IMLS GRANT PROMOTES LEARNING LABS IN LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS
Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums is a new grant opportunity from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) which will support the planning and designing of up to 30 Learning Labs in libraries and museums throughout the country. The Labs are intended to engage middle- and high-school youth in mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media. Grantees will be required to participate, in-person and online, in a community of practice that will provide technical assistance, networking, and cross-project learning. Projects are expected to provide prototypes for the field and be based on current research about digital media and youth learning. The application deadline is June 15, 2012. For more information and application guidelines visit the IMLS website at http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=20 . - Channel Weekly, Vol. 14, No. 30 -- April 30, 2012

The Uninvited Guest by Sadie Jones - for your Downton Abbey Patrons

Joining the Edwardian Country Club: PW Talks With Sadie Jones
In The Uninvited Guests, Sadie Jones turns a highbrow Edwardian-era upstairs-downstairs drama into something quite new—and very funny. Be sure to check out our exclusive excerpt, as well. more
-PW Tip Sheet, April 30, 2012 

Book Excerpt: 'The Uninvited Guests' by Sadie Jones
Class issues, Edwardian politics, and a big, beautiful British country house hang the balance: these are the story elements that consumed millions of Americans when the BBC television series Downton Abbey made its stateside debut. With season two done and season three just swinging into production, Sadie Jones has the fix: her twisty British country drama, The Uninvited Guests, centers on a house called Sterne and the family desperate to hold onto it. Read the first chapter here. more
-PW Tip Sheet, April 30, 2012 

From American Libraries Direct 4/25/2012

New Websites: Return to top

This is What a Librarian Looks Like - http://lookslikelibraryscience.com  
A website designed to challenge old, outdated librarian stereotypes.  - Channel Weekly, Vol. 14, No. 30 -- April 30, 2012

Pew Internet & American Life Project: The Rise of E-Reading - 
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/04/04/the-rise-of-e-reading/
How many people are reading e-books? How often do they read them? These are but a few of the queries that animated this recent research study by a team of five staff members at the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The 68-page report was released in April 2012, and visitors can read the document in its entirety, or peruse the overview offered here. Based on their polling, the authors found that 21% of American adults have read an e-book in the past year. Additionally, some 43% of all Americans age 16 and older say that have either read an e-book in the past year or have read other long-form content such as magazines, journals, and news articles in digital format. The full report is divided into six chapters, along with a section on methodology. [KMG] - The Scout Report -- April 27, 2012

Advertising Age - http://adage.com/
Advertising Age is one of the most well-known advertising industry publications, and their website is an important place for those interested in the industry, whether they be new to the field or whether they have decades of experience. Along the top of the homepage, visitors will find nine different sections, including Global News, Hispanic Marketing, and Digital. Each of these sections features news updates, commentary, and opinion pieces covering their respective topics. On the right-hand side of the homepage, visitors can make their way through the "Most Read" pieces, along with the "Most Commented" and "Most Emailed. Also, visitors can make their way through special reports such as Hottest Global Brands and Agency A-List. [KMG] - The Scout Report -- April 27, 2012

Virtual Laboratory - http://virtuallaboratory.colorado.edu/
The website for the Virtual Laboratory contains a bold and direct statement: "Conventional teaching all too often accepts memorization and pattern recognition as true learning" After reading this statement, it makes sense that the goal of this site is "to help students to recognize, confront, correct, and expand their understanding of subject or a technique." The site contains five different sets of course materials that use interactive materials, short quizzes, and embedded demonstrations to assist students and teachers alike. One set of materials that should not be missed is in the Teaching & Learning Biology area. Here visitors will find links, fact sheets, and pedagogical suggestions for teaching a college-level biology course. Moving on, the Chemistry, Life, the Universe and Everything section contains a new perspective on how to reform the garden-variety general chemistry course. [KMG] - The Scout Report -- April 27, 2012

Nasa Education - http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/about/index.html 
This is a collection of teacher and student resources all focusing on the many scientific branches of the NASA tree.
The content is coming from NASA, so you know it’s of high quality. All of the space-related resources succeed in presenting the subject in a way that students, regardless of grade level, can digest. What is surprising, however, is the diversity of subjects covered. The teaching materials go well beyond space exploration and delve into mathematics, weather and ecology. While at first glance it appears to be a site solely for science teachers, NASA Education is equally useful for teachers of many other subjects. - Education World Reviews, Volume 11, Issue 16 April 24

Consumer Finance Protection Bureau - Submit a Complaint - http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
The new bureau is already investigating consumer complaints about mortgages, credit cards, banking, vehicle loans, and student loans, and already has a track record of quick response. Register here with your first complaint, and then check your complaint status here. - Neat New Stuff I Found This Week, http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html, Copyright, Marylaine Block, 1999-2009. 

Religion News Service - http://www.religionnews.com/
Since religion - a major part of our lives and guiding philosophies - is largely ignored by the traditional news media, the Religion News Service aims to fill in that hole by providing "in-depth, non-sectarian coverage of religion, spirituality and ideas." Searchable and browsable by categories like Politics, Faith (Doctrine & Practice, Clergy & Congregations, Leaders & Institutions), Ethics (Death & Dying, Medical Ethics, etc.), multimedia presentations, and blogs. - Neat New Stuff I Found This Week, http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html, Copyright, Marylaine Block, 1999-2009. 

ALS CALENDAR:  Return to top

Librarian's Meetings:
Wednesday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m. at ALS offices

ALS Board of Trustee Meetings:
Wednesday, May 9 at 6 p.m. at ALS offices

CONTACT US:  Return to top
Please feel free to contact the Monday Memo editor, Martha Gammons, with comments, corrections or library news. 
Phone: 608-758-6695  Email: gammons.martha@als.lib.wi.us, 210 Dodge St., Janesville, WI 53548
Arrowhead Library System Director: Ruth Ann Montgomery, 608-758-6693, email: montgomery.ruthann@als.lib.wi.us
Website: http://als.lib.wi.us
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The Monday Memo© is published weekly by Arrowhead Library System.