President's Column
|  Happy Spring! Spring is a time for new beginnings and hope! There is good news from MDE: the passing ALA/NCATE standards for initial librarian preparation. MAME had a great Midwinter Workshop in Ann Arbor, brushing up on some new technologies. Have you noticed the great job Kathy Lester does on the newsletter? She doesn't miss a trick and it shows. Our newsletter just gets better and better. Thank you Kathy, for your work. We wish Tim and Nancy Staal well as they begin a new adventure in India in July. Have you noticed the creative ways your conference committee is reaching out for volunteers? If you are sitting on the fence about presenting or helping in some way, now is the time. Is there someone you can recommend for an award? If we don't step up to advocate for ourselves, who will? At the end of the month, Tom and I will represent our MAME in our region meeting in Kansas City. Each state brings its concerns and issues forward. This is where we talk about commonalities across the states and craft our concerns to present to all of AASL in June. Last year we brought forth School Librarians functioning in multiple buildings across districts. What are you worried about? Are you the only one? Let me know and we will try to bring those ideas forward. The board continues to move forward on changes for our future. If you are an AASL member, please remember to vote in the ALA Elections and vote for MAME member, Lynn Gordon, for AASL Board Member-at-Large. Have a wonderful spring. Sue Lay, MAME President [Editor's Note: Thank you, Sue, for the accolades. I feel fortunate to have gotten a chance to meet and work with some of the fabulous volunteers of MAME. There are many people who put great effort and heart into making MAME run smoothly. Thanks to all of them and all MAME members! School Librarians are such great people!] |
From MAME Headquarters
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There are several things that I find very rewarding about being the Executive Director of MAME. Among the most rewarding is the chance to connect with people. First, of course, is the opportunity to get to know and work with MAME members and MAME board members who are not only great school librarians, but also wonderful and fun people. Even in these difficult times, it's been a joy to see dedicated and committed people working hard for the good of all school library media folks in Michigan. I know that MAME will continue to have the support of good people as we move into a new future.Another very rewarding aspect of the job is the opportunity to connect with other folks within the education and library communities statewide here in Michigan. The chance to meet and work with people from the Library of Michigan, from the Michigan Department of Education, MACUL, the REMC Association and the Michigan Library Association has been greatly appreciated.Finally, there is the opportunity to be connected around the country and the world through both AASL and ISTE. Attending their national conferences in search of speakers and new ideas is always rewarding, but maybe even more so is the chance to get involved in issues. When Roger Ashley was Executive Director, he focused his national involvement efforts on working against censorship with the Freedom to Read folks at ALA. I've chosen to become involved with the ISTE SIGMS group (Special Interest Group for Media Specialists). Over the last week or so, it has been my privilege to review nominations for the ISTE SIGMS Technology Innovation Award. This award showcases the important collaboration that takes place between librarians and classroom teachers to support successful technology integration in the classroom while supporting curricular objectives and problem/project-based learning. Reading through the innovative, collaborative projects going on around the country between school librarians and classroom teachers has been most rewarding and reminds me of why I wanted to become a school librarian in the first place. Next year, I hope to see a few nominations from Michigan!
Tim Staal, Executive Director
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MAME Members & Libraries Shine at
MACUL Awards!
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Three MAME members and the Library of Michigan were honored at this year's MACUL Awards. MAME members Anne Thorp, Shauna Coleman, and Gigi Lincoln received awards and the MeL program was honored.
Anne Thorpe, Director of REMC 7 and Instructional Technologist, was honored as the MACUL 2012 Outstanding Technology-Using Educator. Anne is involved in professional development by providing training sessions both in-person and virtually, by presenting at conferences, and as a coach for MI Champions. You can read more about Anne's award here.
Shauna Coleman, Media Specialist at Margaret Black Elementary School, Warren Consolidated Schools, received the Frank Miracola 21 Things Educational Excellence Award. Read the press release here. Shauna received this award for implementing 21 Things learning in her classroom. She is pictured with Jennifer Parker-Moore and Janice Harding from the Macomb Intermediate School District.
Margaret Gigi Lincoln, District Library Media Specialist for Lakeview School District in Battle Creek was honored with a Making It Happen award for her contributions to successfully integrate technology in K-12 education. You can read more about Gigi's award and the Eight Components of the Making It Happen Formula for Success here.
 The Library of Michigan's Michigan eLibrary (MeL) program was named the recipient of the MACUL 2012 President's Award. The award was presented to State Librarian Nancy Robertson at opening keynote of the MACUL Conference on March 8, 2012. You can read the press release about this award here. Nancy is pictured with Randy Riley, Sheryl Mase, and Deb Biggs Thomas.
Congratulations to all of these award winners!!
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Meet the President-Elect: Tom Stream
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How long have you been a MAME member? Is this your first "job" for MAME, or have you been active in another role? I have been a member of MAME for over 10 years. My first role began when Cyndi Phillip was ready to leave the webmaster position and talked me into taking over for her. I have served as Vice President for Regions and SIGS and most recently as Vice President for Continuing Education. I have also served on the conference committee in a variety of positions over the years as well.Could you tell us a little bit about your current position?I am an elementary school librarian working on a fixed schedule in 3 separate buildings. I have been working in this position at Grand Haven Area Public Schools for 13 years.Where you are from? Grew up? Went to school?I grew up on one of the 2 inland lakes in Ottawa County called Crockery Lake. As a child, we did not go on vacations because, to quote my mom, "we were on vacation everyday." My parents still live in the same house I grew up in. I attended Sparta Area Schools before matriculating to Michigan State University where I earned a BS in Parks and Recreation Resources. Getting a job in an after-school program allowed me time to begin working on an Elementary Education degree at Grand Valley State University. My official teaching career began in Watervliet Public Schools in Van Buren County. I worked as a At-Risk teacher and a 6th Grade classroom teacher. In the meantime, I began the Educational Technology program at GVSU. As I was finishing this program, there was an opening for a 1/2 time elementary library media specialist in Grand Haven. I started out as a 0.5 elementary library media specialist and a 0.5 computer teacher, remaining in that role for the next 12 years. While working in GH, I have also completed an Online Teacher Certification program through University of Wisconsin - Stout.What do you like to do when you're not in a library?Surprisingly, I like to read fantasy and science fiction in its many genres. I also work in the summers at the local golf course to take advantage of free range balls and heavily discounted league memberships, open golf, and lessons. I spend plenty of time with my two dogs, Blue and Wilson, playing, running, and walking.Of course, none of this would be possible without the express, written consent of my wife, Linda, who is very supportive of my roles in MAME, even the travel!What is something about yourself that might surprise people?I enjoy participating in triathlons. I like to call myself the current "King of the Slow Guys" in my age group. This year I am training to race in the 5th 3rd River Bank Run (15.5 miles) and am seriously considering entering a Half-Ironman triathlon. A full Ironman is crazy. Doing a Half-Ironman is only half as crazy.
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App of the Month
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Camera Fun by SpiceLoop
Android, iPhone
Free
Pro Version - $0.99
This free app (pro version available too) offers some fun camera effects including sketch, color x-ray, mirror, pinch, canvas and sepia in addition to a normal lens. The example below is a photo I took of ereaders charging on my desk at work in Sketch mode.
If you would like to suggest a app, please email your idea to: Judy Hauser, judy.hauser@oakland.k12.mi.us .
Any app will be considered whether it is for productivity, utility, or fun.
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Cheers & Tears
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 Karen Lemmons will be receiving this year's Distinguished Alumna award from Wayne State University's School of Library and Information Science on April 25th at WSU's Annual Recognition Ceremony. The school's faculty selected Karen for this award which is presented to a School of Library and Information Science graduate who has made outstanding contributions to the library and information science field.
Congratulations to Karen!!!
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 Leslie Aulie, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools District Secondary Media Specialist, received $4,900 grant from the District Foundation to purchase e-Readers for all of the District's middle and high schools.
Leslie hopes to purchase 4 or 5 e-Readers for each school and upload required reading novels and other good books that will encourage reluctant readers to read and increase their reading levels.
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Gigi Lincoln, Lakeview Schools District Librarian, along with her US History teacher colleague Sheri Skarp, were selected as winners in the Michigan Online Resources for Educators (M.O.R.E.) Digital Lesson Plan Contest. The contest took place in February to celebrate Digital Learning Day.
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If you know of an event in a MAME member's life (marriage, birth, death, change in job, award, etc.) that you would like to have included in a future Cheers & Tears section, please forward the information to the Media Matters Editors at:
mediamatters.mame@gmail.com
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| Media Matters! Editor
MAME Executive Director
Database Manager |
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Happy School
Library Month!
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You belong @ your libraryŽDuring School Library Month, school librarians are encouraged to create activities to help their school and local community celebrate and should visit the SLM Web pages regularly to find continuously updated resources and information.School Library Month Website
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Fall Conference
MAME 39
Save the Date!
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We hope that you can join MAME in Lansing for the
MAME 39 Fall Conference!
Mark your calendars for
Oct 31 - Nov 2!
MAME 39
Enter Here and Learn
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MAME Board Meeting
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The next MAME Board and Conference Committee Meeting will be a site visit at the Lansing Radisson at 9:30 am.
Lansing Radisson
111 N. Grand Ave.
Lansing, MI 48933
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Staffing Survey
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Please help MAME collect information about current staffing in Library Media Centers within your school district by responding to our staffing survey.
The survey, located at:
http://tinyurl.com/mediacentersurvey
consists of 12 questions and should take no more than 5 minutes.
Even if you have no school library media centers in your district, it would be helpful to us if you could indicate that and still submit the survey. If you choose to provide an email address, we will send the results of the survey once they are compiled, which you can then share with others in your district regarding school library staffing throughout the state.
If you have contacts in other districts, please forward the above link to them.
Please respond to the survey by April 15, 2012.
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Call for MAME
Award Nominations
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Please consider nominating an outstanding MAME member, district administrator, or leader in the library media field. This is your opportunity to nominate someone who deserves recognition for his/her exemplary contributions to and/or support of our profession!
Awards that are available for nomination are:
-District Library Director of the Year
-Outstanding Government Official
-MAME Mentor Award
-Margaret Grazier Award for Contribution to the Profession
-Mary Anne Paulin Award for Reading Advocacy
-School Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award
-Pat Slocum Award for Outstanding Meritorious Award
-Promotion of School Library Media Programs Award
-Roger Ashley Freedom to Read Award
-Ruby Brown Award for Individual Excellence
-School Library Media Program of the Year
-School Librarian of the Year
-Service Award for Adult Volunteers
-Outstanding Board of Education
-Service Award for School Administrators Find more information and requirements at the MAME website award page. All nomination forms must be postmarked by May 31st.
If you have questions, contact MAME Awards & Citations Chair Chris Swanson at SwansonC@wwcsd.net |
Call for Names
of Retirees
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Chris Swanson, MAME Award and Citation Chair, would like MAME members to send the name, home address, and preferred email address of any media specialist that has retired or will retire anytime between October 2011 and October 2012 in order to honor those individuals at the award ceremony during the MAME Fall Conference.
Please send retiree information to MAME Awards & Citations Chair Chris Swanson at SwansonC@wwcsd.net.
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| ALA Elections |
If you are an ALA member, please vote in the ALA elections. Help represent the School Librarian voice. Polls open March 19 and votes must be received by April 27. For more details and candidate biographies visit the AASL election website.
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ALA's
Virtual Library
Legislation Day
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ALA's Virtual Library Legislative Day takes place on April 24, as part of National Library Legislative Day (NLLD). Library advocates who cannot make it to Capitol Hill can still be part of the effort by calling or emailing their elected officials on April 24, or any time during the week of April 23-27.
Talking points and links to contact information for members of Congress are available at the Virtual Library Legislative Day Website. In addition, the website features bookmarks and posters for library advocates to print, email or post on their websites to help spread the word in their communities.
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AASL Fall Forum
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AASL 2012 Fall Forum is scheduled for October 12-13 in Greenville, South Carolina. The theme is Transliteracy and the School Library Program. Get more information at the AASL 2012 Fall Forum website.
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Upcoming Events
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April 2012
April 8-14, 2012
National Library Week
Sponsored by ALA
April 12, 2012
National D.E.A.R Day
Drop Everything and Read
April 12, 2012
Grand Rapids, Michigan
April 23, 24, 2012
National Library
Legislative Day
Washington DC
Liaison Hotel
April 24, 2012
Virtual Library Legislative Day
May 5, 2012MAME Board MeetingRadisson in Lansing 9:30am
111 N. Grand Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933
June 22, 2012
Michigan Joint Education Conference
Eastern Michigan Univ
June 21-26, 2012
ALA 2012 Annual Conference Anaheim, California
June 24-27, 2012
ISTE 2012
San Diego, California
San Diego Convention Center
Oct 12-13, 2012
AASL 2012 Fall Forum
Greenville, SC
Oct 31-Nov 2, 2012
MAME Fall Conference
Radisson, Lansing
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| 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! | |
Send your newsletter contributions to
Kathy Lester
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Media Matter Archives
| Looking for a previous issue of the MAME Media Matters newsletter?
You can find the archives at the MAME Website Publications Page.
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For addition information, contact Karen Becknell and Julie Harris, MAME 39 Program Co-Chairs at 
