FROM THE MEMBERSHIP
1. Letters for Literature--Jennifer Maurer
2. Lookybook--Karen Antikajian
3. Computer Lab Help Tip--Nelson Kline
4. Library Promotional Ideas--Kathyrn Grant
5. PSU Winter Opportunities--Ruth Murray

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FROM THE PRESIDENT --- Merrie Olson
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What a beautiful and bountiful fall this has been. Great warm fall colors to go along with a great joint Fall Conference. Frank McCourt was very entertaining at the banquet dinner as were all the mealtime speakers. Concurrent sessions made it very difficult to choose with so many available and the extended sessions were well attended on Thursday and Saturday. The silent auction was a success and vendors were happy with our business. Coming back to work enthused with great ideas from the conference and collaborating with others in the library world is always my biggest benefit. My students are always so amazed with our libraries collection of autographed books that I get at conferences.

Hearing the Spokane Moms speak about their efforts to get a bill passed in the Washington State legislative session last year was one of many highlights of the conference. I know it has really empowered OASL's direction for the years to come.

This year OASL has only one goal : To support the efforts of Fund Our Future Oregon.
Nancy Sullivan, OASL's promotions Chairperson, along with Portland area mom Suzie Kabeiseman have already secured Senator Peter Buckley from Ashland, who has agreed to sponsor a bill similar to Washington's in this year's Oregon State Legislative Session. What we now need for all librarians is to get the word out to our parents, businesses, organizations, etc. This support for school libraries needs to come from them rather than us. So talk about it, as you never know whom that great support will be. Another way to support our efforts is by donating to the "School Libraries Political Action Committee" which is a separate entity from OASL and can be deducted from your taxes. The PAC was formed to help us get the word out about school libraries.

Have a colorful fall with those great kiddos!

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FROM THE MEMBERSHIP
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1. Letters for Literature ---- Jennifer Maurer

The 2009 Letters About Literature campaign has begun. Students in 4th through 12th grades are encouraged to participate in this national reading and writing contest sponsored by the Library of Congress and Target. Contestants write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, explaining how that author's work changed their view of the world or of themselves. Submissions are due by December 6th.
For entry forms and more information, go to http://www.oregon.gov/OSL/LD/youthsvcs/aboutlit.shtml.

Wouldn't it be great to have another Oregon student recognized at the national level!

Target Stores, along with its parent company Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), gives back more than $2 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

The Center for the Book was established in 1977 as a public-private partnership to use the resources of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books and reading. For information about its activities and national reading promotion networks, visit www.loc.gov/cfbook.

2. Lookybook ---- Karen Antikajian

Lookybook has a number of picture books that you can read on line (in miniature, of course). But, it gives the whole book and you get an idea of the text, illustrations, and layout. You can read all but the smallest text. You can sign up to get an announcement every week about the new books added to their collection. You can also search by keyword, author/illustrator or subject/genre. They have some nice selections.
http://www.lookybook.com

3. Computer Lab Help Tip ---- Nelson Kline

When students need help in the computer lab, instead of raising their hand, they put a small "help duck" on top of their monitor (works best on CRTs). The ducks are small and inexpensive - available from http://www.orientaltrading.com.

4. Library Promotional Ideas ---- Kathyrn Grant

My assistant and I dressed up to promote the book, Fablehaven. I was Muriel from Fablehaven and my assistant was a fairy. The kids had to guess who we are and if correct they were given a treat. Lots of them were furiously looking through the book to find our names. In doing so, we have generated more interest in OBOB. An elementary promotion that worked in middle school. It has been loads of fun! What has made my costume so great is the knotted rope around my waist and leg. Maybe the black ivy leaves and tattooed cobwebs and spiders has helped. Oh yes, the green 'dreaded' hair was also lovely.

We also have a great display out in the hall promoting the Twilight series and movie. It will last beyond Halloween until the movie showing in November.

5. PSU Winter Opportunities ---- Ruth Murray

Winter is on its way and Portland State is planning ahead to our courses offered just for you. Seek an endorsement, masters, graduate certificate, or an initial teaching license in library media. Anyone can take our classes. Although you need not be in the library media program to sign up for a class, if you are planning to pursue an endorsement and/or a masters, you should apply before you take more than one or two classes.
For credit registration go to http://banweb.pdx.edu.
If first time PSU student, call 503-725-4832.
Web site information: http://www.ceed.pdx.edu/lib_media/
Questions? Ruth Murray- murrayr@pdx.edu

***We have graduate and undergraduate versions of Children's Literature. If you took this class years ago- you may need a refresher. If you have never taken it- you should. Dolores Johnston will help you become familiar with materials for grades K-5, including traditional genres such as picture books, traditional tales, modern realism, romance, adventure, mystery, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, biography, poetry, and nonfiction. Study literature illustrating cultural diversity. Learn about resources for selection and about awards and honors.

***If you have already taken Children's Literature and want more. Winter we are offering Multi-Cultural Literature taught by Leigh Morlock. This course provides an introduction to contemporary multicultural literature, fiction, and nonfiction, for use with early childhood, elementary, middle school, and high school students. Emphasis is on the selection, evaluation, and utilization of literature in the classroom and library media center. This class is offered on the graduate and undergraduate level.

***Collection Development will be offered completely online this term. Kathy Fritts is teaching remotely as she travels the world. If you are new to a library this may be the class for you. Study the principles and practice of evaluation, selection, and acquisition of all types of materials included in a library media center collection. Understand selection and collection development policies and procedures. Become familiar with the study of professional evaluation and selection sources. Field activities are included.

***Information Literacy and Online Searching is a one credit class that will be taught by Leigh Morlock winter term. You may learn approaches for improving online information-searching skills: selection of databases, advanced search strategy techniques, and methods for teaching information literacy skills to K-12 students. This class meets Friday, February 6 from 4:30 to 8:30 and Saturday, February 7 from 9:00-4:00.

***Bob Kuest will be teaching a great one credit class during winter term. Managing the Tech-Savvy Classroom and Media Center will help you learn to keep video and overhead projectors, digital and document cameras, computers, printers, and other classroom and library media center equipment running smoothly and efficiently. Explore the management of technology equipment in the classroom and media center. Leave with new skills and informative handouts. He will also show you an exploration of unique uses for equipment. This Class will meet Friday, January 30 from 4:30- 8:30 and Saturday, Jan. 31 from 9:00-4:00.

***Connie Pappas is offering her popular Podcasting Possibilities class again this winter term. Understand the basics of creating a podcast and using podcasting with students, teachers and the community. Learn to publish your podcast to your website or to iTunes. Class meets two Saturdays, February 21 and 28, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.

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Oregon Association of School Libraries