Signal Mountain Middle High School Library Media Center
SMMHS LMC
Empowering students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers,
skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. Volume 3, Issue 5
January 1, 2016
SMMHS Library/Media Center Mission: The SMMHS library/media center is committed to equipping the school community with 21st Century skills in order that they may have a positive impact on their community, country, and world.
A New Semester Brings New Challenges! As we move into a season of “buckling down” and testing, your LMC wants to remind you that we have lots of resources to help you! From books & databases to tutorials and personal help, we want to see you succeed. Remember that as the new semester starts, we’re training some new aides, so please be patient, but do let us help. The library aides are committed to serving their peers, and they’re really nice students. If you want to learn more about them, just click on the ABOUT US >‘Meet the “staff”’ page of the library website. We look forward to serving you in the upcoming months! Please explore your LMC website and get to know all the great resources waiting for you! Ginger Kirchmyer, MLIS National Board Certified Teacher SMMHS Librarian www.smmhsmediacenter.net
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What’s happening in January at the LMC?
Blind Date With a Book!
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ired of
typing in the same web addresses over and over again? Forget where you found that awesome reference for your latest project or hobby? Open a free account with Symbaloo and you’ll never have to experience these familiar frustrations again. Your computer can look and function much like an iPad with tiles to tap instead of websites to type! Symbaloo is a personal start page for your computer (or any device, anywhere); it’s particularly nice to use on your cell phone when typing on the small pad is difficult. Create your own account, & you’ll be on the way to creating easy access to your most used websites for all of your personal, educational, and/or professional interests. Symbaloo allows you to create one place for all of your bookmarks in one visual interface, and rather than searching through bookmarks, Symbaloo creates a visual folder that is right at your fingertips each time you log in. To create your free account, just register with Google or Facebook and follow the simple step-by-step directions at www.sybaloo.com/ registerUser.form. If you have more questions, check out their frequently asked questions or watch this quick one minute video that provides a helpful overview. In no time at all, you’ll be on your way to your very own simplified personal start up page.
www.symbaloo.com
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A Congrats & a Challenge!
Mrs. Jennings, Art Reagan Shaw, 6th
Madalyn Shaw, 8th
Congrats to the committed SMMHS members of the 2015 Library Reading Challenge! These faithful bookworms proudly completed their challenges, and we want to recognize their determination & dedication (although it’s likely their guilty pleasure!!). Your SMMHS library is proud to support you in this healthy habit, and we want to challenge those of you who started, but didn’t finish to TRY AGAIN! We’re issuing a new challenge for 2016; this year has new challenges and fun suggestions. Come to your library and let us know you’re accepting the challenge, and we’ll give you a bookmark to keep track of your progress. Click here for more info! Good luck, and happy reading!
Ashley Leonard, 11th
Mary West, 7th Beth Graham, parent
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We Did It! Every Student Succeeds Act Signed Into Law Thank you to everyone who advocated on behalf of our library here at SMMHS and school libraries across the country! With your support the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law last month, effectively replacing No Child Left Behind and making sure our school libraries and the immense instructional resources they provide are no longer left behind. According to the American Library Association (ALA), decades of advocacy have payed off and a new chapter representing Federal support of education is now in place. While No Child Left Behind emphasized reading in the early grades, the ESSA places that emphasis on students of all ages and puts the instructional decision making in the hands of local states and districts. The new law is a big win for school libraries and librarians who are now recognized as necessary partners in education. Funds can now be used to support instructional services provided by libraries and it encourages developing effective school libraries nationwide. To find our more about the new law and how it will impact education, click here to read a recent article in District Dispatch.
During the season of giving, you gave and then gave some more at our SMMHS Barnes & Noble Family night! Through your willingness to come out and shop on a warm Friday evening, during an incredibly busy shopping season, we were able to raise more than $850 to support our library. With the support of the Hamilton Place Barnes & Noble, who gave 20% of all sales that evening each time a customer mentioned SMMHS, our third annual event was a huge success!! In addition to our shoppers, we’d also like to thank some of our other SMMHS supporters who contributed to making this night a delight for shoppers of all ages. These include our middle school gifted students who read to children in attendance, the SMHS Anime/Manga club, Brock Ownby & the SMMHS strings program for providing beautiful holiday music, and George Hudson for being available for book signings of his novel New Moon
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Library Hours 7:15-2:30 daily
MS Library Roatation Schedule
Check us out NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP:
ONLINE! We’re open 24/7/365!
VSBA voting is coming soon! The Volunteer State Book Award is given annually to one book at the middle grades level and one book at the high school level. It’s voted on by students, but you have to read at least 3 books on the list to qualify to vote! Authors consider this award a great honor, and other students like to know which books their peers are picking! We have ALL the VSBA nominees. Come on in to your library and check one out! These are the best of the best! (Click the icon for more info)
Follow us ONLINE! STAY CONNECTED: Each afternoon at 2:30 we post a book trailer on Twitter and Facebook, & we advertize library events and programs; on Pinterest you’ll find everything from book recommendations & study tools to organizing strategies and bulletin board ideas! Check us out!