April 29 - New Spring Puffin is here!
In this issue: download here
- Senate Bill 119 passed through both houses; now we need to get it funded.
- How you can get involved in creating an Alaska Readers¹ Choice Award.
- Outstanding Alaskan School Librarians win various awards.
- All about Blogs.
- The new NoveList.
- News from school libraries around the state.
- Informative reports from the AkLA conference.
- And much, much more. . .
April 17 - SB 119 Goes to Gov. Palin
SB 119 has passed the House and Senate and is waiting for the Governor's signature. There is no funding attached to the bill at this time. Next policies will be written for the enactment of the bill by the State Library, and then funding will be requested next year.
April 11 - SB 119 Passes the House!
SB 119 was quickly scheduled of vote today in the House and was passed! Many thanks and congratulations to everyone who wrote and called in support of school and public libraries!
Next, the Senate will be asked to concur to the House amendments to the bill, and the bill still has no money attached to it. This is all great news for libraries.
March 30 - SB119 Goes to House Finance Committee
Great news everyone! Our bill heads to the House Finance Committee
NEXT Tuesday, April 1st at 1:30.
You can visit the Bill History to download the newest version of the bill to review in
case you get asked specific questions about either part of the bill.
IIf you can, please take time to send an electronic POM to the House
Finance Committee members, especially if one of them is a
representative from your district.
March 22 - Book Bonanza Contest
Read all about the 2007 Book Bonanza Winners and the new2008 application to win new books for libraries. Visit the Book Bonanza web page, and download the brochure. Deadline for application is April 30, 2008
March 22 - SB 119 Passes HESS Committee
SB passed through the house HESS committee and is headed to the House finance committee. Below are the names and contact information for the House Finance Committee members. Now is the time to contact these members so they are aware of your support when it reaches them. We need to keep our activity and vocal support up. Please take time to make a contact as we aren't sure how fast a hearing will come up. Online POM
House Finance (FIN) 465-3757
Co-Ch: Rep. Mike Chenault (District 34)
Co-Ch: Rep Kevin Meyer (District 30)
V-Ch: Rep. Bill Stoltze (District 16)
Rep. Richard Foster (District 39)
Rep. Mike Hawker (District 32)
Rep. Michael "Mike" Kelly (District 7)
Rep. William "Bill" Thomas Jr. (District 5)
Rep. Harry Crawford (District 21)
Rep. Les Gara (District 23)
Rep. Mary Nelson (District 38)
Rep_firstname_lastname@legis.state.ak.us
March 12 - State School Library Coordinator Job Posted
More info on the dream of a lifetime job opportunity!
March 11 - Report on SB 119 HESS Testimony
It's time for action! Your help is needed by Thursday.
More info on how YOU can support SB 119 and libraries!
From Barb Bryson:
SB 119 went to the House HESS (Health Education and Social Services
Committee) today at 4:00.
Kari Sagel, Roz Goodman, Debbie Edwardson, (A school board member
from North Slope), Charlotte Glover (public librarian from Ketchican,
Caitlin Dixon a school librarain also from Ketchican and I spoke today.
Once again testimony was excellent, and there were public & school
librarians from around the state chiming in with support for both
grants in the bill. At one point there were 15 individuals on line
from around the state ready to speak on behalf of our bill!!
The bill did not pass out of the HESS Committee. (Because of all the
testimony today, there was not time for discussion.) The next meeting for the House HESS Committee will be
this Thursday, March 13th.
I will keep you all in the loop on what happens next.
Thanks so much!!
Barb
March 8 - SB 119 moves to House
New flyer too!
SB 119 will come before the House Health Education and Social
Services Committee (HESS) Tuesday 3/11 at 3:00!!
It is now entitled: "An Act relating to grant programs to support
libraries."
For more information on this bill see: Bill History page
Take time to get some POM's to the House HESS Committee members this
weekend if you have time or make a phone call before Tuesday.
More info on how YOU can support SB 119 and libraries!
March 5 - Election Results Bring in New E-Board Members
President elect - Suzanne Metcalfe
Region 1 rep - Suzanne Richards
Region 2 rep - Katie Conover
Region 3 rep - Renee Wood
Region 4 rep - Ginny Norris Blackson
Secretary - Kari Sagel
Laura Guest - Puffin Editor
Ballot question about changing regions - Passed
February 23
- Alaska State Library - Digital Librarian / Librarian III
Applications accepted until March 21, 2008.
Position Description:
Do you have professional experience with libraries and technology?
Can you manage multiple digital projects?
Do you have experience with distance education?
Are you a good communicator?
If you can say yes to the above, consider this great job at the Alaska
State Library!
This "digital librarian" will manage the technology resources to
maximize positive support for the missions of the Alaska State Library.
This "Digital Librarian" will:
* Oversee and coordinate selected digital and electronic resource
projects for the Alaska State Library;
* Determine strategies for successful implementation of a broad
range of digital and technology activities that blend with traditional
library services;
* Design, create and facilitate the use of online instructional
materials, web tutorials and other distance learning objects;
* Consult with libraries and librarians throughout Alaska on
technology-related services and initiatives,
* Consult with Archives and Museum staff on digital projects, and
* Supervise a number of technology-related positions, e.g., the
library's web master, network specialist.
Minimum Qualifications:
Master's degree from an accredited college in library or information
science, media services, or a closely related field;
AND
Two years of advanced level professional librarian experience with
independent responsibility for multiple funtional areas of library
work, such as classification and cataloging, reference services,
circulation, collection acquisition, development and preservation, or
library webpage services. This experience is met by service as a
Librarian II with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another
employer.
To apply for this position, please visit
http://workplace.alaska.gov
and
look for the Librarian three posted in Juneau.
February 19 - Still time to nominate Pat on the Back Award
PAT your Administrator for supporting your library program.
It is NOT TOO LATE to send an
email, letting Mary Hacker know about your wonderful administrator! Info
needed: Name of administrator and school/school district information plus
name of person nominating and a wonderful paragraph telling about the
virtures of said administrator.
Certificate will be sent plus name of nominee will be in our program at the
awards banquet.
Mary Hacker, AkASL Awards Chair
February 19 - SB 119 - Act to support libraries today!
Updated SB119 Flyer Color PDF or B&W PDF
New bill version available SB 119 Version M1 , and you can visit a new link to the most recent committee action.
More on SB 119
February 17 - Book Bonanza 2008
Read all about the 2007 Book Bonanza Winners and the new2008 application to win new books for libraries. Visit the Book Bonanza web page, and download the brochure. Deadline for application is April 30, 2008
February 10 - SB 119 passes Senate Finance Committee
See Bill History link for more details.
January 30 - NEW Update on SB 119
Import news- Senate Finance Committee hearing 1/31/08
New Committee Substitute Bill
Read the details
January 29 - New Puffin is Packed! 
- Read about Reno
- Update on SB119
- Book Bonaza Award
- Region News
- Certification News! Letter from Commissioner
Reprinted with permission of the Commissioner
- Battle of the Books
- AKLA Conference tips
- WOW! there is a lot MORE
Janary 26, 2008 - Long Awaited Book Bonanza Awards
2007 Book Bonanza Competition Awards
First Prize: Klukwan Community School Library: $800 gift certificate (worth $1,067 in books) + Books donated by Cook Inlet Book Company
Second Prize (Tie):
Trapper Creek School $400 gift certificate (worth $533 in books) + Books from Cook Inlet Book Company
Kaleidoscope School of the Arts Library (Kenai) $400 certificate (worth $533 in books) + Books from Cook Inlet Book Company
Because we went through 3 rounds of judging and still came up with a tie for second, there is no third place prize this year. Honorable mentions go to: Willow Community Library and Delta Greely Middle and High Schools.
Competition donors were: Barnes and Noble Anchorage and Corporate Offices, the Alaska Library Association, Alaska Association of School Librarians, AkLA-Anchorage, AkLA-Northern Chapter, AkLA-Juneau Chapter, Friends of the Ketchikan Public Library, Roz Goodman, Joyce McCombs, Sue Sherif, the late Cook Inlet Book Company.
Announcement of the 2008 competition will be made shortly.
Submitted by Sue Sherif
January 22, 2008 - AKLA Early Registration Deadline
February 9 is the deadline for early registration for the AKLA conference in Fairbanks. Register online: http://www.akla.org/fairbanks2008/
Accommodations update: To receive the conference rate you must call the toll-free number for reservations (1-800-426-0500). Be sure to use the AkLA Group Code: TNF/L8058. Check conference web site for details.
January 16, 2008 - SLOY deadline extended
School Librarian of the Year deadline extended to January 25!
Linda Moyer, Haines School wins 4 GB iPod Nano in this year's AKASL membership drawing.
2008 Trave Grant Awardees - going to Fairbanks!
January 15, 2008 - Deadlines loom on Award submissions
School Librarian of the Year Award - Due January 18
Linda K Barret Service Award - Due January 18
Pat on the Back Administrator Award - Due February 15
Interactive Award Nomination forms at http://home.gci.net/~hh
See all award Descriptions
January 8, 2008 - Time to Register for AKLA Conference!
Alaska Library Association Annual Conference - Online Registration
January 8, 2008 - Job Announcement - ASL position closed.
December 12, 2007 - Win an iPod!!!
Send in your AkASL membership by Friday, December 21, 2007 and you will be automatically entered for the iPod drawing.
Travel Grant Due December 15!!!
November 9, 2007
Travel Grant reminder!! Get your applications in by December 15, and join us at the AKLA Conference in Fairbanks February 28 - March 2.
November 8, 2007
Nearly 30 Alaskan school librarians went to Reno in October for the American Association of School Librarians conference. Highlights reported were guest authors Wendelin VanDraanen and David Lubar, keynote speaker Dan Pink author of A Whole New Mind, preconference on assessment with Violet Harada, learning about new books, more new books and lots of exposure to Web 2.0! Attending a national conference is a great experience! 
Friday October 19, 2007
New Fall issue of the Puffin is here! See what's happened over the summer and what is coming for the winter. Lots of news and stories.
Monday October 15, 2007 - New AkASL Publications
Staying Connected Brochure 2007 PDF 224 kb
School Library Collection Grant SB 119 Flyer PDF 175 kb
Get Active Flyer PDF 106 kb
So I'm an AkASL Member, What Does That Mean? PDF flyer 118 kb - Regions, Reps and objectives.
Check out NEW Publications link in left navigation bar!
October 14, 2007 - AkASL Advocates for School Libraries
Send in your school library photos!
AkASL is busy this fall advocating for school libraries in several ways. Board members are busy getting ready for the Principal's Conference this week in Anchorage where they will be manning a table to hand out brochures, promote the SB 119 School Library Collection Grant legislation, and run a drawing for a set of books from World Book.
Board members will also present at the Alaska Association of School Boards conference for the first time. This new outreach will help board members understand just what school librarians do. The focus will be on the diverse aspects of our job and how librarians are leaders in technology in schools. Technology is the current focus for AASB.
Finally, there will soon be new publications posted for all school libraries to use in advocacy efforts including: "Staying Connected" , "SB 119", "Get
Active" and "So I'm an AkASL Member, What Does That Mean?" brochures.
Monday September 17, 2007 - School Library Coordinator Job Deadline Extended till October 1
The recruitment ends September 12, 2007. All applications must be received through WorkPlace Alaska, http://tinyurl.com/2v4who
See previous announcement below for more info.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - Announcing Travel Grant
Alaska Library Association Annual Conference
The State Library, through Alaska State Museum and Library Services and Federal Source CFDA 45.310, has generously donated 20 travel grants to AKASL members. This year
the grant will pay for transportation, conference fees and hotel up to $1100.
Well worth applying for!!! Deadline December 15, 2007
More Details
Visit the AkLA site (http://www.akla.org/fairbanks2008) for additional conference presenters and information about the conference.
To apply for the grant, send a Travel Grant Application to Suzanne Richards suzanne_richards@lksd.org
Applicants must be current members of AKASL. AKASL membership can be submitted with Travel Grant Application. .http://www.akla.org/akasl/assoc/memb-form.html
Librarians who are awarded the travel grant must submit an article about the conference to Puffin, the AkASL on-line newsletter.
See application for details.
Saturday, September 9, 2007 - DOE proposes reading course regulation
The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development has proposed a regulation that would require, as of September 15, 2009, successful
completion of the Alaska Reading course or a passing score on its
assessments by teachers who are moving from an initial certificate to a
professional certificate or those who are renewing a professional
certificate.
The State Board of Education & Early Development has opened an extensive
period of public comment -- up to 4 p.m. November 9, 2007 -- on the
proposal, which is scheduled to be considered at the board's meeting on
December 7, 2007.
The scientifically based course focuses on the five critical elements of
reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and
comprehension. The Alaska Reading course has added word study and
comprehension through the writing of text. Research clearly shows that
children learn better when teachers use direct, multi-sensory
instruction. Research supports the importance of teaching reading as a
sequential and structured process.
Questions? Contact Paul Prussing, Acting Director of Teaching & Learning
Support, at 907-465-8721 or paul.prussing@alaska.gov.
See the proposed regulations:
http://www.eed.state.ak.us/regs/comment/4AAC_12.305(b).pdf.
How to comment: http://www.eed.state.ak.us/regs/comment.html.
See the course manual:
www.eed.state.ak.us/AKReading/pdfs/Participant%20Manual/
Participant%20Guide.pdf.
Saturday, September 1 - Job Announcement
SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA COORDINATOR JOB OPEN @ STATE LIBRARY
Do you love literacy, teaching and school libraries? Would you like to work with the school librarians of Alaska to improve services to students and teachers? Then this may be the job for you!
The position is part of the Library Development team of the Alaska State Library. The Alaska State Library is comprised of two special libraries (Information Services and Historical Collections) and Library Development. The three sections have a combined mission: to work together for the good of the libraries of the State of Alaska.
This position is the School Library Coordinator. The Library Development team provides support and consultation to libraries throughout Alaska. This position works primarily with school and combined school/community libraries and is located at the State Library in Anchorage. For more information, please visit WorkPlace Alaska’s website or contact Sue Sherif at (907) 269-6569. The job is listed two ways: Librarian III and School Library Coordinator; both are the same job.
The recruitment ends September 12, 2007. All applications must be received through WorkPlace Alaska, http://tinyurl.com/2v4who
Saturday September 1 - Library Academy Goes 2.0
Library Academy 2007 rocked participants through Web 2.0 with guest presenter from Philidelphia Joyce Valenza, creating READ posters with our own Ann Morgester, and two days of book mania with guest presenter from Texas Terri Lesesne!
If you'd like a glimpse of what Joyce Valenza covered in one amazing fast paced day visit the Alaska Workshop wiki, the Alaska School Librarians Ning and our Alaska School Library Voicethread. These are all Web 2.0 tools that you and the teachers in your schools can use to get students engaged in learning and technology.
Browse through the workshop wiki and see the many other cool tools and websites out there. Check out Joyce Valenza's TeacherLibrarian Ning and Library 2.0 Ning for ongoing conversations about technology and school libraries around the country.
