Electronic Newsletter of The Oregon Educational Media Association

Available on the website at http://www.oema.net

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume 18 No.10 June, 2006

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTENTS:

FROM THE PRESIDENT

the "official" letter ----- Jim Tindall

FROM THE MEMBERSHIP

1. ***IMPORTANT*** OEMA Board Notes from Secretary ----- Jenny Takeda

2. Gallagher Award ----- Carol Brown

3. Reading and the Web ----- Patty Sorensen

4. OSLIS Usage Stats and Resources ----- Patty Sorensen

5. 2006 Fall OEMA Conference Update ----- Kathy Jensen

6. Children's Book Conference ----- Ruth Murray

7. Patty Sorensen selected

8. Summer Course Opportunities ----- Robin Speer

9. Summer Board Meeting ----- Allen Kopf

10. SUMMER PICKS

11. LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

FROM THE PRESIDENT --- Jim Tindall

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This year has flown by! It was just yesterday Martha Decherd and I were traveling to Chicago for the ALA Conference. Mid-May I presided over my last OEMA board meeting, and at the end of this month Allen Kopf becomes our new president, and Gregory Lum our new president-elect.

Thank you to the board, the executive board, and membership for the joys and challenges of this past year.

Have a fine summer. Perhaps we'll cross paths at COSA, the Oregon Literacy Conference, the OLA/OEMA Retreat, or the PNLA Conference. If not, have a joyful summer, and set some time aside to read a book or two from the reading list to follow.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

FROM THE MEMBERSHIP

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

1. OEMA Board Notes from Secretary, Jenny Takeda

The OEMA Board met on Saturday May 13th in Cascade Locks in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. The next meeting is the board retreat at Silver Falls on July 31st and August 1st. May 13th was a transition meeting welcoming new members to the board and thanking two departing board members for their service (Mary McClintock and Libby Hamler-Dupras).

New board members or new roles include:
Gregory Lum-President Elect
Melinda Moorefield-District Rep
Cheryl Young-Elementary Rep
Martha Decherd-Co-Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee with Deb Wheelbarger
Nancy Sullivan-Promotions Chair

*A 2007 Conference Chair is still needed for the Seaside conference. Please contact Allen Kopf if you're interested in leading this conference committee.
*The OSLIS Committee is looking for new members.
*The Oregon Department of Education has agreed to fund the EBSCO databases for K-12 schools statewide next year.
*Jim Tindall has been leading work on a proposed revision of the Oregon Administrative Rule covering "Media Programs."
*Jan Nichols shared excellent news that Hermiston is allocating extra funding from the state entirely to school libraries in their district.
-----------------------

Action Items:
*The board approved the proposed Bylaws changes as submitted by Parliamentarian Patty Sorenson. This includes changing the name of OEMA to the Oregon Association of School Libraries (OASL)
*The board voted to endorse Martha Decherd for membership to the SDLAC (statewide database licensing committee).
-----------------------
The Executive Board met after the regular board meeting on May 13th to discuss altering the proposed 06-07 budget to set aside more money for the legislative line item. In the role of Legislative Chair as Past-President, Jim Tindall is committed to making school libraries very visible during the 2007 session of the Oregon Legislature. Watch for more information about this and how you can help in upcoming months.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

2. Gallagher Award ----- Carol Brown

The winner of the Oregon Reading Association Patricia Gallagher Picture Book Award is Wait! No Paint! by Bruce Whatley which received over half of the nearly 16,000 votes cast by school children from all over the state. Complete results can be found on the website of the Oregon Reading Association.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

3. Reading and the Web ----- Patty Sorensen

Great site for reading activities!
http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/wspages/reading.htm. Patty Sorensen

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

4. OSLIS Usage Stats and Resources ----- Patty Sorensen

High Users of Newsbank's Oregonian from January through April 2006:
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Dallas SD with .97 uses per student
Corvallis SD with .62 uses per student

PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Jesuit HS with .33 uses per student
Multnomah County School Districts whose statistics are unable to be separated out due to a contiguous IP range should also be noted as their numbers reported thru the ESD were high.

CHECK OUT THESE SUPPORT MATERIALS FROM EBSCO!!
**Setting up a Journal Alert in EBSCO - http://support.epnet.com/uploads/kb/j_alerts.doc
**Setting up a Search Alert in EBSCO - http://support.epnet.com/uploads/kb/srch_alerts.doc
**Visual Search (includes a search help sheet with screen shots) - http://support.epnet.com/knowledge_base/detail.php?id=2488&t=h
**History Its Happening (some great explorer and historic biographies) - http://www.epnet.com/flashPromo/historyhappenings/index.html?marketID=20
**Teen Scavenger Hunt (great activity for the beginning of a school year) - http://www.epnet.com/uploads/thisTopic-dbTopic-278.pdf
**Library Knowledge (check out the suggested library games website -commercial site for Highsmith products - for some great ideas. I love the Book Spine Bingo and Library Lingo ideas!) - http://www.epnet.com/uploads/thisTopic-dbTopic-601.doc

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

5. 2006 Fall OEMA Conference Update ----- Kathy Jensen

It's not too early to be thinking about the Fall Conference, Capital Ideas for the 21st Century School Library.
Check out the Conference Info on the OEMA website for information that is being added weekly, including overviews of the Friday Extended sessions, authors, registration form and much more.
Be sure to look at the logo on the opening Conference page. Watch for your Fall Interchange and Registration packet with all the conference info and experience Investigation, Inspiration, and Integration!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

6. Children's Book Conference ----- Ruth Murray

Have you ever thought you may be able to write or illustrate your own children's or young adult book? Have you ever wondered about the process it takes to bring a manuscript to print?
You should think about attending the Pacific Northwest Children's Book Conference.
This fantastic opportunity is held at the beautiful Reed campus the week of July 10- through the 14th. Taught by actual authors, illustrators, and editors you can experience the process first hand. There is even 3 hours of graduate college credit available so you may be able to convince your school to pay for the class through PSU. You may stay on campus or commute.
It is a wonderful opportunity to experience the literary world first hand. Check out the website for details- www.haystack.pdx.edu/children or write me at murrayr@pdx.edu if you have questions or wish to register.
Room is limited so act fast- I would love to share this week with you.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

7. Summer Course Opportunities ----- Robin Speer

There are several Educational Media / Librarianship classes offered this summer at both George Fox University and Portland State University.
George Fox University
(https://scripts.georgefox.edu/courses/).
Contact person: Karen Wedeking 503-554-2858 (kwedekin@georgefox.edu).
The Dynamic School Library Media Program.
Advanced Studies in Children's and Adolescent Literature.
Resource Management.
Technology in the Classroom II: Using and Managing Technology Hardware.

Portland State University
(http://www.ceed.pdx.edu).
Administration of the School Library Media Center.
Advanced Methods and Procedures in School Library/ Media Centers.
Children's Literature on Film and Video.
Children's Literature, K-5.
Computers and Advanced Technology in the Library Media Center.
Contemporary Children's and Young Adult Literature.
Design and Production of Instructional Media.
Literature for At-Risk Students.
Literature Promotion Programs, K-12.
Multicultural Literature, K-12.
Reference and Information Systems and Services.
Research Strategies for Library Media Specialists.
Special Learners in Library Media Centers: Access to Information.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

8. Summer Board Retreat ----- Allen Kopf

Just in case you have ever wondered what it would be like to be on the OEMA (OASL? - did you read item #1?) Board............ The OEMA Summer Retreat is scheduled for Monday, July 31 and Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 at Silver Falls Conference Center near Salem.
The OLA Board will be meeting in the same location on the same days.
There will be an executive board meeting from 10:00 A.M until noon on Monday, July 31. The full board meeting will be held in the afternoon, beginning promptly at 1:00 P.M. There will be an auction on Monday evening at 7 P.M. Things that sell well are baskets of goodies, specialty items from your locale and theme items that can be used in a school library. OLA Board members will be invited to join us at the auction
For Board Members: Please email Allen Kopf by June 30 indicating whether you will or will not be attending the retreat. Also, please send your reports via email to other members of the board using the established template for that purpose. Please make sure that you indicate if you have any discussion and/or action items for the board. The deadline to submit your reports is July 20. Please print off all the reports you receive, read them, place them in your board notebook, and bring them to the retreat. Very little of the retreat will be spent in the usual meeting mode listening to reports.
Since most of the retreat will be spent, thinking about, discussing, and developing OEMA goals for this next year the input of the entire membership is welcome.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

9. SUMMER PICKS

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From Kathy Jensen:
The Grail Bird: Rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker by Tim Gallagher
If any of you are bird watchers, this is a fascinating read about the discovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker that was thought to be extinct. Told from firsthand experience by the author about how they kept the find a secret, until the land was purchased to preserve the bird's habitat.

From Lisa Williams:
For 4th-6th graders...
Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley
Part of Me by Kimberly Willis Holt

From Ruth Murray:
I must admit, I haven't had a lot of time for reading adult books but I do love the Women's Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. Those books are a breath of fresh air- a mystery with a little culture and geography thrown in. Not violent- not sexual-not complicated- just a fun read.
As far as young adult- I loved The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson, Kevin Hawkes. It is a wonderful historical mystery novel set in Vienna at the turn of the century. They even talk about The Lipizzaner Stallions. Great villains- wonderful scenery- amazing characters- I think you will love it.
Another favorite is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo. If you loved Tale of Desperaux and Because of Winn Dixie- you will also love her new novel aimed at a younger audience. It is in the tradition of The Velveteen Rabbit and is a very warm story of a courageous toy rabbit finding love. Happy Reading!

From Susan Thomason:
My Jim: A Novel by Nancy Rawles
Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse
The forbidden schoolhouse : the true and dramatic story of Prudence Crandall and her students by Suzanne Jurmain

From Jim Tindall:
Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett
That mysterious European play that seems to be about absolutely nothing. It may reveal a model for the ideal summer.

From Kathy Yates:
1) Marley & Me: life and love with the world's worst dog;
for middle and high schools- after you have laughed and cried your way through it. I read the first chapter to a freshman class and had a run on the two copies that I have.
2) Janet Evanovich - Stephanie Plum series - One for the money; Two for the dough, etc. for high school staff and students. Not great literature but very entertaining.
3) Chris Crutcher books -I hadn't read any until a parent had a concern so the principal suggested that he and I read Whale Talk. I also checked one out to the concerned parent because it didn't sound as if he had read it. The principal and I loved it and apparently the parent was okay with it because we never heard any more. I have read them all and frequently put them in the hands of reluctant readers.

From Gregory Lum - some of his favorites from the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults Nominees :
1) Bloor, Edward. London Calling.
Random House/Knopf, 2006. $16.95. (0-375-83635-7).
When Martin decides to help a strange young boy who knows things about his grandmother, he is suddenly transported back in time to London during the Blitz of 1941.
2) Draper, Sharon. Copper Sun.
Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 2006. $16.95. (0-689-82181-6).
Alternating between the voices of Amari, a slave, and Polly, an indentured servant, Draper tells the story of how the two 15-year-old girls arrived at a South Carolina plantation and became friends and then runaways seeking freedom.
3) Garden, Nancy. Endgame.
Harcourt, 2006. $17.00. (0-15-205416-2).
Gray is bullied at school, ignored by faculty, and ridiculed by his father. When all of his favorite things-from his drums to his only friend-are taken away, he brings his father's semiautomatic to school.
4) Lisle, Janet Taylor. Black Duck.
Penguin Group USA/Philomel/Sleuth, 2006. $15.99. (0-399-23963-4).
While researching a newspaper story he's writing, fourteen-year-old David uncovers long-held secrets surrounding the deaths of three bootleggers on the rum-running vessel, The Black Duck, in 1929.
5) Na, An. Wait for Me.
Penguin Group USA/Putnam, 2006. $15.99. (0-399-24275-9).
When you lie about grades so that Uhmma will really believe you'll attend Harvard, when you lie about boys and sex, it's very difficult to figure out who you are.
6) Cheney, Annie. Body Brokers: Inside America's Underground Trade in Human Remains.
Random House/Broadway, 2006. $23.95. (0-7679-1733-2).
Cheney presents compelling evidence to expose the profiteering that accompanies one of our most sacred rituals, the preparation and interment of our dead.
7) Schlosser, Eric and Charles Wilson. Chew On This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food.
Houghton Mifflin, 2006. $16.00. (0-618-71031-0).
From the author of Fast Food Nation, this Non-fiction includes interviews, interesting statistics, and research on the fast food industry. Teens will think twice before eating fast food again!

From Patty Sorensen:
Please point folks to the State Library's list: Literary Oregon One Hundred Books, 1800-2000 at
http://oregon.gov/OSL/Books_Flier_2.htm.
I also would suggest Oregon History Buffs read:
Fire at Eden's Gate: The Oregon Story by Tom McCall and his mother,
Dorothy Lawson McCall's Ranch Under the Rimrock.

From Becky Hickox :
My two book selections for summer reading are pure fun. 1) For those who haven't yet read EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES by Lynne Truss--get a copy and just keep it handy for when you want to laugh right out loud (never mind that you'll learn a lot about punctuation whether you want to or not).
2) Isabel Allende's ZORRO just came out in paperback for those of us who love Allende and are closet swashbuckler fans--or perhaps even swashbucklers.

From Edith Fuller :
1) Three cups of tea : one man's mission to fight terrorism and build nations ... one school at a time / Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.
Northwest authors. Throughly inspiring story of Greg Mortensen's efforts building village schools in the further parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
2) An infinity little hours : five young men and their trial of faith in the Western world's most austere monastic order / Nancy Klein Maguire.
An intimate look into the rigorous world of Carthusian monks in the early 1960s.

From Linda Ague :
On a plane or a beach anything by Jodi Picoult will do but since My Sister's Keeper is on the YRCA list, start there.
Elizabeth Berg is another author who produces the kind of thought provoking reading you can even discuss under the influence of a summer Margarita. Try The Pull of the Moon about a woman who runs away (although with her husband's credit card - hence the discussion) to find her identity or We are All Welcome Here about poverty, the South, and the strength of a women who chooses to raise the daughter she gave birth to in an iron lung.
Our book group thought Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels to be one of the most beautifully written books we ever read. The language is so poetic and the images are so powerful it sometimes seems over-written. The story is about the Holocaust - mostly in Greece - an it's effect on many generations.

From Sybilla Cook :
The Roseburg branch of the Association of University Women has just published Tip Top Tips.
This spiral-bound book contains over 500 tips on such topics as removing odors from pets, easy methods of kitchen cleanup, how to keep pests at bay, etc. It is organized by subject and has a detailed index for easy reference.The book is a unique and ideal gift for wedding and baby showers, graduating seniors, and housewarmings.
Reasons for the book:
Our members wanted to pass on to the newer generations some of the shortcuts and tips we had learned ourselves.
Profits from the book will fund our existing scholarship at Umpqua Community College, and the educational grants we make to classroom teachers for special purposes.
Costs: $12.00 plus $2.00 postage and handling.
Order from: AAUW, Roseburg (Oregon)branch.
1673 NW Calkins Avenue, Roseburg, OR 97470

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

10. LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Opportunities for librarians abroad:
July 10 9:00 to 3:00
PSU Rm 296 Smith
Contact:
Bob Jonas/Librarian
International School of Beijing

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Linda Ague
Librarian
Cal Young Middle School
541 687-3234