Thing 27: DIY: Social Reading

For my DIY exploration it was perfect for me to do the social reading "Thing", because I have recently taken on a challenge to become a more globally minded educator and expand my reading choices.  I am going to "Read Around the World in 80 Books".  This was an idea that I got while leading a PD class on the New Literacies, including Global Literacy.  I got the idea from another blogger who did a similar challenge, and loved it!
My goal is to blog about the books as I read in my personal blog.  In addition I have created a Google Map of my reads, so that I can embed the reviews right into the map as well, and track and share my progress there.  I have only just begun, but I'm excited about this challenge, both personally and then the opportunity to share it with both students and teachers.
Through this "Thing" I have spent some time exploring the site goodreads, and I'm excited to use this in tracking my reading progress as well as using shared lists and connecting with friends.  After I feel more comfortable with the site and have filled out my "Shelves" more fully I may add a widget to the library page as well.  In the past I have used Shelfari, but it seems that has fallen from popularity, and since this is a social tool, I want to use the tool which will feel most natural for connecting with both teachers and students.

Through my explorations of social reading I have also discovered Epic Reads, which I have subscribed to through my Feedly account.  This site has lots of great YA book lists, quizzes, and display ideas.  A good place for connecting with teens and books.  I am hoping to connect my Book Club students with this fun resource as well.
Another site, which has given me ideas for connecting my Book Club and MakerSpace for next year is the site Book to Art Club, with ideas for how to lead book discussion while making things relevant to different titles- what a cool idea!  I am excited about the possibilities there, and look forward to promoting that in the fall- I think this year we are too close to the end, but next year I will jump on this idea.

Thing 26: Taking the Lead

What an amazing webinar!!  I came away with several practical ideas that I will spend the next couple of weeks implementing.  These ideas all strengthened concepts and projects that I have been contemplating already.  It was very useful to breakdown the stakeholder groups and think about what is important to each group specifically.  I have recently written a mission statement for the library, and this helped me work through strategies for sharing that message with different stakeholders.  Last year I began a library Facebook page, which has given me an opportunity to reach more stakeholders, although I still struggle to "get the message out".  This weeks topic has allowed me to identify a variety of ways to do that purposefully.
We are working on doing some structural redesigning of the library space, and I just finished a survey to ask students what they would like to see in their learning commons- now I just need to find the right venue for sharing it with students.  I want the library to reflect a learning commons, where students are encouraged to think critically, work collaboratively, experience creativity, and be engaged in lifelong learning- this is my elevator speech!
Some of the practical ideas that I got from the webinar, and the articles, are listed below:

• Create shelf dividers using old VHS cases- I will do this primarily to break up the Nonfiction section.
• Use shelf markers with pictures on them to indicate where popular series are on the shelves.
• Embed a Symbaloo on our Destiny Homepage with additional resources and tools.
• Reinstate my teacher newsletter on a regular basis- my goal is to send one out every 2 weeks, and our district instructional technologist is going to send one out on the opposite weeks.
• Institute "Power Lunch" times for informal PD with teachers.
• Create a 1 Book- 1 School graphic for our "School Wide Read" program (which is in it's 2nd year).  I would like to get this done this week, as we are having our end of year program next week, so it would be nice to incorporate the graphic there.  I would love to have this be student created, but I don't know if there is time for that!
• Communicate with parents on a more regular basis- 7th grade orientation, newsletter updates, information sent with report cards.
• I would especially like to get information out to parents about summer reading and also invite them to follow the Lake George Library Facebook page to stay in touch with what students are doing here.