‘Classroom Friendly’ pencil sharpener

‘Classroom Friendly’ sharpener in ‘Groovy Green’

Between looking up call numbers or doing homework or some other writing, someone, somewhere, in the library, is going to need a pencil, meaning a fresh supply of sharpened pencils needs always to be on hand. If you understand this, you’ll know why a quiet, efficient manual sharpener is a really wonderful thing.

Recently, I was privileged to try out a really great pencil sharpener, courtesy of Classroom Friendly Supplies. I had a bundle of unsharpened pencils at the ready when my “Groovy Green” sharpener arrived.

Scholastic Book Fair at Bellview school

Check out these tables and display cabinets of books! It’s the Scholastic Book Fair, set up for business in Bellview Elementary School library. Our ever-supportive Bellview PTO will staff the Scholastic Book Fair before and after school each weekday through Monday, May 23, with online shopping also available through Tuesday, May 24. During “Art Night” on Thursday (6 to 7:30 p.m.), be sure to drop by the library, because Book Fair will be open then too. Proceeds go toward the purchase of books in school classrooms and library, and it’s such a great feeling at the end of fair to receive that tub of books.

Exercise bikes at library

Photo courtesy of Troy University Libraries

Highlighted in the May 2016 issue of American Libraries: Troy University Libraries in Troy, Ala. equipped exercise bikes with stations for laptop computers so students can work out while studying. “I want students to view our libraries as places where they want to be,” writes Christopher Shaffer, dean of library services, in his essay for American Libraries. “I like the idea of them coming in, checking out a video for pleasure, and watching it on their computer while they exercise for an hour. If they enjoy being at the library for reasons other than academics, maybe they will be more comfortable visiting the library — and approaching librarians — in the future.”

Also posted to Librarian on a Bicycle

Real-life example for lesson in information literacy

In my news feed this morning, I encountered a real-life example for a lesson in information literacy, specifically helping students identify possible bias in the way information is presented. I couldn’t resist sharing it, in case library media professionals wanted to use it in a class.

‘Superman, Before Truth’: Academic guide

For those library personnel who work with young adults, I want to share a free reading and discussion guide for Superman, Vol. 1, Before Truth, a D.C. Comics publication authored by Gene Luen Yang (National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and National Book Award nominee).

You may wish to share this resource with educators at your schools.

Before Truth deals with the issue of online privacy versus public sharing, as Superman receives anonymous text messages from someone who has discovered his secret identity as newspaper reporter Clark Kent.