SlimeKids: School LIbrary MEdia Kids

SlimeKids is a website for elementary/middle school-age kids; it's a free site.

"SlimeKids features an extensive collection of book trailers organized by year and by grade level as well as numerous language arts-related games in such categories as word, literacy, spelling, typing, vocabulary and grammar. Additionally, the website showcases an array of exceptional literacy-related resources such as author and book review websites as well as superb learning tools including reference works and search engines."

NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY LAUNCHES Creating the Future WEBPAGE

State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries Bernard A. Margolis and Chair of the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries Gerald Nichols announced today the launching of a new webpage focused on the implementation of Creating the Future: A 2020 Vision and Plan for Library Services in New York State.

“We invite the library community and other interested stakeholders to bookmark this new webpage and to help us implement this exciting new vision and statewide plan for library services,” said Nichols. “This plan sets a new course for the future and recognizes that, in spite of economic challenges, quality library service must be available to every child and every adult in New York.”

Information about implementation activities, events and strategies will be posted on the State Library’s new Creating the Future webpage and shared broadly with the library community and other stakeholders. There is a Latest News link to a new Creating the Future blog. The blog is intended to keep readers up-to-date on how library leaders and champions across New York State are going about implementing the sixty recommendations listed in Creating the Future. Readers will find out how to join Regents Advisory Council members Jill Hurst-Wahl, Gerald Nichols, John Hammond and others on LinkedIn to share and discuss implementation ideas and strategies.

Library leaders are encouraged to send information about upcoming planned events or discussions focused on the implementation of Creating the Future to Council Vice-Chair John Hammond (john@nnyln.org ). Events will be posted on the webpage. Library leaders are also encouraged to send ideas and suggestions for implementation strategies or action steps to John Hammond (john@nnyln.org) or Gerald Nichols (Gerald.Nichols@liu.edu).

The New York State Board of Regents accepted the new vision and plan as statewide policy for libraries at their April 2012 meeting. Members of the Board, the State Librarian and the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries will provide an opportunity for further discussion concerning the Plan and its implementation during the November 2012 New York Library Association Conference in Saratoga Springs. Questions about implementation or about Creating the Future may be directed to Gerald Nichols (Gerald.Nichols@liu.edu).

Top 10 Web Hosting Services

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Government Challenges, Contests, and Prizes

Visit Challenge.gov to participate in government contests and challenges for the chance to win a variety of prizes (monetary or non-monetary).
You may be challenged to solve a problem, make a suggestion, shoot and upload a video, create a logo, build an online game, invent something, and much more. A new challenge from Kids.gov, for example, calls for posters that answer the question, "How do I become President?" Find more details about this and other challenges.
Even if you don't have a solution for a specific challenge, you can share challenges with friends or sign up to show support for a challenge.

Obama transition website

Here in the U.S., at long last, we have a new President-Elect. And, for the first time, this means a new presidential transition website. Simple but elegant and still under construction — Change.gov. At the top left, you’ll see a countdown, in days, until the January 20, 2009 inauguration.