SWON Libraries

Is there a library you love? Is there a librarian, volunteer, or support staff person who gives stellar assistance? Someone who deserves applause? Tell us about it! Nominations are now open to honor libraries, library staff, and library volunteers in our region. To view criteria for each aware and submit your nominations online, please click here. Nominations will remain open until February 28.

The SWONny Awards Gala will be announced at a gala event on April 4, 2012. The evening will be celebrated with dinner and music and will be held on the campus of Xavier University. This will be pleasant time to relax, talk and network with your peers. To reserve your place at the gala, please register here.

SWON's Teen Reading Challenge is back in 2012, and it's getting a new set of tires before hitting the road. The challenge itself is the same: read as many "teen" books as you can between February 1 and April 30, 2012. Then tell us about what you've read by completing an online survey. We'll tally the total number of pages read by individuals and the average number of pages read by teams and announce the Challenge winners after the reading period is finished. There aren't prizes for the winners, but there's also no cost to participate. $0 entry fee. Free.

What's different this year is the online survey. Previously we asked you to rate the book and provide some information about it (like the title, author, and page count). We're asking some additional questions this year, like what you liked about the book and who would find this book most appealing. The new questions are short and sweet, but we think the answers will help you find interesting books that other people read as part of the Challenge. You'll have access to that data after the Challenge is complete.

Are you ready to sign up?

1. Assemble your team, if you'd like to join the Team Challenge
2. Register for the Challenge (include team info at this time, please)
3. Line up your books to start reading on February 1st

Background:  ESEA reauthorization, currently known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), will determine federal education policy for the coming decade. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee marked-up (voted out of committee) ESEA on October 20, 2011 without including school libraries! While no date has yet been set for a Senate vote, the American Library Association believes that it may come up after January 23, 2012.

What It Means for School Libraries:  Ensuring that school libraries are included in ESEA reauthorization means that federal funding for schools would also include school libraries. But, more importantly, having school libraries included in ESEA is a strong statement that school library programs are considered an important part of the learning environment. This will make it harder for local decision makers to de-professionalize or cut school library services.

What You Can Do:  It is imperative that every library supporter in the country call or email both of their Senators now! Call 202-224-3121 to reach the U.S. Capitol switchboard in Washington or call them at their local offices. Let them know that ESEA must include a specific authorization for an effective school library program. Senators can do this by telling both Senator Tom Harkin and Senator Mike Enzi that they support including an effective school library program in ESEA. You can also find more information by visiting the I Love Libraries website.