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Check It Out: 3/6/19

Your monthly news from the OPS Library Services Staff

Important Dates

March 7th  8:30-11:00   Elementary Team Plan Day (at TAC in library services)  Bring a charged device & a book with a cultural connection.

April 11th 8:300-10:30  Elementary Para Training (at TAC in library services)

April 24th 12:00-3:00 Secondary Team Plan (at TAC in library services)

Spring Displays

YOU are a Rock Star Librarian

Your PLN: Source of Inspiration or Thief of Joy? by Margaret Sullivan for Knowledge Quest Online

Long before Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Theodore Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” The more recent phrase that expresses this idea, especially as it relates to social media, is “Compare and Despair.” When we see pictures of our friends’ fabulous vacations or beautiful new homes, we feel despondent because we don’t travel as much and our perfectly nice homes are smaller and less beautifully decorated.

If you have a personal learning network (PLN) — as many educators do — you might occasionally suffer from professional “compare and despair.” Perhaps you follow one or more rock star librarians (RSLs) on social media. These RSLs might be nationally known names or they might be librarians in your district or region you know and admire. Your goal in following them is to get new ideas for your school library, and you do because these RSLs and their ideas are sources of inspiration. But sometimes, instead of feeling inspired by members of your PLN, you feel downright depressed because it seems like they are doing creative, wonderful, and exciting things in their libraries while you feel you are barely able to juggle your job responsibilities.

It happens to all of us...

Don’t let your PLN lead you to feelings of “compare and despair.” If you remember that even RSLs aren’t successful 100% of the time, if you spend a few moments at the end of every day reflecting on your professional successes, and if you approach the ideas shared through your PLN as an array of options, you might realize that you’re a rock star librarian, too.

Fact Vs Fiction Resources

This new book features a wide range of resources for educators to use when working with students and staff members.

One of the resources provided is a list of self-assessments that could easily be worked into inquiry instruction.

Check the OPS School Libraries (2018) Notebook and look for the Fact VS Fiction tab for these resources.

Media Literacy Posters

The image above was shared on BuzzFeed.

Who Ya Gonna Call...or Email?

The fastest way to get your questions answered is to contact the right person!

  • Laura Pietsch (531) 299-9615: Policy, personnel and evaluation, Sherwood grants and building projects
  • Stacy Lickteig (531) 299-9614: Technology, cataloging, copyright, budget and ordering
  • Courtney Pentland (531) 299-9609:  Inquiry, professional library, newsletter Items; Secondary Review Committee; secondary author visits, skype visits
  • McKenzie White (531) 299-9362 Instructional technology , ITL Program

  • Gwen Jackson  Elementary author visits

Technology Training/Support

  • Debra Bordenkecher  531-299-9841: Handles training needs of classified staff (including paraprofessionals)
  • Hardware issues should be handled by your building assigned technologist. If this person is not in the building, call or email the Help Desk 531-299-0300

Summer 2019 Sync Titles Announced!

What is SYNC?

What?

SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for teens 13+. Returning April 25, 2019, SYNC will give away two complete audiobook downloads a week - pairs of high interest titles, based on weekly themes.   In 2018, 26 titles were given away over 13 weeks.

Why?

SYNC introduces a variety of audiobook experiences to teens to demonstrate that reading can be completed by listening.

Who?

SYNC is sponsored by AudioFile Magazine and titles are delivered through the OverDrive app. In advance of accessing the program, download the app in advance to whichever device you anticipate listening on and be ready to go!

How?

Sign-up to get notifications when the FREE audiobook downloads are available. You can receive alerts by text message, email newsletter, or by visiting www.audiobooksync.com. Titles change every Thursday at 7am ET when the program is running.

Please Note: Signing up for these alerts will not send you the titles. The alerts will only tell you when and where the title is available to download.

Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, citizenship status, or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to address inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531-299-9822).

Las Escuelas Públicas de Omaha no discriminan basados en la raza, color, origen nacional, religión, sexo, estado civil, orientación sexual, discapacidad , edad, información genética, estado de ciudadanía, o estado económico, en sus programas, actividades y empleo, y provee acceso equitativo a los “Boy Scouts” y a otros grupos juveniles designados. La siguiente persona ha sido designada para atender estas inquietudes referentes a las pólizas de no discriminación: El Superintendente de las Escuelas, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531-299-9822).