SLS Weekly Update
May 15, 2024
Save the Dates
All ILLS need to be returned by June 3, 2024
Beanstack used in HS
Sora Sweet Reads
Sora Sweet Reads is now live on Sora! You can kick off the program with this year’s selection of more than 100 age-appropriate ebooks and select audiobooks for students across all grade levels. These simultaneous-use titles are all available for free now through August 26. All titles will be displayed on Sora in a special Sweet Reads curation on your Explore tab, with the option to weed specific titles from the collection as needed. If you have questions about this, please reach out to your Sora team.
Take Sora Sweet Reads to the next level...
Please feel free to contact your Account Manager with any questions. Happy reading,
Your Sora Team
Teaching Book Webinars for 24/25
Supporting English Language Learners with TeachingBooks
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Secondary: 2:00-3:00pm EST | Elementary: 3:00-4:00pm EST
Discover resources to support responsive literacy instruction for all readers. Easily vary content, pacing, and outcomes to meet reading readiness. Access and share resources in a variety of formats to meet diverse learning needs and scaffold support.
Zoom Links:
Secondary: https://overdrive.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F6UBk4rMQT-dej0tre0REA
Elementary: https://overdrive.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_n7bQh4VCRJ-omQx0dn3AbA
Promoting Independent Reading with TeachingBooks
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Secondary: 2:00-3:00pm EST
Discover searching tips that will match titles to readers. Explore and share resources in a variety of formats that deepen connections to books while engaging readers.
Zoom Link: https://overdrive.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XCjDcx1sQYq-yslCdpo2hQ
Supporting Early Literacy with TeachingBooks and Sora
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Elementary: 3:00-4:00pm EST
Discover exceptional texts to support and supplement early literacy instruction. Use TeachingBooks to identify popular picture books by more than a dozen phonics and phonetical awareness classifications. Additionally, you’ll have worksheets for each book to extend reading instruction in the library, home, or classroom.
Zoom Link: https://overdrive.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1RnJ3eVLSqODF2xwq7soaw
Navigating Book Selections with Book Resumes and Instant Collection Reports on TeachingBooks
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Secondary: 2:00-3:00pm EST | Elementary: 3:00-4:00pm EST
Receive insights, reports, and confidence around the titles you choose for displays, storytimes, book clubs, and more. Book resumes provide you with the book’s bona fides: awards, reviews, genres, reading levels, and more. Collection analysis reports give you insights into diversity, recency, fiction/non-fiction, and more – while also helping you identify titles for possible augmentation.
Zoom Links:
Secondary: https://overdrive.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kplipPdFSxOr0WDKg-BCdQ
Elementary: https://overdrive.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qBIgHlERQ6m9eVL5Gc34nA
Stories of Bravery
The NYLA Youth Advocacy Committee, a joint committee between YSS and SSL, is looking for stories of bravery in your role that will be featured in a recurring NYLA Voice feature, YAC LAB (Youth Advocacy Committee Library Acts of Bravery). We are looking for:
· Folks who work or live in New York
· A preferred focus on youth services in public or school libraries, though staff members, directors, board members and teams are all eligible
You can nominate yourself or someone else, and can choose to remain anonymous in the feature. You (or the person) does not need to be a member of NYLA to be eligible.
Acts of Bravery could be big or small. They can include standing up against censorship and bans, helping organize teens to advocate for a new teen zone, fighting against budget/position cuts, or even saying goodbye to a community that’s not the right fit!
While we can’t compensate you for your story, know that you will inspire and bring comfort to others in the field who are navigating difficult times and may be looking for inspiration and a sense of community, even if virtual.
If you are interested in having your story considered, please fill out this Google Form. If you would like to include a picture of yourself or your library to be included, please email YACNYLA@gmail.com. You can also email us with any questions!
Research Survey-
Dear NYS Librarian,
My name is Nicholas Sanders, and I am completing my doctorate at Alfred University. I am conducting a research study for my dissertation that is designed to survey school librarians and investigate the representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in library collections. This research has been approved by the Alfred University Human Subjects Research Committee (HSRC). You are receiving this email as you are a member of the NYS School Library Systems Association (SLSA) Listserv. If you are able, please forward this email and study to your consistent librarians within your system. I hope to survey librarians serving in a variety of positions/settings within NYS public schools.
If you are interested in participating in the study, please click the link below to Microsoft Forms which contains the survey. There will be an informed consent form to sign before completing. Participation in the survey is estimated to take between 20-30 minutes. There are no known risks involved in this research. This survey will be open for four weeks or until the desired number of participants are obtained, whichever comes first. While the survey is anonymous, there will be an option to input your name and contact information for a chance to win one of three $50 Amazon gift cards. The drawing for the three winners will be conducted once the survey closes.
https://forms.office.com/r/DeQHpK4BmX
If you have any questions, please contact me at my email NS20@alfred.edu, which I check frequently. Thank you in advance for sharing your perspectives and helping me to complete my dissertation.
Best,
Nicholas Sanders, M.A.
Alfred University
Elementary Survey
My name is Valerie Byrd Fort. I am an iSchool instructor at USC and a PhD candidate in Teaching & Learning at the University of South Carolina. As part of my doctoral education program there, I am conducting a study that aims to contribute to professional literature in school librarianship.
I need your help! I am distributing a survey about the purchase and use of LGBTQIA+ materials in elementary school libraries. The purpose of this survey is to measure librarians' attitudes and self-efficacy towards purchasing and using LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and others not yet defined) materials in their school library.
Elementary school librarians can complete an online survey, which will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The survey is anonymous, and the information collected will be kept confidential. However, there is an opportunity to share contact information for a follow up interview.
Click this link to access the survey: https://usccmcis.az1.qualtrics.com/.../SV_eLMgEMMCf2CEgTA
The survey will close on May 16, 2024.
If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me.
Thank you,
VBF
valeriebyrdfort@gmail.com
Penny Sweeney
Deb Daloia
Zella Davis
Cayuga Onondaga BOCES SLS
Email: psweeney@cayboces.org
Website: https://www.cayboces.org/domain/28
Location: 1879 West Genesee Street Road, Auburn, NY, USA
Phone: (315) 255-07609
Twitter: @plsweeney1