Fabulous Tools for Libraries

We use many different tools to reach our students.
 Here are just a few of our favorites:





Blogging:
A blog is an excellent way to keep your community up to date on events happening in your library and also to practice shared writing with your students.

• Abby's Library Blog
• Laura's Library Blog
• EduBlog award winning library blogs
• Creating your First Blog with Blogger (a video tutorial)

Podcasts:
Podcasts are a great medium for students to share book reviews, poetry, stories, research - you name it!

• PES Student Book Review Podcasts
• PES Poetry Podcasts
• PES Popham Colony Research Podcasts
• A cheat sheet for creating a podcast with your MLTI laptop

And if you're not convinced, here's a persuasive article: Why Every School Should be Podcasting.



Animoto:
Animoto is an easy and really fun way to make short videos.  Make sure you sign up for an educator account, which will give you more options for free than just a basic account. 

• Use Animoto to introduce a concept or idea: Who Was Melvil Dewey?
• Use Animoto to create your own book trailers: Neversink
• Use Animoto with students to create book trailers: Wintergirls
• Use Animoto to shamelessly promote your library program: WCS 2011-12 Highlights

Edmodo:
Edmodo is a very engaging social media tool for the older elementary and middle school students that we work with. Students love it because it looks like Facebook, and we love it because it's a secure place to connect.

• Examples of Edmodo use: book clubs, biography project, summer reading, and classroom chatroom 
• 7 Ways to Use Edmodo that will Blow Your Mind

Glogster:
Glogster is a very fun tool that can be used by students of all ages to show what they know.  Through Glogster, students can make embeddable, collaborative multimedia posters on any topic.  The process of making a Glog is highly engaging for students, but it also provides them with an opportunity to practice multiple 21st century skills.

• 5th Grade Literature Comparison
• 4th Grade Ocean Research 
• Also, definitely check out "Glogopedia" - the best of Glogster.edu. 

Skype visits with authors

• Authors Who Skype 

Tandberg Video Conferencing Equipment:
Similar to Skype, but specific to education, many schools in Maine have Tandberg videoconferencing equipment.  With this equipment, you can take your students on virtual field trips all over the world.  There are two databases that you can use to locate trips:

• Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration
• VC Content Providers
• More information on Virtual Field Trips

Wallwisher:
Wallwisher (and other online sticky note sites like CorkBoardMe and PrimaryWall) are great for getting quick feedback from students.  An excellent tool for backchanneling, Wallwisher works well with kids of all ages!

• What was your favorite summer read? 
• What does it mean to be literate today? (Professional development with staff)
• How to create a Wallwisher Wall (video tutorial) 

Ereading:
Ereaders and ereading are a whole other session topic, but we'd be remiss to not mention some of our favorite ways to eread:

• Both of our libraries have two Nooks that we lend out during school hours
• We subscribe to TumbleBooks
• We use the International Children's Digital Library on our library mobile devices
• We Give Books is a great way to eread while doing good in the world

For additional ereading resources, visit our reading resources page.



Twitter:
Twitter is an incredible professional development tool and one of the best ways to discover new and exciting things in both the technological and library worlds.  We are @Aluchies (Abby) and @elfhelps (Laura).  Some great Twitter hashtags for librarians are: #titletalk, #tlchat, #libraries, #cataloging, #edchat, #edtech.

Thanks for coming!
Please don't hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions.

lphelps@rsu1.org / aluchies@rsu1.org

Please visit TechTapas for other intriguing resources and tools that your students will love.