During the first week of school, Granite’s elementary media clerks gathered in small groups for professional development sessions held at five different elementary school libraries in the district. In this setting they were able to collaborate with other clerks who work in library spaces of the same or similar design, exploring the spaces to gain ideas for improving organization, flow, displays, and atmosphere. In this post we feature display ideas from these five libraries as they stood ready to welcome back students in the coming days.
Literacy Promotion
Elementary Media Clerks ‘By the Book’
Each day over on Granitemedia.org, our sister site for district library media programs, we are featuring the reading lives of our elementary media clerks with a daily ‘By the Book’ spotlight interview. Below is one recent example. Check out all the By the Book posts to get to know our fabulous media clerks, as well as find some great book recommendations both for kids and adults.
By the Book: Jennifer Porter, Crestview Elementary
Jennifer is finishing her fifth year as a media clerk at Crestview Elementary. She has done incredible work bringing the library into the 21st century and creating an environment that students are excited to come into.
What books are currently on your nightstand?
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, The Price We Paid: The Extraordinary Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Pioneers by Andrew D. Olsen, and Enchanted Air by Margarita Engle
What was the last great book you read?
Boys on the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown. I really enjoyed learning about this group of “boys” and all the history that went into their story. Plus, being from Seattle myself, it was fascinating to learn more about my hometown. I wasn’t even familiar with their story!
The last book that made you cry?
True (…Sort Of) by Katherine Hannigan. I read this a few years ago and was completely drawn in. I finished it as our family was driving to Oregon and I was curled up in the front seat trying not to let the rest of the family hear my sobs. It really made an impact on me and was a beautiful story.
The last book that made you laugh?
Been There, Done That: Writing Stories from Real Life by Mike Winchell
What kind of reader were you as a child? What childhood books and authors stick with you the most?
I actually was a slow reader- things didn’t click for me re: reading until about 4th grade, and I didn’t enjoy reading all that much. But my mom, an avid reader, kept introducing me to great books. My favorite was <em>The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett. My mom challenged me to read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, with the promise that if I finished it she would buy me all the Madame Alexander Little Women dolls. I still have the set. I loved the classics…still do!
What is the best book you were required to read as a student?
Required? I don’t really remember. The only thing I can think of is in 10th grade English we had to read Romeo and Juliet. I was nervous about reading Shakespeare but my teacher was so great and taught us how to understand Shakespeare that I have loved his work ever since!
What book did you hate reading as a student?
I really can’t remember hating anything I read. I’m sure there was something, I just have no memory of it.
What is your favorite book to recommend to children?
I love to recommend Matthew Kirby’s books. He is a great storyteller and each book fits a different genre.
If you could only bring three books to a desert island, which would you pack?
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen OR A Room with a View by E.M. Forster, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
By the Book Posts compiled by Nikki Gregerson, District Elementary Library Media Specialist, Educational Technology Department
Granite District Battle of the Books 2016-2017 Competition Winners
On April 13, 2017, over 50 student teams from 18 different elementary schools in Granite School District converged on Gearld Wright Elementary for the first annual Granite District Battle of the Books competition. Student teams went head-to-head in this “Family Feud”-style game, in which their knowledge of the 15 books on the official 2016-2017 reading lists was put to the test.
We congratulate all of the students who read and participated in the battles, whether in their school or at the district competition. We thank all of the media clerks, teachers, administrators, parent volunteers, and others who tirelessly supported this program and inspired our students to find excitement in reading.
Check out the winners of our 2016-2017 competitions!
3rd-4th Grade Winners
5th-6th Grade Winners
2017-2018 Battle of the Books Competition
Any who are interested in learning how their school can participate in next year’s Battle of the Books program are invited to one of two informational meetings which will be held on Friday, May 12, 2017, at your choice of 12:00-12:30 PM and 2:00-2:30 PM. These meetings will be held at the Educational Technology Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) at 5300 West Cherrywood Lane, West Valley City, UT 84120.
![2017-2018 Battle of the Books Informational Meeting - 1 2017-2018 Battle of the Books Informational Meeting - 1](https://i0.wp.com/www.graniteschools.org/edtech/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2017/04/2017-2018-battle-of-the-books-informational-meeting-1.jpg?w=246&h=344&ssl=1)
![2017-2018 Battle of the Books Informational Meeting - 2 2017-2018 Battle of the Books Informational Meeting - 2](https://i0.wp.com/www.graniteschools.org/edtech/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2017/04/2017-2018-battle-of-the-books-informational-meeting-2.png?w=246&h=344&ssl=1)
If you have any questions about Battle of the Books, please contact Nikki Gregerson, District Elementary Library Supervisor in the Educational Technology department.
Upcoming Author Visit: Veronica Roth
Veronica Roth, author of the bestselling young adult novel Divergent and its accompanying dystopian science fiction series, will visit Granger High School in West Valley City on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 7 P.M. She will discuss her new young adult novel, Carve the Mark, being released this month as the first volume in an all-new epic fantasy/science fiction series.
A ticket is required to attend this event. If you are a student at a junior high school or senior high school in Granite School District interested in attending, please visit your school’s library and ask about tickets. Others outside the district can find ticket details and contact information on the The King’s English Bookshop event page.
Carve the Mark is released on January 17, 2017. Granite students and teachers can place a hold on Carve the Mark right now in Granite’s OverDrive, or ask at your school library to check out a print copy when it is released. Veronica Roth’s other novels are also available in ebook and digital audiobook formats on Granite’s OverDrive.
Author Visit: Jeff Kinney at Kennedy Jr. High
Jeff Kinney, author/illustrator of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid middle grade fiction series, visited Kennedy Jr. High on Tuesday evening to share insights on his latest release Double Down. [Read more…] about Author Visit: Jeff Kinney at Kennedy Jr. High
Teacher Spotlight: Keith Smedberg, Olympus High School
Keith Smedberg is the Library Media Educational Technology Specialist at Olympus High School in Holladay, Utah. He manages a vibrant, engaging library with programming that supports reading, learning, technology use, and the diverse interests of the students at his school. In this spotlight video, several Olympus students talk about why they appreciate the library and Mr. Smedberg.
Check out the Olympus High School library web page at http://www.theolycenter.org/.
Spotlight created by Cindy Moyle, Granite District Library Media Specialist.
Summer Reading / Summer Learning 2016
Looking for great resources for summer reading and summer learning? In this post we round up programs from Granite School District, our friends at the Salt Lake City Public Library and Salt Lake County Library systems, and other resources from the web in general.
Granite’s OverDrive
All K-12 students in Granite School District (as well as all staff members) have access to Granite’s OverDrive Digital Library, where they can choose from thousands of ebooks and digital audiobooks to read or listen to throughout the summer.
You can access Granite’s OverDrive from any web browser by visiting http://granite.lib.overdrive.com. You can also access our library via the OverDrive app, which is available for a whole range of mobile devices and operating systems (see http://app.overdrive.com.) Students log in with their regular school login (student number and whatever password they have at the point school ends.)
For more information and help with Granite’s OverDrive, please see this post or download these more detailed instructions.
The Salt Lake City Public Library System
Our friends at the The City Library are hosting the Super Summer Challenge 2016, encouraging all in our community to “read, explore, make, discover, and do more this summer.”
The city’s summer challenge goes through August 20, and they provide an exciting variety of challenge goals, activities, and events for Kids, Pre-Readers, Teens, and Adults. Participants can win a variety of prizes.
Salt Lake County Library Services
Our friends at the Salt Lake County Libraries are also hosting an exciting 2016 Summer Reading Challenge: On Your Mark, Get Set…READ.
Special events include a teen online short story contest, ToshoCon Teen Anime Convention, Teen STEM Camps, and a special admission discount at the Natural History Museum of Utah for the library’s summer reading participants. Prizes are available to participants. Many other library events are happening on a daily basis. Visit or contact your local branch of the county library system to find out more information.
Additional Summer Learning + Reading Resources
- Several school libraries in Granite School District open their doors periodically during the summer for book checkout and other programming. Contact your school to find out if they offer this service.
- Check out our list of free Digital Resources and Tools for Reading and Literacy. (It is collaborative so feel free to comment or add to it.)
- You can download and listen to the free YA audiobooks provided weekly by Audiobooksync.com all summer long.
- The Edutopia blog post, “Fun and Free Summer Learning Resources,” provides many more ideas.
Introducing Granite’s Battle of the Books
Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, Granite School District’s elementary library media program is sponsoring a Battle of the Books reading incentive program. Students at participating schools will be challenged to read as many books as possible from the book list assigned to their grade level. Participating students will form into teams to engage in a “Family Feud” style competition at the school level, testing their knowledge of the books. Winning school teams will move on to a district-wide battle. So far, 15 elementary schools have committed to field teams and participate in the battle.
More details are forthcoming, and the following page will serve as the main location for updated information and resources: https://www.granitemedia.org/granite-battle-of-the-books/. If you wish to get your school involved or have any other questions, please contact Nikki Gregerson, Granite School District’s Elementary Library Media Specialist.
Here are the 2016-2017 reading lists:
2016-2017 3rd-4th Grade Reading List
![2016-17 Battle of the Books 3rd-4th Grade Reading List](http://cdn-59bd6cf5f911c923e82ee0ee.closte.com/edtech/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/05/Battle-of-the-Books-3rd-4th-Reading-List-724x1024.png)
2016-2017 5th-6th Grade Reading List
![2016-17 Battle of the Books 5th-6th Reading List](http://cdn-59bd6cf5f911c923e82ee0ee.closte.com/edtech/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/05/2016-17-Battle-of-the-Books-5th-6th-Reading-List-724x1024.png)
New YA Fiction in OverDrive | May 2016
With summer vacation in sight, school librarians will soon remind students to bring in all the checked out books. But this doesn’t mean anyone has to stop reading; summer is the perfect time to dig into a new book, and Granite’s OverDrive Digital Library (http://granite.lib.overdrive.com) will be available all summer long for all students and staff members, wherever they are on almost any computer or mobile device.
We are constantly adding new ebooks and audiobooks to our collection, which now numbers nearly 7,000 titles across K-12. Check out the posters below for some of the latest releases added to the YA collection for May 2016. We also have many new releases in our juvenile collection, they just aren’t shown here. Log in to OverDrive to check them out.
Granite Library Author/Illustrator Event: Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson
Author Matt de la Peña and illustrator Christian Robinson will be visiting Granite School District to talk about their 2016 Newbery Medal and Caldecott Honor-winning picture book Last Stop on Market Street. The evening event happens March 18, 2016, 7 PM at Granger High School (3580 South 3600 West, West Valley City, UT.)The evening event happens March 18, 2016, 7 PM at Granger High School (3580 South 3600 West, West Valley City, UT.)
Matt de la Peña has authored numerous young adult and middle grade novels, including The Living, The Hunted, We Were Here, and Mexican Whiteboy. Christian Robinson has illustrated many notable and award-winning picture books, including Josephine, Rain!, Gaston, The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade, and Leo: A Ghost Story.
Visit the King’s English page for additional information on this event, including access to the book-signing queue at the event.
Click here to download a printable PDF version of the event poster.
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