In December (2006), Charles E. Shea High School Library in Pawtucket, a long-time RILINK member, also moved to our shared Destiny/RICAT system. This leaves only ten current RILINK members that are not on RICAT.
This fall (2006), six Cranston elementary schools joined RILINK, and just went online with RICAT: Arlington, Barrows, Dutemple, Glen Hills, Hope Highlands, and Woodridge. Eight existing RILINK members have moved, or are in the process of moving, to RICAT: Barrington High School and Middle School, Bay View Academy, Lawn and Melrose schools in Jamestown, Mt. Hope High School, Scituate Middle/High School, and Smithfield High School. In December, the Urban Cooperative Accelerated Program, our newest RILINK member, will also move to RICAT.
Over the summer, three more libraries went online with RICAT - Broad Rock Middle School, Kickemuit Middle School, and South Kingstown High School, which has rejoined RILINK.
Aldrich Jr. High School has joined RILINK, and is online with RICAT. Member libraries West Warwick Jr/Sr High School, Narragansett High School, and Hanaford School in East Greenwich moved to RICAT in May.
LSTA funds helped nine RILINK member libraries move to RICAT - the seven of the members listed above, plus Cole Middle School and Eldredge School in East Greenwich, which moved to RICAT this spring. RILINK is hoping to get additional grant funds to help more member libraries move to RICAT during the next school year.
The Potter-Burns School in Pawtucket joined RILINK and RICAT, and is working on data entry.
Three elementary school libraries in Cranston - George J. Peters, Garden City and Gladstone - joined RILINK and RICAT this spring. All three schools moved from standalone MAC-based systems to RICAT.
RILINK receives LSTA grant through OLIS
Nine school libraries are joining the Rhode Island Library Information Network for Kids (RILINK) shared web-based library automation system. Funding from a $20,000 LSTA (Institute of Museum and Library Services, IMLS) grant through the Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) will allow RILINK to expand disk drive space and add nine current RILINK member libraries to its shared RICAT system, which provides complete library automation services for its members. Grant funds will pay one half of the costs for the initial software license and annual subscriptions, with the local school districts covering the remainder of the costs. Local school districts will be responsible for ongoing costs after the initial year.
“Sister Diane, this is a library!” exclaimed one sixth-grader on his first visit to Mercymount Country Day School’s newest addition. Bright, accommodating, and attractive, this new space resounds with all sorts of learning and library activities, including singing and dancing as kindergarten students explore new stories and rhymes. The spacious carpeted area in the center makes a great spot for stretching out to enjoy that new book that you just picked from the shelf.
This flexible library space, designed by Aharonian & Associates, gives students room for research, listening to stories, and working on class projects. Lighting is provided by both clerestories and dramatic curved windowed panels overlooking a hillside of trees. Librarian Diane Russo enjoys the easy sight lines, and says that the new library has provided her with more opportunity to work collaboratively with other teachers at Mercymount. She is also working with the students on their research and Internet searching skills on the new library computers, as students explore the library’s OPAC and World Book online for their class reports, using word processing to begin their writing.
In the works for the near future is a comfy reading corner to be dedicated to Venerable Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, who was a great believer in the importance of hospitality, making people feel welcome and comfortable. This atmosphere permeates the new space. To quote yet another sixth grader, “Sister, you’re so happy in your new library.”
Mercymount Country Day School, a private Catholic elementary school (preschool through 8th grade) is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas (RSM). Sister Diane Russo has served as the school’s librarian for the past nine years. The library is a long-time member of RILINK and an active participant in statewide interlibrary loan.
Central Falls gets the big check! Central Falls School Libraries awarded federal Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Grant of $339,173
Literacy and Information through New Connections and Services (LINCS) will connect libraries, classrooms and homes to help students, teachers and parents improve literacy skills. The grant will help serve one high school, one middle school and six elementary schools with a total of 3,541 students. LINCS will provide literacy-based books, add current non-fiction titles to each library media center collection, provide access to online authoritative sources, and add computers for student access. LINCS will build partnerships with teachers and parents, providing professional development and training to foster existing literacy programs in the district. Students, teachers and parents will have more access to library and literary resources through workshops and orientations, extended library hours, and electronic access on the Worldwide Web. LINCS will also sponsor a literacy celebration for students and their families during “El día de los niños/ el día de los libros” (the day of the children/the day of the books).
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