Media Matters!       MAME logo     October 2013  
In this Issue
President's Column
Libraries & Youth
MAME 40 Early Bird Deadline
LMS Get Loud!
Collaboration!
ISTE 2014
App of the Month
4Ever MAME Scholarship
Cheers & Tears
Region & SIGs Corner
Volunteer!!
Save the Date MAME 40
Honoring Retirees
MAME Membership
4Ever MAME Membership
Upcoming Events
What's on Your Mind?
Media Matters Archives
President's Column

 

Fall conference is just around the corner. If you have not registered yet, the early bird deadline is October 26th (that's this Saturday!!). Click here to register now!  Also, thank you to the conference attendees who have already made reservations to stay at the Radisson. We have met our room night requirement already!

 

Once again, please make every effort to join us November 20-22 at the Kalamazoo Radisson for School Librarians at the Core. We have a wonderful slate of special guests, local authors, and fantastic educators who will be sharing their knowledge and experience with us.

 

See you in Kalamazoo!

 

Tom 

Tom Stream, MAME President  
School Libraries in the Spotlight! 
We have celebrities among us! Marshall Middle School and Swan Valley High School are the latest stars featured on The Bright Side, an online show dedicated to promoting positive stories about Michigan. Three separate clips feature the two library media programs in a variety of aspects which demonstrate the essential skills young people gain from library media program led by a certified library media specialist. 
Click the links below to watch our colleagues in action!
 
A short vignette highlighting the unique news program at Marshall Middle School with library media specialist Marsha Lambert and her new crew students. In addition to learning how to use media production technology, these middle school students are learning how to collaborate and communicate with their peers and adults. 
Across the state, teachers and Kay Wejrowski, library media specialist from Swan Valley High School share how the library is an integral part of their Freshmen Transition and MME/ACT prep courses. Each class requires use of the library and/or resources, namely MeL students learn how to access with the library media specialist. 
 
Once again, The Bright Side highlights the benefits young people gain from utilizing resources in the library media center. In this episode, we see Marsha Lambert talking about the importance of teaching students to identify accurate and relevant information and how to put information together in a meaningful, effective way.


Finally, The Bright Side takes a deeper look into MeL and all of its beloved resources. Teachers from Swan Valley use MeL databases to access Learning Express Library with their MME/ACT prep students. Kay and the teachers saw improvements with all students who utilized the test prep tools of Learning Express Library.
Don't Miss the Early Bird Discounts!
Register by Sat., Oct. 26, 2013 to enjoy the benefits of MAME at a discount!
 
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!!
LMS Get Loud! 
Outreach to Parents
November is typically a time for Parent-Teacher conferences. This is a great time to reach out to parents to let them know about the important services that you provide for their students. Some ideas for outreach to parents during Parent-Teacher conferences include:
  • Hold a signing for "The Declaration for the Right to Libraries" during Parent-Teacher Conferences 
  • You may want to also have some information about the importance of School Libraries at or near your signing tables -- the AASL Infographic found here would be a great item to display or give to parents
  • Have a PowerPoint "running" which highlights the library (See an example which you can modify at this page: Parent resources - click the ppt file "A Short Introduction to Our School Library")
  • Have a brochure with a list of services that you provide for students for parents
  • Have a brochure of online library resources that students (and parents) can access at home
It is important to have ongoing outreach to parents.
  • Start a blog about the activities in the library and share it with parents. Here is a great article about parent outreach: An article on blogging for the school library from the LMS program at Pratt Institute in New York.
  • Include information about the School Library in the school newsletters
  • Attend Parent Teacher Organization Meetings
  • Invite parents to volunteer in the library throughout the year
  • Start a "Friends of the Library" parent group
     - click here for an example
Get some ideas about Parent Advocates from the AASL Parent Advocate Toolkit:

If you have some ideas about advocating with parents, please share them on the MAME Listserv or
email Kathy Lester at [email protected].
A Collaborative Success 
"The Connected Educator Series brings the ideas and practices of exceptional technology using Michigan educators right to teachers and administrators in an easy to access, easy to use, cost effective manner."  
 
 "Working together educators can make history relevant and meaningful for their students. See how Lakeview High School librarian, Gigi Lincoln, and history teacher, Scott Durham, collaborated to create amazing learning experiences centered around the Holocaust that made a lasting impact on students and the community." Click the title above for a direct to the video. 
 

Visit the Connected Educator Series website for more resources and videos. 

ISTE 2014
ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education, offers an outstanding conference each year for library media specialists, teachers, administrators, and technology coordinators. The conference demonstrates the latest technology in education, while providing an opportunity for educators to collaborate. ISTE has been a leading association in the world educational technology for more than 30 years and has continued to offer engaging experiences at each conference. 
 
This year, educators of all grade levels will gather in Atlanta, Georgia for ISTE 2014. Why should you consider attending?
  • "Four full days brimming with robust, inspirational professional learning opportunities that will help you build the skills to support digital age learning
  • Unlimited networking opportunities with nearly 18,000 educators, education leaders and corporate representatives from around the globe
  • Three powerful keynote addresses from ed tech leaders and experts
  • The opportunity to choose from hundreds of sessions in a variety of formats, including lectures, BYODs and hands-on learning environments
  • Access to a massive expo hall featuring the latest ed tech products and services from more than 500 companies and 1,400 industry reps
  • One-year standard membership to ISTE"

Don't wait, register today! Early bird housing opens Nov. 7, 2013.

For full conference details and registration click the link below.

ISTE 2014 

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

[email protected] 

Any app will be considered whether it is for productivity, utility, or fun. 

Remind101 

Free

Android and iOS 

 

A free, easy, safe way for teachers to text students and parents of upcoming events, deadlines, reminders, etc. Remind101 is a one way communication system for teachers to stay in touch with their students. Best of all, it's safe and phone numbers are not shared. 

 

Communicate with your students in a way they understand! To learn more and get started visit remind101.com

4Ever MAME 

MAME 4Evers will again be offering one or two scholarships to the conference!  For information and an application, contact Teri Belcher at [email protected].  Open to MAME members.

 

Watch for our bright Red Shirts at the Conference! We are your retirees, working to support members, the organization, and advocate for our profession.  Our Garage Sale booth in exhibits provides funding for our conference scholarships (both winter and fall!).  Our drawing of handmade items "From Our Hands to Yours" will feature beautiful retiree-crafted items from quilts, garden art, knitted cowls and scarves, jams and more! You don't want to go home without a goodie from our heart to yours!  Tickets will remain at $5 each or 5 for $20.  Red Shirts will be selling tickets at the display in Exhibits - come on over and check us out!  Proceeds immediately go right into the MAME treasury, for you!

 

If you have just retired or have retired awhile ago and are just now getting that bunch of boxes cleaned out, please considerdonating the whole lot to the MAME 4Ever garage sale booth! Just drop it all off at conference at exhibits on Wednesday or earlyThursday (in bags, boxes or crates) and we will sell it to our new and fellow professionals.  EVERYTHING is welcome from books, tee shirts, bags, posters or processing items.  Do not make your past a part of a landfill--instead, recycle it back to your fellow professionals.

 

The Red Shirted MAME 4Evers will be meeting in KaZoo during the scheduled SIG meeting times at Old Burdick's Bar in the Radisson! We will nosh and quaff, take our annual 4Ever photo, plan our calendar of helping members at their school libraries, and sign up folks for our annual trip to a Michigan Beach - this year our September trip will be on the sunrise side to Tawas.  If you missed the networking, glorious sunsets, sharing meals, gabbing 'til all hours and sightseeing in Frankfort from our marvelous condos on the beach this year, do not miss out on our fabulous gathering September, 2014! Lots of fun is planned with time for you to meander the area, hike, or count grains of sand with a cocktail/pop in hand.  Join us! And if you decide to retire next spring, contact us and we will book a room for you!  Newbies are always welcome! 

 

co-chairs:
Annette Haley @ [email protected]   
Cheers & Tears
CHEERS ~ A huge WELCOME & THANK YOU to Peg Baker and Becky Buck! These two ladies our the new Region 7 representatives!
 
CHEERS ~ It was a great start to this school year at Allen Park Middle School.  Carey Kelly, Library Media Specialist and her principal, Mr. Michael Dawson worked closely over the summer to be able to 'surprise' their staff on the first day back to school.  Each staff member received a brand new Google Chrome book during their first day.  The goal is to support staff and students as the entire district went wireless this school year.  Every staff member has embraced their new wireless device and are working collaboratively to implement digital lessons and lead students into the 21st century." 
 
Sadly, Beverly Rannow was reassigned to the classroom at Otsego Middle School. Although those lucky science students have an excellent teacher, the library and all the students of OMS are missing an outstanding library media specialist. MAME members send our best wishes that this be a temporary reassignment.
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  [email protected].
 
Thank you!
Gwenn Marchesano
VP Regions & SIGs
 
  ______________________________________

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MACUL SIGMS! 

 

 Greetings from MACUL SIGMS! We recently celebrated our first anniversary, and what a successful year it has been. Our membership reached 277 over the summer, and we continue to grow. If you haven't done so already, please take a few minutes to join MACUL and SIGMS. It's easy and free! Just visit macul.org/membership. If you are already a member, thank you! Please encourage your colleagues to join, too. The more members we have, the more resources we have to provide learning opportunities and advocacy for Michigan's school library community.


We've partnered with MACUL and MAME over the past year to provide some exciting professional
development opportunities for school librarians and their supporters and will continue to expand those opportunities this year. We'll have a strong presence at the MAME Annual Conference with our sponsorship of Erica Trowbridge's session on Interactive Fiction on Thursday, November 21 at 10:30 am.  If you want to learn more about SIGMS, join us for a roundtable presentation on Friday, November 22 from 12:30-1:30 pm. We hope you can join us in Kalamazoo.

At the MACUL Annual Conference, March 12-14, 2014 in Grand Rapids, SIGMS will host as many as three
preconference sessions on Wednesday and our annual membership meeting on Thursday. Our first preconference session last year in Detroit sold out quickly and was a huge success. You won't want to miss these. Be sure to put MACUL on your calendar and register early. 

We will continue to partner with MAME on events like Summer Institute and other events throughout
the year. Please join us today to help us continue to provide high-quality services to Michigan's school library community. 

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    [email protected] 

 

Database Manager
Karen Becknell      [email protected] 
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 ([email protected]) for more details!   
Attention MAME Retirees!
Retirees attending the MAME 40 conference this year are reminded to wear their official red shirts to the conference. If you need to order one please contact Teri Terry Belcher @ [email protected] or by phone @ 517-726-0144 (home) or 517-285-5604 (cell)
 
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 ([email protected]) 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.
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 @ [email protected] or Annette Haley @ [email protected] if you have retired so you can be added to the group!

Upcoming Events
October 13-19, 2013
 
October 20-26, 2013 
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.
  • MAME rate guaranteed through Oct. 30, 2013
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
Archives
 Looking for a previous issue of the MAME Media Matters newsletter?

You can find the

archives at the MAME Website Publications Page