Prince Albert Grand Council

School Library Development Committee Newsletter Edition No. 6

Spring 2008

Upcoming Events:

Saskatchewan Library Association Con-

ference, May 1—3, 2008 Regina

www.lib.sk.ca/sla/conference

Saskatchewan School Library Associa-

tion Conference—May 14 08 Saskatoon

www.ssc.stf.sk.ca/ssla/index

TLt Summit 2008 May 14-16 2008

Saskatoon www.tltsummit.ca

Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy

Gathering “journey through teachings”

May 20—22 2008 Waskesiu

www.aboriginal.sk.literacy.ca

Come Read With Me Workshop June 4,

5, 6th 2008: 3 days of training plus all

the books and supplies needed to host your

own workshops in your own communities.

We require 3 people to participate: a Li-

brarian, a teacher and a parent from the

community. We will fund 5 communities.

PAGC Libraries will provide funding for regis-

tration, hotels and mileage for library staff to

attend one of the above. Please call Brenda at

953-7234 or email btenold@pagc.sk.ca

PAGC/PNLS Northern Library Confer-

ence: October 14—17th 2008.

Note: PNLS has a new toll free number:

1-866-396-8818.

Annual Report: BONUS All Libraries getting their Annual Report

finished and in to Brenda by the end of this

school year June 2008 will receive their

choice of one level of the Willow Award

Books 2008!! Don’t miss this opportunity!

Please Note: Professional Development

If your school wants a Workshop on pro-

moting reading using Literature Circles,

Reader’s Theatre, Flannel board and

other extensions to reading programs, call

Brenda Tenold at 953-7234. There is no

cost to the school. Materials and excellent

resources are provided. Book now!

Library Staff Education Program (LSEP) News:

LSEP students have finished their second class “Introduction to Libraries” and are now

well into their third class “Children and Young Adult Literature”.

We have also begun a second group. On March 3 2008, approximately 22 students

began the first course The Internet: Technological Edge in Business and Education.

We have 6 Librarians from PAGC in this new group. This class is a prerequisite to

Introduction to Libraries, which will be offered again this coming fall 2008. This will

allow the new group (LSEP Group 2) to join LSEP Group 1 in the course offered in

January 2009. They can take the courses they missed at a later date.

For more information contact our teacher Linda Aksomitis at aksomitis@sasktel.net or

call Deanne Riese at Credenda Toll Free 1-866-910-2847 extension 104.

Websites to Visit: Community Profiles for Project Ideas—www.statcan.ca

Tutor World Saskatchewan for Math and Science tutoring for Grades 6—12

http://www.mytutor.ca/scripts/tutorworld/tutorworldlogin.asp

Canadian Encyclopedia -- http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?

PgNm=Inside&Params=A1

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has posted extensive archives—an incredibly

valuable source for researching historical periods or events.

http://archives.cbc.ca/index.asp?IDLan=1

Historica -- discover the richness of Canadian history

http://www.histori.ca/default.do?page=.index

Canada History -- http://www.canadahistory.com/

Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan -- http://www.esask.uregina.ca/ Just One More Book—interviews with authorshttp://www.justonemorebook.com/

Library Work Bees: During the month of April, we are automating J.W.Head Memorial Education Centre

Library, using Library Pro software. Caroline Moore is the new Librarian there, a

teacher from that community.

The Work Bee focus for May and June is Inventory Training. We would like to do a

complete inventory in every PAGC School Library this year, either this spring, sum-

mer or fall. Obviously, Work Bees can’t happen in every school at the same time. So

it will require a lot of coordinating and cooperating. It is best to do Inventory when all

the books are back in the library, at year

end but that won’t be possible in every

case. We will do our best to meet your

needs!

We have a new member to our Library

Work Bee Team! Carolyn Brass, our

Work Bee Team Leader, had a baby boy

in February 2008: Thomas Ovide, being

held here by daddy Thomas Merasty.

He is such a good baby! I think he likes

libraries—which is good as he is already

spending alot of time in them!

The Boreal Forest Storytelling Tour

February 25th—March 19th 2008

Joseph Naytowhow and John Murray visited 11 PAGC Schools from February 25 to March 19th to present the Bo-

real Forest Storytelling Tour. The feedback from schools has been very positive. Teachers were impressed with

the content regarding the Boreal Forest and students viewed the interactive presentations as very worthwhile. Both

teachers and students enjoyed participating in the jigging, round dances and storytelling. Most schools were able to

have about 100 students attend the presentations, totaling approximately 1000 PAGC students who were able to

participate.

We are hoping to co-ordinate a Boreal Forest Tour for at least 10 more PAGC schools this coming fall once the

snow is on the ground . Our goal is to host presentations for at least 1000 more students. And perhaps we will se-

cure funding for another tour next February—March 2009.

The Boreal Forest Storytelling Tour was funded in part by Prince Albert Grand Council, P.N.L.S. , Nature Sas-

katchewan and a Community Initiatives Fund Grant from Culture Youth and Recreation.

Feedback from Students:

“I loved everything. I think the presentation was Xtremely excellent. I’m glad you and Joseph came to our school to tell us

about our community and our culture. But tell me how did you get all that information. Please write us back. I’m from Gr 5.”

“I liked it when they telled stories and played the music. I didn’t know that one place had lost all their trees and some people

had to cook with sunlight.”

Feedback from Teachers:

“The stories Joesph and John told really captivated the students. It all worked well with our students. The kids liked the inter-

active activities as well as the more passive ones.”

“The presentation fits into Science, LA, Arts Ed, or Social Studies. It was relevant and appropriate for our kids.”

Joseph Naytowhow John Murrary

Joseph drumming for students jigging.

John playing the fiddle while

Joseph jigs.

John teaching students how to play the

the fiddle. Joseph drumming while students

Round Dance.

Welcome: We have three new Librarians in PAGC School Libraries! Welcome to Sandra Halkett at Sally Ross

School, Hall Lake! Welcome also to Lynn McKenzie at Chief Moses Ratt School in Nemeiben River! (Sandra and

Lynn are both already enrolled in our Library Staff Education Program.) We also welcome our newest Librarian:

Caroline Moore at J. W. Head Education Centre, Red Earth.

Opawikoscikan School Library and Tawowikamik Public Library Pelican Narrows

Saskatchewan Pelican Narrows has had the privilege to have a school and public library

since about 1973. Tawowikamik Public Library (TPL), the place of wel-

come, is housed in Opawikoscikan School, and has been keeping pace with

its name by providing services to the school and public of Pelican Narrows

for 6 hours a day Monday to Friday, Sept to June, plus 8 hours per day in

July. We close in August for cleaning and maintenance.

The staff includes: Margaret Brass, Head Librarian; Merle Bighetty-Michel,

School Library Clerk; Josephine Custer, Public Library Clerk and Carol Ann

Ballantyne, Computer Access Program Coordinator.

Opawikoscikan School Library is open to the students from 8:30 am to 3:30

pm during the school year. We are committed to providing resources that

meet the Saskatchewan curriculum requirements plus providing student rec-

reational reading. We have a scheduled timetable for grades 5 to 9, but there

are several time periods that are available for the High School to book for

research purposes.

For the past two years, we have had a successful program that requires the

book collection to be used before the students use the computers for re-

search. It requires the students to use the books more instead of turning to

the internet for all the answers and helps them become alert as to how to use

reference books and the library catalogue.

Public Library committee members are: Nancy Ratt, Chair; Marriette

McCallum, Vice-Chair; Julianne Custer; Rebecca McCallum; William Mer-

asty and Kelvin Brass.

We have 2,424 registered borrowers, school and public and provide the fol-

lowing services:

18,000 books and materials

Computer Access Program 4 – 9 pm daily

ASP (After School Programs) 4 – 5 pm daily

Come Read with Me, Literacy program Tuesdays

Summer Reading Program, June - July

Winter Reading Program

DVD/Video Loans and Photocopying

Community Access Center

We are steadfast in bringing the latest technology to our patrons, by provid-

ing computer support with our partners, KCDC, PAGC and WOP through

our local Social Assistance Program. We have 12 computers available to the

public and 1 videoconferencing unit, photocopier and fax machine. The CAP

Coordinator provides one-on-one computer services to anyone wishing to

learn more about computers. The top computer services requested by the

public are EI applications, scanning pictures, and E-Classes. Approximately

20 to 30 students use the computers daily and about 15 adults.

We are a busy group, but we are never too busy to help those that need our

help: our students, our staff, and our community.

Shortcut to DSC02323.lnk

Community Access Centre in Library

with Library Board Chair Nancy Jean.

Story Corner

The Library contains 18,000 Resources.

Josephine, Margaret and Merle!

Mary Ann Mason Memorial Library

Wapanacak School

Pelican Narrows

The Mary Ann Mason Memorial Library is a beautiful,

large, bright space in Wapanacak Elementary School, Peli-

can Narrows. The library opened when the school did, in

the year 2000. Elizabeth Michel is the Librarian of this ele-

mentary school library.

Wapanacak School has Nursery to Grade 4, with about 300

students attending. Ray Highway is the Principal of Wa-

panacak School. There are 17 classrooms with 17 class-

room teachers and a large support staff, making a total of 45

people on staff.

The Mary Ann Mason Memorial Library is open during

school hours, from 8:30 am to 4:20 pm. It is only closed

over lunch. All classes visit the Library twice a week on a 5

day cycle. Elizabeth reads each class a story, then they

check out their books and participate in an activity such as

‘picture find’.

Elizabeth teaches students basic library skills, such as the

parts of the book, the difference between fiction and non-

fiction, and how to find specific resources in a library.

Each year the Mary Ann Mason Memorial Library promotes

the Northern Reading Program. The students really enjoy

coming to the Library. The students identify Elizabeth as

the “Library Girl”.

Elizabeth Michel, Librarian

Students doing library activities.