INFOhio adds SchoolRooms™ features
If it has been awhile since you have visited SchoolRooms, it's time to take another look! INFOhio's version of this comprehensive discovery portal now has the full range of features currently available. Use SchoolRooms to locate educator-selected Web sites that support academic content standards. Locate articles from various INFOhio Core Collection resources. For districts automated by INFOhio, get lists of locally owned library materials. Have fun with learning activities related to each search.

Best of all, SchoolRooms can be used by all Ohio educators, students and parents through the end of the 2008-2009 school year. When prompted, enter this year's Core Collection username and password. To become up to date with SchoolRooms, check out the following:

	INFOhio library catalogs now in SchoolRooms
	Additional training and promotional material available in Help Resources for SchoolRooms
	SchoolRooms Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been revised.
	Register for free webinars to learn how to put SchoolRooms to work for you and your students at Professional Development Opportunities.

12-13 Transition document published
Preparing 21st Century Ohio Learners for Success: The Role of Information Literacy and Libraries, a report by the INFOhio and OhioLINK Special Task Force, was published September 2008. The nine-page PDF is linked from our Educator and Library Staff pages. The document includes a list of goals and action steps for transitioning students from high school to college. Watch for additional 12-13 Transition resources.

Lippincott receives INFOhio Hugh Durbin Award
Karon Lippincott, Library Media Specialist for Beachwood Middle School, has been selected to receive the INFOhio Hugh Durbin Leadership Award for 2008 by the INFOhio Governing Board. The award was presented during the OELMA Awards Luncheon at the 2008 Fall Conference held in Columbus in October. Read more..., including the presenter's  remarks and Karon's acceptance speech.

State budget cuts impact INFOhio
The struggling U.S. economy is affecting state and local governments, and INFOhio is not immune. Recent state budget cuts – 12.37% for INFOhio – have forced the INFOhio Governing Board to immediately reduce this year’s budget. This translates into an actual reduction of $305,566 from our $2,469,223 appropriation from the Ohio Department of Education.

In a recent message to the INFOhio community, INFOhio Executive Director Theresa M. Fredericka explains the impact these reductions will have on our Core Collection, as well as some temporary good news. Fredericka's message also reviews how we use our ODE funding and the "$82,566 in cuts [we must find] within Central operations to balance this current round of state budget reductions and be ready for any additional cuts that may occur before this school year ends." Read more...

Important News, Stories and More Links
Help Resources for National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is now linked from our Other Resources page. Just click on the blue INFObutton to find materials and links to better use this valuable online museum. Be sure to check out the Getting Started Guide to start your tour and the Learning Activities that Integrate Freedom Center videos with Ohio Academic Content Standards and INFOhio Core Collection resources.

As Ohio educators learn how Internet2 will impact teaching and learning in our state, INFOhio has set up a listserv for the topic. Join our Internet2 E-List to gain and share information about Internet2 and learn what's new.