Online Meetings

I went to the BCR site and viewed an archived webinar called "Google Drive-by: Google Books and Google Scholar". It was conducted by Shelly Drumm and Lisa Holmberg. It was a 50 minute webinar and yes, I thought the information that they gave was good and useful.


I have actually attended a couple of webinars in the past year and have conducted one with a colleague. Linworth Publishing Company sponsors several of these each semester, however, they are a little expensive unless several people go in together. Our district doesn't pay anymore for traveling outside the district so I think this is a viable option. I can see these becoming more and more popular in the future. It's a great way to share with each other and I especially like the archived ones. Just as in an online class, you can attend with your jammies on at anytime night or day.

Week 2 - Nings and other thoughts

Week 2 is coming to an end. I was already a member of the Teacher Librarian Ning started by my heroine, Joyce Valenza. :) I talked to Joyce on the phone yesterday and felt like I was talking to a movie star! Anyway, the groups I am already of a member of are Middle School Librarians, School Library Advocacy (going to be utilizing THAT one this spring unfortunately) and Web 2.0 in the Library World. I just joined this week YA Lit in School Libraries. I began taking an online class this week through Ottawa University about YA Literature and so this could come in handy! It is being taught by Megan Arnett (Lee's Summit HS) if anyone knows her. It is such fun sharing books with others who have a passion for it.

As our district talks of budget cuts again, I can see the Advocacy Ning coming in handy. I know this is something we will all be facing.

Received the newsflash from ALA this week that our official name is now "School Librarians". I hope that we can all finally agree on this. One post on a blog said they had researched and found that there were 25 different names for us! School Librarian is fine with me, because it seems like that is what we always end up telling someone what our job is anyway after they give us a quizzical look and say "Huh?"

First of the 23 things!

Hi! My name is Kathi Knop and I am the library media specialist at Mission Valley Middle School (thus the name of the blog) in Shawnee Mission, KS. My "Valley girl 2" (trusty aide Charlene) has also signed up for 23 things so we can learn together.This is my 4th year at Mission Valley. I love learning about new technology, although I don't implement it as much as I should - I just find it fascinating. I am taking an online class that started last week so hope I haven't gotten in over my head!