Book Cart Drill Team

Thinking it was purely for fun, I stopped by my school, dropped the top of my little VW Beetle so that a book cart could fit into the back seat, and then drove on up to Agoura Hills Saturday morning to pal around with other school librarians and learn a simple routine. Little did I know that this would be serious business. Real choreography, catchy music and lyrics, props, costumes and synchronized movements. Oy vey!
I've never been too coordinated. Now that I'm known as the Wobbly Librarian.... well, it was grand. There were some circlings involved, which I am certain were helpful to my continued recovery. Life is fun when pushing oneself to the limits.

We will have one more rehearsal before the competition at the Fourth Annual Bookcart Drill Team World Championship at the American Library Association's National Conference on June 29th.

Library Heroes

Our PTSA is the best in the entire USA. Always there whenever we need a handy volunteer. Comes through for the staff with amazing things (have you ever heard of free lunches once a month for all staff members?- That is what our PTSA has been doing for us for 2 years now. Parents drop off home cooked items that fit whatever theme the Hospitality Chair has secretly declared..... and yum, yum).
That is just one example of how our PTSA is out-of-the ordinary.
We have had one mom spearhead a box-top fundraiser- did you know that schools get ten cents per label from tissue paper, cereal box, paper towels, and other items? PTSA provides candy to kids who bring the boxtops to the library, so we've had an ongoing stream of boxtops.

And this year the coffee (decaffeinated, of course- and totally donated by Starbucks, picked upin the morning by a PTSA parent already brewed in a huge 8 inch by 2 feet by 3 feet plastic insulated container, with cups and lids also doanted) /baked goods bar at the book fair alone raised over $3000 for the school. (That was just the coffee/snack bar... we are not even talking the book fair sales. And it was fun. Kids selling things, making signs, owning the place for four days. Excitement on campus. Fun in the library!

PTSA has supplied the rest of the funds for the rest of our new circulation desk (we have a nice one from the year our school opened- early 60's pre computer- one person. It is a challenge for the two of us to use... so we had been saving for a while. Thanks for the rest of the funding!)

The photo is our amazing PTSA president. Smiles and keeps on going!

CST Celebration- Gaming in the Library

Today we are celebrating the end of our STAR testing. An hour long lunch time for all (that means 1300 students to supervise, all trying to get into the library for a piece of techno-booko-logicalness.

Thought I would set up a little fun - out of the ordinariness.

Click here to access Line Rider.

No one better go to any other site. Or I'll cut off your fingers! I am the Menacing Library Lady, you know!

REEF Foundation Rules!- I am famous.

Today there was a special insert in our paper which highlighted one of my favorite charitable organizations, the Riverside Educational Enrichment Foundation. Awesomeness wrapped up in men and women who give of their time and money so that teachers can have money to do creative things in the classroom. My students have reaped the benefits many times. My article "True Confessions of a Middle School Librarian: My Ongoing Love Affair with REEF" is included. It made our school and REEF look good.

Go here to see how to enter to win a family 4 pack for a trip to Disneyland if you are a student in RUSD.