Online 2-part webinar: Serving Deaf Patrons More Effectively 2/22 & 2/29

Serving Deaf Patrons in the Library with Kathy MacMillan. $75.

Two-Part Workshop: Wednesday, February 22,, 2012 and Wednesday, February 29, 2012. 12:00-1:30pm Eastern. This is an online event hosted through Webex. Details and registration here.

If you are interested in viewing this event, and there turns out to be a group of interested people, the Division can probably spring for a group rate. ($130 instead of $75). Please let me (Douglas Lord) know at Douglas.Lord@ct.gov and I will get further details. 

Make your library a welcoming place for deaf people. In this workshop, you will gain an understanding of Deaf culture, learn several useful library-related signs, and be ready to work confidently with interpreters for your programs. Links to video demonstrations and handouts for library-related signs will be made accessible to participants to encourage practice and implementation after the workshop.

Topics covered in this two-part workshop:
•    An overview of the different ways deaf people communicate
•    Understanding and meeting your library’s legal obligation to serve the deaf
•    Strategies for communicating with a deaf or hard-of-hearing person in the library

Tips for finding, hiring, and working with interpreters

About the Instructor: Kathy MacMillan is a writer, American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, and storyteller. She is the author of Try Your Hand at This! Easy Ways to Incorporate Sign Language into Your Programs (Scarecrow Press, 2006), A Box Full of Tales (ALA, 2008), and Storytime Magic (with Christine Kirker, ALA, 2009). She holds an MLS from the University of Maryland, and her library career includes work at the Maryland School for the Deaf and Carroll County (Maryland) Public Library. Kathy presents storytelling programs introducing sign language through Stories By Hand and offers training and resources for enhancing storytimes through Storytime Stuff.

MacMillan, librarian and certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, will guide you in making your library a welcoming place for deaf people.  You will gain an understanding of Deaf culture, learn several useful library-related signs, and be ready to work confidently with interpreters for your programs.  An experienced and sought-after trainer, MacMillan’s programs are praised for their practical focus on common library interactions.  Links to video demonstrations and handouts for library-related signs will be made accessible to participants to encourage practice and implementation after the workshop.

If you plan on viewing this event with a group of 3 or more people, please let Douglas Lord know at Douglas.Lord@ct.gov; my Division can probably spring for a group rate. ($130 instead of $75.)

Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Felloship at Darien Library, CT

The McGraw family has funded the formation of a Children's Librarian Fellowship at Darien Library to honor his memory, through a two-year full-salaried position for a recent Master in Library Science graduate.

Full details. 

The successful applicant will be employed at Darien Library for two years, commencing approxiately July 1, 2012, with a final employment date of June 30, 2014.

The Fellow will be paid initially at the CT Library Association MLS minimum salary for entry-level positions (for 2012: $50,700) with full benefits, paid membership in CLA and ALA, funding for attendance at the American Library Association Annual Meeting and other meetings as appropriate.

 Applications are due by 5 p.m. on March 30, 2012.  

 Here's Hank McGraw, busy on the phone.

Meriden Foundation

The slightly mysterious Meriden Foundation (no web site) gives away a LOT of money each year in grants and scholarships (over $1 million in 2009). Pretty generous!

Though the New Britain and Meriden Public Libraries are listed in some of the available Form 990’s, (see 2009's), I didn't see any others at a glance through the list. 

The Foundation states that ‘requests should benefit the greater Meriden area,’ though I see that some awards are national in scope (e.g., American Cancer Society). i think that's your cue. Perhaps nearby libraries can tap into the generosity? Or, better, band together for a cause that is important to MF and that benefits the whole region? 

Do it!

The Elks, quite the Benevolent Order

During the 2010-11 Lodge year, the Elks donated a grand total of $216,250 to CT causes like the Drug Awareness Program, Hoop Shoot, Soccer Shoot and scholarship programs. 

Maybe your library can get in on the youth programming component? Check out the Americanism Essay Contest (worth $1,000), the Dictionary Project and the outstanding Teen / Student program, among others.

State Charities Grant: $75,680

Special Projects Grant: $49,650

Bonus Grant: $30,060

Most Valuable Student: $36,000

National Veterans Service Commission: $4,860

Legacy Award: $20,000

There are 33 Lodges in CT:

•Branford, CT No. 1939

•Bridgeport, CT No. 36

•Bristol, CT No. 1010

•Danbury, CT No. 120

•Danielson, CT No. 1706

•Derby, CT No. 571

•Enfield, CT No. 2222

•Fairfield, CT No. 2220

•Glastonbury, CT No. 2202

•Groton, CT No. 2163

•Hamden, CT No. 2224

•Hartford, CT No. 19

•Manchester, CT No. 1893

•Meriden, CT No. 35

•Middletown, CT No. 771

•Milford, CT No. 1589

•Naugatuck, CT No. 967

•New Britain, CT No. 957

•New Haven, CT No. 25

•New London, CT No. 360

•Putnam, CT No. 574

•Rockville, CT No. 1359

•Southington, CT No. 1669

•Stamford, CT No. 899

•Torrington, CT No. 372

•Wallingford, CT No. 1365

•Waterbury, CT No. 265

•West Haven, CT No. 1537

•Westbrook, CT No. 1784

•Wethersfield-Rocky Hill, CT No. 2308

•Willimantic, CT No. 1311

•Windsor, CT No. 2060

•Winsted, CT No. 844

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow technology giveaway

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow technology giveaway for 6th – 12th Grade Educators.Nerds, unite!

Samsung is asking 6th-12th grade teachers to create a video answering the question: “How can you use STEM to improve the environment in your community?”

Hey, btw, STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  

1. Fill out a short application describing how you’d apply this contest in your classroom.
2. 25 respondents will be selected to receive a Samsung camcorder and Adobe video editing software to create videos responding to the question, “How can you use STEM to improve the environment in your community?”
3. 12 schools will win technology grants worth at least $70,000 (!).
4. 5 of those schools will win 100,000 (!) technology grants.
5. Those five winners will be honored at an awards ceremony.

Deadline: March 12, 2012. Don't delay, though, earlier is better.

Be Prepared for winter storms in '12

Winter’s coming. Make sure you and your patrons stay safe.  Ready.gov's Ready American can help you "Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed." See the Make a Plan site with the downloadable Family Emergency Plan (FEP) pdf that you fill in and print out.  72 Hours (also in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese). Usual services (running water, refrigeration, and telephones) may be unavailable, so this site helps you prepare to be self-sufficient for at least three days.  At Ready or Not, substitute’ Connecticut’ for ‘Texas’ and Red Sox ball caps for cowboy hats. Also En Espanol. Includes info on family strategies, checklists, and special needs considerations for people with disabilities, the elderly and pets.  Not to get all paranoid, but be sure to think about planning for an emergency if it happens while you're at work or while the family is at daycare, church, school, sports events, commuting, whatever.

USA Today Free Resources for classroom teachers

It’s not terribly well-organized nor unified, but USA Today has quite a few ‘free resources’ of interest to educators. All are accessible from USAToday Educate site (where you'll find a Teacher’s Lounge and a blog) at the top under ‘Free Resources.’ A few I picked out:

Teachers/media specialists can sign up to receive complimentary classroom copies (print or electronic) of USA TODAY. First come, first served.

A Lesson Library houses lessons that have been developed over the past few years by USA TODAY Education. in the topics of Language Arts, Social Studies, Science & Engineering, Math & Technology, Health Entrepreneurship, and Financial Literacy. There is an archive as well.

The Dream UP! Program, designed to be simple, effective, and with little outside prep on the part of the teacher, helps students identify career directions. 

Lessons from the Visions of Exploration program are designed to enhance students’ reading, writing and comprehension skills, while introducing them to topics in science, technology, engineering and math. Each contains a recent article found in USA TODAY, discussion questions, and an activity. The lessons prepare students for the world beyond the classroom and inspire them to become explorers.

Some Cyber Security content (http://usatodayeducate.com/wordpress/index.php/technology-cyber-security) might help ‘teach our children how to become cyber citizens and better ensure they don’t become cyber crime victims in the future.’

Money Matters 101 is a series of free lesson plans that help teach students about finances and planning. Thy are based on real-world examples / articles from USA TODAY, and lesson topics include saving for now and for later, being prepared for a financial crisis, using credit cards, protecting oneself from online scams.

Healthy Teens is a “free cross-curricular health and wellness literacy program to inspire middle school students to build a better quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities.” 

The ‘Prepared, Not Scared TextMessaging for Safety’ program is a six-week, project-based learning activity where students research a threat facing their community and create a series of text messages to inform and guide the community through the emergency.

Lastly, maybe Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow technology giveaway for 6th to 12th grade educators is right for you.