In the newsletter below, you will find information regarding

• Resources for Educators Working Remotely & Promoting Learning at Home

• First Friday Information http://bit.ly/FirstFridaysPD

• FY2020 Education Budget & Legislative Advocacy - HB187

• ALSDE Summer Learning Challenge & School Librarian Support

Dear Alabama School Librarians,

Thank you for all you do! It warms my heart to see all the information and resources you all have been sharing with your colleagues and professional learning networks in the wake of school closures due to COVID-19. I applaud all you are continuing to do in light of this unprecedented situation.

This newsletter is in hopes of providing you with timely resources regarding how to help parents and educators provide students with reading resources to keep the "summer slide" from happening now as we are out of school and provide information about an upcoming partnership for the ALSDE Summer Learning Challenge where we will be calling on school librarians to become a partner in helping our students across the state.

Do not hesitate to reach out to my by email, cdillard@alsde.edu, telephone (334) 694-4773, or Twitter @Mrs_Dilly.

The resource guide was created in partnership with Library Media/Instructional Services and Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) to provide school librarians and educators with resources to promote to parents to help keep our students reading during this time of school closures due to COVID-19.

The resource guide provides:

• Online and Streaming Reading of Books
• Digital Access of Books (Audio, eBook, and Read Alouds)
• Educator's Guide to Reading Online and Streaming (Covering copyright, publisher's allowances and pertinent information)

In light of school closures, I will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 9:30 - 11:00 AM on the topic of "Copyright, Reading Aloud Online, Resources & Support in Times of School Closure". It would be hosted on WebEx in the same format (live and recorded) as First Friday sessions.

Please pass this webinar information to other educators and colleagues who may be interested. It is very timely and pertinent information as we continue to provide resources and reading materials to students at this time.

Enroll in the PowerSchool session by clicking here.

JOIN WEBEX: https://alsde.webex.com/alsde/j.php?MTID=m0859a30c32d27b1e4c7382451d4500bb

JOIN BY PHONE: 1-650-479-3208 Call-in number (US/Canada)

Access code: 925 502 730

Access more information about the webinar at the First Friday website: http://bit.ly/FirstFridaysPD

Complete the linked survey to help provide guidance for the upcoming Summer Learning Challenge! We want to build a partnership of ALSDE, ARI, School and Public Librarians!

Topic: AASL Best websites for Teaching & Learning - Part 3

Presenter: Cristin Dillard

Description: If you haven't already explored the great resources on the AASL 2019 Best Websites for Teaching and Learning list, then get ready to introduced to some new resources you can share with your colleagues and use with students on Monday. This is not a repeat from the January webinar, but it will explore more of the AASL best websites not covered in January and March. This will be the final installment.

PowerSchool Information

JOIN THE WEBEX SESSION: https://alsde.webex.com/alsde/j.php?MTID=m9767ba93baf999db1cb0b645d0eaa735

JOIN BY PHONE:

1-650-479-3208 Call-in number (US/Canada)

Access code: 927 810 910

As of right now, the deadline for participating schools to submit votes for the Camellia Children's Choice Book Awards will be pushed out 2 weeks to a new deadline of May 8, 2020.

This new deadline is due to school closures impacted by COVID-19. Also, this new deadline is tentative and could be changed if any new information comes available about the reopening of schools.

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY: Reach out to your local legislators to promote school libraries and emphasize the impact the library program has for ALL students. Write, call, email, Tweet, shake hands, meet for coffee - whatever it takes to get the ear of your legislators:

• Increase library enhancement funds - Currently the HB187 has Library Enhancement Funds at $200.00/teacher unit (page 24)
• Strengthen the librarians role in fostering literacy within a school
• Instructional partnerships between librarians and classroom teachers to benefit all students

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED!

If you have enrolled in PowerSchool, you will be notified of the cancellation as well.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A READER ON THE SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR THE CAMELLIA AWARDS:

Camellia Children's Choice Book Award Nominee Selection Committee Interest Form

https://forms.gle/h7RFgK1XQse9c9Lo8

K-12 Librarians and Educators in both public, private, and charter schools

Public children's and/or teens librarians

Camellia Awards Website: http://bit.ly/camelliabooks

Submit any shout outs, events, photos, etc to cdillard@alsde.edu to be featured in the next newsletter shout outs. I will share shout outs and spotlights in the upcoming newsletters.

Do not hesitate to contact me with questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions!

Also, don't forget to send in shout outs and publicity to be included. Alabama School Libraries are amazing with many great events, instruction, and projects going on. I would love to share that with others.

Email: cdillard@aslde.edu
Website: http://bit.ly/ALMO1
Phone: 334.694.4768
Twitter: @Mrs_Dilly