WSL Updates for April 21, 2016

Volume 12, April 21, 2016 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) RELEASE THE ROBOTS 2) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2016 3) SUPERCHARGED STORYTIMES – THE VIEWS2 WAY 4) SEE YOU AT WLA 5) US DOE ACCEPTING GRANT PROPOSALS 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) RELEASE THE ROBOTS The Washington State Library is now ready to accept sign-ups for the Lego® Mindstorm® Robotics kits. All public and tribal libraries are eligible to receive a circulating kit. Each individual location will have the kit for six weeks. We suggest allowing two weeks for the library staff to become familiar with the Robot and then four weeks for programming. Kits are designed to be used by up to 15 children simultaneously and recommended for ages 10 and older. The kit will come with the following equipment, housed in two shipping containers:

Library systems can sign-up. We will negotiate the length of time a system may have the kit based on the number of locations in the system who wish to use it.
  • Please sign-up by Friday, April 29, 2016.
  • The kits will ship out on Monday, May 16, 2016.
To sign-up, please contact Leanna Hammond at [email protected]. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2016 Judging for the 2016 Letters About Literature contest was completed a couple of weeks ago and the three Washington State Champions have been announced: Grace Rivkis, a sixth grader at Pathfinder K-8 in Seattle, is the Level 1 champion. Grace wrote her letter to Jennifer Roy about her book Yellow Star. Joe Jacobsen, a seventh grader at Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish, is the Level 2 champion. Joe wrote his letter to Fredric Winkowski and Frank D. Sullivan about their book 100 Planes 100 Years. Emily Maxfield, a twelfth grade student at Cedar Park Christian School in Toppenish, is the Level 3 champion. Emily wrote her letter to Sherman Alexie about his book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The state champions, runners up, and honorable mentions will be honored at an awards ceremony on Friday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m. in the Columbia Room at the State Capitol. For more information, please see Letters about Literature. The three winning letters have advanced to the national contest conducted by the Library of Congress. National winners should be announced in early May. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) SUPERCHARGED STORYTIMES – THE VIEWS2 WAY You already provide great storytimes. Supercharge them and make them even better! The groundbreaking research of Project VIEWS2 demonstrated that public library storytimes really do make a difference when early literacy principles are intentionally incorporated into their delivery. Register now for one of the free Supercharged Storytimes workshops, featuring Saroj Ghoting, a nationally-acclaimed figure in the field of youth services in libraries; Kendra Jones, one of the Joint Chiefs of Storytime Underground; and guest presenters who were among the 40 library staff who were participants in Project VIEWS2 research and were pioneers in incorporating the tools and techniques of VIEWS2 into their storytimes. The full day will consist of an overview of Project VIEWS2 research and its connection to Every Child Ready to Read; a demonstration of how to integrate VIEWS2 tools and methods into storytime programs to make them more effective; and the opportunity for attendees to immerse themselves in some hands-on practice that will Supercharge their storytimes! Workshops will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PDT at the following locations:
  • May 2: Timberland Regional Library, Tumwater branch, Tumwater;
  • May 3: Camas Public Library, Camas;
  • May 5: Anacortes Public Library, Anacortes;
  • May 6: Silverdale Boy Scout Hall, Silverdale (across the street from the Silverdale Library);
  • May 9: Richland Public Library, Richland;
  • May 10: Yakima Valley Libraries, Sunnyside Community Library;
  • May 12: Argonne Branch Library, Spokane;
  • May 13: Neill Public Library, Pullman.
For additional information and to register, go to WSL’s Supercharged Storytimes registration page. Questions? Contact Diane Hutchins at [email protected]. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) SEE YOU AT WLA Washington State Library staff hope to see you at Washington Library Association’s Annual Conference in Spokane on April 27 – 29, 2016. Check out WSL’s booth in the exhibit area and find out what’s happening in your region during 2016.
  • Maybe a Mindstorm robot or an Ozobot will invade your space.
  • Find out how to apply for a grant.
  • Or, get your storytime supercharged.
Looking forward to connecting and reconnecting because we’re stronger together. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) US DOE ACCEPTING GRANT PROPOSALS The United States Department of Education (DOE) is accepting applications for the nearly $27 million in Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program grant funds now available to schools and non-profits seeking support for early literacy projects. The American Library Association (ALA) and its grassroots partners successfully advocated last year for Congress to support IAL funding and are doing so again for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2017.
  • Grant applications due Monday, May 9, 2016.
  • DOE is expected to announce its grant awards in July 2016.
  • One half of the grant funds available are reserved for school libraries with the remainder open to non-profit organizations.
  • Grants can be awarded on either a one- or two-year cycle.
Please see the DOE’s formal Notice published in the Federal Register for application information. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK April 26 April 27 April 28 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information and to register (unless otherwise linked above), visit the WSL Training Calendar at sos.wa.gov/q/training. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Washington State Library has gone social! Friend/follow us at: Facebook: on.fb.me/FBWSL; Twitter: twitter.com/WAStateLib. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An archive of WSL Updates is available at http://list.statelib.wa.gov/read/?forum=wslupdates.
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