Questar III School Library System
April 1 - 5, 2019
A Note from Kerrie
Looking ahead, we have posted the new position on OLAS (see the end of this newsletter for more information) and I would encourage anyone who might be interested in the position to apply. If you have questions, please let me know. For example, the start date says May 1st. While we want to have someone in the position as soon as possible, we understand the need/desire to finish out your school year and should be able to accommodate that easily. We won't find another Jane, but I am confident that we will find someone equally amazing and capable. Is it you?
Finally, I hope you know that you can contact me for anything. Jane did a great job training me to take on her responsibilities before she left so I should be able to handle whatever you need assistance with. I am never too busy to help you so please feel free to reach out anytime.
Thank you for all you do!
Kerrie
Member Plans Due April 12
Attached below is the 2018-2019 Member Plan that we are asking all schools to complete by Friday April 12, 2019. This is a New York State Education Department Requirement. The plan is based on the School Library Media Program Evaluation (SLMPE) Rubric found on the New York State Department of Education’s website at http://www.nysed.gov/school-library-services/nysed-school-library-media-program-evaluation-rubric. The SLMPE Rubric is a tool meant to help you identify the strengths and areas for improvement for the library program in your school, and to set goals for the future. This is not an evaluation of the librarian and should be seen instead as an opportunity to have a conversation about how to improve the library program in the school.
Instructions:
- Read through the rubric, placing an x in the box where the school library media program most closely fits.
- Write specific examples from your program in the yellow evidence box to support your placement of the x above.
- Meet with your administrator to have a conversation about the strengths and areas of improvement for the library program. It is a good idea to give a copy of the rubric to your administrator well ahead of your scheduled meeting so that they can complete the rubric as well. This makes for a much richer conversation about the program overall.
- Develop two to three goals for the year that you can work on to improve the library program. Feel free to use the attached action plan to guide this portion of the process. If you have a certain area in mind that you want to work on be sure to have ideas for a solution when you speak with your administrator.
- Once you have met with your administrator, and all administrators have signed the member plan, please scan the entire document and email it to Kerrie (kerrie.burch@questar.org). Please indicate the school name in the file name when emailing it (i.e. memberplan2018-2019schoolname.doc). It is okay if you need to send the signed sheet and the rubric as separate documents within the same email. Do not send paper copies of the rubric and/or signed first page.
Setting goals for the future is an important part of this reflective process. An action plan template has been included so you can use it to prioritize and create a few goals for the library program at your school. There is no need to return the action plan, but if you would like to discuss it please let me know. It also allows you to discuss any obstacles to achieving the goals you set forth and allow for a conversation around removing those obstacles.
There are several questions on the last page of the document. These questions are based on requests for information that we have received from administrators. No specific school or district names are ever shared. In fact, we remove that information when we complete our own analysis of the data. Any information that we share outside of the School Library System is used to advocate for you and your library program and is free of any identifiable information. We want you to feel secure knowing that all answers are completely confidential.
The School Library System staff uses the information you provide to gain an understanding of the school library programs across our region. This information allows us to develop programs and initiatives to help you – bringing in speakers, planning professional development, and advocating at the state level through the New York Library Association. No individual data is ever shared with the State Education Department or any other organization.
The member plan and action plan documents have been attached in Microsoft Word. This will allow you to save the plan to your computer, fill in the information, and then email it back with the scanned first page. Please use the member plan as an opportunity to have a conversation with your administrators. Let me know if you have any questions or would like to go through the rubric together.
**The rubric and action plan are attached below so you can download them to your computer**
Congratulations Tamarac Secondary!
Michelle Furlong's students at Tamarac Secondary won several awards at this year's Capital Region History Day competition at the State Museum!
Read about the student's projects here:
http://www.brunswickcsd.org/news/honors-10-students-excel-at-history-competition/
More information about the Capital Region History Day at the New York State Museum: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/historyday
Carol A. Kearney Educational Leadership Institute Scholarships
SSL 2019 Carol A. Kearney Educational Leadership Institute:
“Transform Learning with the Reimagined ESIFC”
Presented by:
- Dr. Barbara Stripling, Developer of original ESIFC
- Sara Kelly Johns, Michelle Miller, and Penny Sweeney, NYLA/SSL Past Presidents and AASL Implementation Team Members
August 7 – 8, 2019 at Syracuse University Sheraton, Syracuse, NY
**Institute begins August 7 at 1PM and ends August 8 at 3 PM**
The reimagined Empire State Information Fluency Continuum (ESIFC) will provide a comprehensive continuum of information fluency skills PK-12 and clear guidance for school librarians to integrate the teaching of essential information fluency and inquiry skills across all grade levels and throughout the curriculum. The skills of the ESIFC will align with the expectations of various national and NYS standards document, including NextGen science standards, New York’s Social Studies and ELA standards, and AASL and ISTE standards.
**All participants will receive 12 hours of NYSED approved CTLE Credit**
Please visit the NYLA/SSL website to download an application today. **There is only one application, but there are several scholarships that will be given out.
**You MUST be a NYLA/SSL member in order to apply.
SSL Scholarships for the 2019 Carol A. Kearney Leadership Institute:
There will be one scholarship awarded for the Carol A. Kearney Leadership Institute Scholarship. This scholarship is sponsored by SSL.
There will be one scholarship awarded for the Marcia Eggleston Empowering Leadership Scholarship. This scholarship is sponsored by Dawn Pressimone, SSL Awards Chair and Librarian at Wayne Central Elementary School in the Wayne Central School District.
There will be one scholarship awarded for the Mary Joan Egan Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is sponsored by the auction proceeds at the Leadership Institute.
There will be several scholarships awarded for the Leadership Institute Scholarship. These scholarships are sponsored by the auction proceeds at the Leadership Institute.
Please email all applications, narratives, and recommendations by the deadline of Monday, April 29, 2019 to SSL Awards Chair Dawn Pressimone atdpressimone@waynecsd.org. You can also contact her at 315-524-1135 with any questions.
SSL 2019 Carol A. Kearney Educational Leadership Institute Scholarships
Open application here and submit to Dawn Pressimone.
Deadline: Monday, April, 29, 2019
Additional information: Leadership Insitute Website
You MUST be able to attend the ENTIRE conference.
New Professional Journal Issues Available in Flipster!
Once you are logged in and you choose a journal, you will see that you have access not only to this month's journal, but to previous issues as well. There are two ways to access the journals:
1. Go to: http://bit.ly/ProJournals and log in using the information sent in the email. Using this method of viewing the journals will allow you to print articles.
2. Download the Flipster app at your favorite app store. Click on Get Started. Complete a search for Questar III BOCES. Choose Questar III BOCES and then enter in the username and password from the email that was sent. Articles are not able to be printed from the app.
Please email Kerrie with any questions.
Top Ten OverDrive Checkouts for March!
Summer PD Catalog
SSL Annual Conference 2019 - Register Soon!
May 30, 2019 through June 1, 2019
OnCenter, Syracuse, NY
Early Bird Registration Deadline: April 20, 2019
Advance Registration Deadline: May 20, 2019
Description
Join NYLA-SSL for the 2019 Annual Conference in Syracuse, NY, May 30 - June 1. Join us for the 2019 NYLA-SSL conference, a three day celebration of learning that brings together school librarians, teachers, technology specialists, and public libraries. For complete details click HERE
If you plan to attend, SLS can help with registration costs. Please review and complete this Conference Request Application: bit.ly/SLSconferenceapplication.
School Library System Specialist - Questar III BOCES
Job ID: QTBN0148313-7020
Job Description:
Questar III BOCES is looking for a full-time (12-month schedule) School Library Systems Specialist based out of our central office in Castleton, NY. This position is responsible for assisting school librarians and library staff within Rensselaer, Columbia and Greene counties. The incumbent works closely with school librarians to assist with database orders and to provide support related to system programs and services. The position conducts trainings on various topics and services; manages the library automation catalog patron and bibliographic records; maintains the system wide union catalog; actively participates in professional development; assists the Director with reporting requirements; and other duties as assigned.
Qualified candidates must have valid NYS Library Media Specialist certification. Preferred candidates will have minimum of three years of SLMS experience and knowledge of library trends; knowledge of automated information management systems; excellent communication, organizational and computer skills; knowledge of instructional methods, strategies, and pedagogy; knowledge of curriculum development processes and learning theories; and knowledge of national and state standards for information and technology literacy.
Questar III BOCES prefers an online application – please apply at www.olasjobs.org/capital. In addition to your on-line application, please scan and upload supporting documentation including resume, certification, and letters of reference.
For more information on Questar III, please visit www.questar.org
Application Deadline: 04/12/2019
Please contact Kerrie with any questions.
Administrative Coordinator: School Library Systems / Instructional Resources Center - HFM BOCES
Job ID: HFMN0149217-0056
Job Description:
HFM BOCES is accepting applications for a full-time 12-month Administrative Coordinator who will oversee the Instructional Resources Center and School Library Systems. This full-time, tenure-track position has an anticipated start date of August 5, 2019.
NYS teacher certification required in School Library / Media with a Master’s in Library Science. Must have a minimum of three years’ experience as a School Library Media Specialist and possess NYS certification as a School Administrator and Supervisor (SAS), School Building Leader (SBL), or School District Leader (SDL) at the time of appointment.
The successful candidate will be responsible for providing library coordination and services to member libraries following guidelines approved by the New York State Department of Education. The Administrative Coordinator is responsible for all aspects of the Instructional Resource Center including planning, program and personnel management, professional development, cooperative activities and fiscal management.
Additional responsibilities include:
- Maintaining a positive and constructive relationship between HFM BOCES and component districts,
- Updating and maintaining a union catalog in appropriate format,
- Continuous improvement of HFM BOCES loaning policies, procedures, and materials,
- Maintaining and enhancing collaboration, communications and level of service with other school library systems, the Capital District Library System and the State Education Department,
- Serving as a consultant / resource for component district librarians and library programs,
- Coordinating in-service activities to meet the needs of component districts’ librarians and library aides,
- Administering School Library System programs, which provide services to member libraries in 15 school districts as approved by the HFM BOCES Board of Education and the New York State Department of Education,
- Supporting and continue to enhance the development and maintenance of the HFM BOCES Media Library, including purchasing and professional development.
- Supervising the HFM BOCES Courier Service.
A letter of application, an updated resume´ and a copy of teaching and administrative certificate should be forwarded to Aaron Flynn, Human Resources Manager via OLAS no later than April 26, 2019.
Application Deadline: 04/26/2019
Questar III School Library System
Website: http://libguides.questar.org/SLS/Home
Location: 10 Empire State Boulevard, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY, USA
Phone: 518-479-6976
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QIIISLS
Twitter: @QIIISLS