Grand Ledge High School Library

Book news: copyright and censorship in Michigan

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Sun, 05 May 2013 12:12:00 +0000

Heard this on NPR on my way to class yesterday: To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee is forced to sue to re-acquire the copyright to her own work. And, Michigan parent Gail Horalek is ~~censoring~~ trying to control what children other than her own can read.

The 15 Most Horrific Crafting Abuses Ever Committed Against Books via @Alannabean & @BuzzFeed

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:01:00 +0000

An amusing link from my former life in the library: book abuse.

Not for literacy :(

The Lance Armstrong Fallout Continues...

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:29:00 +0000

Even libraries are upset.

The Hero Teachers of Newtown « Diane Ravitch's blog

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:54:00 +0000

The Hero Teachers of Newtown « Diane Ravitch's blog

From esteemed education researcher Diane Ravitch, on the Newtown shooting, regarding the recent anti-union initiative from Connecticut governor Dan Malloy.

"Let us hope Governor Malloy learned something these past few days about the role of public schools in their communities."

For many educators, it's far more than a 9-month, 7-hour day. But the politicians are the experts on what ails schools, and how to solve the dilemmas.

How to Fix the Schools - NYTimes.com

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:03:00 +0000

How to Fix the Schools - NYTimes.com

In light of a recent faculty meeting on new evaluation procedures in my building -- and the not-so-subtly implied threat that they carry -- I was speaking with some colleagues and it's apparent that many of the teachers are feeling similarly, that there's a disconnect in the ways that we conduct our jobs. Teachers recognize the resulting mood swings that can occur when one considers all for which we are responsible in the classroom, but especially now when combined with the almost dehumanizing evaluation criteria (and I don't use that term loosely, it's carefully considered: we're robots now, fulfilling evaluation criteria and explicitly charged with leading these students to achievement on standardized tests). With this short Op/Ed piece by Joe Nocera of the New York Times, we realize that there are education researchers that understand our jobs and our challenges far better than the politicians that ultimately guide our careers. What is striking and bears repeating is what Nocera articulated on the current climate of working in schools, speaking from the perspective of school leadership:

“It is not possible to make progress with your students if you are at war with your teachers.”

So, the discussion could end with that sentiment, as it illuminates facts that we teachers may already understand ourselves, that we are in uncertain, anxious times. Yet it bears mentioning that despite the tone and our resulting mood and morale, teachers collectively understand that we are now essentially reduced to service employees, and anything that we offer over and above that service is what separates us and makes the experience in schools beneficial to our students.

MSU Ed.D. Program - Cohort 1

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 20:38:00 +0000

Cohort 1 - MSU Ed. D Program

Saturday was the first day of MSU's newly-created Doctorate in Educational Leadership program, pictured at right are my classmates. There was an introductory portion, then we plunged right into the discussion of the week's reading -- Public Goods, Private Goods: The American Struggle over Educational Goals -- by former MSU and current Stanford professor David Labaree. Public Good, Private Goods provides a good primer on the history of education in the United States, then Labaree spends the majority of the paper on the three goals of American education, in his view: democratic equality, social efficiency, and social mobility.

A luncheon followed the morning session, and it was nice to become reacquainted with the cohort, and welcome the new members.

Alison Bechdel's Sad, Funny, Sprawling Graphic Memoir - Shauna Miller - Entertainment - The Atlantic

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:53:00 +0000

If I were still in the library, this may be a book to consider adding to our graphic novel collection, but it certainly also seems to fit my current, sociology curriculum.

"...at the very beginning, everyone was dependent on a woman."

Milwaukee Public Library's Brilliant Ad Campaign To Get People Reading More Books

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:53:00 +0000

I don't post to the GLHSLibrary blog much anymore, since I'm not encountering library news as much considering my new (nonlibrary) role. But I came across this inventive advertising campaign for libraries and books.

Book Returned to Aussie Library 122 Years Late

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:32:00 +0000

I have heard of books overdue from the immediate past century, but not from the 19th century. And a first edition Charles Darwin, no less.

Shanker Blog » The High Cost Of Closing Public Libraries

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:38:00 +0000

An article from the Shanker Blog, "The voice of the Albert Shanker Institute,"..."a nonprofit organization established in 1998 to honor the life and legacy of the late president of the American Federation of Teachers" comes this statistical celebration of the positives of (public) libraries. Notably, the author concludes with

But what really bothers me about the wave of library closings has very little to do with their economic benefits. Closing libraries – there is no other way to put this – is a symptom of societal decay. Libraries are a symbol of functional democracy and informed citizens – and, indeed, of an enlightened people. Many of our nation’s most celebrated figures, from Benjamin Banneker and Abigail Adams to Abraham Lincoln, Ray Bradbury and Jack London, educated themselves in public libraries. These institutions represent our collective commitment to equal access to knowledge and information, regardless of status or income.

How Viral PDFs Of A Naughty Bedtime Book Exploded The Old Publishing Model | Fast Company

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:20:00 +0000

Bootlegging and piracy as (viral) advertising in the book publishing world? The curious case of the new children's book for adults. Or, the new humor book for parents. Or whatever it is. Warning, the enclosed article contains adult language.

More library spending ups test scores - UPI.com

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:33:00 +0000

No big surprises in studies that find that better school funding results in better student test scores. The big news is what Debra E. Kachel, a professor at Mansfield University, found for schools and students from difficult socioeconomic conditions:

"In fact, quality school library programs may play an even greater role for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds."

Anyway, The Paradoxical Commandments - Do It Anyway - Kent M. Keith, Silent Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Wed, 11 May 2011 14:34:00 +0000

Our union president, John Ellsworth, pointed us in the direction of these Paradoxical Commandments, they're worthy of sharing.

The Paradoxical Commandments by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

Amazon To Bring Ebook Lending to Local Libraries

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Wed, 11 May 2011 14:24:00 +0000

Finally, Amazon joins the discussion for eBooks and libraries.

The Libraries Didn't Burn - Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Thu, 05 May 2011 18:57:00 +0000

The Libraries Didn't Burn

by Elaine Equi

despite books kindled in electronic flames.

The locket of bookish love
still opens and shuts.

But its words have migrated
to a luminous elsewhere.

Neither completely oral nor written —
a somewhere in between.

Then will oak, willow,
birch, and olive poets return
to their digital tribes —

trees wander back to the forest?

I want to be a LIBRARIAN (updated!) : Awful Library Books

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Wed, 04 May 2011 18:33:00 +0000

With the way that our legislators and governors are (mis) treating libraries, who would want to be a librarian anymore?

Common Core State Standards Initiative | Home

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:05:00 +0000

Interesting news from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: K-10 mathematics and K-12 English lessons, aligned with state standards.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the foundation associated with Pearson, announced a partnership to create online reading and math courses aligned with the new common core standards that 40 states have adopted in recent months. The 24 new courses will use video, interactive software, games, social media and other digital materials to present math lessons for kindergarten through 10th grade and English lessons for kindergarten through 12th grade, Pearson and Gates officials said.

Found Sign: Why the Internet is No Substitute for a Library - Boing Boing

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Tue, 03 May 2011 19:09:00 +0000

The comments below this posting are sometimes ridiculous, but those folks are more computer-savvy than likely active library users.

Amazon seller lists book at $23,698,655.93 -- plus shipping - CNN.com

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:27:00 +0000

Librarians need an increase in their book budgets due to inflationary pressures such as these.

Improving literacy through school libraries - SignOnSanDiego.com

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:01:00 +0000

A terrific summation of what a quality school library can do for a school. Most notably, the author, Pam Munoz Ryan, articulates well the democratic mission of school libraries

When a library is staffed by a professional, it becomes the most far-reaching service in the school, nurturing the rich and poor, the literate and those learning to be literate, the athlete, the musician, the class clown and the class artist. The school library is often a gathering place and safe haven for students. It is a service for which every person on campus benefits.

A visit to the Vatican Library - 60 Minutes - CBS News

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:26:00 +0000

I suppose I'm sort of the DVR of the library news world: I still cover relevant library events or issues, just a little behind.

Crisis in Dairyland - Message for Teachers - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 02/28/11 - Video Clip | Comedy Central

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:12:00 +0000

Watched this at the time, but only now posting this classic commentary.

The Daily Show - Crisis in Dairyland - Message for Teachers
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Out of print? Town considers bookless library - Books - Book News - TODAY.com

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:24:00 +0000

In response to technological trends and their own research on patron habits, the Newport Beach Public Library is considering a plan to strip its main branch of all physical materials, and instead, create a sort of community center, free from "fear of being shushed by a stern librarian." But now, the plan appears to be rebuffed by the City of Newport. Still, the key to this whole discussion of moving to close libraries in order to save money is the impact these decisions have on individuals and communities. British author Phillip Pullman, discussing the closing of 350 libraries in England said this trend

“will gradually make us a less informed, less intelligent, less aware, less useful, less imaginative, less kindly people than we might have been."

Judge Rejects Google’s Deal to Digitize Books - NYTimes.com

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:45:00 +0000

I always suspected that copyright laws -- whether screamed about by authors or publishers -- would be the stumbling block to Google's aims at digitizing the world's libraries, and that's how New York federal judge Denny Chin recently ruled. Yet it was the authors and publishers that had negotiated the initial Google Books settlement and supported the endeavor, leaving copyright laws as the last legal hurdle. Even though we are a small school, I submitted the Grand Ledge High School Library's collection to the Google Books project to include the local history books that we possess. I'm still waiting to hear back.

Todd Heisler/The New York Times

Judge Denny Chin said the legal settlement with publishers and authors would have granted Google a “de facto monopoly.”

"Huckleberry Finn" and the N-word debate - 60 Minutes - CBS News

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Turner) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:42:00 +0000

A terrific discussion on the recent debate surrounding a publisher's choice to edit Mark Twain's classic novels Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Editor Randall Williams and NewSouth Books have removed infamous, yet essential 'pejorative racial labels' from Twain's writings, but can do so because the book has passed into the public domain.