As Terry and Jen mentioned “way back when,” they were shifting to a twice-a-month format. This has changed the way we look at the literacy and reading news and has created a new opportunity to look back at what’s happened each month.  I have agreed to help “fill in” during Jen’s initial time with her new baby bookworm, so here goes for April…and yes, I realize I am late, yes, I am late for this very important date of my first Roundup…the tardiness is a story better than the most creative of children’s stories, and it begins with a mistaken laptop case identity.  We’ll leave it at that and proceed!

LIBRARIES: The month of April in review was a month producing a great deal of information about libraries in trouble,  books for American Indian teens, the relationship of writing to improving reading skills, twitter archives headed to a special home, and the volcano in Iceland (and just what Carol does that have to do with literacy for children?),

In mid-April the American Library Association released The State of America’s Libraries, 2010 indicating Americans are turning to libraries in the economic downturn more and more as they seek information about job searches.  At the same time, with state, regional and local governments feeling the severe pinch of that same downturn, libraries are in the news daily showing cutbacks and full system closures.

Similarly, school libraries are suffering;  The American Association of School Librarians conducted an informal survey over recent weeks on the cutbacks and closing of school libraries.   More graphically, you can follow the progression of cuts on this Google map created by Shonda Brisco and open to all collaborators.

As you review what is happening to libraries in your community I encourage you to at least review summaries of the two reports mentioned as well as the map, glance at some earlier thoughts I posted in Rasco from RIF and above all, visit personally with the librarian(s) in the libraries that might be suffering in your community.

BOOKS PURCHASED: The online community showed its generosity in responding to the call by GUYS LIT WIRE to purchase books for two American Indian school libraries.  It was a SELLOUT with 772 books purchased as you will note in the linked post.  I personally looked forward to checking the comments daily as those comments were often a rich discussion about the books on the wish lists, the deep meaning for many individuals to be able to give to these students and more.  Congratulations and even more, thank you to Colleen for organizing the lists and keeping us all focused on the need.  And how exciting to read about the reactions of the parents and students and school personnel as the books began to arrive!

WRITING AND READING: Writing to Read: Evidence for How Writing Can Improve Reading is a new report from Carnegie Corporation of New York and published by the Alliance for Excellent Education (the Alliance).  The report outlines three related practices for instruction that are found to be effective in improving reading:  (1) students writing about texts they read; (2) students learning about writing skills and the processes that are used in creating text; and (3) students writing more.  It was noted in a later April conference on the Common Core State Standards that states participating in the standards initiative want writing – considered a vital communication skill – taught across the curriculum beginning in kindergarten.  The draft writing standards may be reviewed at www.corestandards.org/Files/K12ELAStandards.pdf.

MIND IN THE MAKING is both the title of a book by Ellen Galinsky, President of The Families and Work Institute, as well as ”an unprecedented and unparalleled collaborative effort to share the science of early learning with the general public, families and professionals who work with children and families.”  Learn more in a Katie Couric interview of Ellen about the seven essential life skills Ellen outlines in the book as well as the Marshmallow Test.

BRIEFLY

• The day it was announced the Library of Congress would be housing the “Twitter” archives, the flurry of activity on twitter and throughout the news media was nothing short of incredible.   Matt Raymond writing on the Library of Congress Blog agrees as he notes “I’ve been working in journalism and public relations for nearly 20 years, and of all the stories with which I was personally involved, this one has beaten the rest by a mile.”  This posting by Matt then adds the first set of Frequently Asked Questions about the twitter acquisition.
• Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano:  I can’t prepare a roundup of April news without some mention of this volcano that dominated the news for more than a few days.  And there is a good library story out of DC on the matter!  20 British teens were grounded here in DC much longer than planned;  the director of the group approached personnel at The Martin Luther King Jr. central branch of the District of Columbia Public Library, and the students were able through the use of the library’s computer room to access their school’s virtual class work.  The students noted in a television interview they were originally only to have spent two days in DC at the end of their USA tour and were delighted to have a “bit more time” to study some of the institutions and exhibits.

LOOKING AHEAD

• Don’t forget CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK to be celebrated May 10-16, a week celebrated since 1919.  Download a bookmark and more!
• Have you started making your personal plans to promote summer reading in your family or among children you know?  Does your community, your school have a comprehensive program for summer learning?  Be sure to check out The National Summer Learning Association’s website as well as make special note of the plans for National Summer Learning Day June 21 and the national conference in early November, a good time to start your organization’s planning for summer 2011!

THE VIDEO: Terry and Jen advised me they hoped to close these newly formatted Roundups with a helpful, perhaps fun video.  Well, I looked and I didn’t find one that “grabbed” me…but I found these items regarding the distribution of books that were fun to review, I hope you enjoy them, too!

The Penguincubator, say what?  Read about it…..and learn a bit of history about paperback books at the same time.

The Book Bike: What a great and green idea!

Happy Reading!
Carol