Capstone in helping young victims affected by the recent tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. The publisher will work with the two schools most affected by the disaster, Briarwood Elementary and Plaza Towers Elementary, to distribute books to rebuild their libraries. For every book that customers purchase through Capstone’s website, the publisher will donate one book to the Moore schools. Those who would like to participate should use the promo code “moorerelief” when placing orders online.

And, there’s another way to help. Through its library division, Capstone Rewards members can donate their points to the school libraries. The company will double the total rewards points accumulated and give them to the schools to order new books. Members should log in to their Capstone Rewards account, redeem points, and email the redemption code to communitygiveing@coughlancompanies.com with the subject line “Moore Recovery Donation.”
Additionally, Capstone is donating more than 750 books for the students affected by the disaster to keep for their home libraries. “Providing children with good books to read is important for re-establishing a sense of normalcy and routine. Helping to provide Moore schools and educators with the books and resources they need to rebuild their fundamental role in the community is so important,” noted Ashley Andersen Zantop, Capstone Group Publisher and General Manager. “We hope our customers and friends join us. Capstone is preparing to send books to these schools as soon as they are ready to receive them.”

Granted

The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation’s Minigrant Program has presented 59 awards to teachers and librarians in 29 states. The grants of up to $500 are given to educators in public schools and libraries for specific programs that “foster the love of learning, enhance creative expression, and optimize interaction between educator and students.” Bad River Public Tribal Library in Odanah, Wisconsin, received a grant for a program designed to teach children and young adults about the Ojibwe culture by designing and making their own traditional dance outfits. Creekside Elementary in Boulder, Colorado, will use their funding to have fifth graders work with kindergarten and first grade students to make applehead dolls and create a fictional narrative about each doll.

“Reflecting on the past 25 years of the Ezra Jack Keats Minigrant Program gives us great pride and satisfaction, knowing that we have directly supported so many extraordinary teachers and librarians,” said Deborah Pope, Executive Director of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. “In an environment where educators have increasingly limited resources, we applaud those who have reached beyond the basic curriculum to create programs that inspire and encourage students in a creative and cooperative context.”

Database Update

The World Almanac for Kids Online has been relaunched by Infobase Learning to include a new streamlined interface and new content. The database goes beyond the print edition, featuring online-only content as well as Chelsea House and Facts On File sets and series that support Common Core standards. Search and browse options have been improved and are more kid-friendly. New sections include “Our Planet Earth,” “Space and Astronomy,” “American History,” and “Holidays and Celebrations”—and new material has been added to existing sections. Plans for the future include new information on the human body, plants, and sports. The “Homework Help” section has been revised to include topics such as resources for student reports and research, test prep, reading maps and time lines, and more. There’s also teacher support with new curricular handouts and iPad-friendly videos.

“By providing a trusted, content-rich, age-appropriate source for homework assignments and online research, The World Almanac for Kids Online serves a vital purpose for elementary and middle school students and their parents and teachers,” said Mark McDonnell, the president and CEO of Infobase Learning. “This site’s engaging material and appealing formats go a long way in getting kids excited about learning and coming back for more.”

25^th Annual Lambda Awards Announced

The winners of the 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards were announced on June 3 at a gala ceremony hosted by comedienne Kate Clinton at The Great Hall at Cooper Union in New York City. On the heels of BookExpo America, the “Lammys” ceremony celebrated excellence in LGBT literature and 25 years of the groundbreaking literary awards. Ingrid Abrams, a children’s librarian at Brooklyn Public Library presented the award in the LGBT Children’s/Young Adult category to Benjamin Alire Sáenz for his acclaimed Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (S & S). Finalists included other 2012 SLJ Best Books: A.S. King’s Ask the Passengers, (Little, Brown), David Levithan’s Every Day (Knopf), and emily m. danforth’s The Miseducation of Cameron Post, (HarperCollins).

Hurricane Sandy benefit:

Literacy Campaign

Books for kids in need: Scholastic, The UPS Store, and Marine Toys for Tots are launching a holiday literacy drive that’s part of Scholastic’s literacy campaign, Read Every Day, Lead a Better Life. The aim of the campaign is to “help all children experience the love of reading and owning a book,” including those who lost books due to Hurricane Sandy that devastated the East Coast. There are a number of ways that families can help.

When you download Storia, Scholastic’s teacher-recommended children’s ereading app, you will receive five free ebooks. For every additional ebook you purchase on Storia through December 31, Scholastic will donate a children’s book to a child in need through Toys for Tots Literacy Program (they’ve committed to donating a minimum of 50,000 books).

You can also donate to the Toys for Tots Literacy Program by purchasing a donation card or donating online at The UPS Store Facebook page. Furthermore, the UPS Store that raises the most money during the holidays will get 500 books for families in their community.

Awards

Life changer: The chances are that you know a K–12 school district educator or employee who exemplifies excellence, positive influence, and leadership. Well, it’s time to nominate them for the Life Changer of the Year Award sponsored by National Life Group (National Life Insurance Co.). School employees and administrators can nominate full-time educators, teachers, principals, or any member of the school’s staff.

Winners will be selected on the basis of their ability to make a difference in the lives of students and their ability to positively add to the development of the school’s atmospheres. They must also be a leader in their activities at the school and/or district level, have a proven record of excellence at the professional level, and be committed to producing a nurturing atmosphere. Be sure to check out the official rules and complete the nomination form. Nominations can be made through January 25.

The grand prize winner will receive $5,000 with a matching award going to their school. The first runner-up will receive $3,500 with an equal amount awarded to their school. The second runner-up and their school will each get $2,500. There will also be seven LifeChanger awards—the employee and the school will each receive $1,500.

And the Winner Is…

Service to the community: Five libraries and five museums were presented with the 2012 National Medal for Museum and Library Service by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) at a ceremony at the White House on November 14. The Medal winners are selected from nominations of institutions nationwide that “demonstrate innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach” and make a difference for individuals, families, and the communities. Anyone can nominate a library or museum for the National Medal, including the institutions employees, board members, community members, and elected officials.

This year’s honorees include Bootheel Youth Museum, Malden, MO; Contra Costa County Library, Pleasant Hill, CA; Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC; Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago, IL; Long Island Children’s Museum, Garden City, NY; Museum of Contemporary Art, N. Miami, FL; Naturita Community Library, CO; Pacific Science Center, Seattle, WA; Park View High School Library Media Center, Sterling, VA; and Shaler North Hills Library, Glenshaw, PA. Make sure to check out just how these institutions have reached out to the communities they serve. “By pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and embracing new ideas and approaches, these award winners have challenged the conventional notions of what a library or museum can and should be,” said First Lady Michelle Obama.

Industry News

Infobase Learning has acquired Learn 360, an interactive media-on-demand service from AIM Education. The Learn360 platform is a subscription service used by more than 25,00 schools that offers digital video titles, video clips, speeches, images, songs, research articles, and more from over 60 educational producers. Infobase provides digital reference content to schools and libraries under brands such as Facts On File, The World Almanac, Chelsea House, and Films Media Group. “This acquisition greatly expands our existing reach within the elementary, middle, and high school markets,” noted Mark McDonnell, president and CEO of Infobase Learning. “Learn360’s extensive multimedia assets and virtual classroom platform complement Infobase’s award-winning digital reference products.”

On the move: Maria Modugno joined Random House as editorial director, picture books for the Random House and Golden Books for Young Readers Group on November 26. Modugo’s career includes numerous positions at Little, Brown Children’s Books where she published such classics as I Love You Like Crazy Cakes (2000 by Rose Lewis and Jane Dyers and oversaw Marc Brown’s “Arthur” series. She also was editorial director of children’s books at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. She is leaving her position as vice president/editorial director at HarperCollins Children’s Books where she acquired and edited books such as Victoria Kann’s Pinkalicious (2006) and Rob Scotton’s Splat the Cat (2008).