More Dancing Librarian(s)

Arnold and Petite are not the only librarians who got the "groove".

Click here and find out!

Film Loop for Refelections On Red

I originally wanted to anotate each picture, but the film loop feature of Photobucket changed my mind.



Suffice it to say that we all had a good time. My highlight of the moment was to cut the ribbon with Gretchen Cojuangco.

Students' Use of USB

I'm still fresh from NCBD celebration, but it's taking Luis "Tito Doc" Gatmaitan to send me more pictures. He is actually the official photographer of PBBY and I failed to topple him off his throne last Tuesday. My digicam conked out on me. Well, there is still next year to accomplish that!

In the meantime, allow me to share with you the proposed Use of USB I concocted. I will share this to my staff as well for more inputs and comments. Then a presentation to the Principal would be the next step. Wish me luck!

Why a guideline on use of USB?

Using technology for educational and instructional purposes require well thought of processes and procedures. This will ensure a more responsible and intelligent facility of hardware and software technology. It is not enough that grade school students know the “whats” and the “hows” of technology, but, it is also important that they understand the rationale for using technology. It is essential that they see and witness models of conscientious technology use to help them become critical and global thinkers.

Guidelines for use of USB (Students)

1. Unit 3 students can bring USB to school only when needed.
2. Students must inform the class adviser that he brought a USB to school.
3. Secure a pass from ODS/Com Ed (?). There, the USB will be scanned and checked of its contents.
4. Students present the pass to faculty/staff when using the IT Lab or Comp Lab.
5. Students surrender the pass to ODS/Com Ed at the end of the day.

Reminders to the teacher:

1. Model the appropriate, critical and conscientious use of technology to your students.
2. Determine when to use technology (USB, in particular) for a student project or assignment.
3. Understand that different technology can be used to store and present information (projects or assignments).
4. Technology promotes specific thought processes and thinking skills. Identifying the content, skill and thought process you want your students to learn will help you in using technology for teaching.
5. There are “the non-negotiables” in the use of technology for teaching. These are the values, the character, the culture and the sense of identity that young learners must first learn and live out.

More Pictures from NCBD 2006

Totet de Jesus, PBBY Sectoral Representative for Illustrators, TOYM Awardee and Palanca Hall of Famer, Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, PBBY Chair, Manolo Silayan & Guest Speaker for NCBD 2006, Mike Luz.


Fernando "Tata Nanding" Josef of CCP, Ani Almario of Adarna & PBBY Secretary General, and Karina Africa-Bolasco, Sectoral Representative for Booksellers


Robert Magnuson signs my kids' copy of his new book, Diego & Marie: A Secret Sense of Home.

NCBD in Pictures

I am multitasking right now. Heaven knows all too well to give this task to women! More pictures next post!


This NCBD had the most KUTINGs in attendance!


Eugene Evasco is slim and soooo "in". He launched three titles of books this year!


INKies were there too! Liza Flores, Jomike Tejido and Hubert Fucio.


Commissioner Ocampo is such a darling! Imagine his gump to smile for me as I took this shot in the middle of Mike Luz's keynote. Beside him is "the" Emily Abrera of McKann Ericsson.

Cha & Je of Alitaptap. Both winners, 1st place in the Salaysayan 2006. Cha won for the English category, while Je won in the Filipino Category.

NCBD 2006

What happened in last year's National Children's Book Day (NCBD)? Click here.

Now I'm off to The National Library to attend this year's NCBD. I remember posting several entries about it weeks before. To refresh your memory, click here for last month's post.

I'm excited to meet the winners in the Salanga and the Alcala for 2006. I look forward to bonding with my "kitty-mates" in KUTING. I hope to see old friends and familiar plces. Best of all, I want to buy all the new Filipiniana for children that local publishers will be launching today!

Till next post!

Reflections On Red Online

Here is an online preview of the CANVAS-KUTING exhibit that will be launched and presented to the public on Friday, July 21, 2006.

Allow me a little self indulgence. Being a part of a KUTING project never felt this good.

I bet you'll never go to your school library if your librarian looks like her.



She is Mrs. Beamster, The Librarian from Black Lagoon. In this hilarious, and a little bit scary, picture book by Mike Thaler, kids are invited to laugh and imagine a school library like no other.



Silence is one thing that libraries all encourage (Really? Not all the time.) In the Black Lagoon Library, talk and you'll get laminated. Go through the shelves to look for books to read and borrow but be careful. The shelves are electrified.



Watch out for Igor, the library assistant. He has an extra eye to look over you!



Many hideous things happen in the Black Lagoon library. You wouldn't want to catch Mrs. Beamster's story time because, it will bore you to death since she reads from the cards in the card catakog for stories to share. Horrible gadgets are hidden in the library of Black Lagoon. There's a gum detector that can zap you out and a real mouse is attached to the library's computer. It's got everything to prevent a child from reading and entering the school library.

But really, all these are make believe.

If you don't get the humor that Thaler has employed in his story and the illustrations by Jared Lee, you better revive the dying child in you. In the end, Thaler offers his readers the joys that imagination could bring. The book is published Scholastic.

Yes Virginia, librarians can be poets too!

CANVAS presents

REFLECTIONS ON RED
a one-man show by Michael Cacnio

with stories and poems by
Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING)
(Featuring the works of Becky Bravo, Godfrey T. Dancel, Raissa Rivera-Falgui, Zarah Gagatiga, Rhandee Garlitos, Agay Llanera, Carla M. Pacis, Augie Rivera, Lara Saguisag, Mae Astrid Tobias, Cynthia Villafranca, Germaine Yia) Works are edited by Heidi Emily Eusebio-Abad.

Opening cocktails: July 21, Friday, 6:00pm,
at the Ayala Museum, Makati City
Exhibit runs til August 3.

If you're going to the exhibit, don't be shy to say hi. I'll be in black. It's the Ayala Museum, you see.

Bloglet to Feedblitz

I am changing loyalties.

From Bloglet, I'm moving to Feedblitz. I want to try it out without losing my subscribers because, it (Feedblitz) tells me that I can import from Bloglet.

I have not disabled Bloglet yet. Let me know if you are getting two updates, one from Bloglet and one from Feedblitz. Your replies will help my blog big time. Thank you.

The UNESCO School Library Manifesto

When issues assault the school library and I need to uphold its esence to the school community, I turn to the UNESCO School Library Manifesto.

THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

The school library provides information and ideas that are fundamental to functioning successfully in today’s information and knowledge-based society. The school library equips students with life-long learning skills and develops the imagination, enabling them to live as responsible citizens.

MISSION OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

The school library offers learning services, books and resources that enable all members of the school community to become critical thinkers and effective users of information in all formats and media. School Libraries link to the wider library and information network in accord with the principles in the UNESCO Public Library Manifesto.

The library staff support the use of books and other information sources, ranging from the fictional to the documentary, from print to electronic, both on-site and remote. The materials complement and enrich textbooks, teaching materials and methodologies.

It has been demonstrated that, when librarians and teachers work together, students achieve higher levels of literacy, reading, learning, problem-solving and information and communication technology skills.

School library services must be provided equally to all members of the school community, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, nationality, language, professional or social status. Specific services and materials must be provided for those who are unable to use mainstream library services and materials.

Access to services and collections should be based on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Freedoms, and should not be subject to any form of ideological, political or religious censorship, or to commercial pressures.

FUNDING & LEGISLATION

The school library is essential to every long-term strategy for literacy, education, information provision and economic, social and cultural development. As the responsibility of local, regional and national authorities, it must be supported by specific legislation and policies. School Libraries must have adequate and sustained funding for trained staff, materials, technologies and facilities. They must be free of charge.

The school library is an essential partner in the local, regional and national library and information network.

Where the school library shares facilities and/or resources with another type of library, such as a public library, the unique aims of the school library must be acknowledged and maintained.

GOALS OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

The school library is integral to the educational process.

The following are essential to the development of literacy, information literacy, teaching, learning and culture and are core school library services:
• supporting and enhancing educational goals as outlined in the school’s mission and curriculum;
• developing and sustaining in children the habit and enjoyment of reading and learning, and the use of libraries throughout their lives;
• offering opportunities for experiences in creating and using information for knowledge, understanding, imagination and enjoyment;
• supporting all students in learning and practising skills for evaluating and using information, regardless of form, format or medium, including sensitivity to the modes of communication within the community;
• providing access to local, regional, national and global resources and opportunities that expose learners to diverse ideas, experiences and opinions;
• organizing activities that encourage cultural and social awareness and sensitivity;
• working with students, teachers, administrators and parents to achieve the mission of the school; proclaiming the concept that intellectual freedom and access to information are essential to effective and responsible citizenship and participation in a democracy;
• promoting reading and the resources and services of the school library to the whole school community and beyond.

The school library fulfills these functions by developing policies and services, selecting and acquiring resources, providing physical and intellectual access to appropriate sources of information, providing instructional facilities, and employing trained staff.

STAFF

The school librarian is the professionally qualified staff member responsible for planning and managing the school library, supported by as adequate staffing as possible, working together with all members of the school community, and liaising with the public library and others.

The role of school librarians will vary according to the budget and the curriculum and teaching methodology of the schools, within the national legal and financial framework. Within specific contexts, there are general areas of knowledge that are vital if school librarians are to develop and operate effective school library services: resource, library, and information management and teaching.

In an increasingly networked environment, school librarians must be competent in planning and teaching different information-handling skills to both teachers and students. Therefore they must continue their professional training and development.

OPERATION & MANAGEMENT

To ensure effective and accountable operations:
• the policy on school library services must be formulated to define goals, priorities and services in relation to the school’s curriculum;
• the school library must be organized and maintained according to professional standards;
• services must be accessible to all members of the school community and operate within the context of the local community;
co-operation with teachers, senior school management, administrators, parents, other librarians and information professionals, and community groups must be encouraged.

Salaysayan Eliminations

What are we all smiling about?
Nolo Silayan, Ani Almario, Dolly Soriano, Me and Ace Elgar

This picture was taken right after the Filipino Division of the Salaysayan Contest at the National Library last July 1, 2006. There were 31 contestants! A marathon! Ms. Dolly Soriano and I were judges and though it was a big contingent, the experience of seeing, hearing and engaging with 31 storytellers, all hoping to be in the Top 8 final list, was spectacular.

Storytelling, the book based way (take note, not "read aloud"), has come along way since my own telling days. It wasn't that long so don't think I'm very old. Almost ten yeras, but really, what is time and space in the vast universe?

Suffice it to say that book based storytelling has evolved into a perfroming art. Credits go to Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines and its "Lolo" Nolo Silayan for making a stand and defining a storytelling style that combined book reading and storytelling. Now you may wonder how it's done? I invite you to watch the final round at the DepEd Bulwagan on July 8, 2006 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Writers, illustrators, publishers, teachers, librarians and reading advocates, all kindred spirits for the development of Philippine Children's Literature will be there.