Nie: What's up with books? A lot!

These days they prefer to be called media specialists. But kids know that when the teacher announces the class is going to the media center, they're off to the library to see the librarian -- the keeper of all those fabulous books.

Introduction

NIE

School library, media center, whatever, this is definitely the place to go to celebrate the love of reading.

According to Fran Schulz, director of Instructional Media for Pasco County Public Schools, the terms media specialist or librarian information specialist more accurately describe the job of today's school librarian. Although some people worried the two would never fit together, books and technology have found a peaceful home in school media centers.

"It's a team effort to promote reading," Schulz says.

Cast a vote for reading

Picture 82,000 kids curled up reading a great book. That's how many students qualified to vote in the 2001 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Program co-sponsored by the School Library Media Services Office of the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Association for Media in Education. Open to public and private schools throughout the state, this program encourages kids to read some of the best books in children's literature.

Titles are divided into two lists: one for grades three to five and one for grades six to eight. Students who read books on the list are then eligible to vote for their favorite. Votes from the statewide balloting are collected to determine the winners of the Sunshine State Young Reader's Award. Authors whose books earn this prestigious award consider it a great honor.

You can find the list of current and past years' titles on the state's Sunshine State Young Readers Award Web site: www.firn.edu/doe/instmat/ssyrap.htm. See your school media specialist to cast your vote.

Get your hand on the buzzer

Polish your armor and grab your sword, the Battle of the Books is about to begin. Actually, all you need for this war of words is a good understanding of the books on this year's Sunshine State Young Readers Awards list and a quick-on-the-draw buzzer finger.

Battle of the Books competition is divided into elementary (grades 3-5) and middle school levels (grades 6-8). This is not for the faint of heart. Only those readers truly up to the challenge should enter -- this is serious reading business.

The road leading to the big battle begins with reading the books on the Young Readers list. Next, school library information specialists give interested students qualifying tests in March or April. In a quiz bowl type of game, students then compete in school and regional battles that determine who is brave enough to face the ultimate reading challenge: the district Battle of the Books in May.

A word of warning to young readers in Hillsborough County: The buzz on the street has it that last year's Battle of the Books winners, the Westchase (Elementary) Wizards, have been practicing since December to make sure the coveted trophy stays at their school. Will they be able to repeat their amazing performance at last year's district finals at Tropicana Field? We'll have to wait until May to find out.

Go for gold, meet the author

Okay, so I've always been a little starstruck when it comes to meeting famous authors. But judging from the crowd that fills the studios (not to mention the television audience) at Pinellas County Schools' annual author book talk, I'm not the only one.

Each fall, students read all the books they can by the guest author. Then they wrack their brains to find really cool questions to ask him or her. The masterminds behind the 20 best queries meet the author at a reception before the live telecast, where these lucky students will pose their question to the honored guest. Meanwhile, kids and parents from all over the county watch on television.

This year's author, Will Hobbs, penned one of the Times' You Gotta Read This Book Club's favorite titles -- Jason's Gold (we love his web site, www.willhobbsauthor.com).

Talking up books

Sponsored by the Pinellas Association of Library Media Specialists, Bookarama is an important part of the school system's overall goals for students. "The purpose of all our student literacy programs is to encourage students to develop lifelong reading skills," Kelley says

Two winners and an alternate from each schoolwide competition deliver their three- to five-minute oral presentations at a district-level contest each February. The first place winner's school earns bragging rights as home to the best book talker in the county and a traveling plaque to prove it.

This year's winner was Colleen Cherry of Madeira Beach Middle, who talked about Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson.

The art of telling tales

Your mom may have told you that it's not nice to tell stories, but this time it's okay -- really.

In Pinellas County the public schools work with the library cooperative system to help students sharpen their oral communication skills through the time-honored tradition of storytelling. Professional storytellers (yeah, they do this for a living) perform at schools and share their expertise with students still in the amateur ranks.

It took two years to make it happen, Kelley says, but last November, storyteller extraordinaire Donald Davis spread the great news about his craft to area kids who later tested their skills in a countywide storytelling festival.

Both Hillsborough and Pasco counties' schools sponsor similar storytelling programs. In Pasco, middle and senior high students compete in a "Story Tella-bration." The district competition happens each December.

If you're interested in getting an early start on next year's competition, then read more about Davis and the art of spinning a good yarn at his terrific web site: www.ddavisstoryteller.com.

Library links

Hillsborough County Public Schools Library Resources (apps.sdhc.k12.fl.us/public/library) Pinellas County Public Schools Library Media/Technology (www.pinellas.k12.fl.us/lmt/default.htm) Pasco County Public Schools Instructional Media & Technology (media.pasco.k12.fl.us/)

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