online registration is LIVE!!!

Online registration for children’s summer reading will go LIVE Friday morning IS LIVE!!!!!!

I know this adds another component to an already hectic kick-off week but we are up to the challenge.

I recommend you register for adult summer reading as a way to become familiar with the system.

If you have not already done so, you need to watch the webinar linked below ASAP!  This webinar is specifically for staff and goes over the online registration process and how online tracking works.  Erika has already added Rowan County Schools.  An email was sent out in May 5th with the same link to all children’s staff.

http://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/ld/webinars.html

From this link, select:  Summer Reading Online Management Tool: For Staff Users

A few quick FAQ:

Folks do not have to register online in order to participate in summer reading!  Both the paper system and the online system will be used at all branches.

If a parent/guardian/teen does not have an email address, they can still participate online.

An email address is required as part of the registration process but is not required after their account has been set-up.  They may miss out on special announcements and promotions, but will have access to all the online program features.  At this time, Melissa will create their accounts and call them with their login information.  Staff will need to take all the regular summer reading registration information along with a phone number and their branch preference so we can call them with their login information.  Forward this information to Melissa.  Accounts will be set up within 24 hours.

Parents may create an account and then register their children under their account.  Each child will have their own sub-account to track their own individual hours.  When children want to login, they will use their own username and password.  Their parent does not have to login first.

Teens will only be able to track reading hours this summer.  We will look for ways to track activities for next summer.

Anyone who has logged hours the traditional way (purple/orange logs) and later registers online can have those earlier hours added to their online account.   As we don’t have any hours logged yet, this is not an issue but folks need to know this is possible should they choose to register online later on.  The details of how this will be accomplished are in development.

Let the fun begin!

- Melissa

children's at east gets a treasure

Thanks to Charlene (South) for sharing her artistic talents,
and to Dennis (HQ) for helping frame and hang the mural.

top 40 YA novels

Anna Fitzpatrick writes: “In the past decade, young adult literature has gone from a loosely defined term describing books marketed to teenagers to a cultural force that has spawned blockbuster hits. Trying to decide on the most essential books in the genre is a bit like trying to empty the ocean using a thimble. We’ve parsed through hundreds of stories about dystopian societies, supernatural love triangles, awkward first crushes, and many a mixed-tape featuring the Smiths to bring you this core collection of classic staples and overlooked gems.” more...  Rolling Stone, May 22 as cited in ALA Direct, May 28.

Cool Momma Zola

time capsules take students back to the 1960s

In 1967, the Vietnam War, miniskirts, and space travel were on the minds of 8th-grade students at Hermosa Middle School in Farmington, New Mexico. Forty-seven years ago, the students mentioned those topics in letters they wrote to a future generation. School Librarian Lola Delaney found the letters while cleaning the school’s library.  - ALA Direct, 05/14/14.  Check out the full article here.  What would you leave in your letter to future generations?

summer reading book lists

ALSC's Quicklists Consulting Committee has updating our Summer Reading Lists with new and exciting titles!
The lists are full of book titles to keep children engaged in reading throughout the summer.  Three Summer Reading book lists are available for K-2^nd, 3^rd- 5^th and 6^th-8^th grade students.

Each list is available below to download for free in color and black and white.  Lists can be customized to include library information, summer hours and summer reading programs for children before making copies available to schools and patrons.


K - 2nd grade ( Color | B&W )
3rd - 5th grade ( Color | B&W )
6th - 8th grade ( Color | B&W )

meet alex blumenthal

Alex is from Salisbury, North Carolina and is a 5th grader at Overton Elementary School. His video (below) details the essential value of libraries to him and all of North Carolina.

“My name is Alex Blumenthal and I am a fifth grader at Overton Elementary School in Salisbury, NC. I have 1 twin brother, 2 dogs and 3 horses.

My hobbies include theater, reading, playing my trumpet and being active in Boy Scouts. I really enjoy technology and am efficient in the making of Imovies. I love school and am looking forward to middle school next year.

My favorite extra-curricular activity has been Elementary Battle of the Books because it has given me some of my best friends. I love to read because it can take me places I’ve never been and help me feel like I am doing things I’ve never done.

Going to Washington DC to rally Congress about the importance of libraries is one of the most important things I’ve done this year.”