Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Washington Office, today filed testimony for the official record of the House Committee on Education and Labor’s Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education’s hearing, “Improving Literacy Skills of Children and Young Adults.”

The comments highlighted the contributions of librarians and library programs in both public and school libraries in improving the literacy skills of children and young adults.

“Public librarians have embraced their responsibility to be the first literacy coach for parents and caregivers of all children, especially children in low-income families,” Sheketoff states in her comments. “Some services provided to these families include bookmobile and storytelling mobiles, story-time kits and early literacy classes for child-care providers, Head Start staff and parents.”

Sheketoff’s testimony underscored the impact of school libraries in both traditional and technology literacy through the role of school librarians who are the central teachers who know the school’s curriculum and effective techniques necessary to cross disciplines.

Access the Complete Testimony (3 pages; PDF)

Source: American Library Association

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) E-Science Working Group surveyed ARL member libraries in the fall of 2009 to gather data on the state of engagement with e-science issues. An overview of initial survey findings was presented by E-Science Working Group Chair Wendy Lougee, University Librarian, McKnight Presidential Professor, University of Minnesota Libraries, at the October ARL Membership Meeting. Lougee’s briefing explored contrasting approaches among research institutions, particularly in regard to data management. The briefing also summarized survey findings on topics such as library services, organizational structures, staffing patterns and staff development, and involvement in research grants, along with perspectives on pressure points for service development. To better explicate the findings, Lougee reviewed specific cases of activities at six research institutions.

Audio of the briefing along with slides and a handout are available as part of the Proceedings of the 155th ARL Membership Meeting (see http://www.arl.org/resources/pubs/mmproceedings/155mm-proceedings/index.shtml#esci).

ARL has also compiled a set of resources provided by survey respondents. Examples of a range of campus and library documents, tools advancing e-science support, needs assessments, and position descriptions, among other items, are listed on ARL’s Web site at http://www.arl.org/rtl/eresearch/escien/esciensurvey/index.shtml.

Source: Association of Research Libraries

Innovation, creativity, problem solving — the world of robotics at NASA is all of these things. Spend some time on this site to see if robotics might be in your future.

Things you can do on this site:
–Answer the question: What Is Robotics?
–Practice your programming skills with the interactive robotic activity.
–Watch and download video and multimedia features about robotics.
–Follow a timeline tracing the history of robotics.
–Check out lesson plans for your classroom.
–Stay up-to-date with information about NASA-supported robotics competitions.
–Visit the Robotics Image Gallery.
–Explore other worlds with NASA through robotic spacecraft discoveries.
–Read about scientists and engineers who design and test robots.
–Browse NASA Web sites for information about robotics.

Source: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

]]> http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/11/19/nasa-new-education-robotics-site/feed/ 0 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/11/18/another-database-of-asked-and-answered-questions-from-the-library-of-congress/ http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/11/18/another-database-of-asked-and-answered-questions-from-the-library-of-congress/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:31:48 +0000 resourceshelf http://www.resourceshelf.com/?p=27324 Yesterday we mentioned to searchable databases, one from the U.S. Census and the other from USA.gov with thousands of asked an answered questions about the federal government and the U.S. Census. Excellent ready reference tools to know about.

Today, another database of asked and answered questions This time it’s a Library of Congress resource.

The site is both browsable and searchable.

It’s name: Everyday Mysteries: Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress.

The home page allows you to browse all of the questions or search with keywords.

+ Agriculture
+ Astronomy
+ Biology & Human Anatomy
+ Botany
+ Chemistry
+ Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
+ Home Economics
+ Meteorology, Climatology
+ Motor Vehicles, Aeronautics, Astronautics
+ Physics
+ Technology, General
+ Zoology

Both answers and the service itself come from Science Reference Services at LC.

Here’s a quick sample of five asked and answered questions from the collection. A link on the home page allows users to submit questions.

1) Does your heart stop when you sneeze?
2) How did the grapefruit get its name? It doesn’t look like a grape.
3) What is “freezer burn?”
4) Is it true that no two snow crystals are alike?
5) Who invented the TV dinner?

This is a great resource for the reference desk as well as for school media specialists and teachers.

]]> http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/11/18/another-database-of-asked-and-answered-questions-from-the-library-of-congress/feed/ 0 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/11/09/a-new-presentation-by-lawrence-lessig-it-is-about-time-getting-our-values-around-copyright-right/ http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/11/09/a-new-presentation-by-lawrence-lessig-it-is-about-time-getting-our-values-around-copyright-right/#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:06:01 +0000 resourceshelf http://www.resourceshelf.com/?p=26528 On Thursday, November 5, 2009, Lawrence Lessig addressed a general session at the EDUCAUSE 2009 Conference in Denver.

His presentation is now available online and is titled, “It Is About Time: Getting Our Values Around Copyright Right.” It begins about 26 minutes into the video stream after EDUCAUSE presents several awards.

In this talk, Lawrence Lessig will review the progress of the “open access” movement in education. He will make a call for educators to finally resolve this issue in a way that enables the potential of technology for education.

You can watch the presentation and see Lessig’s slides here.

Source: EDUCAUSE

]]> http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/11/09/a-new-presentation-by-lawrence-lessig-it-is-about-time-getting-our-values-around-copyright-right/feed/ 0 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/11/02/colleges-try-crowdsourcing-help-desks-to-save-money/ http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/11/02/colleges-try-crowdsourcing-help-desks-to-save-money/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:45:19 +0000 ResourceShelf http://www.resourceshelf.com/?p=25857 Colleges Try ‘Crowdsourcing’ Help Desks to Save Money

At Indiana University at Bloomington, good help is not hard to find, but it’s pricey. Questions to the 24-hour tech-support help desk cost the institution about $11.41 per phone call and $9.39 per e-mail message—and last year the help desk handled more than 150,000 inquiries.

All that advice adds up, and at peak times some in need of it are left waiting. So, in a few weeks, the university will try something different: letting computer users answer one another’s questions.

Information-technology people call this “crowdsourcing,” a buzzword that puts a positive spin on leaving the job of writing and editing to volunteers rather than hired experts. The idea is to open a Web site where students and professors can post their IT woes and share their solutions. College officials tell me they hope it will grow into a self-service support center for colleges nationwide—a kind of Wikipedia for campus computer problems.

Source: Chronicle of Higher Education

]]> http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/11/02/colleges-try-crowdsourcing-help-desks-to-save-money/feed/ 0 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/10/29/national-assessment-of-educational-progress-questions-tool/ http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/10/29/national-assessment-of-educational-progress-questions-tool/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:44:46 +0000 ResourceShelf http://www.resourceshelf.com/?p=25596 National Assessment of Educational Progress Questions Tool
From e-mail:

The NAEP Questions Tool, one of the most popular features of the National Assessment of Educational Progress website, now makes it easier than ever for teachers, parents, students, researchers, media and the general public to locate released NAEP assessment questions.

The updated NAEP Questions Tool still provides a quick selection of questions from past NAEP assessments, but now features many new capabilities. A tutorial and a detailed Help menu are available to help users of all levels navigate the new features. Also, be sure to check out the special localized help files, and information tags (i-tags) within the tool.

In the updated NAEP Questions Tool, users can:

• select questions by choosing among different criteria, such as difficulty level, content classification, and type of question;
• see actual student responses for constructed response questions, and learn why the answers were scored as they were;
• explore detailed data for each question; and
• bookmark results or individual questions so they can return to exactly the same place later.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

]]> http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/10/29/national-assessment-of-educational-progress-questions-tool/feed/ 0 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/10/27/sec-launches-investor-gov-agencys-first-ever-web-site-devoted-exclusively-to-investor-education/ http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/10/27/sec-launches-investor-gov-agencys-first-ever-web-site-devoted-exclusively-to-investor-education/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:05:59 +0000 ResourceShelf http://www.resourceshelf.com/?p=25457 SEC Launches Investor.gov — Agency’s First-Ever Web Site Devoted Exclusively to Investor Education

The Securities and Exchange Commission today launched its first-ever Web site devoted exclusively to investor education, providing investors with in-depth information and “top tips” on how to invest wisely, plan for the future, and avoid being scammed.

By visiting www.investor.gov, investors can access information in a user-friendly format that is specifically tailored to their needs. The site includes sections specifically for those just getting started investing, for those saving for a child’s education, and for those planning for retirement. It also has a detailed “Seniors Care Package” section for senior citizens and caretakers.

Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

]]> http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/10/27/sec-launches-investor-gov-agencys-first-ever-web-site-devoted-exclusively-to-investor-education/feed/ 0 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/10/27/free-digital-edition-a-visual-history-of-the-federal-reserve-system-1914-2009/ http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/10/27/free-digital-edition-a-visual-history-of-the-federal-reserve-system-1914-2009/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:03:46 +0000 ResourceShelf http://www.resourceshelf.com/?p=25455 A Visual History of the Federal Reserve System 1914-2009 (PDF; 1.1 MB)

The Visual History of the Federal Reserve System portrays in 24 x 36 inches the Fed’s balance sheet from 1914 to present, as well as interest rates, reserve requirements, recessions, chairmen, US presidents, major events, and more. This is the first time this data has ever been compiled and portrayed in a single graphical display.

Dead.tree version available for purchase.

Source: Financial Graph & Art

MLA offers a variety of scholarships and grants to assist qualified students in graduate library science programs and to enable practicing health sciences librarians to take advantage of opportunities for continuing professional development.

Deadline for applications is December 1, except as noted.

Source: Medical Library Association

The Center for Library & Information Innovation in the iSchool at the University of Maryland College Park, in partnership with the Government Information Online initiative and the University of Illinois Chicago, received a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for 20 master’s of library science (MLS) e-government and digital government degree scholarships. This unique program is for students interested in careers in librarianship and other information sciences as specialists in digital government information and e-government services. The program will prepare graduates to take advantage of the evolving range of e-government and digital government information services.

The program is online, and will begin in fall 2010. Applications are currently being accepted. Full scholarships (20 total) are available to highly qualified applicants to the program. Applications are due by February 1, 2010.

Source: Center for Library & Information Innovation, University of Maryland

WatchKnow – which launched Monday…is an Internet search engine that links teachers, students and parents to thousands of free educational videos and slide shows.

The idea of developing an educational video online search engine or “video encyclopedia” started in 2007 with a Lakeland philanthropist, who wishes to remain anonymous, and members of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, along with its president, Tom Pittman. Foundation leaders later enlisted the help of Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger.

An early version of the site was launched in 2008. This year, with the help of area teachers and librarians, more than 10,000 videos [officially 11,189 videos as we write this post} were posted to the newly redesigned Web site.

[Snip]

The videos, Sanger said, can be an invaluable teaching tool.

“We have videos that can spark the interest of a child when a book cannot,” Sanger said. “Children who would never read about a topic might, at least, watch a video about it.”

[Snip]

Sanger added the goal is to have more than 100,000 posted videos in the next few years. If WatchKnow is successful, Sanger said he may help develop a similar site aimed at college-age students.

Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Access WatchKnow

See Also: Learn More About WatchKnow.org
This page contains info about:
+ Project History
+ Advisory Committee
+ Media Review Panel
+ Partners
+ Sources

Searching WatchKnow is fairly robust once you get the hang of it. First, select the age range (3-18) using the age filter. Then, enter search term(s). Click search. Next, review results by category. The number of videos in the top-level categories are shown and change depending on the age range selected.

Now, click the + (plus sign in green) which reveals the first level of subcategories (the number of videos listed are also dynamic based on the search) and make your selections. Again, click the + (plus sign) to move down one more level. Keep doing this until you get to the desired sub-category.

Btw, it’s also possible to browse the entire database by selecting an age range (3-18 for everything), by leaving the search box blank and then clicking search.

For example, here are 10 videos about Pearl Harbor.

We found them by working our way through the following categories (we left the search box empty):
+ History
+ World War II
+ World War II Pacific Theatre
+ Pearl Harbor

WatchKnow requires very little “keyword” searching and more browsing through the different facets/categories. Yet another example of the power of faceted searching!

There is also a WatchKnow email discussion list and a change log that shows videos being deleted, title changes, having the description changed/modified, etc. We wish more sites offered this feature. Finally, some of you might want to consider joining the site. It’s free. Three types of accounts are available: simple, confirmed, and contest. More about these accounts here.

See Also: Larry Sanger is also the Founder of Citizendium.The FAQ does a good job how Citizendium and Wikipedia differ. More on the topic here.

At Purdue University, the George Palmer Putnam Collection is the world’s largest collection of Amelia Earhart papers, photos, memorabilia and artifacts. Several resources from the collection are available online.

1) Searchable Digital Library (Images, cards, ephemera, newspaper articles, etc.), over 2200 entries

2) Biographical Sketch

3) Map of Second World Flight Attempt, 1937

4) Medals
Note: Some medals require Quicktime to view them.

5) Timeline

6) Learn About the Collection

7) Collection of Web Resources about Amelia Earhart

Select Bibliography

9) Bibliography for Children

10) Amelia Earhart at Purdue (Digitized Materials, Over 400 entries)

Source: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Two new primary source sets from the Library of Congress can bring your students face to face with American war veterans. Veterans’ Stories: The Veterans History Project and Veterans’ Stories: Struggles for Participation let veterans tell their stories firsthand through interviews, diaries, photographs, and drawings. All these items were collected by the Veterans History Project, and they’re accompanied by teacher guides and analysis tools that make them easy to use in the classroom.

+ Veterans’ Stories: The Veterans History Project

+ Veterans’ Stories: Struggles for Participation

+ Teachers Guide: Analyzing Oral Histories (1 page; PDF)

Source: Veteran’s History Project, Library of Congress

Let’s say you have this idea for a visualization or application, or you’re just curious about some trend. But you have a problem. You can’t find the data, and without the data, you can’t even start. This is a guide and a list of sources for where you can find that data you’re looking for. There’s a lot out there.

Source: FlowingData

CSC will operate an online digital library for the Education Department under a new five-year contract worth up to $29 million, the company announced today.

CSC will support the department’s Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) under the contract. The new agreement has one base year and four one-year options.

Source: Washington Technology

From the News Release (via CSC)

“We recognize the importance of providing our country’s educators and others with easy access to educational resources that will improve learning, teaching, decision-making and research,” said Tom Anderson, president of CSC’s North American Public Sector Civil and Government Health Services Group. “CSC is honored to support this crucial system and continue our 36-year working relationship with the Department of Education.”

See Also: Access the ERIC Database and Thesaurus

Some three years later, the archive is still online and now home to over 1300 events, exclusive Q&A sessions, and student produced pieces on politics, policy, culture, and academic life. However, it has a new URL. You can now find the archive here. It’s keyword searchable and you can limit your search to a specific year (1978-Present). Also, if you want to see all of the video available from a certain year, leave the search box empty, select a year and then then enter (or the “go” button next to the search box).

For example, here’s a speech by Rev. Desmond Tutu (1986) and an address by Representative John Lewis (D-GA) from 2008.

They also do a nice job of keeping the database up to date. Here’s anaddress by Newt Gingrich from last week (October 8th).

Source: Harvard University Institute of Politics

The Earth currently has more than 400 so-called “dead zones”–expanses of oxygen-starved ocean covering hundreds, or even thousands, of square miles that become virtually devoid of animal life during the summer; the worldwide count of dead zones is doubling every decade.

Most dead zones, such as the Gulf of Mexico’s notorious dead zone, are caused by pollution that is dumped into oceans by rivers. But every summer since 2002, the Pacific Northwest’s coastal waters–one of the U.S.’s most important fisheries–has been invaded by massive dead zones that are believed to be caused by an entirely different and surprising phenomena: changes in oceanic and atmospheric circulation that may, in turn, be caused by climate change.

How could climate change cause dead zones? What do dead zones look like and what are their ecological impacts? And how, on Earth, are scientists sleuthing out the causes of perplexing marine processes that cover such huge swaths of the sea? Find out in the National Science Foundation’s new online, multimedia package on dead zones.

Entitled Dead Zones: Mysteries of Ocean Die-Offs Revealed, the multimedia package is posted at http://nsf.gov/news/special_reports/deadzones. It features:

• a webcast with Jack Barth, an expert on Oregon’s dead zones from Oregon State University;
• a dynamic, narrated slide show;
• compelling videos;
• eye-catching photos;
• enlightening illustrations
• informative, easy-to-understand texts; and
• downloadable documents.

Dead Zones: Mysteries of Ocean Die-Offs Revealed is ideal for reporters, general readers, fishermen, water-enthusiasts, teachers, students, researchers and conservation organizations.

Source: National Science Foundation

Access the Forum Network Online Library

From the Web Site:

The Forum Network online library features thousands of lectures by some of the world’s foremost scholars, authors, artists, scientists, policy makers and community leaders, available to citizens of the world for free.

The Forum Network collaborates with hundreds of community partners in cities across the US, including libraries, museums, academic institutes, public lecture forums, public policy think tanks, cultural councils, and various other community organizations.

[Snip]

We offer weekly podcasts, which users can subscribe to through iTunes or the NPR Podcast Directory. We also offer a subset of downloadable videos through our iTunesU and YouTube channels. Search on “Forum Network” in any of these publishing sites.

The database can be searched by keyword*. Users can also browse by topic (click the lectures link), series (then narrow by topic or and/or collection), speakers (an alphabetical list), and Forum Network Online partners.
* Note, Users are searching lecture descriptions not a transcript of the actual presentation.

Finally, users can keep current with what’s going on with the Forum Network with Twitter and/or Facebook, Two feature we would like to see is a simple list of new lectures and presentations (maybe an RSS feed?) as they enter the database and the option to limit a keyword search by year.

Access the Forum Network Online Library

See Also: ResearchChannel
Another large (over 3500) and constantly growing compilation of academic lectures/presentations from numerous organizations.

See Also: iTunesU

See Also: YouTube EDU

See Also: YouTube EDU Goes International
(ResourceShelf, 10/5/2009)

A growing number of states are using legislation as a means of enabling the use of electronic or open-source textbooks. This ECS StateNote examines the differences between e-textbooks and open-source textbooks and takes a look at related action in several states.

See also: Exemplary State Online Resources for Students, Career Explorers and Adult Learners (PDF; 60 KB)

Source: Education Commission of the States