The Weekly Update

Did you know that the South Dakota State Library is charged with collecting annual data from the state’s school libraries? It does this through its annual South Dakota School Library Survey.

At the beginning of the month, the superintendent of each district received a direct email notification and school librarians received information via the SD School Library Listserv.

This is a district-level survey to be completed by all school districts and is open March 1 - May 6 this year.

Please reach out if you have any questions as you are completing the survey: scottie.bruch@state.sd.us, 605-295-3152

With the information that is compiled from the School Library Survey every year, SDSL creates the School Libraries Data Digest. This is a handy infographic poster that can be displayed in the library and shared with administrators, parents, students, and all other stakeholders. It also helps guide decision-making and planning of library services.

Archives are located at library.sd.gov. Additionally, districts can request district-only data from the State Library.

Create your own "data digest" in the form of an annual report with statistics from your school library (see example below). For more annual report ideas, visit: https://wakelet.com/wake/lfpUjnteRFYmNVNrUQasa

Is your library "future ready"? Use these 2 tools to help you assess your current strengths and areas of growth in relation to the Future Ready Librarians framework and to learn even more about how you can be prepared to be at the leading edge of learning in your school.

These guides (and more!) can be found on the School Library page of the SDSL website under the pull-down menu for Standards and Guidelines.

ExCITE! is an annual professional development opportunity (2 credit course) for all types of educators including librarians, teachers, specialists, para-professionals, administrators, and coordinators. LSTA federal funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services provides speakers, resources, and full-tuition scholarships for attendees.

Each year, a different theme is selected for the course. This year’s ExCITE! theme is Information Literacy, which is the second strand of the SD School Library Standards. We’ll focus on the research process from start to finish with units on exploring and engaging with the library, questioning strategies, curating and engaging with resources, sharing learning, and reflecting on the research process.

WHEN: June 27-July 29, 2022

WHO: All South Dakota educators and South Dakota library staff are welcome! *Limited to 30 participants.

WHERE: On-line via Google Classroom (students must have a Google account)

WHAT:

• ExCITE! is a two credit course with credits offered through USF.
• It can be taken at either the undergraduate or the graduate level.
• Tuition costs are covered via a scholarship through the SD State Library.
• Readings, viewings, activities, projects, and evaluations are designed to equal a total of 30 hours of your time.

Two special guest speakers include:

• Cheri Isaacson, a veteran kindergarten teacher who will lead us through an interactive workshop on “How to Research like a Kindergartner”.
• Dr. Kate Kinsella, an emeritus teacher educator at San Francisco State University and speaker/consultant to school districts within and outside the U.S. who will lead an informative workshop on “Tools to Support Multilingual (and All) Learners in Interpreting, Discussing and Constructing Informational Texts”.

HOW: Instruction will be provided through synchronous and asynchronous Zoom sessions. Zoom presentations/sessions will be recorded for students who are unable to attend synchronous sessions. Students who cannot attend via Zoom will have to complete additional participation assignments. Online instructional methods will include a digital learning platform, class discussion, independent forms of communication, collaborative innovation work time, and the use of digital tools.

REGISTER now through June 1.

Questions? Contact Scottie Bruch at scottie.bruch@state.sd.us.

The Weekly Update is a correspondence from the South Dakota State Library focusing on current topics in school libraries, best practices, resources, professional development, and more.

Email: scottie.bruch@state.sd.us
Website: library.sd.gov/LIB/SLC
Location: 800 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD, USA
Phone: 605-295-3152

SDSL does not endorse any service or product listed or linked to in this newsletter.