Library Online Acquisitions (LOLA)
http://www.titlewave.com (used assigned login)
Rebuilding secondary library collections with the 10.529 million is a huge task; however, by using technology to work effectively and efficiently, quality collections will be developed in a way that no other school district has ever done. This summer we partnered with Follett Library Resources to organize an online ordering process, 5 collection development catalogs, and a fund tracking accounting system. We also worked with the Purchasing and Accounting Departments to set up the procurement card method of payment. The online ordering with this method of payment are a first for BCPS.

Keep up to date with the project via the School Library Facts website. In addition to Important and timely information, this site is an excellent portal to research and news articles about school libraries. No paper correspondence will be sent to you. This is a totally online project where we will demonstrate how technology is used for library administration and management.

Bob Stapf, Account Manager for Follett Library Resources unveiled the online ordering system at Professional Study Day on August 30. He is available to visit your school and give you a personal training session and answer questions. You can reach him at 1 800 435-6170 or by email. In addition, BCPS was assigned a customer services representative who will be working solely with Baltimore County Public Schools. Call Helen R

Are you looking for information about reading? Check out this website for reading motivation ideas, reading research, MSDE indicators for K-8, strategies to teach reading, and online reading selections that are referenced in the new Middle School Reading Guide.

This is a tool designed for all librarians, teachers, and administrators. Share it with your colleagues at a faculty meeting. We all must work together to motivate students to read. The research tells us that young people do not read for several reasons: (1) we don't have good books for them to read...that problem we are addressing this year; (2) there is little time in the busy school day schedule for reading; and, (3) few people talk to children about what they read. It is urgent that we address all three reasons as student achievement hinges on reading success. We look forward to hearing about your ideas for school wide reading promotion programs. Please send to Della your ideas for inclusion on The Reading Page website.

We have already heard from Perry Hall Middle...Joyce Caldwell and her reading incentive team are planning using the Survivor TV series theme with the Maryland Blackeyed Susan books ...the kids will be voting "books" off the island. That idea is sure to stimulate a lot of participation! Let us here about your project, also.

New Online Research Modules
This summer many new online research modules were developed to assist you with teaching information literacy and technology skills. We now have a total of 59 modules! The modules represent an exciting new way to structure and guide student research efforts so that they focus upon higher level thinking using rich electronic resources. Students are challenged to gain new insights through their interaction with information by employing thoughtful reading, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information to create answers, not just find them.

The Online Research Modules are designed as webpages which include a carefully structured research process model to include a research scenario, learning task, rubrics and scoring tools, directions for use of various media and electronic resources, and links to excellent Internet websites.The concept of online research modules is based on the research by Dr. Jamie McKenzie, an international technology expert and editor of From Now On: The Educational Technology Journal.

Benefits and Outcomes

• Engages students in higher level decision making or problem solving using a research process model which is in line with Maryland school reform, Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning, and the Educational Technology Standards.
• Requires students to make answers instead of finding answers.
• Provides developmentally appropriate scaffolding for research using technology.
• Engages students in learning that is driven by essential questions based on real life applied problem solving.
• Fosters multidisciplinary and collaborative learning
• Promotes parental and community involvement by distributing the modules via the Internet.
• Provides a timesaving instructional resource package which includes learner expectations, tools, and assessments 
• Supports K-12 Essential Curriculum indicators for information literacy, research, reading, and writing (Big Yellow is now online!)

"Trailblazing" library media specialists began to design Baltimore County's modules during the summer 1998 and 1999 Curriculum Workshop and again in 2000. Leading the design team is Kay Jones, library media specialist at Overlea High School. The design team members this summer include: Joyce Caldwell, Barbara Falkinburg, Phyllis Fullem, Ann O'Neill, Kelly Ray, Pat Simon, and Art Stritch.

A web-based PowerPoint presentation , Teaching Information Literacy in the Digital Age with Online Research Modules, is available for you to use with your faculty to introduce them to the Online Research Modules. Also, a new inservice course, Teaching Information Literacy with Online Research Modules will be offered beginning in September. Check out the inservice booklet for session schedule. There will be 2 sessions - one for elementary librarians and one for secondary librarians. Jane Scott and Pat Simom will lead the elementary session and Joyce Caldwell and Anne O'Neill will lead the secondary session.

In addition, this summer the online research module development team designed a new template that will make it easier for you to work with a teacher to design your own modules. You will need to know how to write publications for online distribution, i.e., use a software application such as PageMill to write html code. If you do not, take advantage of the Web-Based Instruction in Education (syllabus) inservice or graduate course (See BCPS inservice bulletin for course listing.)

 
Fee-Based Online Subscriptions for 2000-2001
All K-12 schools have access to Electric Library, a collection of full text magazines, newspapers, selected reference tools, TV/radio transcripts, maps, and pictures. This service is available to your school community 24-hours a day via our onLINE website! A promotional flyer is available (link below) from our website for you to use to advertise the service to students, faculty, and families. Your school has 2 passwords - one to use in school and one to give out to everyone for home remote access. We recommend that you include an announcement about the online service in your school's newsletter or attach the promotional flyer to the newsletter. Let parents know about the valuable resources your school library media center provides 24-hours a day - the library is open all the time!
ELibrary for Middle/High School Students (promotion flyer)
ELibrary for Elementary Students (promotion flyer)

All high schools now have access to GaleNet's Literature Resource Center, a collection of biographies, bibliographies and critical analysis of authors from every age and literary discipline in a single Internet-searchable service. The Literature Resource Center's integrated resources cover more than 90,000 novelists, poets, essayists, journalists and other writers, with additional in-depth coverage of 2,500 of the most-studied authors. This service is also available 24-hours a day. Use the Literature Resource Center promotion flyer to advertise this service.

Maryland K-12 Digital Library
Della is chairing the Maryland K-12 Digital Library, a study sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Library Development and Services. The goal of this committee is to make recommendations of online resources for all Maryland K-12 students and to seek state funding support. As you know, the cost of these online services puts a burden on local schools and many local school systems do not have the financial resources to make them available. It is time to level out the playing field for all Maryland students and to close the equity gap. In addition, the savings to all is substantial when a state consortium negotiates the fee. For example, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has estimated that the cost of providing online resources to schools and libraries on an individual (rather than a group) basis would be $50 million. However, their consortium will pay only $2.1 million for the same collection of online databases. That's more than a 95-percent savings! 17 states have already formed consortiums ..we should, also!

Read more about statewide initiatives and the need for policies in the SLJ article by Jane Pearlmutter ( June 1, 1999) Which Online Resources Are Right for Your Collection?

PTA Conference, October 12
We have planned some excellent workshops for parents that focus on library resources and instruction, and Internet safety issues. Encourage parents to attend the PTA Conference at Cockeysville Middle School on October 12 from 5:30 - 10:00 p.m. Place an announcement for the school newsletter. The workshop titles and descriptions are as follows:

• Homework Helpers: School Library 24-hr. Online Resources
• It's Not the Same Old Report Anymore! Engaging the Digital Generation in Authentic Research and Problem Solving
• Internet Safety: Are Your Children Safe in Cyberspace?

Weeding Library Collections
Weeding of library collections is an essential phase of collection development. The same criteria for selecting library materials is applied when withdrawing library materials. Remove items when they are:

• In poor physical condition
• Outdated in content, use, or accuracy (Copyright date should be considered; however, do not make
  a decision to weed based solely on the copyright date of the material. Some older material may be
  considered classic or may be of great historical value to your collection.)
• Biased, portray stereotypes, and are multiculturally insensitive
• Superseded by new or revised information.

Items removed from the collection must be boxed, labeled "withdrawn materials," and sent to the Pulaski Distribution Center. Prepare a Transfer Requisition and keep boxes in the library media center office for pick up. No items are to be discarded in school trash bins, relocated to classrooms, or sold to the public. The items are collected at the warehouse for paper recycling.

Mark Your Calendar

• September 2000 - National Library Card Sign-up Month
  Check out website for all kinds of promotionals!
  
• September 23­30, 2000
  Banned Books Week:
  Fish in the River of Knowledge Celebrate Your Freedom to Read
  
• October 15-21
  Teen Read Week
  Take Time to Read
  Check out the website for all kinds of promotionals!
  
• October 19-20
  Maryland Educational Media Organization (MEMO). Fall 2000 Conference. Frederick, Maryland
  Striking a Balance: Technology, Literacy and You
  
• November 1, 2000
  National Family Literacy Day
  Check out the website for all kinds of promotionals!
  
• November 12-18
  American Education Week
  Children - Teachers - Parents Helping Students Achieve
  Check out the website for all kinds of promotionals!
  
• November 13-19, 2000
  National Children's Book Week
  Fuel Your Mind
  Check out the website for all kinds of promotionals!
  
• December 6-7
  Maryland Technology Showcase
  Baltimore Convention Center
  
• April 1 - 7, 2001
  National Library Week
  Check out the website for all kinds of promotionals!
  
• Plan Ahead for the AASL Tenth National Conference and Exhibition
  November 14-18, 2001 · Indianapolis, Indiana
  Coming Together as a Community of Learners will be the theme of the conference. Educational programs for the conference will be developed along four thematic strands: "Focusing on the Learner," "Using Technology to Create Learning Communities,""Building Partnerships for Learning within the Community," and "Assuring Accountability for Learning."