Robin Levin, the School Librarian at Fort Washakie School, was one of ten Wyoming teachers to receive the 2012 Teacher Achievement Award today in Cheyenne. Levin is the first school librarian to receive this honor. For more information on this prestigious award, visit Arch Coal’s website. 

Pictured above: First Lady Carol Mead, Governor Matt Mead, Arch Coal CEO Steven Leer, Robin Levin, U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill at the 2012 Arch Coal Teacher Award presentation in Cheyenne.

Robin Levin is one of only 10 teachers statewide to receive a 2012 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award. The award will be presented by Steven F. Leer, Arch Coal chairman and chief executive officer,  during a ceremony at South High School in Cheyenne Friday  morning. Joining Leer at the ceremony will be Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, Wyoming’s Senior United States Senator Mike Enzi, U. S. Representative Cynthia M. Lummis, and Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill.  This is the longest running, privately sponsored statewide teacher recognition program (12th year) in Wyoming.

Read more about Robin and the Arch Coal Award here. 

The Equality State Book Festival is scheduled for Sept. 14th & 15 in Casper, Wyo.

For the two-day event, more than 15 authors and illustrators will share their talents, giving readings, leading craft talks, emceeing a poetry slam, visiting local schools, and participating on panels. This year’s group includes poets, novelists, memoirists, essayists, illustrators, and publishers.

The New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC)/RMC Research Corporation, in consultation with the New York State Education Department, the New York State Library and the New York Library Association has produced a new publication entitled, Informational Brief: Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement.  This comprehensive brief provides a current and rigorous research analyses which demonstrates the positive impact that school libraries and school librarians have in advancing student learning.

This summary notes that “Based on the conclusions from the research cited in the brief, it is clear that school libraries play an important role in student achievement, curriculum development, and instruction.”

The full NYCC publication may be found here.

On March 14, the Sweetwater County Library Foundation hosted the internationally-acclaimed Harlem Ambassadors ( www.harlemambassadors.com/ ) in Sweetwater County for a game at the Western Wyoming Community College Gym. The Ambassadors played against the local hometown heroes called the Sweetwater County Read’n Rebels. The event packed in a crowd of over 2,000, and raised more than $24,000 that will be matched 1:1 through the Wyoming Library Endowment Challenge. Great job Sweetwater County!

Photo credit – Brittany Wells, Public Relations Specialist Sweetwater County Library System

The Colorado Association of School Librarians has launched a new website to help school librarians advocate in a positive manner to save and support school libraries.  The CASL Survive and Thrive website provides tools to educate and inform stakeholders about the vital and irreplaceable role that school librarians play in teaching and learning.

Colorado Association of School Libraries site

Wyoming Humanities Council and Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund Announce Joint Grant Training Sessions in Encampment, Kemmerer and Afton

 Renée Bovée from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund and Jenny Ingram from the Wyoming Humanities Council will offer joint grant workshops on Monday and Tuesday, March 19 and 20.  The sessions are free and open to the public and will include information about grant opportunities from both agencies

The schedule includes: Encampment, March 19, 10:30 a.m., Opera House; Kemmerer, March 19, 7 p.m., South Lincoln Training and Event Center; and Afton, March 20, 10 a.m., Afton Civic Center.

The Wyoming Humanities Council’s next regular grant deadline is April 1.  The Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund’s annual grant deadline is May 1.  For more information about the workshops, or if you are interested in hosting a grant workshop in your community, contact Jenny Ingram at jingram@uwyo.edu or (307) 721-9247.

Many libraries and schools are celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday today. 

How do you plan to celebrate?

WYOMING HUMANITIES COUNCIL AND WYOMING CULTURAL TRUST FUND ANNOUNCE JOINT GRANT TRAINING SESSIONS IN EASTERN WYOMING

Renée Bovée from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund and Jenny Ingram from the Wyoming Humanities Council will offer joint grant workshops in eastern Wyoming on Monday and Tuesday, March 12-13.  The sessions are free and open to the public and will include information about grant opportunities from both agencies.  Participants are welcome to bring lunch to the noontime sessions.  Dessert will be provided.

The schedule includes: Torrington, March 12, noon, Eastern Wyoming College, Room 131; Lusk, March 12, 7 p.m., Niobrara County Library; and Newcastle, March 13, noon, Weston County Library.

The Wyoming Humanities Council’s next regular grant deadline is April 1.  The Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund’s annual grant deadline is May 1.  For more information about the workshops, or if you are interested in hosting a grant workshop in your community, contact Jenny Ingram at jingram@uwyo.edu or (307) 721-9247.

On February 23rd, librarians from across the state hosted a reception for legislators and elected officials. The Wyoming Library Association hosts this event every year during the legislative session as a way for librarians to visit with their legislators and express their gratitude for the support lawmakers have consistently given to Wyoming’s libraries. 

Sublette County Library Director Sid Stanfill visits with First Lady Carol Mead while State Librarian Lesley Boughton and Park County Library Director Frances Clymer talk with Governor Matt Mead.