Media Tech Newsletter
May 1st, 2015
Announcements
Retirements!
Jackie Sauers: I've worked at the district for 27 years all at Woodglen in the library. I've seen more than enough changes. I started out writing everything, to the start of computer use, to where we are now. I'm too old to take anymore changes. Before I started working I volunteered in Woodglen's library while my children went to school here. I have enjoyed my time at Woodglen. I have a second family here. I will miss all the staff. I will especially miss the students. I have the children of my former students. It has been wonderful working with all the librarian's, media technicians (as we are called now) and all the other supporting staff at the ESC.
Cindy Yoder: I have worked in the district for 28 years 23 of those have been in the Library. All my time working for District 12 has been at Thornton Elementary. What I would like to say is that District 12 has the most wonderful Media Technicians who were always willing to give suggestions, loan books and offer help whenever I asked. I have also been fortunate to work with great teacher librarians who have always been patient with me as I kept up with all the new technology changes that came along. I am looking forward to retirement but will miss this job and all the smiling faces that enter the library everyday and make me smile too.
Powerknowledge Science Suite ordering
Powerknowledge Science Suite is an elementary, grades 3-6 database aligned to Science Standards, and specifically Next Gen. Mackin is offering our district discounted pricing for Rosen’s Powerknowledge Science Suite. This includes 3 databases: Life Science, Physical Science and Earth & Space Science. One-year subscriptions begin on 6/1/2015 so we can take advantage of group pricing.
$755.25 price is for schools with 500 students or less
$945.25 price is for schools with 501-1000 students
Let Bobbi at Mackin know if you are interested in a trial or purchasing this and she will get you set up! bobbi.craig@mackin.com If you have already received a renewal invoice from Mackin, just give the quote to your financial secretary to order, and they’ll renew your subscription as of 6/1/2015. Call with questions. 720.340.6893
Database Stipend Status 2015-16
I am writing to share information about a modification in the Instructional Technology and Library Services budget that will be implemented next year.
Based on my recommendation, beginning fall 2015 the World Book Online subscription will be paid by the Instructional Technology and Library Services department. We have reached the point in our digital literacy curriculum integration where we need a common digital database so that common instructional supports and resource links can be included in the units of study.
Over the past four years we have had many conversations about the World Book Online subscription and how it should be funded; ITLS funding will ensure that it is a constant component of our digital literacy instruction. We feel strongly that this online encyclopedia offers the best spectrum of resources and tools.
In the past, the ITLS department has offered a stipend to all buildings so that a database of choice can be purchased. In order to absorb the subscription to World Book Online, which is more than $28,000 annually, the ITLS budget no longer has $11,500 set aside for building-level database choice stipends. This means that each elementary school will not receive $206, each middle school will not receive $270, and each high school will not receive $335 to supplement the purchase of a database.
The World Book Online usage statistics show that you have done an excellent job of championing the World Book Online tools to your communities. We know that the online tool is used in our schools and throughout our community, and we look forward to being able to ensure its continued availability as it becomes closely tied to our units of study.
If you have questions or concerns about this decision, please feel free to contact me. - Julie
Using ETS
Destiny Tips
Destiny and the Chrome Browser
Destiny tech support is recommending that if you are using Google Chrome and experiencing any circulation or scanning issues that you disable the Autofill feature.
To do this:
Customize and control Google Chrome button (on far right, top - three horizontal lines)
Settings
Scroll down - Show Advanced Settings
Scroll down - under Passwords and forms - un-check the box next to Enable Autofill to fill out web forms in a single click
You may also have issues in the Chrome Browser with seeing student photos. Switch to Internet Explorer or Firefox and this should resolve the problem.
Fixed Dates vs. Ceiling Dates
Fixed Date
You can create due dates that have a specific date (fixed date) that vary by circulation type and patron type. You can set this up by patron type and/or circulation type. You set this up in Back Office/Library Policies/ Patron Type tabs and Circulation type tabs.
For example, you have a piece of equipment that can be checked out to teachers for the year. The circulation type for this piece of equipment is AV-EQUIP. In Back Office/Library Policies/ Patron Type tab, you set the loan period for the circulation type of AV-EQUIP for the faculty patron type to “Fixed”. Then you set the due date in the “Fixed date field” for the faculty patron type, for example “May 15th”. Whenever AV-EQUIP items are checked out to faculty, they will have a due date of May 15th.
Ceiling Date
A ceiling date is the date you want all the items to be due back to the library. Ceiling dates will override Fixed Dates and other due dates. You set up ceiling dates for each patron type (Back Office/Library Policies/ Patron Type tab).
For example, at the end of the school year you want all of the books checked out by students back no later than May 15th, so the ceiling date for the Student patron type needs to be May 15th. This will override calculated due dates and even a fixed due date if the ceiling date is earlier. Continuing with our example, if an item is checked out and its due date is May 14th, it will stay the 14th. If its due date is May 16th, it will be May 15th. Please note, that if you check out an item after the ceiling date has passed, checkouts will revert to the normal loan period. Also, ceiling dates need to be changed every year.
Destiny Books-to-Lost Setting
Destiny Library Basics Overview
Cleaning out the “Job Manager”
The Job Manager in Destiny (Back Office/Job Manager) holds all of the jobs that have run, including reports. Some of these items are snapshots in time - ex. the student overdue notices that ran on January 28th and some are just daily, automatic processes. These jobs can be cleaned out periodically; however, please don't clear out all of the jobs in one fell swoop. The jobs you should NOT delete include:
Any job with the word inventory in it. If you clear the job, you now have no accompanying report for any given inventory
Any job with the word import in it. I use these to debug. Once the school year is over, these can be deleted
Any report that you might need to see the information from that point in time
The Delete Jobs is located at the bottom of each page of jobs. Choose All Selected (on this page) versus by date. At the top of each page of jobs on the left is a Select All icon. Click on the icon and then de-select anything that needs to stay and then press the Delete button to the far right at the bottom. If you go page by page, as opposed to by date, you won't inadvertently delete something you will later need. Once you delete the job, we cannot get it back. Please call Jennifer Fugita with any questions.
Resource Lists Tip
If you want to add multiple pages of search results to a Resource List, here's an easy way:
Create a Resource List (Catalog tab\Resources List\Add List
Do the search (Catalog tab\Library Search)
Pick the Resource List you created for Selected List (on the far right)
Choose Show All (on the far right)
Click on the Add Page button
Resource Reviews and Highlights
Top 5 most popular trade science books for kids
NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) surveys most popular trade books for kids and right now they are:
1. Mrs. Carter's Butterfly Garden
2. How Does the Wind Blow? I Wonder Why
3. Next Time You See a Firefly
4. Up, Up in a Balloon: I Wonder Why
5. What Makes Different Sounds?: I Wonder WhyNew World Book Interfaces
World Book has just redesigned the interfaces for Student and Advanced (they released Kids earlier in the year). They go live this summer (or I can manually switch us over...let me know if you’d like this!). Check out the new interfaces at: http://tryit.worldbookonline.com
User: americas
Password: sunMackinVia FREE promotions
EBSCO now integrates with Easybib
Follett Classroom Connections
Colorado Historical Newspapers
Ways to Search for Copyright Free Images:
Ancestry.com Free through grant!
Resource Lists!
These have print, ebooks, and digital content (resources to support your inquiry and purchasing decisions) for you to share with your teachers and with principals if anyone is looking for direction on resource purchasing.
2nd grade solids liquids gases
5th grade history