As I’ve mentioned in my many Canvas messages and grade level Student Resource Course announcements (you’ve read all those, right?) Our Curbside Book Pick-Up Program is going strong! The only snag has been our PAC system sometimes goes down for maintenance. If you try to shop for books and the page won’t load let me know ASAP so I can get on the phone to yell at them to fix it. Errr… I mean, so I can gently alert them to the problem.
Submit the form before 1pm by TUESDAY (late requests get filled the following week)
Only 1 Graphic Novel Per Kid at a Time – because they’re so dang popular! Get a chapter or non-fiction book to go with instead!
Come to MHMS starting Wednesday from 10:00am to pick up your requested books on the cart in the front vestibule of the school. (That area between the two set of front doors) Look for your name on the paper bag or post-it note.
If you miss the Wednesday pick up time, the Curbside Book Pickup Media Cart will be in the school front vestibule open M-F during school hours 8am-3:30pm. If you request a book but don’t pick it up after 3 weeks we’ll most likely bring it back in & put it back on the shelf so another student can check it out. Please only take the book with your name on it! No rando shopping! lol
How To Directions Slideshow
Please place returning or overdue books on the bottom shelf!
Can’t get out of the house? Prefer reading an eBook? Check out my presentation Doggone Clever Stuff for info about eBooks from MackinVia, how to read an eBook in the presentation above, read books on Actively Learn, and the Howard County Public Library.
~Ms. Gwyneth Jones – Library Media Specialist & Ms. Kathi Bell – Media Assistant
Not sure if you have an overdue book? Check your Office365 Email (link on bottom of hcpss.me) to see if you’ve received a notice that you’re OVERDUE! — Your Email address is: yournamelogin#@inst.hcpss.org – You may have to designate that we’re EASTERN STANDARD Time – NYC or Washington DC. Canvas inbox or email me if you have questions.
We REALLY need the 310 (Eep!) HCPSS Media Books that some of you still have checked out belonging to your former elementary schools to be returned ASAP.
Some kids have up to 5 books each – that’s a LOT of books!
If you could please drop them off to your previous Elementary school that would be great! They’ll be SO happy!
For Laurel Woods – there’s a Return Book Drop bucket avail from 8am-4pm
For Gorman Crossing – there’s a Gator Drop Off box from avail 8am-4pm
These are either out front of the building or just inside the vestibule – no need to enter the building. YAY! Please wear your masks. Any other HCPSS school just call the front office & find out the drop off spot & the hours!
If you can’t manage that, you can drop them off at MHMS and we’ll make every effort to get them back to the right Library Media Collection.
Don’t forget, there are 100+ eBooks available to ALL MHMS kids through our Clever & Mackin account!
From our friendly neighborhood Howard County Public Library Savage Branch Teen Librarian:
At the library, we too, are working from home. And while we don’t have physical resources available, we have many many online resources and tools that can hopefully be of help to you, your colleagues, your students, and your families.
There are all sorts of resources there, including homework help, ebooks, and research tools. Students can access all of this content from home using their virtual A+ Student Card or a regular Howard County Library System card.
Yes, HCPSS students are still able to access Howard County Library System eResources through their HCPSS.Me accounts. If a student does not a student account, then yes they may apply electronically for a Howard County Library Card here.
In addition, students and teachers who have physical library cards may go here to find access to online e-resources for students and here.
If a student does not have an A+ Student Card or if a parent or teacher would like to access these resources and don’t have a library card, they can sign up for an online card here: https://hclibrary.org/how-do-i/getting-a-library-card/. This online card will provide immediate access to all of HCLS’s eContent.
You can access all of our eContent by clicking on HCLS Now! on our web page or clicking here: https://hclibrary.org/research/
Howard County Library Online Classes and Tools for Students: Students can access many learning resources with their A+ student accounts through hcpss.me by selecting HC Library.
Elementary school students: Keep reading with a large selection of eBooks and audiobooks. Practice math with TumbleMath. Build skills in language arts, science, and social studies. Learn a new language.
Middle and high school students: Find eBooks and audiobooks, online magazines and books, historical research tools, literary research and criticism tools. Practice world languages. Take an online class. Prepare for SATs and ACTs.
And HiTech is still doing their online classes/study labs: hclibrary.org/hitech_events. A new schedule is put out at the end of each week, and registration opens 48 hours in advance of the class – they fill up fast!
Please let me know if there is any way that the library or myself personally can assist you and support your students and teachers; stay well (:
Sarah Cooke | Teens’ Instructor
Howard County Library System | Savage Branch | 9525 Durness Lane | Laurel, MD 20723
410.313.0752 office | 410.313-0760 main
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Summer Reading: Imagine Your Story (Ages 11-17) (Jun 01 – Aug 31)
SUMMER READING: IMAGINE YOUR STORY!
Track your reading, play fun educational mini-games, and find missions full of activities!
Earn points and unlock badges as you go. A new Mission will be added every Monday.
Earn 1 point for each Mission you complete or book you log. Missions may be completed in any order.
Each book logged as part of a mission earns 1 bonus point.
When you have reached a total of 10 points, you have officially completed Summer Reading 2020!
What happens after you earn 10 points? Keep on reading! Continue reading, logging books and completing Missions to earn up to an additional 4 points and 4 badges!
PRIZES FOR COMPLETING SUMMER READING
When you complete Summer Reading, you will earn a donation to the Community Action Council of Howard County!*
* Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System will make a donation of up to $5000 in food and goods to the Community Action Council of Howard County after Summer Reading ends. Donations earned by each reader will have a variable value.
If you are interested in donating directly to CAC or learning more about their services in Howard county, please visit cac-hc.org.
Sponsored by Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System.
HCPSS Kids: Stay Connected!
Here are some ways to stay connected during the summer, including enrichment activities, reading lists and programs, the free summer meal program and more.
If you missed my presentation last week – here’s the info I shared about the secret way to unlock, filter, and find 100 FREE eBooks – That’s right a variety of Fiction, Non-fiction, Graphic Novels, Horror, Mystery, Sports, Classics and MORE! All through Clever and MackinVia.
Got a question? Email me in Canvas! Or drop by your Virtual Recess session!
Log into HCPSS.me
Go to GSuite
Go to the waffle menu on the top right corner and select Google Meet
Enter the nickname/code name /MHMS-gjones-recess-MonthDay
“In celebration of Read Across America Day, The MHMS Reading and Media departments are sponsoring a bookmark contest. Prizes will be awarded for the top three bookmarks. A copy of the winning bookmark will be professionally produced for the entire student body. Entries can be submitted through December 20 and will be on display for judging through the month of January. Visit the MHMS website for details. If you are interested in making a donation, you can do so by check or on-line payment. Checks should be made out to MHMS and include “bookmark contest” on the note. On-line donations can be made through OSP. Donations will go toward publishing fees and prizes. Please encourage your student(s) to participate. Contact Deb Burkey at deborah_burkey@hcpss.org with any questions.”
We have our finalists! Please see below to view our exciting 11 finalists in our contest!
Stay tuned, we will announce the winners here soon!
The last couple weeks (before testing starts again!) we’ve had a LOT of fun with a new book selection activity I’m calling #MusicalBookcases. It was a little crazy, super fun, & very kinesthetic! I really need to beef up our circulation numbers, aka, getting more books into the hands of kids.
One last picture of #MusicalBookcases and Mrs. Krieger‘s kids before I go to bed! LOL One of these girls is my most prolific reader in the @hcpss_mhms sixth grade her name starts with P and she’s pretty amazing! Hint: she peeking! pic.twitter.com/i84zTaNv42
For Librarians and Teachers looking for how to do this in your school, more info coming soon on my professional blog!
Below is my eye-rolling & somewhat cringeworthy YouTube instruction “how to” directions for the kiddos. Even with that, I still lost my voice by the end the day today! Think about the “flipping the classroom” or library type of addition to the activity.
Where does the time fly? I can’t believe it’s that time of year again! Time to share our Summer Reading List with you! It’s my 27th year in HCPSS and 22nd year here at Murray Hill Middle School! W00t! A lot of things have changed but some thing stay the same. Like still LOVING to read. Every day. Especially, in the Summer time! There’s nothing better to sit outside, on the beach, under an umbrella, or in a screened in porch and just read. For hours and hours! Where do you like to read? Any verified official Murray Hill kid who answers that in the comments will get a surprise next year! Sorry, Svetlana in Vladivostok, you are not eligible to win, but I still appreciate you reading this blog!
…..also, Pssst! Grownups! The ADULT Summer Reading List is linked at the bottom.
We Invite you to view & download the Middle School Summer Reading List Jpeg Page 1 and Page 2 or 2019SR_MSfinal- PDF
Thanks to our our A+ partner Librarians at the Howard County Library and two of our local HCPSS Middle School Teacher-Librarians we have created this Super Fun Reading List for all the kiddos in our district! (or the world!)
Visit our Howard County local Savage Branch Library & Hi Tech STEM Education Center this summer and FLIP over summer reading or flip over some amazing tech learning opportunities!
Murray Hill kids – If you read any of these books this summer, we would LOVE to hear what you thought in the comments! Follow us on Instagram to see pics of kids being AWESOME every day in our library and throughout the school!
Also, if you take a picture of yourself reading this summer or visiting a Library & tag me at @TheDaringLibrarian you’ll get a prize! Also, please tag @HoCoLibrary to maybe get some extra SWAG! 😉 But you have to find me in September and remind me, by saying like “Swag Me” because I’m getting old! LOL
From the Howard County Public Library, Our A+ Partners
Welcome to Summer Reading: A Universe of Stories
Join us for Summer Reading KICKOFF on Saturday, June 1 from 10 am to 2 pm at HCLS Miller Branch!
Activities in the Enchanted Garden include planting a sunflower and being a human sundial (weather permitting)
Indoor activities include crafts for children, and encounters with moon rocks and other rocks from space borrowed from NASA
Food trucks: Kona Ice and Say Cheese!
11 – 11:45 pm performance by The Milkshake Duo
12:30 – 1:30 pm fun with Eric Energy
ENROLL in Summer Reading Beginning June 1, 2019
Children, teens, and adults can participate! Enroll online from home or at any HCLS branch OR pick up a paper booklet at any branch.
After you’ve enrolled online or picked up your Summer Reading booklet, log the books you read and mark off activities as you complete them.
Mix and match any combination of 20 books read and/or activities completed
For every book/activity you complete, you receive an entry into a branch and systemwide prize drawing for your age group.
FOR ONLINE PARTICIPANTS: HCLS has a new online summer reading portal called BookPoints! Beginning June 1, 2019 you can register for a free summer reading account and create your BookPoints Username and password. Earn up to 41 entries into end-of-summer prize drawings by participating online!
FOR PAPER ONLY PARTICIPANTS: Between July 1 and August 31, return your completed booklet to any library branch to receive one entry into the end-of-summer prize drawings for each book or activity you complete. Check off a minimum of 20 books and/or activities to officially complete Summer Reading 2019: A Universe of Stories!
Recommended Summer Reading Lists for the Whole Family!
This is a cool reading promotion that’s all about you! Come on into the Library Media Center and find a book you’ve read and liked. Even better, find a book you LOVED! Like you could even maybe read it again kind of love. Go to the display pictured….
How To: Grab a sticky note and write on the clipboard your book recommendation. You can sign your first name & your grade or just something like “an 8th grader”….I just want to make sure that the other kids reading YOUR note know that it was written by a fellow teen. Leave that book on the shelf, if there’s not enough room, just prop it up or find me or Ms. Bell to help you and feel the warm happy feeling you helped another kid read find a great book!
Don’t know what to write? Here are some suggestions:
I loved this book because…
This is a great read if you liked _______________(list a similar book)
This book was really: Funny, Scary, Romantic, Adventurous, Mysterious, Thrilling, Intense….basically insert any adjective that fits here!
Peel off the post it and stick it on the cover and as my Dad would say…. Viola!
Thank you for your recommendation!
~Ms. Jones – Your Daring Librarian
Hey Teachers & fellow Librarians, Here’s the Easy How To:
This is reading promotion idea that’s inexpensive, low-tech, includes student voice, and I totally nabbed it from the amazing Librarian Tiff five years ago and I still love it! It’s kind of what you can call an oldie but a goodie. This can work at any time in a School Library or ELA Classroom.
I was inspired by Librarian tiff because she also does this in her School Library and created this amazing graphic below, made it Creative Commons, and gave it out to the world! I love beautiful signage that I don’t have to make myself! Because I’m kinda (occasionally) lazy.
I bought some colorful mini clipboards from Amazon & lined sticky notes. I already had the mini galvanized buckets of golf pencils – stole those from my PAC computer bank. This way kids don’t write ON THE books. Don’t judge me for being a little OCD and not wanting the pencil impressions on the front of a Library book!
Student Voice:
The kiddo can write anything. “I loved this book because…” and sign it their fist name or just “an 8th grader” etc. My kids love seeing what other kids have read. Same idea, but in a low tech way, as my #BookDropLife & Instagram posts.
This way kids can recommend books to other kids and be heard. Simple. Easy. Effective. I think it’s really important to allow kids to feel like they have a voice in the Library Media Center and in our school. Participatory Librarianship.
Save the Stickies!
At the end of the year, when I put this display away, I always take the sticky note off the front of the book and paste it inside the front cover. So the next kid can open the cover, read the book blurb, AND the student recommendation.
What easy & inexpensive ways do you promote reading in your School Library or Classroom? Please share in the comments, Twitter, or Instagram ways you reach out to kiddos to get them to read?
Thanks for Visiting!
Cheers dears!
Twitter: @GwynethJones – IG: The Daring Librarian.
Future Ready Teacher Librarian & Tech Leader. Mover, Shaker,
Blogger, International Ed Tech Keynote Speaker, Blogger, &
Google Certified. Author of the award winning Daring Librarian
blog. ISTE Board of Directors PK-12 Representative 2010-2014 –
Creator of Content. Meme & Trope Archivist. Coastal Cottage
owner. Geek. Ridiculously Humble.
Thanks to our our A+ partner Librarians at the Howard County Library and two of our local HCPSS Middle School Teacher-Librarians we have created this Super Fun Reading List for all the kiddos in our district! (or the world!)
Visit our Howard County local Savage Branch Library & Hi Tech STEM Education Center this summer and FLIP over summer reading or flip over some amazing tech learning opportunities!
Murray Hill kids – If you read any of these books this summer, we would LOVE to hear what you thought in the comments! Follow us on Instagram to see pics of kids being AWESOME every day in our library and throughout the school!
Recommended Summer Reading Lists for the Whole Family!
Participate in activities, crafts, and games. Enjoy the music of live bands: School of Rock House Band and Charm City Junction. Activities include Kindness Rocks, crafts for children; and Rock Band for teens.
HCLS MILLER BRANCH
Saturday, June 2
10 am – 2 pm
The fun continues all summer, when you enroll in Summer Reading: Libraries Rock! Sign up for a free account at hclibrary.beanstack.org, or pick up a booklet at any branch. Then log the books you read and mark off activities as you complete them for chances to win prizes.
Do you ever get stuck clicking around Amazon buying random stuff you may not really need but suddenly desire? Do you have a mountain of Amazon boxes in your kitchen waiting for each recycle day? Yeah, me neither! [cough] But sometimes I stumble across something that sparks my creativity and I’m like – SO COOL!….Now what can I do with it?
This was the case with a set of 100 antique style keys I found that came with raffia cords & brown card stock tags that I thought would be a cool component of a reading promotion campaign!
Reading is the Key to a Rich & Interesting Life!
If you’re an English or Reading Teacher or a School Librarian please head on over to my professional blog,The Daring Librarian, for buying information, more how-to’s, and FREE Downloadables!
Generating a list of the top 100 readers in my school and letting each kid pick out their preferred special key, I’m presenting it to them one by one including the key on a soft twine for wearing around the neck and a specially stamped commemorative card!
I’m also taking pictures and posting them on Instagram & Twitter of each of our Key Readers!
Miss Caroline leads the pack having readover 100books this year! And still going through them about a book every other day!
I’m also posting pics of the kids with their keys on Instagram and Twitter.
Here’s my friend Mr. Ben who is one of my “frequent fliers” and avid readers. Ben is in the Top 5 having read over 70 books!
I’m so proud of our ravenous readers here at Murray Hill Middle School! This is what brings us the most joy – having kids come in every day (sometimes twice a day!) gobbling up new books and enjoying them!
Howard County Library Summer Reading Program
Visit the 
suddenly desire? Do you have a mountain of Amazon boxes in your kitchen waiting for each recycle day? Yeah, me neither! [cough] But sometimes I stumble across something that sparks my creativity and I’m like – SO COOL!….Now what can I do with it? 
