Library Media Services
Newsletter
December
Embedded Files
Library Media Services
This month in GCS Library Media Services:
District Data
District Data
We are short of being on track to meet the goal of 1 million circulations this year!
What can you do to boost circulation at your school?
We are on track to exceed our goal of reading 10 million minutes this year!
What are you doing to build a reading culture at your school?
We are improving our digital book usage!
What can you do to encourage more use at your school?
School Shout Outs
School Shout Outs
Congratulations to our top circulating sites for November! Great job Christie, Jennifer, Charity and Drew! (Standard 2.a, 2.b, 4.c)
Congratulations Tim McGoogan, winner of a Dollar Tree gift card sponsored by GASL to fund the next STEM Challenge! (Standard 2.a, 2.b)
Congratulations to our top Beanstack sites! Thanks for moving us toward our goal Heather, Patty, Chauncey, and Margaret! (Standard 4.c)
Next Up
Next Up
Next Monthly Meeting
Monthly virtual meeting topics
Location: Teams
Date: December 2
Two time options:
12:00-1:00
3:00-4:00
One of the meetings will be recorded each month.
Next New SLMC Meeting
Location: High Point Public Library
Date: January 16
Time: 1:30-3:30
New SLMC meetings are for any SLMCs in their 1st, 2nd or 3rd years with GCS LMS.
Upcoming Dates
12/2: Monthly Virtual Meeting
12/16: SLMC Regional Conference
12/19: Destiny Training
1/6: Monthly Virtual Meeting
1/9: Destiny Training
1/10: Winter Reading Minutes due
1/16: New SLMC Meeting
1/23: ES SLMC/STEM Collab
1/24: Collection Development Plan Workday
1/24: CIPA Certification due
December Responsibilities
Promote GCS Winter Break Reading Challenge (2.b, 4.c)
Hold second MTAC meeting (before end of 2nd quarter) (1.c)
Sign up for reading programs (2.b, 4.c)
Complete annual inventory of student collection (3.a, 5.a)
Work on Collection Development Plan (3.a)
Update Destiny Discover homepage and library website as needed (1.a, 3.a)
Tabulate time spent on technology and non-evaluated* tasks (1.c)
File or archive artifacts for evaluation
GCS Reads
GCS Reads
Great job! We are already halfway to our
10 Million Minute Goal!
See how your school compares for total minutes logged.
What reading counts toward the goal?
Student self-selected reading
At-home reading
Non-required class reading
Partner reading
Any reading in which the student is allowed a choice!
Any reading done for fun!
(Standard 4.c)
Upcoming Training
Elizabeth, our Beanstack representative, will join us for the monthly virtual meeting in January. To help ensure everyone's needs are met during this session, please submit any questions you have ahead of time.
Form to Submit Beanstack Questions
Beanstack also offers regular virtual trainings and recorded webinars that you can access anytime.
Date: December 3, 2024 at 1:00 pm ET
Audience: All - School Admin, District Admin, and Teachers
Looking to learn more about the reports available in Beanstack? In this 30 minute session, we'll share our favorite reports for gathering independent reading data. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your data game to drive engagement and success!
Winter Break Reading Challenge
Prek-8th grade students must read at least 300 minutes between December 21 and January 5 to earn a ticket to three UNCG basketball games.
Men's Basketball vs. Wofford, Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6:00 pm at the First Horizon Coliseum
Women's Basketball vs. Western Carolina, Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2:00 pm in Fleming Gymnasium
Men's Basketball vs. Samford, Saturday, Mar. 1 at 4:00 pm in Fleming Gymnasium
9th-12th grade students must read at least 300 minutes between December 21 and January 5 to be entered into a drawing for a Barnes and Noble gift card.
Drawing will held on Monday, January 13. Ten gift cards will be awarded.
Resources are available on the Reading Programs Handbook Page.
Reading minutes must be logged in Beanstack to be eligible for a prize. Students who cannot record their minutes over Winter Break can enter them in Beanstack when they return to school. To count toward the challenge, minutes will need to be dated during Winter Break.
(Standard 4.c)
Battle of the Books
NCSLMA Membership and Compliance Due!!
All schools participating in traditional BOB should have completed the membership renewal and compliance form on the NCSLMA website.
An updated list of schools that have met compliance (according to NCSLMA) is in the presentation from the November 18 meeting.
(Standard 4.c)
ES STEM BOB
Teams should be completing and submitting the second challenge by winter break.
There is a check-in meeting on December 9.
(Standard 2.a, 2.b)
Access the BOB Google Site for support resources and important dates.
Authors Engaging Students
All videos for the fall AES series are available for viewing. The recordings are accessible from the Authors Engaging Students Resource Site.
(Standard 4.c)
⭐ The sign up for the Spring AES series is open! ⭐
Complete this form by December 6 to receive books by selected authors.
STEM Challenge Book Club Resources
Activities for the 2024-25 NCCBA books have been added to the STEM Challenge Book Club Site. A set of the books has been provided to all elementary schools. Materials are not being provided this year.
Past activities are still available on the site for use in schools.
(Standard 2.a, 2.b)
News to Note
News to Note
Collection Development Process
The collection development process includes conducting an inventory of the student-circulating collection, analyzing collection data, and writing a plan for collection development and management. Support for each step of the process will be provided by LMS. (Standard 3.a)
Inventory
Inventory should be well underway or completed. The recording from the October inventory training and the written tutorial are available for reference as the inventory process is finalized.
There is no specific inventory due date, but an inventory must be completed before doing a Collection Development Plan.
Collection Analysis
Before using a Titlewise analysis, data should be cleaned up to ensure accuracy. The recording from the November Titlewise training and the written tutorial are available for reference as the collection analysis process begins.
Collection Development Plan
The December virtual monthly meeting will focus on the new Collection Development Plan Template and Walkthrough Tutorial.
Collection Development Plans completed using the old template will not be accepted. The training walkthrough and template are linked in the Handbook. Plans must be submitted using the appropriate form and will not be accepted via email.
There is a workday scheduled on January 24 for those that want to attend. Performance Matters registration is required. Space is limited.
Professional Learning Opportunities
When requesting professional development leave to attend a conference you will now be asked to complete a prior approval form. This form must be completed 60 days in advance. Administrators may give you the form to complete or simply ask for justification for conference attendance to put into the form. You can preview the form to be able to prepare responses when submitting requests.
Calendar
2024-25 Meeting List and Due Dates -
This document will always be the most
up-to-date, reliable resource for meeting dates, times and locations!
LMS Professional Learning Handbook page
(Standard 5.b)
Grade Level PLCs
Grade level PLCs will be in person during the January quarterly meeting.
SLMCs will work in zone groups to reflect on Collection Development Plans and breakout groups to do Destiny updates.
PLC Resources and Links to Agendas
(Standard 1.b)
DPI Opportunities
SLMC Collaborative
New Cohort
Smaller group, 1 cohort with 3 face-to-face events and several virtual meetings.
Seeking participants who have not yet been involved in collaboratives.
Apply by November 27, notifications on December 9.
Alumni interest form open until December 6.
Alumni of collaboratives will be invited to the February Digital Leadership Exchange events and virtual meetings to build connections and address problems of practice
(Standard 5.b)
NC TIES Conference
March 5-7, 2025 Raleigh Convention Center
Let the good TIES roll! We’re bringing the energy, excitement, and innovation of Mardi Gras to the Raleigh Convention Center for the 2025 NCTIES Conference. Educators like you are the heart of learning, and this is your chance to grow, connect, and recharge in true celebratory style.
NCTIES is North Carolina’s leading event for educational technology, bringing together teachers, administrators, and edtech enthusiasts who share a passion for transforming education. Join us for vibrant sessions, collaborative opportunities, and a whole lot of fun as we explore new ways to bring technology to life in the classroom.
Don’t miss this chance to learn, laugh, and laissez les bons temps rouler with your fellow educators. Mark your calendar, make your plans, and get ready to roll with us in Raleigh!
(Standard 5.b)
Monthly STEM Challenges Are LIVE! Go to the STEM Challenge site to participate!
SLMCs are challenged to engage their students in low-stakes, low-tech STEM activities this year! (Standard 2.a, 2.b)
The December Challenge is Move it, Move it. SLMCs who have students try the challenges and submit images to LMS will be entered into a drawing for a gift card sponsored by GASL. One winner will be drawn and recognized in the newsletter the next month.
How can you implement the STEM challenges in your school library program?
use the challenges in lessons with one of the suggested picture books or find an alternative in your collection
set up the challenge as a monthly center in your library
start a STEM club and work through the challenges using the Engineering Design Process
invite students in for "Lunch and Learn" maker activities
any way you want to!!
To help with future planning, challenges will be published on the STEM Challenge site a month in advance so the materials list will be available. You can preview the next month's challenge by clicking on the link in the left-hand menu.
Destiny Reminders and Trainings
Asynchronous Cataloging Training
What is it? A self-paced Canvas course to learn how to catalog books in Destiny following GCS best practices.
Who is it for? New-to-GCS SLMCs or anyone who wants a cataloging refresher.
When is it? On your own time, must be completed by May to receive credit this school year.
Where is it? Online in Canvas
How do we sign up? Enroll in the Canvas Course
(Standard 2.a)
Destiny Training
What is it? A series of virtual meetings focused on gaining a more in-depth understanding of the functions in Destiny Back Office and Discover.
Who is it for? Any SLMC who wants to become more proficient with Destiny.
When is it? 4 dates between October and March
The next meeting is December 19 at 3:00.
Where is it? Meetings will be held via Teams.
How do we sign up? Register in Performance Matters and enroll in the Destiny Training Canvas Course.
(Standard 2.a)
High Point Public Library Partnership Opportunities
December Events
Teacher Workday Performances
HPPL and Morehead Recreation Center in High Point will be hosting free performances for all ages on teacher workdays throughout the school year. Please share this information with your school community. Contact Sarah Nareau (sarah.nareau@highpointnc.gov) with questions about this program.
Fall and Spring Performances Event Flyer
(Standard 4.c)
Dig Cit Corner
Dig Cit Corner
CIPA Certification
GCS SLMCs will certify each year that CIPA Digital Citizenship requirements have been met for their school. The annual Responsible Use Course covers the topics required by the Children's Internet Protection Act.
Certification is due for the 2024-2025 school year via this form by January 24, 2025.
December Digital Citizenship Theme: We define who we are.
In a time of 24/7 connectivity, do the benefits of online sharing outweigh the risks? Lessons will prompt students to consider how sharing information online can affect them and others and will support them in learning to reflect before they reveal, as well as encourage others to do the same. Students will also learn the pros and cons of having different personae and explore how presenting themselves differently online can affect their sense of self, their reputations, and their relationships. Read more about this topic on the Common Sense Education website.
(Standard 1.d)
Monthly activities to teach digital citizenship are available on the Guilford is Cyber Safe website.
Technology Tidbits
Technology Tidbits
New Asset States:
SLMCs/School FreshService Admin will use
Assigned24 This takes the place of In Use for Student Devices
Buffer24 This takes the place of In Stock for Student Devices
Missing This will continue to be used when devices are reported missing or stolen
Tech Services will use
Scanned24 These devices were scanned at the end of the 23/24 school year. Devices that show this Asset State have not been used this school year.
Disposed24 Assigned to devices that are beyond repair and out of warranty.
Locked24 Assigned to all devices that will be locked due to not being connected to our network since August 1, 2024.
The Technology Services Handbook For Schools is your one-stop shop for processes, resources, and guidelines.
🎯 Pro Tip: Use the Table of Contents to navigate through the document; you can also use Ctrl + f on a Windows device or ⌘ + f on an iOS device or to search by keyword.
Technology Approval and Procurement Process
Use the Technology Approval and Procurement Process request for all technology purchases including
Hardware
Software
GCS ‘standard’ technology
Brand new technology
Past Issues
Past Issues
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