Staff Development

Library Media Services is offering the following workshops during the 2008-2009 school year.  Click the workshop title to register.

Updates, Reports & Best Practices
Participants will increase knowledge in evolving areas of media and technology and use this knowledge to facilitate job-related tasks. Topics include a technology update, GCS media center statistics, the 2009 AMTR, and best practices from GCS colleagues.  Renewal credit (1.0 CEU) will be given for successful completion of the workshop.

Session Dates

August 25
8:30-12:30
Smith High School auditorium

February 20
8:30-11:30
Northern High School

June 11
8:30-11:30
Dudley High School

GCS-MS: Reviewing and Selecting 2008 Books for Elementary Students
Instructors: Margaret Sullivan Brannon and Kyle Thacker
Participants will read and evaluate newly published books for elementary students. Discussions and annotations will focus on selecting and using these books to support the curriculum.  Participants will develop strategies for creative use of elementary literature and refine selection criteria to build strong collections.  All sessions will be held from 3:30-5:30. Renewal credit (1.0 CEU) will be given for successful completion of the workshop.  Participants may browse the LMS Preview Collection and requests books by sending an email to Glenda Huckabee.

Session Dates              Topic                                                                      Location
September 18                Introduction/Expectations                                  Hemphill Library                 
October 16                      Picture Books & Emergent Readers               Borders Bookstore
November 20                 Math & Science                                                    Jesse Wharton Elementary
January 15                      Social Studies & Biography                               Barnes & Noble, Friendly
February 12                    Fiction                                                                    General Greene Elementary

Reviewing and Selecting Books for Young Adults 2008
Instructors: Betsy Crone and Jennifer Parry-Hill
Participants will read and evaluate books for middle and high school students. Discussions and annotations will focus on genres, including graphic novels.  An additional focus will be on using book talks as a motivational strategy and using picture books with older readers.  The design of the workshop is based on the 2007-2008 staff development survey.  All sessions will be held from 4:00-6:00.  Renewal credit (1.0 CEU) will be given for successful completion of the workshop.  Participants may browse the LMS Preview Collection and request books by sending an email to Glenda Huckabee.

Session Dates              Topic                                                                                      Location
September 25                Participants book talk summer reading title                  Franklin
October 16                      Any genre book talks, blog entry, picture books            Page High
November 13                 Any genre book talks, picture books                                TBD
December 4                   Graphic format book talks, picture books                       TBD
January 8                        Any genre book talks, picture books                                TBD

Interactive Tools for Media Specialists  
Instructors: Janice Bradburn, Gail Holmes, T. K. Force, and Tammy Gruer
Participants will get hands-on experience with new technology.  Emphasis will be on using the technology in instruction.  Participants will be required to complete an assignment which will be shared with the class during the last session.  Sessions are from 4:00-6:00 with the exception of October 10 (see below). Renewal credit (1.0 CEU) will be given for successful completion of the workshop.  Workshop is limited to 18 participants.

Session Dates              Topic                                                                      Location
September 24                Media carts and their components                  Pearce Elementary
October 10                      Blogs, Wikis & Podcasting                                 Washington Street Annex
                                                                                                                           8:30-12:30
October 15                      Media carts, digital cameras, & DVD direct    Northern Middle                  
November 12                 CPS and document cameras                           Union Hill Elementary
January 7                        Sharing products                                                 Library Media Services

GCS-MS: Advanced Destiny for Media Specialists
Instructors: Jean Howard and Libby Oxenfeld
Participants will learn how to use the advanced features of the new library automation software, Destiny Library Manager.  All sessions will be held from 4:00-6:00. Renewal credit (1.0 CEU) will be given for successful completion of the workshop.  The workshop is only open to media specialists at schools with Destiny who have not taken this training.

Session Dates              Topic                                                                      Location
October 8                        Access Levels                                                    Western High School
November 5                   Cataloging                                                           Smith High School
December 3                   Homepage                                                          Ragsdale High School
February 4                      Questions, Solutions                                         Library Media Services
March 4                           Inventory                                                               Library Media Services