Book Speed Dating

In the October 2012 issue of Library Media Connection, Librarian Tish Carpinelli from Cape May, NJ, wrote about speed dating with books, an activity she does with her high school students. With a few modifications, 7th grade LA students participated in book speed dating just this week. Four students sat at each table and looked at more than a dozen books and rated them, considering if they wanted to be in a "committed long-term relationship" with the book. :) If students couldn't decide on "a date" by the end of the period, they might go on a "blind date" with a book. Many students found "dates" to take home to read, and all students received a Hershey's kiss--because the perfect date ends with a small kiss!

Library 12 Days of Christmas

Considering the holiday season upon us, we in the library have created a 12 Days of Christmas contest to get you thinking about books and authors. Be sure to watch the announcements on the TVs each day to get the clues. You can check out the explanation below:

If you have questions--or want to check one of your guesses--just stop by the library to talk with Mrs. Ellis. Happy holidays, and good luck!

Reading Road Trip!

At the blog Epic Reads, you can find a map of the United States that shows book covers reflecting the setting of every state. The map includes classics like The Wizard of Oz (set in Kansas), Iowa Teen Award nominees like I Am Number Four (set in Ohio) and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (set in Washington), and new releases like The Raven Boys (set in Virginia). Take a look at the map--it's pretty interesting--and see how many you've read. Maybe it's time for a "road trip" to read more of them! 

Fall Book Fair, Oct. 24 - 26

The Fall Book Fair is coming soon, and you can shop early! Click here to shop the online Book Fair for DCG Middle School, and be sure to stop by at the end of the month to shop in person.

Banned Books Week, Sept. 20 - Oct. 2, 2012

Banned Books Week, now in its 30^th year, is “an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. . . . By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship" (American Library Association). 

Click here to access a timeline about banned books in the United States.

Below are images of the library display to recognize Banned Books Week:

E-Books Online

ABDO Publishing offers e-books online, and middle school students are now able to browse their selection to read online. To access their free e-book selection, click here. You will need to enter a username and password: username: Dalla550; password: shelf. Once you have access to the site, you can browse their fiction and nonfiction titles, including graphic novels. Enjoy!

Google Docs is Here

Students in sixth and seventh grade now have Google accounts that offer many possibilities! By logging into their individual Google accounts, students are able to create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and more. Students' work saves automatically, and because the work is all online, students can access their work from any computer that is connected to the Internet.

Iowa Teen Award and Iowa Children's Choice Award Books

The 2012 - 2013 ITA and ICCA nominated books are now available in the library. Many of the ITA books were already in the library (like The Maze Runner, I Am Number Four, and Incarceron), and some of the titles are new for us, such as Out of My Mind and The Truth about Truman School. Every one of the ICCA books is new to the library, but many authors are familiar--think Mike Lupica and Peg Kehret. All of the nominated book are on display in the fiction section and ready for check out. Remember: If you read at least two titles of either the ITA or the ICCA books, you are eligible to vote for the state winner in March.

If you'd like to see more information about the ITA book, follow this link. To see more about the ICCA books, click here.

Book Recommendations

Have you read a book recently that you really liked and now you want another book like it? BookPig offers book recommendations based on grade levels, genres, and reader favorites. Give it a try--you might find your new, favorite book!

What Should I Read Next?

Are you looking for another book to read? Do you want your next book to be like others you've read? Want to search by genre or just a few key words? Try NoveList Plus, a database that allows you to search fiction and nonfiction titles for the youngest readers to adults. (You'll need to use our AEA username and password to log in.) You can also access NoveList Plus from the MS Library Home page under the Reading category.

If You Loved The Hunger Games. . .

Here's the list a lot of us have waited for: books and series to read if we love The Hunger Games. Click here to access the 2BusyBrunettes blog, where the creators have put together a description of 25 books that are similar to The Hunger Games. The best part? We have many of these in our own library! Stop in or access your Destiny Quest account to check the availability. See you soon!

QR Codes in the Library

Now in the library are cards featuring the QR codes to book trailers. Using a smart phone or iPod with online access, students can scan the QR code, which will take them to an online book trailer created by librarians or students. Several different cards will rotate among the shelves, so continue to check back to see if one of your favorite books is featured!

The Spring Book Fair is Here!

The Middle School Spring Book Fair will be held in the library from Fri. Mar. 9 - Thurs. Mar. 15. Feel free to stop by during your parent-teacher conferences or during the school day.

Can't make it to conferences to visit the Book Fair? You can visit the online book fair extension page where you can purchase from an extended selection of books. Every purchase benefits DCG Middle School! If you'd like to place an order online, please click here to do so.

Senator Grassley Visits DC-G Middle School

On Thursday, January 19, 2012, Senator Charles Grassley visited DC-G Middle School--speaking to students in the library--as part of his 99-county swing through Iowa. Students asked questions they had prepared in advance. Senator Grassley shared his personal stories of entering Iowa and national politics. He also spoke on a variety of topics, such as the Internet anti-piracy bill, education, and bullying. To read the article about Senator Grassley's visit as it appeared at The Iowa Republican online, click here. To see the full video of the Senator's remarks, click here.

Senator Grassley with library associate Ms. Fitzpatrick, left, and with teacher librarian Mrs. Ellis, right. Click on the QuickTime movie below to view additional photographs from the event.

Nonfiction EBooks

Through the AEA, teachers and students can access free, online nonfiction eBooks here. The books focus primarily on science and geography, and the collection includes biographies as well. The books are NOT downloadable. They are available 24/7 with unlimited/simultaneous use. No special ereader is required. Any portable device or computer with Internet access can be used, including iPads.

To access the ebook collection, you will need to use the same AEA online database username and password you use to sign in to EBSCO, CultureGrams, iClipArt, etc.