Virtual Author Visits in Your Library or Classroom

Wouldn't it be great to invite authors into your classroom or library to video chat with students before, during, and/or after reading their books? Skype an Author Network is a growing list of authors who want to make that connection via Skype. The mission of the Skype an Author Network is to provide K-12 teachers and librarians with a way to connect authors, books, and young readers through virtual visits.

Their author pages contain all of the information you will need to set-up an author visit:

• Author's Website
• Presentations
• Audiences
• Available Times
• No Cost Meet the Author Visit: minimum of 10-15 minutes
• In-Depth Visit Length: determined by each other
• In-Depth Visit Cost: determined by each author
• Prerequisites
• Contact Information
• Affiliations

I have not had personal experience with this network but it seems like a great idea! If anyone has used them, please post your feedback, positive or negative.

School librarians are in short supply

Out of circulation: School librarians are in short supply

By: Pamela Martineau Published: September 8, 2009,
California Schools Magazine

"Forget the stereotype of a school librarian who sits behind the circulation desk checking out books with an ink stamp. In the new millennium, school librarians are more likely to be found sitting behind a computer as they update the library Web page or create a wiki on genetically modified organisms. Or they might be seen holed up in the library computer lab as they lead students through tutorials on annotated bibliographies or Google docs."

Link to full article.