Resources
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Available for MSLA members: Thinkfinity Workshop - The workshop is offered for Thinkfinity.com training
- There will also be time set aside for curriculum development discussion
- The workshop will consist of two, five hour trainings on Tuesday, July 15 and July 22, 2008
- There is a refrigerator and conference room that we can use to eat a half-hour lunch.
- The workshop will held at the SEMLS office: 10 Riverside Drive, Lakeville, MA 02347 | tel:508-923-3531
- Location and directions: http://www.semls.org/who/directions.html
- Limited to 16 members (16 computers available)
- RSVP ASAP to Kathy Dubrovsky for additional information
- The workshop is free but open only to MSLA members
- Participants can earn 10 PDPs
Download REGISTRATION Form
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 01 June 2008 )
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Standards for School Libraries |
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MASSACHUSETTS STANDARDS:- DRAFT of MSLA 2007 Massachusetts Recommended PreK-12 Information Fluency Standards
57 page DRAFT document Word PDF
CHART comparing InfoFluency Standards and Frameworks - 14 pages Word PDF
Article on the creation of the Information Fluency Standards by Valerie Diggs (MSLA Forum, Winter 2007)
Sample Curriculum Integrated K-12 Information Literacy Expectations. Appendix B: School Library Media Program Standards. MSLMA, 2003.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 12 August 2008 )
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Search Statewide Databases/Find a Library Near You |
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School Libraries are an important part of the "Family" of Libraries in Massachusetts
- Search Our Virtual Resources Using Your Library Card
- Find and reserve books, CDs, DVDs and more from our Virtual Catalog.
- Find thousands of articles from magazines, scholarly journals, newspapers, investment reports, biographies, health resources, radio transcripts, reference books, and more using On-line Library Resources.
- Find a Library near you!
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 February 2008 )
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2007 National Standards for School Libraries |
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Just announced at the AASL National Conference in Reno!
New national standards for school library media programs, available on the AASL web site:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/learningstandards/standards.cfm
This will be followed next year by a new mission statement and guidelines
for library media programs.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 29 October 2007 )
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Partnership for 21st Century Skills |
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive department
state house
boston, ma 02133
(617) 725-4000 February 20, 2008 Dear Colleague, As you may know, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a member of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Since our acceptance into this national network of states working to infuse 21st Century skills into their state education systems, a broad based coalition of the education and workforce administrators, policy makers and members of the business community, has developed a compelling case for why 21st century skills must be integrated into learning wherever it occurs in the our Commonwealth. In addition, members of the advisory coalition have also made a commitment to communicate that case to others. Enclosed, therefore, please find a brief on the Massachusetts 21st Century Skills Initiative. Research and global statistics show there is a profound gap between the knowledge and skills most students learn in school and the knowledge and skills they need in higher education, work and community life in a world economy and global society. It is our hope that by raising awareness and understanding of this gap, stakeholders throughout the Commonwealth will work together to improve our education system and work force development initiatives. We believe that doing so will benefit students, communities and the Commonwealth. We ask you to join us in this effort by distributing this brief as broadly as possible. More importantly, we encourage you to incorporate the concepts, themes and ideas into your work and ongoing efforts. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Michele Norman, Policy Director in the Office of the Governor’s Education Advisor:
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Sincerely,
Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria
Governor’s Special Advisor for Education Suzanne Bump
Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Dan O’Connell
Secretary of Housing and Economic Development |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 March 2008 )
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Read more...
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PDPs are a case of "self-accounting" with your principal being the person to whom you check in -- an Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) that must be approved (signed by teacher and principal). Everything is in "groupings" tied to a goal and each much have a product. 10 hours is a minimum group to accomplish a goal.
If you have a technology goal, or a literature goal, or information literacy goal, sessions at the conference could promote that goal. You need to have a product -- for instance, showcasing your new webpage for a department meeting, with your new blog that is in part a result of a conference session. Attending author sessions would be a part of your goal to improve your knowledge of YA literature and your product might be with your book discussion group, or a series of booktalks for classes.
When MSLA awarda a PDP, it is a token, because the actual accounting is done by the person. Writing for MSLA Forum or exhibiting at the Exploratorium or serving on a committee -- these are all part of your larger IPDP and you are responsible for showing a product. |
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Intellectual Freedom: Meeting the Challenge |
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What is Intellectual Freedom?
"Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive
information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free
access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question,
cause or movement may be explored." ~American Library Association Guidelines for Meeting the Challenge The MSLA Intellectual Freedom committee recommends the following proactive
guidelines for establishing and maintaining a strong library program and collection.
The ideas that follow will also help the librarian build allies and deflect potential
challenges should they arise. Materials Selection Policy, approved by the School Committee - including Reconsideration Policy and form
- including Collection Development Statement
Collection Development
- Use reviews to make decisions for purchases; some recommended
core review sources: - School Library Journal
- Booklist
- The Horn Book
- Professional knowledge and experience
- Examine new materials as they arrive
Library Climate - Welcoming atmosphere
- Provide service for Students, Faculty, Administration, School Committee,
Parents, Community Members
Outreach - Back to School Night
- Welcome Volunteers to work in your library
- Library web site and brochures
- Professional Development for staff
- PTO presentations
Connections - Join professional organizations and listservs: MSLA, AASL, LM_NET
- Stay informed about Intellectual Freedom groups and issues
- ALA - Office for Intellectual Freedom
- Be aware of pro-censorship organizations
IF a challenge comes… Don’t assume that an objection or criticism is the
beginning of a challenge - Try to resolve the concern informally
- Review the material that is of concern
- Look at it from the complainant’s perspective, as well as your own
Steps to follow to respond to a challenge
It is important to know and follow the formal steps in your district’s Selection Policy.
If your district does not have a Selection Policy in place, look at one from a similar
community, or look at the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom’s
“Workbook for Selection Policy Writing”
http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/workbook_selection.html After the formal challenge is made 1. Provide the complainant with handouts as specified in the Selection Policy.
For ex:
- the reconsideration form
- reconsideration procedure
- Library Bill of Rights)
2. Inform your principal and your library director immediately Respect your district’s chain of command Develop a procedural strategy with your principal 3. Keep detailed written records 4. An objective third party should be present during any discussion of the challenge 5. Notify the MSLA Executive Director, Kathy Lowe
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6. Consult with other library teachers (locally or electronically) - Do not assume confidentiality, especially with e-mail
7. Contact allies - Faculty members
- Parents
- Community members
Keep in mind: the “target” is the material, NOT the librarian.
Further Resources
AASL Intellectual Freedom Brochure Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
http://www.ala.org/cipa
Summary of the legislation and guidelines for schools and libraries Coping With Challenges: Kids and Libraries: What You Should Know
http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/kidsandlibraries.html Coping With Challenges: Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges
http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/coping_inf.html
Contains strategies and topics specifically for school libraries Intellectual Freedom Resource Guide
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/resourceguides/intellectual.cfm Internet School Library Media Center; Intellectual Freedom
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/free.htm#TOP Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) Internet Filtering Statement
http://www.masslib.org/internetfiltering.htm What You Can Do to Oppose Censorship
http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/whatyoucando.html
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 24 July 2008 )
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School Library Associations by State |
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Long Range Planning From the Masssachusetts Board of Library Commissioners webpage: "Libraries must have an approved Long-Range Plan on file with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in order to apply for both Library Services and Technology Act funds and the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program. Libraries that have done planning have repeatedly confirmed how important the process has been in their local efforts to gain recognition, funding and staffing for accomplishing the goals and objectives set out in their plans." |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 19 May 2008 )
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Resources 
