Do School Libraries Need to Have Books?

I found this thought-provoking video on the topic of books and libraries on YouTube. It is a panel discussion from TV Ontario about the role libraries and teacher librarians play in students' learning and the changing library environment. The panel participants include two teacher librarians who also discuss the role of print materials in this new digital information environment. The discussion covered many issues relating to literacy that are of relevance not only in Canada, but also in the USA, the UK and other countries around the world. It also answered many questions that I have about being a school librarian in the 21st century.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth

For those of you (like me) who love to read Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series mark your calendars for November 9th when book #5, The Ugly Truth will be published. Our library has the first four books in the series: Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules; Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw; and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days. Jeff Kinney has also written Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Do-it-Yourself Book and The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary. If you saw the Wimpy Kid movie this summer, let me know what you thought of it. How did it compare to the book? I heard that there will also be a second Wimpy Kid movie coming out next year.

Here's a video of Jeff Kinney speaking about some of his favorite books, many of which are my favorites, too and are in our school library.