

And that, I think, is why so many students feel research is a difficult process. When you are looking for a source that gives you the exact answer to your thesis, then you may end up stressed because that source doesn't exist! If, however, you gain information that allows you to draw conclusions and support those conclusions through the connections you can make, well, you are now on your way to writing excellent papers.

The student in question found more sources than she actually needed when using this method.

Fingers Crossed!

This week has been full of many things: research projects, new books, technology, and such. And then came the announcement: James Patterson is donating $1.25 million to public school libraries!

Immediately I knew what project I wanted to present to Mr. Patterson: One School, One Book. With a projected student population of 1811 for next year, and well over 100 staff members, it would take a very large grant to do this type of project. Students and staff are voting on their top pick for a book now, and next week the application will be sent in. Then...fingers crossed!

What is One School, One Book?

It's where everyone reads the same book.That's all.

Okay, it's a bit more than that. It's where everyone reads the same book and then discusses it. Thinks about it. Talks about it some more. There are no tests or projects, no grades. We will be having a lot of optional activities to encourage participation, SMART lunch discussion groups hosted by various staff members, twitter discussions, podcasts, PSA videos made by students about different concepts in the books. Why would we do this? What's the point? Literacy growth, a sense of community, encouraging reading for the sake of reading rather than for grades are just a few reasons.

Now all we need to implement this wonderful project is to receive the grant from Mr. Patterson. Like the title said: Fingers crossed!

Week Three, Round Three: Is Mother Nature Going to Win?

I am posting early this week in case the freezing rain predicted for tonight materializes and causes another delay or cancellation. This winter weather craziness reminds me of one of my earliest poems (circa. 5th grade):

Spring, spring

What a wonderful thing.

What a wonderful thing

Is spring.

Naturally, it went on with several stanzas of "-ing" words. Fortunately, my poetry improved in later years.

Now back to all the hungry bookshelf's events of the week!

Finally being back in school for days in a row, the media assistants have been quite busy with voice-overs for the library videos. The videos completed are on Copyright, Analyzing Websites, Using Databases, and Accessing E-Books on Follett Shelf. All of these can be found on the media center website, as well as on my "official" You-Tube channel.

After working with these seven fabulous assistants, I know one activity library science students will be doing next semester. If you would like to check out the videos, please visit http://www.youtube.com/user/SRous1