I’m really looking forward to seeing the finished project with all the linked posters!

Looking forward to seeing you all at the next session on Google Sites & Docs. Do let me know if you have specific things you want to cover. (leave a comment below) Thanks!

Add to the Google map of a nation without school librarians
This map marks the cities, towns, communities, and states that have made the decision to either eliminate certified school library positions or require one school librarian to work with two or more school library programs throughout the week. Librarians and library supporters across the country are adding to this online map.

Know of any libraries that should be added? You can add them.

View A Nation Without School Librarians in a larger map

Last weekend, 30+ school librarians & classroom teachers gathered at the Hotel Thayer at West Point for 2 days of Tech Camp! After a bit of a rocky start due to problems with the hotel’s wireless network (which the ever resourceful Danielle handily solved!), we were off to the races.

Tech camp is a two day immersion in technology tools and and an opportunity to explore ideas for integrating technology into the curriculum.  The sessions offer school librarians (and classroom teachers) an opportunity to explore a variety of online tools & services that will help them work more efficiently, improve their library’s online presence and enhance student learning.

This weekend also included a terrific presentation on Virtual Worlds by Andrea Tejedor of Orange-Ulster BOCES.

The resource pages for Tech Camp were revised recently and are now more of a 23 Things – Learning 2.0 type of project. Every time I lead this workshop, I find that range of experience has gotten wider and wider, making it challenging to meet everyone’s skill level and provide interesting content for more all participants. With this structure, everyone is able to pick and choose the topics that interest them.

In a few weeks, I’ll be adding more “things” to the resource pages and incorporating content from the other advanced tech camp sessions we’ve held in the past.

I had a great time this weekend and I think others did too! (evaluations)  Big thanks to Rebecca Gerald, Danielle Yeoman, Lynn Miller and all the particiants from Dutchess, Ulster. Orange/Ulster & Sullivan BOCES School Library Systems for a great weekend!

The wiki has examples of:

• Elementary, Middle School & High School web sites
• Pathfinders
• Book & Reading Promotion Ideas
• … and so much more!

Also a handy-dandy list of school library bloggers and tweeters! So if you’re looking for a few new blogs to follow or want a ready made group of school library colleagues to connect with on twitter, you’re in business!

• Aug 19 Mobile Devices within Instruction    
• Sep 16 Digital Content    
• Oct 14 Web 2.0 and Education    
• Oct 28 21st Century Skills    
• Nov 11 Top 10 Trends in Student Learning with Technology    
• Dec 2 Internet Safety

• August 6 – Wikis and Blogs
• August 7 – Digital Storytellling
• August 27 – Google Greats
• For more info and registration

Oswego & OCM BOCES SLS

• August 12 & 13 – Tech Camp in Slow Motion
• For more info and registration

And look for another post soon with my fall schedule including classes in Connecticut, New York and at Internet Librarian in Monterey, CA in October.

KidLibCamp 2009 is a place for youth services librarians to get together and talk about topics that are important to serving children in school and public libraries. KidLibCamp is an unconference that asks participants to share their work, skills, or knowledge as active participants. Unlike more traditional conferences, KidLibCamp will be highly participatory. Sessions will be determined the day of the KidLibCamp by those in attendance.

If you’ve never been to an unconference, you’re in for a treat. Sharing knowledge and collaborating are what drive an unconference. Everyone has a chance to contribute and learn. This day is being organized by Linda W. Braun or Gretchen Hams-Casserotti. The meeting is being  held at Darien PL in southwest CT. If you’re in my neck of the woods (eastern NY) it’s an easy trip.

Gretchen and the Children’s Services Dept. did a really interesting reorganization of their collections when they moved to their new building in January – you can read about it at KidLit Reorg 2008 on Tame The Web.  And go to the unconference and see it first hand and share your own great ideas with your colleagues.