Media Matters!       MAME logo     September 2013  
In this Issue
President's Column
41 years & Still Excited!
Judy Sima wins NSN Award
Get Ready for MAME 40!
App of the Month
Honoring Retirees
4Ever MAME'rs on the move!
Cheers & Tears
Region & SIGs Corner
Volunteer!!
Save the Date MAME 40
Retirees @ MAME 40
MAME Membership
4Ever MAME Membership
Upcoming Events
What's on Your Mind?
Media Matters Archives
President's Column

 

Most of us have been back to school for a couple of weeks and getting into a groove. MAME is staying in the groove we've been in.

MAME had a great Summer Institute. We have continued our communication with MLA. We are working with Library of Michigan to update SL21 at the next Library of Michigan board meeting.

 

Speaking of LoM, we are anxiously awaiting the new interface that was presented at the Summer Institute. Plus, MeL has added several new elementary databases. I am waiting for those with bated breath.


Registration is now open for our annual conference, "School Librarians at the Core", on November 20-22 at the Kalamazoo Radisson. We have a fantastic slate of keynoters and presenters including Barbara Stripling, Nancy Robertson, and David Small and Sarah Stewart, as well as annual favorites Lynn Rutan and Cindy Dobrez. Register is at the Conference page at http://www.mimame.org/our-annual-conference.html. I hope to see you all there!

MAME has announced the annual award winners which are listed on the www.mimame.org website. Congratulations our following colleagues for their achievement:

  • School Librarian of the Year:  Jeanna Walker, Portage Northern High School

  • School Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award:  Shelley Lazarus, Eastover Elementary School

  • Margaret Grazier Award for Contribution to the Profession:  Lynn Gordon, Independence and Andersonville Elementary Schools

  • Promotion of School Library Media Program:  Swan Valley High School Library Media Center, Kay Wejrowski, School Librarian

  • Ruby Brown Award for Individual Excellence:  Sarah McElrath, Lakeshore Middle School

  • Service Award for School Administrators:  Letitia Tappin, Eastover Elementary School

Finally, I had the special privilege to attend the presentation of the Follett Library Program of the Year award to Kay Wejrowski and Swan Valley High School on September 19. Seeing the number of special guests ranging from school board members to the police and fire chiefs and representatives from local TV5 was impressive. But all that paled to the roar of the student body when Kay was introduced by the superintendent and what her program had won; a complete standing ovation! It was almost like what I imagine the Beatles experienced when they arrived in New York. Sure, no one was passing out, but the screaming and cheering brought tears to my eyes. Such love and respect for one of our own was so amazing, my cheeks hurt from the smile on my face.

In her self-deprecating manner, Kay put all the focus on her teachers, her administrators, the students, and community members. But when a student body of 605 students has 50 students every trimester working as library aides and the program is winning national awards, it is obvious that the thread that pulls all these different groups together is Kay.

Congratulations, Kay. It was an honor to be present and to meet your students.  

Tom 

Tom Stream, MAME President  
41 First Days and Still Excited! 
Gigi Lincoln prepared for her 41st first day of school this year with the same enthusiasm as if it were her first! Head Editor of INALJ (I Need a Library Job EResource Center) in Washington DC, who also happens to be her daughter Ruth, captured Gigi's excitement in a blog post for the INALJ. (click the link for the full article)

Gigi was quite proud to be interviewed for the blog, especially by her own daughter!

Congratulations Gigi, you truly are a leader in our field and your dedication to the professional is inspiring!
NSN honors Judy Sima
Judy Sima received the National Storytelling Network Oracle Award for Distinguished National Service, presented to those individuals who contribute their time and energy in an exemplary manner on the national level to forward the work of National Storytelling Network.  

Click here to read the full press release.

Congratulations Judy!!
Get Ready for the MAME 
Fall Conference
The conference committee has planned a terrific lineup of keynote speakers, presenters, exhibitors, and fun!  The conference will be held November 20-22 at the Kalamazoo Radisson Plaza Hotel.  Kalamazoo is a great city!  You may want to extend your stay, invite your family, and take in the sights of Kalamazoo.  A Discover Kalamazoo brochure that was put together just for the MAME conference can be found here.

The conference has a lot to offer including:

  • Keynote Speaker: Barbara Stripling, ALA President

  • Closing Keynote Speaker: Tim Shanahan, a noted literacy and Common Core expert, from the Center for Literacy at the University of Illinois at Chicago

  • Author Breakfast presenters: Sarah Stewart and 2013 Caldecott Honoree, David Small

  • Featured presenters: Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan, authors of the Booklist Online Bookends Blog

  • Featured presenter: Travis Jonker, author of SLJ's 100 Scope Notes Blog

  • A Cavalcade of Authors featuring Michael Spradlin, Jim C. Hines, Darrin and Karin Brege, Mary Morgan, Lynn Miller-Lachman, Lori Taylor, and Anita Pinson

  • A FREE preconference session on collaboration among public and school librarians including college and career readiness.

  • A preconference session presented by Marcia Mardis, Assistant Professor, Florida State University on Developing your Collection for Common Core and Open Educational Resources

  • Additional preconference sessions on preparing for online assessments and using Google sites.

There is also a great lineup of presenters who'll be covering the latest key topics in their sessions.  Focus areas include technology integration, the Common Core standards, Instructional Strategies, Advocacy and Marketing, Books and Reading, the Profession, Curriculum and Resources, and Collaboration.  You'll also want to visit our exhibitor's showcase and meet with several vendors new to our conference including Overdrive, Mango Languages, Easy Bib, and more!

 

Also, the complete breakout session schedule is available online via sched.org.  At sched.org you can put your own conference schedule together and access it via your mobile device.

 

You can find out more about the conference at the MAME Conference website.  You can also download a conference brochure here.  Also, don't forget to share this Author Breakfast flyer  with other staff in your building.  Anyone can register for the Author Breakfast!

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the MAME Conference in Kalamazoo on Nov 20, 21, 22!!
App of the Month
App of Month
Below is this month's featured 
"app of the month".  If you would like to suggest an 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. 

NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS

Mastery Connect, the company that created the free Common Core standards app, now offers a free Science Standards App created in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association. Contents include Standards and Resources. The app is available for Apple, Android and Windows. 

  


Retired and Cherished
During our fall conference MAME likes to recognize those members from the school library media profession who have recently retired.  
 
If you know of someone that should be recognized during the Presidents' Award Gala please send notice to Lisa Brakel (brakels@bex.net) prior to November 1. 
 
Retiring MAME members will have their name placed in the program and receive a certificate of recognition during the ceremony.  The Award Gala will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2013 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
LMS Get Loud! 
Outreach to Administrators
Did you know that one of your administrators can attend the MAME Conference for you for FREE? 
This is a great way to reach out to administrators in your district (Principals, Technology Directors, Curriculum Directors, Superintendents, etc.) so they can find out more about the essential role of School Librarians. There are many sessions at the MAME Conference that will be of interest to administrators including topics on college and career readiness, leadership, ebooks, ereaders, instructional strategies including inquiry, technology, collaboration, literacy, books and reading, and more!

Speakers that may be of interest to administrators include:
  • Opening keynote speaker: Barbara Stripling, American Library Association President, will discuss how School Librarians support the implementation of Career and College Ready Standards. 
  • Closing keynote speaker: Tim Shanahan, Director of the Center for Literacy at the University of Illinois at Chicago, will discuss how the new standards have moved understanding of complex text, informational text, multiple texts, research, and close reading to center stage.
  • Brandy Archer, Content Literacy Consultant from the Michigan Department of Education, will discuss resources for implementing College and Career Readiness standards.
  • Rachel Wynkoop, Library Media Specialist and Blended Learning Instructor, will discuss the benefits and details of implementing blended learning. 
  • Deb Biggs-Thomas, from the Library of Michigan, will discuss the Michigan Online Resources for Educators (M.O.R.E) and how these resources can be searched and used by educators based on state standards or subject.
  • Janet Ruth Heller, author, will discuss books which can help you combat bullying at your schools.
  • Karren Reish, from the Library of Michigan, will discuss using the SL21 Measurement Benchmarks for Michigan School Libraries for 21st Century Schools to help evaluate and/or improve your school's library program. 

You can download a sample letter to send to your administrator here. If you have any questions about 

inviting your administrator or would like MAME to invite your administrator directly, please contact  Kathy Lester at kathyL@mimame.org.
4Ever MAME Get's Outta Town

The 4Ever retirees invite ALL MAME retired members to attend our (nearly) annual WE'RE OUTTA TOWN event!

 

This year the retirees lounged on the beaches of Frankfort, Michigan. They spent a week basking in the sun, the glorious sunsets, and enjoying conversations and meals together. This is always such a great way to network, share life experiences, get to know new friends and just get away from it all to celebrate being retired!

 

The MAME 4Evers are planning our next trip for Tuesday, September 2nd through the 4th or 5th, 2014 in Tawas on the beach!

 

Retirees and soon-to-be retirees need to plan now to reserve your room and/or roommate (double queen rooms) for those fun days in lieu of starting off the new school year at school!  On the beach is just so...retired!

Pictures from this year's trip:  
Point Betsie Lighthouse, Frankfort 
Teri Belcher, Annette Haley, Dee Gwaltney, Sue Hornbach, LaRene Klink, Peg Sanford, Liz Lewis 
Liz Lewis, LaRene Klink, & Peg Sanford

Cheers & Tears
Congratulations to retired MAME member, Leslie Aulie. She became a Grandmother or "Grammy" on July 17.  Leslie' daughter, Kristin and husband Nick had a beautiful little boy, Carter.  He is now almost 2 months old and dare I say almost reading...well not quite but will definitely be a reader someday!  
 
Leslie Aulie
Retired Library/Media Specialist
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Region & SIGS Corner

The multi assignment media specialists special interest group (MAMS) has been combined with the media administrators group (MAD).  The new group name is multi - assignment media specialists and administrators (MAMSA). The purpose of combining the two groups is to strengthen their presence, and support their common needs and interests. The change was approved by the MAME Board of Directors at their last meeting on September 14th. 
 
We have many openings for region reps. If you are interested please contact Gwenn Marchesano, VP Regions & SIGs, at  gmarchesano@mimame.org.
 
Thank you!
Gwenn Marchesano
VP Regions & SIGs  
  ______________________________________

 
Join MACUL SIGMS! 
SIGMS, MACUL's special interest group for school librarians and other educators interested in information literacy, technology and school libraries, has already had a banner inaugural year! Our preconference at the MACUL annual conference was one of the first and few precons to sell out.

 

Our membership just prior to the MACUL conference was over 200 and growing fast, making us one of the largest MACUL SIGs. Keep up the great work in recruiting members. Membership in MACUL and all SIGs is now free. MACUL members can join SIGMS at any time by visiting  http://membership.macul.org/account/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f.

 

SIGMS is also planning our first annual membership meeting for Thursday, March 21st, 5:15-6:00 pm, room O2-36 at Cobo Center in Detroit. Please plan on joining us to learn more about SIGMS, meet the SIGMS officers and other members, and help us plan for next year.

 

As MAME members, the new SIGMS officers look forward to collaborating between MACUL and MAME to strengthen the school library media community in Michigan, and we need the support of the MAME membership. Thanks to all of you who have helped get SIGMS off the ground! If you haven't already done so, please join SIGMS today, recruit other members, and join us in Detroit to support school libraries in Michigan,


Erik Drake, MACUL SIGMS Director

Cynthia Kleinheksel, MACUL SIGMS Assistant Director

Erica Trowbridge, MACUL SIGMS Communications Officer.  

Send Your News!

Tell us about your successes, your struggles, your amazing discoveries.
Email your newsletter editor,  Shannon Clark with stories that should be shared.

We'd love to hear from you!
Media Matters! Editors
Shannon Clark    mediamatters.mame@gmail.com 

 

Database Manager
Karen Becknell      mamedatab@gmail.com 
We need YOU!

Our annual conference is shaping up to be a great experience, and you can make it even better by volunteering. Share a couple hours of your time, and you'll have an opportunity to network and help make our conference run smoothly. There's no experience necessary--we need people to help at registration, author signings, stamping and more.
Fill out the form at this link http://bit.ly/mame40

You'll be notified of your assignment 1-2 weeks before the conference.

Thanks for pitching in-
Gwenn Marchesano
MAME 40 Volunteer Coordinator

Save the date ~ MAME 40 is Nov. 20 - 22
 
MAME's Annual Fall Conference (MAME 40) will be held this year at the Kalamazoo Radisson Plaza Hotel on November 20, 21, and 22.  The theme of the conference is "School Librarians @ the Core."  
Registration is now open and available on the
. 
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE = Oct. 26, 2013
SCECHs Available 
 
Hotel Information:
Radisson Plaza Hotel at Kalamazoo Center
100 West Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Guest room rate $129.00 - single/double (guaranteed through Oct. 30, 2013)
Call 1-269-343-333 and let them know you are with the MAME Conference.
Discounted self parking will be available for $5.00
 
If you have questions, please contact Conference Chair, Kathy Lester (kathyl@mimame.org) for more details!   
ATTENTION RETIREES
Retirees attending the MAME 40 conference this year are reminded to wear their official red shirts to conference, and if they need to order one to contact Teri Terry Belcher @ Teachonwheels@gmail.com or by phone @ 517-726-0144 (home) or 517-285-5604 (cell)
MAME Membership
MAME logo
IT'S TIME TO JOIN MAME OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP!  If you weren't able to attend the fabulous MAME 39 conference, we missed you!
But please don't allow your MAME membership to expire...stay connected to other school librarians across the state.
MAME needs your support now more than ever and YOU need the support provided by MAME through its advocacy on the state and national levels.
So please take a few minutes to
complete the online membership form at:
http://www.mimame.org/join-mame.html
You can pay for your membership by check or by using the PayPal option.  You do not need a PayPal account to use your credit card.  If you wish to add SIG membership(s), please read the instructions carefully and check your shopping cart before completing the form.

Karen Becknell
MAME Database Manager

MAME4Ever Membership
MAME logo 
Joining the retirees is very simple and quite obviously fun! 
 
When you retire, just pay your lifetime membership to MAME and you become a member of the elite group MAME4Ever. 

Why would you want to do that?
  • Attend the annual conference for FREE!
  • Get rid of your "library/school" stuff at our auction at the conference
  • Help support MAME
  • Start each school year with a fantastic get-a-way

Many of you may have lost your library or become overwhelmed in your position, but knowing you have this wonderful group of friends is such a blessing. We also go into libraries to volunteer with special projects, if a request is made.


Please contact Teri Belcher @ Teachonwheels@gmail.com or Annette Haley @ annettehaley@att.net if you have retired so you can be added to the group!
Upcoming Events
September 22-28, 2013
 
September 25, 2013
 
October 13-19, 2013
 
October 20-26, 2013 

National Friends of Libraries Week

 

November 20-22, 2013

MAME 40 
Kalamazoo Radisson Plaza
  • For Reservations: call 1-269-343-3333 b/w 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. and ask to receive the "conference rate for the Michigan Association for Media in Education 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!
 Send your newsletter contributions to
Shannon Clark @ 
Media Matters
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