Libraries Important, Duh!


Written on September 7, 2010 – 11:40 am | by ellietigger

The recent remarks of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan about school libraries reflects his belief that school libraries are important.
“We recognize the dire straits of tough economic times and the stress the states are under. We don’t want people to take a step backwards and there are all kinds of documented studies that show where you have healthy and strong and vibrant libraries with librarians staffing them that students do better, they read better, their test scores go up,” he said.
As a librarian and a person who has been an avid reader all my life, I often feel like this statement is achingly obvious. Part of me wants to say “duh!!” like so many of my students might. But nothing is sacred in this age of budget cuts. As librarians we have to once again find a way to explain that the library and a trained librarian are important to students’ success. If the library is the heart of the school, the librarian is an important section of the brain that helps the heart run. If you cut us from the body of the school, you cut out the school’s heart and part of its brain. Perhaps the school can continue, on life support and using a mechanical heart, but it will not function well.
So….
School library, how do I love thee?
Let me count the ways….

Ellie Simons

LAMS School Librarian

e.simons@laschools.net

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Fund Raising Effort


Written on August 31, 2010 – 2:09 pm | by ellietigger

As is common in lots of school districts, our budget has been cut. Therefore, I am making a big effort to raise money for the Middle School Library so that the quality of our collection stays high. I used Funds4Books at Mackin Books to build a fund raising website. Please check it out:
http://www.funds4books.com/fundraiser.aspx?pincode=f021
The Open House for this school year is on Thursday between 6:00 and 7:30 pm at the Middle School. Come and ask questions and just see the library if you possibly can. Remember: Information is Power!

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Recent author visit


Written on March 26, 2009 – 11:46 am | by ellietigger

Young adult author Lois Ruby came to the library on Tuesday (March 24) to give us a talk and do a writing activity with the students.  Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Haagenstad brought their students in to participate.  I thought it went really well.  I myself am thinking I’d like to read her new book called The Secret of Laurel Oaks.  From what Lois explained the book is set in Virginia at a real place called the Myrtles Plantation.  The plantation is theoretically haunted, and I have seen a couple of television programs about this haunting.  It is a very interesting and sad story.  A slave named Chloe worked at the plantation as a trusted and beloved house slave, and for reasons that are unclear, she poisoned the two young girls whom she took care of.  Chloe ended up being lynched, and now it is said that she haunts the plantation where she once lived.  Creepy story!  I really want to see how Lois Ruby brings it to life in her book.

Anybody interested in knowing more about Lois Ruby, visit her website at www.loisruby.com.

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Election day


Written on November 3, 2008 – 4:53 pm | by ellietigger

There will be voting here in the library, so no “business as usual” tomorrow. But it is a small sacrifice to make if it supports our democratic process. I am really wondering if there will be lots of voters in comparison to years past, or just the slow trickle I have seen in past elections. I hope to see lots of young people voting!

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Continuing to learn


Written on October 31, 2008 – 5:20 pm | by ellietigger

I found a really neat wiki about new Web 2.0 tools that it specifically for educators at http://web2tutorial.wikispaces.com/

I am still trying to self-educate myself about these exciting new tools. This tutorial is a step in the right direction. I am still slogging uphill when it comes to overcoming such things as budget constraints and the district filter, but I am not giving up. I have to remind myself to take one small step at a time, and be satisfied with that.
I got very excited to learn that in 2009 the district will be doing some major renovations to some of the schools, the Middle School included. The plan for this is located on the district webpage: http://www.laschools.net/145910313122022243/site/default.asp

So, according to this plan, the middle school library might be expanded. Hooray!

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Excited by New Ideas


Written on October 22, 2008 – 12:13 pm | by ellietigger

I just attended the New Mexico Library Association mini-conference, so I am excited by all the new ideas I gathered there.  In particular I was excited about the Web 2.0 tools that I saw and how they can be used in a school library.  Tina Glatz’ presentation on innovative technologies seemed the most exciting in terms of Web 2.0.  She is a Middle School teacher in Las Cruces, and had so many awesome ideas for improving library teaching and library circulation.

I talked to the students in my book club about some of these ideas and they were quite enthusiastic.  The main stumbling block is going to be the filter for the district.  It blocks many of the new Web 2.0 websites that I tried to visit when I got back.  I don’t want Los Alamos Middle School to fall behind and stay in the dark ages.  I want us to be on the cutting edge.  Especially, I want the Library Media Center to be brought up to date and then to become more avant garde.  I want students to flock to the library and to think that the library here at the Middle School is cool!  I’ve got a way to go, and I need to take it one step at a time.  I can’t get discouraged by the roadblocks I experience along the way.  It is going to happen!

In the meantime, I am still struggling with the new library automation system we got this school year.  I am not proficient at using it yet.  I get mad at my inability to do everything I want to do on the new system, and then I have fantasies about kicking the computer across the floor!  Little by little, I am told, I will learn how to use the new system and then I will love it.  I keep telling myself that.  However, students and teachers have been very patient with me as I struggle to serve them using the new system.  My library clerk, Mrs. Nunez, has been helpful too–helping me not to lose my mind.

The new prints from the Picturing America Grant have really spruced up the library this year.  I really have to thank Mr Pyle for urging me to apply for that grant.  The prints of American art are just gorgeous.

More later…       Peace.

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Get familiar


Written on October 22, 2008 – 11:31 am | by ellietigger

Librarians don’t always look or act like the stereotype librarian that you may have in your head. Many of us are pretty interesting people. Really. Check out some of the interesting things we are doing. 

Kicking butt: http://hokkien.uuft.org/librarian.html

Being glamorous and helpful: http://www.lipsticklibrarian.com/

Bellydancing: http://www.sonic.net/~erisw/bdlib.html

Not just this stereotype:  http://home.earthlink.net/~cyberresearcher/stereotypes.htm

Our profession is really changing rapidly!

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