Send us your odds and sods...
If you have anything that you'd like to share between meetings - or that doesn't quite seem to know where it should live a virtual life - send us your stuff and we'll post it here...
Nov 13 - 15: Science Teachers Association of Ontario (STAO) Conference
The Science Teacher' Association of Ontario annual conference is Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Nov 13 - Nov 15).
Saturday there will also be a special interdisciplinary elementary extravaganza happening on site.
Teacher Librarians might be interested in the Exhibit Hall... which does not require an entrance fee. The Hall will be open Thursday and Friday - 3:00 to 5:15 and Saturday - 11:30 to 12:30
If there are schools that have a STEM focus or just looking for other resources for science, geography, etc. Exhibitors have conference special pricing to take advantage of.
It is taking place at the International Plaza Hotel on Dixon Road. The parking at the hotel is $14.
Saturday there will also be a special interdisciplinary elementary extravaganza happening on site.
Teacher Librarians might be interested in the Exhibit Hall... which does not require an entrance fee. The Hall will be open Thursday and Friday - 3:00 to 5:15 and Saturday - 11:30 to 12:30
If there are schools that have a STEM focus or just looking for other resources for science, geography, etc. Exhibitors have conference special pricing to take advantage of.
It is taking place at the International Plaza Hotel on Dixon Road. The parking at the hotel is $14.
The Virtual Library: A PD Presentation
I (Enid) was invited to give a presentation on the Virtual Library at a PD Day Google Camp on November 14th. I am embedding a PDF copy of the presentation below.
I did a brief overview and introduction, then spent about half an hour with participants "playing" inside the Virtual Library, checking out the bits that were relevant to each individually, and then did a 10 minute or so wrap up (and discussion about the streamed media resources)
- Use this shareable link to access a copy of the Google Presentation which you are free to use in whole or in part or however you might like if it works for you.
I did a brief overview and introduction, then spent about half an hour with participants "playing" inside the Virtual Library, checking out the bits that were relevant to each individually, and then did a 10 minute or so wrap up (and discussion about the streamed media resources)
- You will need to be logged on to your TDSB account to access the Google Presentation.
- Please do make your own copy of the copy before you do your own editing!
Library Security Hardware
The question was asked by a couple of people about sensitizers and de-sensitizers. The old style workstations are prohibitively expensive to replace (on the order of $4 000 and upwards).
A few of us mentioned that when ours broke we switched to using Knogo blocks and wands. I (Enid) showed a couple of people what we were talking about, and I promised to share purchasing information. I can't find any reference to Knogo blocks still being available, but there are other options.
A few of us mentioned that when ours broke we switched to using Knogo blocks and wands. I (Enid) showed a couple of people what we were talking about, and I promised to share purchasing information. I can't find any reference to Knogo blocks still being available, but there are other options.
Carr McLean carries the Sentry Desktop De-Activator, which requires no power and can be set out in an convenient location beside where you check out books. The product ID number is L11-938, and can be found on page 141 of the 2014 Catalogue, or online either at Carr McLean or at Sentry. At $415 it's a bargain!
Carr McLean does not appear to be carrying the Sentry Bookwand, now apparently called the Portable Wand Tag Reactivator (at least not in the catalogue), but you can order it directly from Sentry Technology (as indeed you can order the Desktop De-Activator directly from them). I seem to recall that it cost us somewhere in the neighbourhood of $1 000 to purchase the wand a few years ago, but someone else was suggesting it was around $1 300. Regardless, the total cost of this combination as a replacement system is less than $2 000.
The other advantage of this as a system is that is is totally portable, very flexible. We keep the Knogo (de-activator) beside the Circ desk, and keep the wand in a secure drawer. We pull out the wand when we are getting ready to shelve books, run it down the spines of the books on the shelving cart and away we go. Another great feature is that the charge on the wand lasts forever! I keep the charger in a cupboard in the Library Office. In four years that we've had the wand, I can only remember having to charge it a handful of times. A full charge takes approximately 8 hours.
If you have an existing system with Sentry Technology, the new contact person for TDSB schools is John Lorenc. He's very good and can help you sort yourself out.
The other advantage of this as a system is that is is totally portable, very flexible. We keep the Knogo (de-activator) beside the Circ desk, and keep the wand in a secure drawer. We pull out the wand when we are getting ready to shelve books, run it down the spines of the books on the shelving cart and away we go. Another great feature is that the charge on the wand lasts forever! I keep the charger in a cupboard in the Library Office. In four years that we've had the wand, I can only remember having to charge it a handful of times. A full charge takes approximately 8 hours.
If you have an existing system with Sentry Technology, the new contact person for TDSB schools is John Lorenc. He's very good and can help you sort yourself out.
OLA SuperConference 2015 Find
For those of you who were not at SuperConference, and didn't see or hear about these... Oh my... my best find of the week.
Never again will I have to use words when I'm having a bad day, or a bad moment.
They're from Tinlids (obviously!) so next time you place an order, or are down there to shop, be sure to add them to your order.
They're a hoot! I know my kids are going to LOL.
Does anyone else have any favourite finds - or favourite moments - from this year's SuperConference?
Never again will I have to use words when I'm having a bad day, or a bad moment.
They're from Tinlids (obviously!) so next time you place an order, or are down there to shop, be sure to add them to your order.
They're a hoot! I know my kids are going to LOL.
Does anyone else have any favourite finds - or favourite moments - from this year's SuperConference?
- Let us know on the shared Google Doc for items of conversation at the our next meeting...