“Freedom to Read” Essay and Art Contest

The Intellectual Freedom Committee of the Nassau County Library Association presents the Eleventh Annual “Freedom to Read” Essay and Art Contest.

Pick an Important Action Taken by a Character in a Story or Movie.

What would YOU have done? Why?

Entries must be received by April 1, 2015.

You may enter one or both parts of the contest:

• Write a one page essay
• Create an original picture or design (Copies or tracings of book covers will not be accepted)

Winners to be posted May 11, 2015 on the Nassau County Library Association homepage & the Intellectual Freedom Committee of Nassau County Library Association Facebook Page.

Reception at the Levittown Public Library on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Age group winners will receive a Barnes and Noble gift card.

All essays and artwork become the property of the Committee.
Please contact Ellen Berman eberman@rvcpl.org (516)766-6257 ext. 17 with any additional questions.

Attach a copy of the entry form to each Essay or Art Contest entry and send to:

Ellen Berman 

c/o Rockville Centre Public Library
221. N. Village Ave.

Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Socrative

Socrative Apps

If you have used Kahoot before and liked it, but wished that it also provide you with a way to add short-answer questions, than look no further. Socrative is here!

"Socrative lets teachers engage and assess their students with educational activities on tablets, laptops and smartphones. Through the use of real time questioning, instant result aggregation and visualization, teachers can gauge the whole class’ current level of understanding. Socrative saves teachers time so the class can further collaborate, discuss, extend and grow as a community of learners."

With Socrative you get:

• Instant feedback
• Personalized content
• Reports (downloadable by class and student)
• Compatibility (any device or browser) 

Creating a Socrative account is easy and FREE for teachers and students. They also have separate apps for teachers and students on iOS and android devices.

Need help getting started? Stop by the library and Ms. Stack will assist you!

Just Because You Put It In Your Own Words...

Check out this excellent video produced by a local college on plagiarism.

How do I pick a good book?

Electronic database available at your public library.

Our local public libraries subscribe to NoveList, a database that answers the question, "What should I read next?" NoveList provides recommended reading lists based on audiance, subjects and genres. Users can perform a Quick Search for keyword, author, title, or series. User can then refine a search by audience, additional limiters (forthcoming, reviews available, and award winners), publication date, genre, story line, pace, tone, writing style, subject and/or location. Advanced search allows a user to search multiple options including: Title, Author, ISBN, Publisher, Series, Other Title, Contents, Subject, Genre, Appeal Factors, Publication Year, Dewey Number, and Review. You can also narrow down your search further by Lexile score or range, audience, grade level, number of pages, author’s gender, author's nationality, author's cultural identity, awards, Dewey range, and available reviews.

NoveList provides links to reviews via Goodreads and displays library holdings for the titles via ALISCAT (a catalog of public libraries in Nassau County). Did you know that through interlibrary loan (ILL) you can have almost any book from any library in Nassau County sent to your home library? The process to request a book is simple (any library clerk or librarian can help you) and it usually only takes a few days before you have the book in your hands. You can then return that book to your home library. This is just one of the many great services available at your public library.

To use NoveList and ILL you do need a valid library card.

Writing Contest: Opulence

Fragment's Last Writing Contest of 2014-2015

Fragments (Mepham's literary magazine) has a new contest! Submit your original poetry, short stories, essays, artwork, or photography on the topic of Opulence to win a prize and the chance to be published!  Due date is February 9th. Submit to: nmaresca@bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us or to Ms. Maresca’s mailbox in the main office.

Happy New Year!

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