CTLS Board of Directors

From the Executive Director By Pat Tuohy

January 2014 No. 131

CTLS Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE:

From the ED Page 1

Pinterest Page 2

News You Can Use Pages 3

Learning Through Literacy Page 4-6

What’s Happening Page 6

CTLS Calendar & Staff Directory

Page 7

Workshop Flyers Page 8-9

The beginning of a new year gives us all the opportunity to start afresh. We make resolutions, set goals, construct to-do lists, and take on new chal-lenges or finish lingering projects. It is a time for positive actions and proac-tive deeds. My resolution for 2014 involves a change that will profoundly alter my world. On December 12th I announced my retirement from CTLS effective March 28, 2014. For the past 32 years I have been a part of the CTLS organization and its ever-expanding network of Texas libraries and librarians. From the very be-ginning of my days with CTLS, I have been astounded by the dedication of the librarians who work with so little but do so much for their communities. It has been my privilege to be present at the birth of scores of community li-braries in towns all over Texas. Hard working and dedicated people in towns without even a grocery store have managed to establish libraries that build community and reinforce a sense of town pride and identity. I have witnessed small town libraries grow into thriving and exciting libraries in communities reeling from growth. Few people have been as blessed as I have been in my career and in my friendships with colleagues. Librarians and library lovers are the most wonderful and selfless people to work with and I have worked with the best in the world. Thank you, CTLS, for giving me the opportunity to know you and work alongside you for these many years. I will miss you greatly and I will hold in my heart a great love for each community and institution that has given me so much. CTLS Board Search Begins for New Executive Director CTLS Board Chair, Larry Ringer, announced the appointment of a Board Search Committee on December 11th. The job of the Search Committee will be to recruit and screen potential candidates to replace retiring Executive Director Pat Tuohy. Larry Koeninger, Director of the Bryan+College Station Library, will head up this Committee. In support of this effort, the Long Range Planning Committee met on December 12th with the assignment of helping the Board create a timeline and task list for the search process. The LRPC will prepare a draft job description and other documents to present to the Board at its January 17th meeting in Schertz. Once a job announcement has been approved by the Board, it will be posted on various state, regional, and national job lines. Screening and interviews may occur in February and March. The target date for filling the position is late March or early April 2014. Stay tuned for more information on the search for a new Executive Director for CTLS.

Pat Tuohy Executive Director

Larry Ringer Chair

Eileen Altmiller Vice Chair

Barbara Crossno Secretary

Gretchen Pruett Treasurer

Larry Koeninger

Alice Nixon

Jean Phipps

Kelly Skovbjerg

Nicki Stohr

Pinterest: a valuable tool for Librarians By Heather Reynolds

Did you know that CTLS, Inc. has a Pinterest site? You can find a direct link on our website: www.ctls.net under the Connect with Us link or you can go to www.pinterest.com/ctlsinc/. Or if you are one of the 70 million users (as reported 7/2013) to have an existing Pin-terest account, just type Connecting Texas Libraries Statewide into the search box. You will find “boards” that organize pins from Youth Services, Programming, Library Advocacy, Library Humor, and more. Do you know what you can find on Pinterest? Perhaps you might be or you might have a friend or relation who is one of those users who find wonderful recipes and craft ideas for their home on Pinter-est. I originally assumed that Pinterest was used mainly for these purposes. I first heard of Pinterest at a librarian workshop that promoted Pinterest as a tool to organize storytime ideas. I was apparently too busy being unorganized at the time to use it for that purpose. I wasn’t do-ing much cooking or home decorating at the time, so even though I set up a Pinterest account I didn’t continue to explore all of the possibilities Pinterest offers. Recently, I rediscovered Pinterest for a completely different reason. When preparing for an Every Child Ready to Read early literacy workshop, I typed “early literacy” into the Pinterest search box and got a ton of ideas that can be used to promote early literacy in the public li-brary or at home with pre-school aged children. You will also find Every Child Ready to Read boards that pinners have created. I was inspired with great ideas to use for storytime and to pass along to parents to use at home. Next time I am in need of inspiration or programming ideas for public libraries, I will use Pinter-est as a tool. Take a look at Pinterest if you haven’t already or take another look if it has been awhile and search for something new. If you have any stories of great things you have found on Pinterest, please share with CTLS and we will pass them along. Happy pinning! Pinterest Statistics from Digital Marketing Ramblings:

http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/pinterest-stats/#.UrCGzyfAwvs

Do Tell!

We love to hear from our members! Please don’t forget to let us know what is going on in your library! Brag, share photos, share success stories, and share lessons learned! With your permission, we will

always pass it along on our website, in the newsletter, or through social media.

Contact any of the staff via email or share with us on Facebook or Twitter!

E-Rate is Easy with CTLS

NOW is the time to get going on applying for the E-rate dis-count for your library! CTLS makes it easy for you with the help of Toby Sykes of E-Rate Solutions. Please see this page for all of

your E-rate needs and let us know if you have any questions!

News You Can Use By Laurie Mahaffey

Don’t forget to follow CTLS, Inc.

on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

University of Texas Press Books

Those of you who have been reading my column for years know how much I like the university presses in our state. Texas A&M Press regularly puts out interesting Texas books, and they represent several other Texas university presses as well (Texas Tech Press, etc.). UT Press has a few books of interest in their latest catalog that are worth passing along. Yucatan: Recipes from a Culinary Expedition, by David Sterling, will be published in March. This large-format book (9.5” x 11”) has color photos and will be $60 in either hardback or e-book format. The book has “over 275 authentic, thoroughly tested recipes that will appeal to both novice & professional cooks.” The Yucatan area has many cultural influences from different ethnic groups over the centuries, and local cooks use fresh ingre-dients. The author is the founder, co-proprietor, chef de cuisine, and teacher at Los Dos Cooking School, the first culinary institute in Mexico devoted exclusively to Yucatecan cooking. He has been on the Martha Stewart Show and has worked with Rick Bayless. Sounds delicious!

New in the Texas Natural History Guides series is Common Woody Plants and Cacti of South Texas. Author Richard B. Taylor is from Uvalde and is a certified wildlife biologist with over 30 years of experience. Field-guide size (4.5” x 7.25”), the book will come out in paperback in August and is $22.95. This work replaces A Field Guide to Common South Texas Shrubs, which is no longer in print. The book provides historical perspectives, photographs, values to live-stock and wildlife, and nutritional information. Need to know stocking rates for deer and cattle? Want to evaluate property before purchasing? This is your re-source.

New in paperback in the Corrie Herring Hooks series is Remarkable Plants of Texas, by Matt Warnock Turner. With 65 entries covering over 80 of our most common native plants, this book serves up archaeological, historical, medici-nal, culinary, and cultural information about trees, shrubs, cacti, wildflowers, vines, and more. Texas Parks & Wildlife says it is, “an encyclopedia of excel-lent reference material as well as…a satisfying read, both valuable assets to have in any Texas naturalist’s library. The author works at the UT McCombs School of Business and conducts nature walks at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It will be $29.95 in paperback or e-book format.

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Learning through Literacy:

Grant Connects AISD Schools with Libraries November 20, 2013 (reprinted from the Austin ISD website: http://www.austinisd.org/announcements/

learning-through-literacy-grant-connects-aisd-schools-libraries

Late last month, kindergarten students at Graham Elementary School filed in, one by one, into their school library.

They tried to suppress their chatter and curiosity as they sat in the brightly colored, book-lined room, but today it was hard: a guest was at their campus, after all, and they had been sum-moned to meet her here, where she had with her a treasure trove of good books.

The guest pulled out the first one, “Miss McKenzie had a Farm,” and began reading. With each turn of the page, the students giggled and sat wide-eyed as the story un-folded.

To the students, the significance of this moment might not be immediately realized. But to their principal Blaine Helwig, it is monumental.

That’s because the guest is Josefina Rodriguez-Gibbs, the children’s librarian at the Little Walnut Branch Library. While the library is only three and a half miles away from the campus, for many of the students this is their first introduction to Rodriguez-Gibbs and their public library. Helwig hopes that by bringing the two together he can bridge a gap between his campus and public library, so that reading is not something that only happens for the students at school, during the school day. It instead becomes a habit and a life-long love, one that the library—and the entire community—has a stake in and nurtures.

“This is about relationship building. Our school has tremendous face time with our parents and we want to set the stage now and be a conduit for our families and the library,” Helwig said. “Summer is such a critical time of learning and regression occurs if our students are not read-ing.”

Instrumental to these efforts is that Graham Elementary and Blackshear Elementary School were recently awarded grants by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which, com-bined, total $35,000. The Connect 4 Literacy grant is funded through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and provides funds so that youth services librarians at the Austin Public Library’s Little Walnut Springs and Carver Austin Public Branch Libraries can collaborate closely with school librarians, teachers and others to make sure that the public libraries have the materials children need to continue reading for pleasure and proficiency.

The grant provides the schools with more than a dozen new novel sets, some which are clas-sics and some that are new books with characters who students can relate to and be inspired by.

“I’ve had students begging me not to stop reading,” said Graham Reading Specialist Olga Mon-tee. “We’re trying to move away from just reading passages so that students are more en-gaged.”

By reading novel sets, Helwig said, students learn to love reading.

“You get a student to read Roald Dahl and they’ll love reading,” Helwig said. “And through read-ing these novels instead of just passages, they also learn discipline and stamina, and they learn through discussion how to talk about how the book makes them feel. All of these are key skills that form the basis for all other learning.”

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Helwig’s campus is also arranging a shuttle service over summer that will take students from the campus to the library so that they are able to continue reading during the summer break. Helwig said he hopes to use his school’s success to try and have two new Title I elementary AISD schools involved in the grant program next year.

The Spine of All Learning

Earlier this year, literacy was highlighted as one of the key focus areas for the Austin Inde-pendent School District. By intensifying the district’s focus on literacy education, and devoting more brain power (mental resources and energy) and professional development to this area, AISD hopes to beef up what it is already doing well.

“Reading is the spine of all learning. It connects everything. In AISD every teacher, regardless of the subject area—math, social studies, science, art or physical education—those teach-ers can be reading teachers, and we can all create opportunities for strengthening a stu-dent’s literacy skills,” said AISD’s Chief Academic Officer Pauline Dow.

Research shows that just one positive experience with reading can turn a student into a reader. If compelling, comprehensible material is available, even the most reluctant reader can develop literacy skills for a lifetime.

As part of this effort, AISD has formed a Literacy Work Group charged with identifying measur-able outcomes, communicating the district’s literacy strategy and monitoring and evaluating the success.

And, since the focus on reading begins even at pre-k, the district is continuing to use local dol-lars to offer full-day, pre-k programs—despite widespread state budget cuts—because study after study shows providing quality early care for at-risk children can yield a real rate of return of 12 to 16 percent.

Everyone has a Stake in Student Literacy

The grants to Graham and Blackshear and the Austin Public Branch Libraries were made pos-sible by the organization Connecting Texas Libraries Statewide (CTLS), which serves as the conduit for the funding between the two entities.

The organization’s mission is to bring libraries together and build a cooperative network among libraries, school districts and other organizations that share the same literacy goal.

“We’re all working to get our children able to read, to be fluent and to be very comfortable in reading because it’s the most fundamental skill they need,” said Pat Tuohy, executive director of CTLS. “Especially in a digital age, you’re not going to be able to do something as simple as update your Facebook or something as complex as program, or perform any technical skills or new manufacturing process needs unless you can read instructions.”

Tuohy said you can teach students how to read, but the skill does not become fluid or auto-matic until a child reads at a certain level of competency. Like all things, she said, the only way to reach that level of competency is to practice.

“The key is getting our children the materials they want to read so that they’re excited to the point that they want to get to the end of the story and they’re pushing themselves,” she said. “Whether it’s in a school or public libraries, we know that the key to reading is reading for pleasure.”

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What’s Happening Around the State

Margaret Waring, Director in Comanche, got a surprise from her staff, board, and community with a surprise Christmas and Birthday party! War-ing says, “At the beginning, the staff asked about doing an Open House. I agreed quickly but said I could not help with it because of other demands on my time. Some of you can perhaps picture the scene as I came in and viewed the scrumptious non-traditional cake welcoming guests and pointing up my just passed birthday. Neither would I have imagined all the special friends who appeared at cake cutting time with lovely words they added at that point. Good wishes, cards, and remem-brances came in a rush. Programs scheduled through the day were such a treat for all of us. Friends that share far back memories came and went along with new friends from school and library buddies collected over many years. I know no way to thank everyone adequately for the excitement, the creativity, and the wonderful gift this occasion was for me. I so hope you will al-ways treasure the gathering as I always will continue to do.” What a lovely surprise!

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is going to be open for research on second Saturdays beginning January 11, 2014. For more information, visit their site. Also check out their upcoming Genealogy After Dark event.

Show up, Work Hard, Read

Back at Graham Elementary, an example of reading for pleasure is being lived out as Librarian Josefina Rodriguez-Gibbs finishes the story of Miss McKenzie and her farm, and closes her book.

The previous focused attention and silence from the stu-dents is interrupted, and now they are clapping to show their thanks and appreciation for the story—and their new friend.

Afterward, Rodriguez-Gibbs discusses the importance of the grant and the relationship being built between her public library and the school.

“We want them to be life-long readers and to see the library as a resource that’s always there for them,” she said. By connecting the library and the school, two public entities with the same goal are joining forces, making their efforts that much stronger.

Students at Graham are reminded of these efforts when they walk down the hallways. The school’s mission statement, after all, is “Show up, Work Hard and Read.”

Helwig picked the mission statement specifically because it is short and easy for students, par-ents, and faculty to understand and remember. It defines what the Graham faculty view as the most important skill a student learns and masters during their years in an elementary school.

On this day, he tests it to make sure it is getting through to his students and asks them periodi-cally through the day and at dismissal, “What’s the most important thing you can learn?” as well as, “What do you need to do tonight at home?”

One after the other, they respond: “Reading.”

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For more images, please visit http://s1242.photobucket.com/user/PRMO/library/Literacy%20story?sort=3&page=1 : For a short video called A Tribute to AISD Librarians, please visit: http://youtu.be/XtKnOe9er8Q.

CTLS Calendar of EventsCTLS Calendar of EventsCTLS Calendar of Events

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Connecting Texas Libraries StatewideConnecting Texas Libraries StatewideConnecting Texas Libraries Statewide Patricia Tuohy, Executive Director pat.tuohy@ctls.net Laurie Mahaffey, Deputy Director laurie.mahaffey@ctls.net Kim Lehman, Youth Services Specialist kim.lehman@ctls.net Katelyn Patterson, Communications Coordinator katelyn.patterson@ctls.net Samantha Simpson, Vendor Program Manager ssimpson@ctls.net Heather Reynolds, Connect4Literacy heather.reynolds@ctls.net

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January 1, 2014 New Year Holiday CTLS Office Closed January 10, 2014 Summer Reading Program Workshop Lancaster, TX January 17, 2014 Summer Reading Program Workshop Schertz, TX January 17, 2014 CTLS Board of Directors Meeting Schertz, TX January 20, 2014 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day CTLS Office Closed January 24, 2014 Summer Reading Program Workshop Harker Heights, TX February 17, 2014 Presidents Day Holiday CTLS Office Closed