News from Michigan Association for Media in Education

Media Matters! January 2010

In this Issue

From the President

We Love Our Librarian!

Garden City MS a Winner

From MAME Headquarters

Fall Conference Takes Shape

Featured Article

Other Upcoming Events

From the President

President Lynn Gordon

Happy New Year! I hope that your holiday season was happy and filled with family and friends. Now that we are beginning 2010, it is time for reflection and perhaps some resolutions. Diet and exercise programs aside, (how many years in a row are you going to make that resolution?) let me give you some other ideas...

I have been a member of MAME since 1994, and actively involved since 1999. Being involved in MAME is a rewarding experience that creates a sense of community and purpose among those who volunteer. We are a volunteer organization. Each professional development opportunity offered and every initiative that we undertake is thoroughly planned and implemented by those who step up. Make a resolution today to try something new with MAME. When you see a plea for action on the listserv, in this newsletter, or in Media Spectrum, say yes!

We've been talking about the AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner for a couple of years now. If you are still struggling with how to make the AASL Standards your own, many people say to begin with the disposition portion, and integrate those into your current standards. Kristin Fontichiaro and Kathleen McBroom shared a six-word approach to the standards at the end of our day on Thursday during our annual conference this past fall. First, download the standards from the AASL website. Purchase the supporting materials from the ALA store, or you can find much of the content also on the AASL website if you scout around. Absorb the content and meaning of the standards. Connect/Correlate the standards to existing curriculum and standards. Finally, share your work with others. Make this resolution today, for yourself and your students.

I hope that 2010 brings peace, joy, and good tidings to all of you during the year, and the upcoming decade. Your MAME Board will be working on bringing the best professional development opportunities to you, as well as continuing to advocate for you throughout the year. Help us, by being your own advocate, and continuing to provide each other with the support that we all need during these times.
Best to you -
Lynn Gordon

We Love Our Librarian!

Congratulations to Carolyn Wheeler, media specialist at Conant Elementary in Bloomfield Hills, who was one of ten winners of the 2009 Carnegie Corporation/New York Times "I Love My Librarian Award".

The winners were selected from approximately 3200 nominees nationwide, and included three school library media specialists, along with four public librarians and three college/university librarians. In addition to her work at Conant, Carolyn also serves as a Youth Librarian at the Rochester Hills Library.

The award, presented in a ceremony December 3 at the Times Tower in Midtown Manhattan, comes with a $5,000 cash award, a plaque, and travel stipend to attend the ceremony.

The six-page nomination, submitted by Carolyn's colleague, Maureen Zack, quotes many Conant students and staff. Carolyn is referred to as "the glue" that holds the school together, and a "curriculum guru". Those of us who know Carolyn would agree with Maureen's summary: "It was not easy to amass this information on her accomplishments...because Carolyn is not one to seek the spotlight. "I" is not a prominent word in her vocabulary."

Maureen concludes:" Day after day, she calmly and quietly creates an atmosphere conducive to exemplary education and consideration for others. Is it any wonder that we love our Librarian?"

MAME is proud to congratulate Carolyn on this well-deserved recognition!

Garden City Media Specialist Honored by

Library of Michigan

MAME congratulates Nancy Schultz-Speck and the Garden City High School Media Center for being the first-ever school library to win a Citation of Excellence from the Library of Michigan! Nancy and her

program were nominated through the annual State Librarian's Excellence Award competition, sponsored by the Library of Michigan Foundation and the Roger and June Mendel Fund.

Nancy's nomination mentioned several noteworthy innovations, including: a 400% increase in the size of their collection; over a 900% increase in circulation; three new computers; increased use of MeL and MeLCat; expanded participation in contests, summer programs, and reading initiatives, and collaboration with their local public library - all accomplished with no increase in their budget! To quote from one of her letters of support: "Nancy has devoted countless hours of time to make our school a far better place to study and work. After working at the high school for over sixteen years, I can honestly say she is the best Media Specialist Librarian we have ever had. During a time of financial cutbacks in a district strapped for cash, she has done an amazing job with very few resources".

Nancy was notified of the award just before the MAME conference, but was asked not to mention it to anyone until the official news release from the Library of Michigan.

Not being able to share the news with friends at the conference was a frustrating experience!

Nancy and students at award presentation

The message that Nancy would like to communicate now is the importance of keeping statistics on your media center's operations, which allowed her to demonstate the measurable progress of the media program at Garden City High School. As she mentioned in her acceptance remarks, and with a nod to the MAME conference theme: "keeping good statistics is a great way to prove that you are "Making a Difference" in your media center." Nancy and Staff

In addition to this recognition, Nancy and her media center received a $500 honorarium. She was recognized along

with two other winners (the West Bloomfield Township Public Library and the Stair Public Library of Morenci) at a luncheon sponsored by the Library of Michigan and the Michigan Library Association.

MAME extends our congratulations!

From MAME Headquarters....

Tim Staal, Executive Director

2010 ? Wow, I can't believe it's already twenty- ten! I hope most of you had a good break between 2009 and 2010. Several things struck me over this holiday break:

Concern about several MAME members losing their library/ media positions either over the break, or soon thereafter.
Following the developments in Lansing about the future of schools, school reform and the school funding issue.
Spent some time reading "Comprehension and Collaboration: Inquiry Circles In Action" (Harvey & Daniels, 2009) in conjunction with a book group on the TeacherLibrarian Ning.
Congratulations to Michigan folks featured in the latest Nov/Dec Knowledge Quest from AASL: Kristin Fontichiaro, Kathy Hribar, Sarah Sindelar, and Laura Warren-Gross.

When I put these things all together, I am more convinced than ever that we need to change and move forward, but that we also have the people who can successfully impact that change for the betterment of Michigan students, schools and school library media centers. Let's add to our new year resolutions to keep working together to move forward.

Tim

Media Matters! Editors

Dr. Kafi Kumasi and Joanne Steckling

mediamatters.mame@gmail.com

MAME Executive Director

Tim Staal tstaal@gmail.com

Database Manager

Liz Lewis lizabeth.lewis@gmail.com

Spring Conference Saturday March 20

Need a shot in the arm? A little energy boost? Plan to attend the MAME Spring Leadership Conference, "Chicken Soup for the Media Specialist's Soul".

This one-day event is designed to cheer up, gear up, and charge up our membership! Sessions will address support tools and resources, highlight success stories, provide practical tips and guidelines on how to enhance and protect your library media program, and present ways to focus and refine your instructional practices.

The day had been designed with YOU in mind! Here are just some of the media-specialist-friendly features:

We're taking care of your soul - support and encouragement!
We're taking care of your mind - information and resources!
We're taking care of your body - a nice long lunch and luxurious door prizes!
We're taking care of your time - one day only!
We're taking care of your pocketbook - no hotel, and rolled-back registration fees!

Plan to join us in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan School of Information on
Saturday, March 20th.

We all need a little help now and then -
so come and get it! Soup's on!

MAME 37 Fall Conference

Planning for the conference is well underway! Conference Chair Rachel Markel has selected the conference theme: "Dare to Dream."

At the conference committee meeting on December 5th, ideas for possible conference speakers and authors were discussed. The committee next meets Sat, January 9.

A few positions on the conference committee are still open. If your New Year's resolutions included becoming an active participant in MAME, contact Rachel Markel.

Watch this space for monthly updates on the upcoming conference!

What's on your Mind?

What great things are going on in your media center?

Has a journal article or book recently inspired you?

Found a shortcut, great website, new and improved techie tool?

...Or just have a funny story to share?

We love to hear from our readers!