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HOT NEWS FLASH!

Check out this Summer Institute: The Changing Landscape of School Libraries

In a rare opportunity, teacher-librarians will spend two days learning about new developments in the world of school libraries with visiting Australian educator and “Information Guru” James Henri, president of the International Association of School Libraries. James will work with Sandra Lee, currently the Librarian at University Canada West and teaching UBC TL courses, to provide a framework for re-thinking the idea of the school library and of the teacher-librarian, to examine leadership and information policy, and to apply Web 2.0 and other technologies to working with students. Yes, all this in just two days!

Using a framework of key practices, research findings, hands-on and interactive session, James and Sandra will present strategies for:

• communicating the role of the teacher-librarian to colleagues and administrators
• building information policies that address the many responsibilities you have in school
• using podcasts, photosharing, blogs and wikis to support learning
• advocating for library resources
  

We are all overwhelmed by the complex and rapidly transforming technology landscape. Here’s your chance to learn with colleagues from around the province.

For more information, check out the VSB Pro D Opportunities online registration.

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VPL Librarian Janice Douglas, who started the One Book, One Vancouver protram and a host of the VPL's other community-minded programs and whose trademark is her jewelry and spike heels, has retired after a 41-year career. Janice has been the VPL rep to the School Library Resource Centre Consultative Committee (SLRCCC, or "Slirk" as we have come to call it) since its inception, an outstanding supporter of the work of teacher-librarians and of strong school library programs. She will be missed here in the VSB.


This year's selection is The Five Books of Moses Lapinsky, a 500-page novel about the Jewish immigrant experience in Canada by Karen X. Tulchinsky.


Vi Hughes -- Book Launch: Vi, who retired last year and who sat as a VEPVA rep to SLRCC for several years, is an author of several picture books. She has just completed The Graveyard Hounds, a "chapter book," published by Tradewind and aimed at young readers in the middle elementary grades. It is a gripping school mystery told with Vi's wonderful sense of humour. The illustrations will engage reluctant and voracious readers alike. Kidsbooks will host a book launch on June 24 at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome -- Bev Price hopes to see us all at the celebration of the arrival of a good new book for school libraries.

Great Resources

More information will follow in a subsequent blog about the amazing MARBLES project, but check out the annotated list of multicultural, anti-racist titles prepared for use in classrooms and school libraries by elementary and secondary TLs in Vancouver: MARBLES

From Webbits:

Spotlight: Free Social Media Tools for Educators -- Writer Dave Nagel looks at some of the free tools that educators are trying out, tools that engage students in the processes of learning.

Canada Year Book Historical Collection [Macromedia Flash Player] -- Access one hundred years, 1867 to 1967, of The Canada Year Book to teach about social and economic history. Browse by year or topic, or check out tables, charts, and maps. See the "Tools and Reference" area for lesson plans and links to related sites.