tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787832705669104222009-07-12T16:11:44.298-07:00News of the Bessie Chin Library at Redwood High School in Larkspur California USATom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-76754546538346281522009-06-16T12:26:00.000-07:002009-06-16T12:55:38.248-07:00

As mentioned earlier, the recently published Log, the yearbook of Redwood High School, had as its theme this year "The Seven Wonders of Redwood."Named as "Wonders" were the spirit ball, the senior parking area, the new lunch plaza, the library, new gym and pool, the amphitheatre, and Mount Tamalpais.When I talked to the yearbook advisor about the process used to pick these seven things, she said

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-32167426257529997512009-06-02T14:04:00.000-07:002009-06-16T12:53:49.268-07:00

One of the Seven Wonders of RedwoodLast week my assistant got her hands on a preview copy of our annual, the Log. The theme this year is "The Seven Wonders of Redwood." And guess what one of the "Wonders" is? Yes, the Library.It was really neat to see that the kids value the Bessie Chin Library and it's programs. The introductory article says the following: "Always a blessed place in our hearts,

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-78949826683136790762009-05-06T22:47:00.000-07:002009-05-06T23:27:21.656-07:00

This afternoon I took part in an interesting, if a bit frustrating, webinar. It was lead by David Loertscher, and Lesley Farmer also participated.The frustrating thing was that wasn't interactive like most webinars I've attended before. But maybe that will come eventually. They plan on hosting more of these sessions.The presentation, which lasted an hour, was full of tips for keeping track of

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-35575668366472992472009-05-01T22:55:00.001-07:002009-05-01T23:41:48.909-07:00

I apologize for being away for a while but I was determined to post my impressions of Library LegiDay in Sacramento on April 15 before the CSLA board meeting tomorrow.The picture is of CSLA's president, Connie Williams, and me standing on the steps of the Capitol after our "press availability" that morning. Senators Lois Wolk and Ellen Corbett had announced the proclamation of National Library

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-69672323657343415852009-04-13T22:11:00.000-07:002009-04-13T23:23:32.729-07:00

eBooks @ AdelaideI recently added over 1300 ebook records to the library catalog from the eBooks @ Adelaide (University of Adelaide, Australia) website.To access the books search for the series "eBooks @ Adelaide" (from home; from school). This will bring up the entire list of 1306 titles. Most of these books are older and therefore are out of copyright and many are available on such sites as

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-7464043327629972122009-04-10T08:38:00.000-07:002009-04-10T09:22:31.720-07:00

Joyce Valenza's statement to her high school seniors in a recently published article in VOYA says it all for me: "I hope you will do more than what the researchers call 'satificing,' a cross between satisfying and sufficing. I want you to use your skills to find quality. I want you to go further than any of your peers will. I want you to search for quality, relevance, currency, and credibility. I

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-26439894966070784782009-04-08T12:58:00.000-07:002009-04-08T13:05:51.706-07:00

This video shows Delaine Eastin's April 3rd endorsement of Tom Torlakson's bid to run for Superintendent of Public Instruction.Delaine is a real hero to the school library community and she mentions school libraries a couple times in the course of her speech. If Torlakson has only half of the passion Delaine has exhibited for school libraries over the years we will be well served by him.

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-64727834709216218902009-04-01T22:24:00.000-07:002009-04-01T23:05:47.431-07:00

It's not that often that a teacher brings a class in to find short stories to read. Today Jeff Ryan brought two of his American Lit classes to the library to find short stories.I was able to show them how to find short stories using the catalog--search for the subject "Short stories," for example. Then I explained than in our library story collections by more than one author are kept in a special

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-15731067518052135352009-03-31T22:36:00.000-07:002009-04-01T09:17:24.357-07:00

Today the Government classes held their Mock Senate exercise in three different places around the campus. One of the sessions, featuring the students in Mr. DeNardo's classes, was held in the library.It's always great to see the students dressed up like young ladies and gentlemen and taking part in this "exercise in democracy." The Mock Senate gives the students an opportunity to debate issues

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-44332885605521607942009-03-30T22:09:00.000-07:002009-03-30T23:19:54.287-07:00

Today was fairly quiet in the library.I'm continuing to weed items from the library. I'm focusing right now on the 500s--especially the 580s, Botany. A lot of the items were given new call numbers in the 333 (Environmental protection area). We have a lot of material on the rain forests which were purchased in the 1980s and 1990s which had been classified with botany but are more properly located

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-29610184194693407362009-03-26T19:50:00.000-07:002009-03-30T23:20:21.797-07:00

Today I had four classes in the library.Two of Mr. Winkler's classes came on a follow-up visit to continue finding information about their papers related to their reading of Orwell's 1984. Robert had started this project last year and this year gave his students four sheets with directions for the project including one specifically about library resources. He is requiring that they use Opposing

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-55889512118806546652009-03-08T18:13:00.000-07:002009-03-08T19:07:27.406-07:00

Friday was a very busy and productive day in the library.I spoke to five classes--all 9th graders--which are my favorites.Three English classes came in earlier in the week to take the TRAILS information literacy assessment survey. The teacher, Jeanne Woltering, is my peer evluation partner this year and I decided that I was going to work with her classes on information literacy skills. Earlier I

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-47121223277198395752009-03-01T17:35:00.000-08:002009-03-01T18:09:33.597-08:00

Interesting point of view from a young man which I saw on Doug Johnson's Blue Skunk blog and which he discovered at Walt Crawford's Liminal Librarian blog. I actually came to it via the AASL (American Assoc. of School Librarians) blog through a comment by Deborah Stafford! The wonderful world of blogs. Enjoy!?The original (AASL) posting was about a grant opportunity available through AASL for

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-59547219739833907262009-02-13T14:56:00.000-08:002009-02-13T15:27:33.505-08:00

At its February 12 meeting the TUHSD Board of Trustees approved a new course which will be offered next year at Redwood. The course, called Advanced Library Research, will offer students an introduction to college-level research skills. While we teach students at Redwood, and throughout the Tam District, how to use information efficiently and effectively through class projects in a number of

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-76697164044445815512009-01-09T00:06:00.000-08:002009-01-09T00:20:40.545-08:00

Last spring at our annual end-of-the-year staff party, the "Ginny Luncheon," two staff members where honored as Employees of the Year. Kelly Starrett, our outstanding information tech, was honored as the classified employee and yours truly was honored as certificated employee. The only reason this info is being posted now is that Mike Dibley, a highly respected member of Redwood faculty and

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-63653755818599994322008-12-05T14:06:00.000-08:002008-12-05T14:29:06.736-08:00

On Monday evening, December 1, Mayor Gavin Newsom, an alum of Redwood, visited the campus to hold a town hall meeting and (possibly) test the waters for a run for the governorship. Mayor Newson has visited Redwood before, his most recent stint as the graduation speaker last June.The town hall meeting was held in the Bessie Chin Library and over one hundred invited guests and others heard Mayor

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-89921618705920781952008-11-04T11:18:00.000-08:002008-11-04T11:37:51.808-08:00

Throughout the school year the Library celebrates various ethnic and other groups which make up the rich fabric of the United States. Starting in September with Hispanic American Heritage Month and ending in May with Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Library staff creates wonderful displays of books and other artifacts that demonstrate the diversity of our country and state.November is

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-27734009172742459812008-09-26T11:28:00.000-07:002008-09-29T09:07:46.146-07:00

We've put up displays of banned and challenged books in the Library along with documents and quotes about censorship and the First Amendment.Our library clerk, Cythea, with an eye for the dramatic and beautiful was a great help in designing the displays.As soon as I can I'll have some pictures to share. The picture shown is from an exhibit about the artistic response to literary censorship

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-69959705384897502652008-09-16T22:03:00.000-07:002008-09-16T22:54:21.099-07:00

 Throughout the year the Library celebrates several groups with displays of posters and books. From Spetember 15 through October 15 we celebrate Hispanic Heritiage Month. Unlike the other month-long celebrations Hispanic Heritage starts in the middle of one month and ends in the middle of the next. This is because Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua achieved independence

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-81150269611591830562008-09-02T22:26:00.000-07:002008-09-02T22:34:59.961-07:00

Because Karen Barrett, our long-time full-time Library Specialist has taken the position of Athletic Director we have hired a new part-time person to fill her position in the afternoon.We'd like to welcome Hans Doto to the Bessie Chin Library and the Redwood community.Most recently Hans has been working in food service at Drake High School in the district. He also runs a martial arts school in

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-33804846035774599072008-08-27T14:58:00.000-07:002008-08-27T15:17:25.644-07:00

Library orientations started this week with a presentation to a special ed class. Four students got an "up close and personal" introduction to the library. Three where freshmen and one had transferred from Drake (another school in the district) and hadn't taken World Cultures & Geography yet which is a graduation requirement.The students were attentive and I think they were able to absorb most of

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-88242845830247917322008-08-22T10:19:00.000-07:002008-08-28T07:44:25.125-07:00

As the new school year starts I've got a lot of catching up to do.The summer was eventful for the Library, especially August 2 when we had over 50 international visitors who were in town for the annual conference of the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL). The visitors were impressed by the welcoming nature of the Library. They also commented on the size of the space and the

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-982534618357405542008-06-20T22:23:00.000-07:002008-06-20T23:18:48.339-07:00

I've been off work since last Friday but visited the library twice this week for some final tasks.Yesterday I found out from my principal that we may have a new part-time library specialist working in the library. It's complicated and since nothing is final (or even announced) I can't go into detail at this time. Suffice it to say that change may be coming to the BCL.It's been very hot this week

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-74823031594251412202008-04-22T21:03:00.000-07:002008-04-22T21:59:37.740-07:00

I've been away from the blog for a couple weeks. Part of that was the Spring Break vacation.I had a great time down in Puerto Vallarta enjoying the sea and sun. The photo to the right shows the church and plaza in the center of PV on a recent beautiful spring morning.While in Mexico this time I got to fly to a small town back in the Sierra Madre which used to be a sliver-mining center. It just

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578783270566910422.post-68620452519398059382008-04-13T15:25:00.000-07:002008-04-13T15:41:20.138-07:00

I thought this short video "Go Fish," was a fun one to celebrate the week with. Even though we've got lots of resources in the Bessie Chin Library, the public library has even more. Make sure you get (and keep) your public library card.| MARINet | Marin County Free Library | Larkspur Public Library | Belvedere-Tiburon Library |.:| Celebrating National Library Week, April 13-19, 2008 |:.

Tom Kaunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813378381838446780tomkaun@gmail.com1