Youth Source

Institute for School & Public Librarians

The Illinois State Library is pleased to announce the 14th annual Institute for School and Public Librarians (ISPL) is scheduled for Sunday, June 8 - Friday, June 13, 2008. This week of library related educational programs and activities will be held on the campus of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and is sponsored by the Illinois State Library, in cooperation with Bradley University.

The announcement and application are located at: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/whats_new/2008institute.html.

This Institute is an educational, information rich, and very rewarding week. Programs focus on basic skills and knowledge needed by school and public librarians to serve patrons and students. Program topics include reference, collection development, dealing with different personality types, technology issues and trends, grant writing, developing effective patron programming and more. ISPL offers opportunities to gather knowledge and develop job-related skills that will enhance the attendees' abilities to provide better library services for their patrons/students.

Improving Literacy Through School Libraries grant

The U.S. Department of Education’s Improving Literacy Through School Libraries discretionary/competitive grant offering. Grant information is accessible at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/lsl/index.html.
The application deadline is March 7, 2008.

ELIGIBILITY
Local education agencies in which at least 20 percent of students served are from families with incomes below the poverty line may apply. The poverty rate table for Illinois school districts is accessible using the Eligibility link on the grant page and is included here for informational purposes: http://www.ed.gov/programs/lsl/eligible/illinois.xls.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This program helps local education agencies improve reading achievement by providing students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials; well-equipped, technologically advanced school library media centers; and professionally certified school library media specialists.

TYPES OF PROJECTS
Districts may use funds for the following activities:
• Purchase up-to-date school library media resources, including books;
• Acquire and use advanced technology that is integrated into the curricula to develop and enhance the information literacy, information retrieval, and critical-thinking skills of students;
• Facilitate Internet links and other resource-sharing networks;
• Provide professional development for school library media specialists and provide activities that foster increased collaboration among library specialists, teachers, and administrators; and
• Provide students with access to school libraries during non-school hours, weekends, and summer vacations.

School Library Program Approved

Illinois State University has approved the Post-Baccalaureate Graduate Certificate Program in School Librarianship. Under development for several years, the program will play a part in meeting the large shortage of trained and credentialed librarians in Illinois schools.

This 24 credit-hour program will be open to certified teachers who seek additional education as Library Information Specialists. The course of study consists of eight graduate-level courses, six of which represent the core curriculum. Two additional electives may be chosen from a number of courses in English, Instructional Technology and Reading/Literacy that have clear significance for the practice of school librarianship.

The Post-Baccalaureate Program is also designed to provide assistance to teachers seeking State Board of Education endorsement as Library Information Specialists. Although ISU cannot promise that all courses will count towards ISBE endorsement, they believe that the majority of them will. Each course has been created and/or carefully mapped to the content area standards for Library Information Specialist.

Students currently enrolled in ISU’s library science coursework will automatically be admitted to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program. Formal application procedures will be forthcoming. In the meantime, interested teachers, administrators and potential students should contact Dane Ward at the address listed below.

Dane Ward
Associate Dean for Public Services
Milner Library
Illinois State University

And the Winners Are!

The American Library Association announced the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults---including the Caldecott, King, Newbery, Schneider Family and Printz awards---this morning at its Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia.  View the complete listing of Youth Media Awards here!