Barton Hills Library
Library Announcements from Librarian Tara Ewing 20-21 V.1
Dear BHE Families,
I would like to share some exciting changes happening in the Barton Hills Virtual Library!
To Review: The Library BLEND course has had many visitors so far this year - THANK YOU! The video read alouds (from this year and last year) have had the most views (whoohoo :) as well as the Tech Help and All About Ms. Ewing pages.
I have enjoyed Zooming with each class so far this year: chatting with the students, showing them how to navigate through the Library BLEND course, and answering their library questions. I have also had so much fun posting my virtual library read alouds each week. However, it is time to change things up in the virtual "Library Land" - this change will be in the form of live Zoom library classes - YIPPPEEEE!
So What's NEW? Starting the week of October 19th I will be moving to an A week / B week alternating schedule with the Counselor, Mrs. White. We will now conduct live Zoom Library classes and Counselor classes each week! I am so very happy to "see" the students during these new virtual library times.
Check with your student's homeroom teacher for dates and times for library Zoom classes.
The Zoom sessions will be recorded and posted on my Library BLEND course. I am recording the classes so that the students of Barton Hills can access the library class at any time, even going back and watching classes from previous weeks. An important note: those students who participate in the live Zoom WILL NOT be recorded (students will not be seen or heard in the recording and the chat and annotation features will be disabled), I will be the only one who will be recorded in the Zoom class.
In Conclusion: I invite everyone to visit the Library BLEND course. You can get to our virtual library by going to the BLEND Dashboard and clicking on the tile that says Barton Hills Elementary Library Course, from a button on your student's BLEND homeroom home page (the library button is usually located at the bottom of the course next to the Counselor) or from this direct link: (click here for direct access).
Thank you for embracing these new library experiences - I'm thrilled to get started, and for your continued support of our incredible Barton Hills Library. It is my honor to be the steward of our family library.
Sincerely,
Ms. Ewing
A/B Library Counselor Master Schedule for the first semester. Go to your grade level's Library BLEND page for your day and time to Zoom. Or, ask you student's homeroom teacher, or email Ms. Ewing
Bluebonnet Book Nominees for grades 3-5!
This year I will be changing the program further to make it virtual by using Padlets. The students who choose to participate will send me feedback via 2 Padelts on the Bluebonnet books they have read.
You will find all the information in the Library BLEND course. Navigate to the Choice Board for your student's grade level and the Bluebonnet button you see with this column will be on the top row ready for you to click on it and explore! Or, click here for direct access.
Austin Public Library ROCKS! Curbside checkout for YOU!
Our Austin Public Library is AMAZING! The resources available virtually, and through their curbside services (the physical buildings are closed) help everyone access indispensable resources for learning.
Please watch this short video at the end of this column to learn more about how our indispensable Austin Public Library is supporting and collaborating with AISD!
If you are looking to check out physical/paper books for your student, APL is the way to go! Their curbside checkout makes the process a breeze - APL employees and Librarians put the books you check out in your trunk! WOW!
Barton Hills Library will not yet check out physical/paper books from the BHE school Library to students (check out the 20,000+ digital e-books we have for you through MackinVIA, Capstone and our other e-book resources on the Library BLEND course!).
Please use the Austin Public Library for physical/paper book check out service. The closest APL branches to our school are the: Twin Oaks Branch, Manchaca Road Branch, and Central Library (Main Branch).
CLICK HERE for a short video outlining the virtual Learning At Home resources from APL.
AND HERE for the direct APL website.
E-Books ... 20,000+ and the best is that they are FREE
I also have detailed instructions on each grade level's library Choice Board. Inside MackinVIA is a button called Databases which links you to MORE e-book resources and reference materials.
MackinVIA allows each student to check out 4 books for up to 2 weeks. However, you can "view" any book in any one visit without checking out. Simply click on the image of the book and start enjoying!
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Capstone Interactive e-books is a paid resource for Barton Hills (THANK YOU FABULOUS PTA!!!) that has fun and interactive e-books. The majority of these books are for grades K-4, but there are older grade resources, too.
Capstone is not a password free login from BLEND. You will need to enter the website HERE, and then log in with these
Barton Hills specific credentials:
Username: bartonhills
Password: austin2
website: mycapstonelibrary.com
Capstone books are available to other AISD schools, the difference is that I buy additional Capstone books *specific* to our school using Barton Hills PTA funds. Since this is a paid resource allotted for our Barton Hills students, we ask that you do not share the login credentials with anyone outside our BHE school community. Thank you.
Calling all STUDENTS NEW TO BARTON HILLS (and those who are returning students) - Who is Ms. Ewing, our BHE Librarian?
Thank you for getting to know me - I can't wait to get to know you, and to "see" my returning Barton Hills students, parents and friends.
Sincerely Yours, Ms. Ewing
Library Announcements! Tech Help! Questions?
*SEE* you there!
P.S. The eagle button image is the same picture you see here, on the right!
Barton Hills Elementary Library
2020-2021 Virtual Library Schedule:
(Prior to October 19th) Synchronous class meeting times where I will be live with students: Mornings from 7:50-8:45 and afternoons from 2:45-3:15
Office Hours: 8:45-11:00 (2+ hours per day, 10+ hours per week)
Time Blocks for Student, Parent, and Community Questions (Zoom meetings if needed): 11:00-12:00
Lunch Block: 12:00-12:30
Team Planning / Conferences with fellow Librarians, Teachers, Staff, Administration (Zoom and Teams): 12:30-2:00
Open times / Email Answering, BLEND Maintenance, Meetings {via Zoom and Teams}, Student Check-Ins: 2:00-2:45
Email: tara.ewing@austinisd.org
Website: bartonhillslibrary.weebly.com
Location: 2108 Barton Hills Drive, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: (512) 414-2013
Twitter: @BHElibraryatx