Dana Fisher - Wed. Oct. 17 to Fri. Oct. 19, 2012

Our final guest blogger this Fall is Dana Fisher, a library media specialist at Florence Elementary School in High Point, NC.

Visit Dana's biopage for more information:
http://eduscapes . . .fisher.html

This week, Dana is in the midst of presenting lessons to her students that are required by the Children's Internet Protection Act. It's a busy week with a book fair in the library, an activity that is run entirely by PTA volunteers. That means that Dana is taking her "show on the road" to the children's classrooms.

Startup question: "What is the most important issue or activity facing you in your school library this fall?"

Dennis LeLoup - Wed. Oct. 10 to Fri. Oct. 12, 2012

Next guest up is Dennis LeLoup, the school librarian at both Avon Intermediate Schools (Grades 5-6).

Dennis is the current President of the Indiana Library Federation and was recently appointed to serve on the 2014 Caldecott Committee(ALSC). He is also serving another term on the ALA Council as a Councilor-at-large. Learn more about him at:

http://eduscapes...leloup.html

Interactions can begin as soon as Dennis posts his response to this year's lead-in query:
"What is the most important issue or activity facing you in your school library this fall?"

Jeanna Walker - Mon. Oct. 8 to Wed. Oct. 10, 2012

Our next guest is Jeanna Walker, the media specialist teacher at Portage Northern High School (MI). There she orchestrates a myriad of activities with students and teachers in the Library Learning Commons.

The library teaching program was selected to represent Michigan on Dr. Nancy Everhart’s AASL Vision Tour.

Learn more about Jeanna, her work at Portage Northern High School and a busy professional life at 
http://eduscapes.com/..walker.html

The startup question asked of all the blog-guests this year is: "What is the most important issue or activity facing you in your school library this fall?"

Pete Hildebrandt - Wed. Oct. 3 to Fri. Oct. 5, 2012

Next up for blogging with class members is Pete Hildebrandt, a 33 year veteran of public education. Pete is the Library Media Specialist at Sylvania Southview High School (OH).

He has taught grades 1,2, 4, 5 and 6, worked as a principal, and been a media specialist at the middle school / junior high as well as two high schools. An award winning educator, he has just about done it all!
Learn more about Pete:

http://. . .hildebrandt.html

Use this opportunity to 'pick his brain' and learn all you can from his work as both a teacher and a teacher librarian.

Susan Eley - Mon. Oct. 1 to Wed. Oct. 3, 2012

Joining the class as the first blog-guest this year is Susan Eley, the library media specialist at Hillside Elementary School (PreK to Grade 4) in Mt. Laurel, NJ. Susan is a relatively recent graduate of Indiana University's MLS program and has a few year's of on-the-job experience.

This past summer, she was involved with her school district's Library Media Curriculum Writing Committee as they worked to incorporate the Common Core Standards for language arts. She would be pleased to share with you ideas and insights gained in that process as well as any other issues and activities related to her school library and the work of school librarians in general.

Learn more about Susan at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/eley.html.

My startup question to all of our blog-guests this year is: "What is the most important issue or activity facing you in your school library this fall?"

Dana Fisher - Wed. Oct. 12 to Fri. Oct. 14, 2011

Dana Fisher, an IUPUI SLIS graduate, now lives and works in North Carolina. This year, she moved from a media specialist position at a middle school library to become the libary media specialist at Florence Elementary School in High Point, NC (Both the schools are in the same district). Prior to moving to NC, Dana held a similar position at Tuttle Middle School in Crafordsville, IN.

Dana's unique perspectives include experiences with service learning, problem-based learning, collaborations with teachers, reading promotion activities, and maintaining her personal blogsite: The Quilted Librarian.

It is great to have the participation of a former student who is now working in the school library field. Learn more about Dana:
http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/fisher.html

I'm asking Dana the same 'kickoff' question posed to all our blog guests: "What is it that people don't get about your job?"

Robin Tanis - Tues. Oct. 11 to Thurs. Oct. 13, 2011

Robin Tanis is the Head Librarian at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, GA. At St. Pius, Robin has worked to establish a collaborative partnership with teachers. She was an early pioneer in technology integration bringing computers, automation, and the Internet into the library and then the rest of the school. Robin was the original Webmaster for the school and is still responsible for keeping the Flannery O’Connor Library Website up to date. A new change that she instituted this year is a fan page for the library on Facebook.

Encouraging pleasure reading is a professional interest of Robin’s. Robin is also known for ASPIRE! - - a Summer Reading Enrichment program. She has presented her program at state and national conferences. ASPIRE! was featured in both Knowledge Quest (Sep/Oct 2003, Access to PDF document requires login) and School Library Journal (Jan. 2004). She has established a Teen Library Council to give interested students leadership opportunities. She also moderates the Anime Club.

Asking Robin to respond to the same 'kickoff' question: "What is it that people don't get about your job?"

Learn more about Robin at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/tanis.html.

Maria Savoldi - Mon. Oct. 10 to Wed. Oct. 12, 2011

Maria Savoldi has experience as a classroom teacher, a school library media specialist, and as a county director of instructional media and technology - - much of that as employee of the Glynn County School System, Brunswick, GA. She has also designed and delivered professional learning courses (staff development, teacher training) that foster effective technology integration.

Like most of our guest experts working in the field, Maria often delivers presentations and workshops at state and national conferences and has served in various governance roles in professional organizations.

In 2006 Maria made a career jump to begin working full-time in distance learning / online education. In that arena, she was first employed by the Georgia Virtual School and during the last few years, works for the Mercury Online Academy. Maria now lives in Florida and at Mercury, she is the Manager of Online Instructional Services.

I've also asked Maria to first respond to the 'kickoff question': "What is it that people don't get about your Job?"

Learn more at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/savoldi.html

Cindy Newton - Wed. Oct. 5 to Fri. Oct 7, 2010

Cindy Newton is the school library media specialist (SLMS) at Connersville Middle School (IN). Her background and expertise contains numerous positive teaching and learning experiences including work as an elementary teacher, followed by expanded technology responsibilities in the same school, and currently directing a successful library media program.

As  a school library media specialist, Cindy collaborates with teachers and assists student research projects. She has initiated and guided several different reading promotions and programs. She also serves as the web master for both the Library Media Center and the Connersville Middle School websites.

Cindy is a frequent presenter at professional conferences such as ILF, ISRA, and ICE. She has been selected as the Fayette County School Corporation'sTeacher of the Year and was named as an IU Armstrong Educator. Recently she was selected to attend a Library of Congress Summer Institute.

Learn more at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/newton.html

I've asked Cindy this year's 'startup' question: "What is it that people don't get about your job?"

Lori Clark-Erickson - Tues. Oct. 4 to Thurs. Oct 6, 2010

Next up on this semester's roster of guests is Lori Clark-Erickson, a teacher librarian at Jackson Hole High School in Wyoming - that's next to Grand Teton National Park, near Yellowstone N.P., and the headwaters of the Snake River.

Lori's library career path included a stint working at the public library and time at a school library paraprofessional position. She returned to school, completed a school library media degree, and a position opened up at the district's high school.

Lori is an enthusiastic and energetic teacher librarian, who enjoys collaborating with teachers, integrating technologies into classroom learning, and teaching information literacy to students.

Learn more about Lori's professional background and interests at her bio information page: http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/clark-erickson.html

As with all our guests this year, I have asked her the startup question: "What is it that people don't get about your job?"

Laura Frondorf - Mon. Oct. 3 to Wed. Oct 5, 2010

A few years back, Laura Frondorf made the career jump from classroom teaching to the library media center. Laura had formerly worked as the grade 6-8 learning disabilities teacher at Brookville Middle School in Franklin County. Today Laura is the LMS at Brookville Middle School (Gr 5 - 8) and Mt. Carmel School (K-8).

Before completing her SLIS degree at IUPUI, Laura holds a degree in special education and a Masters degree in reading. With her strong background in reading and teaching, it's natural that she has plans and orchestrates reading events and promotions at her schools; i.e., book fairs, a book swap, summer reading programs, and author visits. Learn more at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/frondorf.html

I'm asking the same 'startup' question of Laura: "What is it that people don't get about your job?" It is okay to add your own inquiry comments at any time during the three day period.

Dennis LeLoup - Wed. Sept. 28 to Fri. Sept. 30, 2011

Kicking off the Fall 2011 series of blog guests is Dennis LeLoup, a school librarian in the Avon Community School Corporation.

Dennis has a wealth of experiences within the state and at national levels with his leadership roles in ALA, AASL, ALSC, and AIME / ILF.

Learn more by visiting the information webpage at

http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/leloup.html

To get started this year, I have emailed Dennis a brief question: "What is it that people don't get about your job?" Wait for his response and then join in with your own questions or extended ideas.

Have a great three days sharing information and ideas with Dennis LeLoup.

Laura Frondorf - Mon. Oct. 11 to Wed. Oct. 13, 2010

Wrapping up this fall's schedule of guests is another IUPUI SLIS graduate, Laura Frondorf, who made the career jump from classroom to the library media center. Laura formerly worked as the grade 6-8 learning disabilities teacher at Brookville Middle School in Franklin County. Today Laura is the LMS at Brookville Middle School (Gr 5 - 8) and Mt. Carmel School (K-8).


In addition to the degree in special education, Laura also completed a Masters degrees in reading. So naturally she has planned and orchestrated reading events and promotions at her schools; book fairs, book swap, a summer reading program, and author visits.


Learn more about Laura at 
http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/frondorf.html

Susan Eley - Wed. Oct. 6 to Fri. Oct. 8, 2010

Susan Landis Eley is the PreK-4 Library Media Specialist at Hillside School in Mt. Laurel, NJ.

 Susan recently shared three articles that resound with her professional practice and philosophy:

1) Jones, Jami (June 2010). Guest Blogger Jami Jones on Librarians, Caring, and SL Curriculum. School Library Monthly Blog.
"The [most] important role of the school library program is relational, not collecting and housing resources."

2) Valenza, Joyce (Oct 2010). Manifesto for 21st Century Librarians. Voya

3) Valenza, Joyce (Aug 2010). Things Teacher Librarians Should Unlearn (20 & Counting). Never Ending Search, School Library Journal.

Learn more at

http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/eley.html

Kym Kramer - Tues. Oct. 5 to Thurs. Oct. 7, 2010

Kym Kramer began her educational career as an elementary teacher and then took a position as a elementary media specialist (Gr. K-5) at Metropolitan School District of Pike Township. More recently she has worked on completing a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at Indiana University - Bloomington.

An award winning teacher and library media specialist, Kym is an adjunct professor in the School of Library and Information Science at IU-B. One of the courses that she teaches during the Spring is S671 School Media. She is an active member of AIME and ILF and is currently running for a position on the ILF Executive Board. Kym has written and published professional articles and made numerous presentations at ALA and AASL.

I'm very pleased that Kym has agreed to give of her time and expertise this semester, joining the class as a guest in these blog interactions. Learn a bit more about Kym at:
http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/kramer.html

Cindy Turner - Mon. Oct. 4 to Wed. Oct. 6, 2010

Cindy Turner, an IUPUI SLIS graduate, is the Technology Integration Specialist at the Region 7 Education Service Center in Kilgore, Texas. She is a former classroom teacher who moved to school media specialist positions first in Indiana and more recently in Tatum, Texas. Cindy then moved to a district-wide media and technology position in Tatum. Her leadership, experience, and expertise led to Cindy to the latest position at the Region 7 ESC serving 106 school districts in the Piney Woods region.

Cindy is a great example of a person whose career path extends beyond the classroom and building level library media position to encompass district and regional responsibilities. I am very pleased that she is joining the class in these virtual interaction sessions.

Learn more at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/cindyturner.html

Cindy Newton - Wed. Sept. 29 to Fri. Oct. 1, 2010

Cindy Newton is the school library media specialist (SLMS) at Connersville Middle School (IN). A recent IUPUI-SLIS graduate, Cindy has numerous positive teaching and learning experiences working first as a elementary teacher, expanding to cover technology responsibilities in the same school, and now directing a successful library media program.

As SLMS, Cindy collaborates with teachers and assists student research projects. She has initiated and guided reading promotions and programs at her school. She also serves as the web master for both the Library Media Center and the Connersville Middle School websites.

Cindy is a frequent presenter at professional conferences such as ILF, ISRA, and ICE. She has been selected as the Fayette County School Corporation's Teacher of the Year and was named as an IU Armstrong Educator. Recently she was selected and attended a Library of Congress Summer Institute.

Learn more at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/newton.html

Dana Fisher - Tues. Sept. 28 to Thurs. Sept. 30, 2010

A recent graduate of IU's SLIS program, Dana Fisher is one of two library media specialists working at Southwest Middle School in High Point, NC. Prior to that, Dana held a similar position at Tuttle Middle School in Crawfordsville, IN. Tuttle M.S. was a one-professional operation in a relatively small town location and today Dana works in a large urban school system.

Dana's unique perspectives include experiences with service learning, problem-based learning, collaborations with teachers, reading promotion activities, and her personal blogsite.

It is great to have the participation of a former student who has recently entered the school library field. Learn more about Dana:
http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/fisher.html

Maria Savoldi - Mon. Sept. 27 to Wed. Sept. 29, 2010

I am pleased that Maria Savoldi is joining this class for a return online session.

Maria has experience as a classroom teacher, a media specialist, and as county director of instructional media and technology - - much of that employment with the Glynn County School System, Brunswick, GA. She also has designed and delivered professional learning courses (staff development, teacher training) that foster effective technology integration.

Like most of our guest experts in the field, Maria often presents sessions at state and national conferences and has served in various governance roles in professional organizations.

More recently, Maria made the career jump to working with distance learning, online education. In that arena, she was first employed by the Georgia Virtual School and this year, took a new position with Mercury Online Academy.

Learn more at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/savoldi.html

Dennis LeLoup - Wed. Sept. 22 to Fri. Sept. 24, 2010

Our next 3-day blog guest is Dennis LeLoup, one of our many outstanding teacher librarians in Indiana. When I first became acquainted with Dennis, he was the school library media contact in the Indiana Department of Education. In recent years, he has worked as an elementary librarian in the Avon Community School Corporation.

Dennis has a wealth of experience within the state and at national levels with his leadership roles in ALA, AASL, ALSC, and AIME / ILF. He is a strong advocate for school libraries and libraries of all types.

Find out more about him by visiting the information webpage at
http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/leloup.html

Have a great three days sharing information and ideas with Dennis LeLoup.

Lori Clark-Erickson - Mon. Sept. 20 to Wed. Sept. 22, 2010

Kicking off this semester's roster of guests is Lori Clark-Erickson, the librarian at Jackson Hole High School in Wyoming.

Lori's library career path included a stint working at the public library and time at a school library paraprofessional position. She returned to school, completed a school library media degree, and a position opened up at the district's high school.

Having met Lori, briefly visited her school and the Media Center this past August, I can say that she is an enthusiastic and energetic teacher librarian. Lori enjoys collaborating with teachers, integrating technologies into classroom learning, and teaching information literacy to students.

Learn more about Lori's professional background and interests at her bio information page at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/clark-erickson.html.

As with all our guests we are pleased to virtually have her with the class to share her ideas and insights and respond to student's questions and ideas. This always proves to be an interesting series of discussions.

Liz Gray - Thurs. Oct. 22 to Sat. Oct. 24, 2009

Not all school media specialists and teacher librarians work in public schools. Back with this class again is Liz Gray, Library Director at Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA.

Liz Gray's varied work experiences include serving as a School Library Director in Rome, Italy as well as stints in both a public library and an academic library. She is a former English teacher who has taught in Switzerland and England. You can find additional information about Liz at the following website:

http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/lizgray.html

Liz consults on library space planning and has taught "Planning Libraries for the 21st Century" and "Good Ideas: Successful Library Programming and Instruction" at the Taft Education Center in Watertown, CT.

Robyn Young - Thurs. Oct. 15 to Sat. Oct. 17, 2009

Like several other of our guests, Robyn Young, director of school media at Avon High School, has interacted with students in previous years. But last year, she was busy serving as President of AIME - - I didn't even try to schedule her participation then. A visit to her bio site will confirm that she is busy . . . all-the-time http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/young.html

She has a rich background in teaching and school library media including expertise and experience with the assessment of school library media programs, use of graphic books, learning standards, grants and funding, leadership, mentoring and more.

Hella Rumschlag - Sun. Oct. 11 to Tues. Oct. 13, 2009

Hella Rumschlag is the media specialist and technology coordinator at Mohawk Trails Elementary School in Carmel, IN. Start learning about Hella by reading a brief bio at http://eduscapes.com/- - rumschlag.html.

Mohawk Trails Library Media Center http://www1.ccs.k12.in.us/- -media-center/

Hella is an active member in ILF and AIME; she is a presenter at the upcoming conference. She has been able to effectively collaborate with teachers and students in her building. Helen uses Moodle for a YHBA (Young Hoosier Book Award) program and also supports several teachers with their use of Moodle in the classroom. She is about to launch another collaborative Moodle between two grade 2 and 3 transition classes at two different schools.

Hella's extensive background makes her an excellent resource for discussion on career change, combined responsibilties for technology and library media, and other topics directly related to schools and learning.

Robin Tanis - Thurs. Oct. 8 to Sat. Oct. 10, 2009

Robin Tanis is the Head Librarian at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, GA. At St. Pius, Robin has worked to establish a collaborative partnership with teachers. She was an early pioneer in technology integration bringing computers, automation, and the Internet into the library and then the rest of the school. Robin was the original Webmaster for the school and is still responsible for keeping the Flannery O’Connor Library Website up to date.

Encouraging pleasure reading is a professional interest of Robin’s. Robin is also known for ASPIRE! - - a Summer Reading Enrichment program. She has presented her program at state and national conferences. ASPIRE! was featured in both Knowledge Quest (Sep/Oct 2003, Access to PDF document requires login) and School Library Journal (Jan. 2004). She has established a Teen Library Council to give interested students leadership opportunities. She also moderates the Anime Club.

Learn more about Robin at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/tanis.html.

Blog Interaction with Chris Somers - Mon. Oct. 5 to Wed. Oct. 7, 2009

Chris Somers is the media specialist at Indian Creek Middle School in Trafalgar, Indiana. Chris has been successful in securing grants for her school and collaborating with teachers. She is another Indiana teacher librarian who is integrally involved in classrooms and student learning and who is always looking for new and interesting opportunities.

Learn more about Chris and her professional interests and expertise at:
Chris Somers http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/somers.html.

You can also visit her school's and media center websites:
Indian Creek Middle School http://www.nhj.k12.in.us/icms/
Media Center website http://www.nhj.k12.in.us/icms/library/index.htm

Blog Interaction with Elizabeth Winningham - Thurs. Oct. 1 to Sat. Oct. 3, 2009

Elizabeth Winningham of the Avon Community School Corporation is another outstanding Indiana school media specialist. She is active in IAME and has served in a number of committees and roles - - IN DoE: Information Literacy Task Force Committee, involved with the integration of INSPIRE resources into teaching lessons, and a member of the Blue Ribbon School Committee.

Elizabeth began her school library career opening the media center at Avon Intermediate School (Now designated as East). More recently, she was centrally involved in the planning, development, and opening of the media center for a new school, Avon Intermediate School West (Her current school location).

Learn more about Elizabeth Winningham at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/winningham.html

Visit the site for her Media Center at

http://media-cen.media-center . . . . . . 517ecf

Blog Interaction with Maria Savoldi - Mon. Sept. 28 to Wed. Sept. 30, 2009

Maria Savoldi has work experience as a classroom teacher, a media specialist, and as county director of instructional media and technology - - much of that employment with the Glynn County School System, Brunswick, GA. She has a wealth of experience in designing and delivering professional learning courses (staff development, teacher training) that foster effective technology integration.

Like most of our guest experts in the field, Maria often presents sessions at state and national conferences and has served in various governance roles in professional organizations. She is a former President of the Georgia Association for Instructional Technology (GAIT) and the Division of School Media and Technology (DSMT) of AECT. For a number of years Maria also worked as a trainer for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards™ in the Library Media certificate area.

Maria now works for the Georgia Virtual School where her current role is technology support specialist. Learn more at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/savoldi.html

Blog Interaction with Nancy McGriff - Thurs. Sept. 24 to Sat. Sept. 26, 2009

Nancy McGriff is another school library media specialist with a proven "track record." She has headed up library media programs at all grade levels.

At two different schools and in three different school years (1992, 1999 and 2005), Nancy's media programs have garnered outstanding awards. She is a strong mentor and a leader in the profession. Nancy has published articles and frequently presents at state and national conferences.

To learn more, be sure to visit http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/mcgriff.html

More recently Nancy received the "American Star of Teaching" Award for Indiana (Link to article at LaPorte County Herald-Argus) from the U.S. Dept. of Education and its No Child Left Behind program.

Bonnie Grimble - Mon. Sept. 21 to Wed. Sept. 23, 2009

Bonnie Grimble is department chair of the Media Center at Carmel High School. Carmel High, grades 9 through 12, has over 4,100 students, 240 classroom teachers, eleven administrators, and 150 other support and service staff members. In her position, Bonnie works closely with two other media specialists and three media managers. Learn more about Bonnie Grimble at http://eduscapes.com/sms/grimble.html

Bonnie has a comprehensive range of expertise and experiences gained at her large-urban high school workplace and her service and contributions in the school library media profession.

Helen Adams - Thurs. Sept. 17 to Sat. Sept. 19, 2009

Helen Adams teaches online courses for Mansfield University's (PA) School Library and Information Technologies program. Formerly Helen was a school librarian and technology coordinator in Wisconsin.

Helen is an advocate for school libraries and teacher librarians; a strong leader who is active at state, regional, and national levels. She is a frequent conference presenter and has authored a number of articles and textbooks. Her latest book is Ensuring Intellectual Freedom and Access to Information in the School Library from Libraries Unlimited.

http://lu.com/showbook.cfm?isbn=9781591585398

Helen's professional interests focus mainly on issues and ideas related to intellectual freedom, privacy in school library media programs, and Internet filtering. Learn more about Helen Adams at

http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/adams.html

Catherine Trinkle - Thurs. Oct. 23 to Sat. Oct. 25 , 2008

Wrapping up this Fall's schedule of virtual guests is Catherine Trinkle of Avon, IN. Catherine is the school media specialist at Hickory Elementary School. She is also the webmaster for Hickory Elementary, and her professional interests center on but are not limited to the effective use of technology and the teaching and promotion of reading. Learn more about Mrs. Trinkle at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/trinkle.html.

Explore the Hickory Elementary School website http://he.avon-schools.org/.
Notice that you can connect to the Media Center and Mrs. Trinkle's Homepage from the menu bar.

Catherine writes for School Library Media Activities Monthly and completes book reviews for Library Media Connection.

Marnie Bolstad - Mon. Oct. 20 to Wed. Oct. 21 , 2008

Marnie Bolstad, one of three teacher librarians at her school, is working her third year at Newton South High School, Newton, MA.

Prior to her current assignment at NSHS, Marnie was an elementary library teacher for five years in the Newton School System. At the elementary level, she worked 'solo' without an aide or other staff support. In her own words, "I did a little bit of everything."

At Newton South High School, Marnie works with three paraprofessional library staff members, a secretary and two aides.

Learn more about our Marnie and her school at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/bolstad.html

Janette Fluharty - Thur. Oct. 16 to Sat. Oct. 18, 2008

Janette Fluharty has been a teacher for thirteen years, having taught for ten years in a general education classroom and now in her third year as the teacher librarian at Avon Intermediate School East in Avon, IN.

Passions: teaching, reading promotion, technology integration, and collaboration with peers.
Biggest Surprise About Her Job: She LOVES 5th and 6th graders.
Best Part of Her Job: Working with teachers and students
Hardest Part of Her Job: Finding the time to fit it all in

Learn more about Janette by visiting: http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/fluharty.html

Ramona Ho - Mon. Oct. 6 to Wed. Oct. 8, 2008

For ten years, Ramona Ho has been the Head Librarian at Charles Reed Bishop Learning Center, Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus, Pukalani, Hawaii - - a school facility that she helped plan and build.

Ramona previously held positions as an elementary teacher, a reference librarian at the University of Hawaii's Medical School, a reference / instructional librarian at a community college, and the Head Librarian at a private high school and a large public high school.

Learn more about Ramona at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/ramonaho.html

Helen Adams - Thurs. Oct. 2 to Sat. Oct. 4, 2008

Helen Adams is currently teaching online courses for Mansfield University's (PA) School Library and Information Technologies program. Formerly Helen was a school librarian and technology coordinator in Wisconsin.

Helen is an advocate for school libraries and teacher librarians; a strong leader who is active at state, regional, and national levels. She is a frequent conference presenter and has authored a number of articles and textbooks on technology planning, Internet search tools, library automation, school library policy development, and privacy. Her latest book Ensuring Intellectual Freedom and Access to Information in the School Library was released last month by Libraries Unlimited http://lu.com/showbook.cfm?isbn=9781591585398.

Her professional interests focus mainly on issues and ideas related to intellectual freedom, privacy in school library media programs, and Internet filtering. Learn more about Helen Adams at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/adams.html.

Robin Tanis - Mon. Sept. 29 to Wed. Oct. 1, 2008

Robin Tanis is the Head Librarian at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, GA. At St. Pius, Robin has established a collaborative partnership with the school’s classroom teachers. She was an early pioneer in technology integration bringing computers, automation, and the Internet into the library and then the rest of the school. Robin was the original Webmaster for the school (http://www.spx.org/) and is still responsible for keeping the Flannery O’Connor Library Web site current (http://www.spx.org/library).

Encouraging pleasure reading is a professional interest of Robin’s. Robin is known for ASPIRE! - - a Summer Reading Enrichment program. She has presented her program at state and national conferences. ASPIRE! was featured in both Knowledge Quest (Sep/Oct 2003, Access to PDF document requires login) and School Library Journal (Jan. 2004). Last year she began a Teen Library Council to give interested students leadership opportunities in the library. She also moderates the Anime Club.

Learn more about Robin at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/tanis.html.

Liz Gray - Thurs. Sept. 25 to Sat. Sept. 27, 2008

Not all school media specialists and teacher librarians work in public schools. Liz Gray is the Library Director at Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA.

Liz Gray's varied work experiences include serving as a School Library Director in Rome, Italy as well as stints in both a public library and an academic library. She is a former English teacher who has taught in Switzerland and England. You can find additional information about Liz at the following website: http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/lizgray.html

Liz consults on library space planning and has taught "Planning Libraries for the 21st Century" and "Good Ideas: Successful Library Programming and Instruction" at the Taft Education Center in Watertown, CT.

Leslie Preddy - Mon. Sept. 22 to Wed. Sept. 24, 2008

Leslie Preddy is the library media specialist at Perry Meridian Middle School, Indianapolis. Leslie is another Indiana and national leader in the school library field. She is an author, presenter, and an enthusiastic teacher librarian with a long list of participation, accomplishment, and some well-deserved recognition.

Learn more about Leslie:
Introduction at eduScapes http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/preddy.html
Instructional Media Center Website: http://pmms.msdpt.k12.in.us/imc/index.htm
Leslie Preddy: Reading, Thinking, Learning, Living . . . http://www.lesliepreddy.com/

Here is another occasion to discuss real issues, concerns, and experiences with a library media professional.