From: "Extra Helping - School Library Journal" <schoollibraryjournal@email.schoollibraryjournal.com>
Date: February 6, 2014 at 3:22:49 PM EST
To: kwidz@sbcglobal.net
Subject: What's Happening at the Core?; Billions for High-Speed Internet in Schools, Libraries

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February 6, 2014

Update on the Core Rebecca T. Miller, Editor-in-Chief It’s the educational issue of our day: the challenges faced in the rollout of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). SLJ’s February cover story explores the current state of the CCSS and how this sweeping initiative is impacting the publishing landscape, as well as the opportunities that the Common Core presents for librarians. Meanwhile, that very initiative could get a needed boost with the $750 million commitment to improve tech in schools announced this week by President Obama. The investment is supported by corporations including O’Reilly Media, Apple, Microsoft, Verizon, and more. The FCC’s announced $2 billion pledge to improve connectivity over the next two years further strengthens the prospects for equitable 21st-century learning across US schools. Also in today’s Extra Helping: New grants support American Indian and Asian American culture in libraries, while a recent New York Public Library panel addressed continuing censorship issues for authors and librarians, ranging from self-censorship to the trend of rating books.

Top Stories

What’s Happening at the Core? By Sarah Bayliss Despite the vast array of publishing materials geared toward the Common Core State Standards, educators still seek support—and time to adapt. Read More›››

Librarians on the Common Core: Cautious Optimism By Lauren Barack While educators grapple with the Common Core State Standards, school librarians are finding aspects to celebrate. To start? Their jobs, and their important role in supporting teachers and students through this transition. Read More››› FCC to Increase Investment in Broadband for Schools, Libraries by $2 Billion By Gary Price The FCC’s $2 billion pledge over the next two years will connect 20 million students in at least 15,000 schools to high-speed Internet access. The goal is to provide 99 percent of America’s students with strong connections within five years. Read More››› $750 Million ConnectED Pledge Includes $100 Million from O’Reilly Media, Safari Books Online By Sarah Bayliss O’Reilly Media and Safari Books Online will donate over $100 Million in technology resources to US K-12 schools. The pledge is part of $750 million in new corporate support for President Obama’s ConnectED initiative, along with donations from Apple, Microsoft, Sprint, and Autodesk, among others. Read More›››

‘Talk Story’ Supports American Indian and Asian American Culture at the Library By Michelle Lee Grants are available to fund library programming around American Indian and Asian American literature and culture. But hurry, the deadline for applications is February 15. Read More›››   Judy Blume Named Honorary Chair of National Library Week 2014 By Gary Price Author Judy Blume has been named the 2014 Honorary Chair of National Library Week, April 13-19, 2014. Read More›››   NYPL Censorship Salon Focuses on Self-Censorship, Book Rating Trend By Mahnaz Dar Participants in a New York Public Library Children's Literature Salon discussed pressing censorship issues, from self-censorship by authors and librarians, to schools that rate titles for appropriateness, to the chilling impact a challenge can have on a book. Read More›››

Job of the Week The Norwich University is looking for a Director of the University Library. Read More›››

ALA Midwinter 2014 Librarians React to the Youth Media Awards By Rocco Staino After any award show, there's always a range of reactions to winners announced, and those that didn’t make the cut. The American Library Association’s 2014 Youth Media Awards, revealed on January 27 during the organization’s Midwinter meeting in Philadelphia, are no exception. On camera, librarians shared their thoughts with SLJ about the awards committees’ choices. Read More›››   Ebook Usage in U.S. School (K-12) Libraries 2013 Download School Library Journal’s 4th annual survey of Ebook Usage in U.S. School (K-12) Libraries, courtesy of Follett. Inside, you’ll find the most up to date statistics on how libraries are adopting ebooks and the driving factors behind purchasing and circulation activity in the school (K-12) market. DOWNLOAD THE FREE REPORT TODAY   INFOdocket LightSail Education and Baker & Taylor Announce Partnership By Gary Price LightSail Education, a provider of K-12 digital literacy solutions, has announced an exclusive partnership with Baker & Taylor. Now schools using LightSail adaptive literacy platform will have access to Baker & Taylor’s KnowledgePoint content management solutions and its portfolio of hundreds of thousands of digital books. Read More›››   Collection Development Presidents’ Day | Books for Celebration and Study By  Joy Fleishhacker Presidents’ Day (February 17) is just around the corner. Combining well-researched content with reader-pleasing formats, the handsomely illustrated titles presented here put the spotlight on America’s chief executives. Read More›››

Consider the Source Text Sets: Your Chance to Lead the Common Core By Marc Aronson While offering educators tried-and-true resources that respond to the CCSS mandate for “content-rich nonfiction that builds knowledge,” the ambitious Student Achievement Partners (SAP) also opens a door to collaboration. Read More›››   Touch and Go Journeys of Invention By Daryl Grabarek Prepare to get lost in the latest Touch Press app, Journeys of Invention, developed in association with London's Science Museum. Fourteen threads allow viewers to follow the creation of related technologies through time and cultures, and offer them some hands-on experiences with inventions ranging from a 17th-century microscope to a 20th-century encoder. Read More›››   News Bites LOC Literacy Awards; New Follett Chairman; Harry and Hermione? By Amanda Mastrull The Library of Congress is accepting applications for its Literacy Awards. Todd Litzsinger is Follet’s new chairman of the board. J.K. Rowling casts doubt on the Ron-Hermione pairing. Sherman Alexie novel challenged again. Rainbow Rowell to write graphic novels. Read More›››   Blog Spotlight: SLJ's Battle of the Books 2014 Battle Plans Revealed By Battle Commander Behold, the (downloadable) blueprint of the 2014 BoB Battle Plan. This year, we went with the traditional alphabetical order by title. Now with brackets in hand, predictions can start–which eight titles will advance to Round 2? Read More›››

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