Topic: Journal Review
Tracie Sammons
EDUT 6115
Summer 2009
Journal Reviews
(1) American Libraries
Mountain Press Publishing Co.
1301 S. 3rd St. W.
Missoula, MT 59801
American Libraries is a journal published 10 times a year by the American Library Association. American Library Association members receive the magazine as perquisite of membership. Members can receive bound journals or access full text articles through varies searchable databases. American Libraries magazine prints information that is essential to librarians or library services. American Libraries is all-inclusive magazine dedicated to helping media specialist improve the library services, professional development, promote libraries, and literacy. Each issue has content, column, and informative articles.
- AL Focus – ALA information, USA and International, Tech News, and Newsmaker and Featured Videos.
- Current News – Has articles like Milwaukee Group Seeks Fiery Alternative too Materials Challenge and Tennessee Schools Unblock LGBT Website Following Lawsuit.
- Columns– Feature the Internet Librarian and Youth Matters
- Calendar – Lists ALA Events, ALA Courses, ALA Chapter Conferences, and Online Courses.
I read the article It’s Pink Slip Season for California School Librarian. This article looked at board layoffs across the California School District and it’s predominate layoffs for media specialists. In Modesto they cut 8.5 media specialists and eight library assistants. Corona-Norco Unified School District issued pink slips to its five high school media specialists. In Madera Unified School District, media specialists are speaking up and making protest signs to sway decision makers. A school library advocate laments too few connects the dots between school-library quality and student success. After I read this article I thought about the budget cuts taking place in Georgia’s educational system and how important it is for our legislators to understand how indispensable library media specialists are to the educational development of students.
This magazine is a great resource for professional development and information that affect media specialists.
(2) School Library Journal
Xlibris Corporation
1663 Liberty Drive
Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403
School Library Journal (SLJ) is the leading print magazine serving media specialist who work with young group of people in schools and public libraries. It mission is to provide librarians up-to-date information needed to incorporate libraries in to the curriculum, technology, reading, literary information. SLJ is the leading authority reviewer of children’s and young adult books, audio, video, and Web sites. The magazine and Website provides subscribers the necessary information in making purchasing decisions. In September 1954 the magazine title was Junior Libraries in the pages of its parent publication, Library Journal, later the magazine gained its independence and a new name School Library Journal that is published monthly.
Each issue contains sections titled Features which contains Cover Story, Focus On, TechKnowledge, Reviews, Columns, and Top Stories. The section Cover Story includes articles like A Tall Tale, The Evidence- Based Manifesto, and Start Your Search Engines. The other sections are called TechKnowledge, Columns, and Top Stories. They include Editorials and articles such as Carrie on Copyright, The Gaming Life, and Under Cover. The Review section is subdivided by Multimedia Review, Digital Resources, Reference, and The Book Review. The Book Review section categorizes reviews for Preschool to Grade 4, Grades 5 & Up, Adult Books for High School Students, Professional Reading, Author/Illustrator Index, Title Index, and Book Review Stars.
The article I read titled Tuned-in Teenagers in the TechKnowledge section summarized the activities that teen participated in during Teen Tech Week in various libraries. Teen Tech Week was sponsored by Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). YALSA encourage media specialists to create their own activities, persuading them with a grant of $450.00 plus $50.00 promotional goods. At the Bluford branch of the Kansas City Public Library, teens were treated to an evening “Lock-In”. The teens got unlimited use of computers and video gaming. The lock-in gave them the opportunity to take over the library.
(3) Library Media Connection
Linworth Publishing, INC
PO Box 1911
Santa Barbara, CA
93116-1911
Library Media Connection (LMC) is a professional magazine for school library media specialists and technology specialists. The publishing company blended its predecessors The Book Report, Library Talk, and Technology Connection. LMC conveys information, professional development, and educator-developed books and technology reviews seven times each school year. The focus of LMC is to support media specialists, technology specialists, classroom teachers, reading and literacy specialists in areas of the curriculum, student achievement, and the diverse learning communities. LMC is a resource of ideas and information.
The issues contain Feature Articles like Getting Started with Graphic Novels in School Libraries, Collaboration: Finding the Teacher, Finding the Topic, Finding the Time, and Valentine’s Day: A Brief History. Departments contain Editor’s Notes, Tips & Other Bright Ideas, Listen Up! What’s New in Audiobooks, and Copyright Questions of the Month. Sections that contain Mini Theme: Books and Boys, Technology Connection, and Reviews.
I found the article Getting Started with Graphic Novels in School Libraries very educational. The definition for a graphic was unclear to me, but after reading this article I have a clear understanding. I remember seeing my third grade students read a graphic novel tilted Bones. I thought it was just a large comic book. But after reading this article I understand graphic novels are different from comic books. Graphic novels usually contain a story with a beginning, middle, and end. They may be part of a series, but each volume typically contains a complete story. Graphic novels encompass many different genres.
I enjoyed perusing through LMC. I found some of the articles informative and easy to read.
(4) Library Sparks
Lab Safety Supply Inc
Upstart Publication
401 S. Wright Road
Janesville, WI 53547
Library Sparks publishes ready-to-use articles for teaching library and literacy skills. The articles are mainly written for elementary and children’s media specialists. Library Sparks is published nine times a year. The contents include departments such as So Many Books, Freebies, Doodads, & Helpful Hints, Technology, Meet the Author, Author Extension, Curriculum Connection, and Keep ‘em Reading these contents are the same in each volume.
This volume featured author Patricia Polacco in Meet the Author segment. The author interviewed Ms.Polacco. He asked her for question about her life and when did you start creating children’s books professionally? Then some of her books were featured and the author asks her a question pertaining to a certain book. The next segment, Author Extensions, continues to highlight Patricia Polacco and her books and suggested activities for selected books. For instance, after a media specialist or teacher has read the book Oh, Look!. Library Sparks suggested a reader’s theater presentation. This activity invites student to work together to prepare to read the story to a kindergarten class. The small group is assigned different parts like the narrator, draw a picture of the ogre, and three students take the part of the goats.
I think a media specialist would find Library Sparks magazine a great resource for literacy activities. The activities are engaging and practical.
(5)School Library Media Activities Monthly
Libraries Unlimited
PO Box 1911
Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
School Library Media Activities Monthly (SLMAM) focuses on supporting K–12 school media specialists as they plan units and lessons with teachers. SLMAM articles are designed to help strengthen information literacy skills, research procedures, promote the integration of technology, and other resources. The articles are written by library media professionals. SLMAM welcomes unsolicited articles and reader contribution to all columns and departments. The magazine is published monthly except July and August.
Each volume contains Features and Columns. Features section has a page labeled Use This Page. This page featured Books with Courageous Protagonists and a book lists with accompanied SLMAM Lesson Plans. The theme activity was “Male and Female Courageous Protagonist Project”. There were various book titles listed with protagonist characters for example: Frindle, Touching Spirit Bear, and Thunder Cave. There were many sections listed under Columns. They were Editorial, Editorial Policy, Activities Almanac, and Into the Curriculum.
I particularly liked the section called Connect the Book. This segment suggested books based on a theme. The theme for this volume connects to children’s picture books and information books about divorce. Several books are listed to help teachers, parents, counselors, and media specialists talk about divorce with students whose parents are divorced or considering divorce.