SLS 2/6/26 - O²CM Bookish Byte

📰 In the News 📰
Article: 2025 Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List and Top Ten List
Article: Minnesota School Librarians Supporting Students and Peers
Article: A Mini 2026 Caldecott Bump Update
Blog: 20 things you didn’t know you could do with Google Arts and Culture
Blog: How Inquiry-Based Freewriting Can Deepen Student Writing
Article: The 100-Year History of Black History Month
Article: Schools Still Miss Instructional Basics. How to Change That
Article: States Put ‘Unprecedented’ Attention on AI’s Role in Schools
Blog: All the Reasons for Seating Students in Groups of 3
Blog: Pairing Images and Text for Critical Analysis
Article: Booklist Reader: Black Writers Tell Their Stories
Blog: The Five Biggest Fears that Kept Me from Empowering Students
EdWeek is provided to every educator in O²CM
School Library Journal is provided to each O²CM School Librarian
Please Contact SLS if You Need Access with SLJ Access in the Subject Line
Black History Month Resources
Locking Files in Google Drive
Google Drive has a new option that will allow you to lock new edits to the final version of a file. When a file is locked, editors won't be able to make changes unless they unlock the file first. Find out more Details HERE
Recently Reviewed Titles
Nora Roberts Foundation Grant
Nora Roberts Foundation Grant quarter 2 deadline is approaching(February 15th). Grants are up $3,000 with a primary focus on literacy, children, arts, social justice and environmental. So if you have an idea that needs funding, this may be it! The application appears simple with just a 2-3 sentence response to the following
- What is the organization's purpose or mission?
- How does the project or organization uniquely and directly benefit people in need in one or more of our focus areas (Literacy, Children, Arts, Social Justice, Environment)?
- What would a donation to your organization be used for?
- If you received a grant from us in the previous year please EITHER include a brief summary of how the funds were used with an additional 2-3 sentences OR attach a report in any format as a Request Document.
- If you include Request Documents, please note this in the summary.
Interested? Check out the details here
Can't get it done this round? Deadlines for the following quarters are
May 15, August 15 and November 15.
National News Literacy Week
Upcoming Competition on March 2nd
Professional Learning Opportunities
In Person Professional Learning
- Mar 23 - Author: Andrea Rogers Comes to Syracuse
Apr 6 - The Power of Play: Transforming Elementary Education with Board Games
Apr 14 - Can I Use That? Copyright, Privacy, and AI in the Classroom
Apr 20 - The Power of Play: Transforming Secondary Education with Board Games
Virtual/Asynch Professional Learning
- Feb 18 - WEBINAR We Can Teach Hard Things, Like Civil Rights (edWeb.net)
- Feb 19 - WEBINAR Support Student Well-Being Through Focused Learning and Meaningful Human Connection (edWeb.net)
- Feb 25 - WEBINAR Building Literacy Across the Curriculum: Why Every Teacher Is a Reading Teacher (edWeb.net)
- Feb 26 - WEBINAR What's Going On In The Courts?
Mar 26 - WEBINAR Self-Censorship: What Is It, Who Is Doing It, and How To Avoid It
OnDemand Professional Learning (2 CTLE)
Note: You can sign up for these trainings anytime between 12/1-2/26
Book Studies
Did you know?
Did you know I am available for in person or virtual meetings throughout the week?
Some things are just better face to face!
I can pop into your district to explain resources, and work one on one!
This is just one of the many FREE perks from O²CM School Library System!
PS: You can also just call me at 315-453-4665 or email me at hturner@ocmboces.org
📬Listservs
Elem Listserv: elemlibs@ocmboces.org
MS Listserv: mslibs@ocmboces.org
HS Listserv: hslibs@ocmboces.org
BOB Listserv: bob@ocmboces.org
OPALS Users Group: opalsusers@ocmboces.org
Follett Destiny Users Group: destinyusers@ocmboces.org