Summer Reading Sources

Thank you Creative Commons! By jgoge [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

It's SUMMER READING time in TENNESSEE!!!! 

Can you tell that these warmer temps have put me in the mood for some beach reading?

For some great book ideas:

• Check out this fantastic list put out by the Houston Area Independent Schools Library Network (say that 3 times fast, I dare ya!): Recommended Reading List for 2013. 

• 2 Free(!) YA audiobooks per week beginning May 30th here: SYNC.

• Publisher's Weekly's 2013 Rec's

• Goodreads Popular Summer '13 Titles

• And last but not least, don't forget good ole bookbloggin'! For who will promote us if we do not promote ourselves?--me. 

William and the Windmill

Hey, do you remember a few years ago when there was a giant windmill in the library?

You don't hear that question every day, do you? If you were a part of the GPS community then, you remember it was part of my promotional effort for our "Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" voluntary reading program which included upper school students and faculty members. [Note: if you still haven't read this book, stop what you're doing and come check out a copy. It's well written, inspiring, supports our STEM program, and just opens your eyes to life in a part of the world so far removed from our Chattanooga home.]

Here's the book trailer I created for the program.

Be on the lookout for a full length documentary coming soon, William and the Windmill, which builds upon this short feature film, Moving Windmills.

More about William and the Windmill here.

William's TED talk, which got the attention of the world, is here.

Glogster Kudos!

Encouraging friends through technology, what could be better? I am experimenting with presenting my monthly GPS faculty kudos submissions with an app or widget that my colleagues might not already know about. Unfortunately, after creating this Glog, I learned that Glogster is blocked on campus. Too much questionable content or something to that effect. My computer is "freed" but sadly, many of my colleagues' are not. Sooo...here is my attempt to distribute my January kudos via this blog which is unblocked on campus. Click on "Show Full Size" and let's cross our fingers that it works! :)

Free is Fabulous

Do you follow the Free Tech For Teachers blog? If not, you should! I love Saturday's post which is all about great iPad apps for schools. I can't wait to recommend some of these for our faculty.

So I'm wondering, how do you keep up with the influx of great information coming in from blogs, professional publications, and news sources out there? For years I have used iGoogle as my homepage, but as it's going away soon, I had to seek out another repository to simplify my life.

Truth:



Information Overload, by SparkCBC accessed via Flickr through the Creative Commons.

I set up a Netvibes home page and have RSS feeds flowing directly into boxes there along with my gmail inbox, news feeds, Twitter feed, and more. Check it out and let me know if you'd like help setting it up.

If you have another suggestion, please let me know! I'm always looking for new ways to organize and access all the great ideas and information being produced out there. 

Dazed and Confused

If technology were a bottomless swimming pool, I have spent the past few weeks tiptoeing around the edges. I was brave from time to time and would stick my toe in only to jerk it back, daunted by the depth and possibilities before me. You know what? Sometimes you just have to just jump right in. I did and though I was treading water for a while (hence the dazed and confused reference), I am finding that the water is fine...a lot of fun, actually.


The pool I am referring to is Libguides, the most widely used system for creating research guides and sharing knowledge according to Springshare, its parent company.

Here's the first one that I created all about new books and ebooks in the GPS library. I'm working on a research guide for the 10th grade Global Issues paper. Be on the lookout for more in coming weeks!

New Books in the Holland Library

Haggerston Castle Swimming Pool obtained with permission via Flickr through the Creative Commons.

What Should I Read Next?

So you just finished something you absolutely loved and when you imagine settling for anything less for your next read, visions of you turning into the Incredible Hulk flash through your mind. No? Just me?! Well your pursuit for the next great read doesn't have to be quite so dramatic. Here are some tools to help you in your journey:

What Should I Read Next?

Whichbook (lets you pick based on some really interesting factors..."expected vs. unexpected", "larger than life vs. down to earth", "easy vs. demanding", etc. etc.)

This is an interesting TEEN book finder that is a site + FB app. See what you think! thisisteen.com

Don't forget the TEL Books & Authors Database! It's so cool!!!