GENERAL NEWS: SCASL Recap, Town Hall Meeting, 5 Things to Reflect Upon

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Finally back in the office after a Spring Break filled with professional associations and orientations. The only thing better than the beach is SCASL! It was wonderful to see all of our alumni in so many important leadership roles! I keep saying that we raise stars at USC SLIS and it was very evident that we do!

From seeing Valerie Byrd Fort be the perfect president, to Martha Taylor receiving media specialist of the year every session and hallway encounter was one to make us proud. Helen Fellers, Ellen Hinrichs, Sarah Keeling and Nonie Price kept our exhibit booth hopping and if they had a prize for best, most lively booth we would have won! The Alumni tea was wonderful again and it is so good to see everyone. Thanks for making it the best dear Nonie!

I went to Virginia from Greenville and met with our WVA/VA Cohort for an e-portfolio workshop. I was a little worried when Afton Mountain was covered in snow but our students make it safely and we had a lovely day learning to build portfolios and exchanging ideas and advice. Thank you Karen Galenas for sharing your wonderful library and making us feel so welcome! Dr. Wallace had everything planned to the second so I took great delight watching the expert at work.

I showed the Cocky’s Reading Express ™ video right before lunch and it was hard to find a dry eye. It is such a powerful look at the importance of reading. AND, oooohhhhh at SCASL, we received an ALA commendation for CRE! Only two ALA commendations were given this year nation-wide and we received one! Can you hear my buttons busting?

So here I am back to work after an evening town hall meeting with the students, me and Dean Bierbauer. We had some great questions and comments and as always, I came away totally impressed by the intelligence and heart in our students. You really do make me love coming to work! Video of the event will be available on the website.

I know there are many other things to share but will get them out to you next update. In the meantime, here are 5 things to do or reflect upon:

1. Want to see a really interactive website? Check out MoMA's new site redesign featured in the NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/arts/design/05moma.html

2. Great presentation from the IMLS Webwise Conference: Web Tech Guy and Angry Staff Person http://usingdata.typepad.com/files/webTechGuy.html

3. Amazon launches Kindle application for the iPhone [The Washington Post] & of course I downloaded it immediately! Screen is a little small for reading and battery goes too quickly but great idea that will just get better.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-yn/content/article/2009/03/04/AR2009030400542.html

4. Better Safe Than Sorry: Does Your Library Have an Online Acceptable-Use Policy? [School Library Journal] http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6640437.html

5. In Search of Answers, Teachers Turn To Clickers [All Things Considered]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101343866

So “Erin Go Bragh” you all and happy spring! Let me know if there is anything we can do for you.

Always,

Sam