Thursday+Sessions

All tours will take place on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University. Transportation to the Penn State Campus will be provided AT NO CHARGE, via the “Red Link” of the CATA bus service. Participants should meet at the CATA bus shelter in front of the Penn Stater at 12:15.
 * Pre-conference Tours Thursday April 15. 12:15 PM**

T1 Penn State Information Sciences and Technology Building Tour Included in this facility tour will be a visit to the CreateIT Studio featuring a 3D printer, Extreme Events Lab featuring a large screen 3D display, high tech on-line education room and PSU’s Network and Cyber Security Lab.

T2 Dickinson School of Law Library and H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens Tour Enjoy an escorted tour of the new Dickinson School of Law Library on the Penn State Campus. Afterwards, walk over to Penn State’s newest landmark, the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens at the Arboretum. WEAR WALKING SHOES – THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TRANSPORTATION STOPS AND THE VENUES!

Following the tours, you can explore the environs of the University Park Campus or Downtown State College. You can return at your leisure to the Penn Stater FREE OF CHARGE via the “Red Link”.

P1 How to Implement a Policy Advocacy Strategy for School Libraries: A Round Table Discussion PSLA Legislative Committee, Debra Kachel, Chair Join a group of legislators, school administrators, board members, Educational Law representative, parents and school library advocates in an educational policy discussion. How do school libraries fit in the big picture?
 * Pre-Conference Session 1:00 – 3:00 2 Act 48 Hours**

P2 Desires, Goals, and Ambitions Billy Staples, Motivational Speaker Interest Level – All Come hear Billy Staples talk about his approach to motivating students to excel, and to hear about his book, Before the Glory, a collection of motivational, real life stories of baseball players who faced and overcame hardships and other obstacles in their pursuit of their goals, and how this book can help your students face their problems and reach for their dreams. Find out more at http://www.billystaples com.
 * Pre-conference Sessions 1:00 – 4:00 3 Act 48 Hours**

P3 Student Readers are the Mark: Hit the Mark with Sound Bite Book Talks Dotty Delafield, Librarian, State College Area School District and Kathy Billet,, State College Area School District Interest Level – Grades 6 – 12 Target your Audience. Short attention span? Sort book talks. Talk books so that they fly into the hands of your students. Even if you have attended this session before, we have new books to talk about, new writing techniques, and plenty of time to write. This is a working workshop. Go home with lots of ready-made book talks. BRING A LAPTOP IF YOU HAVE ONE. There will be a limited number to loan for the session.

P4 Finally an End to Copyright Confusion Dr. Renee Hobbs, Professor, Temple University, Founder of the Media Education Lab Interest Level – All Learn about how a code of best practice can help educators gain clarity about how fair use affects the use of copyrighted materials to promote critical thinking and communication skills. Learn new strategies to teach students and colleagues about copyright and fair use so that you can help put an end to copyright confusion.
 * Pre-conference Sessions 1:00 – 6:00 5 Act 48 Hours**

P5 Assessment Product: The Why, What, And How Cynthia Keller. Department Chair for the School Library & Information Technology Program on-line M. Ed. Program, Mansfield University and Nancy Henry, Librarian, Ephrata Area School District and Instructor, Mansfield University. Interest Level – All Assessment of student products and performances is at the heart of classroom practice today as educators focus instruction on academic standards. School librarians, because of their knowledge of curriculum, students, and resources across content area grade levels, are well positioned to facilitate collaborative assessment practice in the school setting. During this workshop participants will recall information from prior assessment workshops; apply the principles of strategies for assessment; and design motivators, objectives, and assessment strategies critical for learning.

P6 See Alexandria Accentuate Your Library Stephen Kunzler, Regional Sales Manager, Alexandria Library Software and Richard Dolph, Regional Sales Manager, Alexandria Library Software Interest Level – All Check it out! Fully-integrated, cross-platform, web-based library automation system used and loved by thousands of libraries for over 20 years. Get the full worth of your library. This is a users group for libraries who use Alexandria or who are considering it.

Conference 101 4:30 – 6:00 Conference 101: the Basics of the Conference and how to make the most of it (new PSLA members, Students, First and Second Year Attendees Susan Hefley, Librarian, Moniteau School District and Suzanne Piorkowski, Librarian, Pocono Mountain School District Interest Level - First and Second year PSLA Conference Attendees Once again, the PSLA Students Committee is proud to present an introductory session to aid first time conference attendees and new librarians with navigating the opportunities PSLA presents. Bring your conference bag, and wear comfortable shoes!

**W Sessions 7:30 – 9:45 2 Act 48 Hours** W1 The Wilson Core Collection Users Group Raymond Barber, Editor, Senior High School Core Collection Interest Level – Grades 7 – 12 The H. W. Wilson Core Collection, represented by Ray Barber will be explored as a collection development tool for books, graphic novels, and non-book resources. These can be used to evaluate collections, identify strengths and weaknesses, identify new purchases, and advise students and teachers. The Best Books of 2009 and hot titles for 2010 will be presented and lists handed out. For those who use the Core Collection, or are interested in it.

W2 Young Adult Top 40 Joyce Valenza, Librarian, Springfield Township School District and the members of the Not Ready for Newbery/Printz Committee Interest Level – Grades 6 – 12 Joint the members of the Not Ready for Newbery/Pritz Committee for a wacky, interactive romp through the best of the 2009 young adult titles. Reviews, prizes, fun!

W3 The Best in Children’s Literature for 2009 Pat Markey, Librarian, Welsh Valley Middle School and Julie Toner, Librarian, Andrew Mellon Middle School, and panel Interest Level – Grades K – 8 This panel reviews all the K – 8 books that received at least two significant awards or honors, such as the Newbery, Caldecott, the Coretta Scott King Awards, and the “best” lists of SLJ, Booklist, etc. Sponsored by PSLA’s Media Selection and Review Committee.

W4 Borrow From the Best: A Librarian’s grab bag of ideas and tricks Christine Poirier, Librarian, Esperanza Academy Interest Level – All Come share your best ideas “speed dating” style! Attendees will share ideas on bulletin boards, displays, lessons, book clubs, collaboration tricks and generally what makes their libraries run smoothly.

W5 How to Write a LSTA Grant Debra Kachel, Instructor and Scholarship Director, Mansfield University and Nancy Henry, Librarian, Ephrata Middle School Interest Level – All PA school libraries can apply for Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants – Collection Development Grants or a Wireless Laptop Lab. Learn how to collect the data, write the grant, and execute an evaluation plan to earn money for your school.

W6 Desires, Goals, and Ambitions Billy Staples, Motivational Speaker Interest Level – All Come hear Billy Staples talk about his approach to motivating students to excel, and to hear about his book, Before the Glory, a collection of motivational, real life stories of baseball players who faced and overcame hardships and other obstacles in their pursuit of their goals, and how this book can help your students face their problems and reach for their dreams. Find out more at http://www.billystaples com. This is a repeat of P1,

W7 Bow Wow Book! Lindsay George, Illustrator, Author Interest Level – Grades PreK – 6 Participants will develop a Picture Book using the same theme – a dog and a circle. She will use her latest book – Maggie’s Ball – as a graphic model. This workshop is a model for Pre-K to 6th grade.

W8 How Students Can Make a Book About Awesome Animals and Other Author Tips Betty Tatham, Author Interest Level – Grades K – 6 Non-fiction author Betty Tatham will share how her school visits and writing workshops help students create a “school published” class book about animals. She will also show photos of her research on animals in Africa, China, and the USA and discuss funding ideas for author visits.

W9 Copyright and the 21st Century Learner Celeste Nalwasky, Part-time Assistant Professor, Clarion University and Joyce Mason, Librarian and CFF Coach, Canon-McMillan High School Interest Level – All Do you know the latest thinking on copyright and intellectual property usage? This workshop is designed to update your knowledge on the subject.