Bookmark
March 2018
President's Message
Dear Members-
By the time you receive this March Bookmark, I hope spring will be in the air and everyone will have fully recovered from the March Nor’Easters that reminded us that March truly comes in like a lion. I was lucky to only lose power overnight, but I have to admit that it was a bit unnerving to be unplugged and without Internet access. I was grateful that I work in a library and that I grabbed Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On on my way out into the storm. It has only been on my list of books to read for the last two years. So many books, so little time.
Despite the rocky start to March it is a great month to be a librarian. I hope everyone enjoyed their Read Across America celebrations. At Cherokee High School, we hosted 500+ first graders from our sending district, Evesham township. Our high school students worked with our “future Cherokee Chiefs” and shared their love of reading. It was a great community builder and an opportunity to let our high school students shine. I hope when the first graders arrive at Cherokee in 8 years that they will have memories of their visit and the reading pledge they swore to uphold. I know we are often pulled in a million directions, creating makerspaces, STEM support, teaching technology, gifted and talented program support to name but a few. But our observance of Dr Seuss’s birthday is reminder that the number one guiding principle of NJASL is that “Reading is essential for personal and academic success”. I hope that our “future Cherokee chiefs” were inspired by our high school students and reading will be an essential part of their life.
I know that the snow of March 2nd kept some of you away from attending Team EdCamp 2018 and our Spring meeting on March 3rd. It was an inspiring day of professional development and I am always impressed by the variety of skills and ideas that NJASL members can bring to the table. Thank you to the committee for working so hard to make the day so rewarding. Special thanks to South Brunswick School district for hosting and their participation. They are a true example of how teamwork and collaboration can make education great.
Spring also means that it is time to elect next year’s NJASL Board. Thank you to the nomination committee, headed by Leslie Blatt, for leading the charge to put together this year’s talented slate of nominees. Shortly, you will be receiving an eblast from NJASL with a Google form to cast your vote. Please take a minute to participate and be part of the process. The voting will end of April 14th and we will send eblast to welcome the new board members.
I hope everyone enjoys their spring breaks from school and your week is filled with time to relax and read.
Happy reading,
Lisa Bakanas
NJASL President
Vote Now!
NJASL members,
We would like to welcome you to the 2018 - 2019 voting opportunity for all NJASL members. We are selecting qualified professionals for the following positions:
- Vice President
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Member-at-Large
- AASL Representative
- ISTE Liaison
Voting continues until the 14th of April 2018. The form allows you to vote one (1) time per your NJASL email address, so make sure that you completely finish with your selections and click on submit. We thank you for your support of our organization. Your participation is both needed and appreciated.
Please log in to NJASL's website Members Only - Slate of Nominees page, view the slate and their bios, and click on the link at the bottom to vote.
Leslie Blatt
Nominations Chairperson
Professional Practice & Development
Registration now Open!
Check out the image included and you can visit the website for more information!
Team Edcamp 2018
NJASL, in conjunction with Rutgers School of Communication and Information and South Brunswick Public Schools, held its third annual Spring Meeting/Unconference on Saturday March 3, 2018. Despite a Nor’Easter hitting the area the day before, over 100 people attended to discuss all things literacy. Based on the feedback from last year’s event this Edcamp was a hybrid with formal presentations as well as dialogue-based sessions that were decided upon by participants the day of. Joanne Kerekes, former South Brunswick teacher and administrator, kicked off the event with a keynote subtitled “How to Create an ‘Everyone Culture of Literacy’.” Response to the day was overwhelmingly positive.
A big thank you to all of the sponsors and vendors who provided raffle prizes, especially Follett and LibraryLinkNJ. Their generous funding enabled everyone to enjoy a delicious breakfast and lunch. We will start planning next year’s event soon; if you are interested in helping please email the NJASL Members-at-Large, Kim Zito and Beth Thomas: membersatlarge@njasl.org
NJASL Legislative Consultant
- Mary Moyer Stubbs
Net Neutrality and NJ
Governor Murphy has signed an executive order that ensures all internet traffic will be treated equally by ISPs and providers that want do business with the state. Any ISP or telecommunications provider that wants to contract with the state will now have to adhere to the principles of net neutrality — the idea that all internet traffic should be treated equally.
Article: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/18/02/05/murphy-makes-net-neutrality-the-order-of-the-day/
Net Neutrality and NJ Assembly Bills
On Monday, March 12, The New Jersey Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee issued three measures to require internet service providers operating in the state to continue Net Neutrality.
Patricia Tumulty, executive director of the New Jersey Library Association, said maintaining net neutrality is crucial so that people without access to high-speed internet can continue to get information at public libraries.
These bills were passed out of committee and sent to the full Assembly. Although, there has been opposition from companies such as Verizon, Comcast, and AT&T. One issue, these companies are claiming that the law might be unconstitutional because states do not have the right to regulate the internet.
The three bills are:
- A-2131, which would direct the Board of Public Utilities to prohibit an ISP from installing broadband telecommunications infrastructure on any pole or post located on or over any highway or any right of way, or on any underground facility, belonging to a public utility or cable television company, unless the ISP adheres to net neutrality principles.
- A-2132, which would provide the awarding of any public contract to ISPs that do not follow net neutrality.
- A-2139, which would require a cable television company to commit to the principle of net neutrality for all internet customers as a condition of approval of a BPU application for certain services.
Read the Full Article.
Net Neutrality Update - Federal News
The FCC has officially published the Net Neutrality repeal. Senate response: Democrats have introduced a resolution to reverse Net Neutrality repeal (February 2018). Currently, one vote short of 51 votes needed to ensure passage in the Senate. In the House, the measure has 150 sponsors. However, this is probably not likely to be reversed. This issue may become a 2018 campaign issue.
- Article: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/27/democrats-fcc-reverse-net-neutrality-426641
- ALA response: http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/02/new-ala-statement-affirms-net-neutrality-essential-intellectual-freedom
- NJ Senator Cory Booker and his videos on Net Neutrality:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv3MOEjRMss
- https://www.facebook.com/corybooker/videos/10157039803142228/
Library Funding
The White House budget proposal for FY2019 recommends the elimination of most federal library funding. However, Congress has the final say over the budget.
Two Dear Appropriator letters are circulating in support of federal library funding for both the Library Services and Technology Act and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program. Library advocates need to contact their representatives this week and ask them to sign both letters by the March 19 deadline.
The more signatures received on these Dear Appropriator letters, the better proof of wide, bipartisan backing for federal library funding. For many members of Congress (especially those not on the Appropriations Committee), signing these letters is the best opportunity to show their unequivocal support for our nation’s libraries. To ask your Representative to support the LSTA and IAL funding, check out the ALA legislative center, https://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/write-a-letter?2&engagementId=445994.
Good news, both NJ Senators, Cory Booker and Bob Menendez have signed the Senate versions of these letters.
Article: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/next-steps-fund-libraries/
PARCC Update
Acting Commissioner Repollet has issued a memo indicating that the DOE will be transitioning to another assessment system. PARCC will be administered by school districts this year but the DOE plans an advisory committee as well as a listening tour to determine alternatives to PARCC. The federal, ESSA requires some type of assessment, but changes are coming.
Future Ready Schools Update
Many thanks to those who volunteered to participate on the FRS-NJ committees to assist with developing indicators for school participation. The latest edition of the indicators are available and there is evidence of school librarians and school library resources. Please consider getting involved with your local school district committee if they are planning to participate in the certification process for Future Ready. This is a great opportunity to be included and showcase the value of your school library.
Leadership Theme - School librarians or library resources were found in indicators in the following categories:
- Student Access to Technology Beyond the School Day
- Professional Learning Readiness for Staff
- Community Joint Activity Planning
Education/Classroom Practice Theme - School librarians or library resources were found in the indicators in the following categories:
- Digital Citizenship
- Digital Learning Tools/Content
- Student Driven/Self Directed Learning
- PLN - NJASL Conference was listed as an example
Check out the March FRS-NJ newsletter as well as the full list of indicators.
- March Future Ready Newsletter: http://www.frsnj.org/newsletter
- Future Ready Schools Indicators: http://www.frsnj.org/indicators
2017-2018 NJASL Advocacy Challenge
It’s been so exciting to read the tweets and Facebook posts about the great things that school library media specialists are doing with their staff and with their students. Please continue to post on the 1st Friday of every month.
The next NJASL Advocacy Challenges are Friday, April 6 and May 4.
Let’s get #NJASLAdvocacy trending!
Use whatever tool works best for you and your school library (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Newsletter, Webpage). Please remember to tag @NJASL and use hashtags #NJASLAdvocacy and #njasl.
Click on link for details.
Social Media Bots
What are bots? Automatic software program that perform repetitive tasks to gather data from the internet. What are social media bots? They collect information by crawling internet for specific keywords and hashtags and sharing them on Facebook and Twitter. Some appear to have human characteristics. One of the biggest problems with social bots is the spreading of misinformation.
Tips for Students:
Be skeptical - check sources, verify story - Snopes and PolitFact
Do not accept friend requests without a profile picture or misspelled words or other obvious problems - low numbers of friends, etc.
Report bots
Check number of followers for new friends - large #s overnight - bots are probably involved.
Read before sharing!!!!!! - #1 - story is more than the headline
Article: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/03/01/social-media-bots/
School Library Budget Advisory
Will your school district’s budget adequately fund your school library?
Voter approval is no longer required for school budgets at or below the state’s 2% spending cap levy. Under the state’s school budget cap law, only districts whose proposed budget exceeds the 2% spending cap are required to get voter approval.
How does the law impact the school library program?
Past experience shows that in an effort to balance their budgets and stay within state’s spending cap, school districts sometimes cut funding to non-classroom programs including the school library program and staff.
Many SLMS will meet with their school principal or other administrator to draft a budget for the library program. This is an ideal time to advocate for funding for a strong school library program staffed by certified SLMS.
All SLMS should take the initiative to inform school administrators in their district about the valuable contributions they make to the instructional program and student success. Key to making your case is having up-to-date information about:
What a good school library program looks like; and
The role of a good school library program in educating students
Information that may be helpful:
Funding Questions for State Lawmakers
Governor’s Budget School Funding 2018
Highlights (Education) of Governor Murphy’s Proposed Budget:
1. Funding Schools Through SFRA (School Funding Reform Act) Formula
Increasing investment in public-school classrooms and putting NJ on a path to fully funding both Supreme Court-approved funding formula and universal pre-K within four years.
$283 million increase in aid to public schools — to more than $9.6 billion — biggest bump in almost a decade. All but 30 districts will see an increase in aid, albeit some rather nominal - median is close to 5 percent, unlike under former Governor Christie, where school funding was flat. Find your school’s state aid figures.
First installment on Murphy’s pledge to fully fund the state’s School Finance Reform Act (SFRA) formula within four years. Adjustment aid was included to deal with districts that have been overfunding according to the SFRA. There does not seem to be anyway to determine how the specific funding numbers were calculated.
2. Expanding Pre-K Education
$57 million for public preschool
First additional funding for pre-K in 10 years
3. Expanding STEM Education
4. Providing additional funds for public-employee pension system
Receive $3.2 billion infusion of cash, up from the $2.5 billion set aside in Christie’s final budget
5. Creating three-year plan for tuition-free community college
Including new high school graduates and adults returning to the classroom.
$50 million for community-college tuition assistance
Funding revenues - Murphy’s budget has proposed a series of tax hikes to support spending
millionaires tax on individuals
a restoration of the 7-percent sales tax
Taxes on “sharing-economy” services like Uber and Airbnb
legalize and tax the sale of recreational marijuana during the 2019 fiscal year.
Property tax relief
allow homeowners to write off up to $15,000 in local property taxes from their state income taxes; the deduction is currently capped at $10,000
For Further Reading Articles:
Budget Address Budget Details Budget Highlights - Education
State Aid Article School District State Aid Figures
NJEA response to budget AFT-NJ response to budget Budget highlights - Health care
Check out the below materials newly added to the AASL Standards portal!
NJASL Affiliate News
Burlington County Association of School Librarians Meeting
Make sure you follow all BCASL social media pages and our website for up to date information!
Thursday, Apr 19, 2018, 04:00 PM
Pemberton Township High School, Arneys Mount Road, Pemberton, NJ, USA
Nerd Camp NJ
Saturday, Apr 21, 2018, 08:00 AM
Chatham High School, Lafayette Avenue, Chatham Township, NJ, United States
Morris County School Media Association
Thursday, May 17, 2018, 04:00 PM
Randolph High School, Millbrook Avenue, Randolph, NJ, USA
THANK YOU! Looking for submissions...
Don't forget that we are always looking for entries from ALL membership. I will also be adding a Future Ready Librarian section moving forward to show off how we all already are "Future Ready". Please share articles with me at the bookmark@njasl.org email address. You can check out the Future Ready Indicators to inspire you!
NJASL
Email: bookmark@njasl.org
Website: njasl.org
Location: LibraryLinkNJ, Stelton Road, Piscataway Township, NJ, United States
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NJASL/
Twitter: @njasl