Library Services Newsletter
February, 2019 Teacher Librarian Edition
Weeding: The Fountain of Youth for Your Library Collection
Weeding is like an instant facelift for your library collection-- it frees up shelf space for new books, increases circulation, and ensures your library resources are up-to-date, free of cultural biases, and appealing to your students. For example, check out these Before and After photos from Godsman’s January weed: the collection average age improved three years, the percentage of aged titles improved by 13 percentage points, and their January circulation increased 192%! We see this same trend over and over in every library that undergoes a full collection weed.
We recognize that weeding your own collection is challenging on many levels-- lack of time, uncertainty about which books to deselect from the collection, and the emotional difficulty of saying goodbye to books of any age or condition. Our Collection Development team has been hard at work creating resources to make this process as painless and efficient as possible:
DPS Library Services’ Weeding Guidance
Standards for DPS School Library Print Collections
Weeding 101 (also available via Schoology: Access Code K2MRC-6KRG4)
Weeding Brochure for School Staff: Why is weeding so important?
Have questions or need support around weeding? Contact Suzi Tonini at suzanne_tonini@dpsk12.org
YouthBiz and Denver Public Library Presents: Startup - Think, Speak, and Act like an Entrepreneur Spring Break Camp
YouthBiz and the Denver Public Library have collaborated to bring an entrepreneurial-focused spring break program to the Library.
"Think, Speak, and Act like an Entrepreneur" camps will be held at our Woodbury and Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library branches from March 26-29.
Instructors will provide 10-hours of engaging curriculum and activities and students will learn entrepreneurial skills for 21st-century learners including; critical thinking and reasoning, information literacy, collaboration, self-direction, and invention.
On the final day of the camp, participants will take part in a Business Pitch Competition. The winning team will receive a cash prize. Light refreshments provided. Registration required. Ideal for ages 11-14.
Follett Lightbox eBooks
DId you know that EVERY elementary school in Denver Public Schools owns 10-11 Follett interactive eBooks? These were selected by DPS Teacher Librarians and include supplemental content for 3rd-5th science and social studies. The Lightbox titles (these will be shown in a ribbon in your "Destiny Discover" interface) have amazing video, google maps and more. The amazing thing about these eBooks are EVERY SINGLE STUDENT in your school could access one copy at the same time! That makes it easy to use them in a class setting or for student research.
If you are interested in purchasing additional Lightbox books from Follett, the version you purchase will determine the level of access to digital content for your students. Find out more here.
Here is a supporting document for accessing Follett eBooks in your Destiny system.
Please contact the library helpdesk if you are interested in someone coming to help familiarize you with these or someone that can co-teach these with you with your students. libraryhelpdesk@dpsk12.org
Library Spotlight
This month we are turning the spotlight on Marilyn Jones, teacher librarian at South High School. Marilyn has been with Denver Public Schools for 19 years! For the past 2 years, she has been at South High School passionately revitalizing and transforming two libraries into dynamic learning spaces where students and staff love to be. As a teacher librarian in an extremely large and diverse high school she is busy helping students prepare for a successful future, and she is working hard to give students skills that will enrich their lives long after they graduate.
Marilyn started her career as a librarian in 1985 as a Children’s/Young Adult Librarian in a branch of the Chicago Public Library. Shortly after moving to Denver in 1998, she had the opportunity to be the teacher librarian at Ebert (before it was Polaris) where the first student she met told her that she loved the “silver lines” in her hair. (Marilyn said that after hearing that comment - and because she perpetually feels 29 years old - she started dying her hair!) Marilyn spent 12 years at Grant Ranch K-8 and moved to South High School in 2016.
Marilyn loves that South High students love the library! South actually has two libraries on separate floors - Library 200 and Library 300. Both libraries are constantly in use and both libraries host advisement classes on Thursdays. During a recent advisement class, she overheard several students commenting on how much they love to come to the library – her heart just sang! (She admitted that she did a happy dance – she said it was not a thing of beauty but the kids know her well so they were prepared to avert their eyes.) When Marilyn does hall duty outside of the library during passing periods, she is always amazed at the number of students who stop to talk or just say “hi”. Yes, Marilyn knows she is biased when she says, “Sorry to all the other schools in DPS, but South High students rule!” See photos below of both South High libraries.
Marilyn has worked hard to make the library the true heart of South High School. The library is full every period with students who have a free period and come to study, do research, or work on a project. Teachers also use the library during their planning period and guest teachers use the library when they do not have an assigned class. The library is always buzzing with activity! Marilyn is incredibly proud of the effort that she has led over the past 2 years to make both libraries physically inviting and appealing spaces. The libraries and the storage areas were dark and disorganized when she arrived, but now are bright, welcoming and attractive. It was A LOT of work, but the results are simply amazing! Student Art projects are displayed in both libraries and the students from the AP Physics class display their roller coasters in Library 200. She brings fun into the library by hosting an Anime Club where students can create origami figures. Marilyn promoted Banned Books Week by displaying posters around the school that showed books that have been banned with a challenge to students to go to the library to find out the reason why the books were banned. These posters were real attention-getters and motivated many students to visit the library who may not otherwise have done so.
Marilyn is fully engaged in getting students excited about reading and supporting issues important and relevant to them. She does book talks for all the freshman English classes at the beginning of the school year; she changes book displays monthly promoting a specific issue or event (i.e. November – Indigenous Peoples books, October – Gay Awareness books, December – holiday celebrations from around the world); she asks students to share their opinions about books they read; and she models reading while on her lunch break. She also displays notices and posters around the school promoting the services of the library that have really piqued interest among students. Both libraries host tutoring sessions, as well as visits from visiting dignitaries who meet with South students. Malala Yousafzai conducted a session in Library 300 with some of South’s Newcomer students in 2016 – that is truly one of the highlights of Marilyn’s career as a librarian.
Marilyn is truly involved in supporting her school community and building strong relationships with students and staff. Marilyn is the sponsor of the Model United Nations program at South and she is so proud of the incredible students who make up the group. Model UN is an academic activity in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. It involves teaching students speaking, debating, and writing skills – also critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership abilities. The Special Education teachers have worked with Marilyn to provide student volunteers when she has extra projects that require additional help, which gives the students real-life work experience. South High School participates in the Chipotle Reading Rewards program, in which a student receives a BOGO coupon for a Chipotle item (yummy food) when they read a book and give a short oral book report. Marilyn said that this rewards program is very popular with students (and she wonders why – hmm?) Sadie May, one of South’s fantastic Grade 9 English teachers, has started a book club unit in her class and Marilyn is super excited to collaborate with her on that project. Students chose interesting titles to read – to name just a few: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, and The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. (Wow – what a selection!) Book discussions will start after break and Marilyn is eager to see how it all plays out.
The ongoing goal for the South library is to offer materials that her school community, including families, want to read or use for learning purposes. Marilyn keeps suggestion slips available on the library desk for anyone to fill out with a book request and she tries her hardest to obtain the book, if possible. She wants a collection that reflects the lives and experiences of the members of the South High community. Marilyn says she is constantly soliciting the faculty for their book suggestions - another way she demonstrates that she cares about what is important to them.
Marilyn is dedicated to providing her students with a diverse, appealing, and effective high school collection. Some ongoing collection areas that she wants to build are poetry, fiction written in world languages that her students read and speak, and up-to-date non-fiction books about countries. Marilyn applied for and received a boost grant for her school – congratulations Marilyn! The funds were used to purchase books that appeal to the South High newcomer students and students with special needs. Marilyn makes it a point to be supportive of her diverse population. She said that every day in the South library is like a multicultural celebration - which is one of the reasons that she loves her job so much. See photo below of poster where students and staff have the opportunity to share what they are reading.
Marilyn’s words of inspiration are “never stop reading or spreading the joy and love of reading.” Marilyn believes that books are the escape from whatever may be happening in the world, which is a priceless gift. To quote Marilyn, “Every person has a story and it’s important to listen to what he/she has to say.” Working with the student population at South has opened up a new world for Marilyn and made her so much more grateful to be in a position where she can be a mentor or friend to a student in need. With all her heart, Marilyn believes that she works in the best library in DPS!
We celebrate Marilyn Jones for PUTTING KIDS FIRST in the South High School Library!
Reading Program Resources!
Makerspace Hub...new kits!
Ozobot Bit Classrom Kit
Ozobot Bit is the perfect little robot to start learning coding. Bit doesn't require any device to work, just markers and paper! Then students can progress to OzoBlockly that allows you to drag and drop blocks to code. This kit contains 18 Ozobot Bits along with markers, bowling pin activity and pins, and more!
Recommended Ages: 6 years old and up/Grades 1 and up
Ozobot Evo
Ozobot Evo is the slightly more grown up version of the Bit. This robot has proximity sensors, Bluetooth capabilities, sounds, a drive mode, and connects to an app. This little bot is for older students who are ready to go more in depth with coding. This kit contains 12 Ozobot Evos along with markers, Driver's Education Activity, and more!
Recommended Ages: 10 years old and up/Grades 5 and up
71-inch Keyboard Playmat
Students can compose and record music using their hands or feet on this oversized 71-inch electronic keyboard mat. Features:
8 musical instrument selections- Piano, Saxophone, Violin, Clarinet, Trumpet, Banjo, Xylophone, and Guitar, with adjustable volume.
Recommended Ages: 3 + / Pre-K +
Library Services
Email: libraryhelpdesk@dpsk12.org
Website: http://etls.dpsk12.org/library_services
Location: 1617 S Acoma St, Denver, CO, United States
Phone: 720-423-1842