Archive | Summer Reading News

 In partnership with Sony Entertainment J. K. Rowling has just released http://www.pottermore.com/, a website containing content not included in her original seven Harry Potter novels. The website was originally released on July 11, 2011 and was limited to only one million users. It is now available to anyone interested in Harry Potter. The unreleased text from the novels includes a large number of background details concerning characters and settings. Accompanying the text is an interactive version of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” where users can navigate through the novel. There is also the opportunity for users to create spells, brew potions, duel with other users, and collect in-game currency. Interactive versions of the remaining six novels are set to be released this year.

School Library Journal is getting the word out about the fun summer reading promotional videos, 2012 Teen Video Challenge contest winners, created for and by teens from all over the U.S.New YorkStateis one of the 23 states mentioned in the article. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/894531-312/video_winners_own_the_night.html.csp

 “Summer Reading at New York Libraries” celebrated the launch of the Summer Reading Program on May 16th at Plattsburgh Public Library, Plattsburgh, NY. This launch is the second of five spring press events to draw attention to summer reading at public libraries this summer. Director of the Plattsburgh Library, Stan Ransom, presided over the event introducing, President of the Library Board, Roland Lockwood, and welcoming the Plattsburgh Mayor Donald M. Kasprzak, and legislative and community leaders. NYS Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education and Acting State Librarian, Jeffrey W. Cannell, spoke about the fun of summer reading as an activity for children and families. The launch event also honored Stewart’s Shop’s Foundation for several years of grant assistance to fund the public library in their Summer Reading Program.

Jeff Cannell launches “Summer Reading at New York Libraries” and talks about one of his favorite books, Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are."

Plattsburgh Public Library Director, Stan Ransom presents plaque of appreciation to Stewart's Shops Foundation representative, Mrs. Angela Snook.

“Summer Reading at New York Libraries” launched the first of five press events slated at public libraries across the state, on May 10, 2012 at the Bethlehem Public Library in Delmar, NY. The press event included remarks from NYS Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education and Acting State Librarian, Jeffrey W. Cannell, State Senator Neil Breslin, State Assemblyman Steven McLaughlin, and other state and local officials.  The launch event also included the announcement of the New York State “2012 Teen Video Challenge” http://www.summerreadingnys.org/teens/teen-video-challenge-winners/ winner from Longwood Public Library,Middle Island,NY and was followed by ‘crowd-pleasing’ summer reading event for children, hosted by the library.

(l. to r.)— Bethlehem Town Supervisor John Clarkson, Bethlehem Central School District Superintendent Thomas Douglas, NYS Representative Steven McLaughlin, NYS Senator Neil Breslin and NYS Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education Jeffrey Cannell (Photo by Mary Trev Thomas, Bethlehem PL)

(l. to r.)—Upper Hudson Library System Exec. Dir. Timothy Burke, Bethlehem Town Supervisor John Clarkson, Bethlehem Central School District Superintendent Thomas Douglas, NYS Representative Steven McLaughlin, NYS Senator Neil Breslin, NYS Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education Jeffrey Cannell, and Bethlehem Public Library director Geoffrey Kirkpatrick (Photo by Mary Trev Thomas, Bethlehem PL)

(l. to r.)—NYS Representative Steven McLaughlin, NYS Senator Neil Breslin, NYS Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education Jeffrey Cannell, and Bethlehem Public Library director Geoffrey Kirkpatrick (Photo by Mary Trev Thomas, Bethlehem PL)Andy Morse the Music Man played to a capacity crowd on May 10 to open the Bethlehem Library’s 2012 Summer Reading Program. (Photo by Mary Trev Thomas, Bethlehem PL)

Andy Morse the Music Man played to a capacity crowd on May 10 to open the Bethlehem Library’s 2012 Summer Reading Program. (Photo by Mary Trev Thomas, Bethlehem PL)Following the summer reading launch, folks of all ages enjoyed the Music Man’s show and each guest received a free book, mood pencils and other giveaways. (Photo by Mary Trev Thomas, Bethlehem PL)

Following the summer reading launch, folks of all ages enjoyed the Music Man’s show and each guest received a free book, mood pencils and other giveaways. (Photo by Mary Trev Thomas, Bethlehem PL)

School Library Journal is getting the word out about the fun summer reading promotional videos, 2012 Teen Video Challenge contest winners, created for and by teens from all over the U.S.

New York State is one of the 23 states mentioned in the article. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/894531-312/video_winners_own_the_night.html.csp

To see the New York State winning video and New York State finalists, and to vote for your favorite video created by teens from New York State, go to: http://www.summerreadingnys.org.

Our partners at Hunger Solutions New York have asked that we share this grant information with school and public libraries throughout the state.

The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation annually awards grants for the purchase of children’s books to rural and urban public and school libraries serving at-risk children in grades K-12.

For information go to:

http://www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/Grant-Alerts/Library-Grant-Program.aspx

To learn more about Hunger Solutions New York and services available to public libraries please visit: http://www.summerreadingnys.org/librarians-educators/le-resources/#hunger

2012 Summer Reading at New York Libraries is “ready to launch” in early May after months of hard work and preparation on the part of the State Library and its many partners.  Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education and Acting State Librarian Jeffrey W. Cannell will be kicking off press events at library locations across the state in May and June.  The first launch on May 10 will be in the Capital Region at the Bethlehem Public Library in Delmar. This event will be followed by 4 other launch events to take place around the state:Plattsburgh Public library (May 16),Onondaga County public Library and the Robert P. Kinchen Central library in Syracuse(June 12),Buffalo and Erie County Public Library (6/13), and The Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library in Watertown(June 27).

The State Library has forged many partnerships that add to the summer reading program carried out in public libraries across the state. The State Library and the State Legislature collaborate to encourage all children to read and visit libraries during the summer months, school districts statewide work with their local public libraries to promote the summer reading program, in addition, the State Library partners with other statewide organizations to provide added resources to libraries for their summer programming. They include: the Boys and Girls Clubs, 4-H, the New York Council for the Humanities, and Hunger Solutions New York. Hunger Solutions will be offering libraries in low income areas opportunities to provide healthy snacks and meals during summer reading activities.  Working with the Office of Public Broadcasting, the State Library has also reached out to childcare providers statewide with new Early Literacy summer reading materials, offering a robust summer reading program for kids from birth to school age for the first time.  The long range goal is to increase annual participation in Summer Reading at New York Libraries to 1.8 million young people by 2017.  To learn more about summer reading partnerships and resources please visit www.summerreadingnys.org and select “Librarians and Educators” from the drop down menu.

The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) held their Annual Meeting in Hershey,PA, April 9 to April 12. 48 out of the 50 member states were represented at the meeting. The focus of the week-long meeting is on best ways to assist all public libraries in carrying out a quality summer reading program. Slogans, themes, art work, and materials for 2013, 2014, and 2015 summer reading programs are reviewed and voted on during the meetings.

 Karen Balsen, Youth Services and Systems Liaison for the New York State Library attended as the New York State Representative, Chair of the PR and Marketing Committee, and a member of the Executive Board. Randy Enos, Youth Services Consultant for the Ramapo-Catskill Library System attended as a representative fromNew YorkStateand a member of the Vendor Committee. It was wonderful to have two representatives from NYS so that various opinions and information that benefited the membership as a whole, as well as all libraries in NYS, could be discussed and shared.

 Following is an update from the meetings:

1. Theme, Slogans, Artwork
1. 2013 – Theme is “Underground” and the slogans are “Dig Into Reading” (children), “Beneath the Surface” (teens), “Groundbreaking Reads” (adult). Scott Nash is the artist for the children’s program and Duncan Long is creating the artwork for the teen program.
2. 2014 – Theme is “Science” and the slogans are “Fizz, Boom, Read!” (children), “Spark a Reaction” (teen), and “Literary Elements” (adult).
3. 2015 – Theme is “Heroes.”
2. The CSLP website http://www.cslpreads.org includes resources and materials beyond what is offered in the Manuals. For full access please register and obtain a user name and password.
3. The CSLP Rules of Use (ROU) http://www.cslpreads.org/about/rules-of-use.html, that explain the use of all CSLP created materials and artwork, have been updated. Please review the ROU and e-mail me any questions (KBalsen@mail.nysed.gov). It would be great to have some NYS questions included in the FAQ section.
4. Shipping
1. 2012 is the last year that CSLP will cover the full cost of shipping for summer reading materials from Highsmith.
2. In 2013 CSLP will cover 50% of shipping costs.
3. In 2014 CSLP will no longer cover any shipping costs.
5. Beginning in 2013 schools and other non-profit educational organizations that partner with public libraries will be able to order select Highmith materials. Full details will be available fall 2012.
6. CSLP and Highsmith recognize that there were many ordering related issues this year. They are working together to improve availability of products and allow for customization.
7. CSLP is reviewing the option of having one slogan each year. There will still be four programs (Early Literacy, Children, Teen, Adult) each with their own artwork and program.
8. The diversity Committee plans to add Library of Congress braille and audio book notation to each summer’s reading lists beginning in 2013.
9. Early Literacy Program was included for the first time in 2012 in the CSLP Manual. Two librarians with NYS ties created the manual: Kapila Love (formerly at New City Library) and Sarah Northshield (Tappan Library).

Thank you for taking a break from all the work on your 2012 summer reading programs to review this update. Have a great 2012 summer reading season.

Please share this information with all librarians involved with a public library summer reading program as well as any IT staff working with the “Summer Reader” software.

The Summer Reader software is ready for set up by your library for the 2012 summer reading season. If you have not signed up for an instance of the software please do so by going to: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/summer/smreader.htm#signup

If you have used the software in the past, you are still signed up and can begin setting up your 2012 program.

• Sign up for Training Sessions: Sign up for live webinar-bases training sessions. Videos of the New York State training webinars are also available for anyone to view after the original live webinar is held.
• Find out more! The “Summer Reading at New York libraries” Summer Reader webpage will be updated all spring with information about set up and use of the “Summer Reader” software.