COLLECT + CONNECT

I use Pearltrees to curate digital resource collections specifically for school librarians and teachers. These collections are not static. I'm constantly editing based on many factors such as relevance, age, relatability to each other, use, content, authority, etc... The process of curating a digital collection is similar to the process you'd use when developing a school library collection.  There are several handy and free curation tools that live on the Web like Symbaloo , Wakelet , Pearltrees , Diigo , Padlet , and Pinterest . I've tried all of these, and for this purpose, I prefer Pearltrees. For other purposes, I use other tools. These collections are also linked on the School Libraries page  of the State Library website. There are  14 collections  right now. Some are more library-related. Some are more classroom-related. Some are professional development-related. Here are the top four by page views: Digital Books Native American Resources for...

The South Dakota State Library now provides another database from GALE. This one is called Indigenous Peoples: North America and it's for researching and learning about the many native people of the United States and Canada. The database includes important primary sources in addition to manuscripts, newspapers, periodicals, photograph collections, motion pictures, and images of artwork. Broadly, subjects include the political, social, and cultural history of North American native peoples from the 16th to the 20th century. This database is a strong tool to use to fortify more general resources. It allows students to really dig into the past to discover the background of the ideas and cultures that have defined Indigenous peoples in our country and beyond. If you're a South Dakotan, you have free access to this and 50+ other databases. Simply go to library.sd.gov > Databases > and search for Indigenous Peoples Here's a quick snapshot of the homepage...

- a smattering of two random reads about libraries, education & growth - Turns out, Einstein didn't struggle with math as a child. Learn about his unique approach to learning. How Einstein Learned Physics  by Scott Young Pixabay This interactive map highlights the least traveled and most scenic routes in the US. And yes, South Dakota makes the top 10! America’s Loneliest Roads, Mapped  by Tim Herrera Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org

As many of you know, the SD State Library has recently launched its new website. A lot of work and time and expertise went into this major update and we hope you find it valuable both professionally and personally. We'd love your positive or constructive feedback! Just email me and I'll send your message along. I encourage you to spend some time browsing and even bookmarking pages that you'll know you'll refer back to. I'll list a few that you might find most useful for you and your students. School Library Services The  School Library Services  homepage is a one-stop source for you as a librarian. library.sd.gov/LIB/SLC Note the three 'big hitter' buttons and all the other drop-down topics below those buttons. We've made the  K-12 Student Research button  easy to locate and we sought to make it student-friendly by categorizing databases by age group.  So if you click/tap the K-12 Student Research button  on the School Libr...