You may find the archives of past messages at http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/lmcindex.htm under the Bulletin Board.

1. Thanks to all who have provided updates for my database. Please continue to send me names and emails of any new people you know about OR anyone you know retired OR moved. I continue to update the database.

2. Free Trial of Greenwood Press Databases -- Time Sensitive
MLNC is pleased to announce a free trial for our members on databases from Greenwood Publishing. The following databases will be available through October 15, 2006. Click on the links below to access each database and log on with username: gem2972 and password: ijgutvk. To place an order, visit our website http://www.mlnc.org/Products/ElectRef/greenwood/greenwood.html and take advantage of discounted prices available to MLNC members.

American Mosaic - The African American Experience
http://aae.greenwood.com 

World Cultures Today
http://wct.greenwood.com 

Daily Life Through History
http://dailylife.greenwood.com 

Authors4Teens
http://www.authors4teens.com 

American Reference Books Annual Online
http://arba.lu.com 

Reader's Advisor Online
http://www.readersadvisoronline.com 

Praeger Security International
http://psi.praeger.com 

Index to Current Urban Documents
http://www.urbdocs.com 

3. State Technology Plan -- comments needed -- Sent on behalf of Deborah Sutton
A draft copy of the 2007-2011 Missouri Education Technology Strategic Plan was distributed to district administrators via the Department's August 16 consolidated mailing. Please note that the Department is accepting comments on the draft plan's goals, objectives, and major implementation strategies through September 18, 2006.

On the website is a copy of the correspondence sent to administrators, which includes directions for submitting comments. Copies of the draft (in both Word and .pdf formats)
can also be downloaded from the Instructional Technology website, at: http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/techplan/index.htm.

Feel free to contact Instructional Technology staff (at 573-751-8247 or instrtech@dese.mo.gov) if you have any questions regarding this matter.

4. Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) -- State and Region Membership http://www.maslonline.org

5. REACH Education Consultants, LLC offering Professional Development Opportunities for Librarians and Classroom Teachers for 2006-07
http://home.earthlink.net/~reacheducationllc/index.html  Descriptions and registration available on the web -- Some of the workshops would be great for librarian and classroom teacher partners.


Workshop Schedule and Locations*
All dates and locations listed below
 

All locations -- GLE Overview 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Sesson A    

Individual locations -- Other Topic 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Session B (listed below)

September 23 Sikeston, MO Advancing Core Curricula with Literature
September 30 Eureka, MO Multicultural Literature in Lesson Plans
October 28 Bethany, MO LMC Makeover on a Shoestring Budget
November 11 West Plains, MO Resource Collections to Support the GLEs
January 27 Jefferson City, MO Integrating Information Literacy
February 24 Independence, MO Multicultural Literature in Lesson Plans
March 10 Farmington, MO Budgeting, Marketing, and Building a Collection
April 28 Kirksville, MO Resource Collections to Support the GLEs
May 5 Springfield, MO Advancing Core Curricula with Literature
*Specific locations to be determined


6. Teaching and Learning Institute Fall Sessions Professional Development Opportunities
Several of interest to librarians and/or librarian and classroom teacher combinations.
http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/conference/TL_Fall_Sessions.html
September 15-16, 2006
October 13-14, 2006
November 17-18, 2006

7. Summer Reading Incentives/Gifts Recalled -- Nancee Dahms-Stinson, State Library
*Note from Lisa -- Only a few school libraries purchased these items (from a list provided by Highsmith) but we wanted everyone to have the facts.*

Letter

August 8, 2006

Highsmith has recently learned that a sample of Bendable Cat and Dog toys tested by the Indiana State Department of Health indicated the lead content to be in excess of the maximum allowable by current federal regulations.

We at Highsmith support all libraries in their recall of this product from their patrons due to the uncertainty involving its potential health risk. Highsmith will issue a credit or refund for all sales of this product. Customers should call 1-800-448-4887 to arrange for their credit or refund or to return product.

The Bendable sample that was tested was purchased from a supplier other than Highsmith. However, that supplier sourced the product from the same wholesaler that Highsmith used. On October 14, 2005, prior to distributing these toys through the Collaborative Summer Library Program, Intertek Testing Services tested the Bendable that was to be distributed by Highsmith. The test reported that the Bendable was in compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 16, Section 1303. This section of the code stipulates that lead may constitute no more that .06% of the weight of the paint applied to a toy. Highsmith has documentation of this test in its possession.

Highsmith is currently having samples of its Bendable inventory tested by Analytical Process Laboratories Inc., a testing laboratory in Milwaukee, WI. The results of this test will be known on Wednesday, August 9, 2006, and released promptly. The Indiana State Department of Health has also agreed to retest a sample from the Highsmith inventory and those results will be shared promptly.

For more information on the hazards of lead, visit:
http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/leadguid.html  or http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/PrevLeadPoisoning.pdf

Any questions should be directed to Matt Mulder, Director, Highsmith Publications at mmulder@highsmith.com  or (920) 563-9571 x381.

Letter from Highsmith
August 9, 2006

Highsmith has recently had a lead content test completed on a sample of the Bendable Cat and Dog toys sold to public libraries through the Collaborative Summer Library Program. This test, completed by Analytical Process Laboratories Inc., Milwaukee, WI, confirmed an earlier report from the Indiana Board of Health that the lead content in these particular toys exceeds the maximum allowable limit under current federal regulations.

The sample Highsmith tested registered .277% lead content. The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 16, Section 1303 stipulates that lead may constitute no more that .06% of the weight of the paint applied to a toy.

At this time, Highsmith has discontinued sale of this item and recommends all libraries cease distribution of any remaining Bendable Cats and Dogs in their possession and issue a recall to all patrons who may have received this toy. To control the proper disposal of these Bendable Cats and Dogs, Highsmith requests that all customers contact us at 1-800-448-4887 to arrange for return shipment and to receive a credit or refund for the product cost.

On October 14, 2005, prior to distributing these toys through the Collaborative Summer Library Program, Intertek Testing Services tested the Bendable that was to be distributed by Highsmith. The test reported that the Bendable was in compliance with the applicable federal code. Highsmith has documentation of this test in its possession.

For more information on the hazards of lead, visit:
http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/leadguid.html  or http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/PrevLeadPoisoning.pdf

Any questions should be directed to Matt Mulder, Director, Highsmith Publications at mmulder@highsmith.com  or (920) 563-9571 x381.

Letter from State Librarian, Margaret Conroy

For immediate release: August 11, 2006
Contact: Margaret Conroy 573-526-0949

Children’s Bendable Dog and Cat Toys Recalled by Vendor
Unsafe Lead Levels in Children’s Toys

Jefferson city, Missouri -- Highsmith, Inc., issued a recall for bendable children’s toys after a test showed they may contain an unacceptable level of lead. The rubbery toys, which are four inches long, look like cats and dogs and can be twisted into different poses.

Some libraries had been using the toys as an incentive for young readers as part of the nationwide “Paws, Claws, Scales, and Tales” program designed to help public and school libraries encourage children to read during the summer months. Approximately 2000 toys from Highsmith, Inc., were given out by at least 23 local libraries in Missouri.

Parents are encouraged to throw away these toys or return them to their local libraries for proper disposal. If parents have specific questions about whether a toy or household item contains lead, please contact the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at 573-751-6102 or toll free at 866-628-9891. The website is http://www.dhss.mo.gov/ChildhoodLead/ .

The local libraries that may have given these out include:

Richmond Heights Memorial Library, St. Louis
Mid-Continent Public Library, Independence
Butler Public Library, Butler
Christian County Library, Ozark
St. Clair County School District R2, Appleton City
City of Seymour, Seymour
Ozark Regional Library, Ironton
Wellsville Public Library, Wellsville
Trails Regional Library, Warrensburg
Little Dixie Regional Libraries, Moberly
St. Clair County Library, Osceola
Rock Hill Public Library, Rock Hill
Valley Park Community Library, Valley Park
Wright County Library, Hartville
Heartland Regional Library System, Vienna
Pulaski County Public Library, Richland
St. Louis County Library, St. Louis
Oregon County Library District, Alton
Howard County Library District, Fayette
Fairview Community Library, Fairview
Carnegie Public Library, Shelbina
Westridge Elementary School, Ballwin
Camden County Library, Camdenton

Memo from State Librarian, Margaret Conroy to Public Library Directors

MEMO

To: Library Directors
From: Margaret Conroy, State Librarian
Date: August 11, 2006
RE: Highsmith, Inc., bendable toys recall

Attached please find a news release our office sent out today regarding bendable toys from Highsmith, Inc., that have been recalled.

We highly encourage you to send out releases in your community if you distributed these toys in your library.

Should you have any questions, please contact Nancee Dahms-Stinson at 800-325-0131, ext. 5 or nancee.dahms-stinson@sos.mo.gov .

Thank you.

***** Note by Nancee ******
The CSLP legal counsel (please note that this is NOT coming from the SOS legal counsel) advised that in requesting families return the toys to the libraries, choice of wording was very important, to avoid potential liability. Libraries should say: "We are requesting the RETURN of the bendable toys to comply with a recall initiated by Highsmith, Inc." Libraries should not state that the library (or school) is recalling the items.