Library News

Congratulations to Lindero's top five schoolwide Accelerated Reader stars for the month of November. These students, along with the September and October winners, are featured in individual READ posters in the library and their Language Arts classrooms, and in a group READ poster on the library slideshow at the top of the Library webpage.

We also congratulate Lindero's Classroom Accelerated Reader Stars for Sept.-Nov. Three times this school year, we will recognize the top AR readers in each Language Arts Class. One student in each class will be recognized for earning the most points during a three-month period, and another will be recognized for passing the most quizzes during that period. The list of student achievers is posted in the library and each Language Arts classroom.

Thanks to all the students who contributed posters to the book poster contest. We will announce the winners this week and get all the entries on display in the library very soon.

Change of focus for blog

When I created this blog in Spring 2007, it was my first experience trying a blog, and I thought I would use it for all sorts of information related to the library - news, book talks, library opening hours information, and so on. Well, I've just decided to try a different approach to disseminating this information. I'm going to separate news, hours, and book talks into three separate sources. This blog will focus just on news about the library and books. For library hours (that is, when the library is open before school, lunch, and after school), see the new Google-based Library Hours Calender. There is also a link to it on the Lindero Library web page. For book talks, check out the brand new Lindero Loves Books blog.

While I realize this means going to multiple links for library-related information, it will also allow you to select the link that works best for you.

As always, I welcome your comments or suggestions. Contact me at the library, by phone at 818/889-2134x230, or by email at jlofton@lvusd.org.

Library News Nov. 26-30

Welcome back from the Thanksgiving break! I hope you had a great one!

Library hours this week include:

• The library will be open at 8:15 A.M. before school Monday - Friday.
• The library will be open for 6/7th grade lunch Monday - Thursday.
• The library will be open for 8th grade lunch Monday, Thursday, and Friday.
• The library will be open after school until 3:45 Monday - Friday.

The library book club will meet in the library during lunch on Friday. We will have Master Storyteller Irv Isaacman as our guest. Please bring your lunch that day so that you can arrive as promptly as possible.

Book club members and 8th grade advisory club members, please check the book club wiki at www.lcmsbookclub.pbwiki.com for important information about recording CYRM book talks, and get in touch with Mrs. Lofton to schedule a recording time for a book talk as soon as possible.

Millicent Min, Girl Genius Book Talk

Enjoy this book talk, and check back for more coming soon. You can add your own comment to the book talk if you register for a voicethread.com account. Comments are moderated and will appear as soon as they are approved.

Library Hours & News, Nov. 13-16:

Library hours this week:

• The library is open Tuesday - Friday before school at 8:15 AM.
• The library is open for both lunches Tuesday - Friday.
• The library is open after school Tuesday - Friday until 3:45 P.M.

Book club and 8th grade advisory students: Please see our new wiki at www.lcmsbookclub.pbwiki.com for information about volunteering to record CYRM booktalks. I am at a conference from Wed.-Sun. but will add more information during the Thanksgiving break when I get back.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Library Hours & Activities Nov. 5-9

Library hours this week:

• The library will be open before school at 8:15 A.M. Monday - Friday.
• The library will be open after school until 3:45 P.M. Monday - Friday.
• The library will be open for 6th/7th grade lunch on Mon., Tues., and Thurs.
• The library will be open for 8th grade lunch Mon. - Fri. Note that passes are no longer needed for 8th grade lunch visits.
• The library will host Lindero Out Loud on Friday, Nov. 9. Mr. Thomsen will be our guest reader. Tickets are required and will be issued on a first come, first serve basis. Come by the library to sign up and get a ticket.

On Friday, November 9, all Language Arts classes will have discussions of Esperanza Rising. In addition, students who read the book will be invited to a special event during RAD. The deadline for reading the book and taking the AR quiz and for submitting contest entries is Monday, November 5.

Attention Book Club members:

• Please return all Exercise the Right to Read donations to the library by Friday, November 9.
• The next Lindero Library book club meeting will be on Friday, November 30, and we will have Irv Isaacman, Master Storyteller, as our guest.

(Please- excuse me for failing to list hours and events the last two weeks. I attended a wonderful American Association of School Libraries conference Oct. 25-28, and came home with lots of ideas I'll be using to enrich our library. However, with getting ready to go and catching up afterwards, I forgot to do my weekly blog entries.)

Library Hours & News, Oct. 15-19

This week is National Teen Read Week, and the theme is LOL @ Your Library. Come celebrate at the Lindero Library by checking out a funny book (or any book) and entering the Teen Read Week contest. Get a Teen Read Week entry form, and answer just four easy questions. All students who complete the entry forms will receive a special Teen Read Week bookmark, and be entered in a drawing to be featured in a READ poster. Sixth and Seventh graders can also celebrate Teen Read Week by attending Lindero Out Loud at the Lindero Library during lunch on Friday. Stop by the library to sign up and get a ticket.

Don't forget to participate in the City of Agoura's One City, One Book program by reading Esperanza Rising and entering the poetry/reflection contest and/or the doll making/figure contest.

Library hours this week:

• The library is open every day at 8:15 A.M. and stays open until 3:45 P.M.
• The library is open for 6th/7th grade lunch on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
• The library is open for 8th grade lunch on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Library Hours October 8-12

The library will be open at 8:15 A.M., Monday through Friday. It will be open until 3:45 P.M. Tuesday through Friday. It will be closed after school on Monday due to a meeting.

The library will open for 6th/7th grade lunch on Thursday and for 8th grade lunch on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

The library book club will meet during lunch on Friday.

Library Hours & Events, Oct. 2 - 5, 2007

The library will be closed before school on Tuesday, October 2, due to a meeting. The library will be open as usual before school from 8:15 A.M. Wednesday through Friday.

The library will be open after school Tuesday through Friday until 3:45 P.M.

The library will be open for Eighth Grade lunch Tuesday through Friday.

The library will not be open for 6th/7th grade lunch this week due to 8th Grade History Day class visits. More regular openings for 6th/7th grade lunch will resume next week.

The library will host our 2nd session of "Lindero Out Loud" during 6th/7th grade lunch on Friday, October 5. Mr. Thomsen will be our guest reader. We had a sell-out crowd for our first "Lindero Out Loud" session, so students interested in attending should come by the library early in the week to sign up and get a ticket.

Library Hours & News, Sept. 24-28

The library will be open before school at 8:15 A.M. and after school until 3:45 P.M. Monday through Friday this week.

The library will be open for 6th/7th grade lunch on Monday and Tuesday.

On Friday, September 28, the 6th/7th Grade Book Club will meet during lunch in the library. The book club is still open to new members. See Mrs. Lofton for more information.

The library will be open for 8th Grade lunch on Wednesday and Friday. On Thursday, we will have the first meeting of the 8th Grade "Muggle Support Group," the Lindero Library's teen advisory council. All 8th graders are invited. See Mrs. Lofton for more information.

The Library is Open for Full Services!

During the opening days of school, the Lindero Library was open for Language Arts Class visits and orientations for all sixth graders, and students were able to check out books when they visited with their classes. We are now also open with full services before school, after school, and during lunch periods, and students can now take Accelerated Reader quizzes. The library opens at 8:15 A.M. each morning and closes at 3:45 P.M. each afternoon. Please check back with this blog regularly for notification of the few occasions when the library may be closed before or after school for meetings or (during lunch periods) due to class visits.

Book Club Meeting, September 7

The first meeting of the 6th/7th grade book club will be on Friday, September 7 during lunch in the library. All interested students are invited. The book club will meet approximately every other Friday.

Welcome back!

Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year! I hope to see all of you a lot in the library this year! Starting today, students will begin coming in the library with their Language Arts classes to check out books. Sixth grade classes will also have orientations to the library and our Accelerated Reading program. After we complete the orientations, the library will begin opening before school, at lunch, and after school on September 11. Students will also be able to start taking Accelerated Reader quizzes on September 11.

We have lots of fun programs at the library. One that we will be participating in this fall is the City of Agoura's "One City, One Book" program. The middle school level book is Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. This not-to-be-missed book recounts a tale of a young girl, born to luxury in Mexico, who, due to a sudden reversal of fortune, must learn to adapt to the life of a farm worker in California's Central Valley during the days of the Great Depression. Please get a copy from our library, the public library, or your bookstore and participate in reading it. We will be announcing activities related to "One City, One Book" soon.

In early September, we will begin meetings of our library book club, and we will also inaugurate "Lindero Out Loud," a series of lunch-time read alouds in the library. Stay tuned for more information soon!

Summer and Harry Potter

If you have been checking this blog this summer, I guess you have seen that it has gone on vacation. I'll resume regular posts when school begins again. I hope everyone is enjoying summer and has been reading :).

If, like me, you recently finished and loved Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and are now feeling a little let down as to what to read next, don't despair. Cick here for some ideas. And, if you have ideas of your own, please email me and I'll add them to the list.

Oh, and in case you are wondering about taking the AR quiz for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows rest assured that it will be added to the AR list as soon as we return in to school. It will be 34 points.

Enjoy the rest of your vacation, everyone!

Book Club Meeting Friday, June 8

The library book club will hold the final meeting of the year on Friday, June 8 during lunch.

The meeting will be a party, and all members are welcome to bring refreshments. Please see Mrs. Lofton if you would like to bring something.

Please come with any ideas for next year. You are also invited to bring a one-page, 8 1/2 x 11" page with a book recommendation. We will compile these recommendations into a book. Please see Mrs. Lofton for more information.

Library Hours May 29 - June 1

• The library will be open every day before school starting at 8:15 AM.
• The library will be open every day after school until 3:45 PM.
• The library will be open for 6th/7th grade lunch on Tuesday and Thursday.
• The library will be open for 8th grade lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The library will close for the school year on Friday, June 1. Please be sure to return all books and take care of any fines by that date or your yearbook and report card will be held until fines and overdues are settled. Please be sure to visit your local public libraries over the summer!

Book Club Meeting Tuesday, May 22

The library book club will meet during lunch on Tuesday, May 22.

Library Hours May 21 - 25

• The library will be open before school starting at 8:15 AM Monday through Friday.
• The library will be open for 6th/7th grade lunch Monday through Friday.
• The library will be open for 8th grade lunch Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.
• The library will be open after school until 3:45 PM Monday through Friday.

Wendelin van Draanen Visits Lindero May 14

Lindero welcomes award-winning author Wendelin Van Draanen on Monday, May 14. She will be speaking at an assembly at 9 A.M., and will hold three small group workshops during periods 2, 3, and 5. During periods 6 and 7, she will sign copies of her books. Parents are welcome to join us at the assembly in the gym at 9 A.M.

The library will be closed on Monday while we host this special event. The library will resume normal hours, opening at 8:15 AM and closing at 3:45 PM, on Tuesday.

Library Hours May 7 - 11

• On Monday and Friday, the library will be open before school starting at 8:15 AM and after school until 3:45 PM.
• The library will be open for 6th/7th grade lunch Monday and Friday.
• Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, which are STAR testing minimum days, the library will be open before school from 8:15 AM for AR quizzes and checkins/checkouts only. Students will not be able to use the library tables to read or study due to STAR test preparations. The library will not be open after school on these days.

The Book Club will meet on Friday, May 11, during lunch, with guest master storyteller Irv Isaacman.

Book Fair 2007 Update

Many thanks to all of you who have visited our book fair at the Lindero Library this week. All the profits from the book fair support our library program.

We will be closing at Lindero at 1 P.M. today (Thursday, May 3), but please visit Barnes & Noble in the Westlake Promenade anytime through Sunday, May 6 to shop from the store's entire stock. Take one of our vouchers (on the attached flyer) or tell the cashier you are from Lindero and we will get credit for the sale.

Link to our flyer for more details.

Book Fair 2007

The Lindero PFC is hosting our annual Book Fair in the library Monday, April 30 - Thursday, May 3. We will have a great selection from our vendor, Barnes & Noble. The fair is open:

Monday - Wednesday, 8:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
Wednesday, May 2 (Open House Night): 6:30 P.M. - 9 P.M.
Thursday, May 3, 8:30 A.M. - 1 P.M.

Parents are welcome to visit any of the hours the fair is open.

And … you can also shop at Barnes & Noble in the Westlake Promenade:
Any time Monday, April 30 – Sunday, May 6, 9 A.M. - 11 P.M.
Take one of our vouchers (on the attached flyer) or tell the cashier you are from Lindero and we will get credit for the sale.

Link to our flyer for more details.

Book Club Meets Friday, May 11

The next meeting of the library book club will be Friday, May 11. We will have Master Storyteller Irv Isaacman as our guest again. Please bring your lunch and meet in Room J-2.

Library Hours Apr. 23 - May 3

In addition to class visits, the library will be open:

• Before school Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Note that we are closed before school on Tuesday.
• After school Tuesday through Friday. Note that we are closed after school on Monday.
• For 6th/7th grade lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• For 8th grade lunch, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

On Friday, the library will be open before school, but will then be setting up for our book fair. After school on Friday, students can come in to visit the circulation desk and take AR quizzes, but the main part of the library will be unavailable due to the book fair.

The book fair will be held in the library Monday, April 30 - Thursday, May 3. During that time, we will not be able to get to most of the book collection and will not be able to give AR quizzes. Students will be able to take quizzes again starting after school on Thursday, May 3. Please plan ahead and get library books and take quizzes this week before the book fair starts. Also, please plan to visit the book fair at Lindero April 30 - May 3 and at Barnes & Noble April 30 - May 6. All book fair profits benefit the Lindero Library.

Book Club Meeting Friday, April 20

The library book club meets Friday, April 20. We will play Book Jeopardy.

Library Hours April 16 - 20

In addition to scheduled class visits, the library will be open:

• Before school, starting at 8:15 A.M., Monday - Friday.
• For 6th/7th grade lunch, Monday - Friday.
• For 8th grade lunch, Monday - Wednesday.
• After school, until 3:45 P.M., Monday - Friday.

Book Talk - Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

In this great read for sophisticated readers, we meet sun-loving Bella, a high school student who feels obliged to move from the warm, dry climate she loves at her mother's home in Phoenix to her father's home in Forks, Washington, the rainiest spot in the U.S. When she gets to this constantly-wet, small town and enrolls in the local school, she immediately becomes intrigued by the Cullens, an odd family of five siblings who never seem to mix with the rest of the students. She especially can't take her eyes off of Edward Cullen, who turns out to be her chemistry lab partner. As Edward appears to despise her one minute, acts like the soul of politeness the next, and warns her that it would be dangerous to get to know him, she becomes more and more obsessed with him. What is so dangerous about him? Read the book and find out...

Book Club Meeting Friday, March 30

The Library Book Club will meet this Friday, March 30, in the library during lunch to hear master storyteller Irv Isaacman. We will also order pizza. Please RSVP to Mrs. Lofton to let her know if you can come. Also, please plan to arrive on Friday as promptly as possible so we can start quickly.

Book Talk - Hattie Big Sky

Hattie, a 16-year-old orphan living in Iowa in 1917, has spent most of her life being shuttled from one distant relative to another, and never having a home of her own or feeling like part of a family. When an uncle she never met wills her his Montana homestead claim, she jumps at the chance to have a home of her own. Most people doubt that a 16-year-old girl can really work the land and fulfill the difficult terms of the claim all by herself, but Hattie is determined to try. As she sets off on her new adventure, she recounts her experiences in letters to her friend Charlie, a soldier fighting in World War I, and in newspaper articles she sends back to a local Iowa paper. Read the book to find out how Hattie manages her homestead claim and makes new friends in Montana.

Don't miss this 2007 Newbery Honor Book by Kirby Larson.

Library Hours Mar. 26 - 30

Library hours Mar. 26 - 30 include:

• The library will be open every day before school, starting at 8:15 A.M.
• The library will be open every day after school until 3:45 P.M.
• The library will be open for 6th/7th grade lunch Mon. - Thurs.
• The library will be open for 8th grade lunch Mon. - Wed.

Please be aware that class visits or other school events could require last minute changes in this schedule.

Book Club Meeting, Thursday March 22

The book club will meet on Thursday, March 22 during lunch. We will discuss Wendelin Van Draanen's Runaway.

Library Hours Mar. 19 - 23

The library will be open the following hours for independent visits the week of Mar. 19 - 23:

• Every day before school from 8:15
• Every day after school until 3:45
• Every day for 6th/7th grade lunch
• Monday and Tuesday for 8th grade lunch

Steve Young Visit a Great Success

Lindero was very fortunate to host guest author Steve Young on March 14. He spoke to several classes, as well as the Library Book Club and members of the Literary Board. Students enjoyed hearing his stories about how failure can become success and about how he writes. Don't miss his books 15 Minutes and Winchell Mink (both AR and fiction books) and Great Failures of the Extremely Successful (non-fiction).

Book Talk - Runaway

Life has been miserable in foster homes for Holly since her mother died. Ms. Leone, her teacher, gives her a blank journal in which to record her thoughts in hopes that it can help her cope with life. Holly thinks it's a dumb idea, but for some reason she writes in the journal anyway, addressing her comments to Mrs. Leone, who, as she writes, "may be a teacher, Ms. Leone, but face it: You don't know squat." Then, Holly decides to run away, taking her journal with her. She isn't homeless, she tells herself, she's a gypsy, as she deals with the increasing difficulties of trying to survive entirely on her own. Throughout her travels, she records her experience in her journal.

Read Wendelin Van Draanen's Runaway to learn the secrets of Holly's diary and her life on the run.

Book Club Meeting Wednesday, March 14

Book Club Members: Don't forget our lunch meeting on Wednesday this week with guest author Steve Young. We will meet in the library. Please bring your lunch and be as prompt as possible.

If you would like to buy one of Steve Young's books, please bring $17.15 (cash or check payable to Barnes & Noble) for 15 Minutes, or $10 cash for Great Failures of the Extremely Successful.

Please contact Mrs. Lofton with any questions.

Library Hours Mar. 12 - 16

The library hours this week include:

• The library will be open every morning before school at 8:15 AM.
• The library will be open every day after school until 3:45 PM.
• The library will be open for 6th/7th grade lunch on Tues., Thurs., and Fri.
• The library will be open for 8th grade lunch on Mon. and Thurs.

Steve Young Visit

Lindero is very pleased to host author Steve Young on Wednesday, March 14. Steve Young is a noted journalist and author of adult and young adult books. His two young adult books are Winchell Mink and 15 Minutes. Mr. Young will be visiting with the library book club and the 7th grade honors English classes.

Book Talk - The Higher Power of Lucky

Lucky is a young girl living in a tiny town of 43 people in the California desert. When her mother died, her father - who never wanted a child and was always absent - convinced his first wife Brigitte to come from France to be Lucky's temporary guardian until a foster home could be found. Lucky lives in constant fear that Brigitte will move back to France and abandon her. If only she could find herself a "higher power" like the ones she hears about when she eavesdrops on the local 12 Step program meetings, all would be well ...

Don't miss this great 2007 Newbery Award-winning novel by local author (and librarian!) Susan Patron.

Book Club Meeting Thursday, March 1

The library book club will meet during lunch on Thursday, Mar. 1. We will discuss Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy. Please come with discussion questions.

Library Hours Feb. 26 - Mar. 2

Library hours for the week of February 26 - March 2:

• The library will be open before school at 8:15 every morning except Tuesday.
• The library will be open after school every day until 3:45.
• The library will be open for 6th/7th grade lunch Mon., Tues., & Wed.
• The library will be open for 8th grade lunch Mon., Tues., & Wed.

Library Hours Feb. 21-24

The library is open every day before school this week (starting at 8:15) and every day after school (until 3:45). We are also open every day at lunch for all grades.

Wendelin van Draanen Books

Barnes & Noble now has copies of many of Wendelin van Draanen's books in stock. (See the previous post about Wendelin van Draanen for details.) You can return your order form to your Language Arts teacher or the library, and we will get the books for you, or you can take your order form directly to Barnes & Noble.

Book Club Meeting Thursday, Feb. 15

There will be a book club meeting during lunch on Thursday.

Library Hours Feb. 12 - 16

Library hours for the week of February 12 include:

• The library will be open every day before school (opening at 8:15) except Wednesday and every day after school (until 3:45).
• The library will be open for 6/7th Grade Lunch every day this week.
• The library will be open for 8th Grade lunch Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
  
  

Wendelin van Draanen Visits Lindero May 14

Lindero is very fortunate to be hosting author Wendelin van Draanen on May 14, 2007. Ms. van Draanen has written many popular award-winning books for young people. Hearing and meeting an author is a very motivating experience for students, and we hope you will want to take advantage of this opportunity. In order to attend an assembly with Ms. van Draanen, students need to read and successfully complete an Accelerated Reader quiz on one or more of her books. Students who read more than one will also be entered in a lottery to attend a smaller event with the author.

The Lindero Library has some of Ms. van Draanen's books for circulation but not enough to serve our entire student population. We encourage you to purchase one or more of her books. All students who purchase books will be invited to a book signing with Ms. van Draanen on May 14. We have arranged with Barnes & Noble to order copies of her books for our students, and your purchase will also be credited to our PFC Book Fair profits that benefit the library. If you are interested in ordering books, please complete an order form as soon as possible so that you will have ample time to read before Ms. van Draanen’s visit.

See a complete list of Ms. van Draanen's books on our AR list. Her newest book, Runaway, will be on our AR list very soon.

Ms. van Draanen's visit is being made possible thanks to the generous support of our PFC.

Book Club Meeting

The library book club will meet on Thursday, February 8 during lunch.

Library Hours Feb. 5 - 9

Library hours for the week of February 5 include:

• The library will be open every day before school (opening at 8:15) and every day after school (until 3:45).
• We will be closed from 9 - 2:30 on Tuesday while staff chaperone the Library Field Trip to the Los Angeles Public Library in Downtown Los Angeles.
• The library will be open for 6/7th Grade Lunch on Mon., Wed., Thurs., & Fri.
• The library will be open for 8th Grade Lunch on Mon. & Thurs.

Special Book Club Meeting

There will be a special meeting of the book club for important news during lunch on Tuesday, January 30 in Room J-2.

Library Hours

Library hours for the week of January 29 - February 2:

• The library will be open before school (at 8:15) every day this week.
• The library will be open after school (until 3:45) every day this week.
• The library is open for 6th/7th grade lunch every day this week.
• The library is open for 8th grade lunch Tuesday through Friday.

Please be aware that opening times are always subject to change, but we keep the library open whenever possible.

Book Club Meeting

The library book club will meet during 4th period lunch on Thursday, January 25. We will discuss Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements.

Library Hours

Library hours for the week of January 22:

• The library will be closed before school on Tuesday, January 23.
• The library is open before school (at 8:15) Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday.
• The library will be open after school every day this week.
• The library is open for 6th/7th grade lunch every day this week except Thursday.
• The library is open for 8th grade lunch Monday and Wednesday.

Please be aware that opening times are always subject to change, but we keep the library open whenever possible.

Welcome to the new Lindero Library blog. This blog will supplement the Lindero Library webpage with current library news, information about library opening hours, and current book recommendations. Please visit often to see the latest updates.