Children's Eye Health and Safety Month

With approximately 12 million school-age children in America experiencing vision problems, it is no wonder that August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month. The promotion of eye health and safety is very important, and education and awareness in schools and libraries is essential not only during this month, but throughout the year. For more information on how you can get involved, visit Prevent Blindness America. You can also come into the SERC Library and check out some of the books we have on this important subject, including:

Blueberry eyes, by Monica Driscoll Beatty (YP F BEA)
This 32-page picture book, intended for children ages 4-10, is the true story of a young child's eye treatment, including eyeglasses, bifocals, eye patches, and surgery. It focuses on the heroine's positive self-image throughout her treatment, the care and guidance she received from her ophthalmologist, and the love and support of her family.



What if you couldn't? A Visual Impairment Unit (IE 371.911 GUR)

A multimedia kit designed to make students in grades 2-5 aware of the broad spectrum of visual problems ranging from minor disabilities which can be corrected by prescription lenses to total blindness. The kit allows children to investigate the ways that people with visual impairments compensate for their lack of sight and become functioning, independent individuals.

Surprising studies of visual awareness: Volumes 1 & 2 (IE 153.43 VIS)
This DVD can be used to teach about visual perception and awareness during presentations, workshops or inservice programs. It presents 15 striking demonstrations in which visual perception is explored, including some with footage from scientific experiments. Selective attention, failures of awareness and optical illusions are included.



The secret code, by Dana Meachen Rau, illustrated by Bari Weissman
(YP F RAU)
Using a word list of 69 words, this 32 page illustrated children's book introduces children to Braille. Oscar, a blind student, teaches his friend Lucy to read the secret code of Braille. She is curious about what he is doing when he opens his book and is interested to learn how Oscar can use Braille to do the same reading and writing tasks all the other classmates are doing.

Change is in the Air!

We've been very busy at the SERC Library this summer, implementing a whole host of changes to serve you better. Over the past two weeks we've been physically rearranging the front end of the library, with a whole new circulation set-up that we hope will be more convenient. You'll also see some welcoming new faces when you walk in. There will be even more changes coming in the month of August. Here's a look at some of our upcoming developments:

• Coming up very soon we will be transitioning to a brand new library software system called AGent VERSO in order to modernize and streamline our circulation processes. We are very excited about this and we hope you are too, because you will definitely notice a difference. You'll be able to log in to your own patron account from home and see the items you have checked out, any fines accrued, your borrowing history, and more. The new system will also automatically send you reminders a few days before your items are due, which we know some of you will appreciate! As always, feel free to ask any of us if you need assistance with using the new software.
  
• Over the next few months we will be revisiting a lot of our existing policies and updating them to better serve both your and our needs. As these policies are overhauled we'll keep you posted here and when you're visiting the library.
  
• As part of the agency's overall effort to be more environmentally conscious, the SERC Library will soon be offering our own reusable shopping bags. By purchasing one of these bags you'll not only be supporting us, but the earth as well. Both attractive and sturdy, these bags will be perfect for hauling all those heavy library materials around!
• In September SERC will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary. That's right...40 years of serving Connecticut's education community. Check back with us throughout the year as we will be updating our website and blog with special anniversary events and initiatives.

Whew! So much for summer being slow! We have some other ideas in the works as well, such as offering book groups, children's story time, and other community programs. Please feel free to weigh in via the comments or in person with your feedback on what you'd like to see at the library. Despite all the work involved during this period of transition we know that it will be worth it. We're looking forward to improving the SERC Library so that we can be there for you for the next 40 years. Come visit us soon!

English grammar in use: A self-study reference and practice book for intermediate students of English, 3rd edition, by Raymond Murphy (IM 428.24 MUR )

This 379 page book is an excellent and comprehensive self-study English grammar book to be used with middle and upper intermediate level students who have already studied the basic grammar of English. The book includes 145 units which each concentrate on a particular point of grammar. Exercises can be used individually, in class or as homework. An answer key and CD-ROM with further exercises are included.

Grammar practice activities: A practical guide for teachers, Second edition by Penny Ur (428.007 UR)

This 322 page book is a wonderful source of ideas for grammar practice with English language learners. The first section provides an introduction to grammar teaching in the ELL classroom. The second section provides nearly 200 communicative and gamelike practice activities in the main areas of English grammar. Reproducible pages are provided on a CD-ROM.

Games for language learning, 3rd edition by Andrew Wright, David Betteridge and Michael Buckby (418.0071 WRI)

This 193 page book was written for teachers who want to incorporate games in language learning. Games can be easily integrated into existing coursework and can provide meaningful and enjoyable language practice at all language levels. This updated edition included icebreakers and warmers and both group and solo games.

Making science accessible to English learners - Grades 6-12: A guidebook for teachers, by John Carr, Ursula Sexton and Rachel Lagunoff (372.35044 CAR)

This guidebook was written to help middle and high school science teachers reach English learners in their classrooms. The authors offer practical guidance and strategies, including sample lessons and assessment accommodations.