Youth Source

StoryTubes

StoryTubes gives kids an opportunity to make a short video about their favorite book and then enter that video into a nationwide contest.  Videos may be up to two minutes long and can be made by individuals or by a group.  Entries are accepted from January 20 through February 28, 2010.  Read more, see examples of past winners and access the online entry form at http://www.storytubes.info 

National Center for the Blind Youth Slam

The National Center for the Blind (NCB) and the National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS) are sponsoring Youth Slam, a 5-day learning opportunity at the University of Maryland from July 26 - August 1, 2009. Two hundred blind and low vision students from all across the country will be accepted to attend the five-day adventure that will engage, inspire, and encourage the next generation of blind youth to consider careers falsely believed to be impossible for the blind.

Applications are open to high school students including those entering high school in Fall 2009 and those graduating in Spring 2009. Applications are due by March 1, 2009. See the full details on the NCBYS website.

Win Recognition for Your District's Outstanding Technology Programs!

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2009 Sylvia Charp Award for District Innovation in Technology.
Tell us about the unique or inventive technology programs your district has implemented and this year's award could be yours!
The Charp Award is presented annually by T.H.E. Journal and ISTE to recognize the best district-wide technology program in the country. The winning entry is chosen on the basis of consistent district commitment to excellence and overall success of the program.

NoveList and NoveList K-8 Available

Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois State Library are pleased to announce the E-Rich offering of NoveList & NoveList K-8.

NoveList allows adults and teens to find recommended books based on existing favorite books, favorite authors, subject interests and more. NoveList K-8 helps children in grades K-8, parents & teachers identify books that are appropriate for children's reading abilities and interests. This offering not only provides access to a database, but also offers a wide range of resources that will expand your staff's ability to serve readers of all ages and increase your library's reach.

NoveList and NoveList K-8 is avilable t ILLINET member academic, public, special, high school, middle school and elementary school library buildings. The Illinois State Library will subsidize 50% of the cost for each library building.

Application and invoice instructions can be found at the NoveList section of the Illinois State Library's webstie. Please contact Gwen Harrison at [email protected] or 217-785-7334 for further information.

Online Booktalks for Illinois "Choice" Awards.

The DuPage Library System will offer a series of three online discussions of the Illinois Children's Choice Book Awards.  The OPAL collaborative web conferencing service for libraries will be used to make these programs available.  There is no need to register for these events, all you need is a computer with a headset and speakers.  The dates for the presentations are:

Tuesday, May 1st.  3:00 p.m. Central Time.  The Monarch Award, Pam Storm from the Carl Sandburg School in Charleston, ILllinois will introduce the K-3 nominated books.

Thursday, May 3rd.  3:00 p.m. Central Time.  Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, Bonita Slovinski from Lincoln Junior High School in Naperville, IL  will talk about the books for grades 4 through 8.

Thursday, May 10th.  3:00 p.m. Central Time.  Abraham Lincoln High School Book Award.  The Abraham Lincoln Award is awarded annually to the author of the book voted as most outstanding by participating students in grades nine through twelve in Illinois.  Carolyn Roys from Lake Park High School in Roselle, IL will lead a lively discussion of the nominated books for 2008.

Celebrate Teen Tech Week

Teen Tech Week (TTW) is March 4th - 10th. TTW is a new YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) celebration aimed at getting teens to use their libraries for the different technologies that are offered there, such as DVDs, databases, audiobooks, electronic games, and more.  Check out the YALSA TTW  web page for a full list of activities. The site includes ideas for activities, contest details, resource lists, publicity materials, and more.  Tutor.com, national sponsor of Teen Tech Week, is providing free access to its Live Homework Help service from March 4th through March 17th.  Teen Tech Week logos are available for download for use in your promotional materials.

5 Minutes for 5 Million

The Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) has developed a survey designed to collect a master list of databases desired for the school children of Illinois. The survey is looking for databases that are relevent as well as curriulum and age appropriate for K-12 students.

By surveying school librarians and others in education who currently use and have reviewed or tried various online resources, we can gather reliable recommendations for databases the state could purchase on our behalf.

The tentative budget approved by ISBE for fiscal year 2008 (the 2007-2008) has set aside $5 million for online databases. When this is approved this spring, there are only a few months for ISBE to finalize the selection and approve the contracts for these databases.

ISLMA has offered to assist the ISBE with this effort. The results of this survey will be forwarded to ISBE staff for their use as a means to determine what the users want available for their students

Please take a moment and fill the survy out, input from school librarians throughout the state is vitally important.  The survey can be from a link on the ISLMA website called "5 Minutes for 5 Million Database Survey."

Online Novel

Wendelin Van Draanen, author of the Sammy Keyes and Shredderman series, is authoring a new novel for kids called The Gecko and Sticky.  Six chapters are posted to date and a new chapter will be posted each week through mid-May.  Check it out!