[Libs-Or] Reading for the Earth Campaign for Youth in Grades K-8 (w/ Gale Tie-In)

[Jennifer Maurer]

In honor of Earth Day, and for the entire month of April, the Earth Day Network is asking libraries to participate in their two-year-old program, Reading for the Earth, for youth in grades K - 8. The goal is for “kids to borrow and read environmentally themed books from their library. The purpose of the campaign is twofold: to educate youth about the environment, and to inspire them to read books more often.” A rep from the Earth Day Network told me that ALA just signed on as a partner, which basically means they endorse the program.

For those who want to register their library and document a few activities, they can receive recognition at the end of the campaign. Or, go low key, don’t register, and participate at your leisure. ;-)

The website, http://www.earthday.org/reading, has suggested reading lists, PDFs of promotional posters, suggested activities, an organizer’s guide, and more.

            http://www.earthday.org/encouragereading (posters and reading lists)
            http://www.earthday.org/RegisterYourLibrary (register your library)
            http://www.earthday.org/OrganizeReading (suggested activities and organizer’s guide)
            http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1807/images/2012/Reading/readingtoolkit.pdf (overall summary)

If you plan to participate, consider supplementing your collection of books about the environment by bookmarking specific articles or searches in the Gale databases. Then post the recommended reading or resource list (of bookmarks) to your library webpage, create a QR code that directs to the page of links and add it to a newsletter article, send the links to your local homeschooling association, etc. Not comfortable using Gale bookmarks that way? Then maybe the Gale webinar<http://oregon.gov/OSL/LD/technology/sdlp/index.shtml#Statewide_Database_Training> on April 3rd at 11am Pacific is for you: Finding eResources to Support Library Programming.

Here’s a sample of bookmarked items from the Gale databases that promote learning about the environment. If prompted for a "password, library barcode number, or other ID," use the password of Oregon school districts' and private schools' Gale login (which is oslis for everyone) or enter your own library barcode number.
>From GREENR, a topic page about Forests and Deforestation: http://tinygaleurl.com?br3lds6
>From Student Resources in Context, an audio clip about listening to sounds in habitats to gauge the health of landscapes: http://tinygaleurl.com?ovdbuyz
>From Gale Virtual Reference Library, an article about midwife toads with a section on their conservation status: http://tinygaleurl.com?ongotpj
>From Kids InfoBits, a “go green” quiz: http://tinygaleurl.com?38xc5hx
Questions about the Reading for the Earth campaign? Please email Deon Jackson at reading at earthday.org<mailto:reading at earthday.org>.

Questions about the Gale databases? I can help with that or direct you to someone who can.
Thanks,
Jen
Jennifer Maurer
School Library Consultant
Oregon State Library
250 Winter Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
503.378.5011
jennifer.maurer at state.or.us

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