It's that time again

Every year begins with the mandatory...

Copyright Training!

This year I did something a little different from the last few years. Instead of standing in front of the teachers and talking while showing presentation slides (although I always tried to use interesting graphics like my family swimming in the Arctic Ocean) or a totally online, self-paced course, I created an animated video. And not just any animated video. This one has disco music, some really bad parody singing, and even a "high-speed" chase around the school. Yes, the copyright police have arrived.

The Copyright Police versus the Fair Use Superheroes

Enjoy!

Are You Ready?

Can you do it? The challenge of the 2016-17 school year is almost here! It's the...

Million Word Challenge!

That's right! You are challenged to read 1,000,000 words between August 29 to May 12. The rules are quite simple, and it's easy to calculate your word count.

1. You must be reading an adult or young adult book, fiction or non-fiction. Only 1 book read can be a required book for a class. (No textbooks allowed!) Graphic novels do not count mainly because they don't have enough words to help you meet this challenge. It can be a print or e-book.

2. You will register in the Library with Mrs. Rous to join the challenge. You will need a twitter account to participate.

3. To calculate the words, you do NOT need to count the words. Use the following formulas:

• Fiction hardback book: number of pages x 350 = total words for that book
• Fiction paperback: number of pages x 300 = total words
• Nonfiction: number of pages x 300 = total words

4. As you finish each chapter, you are required to tweet about the plot, content, and your reactions to what you're reading, using the hashtag #chhsMWC.  

5. Progess will be tracked in the Library with each book you finish reading and that book's word count.

6. Everyone who reads 1,000,000 words will have their name placed in their grade level's drawing for $50 Starbucks gift cards (one winner per grade level).

Get ready to read!   

The Tree of Knowledge

After a year of pondering (and being weary),  as well as seeing the inspiration through a clearance sale at my second job, I decided what was needed in my library's metal tree....words!

Of course, buying wooden letters to paint and put together into coherent and inspirational (or library appropriate words)  when those letters are on sale means there are limitations. For instance, the letter S is probably not available. Neither is the letter P for some odd reason. Therefore, I improvised and painted some words with the help of my Library Assistants (until they finished exams and disappeared forever!). Today the words decorated the tree!

Another Year Finished

Well, almost. The students are finished, at least! There are still a few more days left for teachers.

As I spend today putting the library back in order (thanks to the wonderful assistance of some JROTC guys!) and assembling the green screen (the support system finally arrived from back order!), I have realized the importance of giving precise information.

For instance, when purchasing a 10 foot tall, 20 foot wide green screen support system, and the accompanying green screen, one reads the fine lines on the website carefully. When it says, "3 inch pocket sewn on one side of the green screen" and the support system is 20 feet wide, which end of the 10 foot by 20 foot cloth should have the pocket? Anyone? Anyone?

Well, according to the company's customer service I am supposedly the only customer in 25 years to expect it to be on the side that would go on the horizontal bar...

That's right. The pocket was sewn (and seemingly is always sewn) on the shortest side. Fortunately we have a wonderful CTE teacher who teaches Fashion and is helping me to fix the problem tomorrow so our green screen project corner will be fully functional.

And the company's webmaster is supposed to have the website fixed by tomorrow as well.

We shall see.

(see the problem?)

Happy Whatever You Decide Upon Day!

Today when I arrived at school, I was met by a wonderful young lady with whom I've been working on next year's Poetry Slam Club. Hanna presented me with a bag of Oreos (Yum!) and wished me "Happy Cookie Day!"

Well, I wasn't aware of today's significance and mentioned my ignorance of the day. (How could I not have known! I love cookies only slightly less than a furry blue monster!) And that's when Hanna told me of an absolutely wonderful idea she had.

Because this is the last full week of "normal" classes before exams start, she decided to have her own week of celebrations. We have National Library Week, Teacher Appreciation Week, National Poetry Month, and so on (all very important, of course). So she asked herself, "Why not choose a week and name it and celebrate each and every day?" Hanna named this Candy and Cookie Week, and she gave each day a special meaning and has had fun during what can be a stressful week.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea.

You could have a Fabulous Author Week and celebrate each day with a favorite author. (Tea with Agatha Christie on Monday, a game of Quidditch with friends in honor of J.K. Rowling on Tuesday, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - or go to the beach - with Jules Verne on Wednesday, and so forth) Perhaps you love mysteries. Each day could be a different day of suspense. Bring your friends in on it (or even better, leave them in the dark and give them mysterious clues every day). Just the thought is enough to bring a smile to my face on a Wednesday during a very stressful time of year on a day filled with Professional Development in the library as we have teachers learn how to us a new tech tool for next year during their planning period. (Whew! What a sentence. Does that explain what the library is like today?)

I don't know about you, but I'm already thinking of some celebratory weeks in the future. Why do this?

Because I'm a librarian.

And I want to!

(Go ahead. You know you want to, too!)

 

Summer Reading Program!

Our County has offered the opportunity for a summer reading program to all schools....I know, summer reading for high school? How are you going to get that to work?

Well, I already have talked to the AP Lit teacher and a lot of the books for that class are on the list of books included in this program. There are also a lot of the books read in various classes on the list too. After talking to some of the English teachers, our students have been entered into the MyOn program so they will have access to the e-books all summer. (This should be very helpful to AP Lit students who won't need to buy all those books!)

By Memorial Day, our students will be in the database and able to start reading. The MyOn staff has created an instructional "Getting Started with MyOn" to assist teachers and staff in learning about the program and how to get students on the system. You will need to register your name and school email address once you click on the link. (For added assistance, CHHS staff can contact me for the MyOn contact information.)

Here's a handy Checklist of things to do if you want to use MyOn with your students.

And the list of high school books has some great titles!

The MyOn site also has ways to create and assign projects for your students over the summer!

The MyOn Professional Services Portal is filled with videos your students can watch, teacher quick reference cards, project based units, and more!

Finally Finished, And on to the Next Project

The permanent art display in the library is finally finished! All seven canvasses are in place, and they are absolutely incredible! Each showcases such amazing talent and displays a unique style so they truly balance out the wall above the bookcases.

We also now have three mounted origami art pieces, two of which are framed, displayed in another area of the media center. These pieces are also part of the permanent art exhibit. Our temporary art is through both art teachers, and changes throughout each semester.

Well, usually this would be seen as a great support of the arts with visual displays of student work. However, with the assistance of some equally talented students, we will soon have more art promoting the media center! I would hate for anyone to think art only belongs in a frame or on a wall so....

Members of the Honors Chorus, as well as other students who volunteer to assist, will be choreographing an original music video promoting the library! The words of a song have been changed to highlight what the library has to offer (as well as how much fun the library and reading can be), and now we will add performing arts to our permanent art collection, albeit on the website rather than the wall.

As soon as this great group of students finishes their hard work, the video will be posted here.

This has inspired an idea for next year....a music video contest promoting the library announced in January with the winner announced during National Library Week! I think I'll post them on here, my website and the school Facebook page, and have a most popular vote category too. What do you think?