The Fall 2010 issue of School Libraries in Canada (http://www.clatoolbox.ca/casl/slic/) is scheduled for release on September 17th. Get ready to discover free resources from more than a dozen governmental agencies with which you can plant the seeds for learning in this new school year. The example that follows comes from the Currency Museum of the Bank of Canada:

The Currency Museum understands that not everyone can visit in person, so we have developed easy-to-use programs that can be delivered right in your classroom. Our curriculum-based programs about currency and monetary policy are object-based and feature built-in team-building activities. Visit currencymuseum.ca for more information and downloads.

What is Money Kit (grades 4-6) This kit looks at the money used by different civilizations so students can better understand the money that we use today. It includes a lesson plan and worksheet.

Inflation Busters Interactive DVD (grades 9-12) Lead your class through games, simulations, discussions, and group activities designed to teach students about monetary policy, inflation, deflation, and the role of the Bank of Canada.
Counterfeit Detection Kit (grades 9-12) The kit introduces students to counterfeiting, its impact on society, the role they can play in reducing counterfeiting, and how to tell the difference between genuine and fake bills.

Watch for these resources along with author interviews with Lesley Choyce and David Bouchard, a school library profile from British Columbia and, believe it or not, much more!

As a teacher-librarian I am sad and worried. At a time when cuts to school library budgets make it increasingly difficult to access relevant and commercial-free information, I read that the Government of Canada is cutting funding to the Learning Centre of the Library and Archives Canada (See the Ottawa Sun http://www.ottawasun.com/news/columnists/earl_mcrae/2010/01/19/1253...). I am afraid of losing access to valuable tools for promoting student awareness of Canadian heritage and for developing a wide variety of literacy and research skills that are the foundations of academic and professional success. The resources accessed through learning centre programs such as "Lest We Forget" help students to make personal connections to history that lead to meaningful learning.

The Spring 2009 edition of School Libraries in Canada has just been released at http://www.clatoolbox.ca/casl/slic/.

The contents include a guide to resources offered by
Library and Archives Canada and a report on on the Manitoba Metis
publishing house, Pemmican Publications. There is an invitation from
Professor David Loertscher to view a webinar on a new vision for school
libraries. Anita Brooks-Kirkland assesses the progress being made in
transforming the school library into a learning commons and Anthony
Rezek and the authors of Black History: Africa, the Caribbean and the
Americas discuss the making of the first comprehensive Canadian history
of Black people. SLiC also interviews Svetlana Chmakova, author and
illustrator of Dramacon. Donna DesRoches writes about Diigo:
conversations through social bookmarking and Mélanie Watt, author and
illustrator of Chester explains why she is surprised to find
herself being called an author.