Up to the Challenge: Dealing with school library book challenges before they happen
When I worked as a school librarian at Little Elementary in Arlington, Texas, I was terrified of having a book challenged. Sometimes I would wake up at night worrying. I was afraid a parent would be angry with me, and my principal would think I was a bad librarian. If you ever find yourself wide awake and troubled about possible challenges: Get out of bed, drink some water, and remember that you have nothing to fear—if you’re prepared before a complaint occurs. Build your foundation
Access to Print Books? Yes!
In this time of virtual and hybrid learning, are print books still important? My answer is a resounding “yes”! However, what do you do if your administrator doesn’t “get it”?
Updating My Collection via the Inspire Collection Development Grant
My library is beautiful. It has one, large west-facing wall full of glass windows. It has traditional blonde oak stacks with matching tables and chairs.
METIS - School Library Cataloging
What it is:Named after the mother of Athena, this library classification system for children PreK through 5 was created in 2011 by a team of librarians in New York who were questioning the use of the Dewey Decimal System in their library. They wanted to create a system that would better suit children and their ways of searching, creating a system that was more intuitive and followed their intellectual development more closely. Since the introduction of the system, the library has seen a significant increase in circulation, especially with children in grades three to five (Copeland, 2013).Please note that this system was created for a particular library in mind, but can be modified for use in other libraries. The breakdown of categories, subdivisions, and labels are available on their website for use under a Creative Commons license.How it Works:Metis uses whole language, visual cues, and logic that reflects the experiences of a child. Image Credits: Weebly, Inc.
A School Librarian's Thoughts on Labeling Programs: Part 1
A recent post in the Future Ready Librarians Facebook group on reading levels had me reflect upon my reading experience as a student. If it weren’t for my high school librarian, Dr. Shirley McDonald, I do not know if I would have discovered books by Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, or Toni Morrison, which were a far cry from the Fear Street novels I had been bingeing since junior high. I look back fondly on visiting the library in high school and having Dr. McDonald introduce me to new authors.
Controlled digital lending and Open Libraries: helping libraries and readers in times of crisis
tldr; As libraries face closure across the globe because of coronavirus, millions of digitized books are now available for free to be borrowed by learn-at-home students and readers. We need more libraries to join Open Libraries to offer more copies to patrons; its free and easy. In response to the global COVID-19 outbreak and related public health concerns, libraries across the nation are closing or scaling back service (see Fremont, Nebraska’s Keene Memorial Library closure; Seattle Public Library’s reduction in programs and bookmobile service). While Overdrive, Hoopla, and other streaming services provide patrons access to latest best sellers and popular titles, the long tail of reading and research materials available deep within a library’s print collection are often not available through these large commercial services.
Diversity in Context: Stretching the Idea of Building Diverse Collections
Presented by Michelle Luhtala, Library Department Chair, New Canaan High School, CT; Robert Hillhouse, Secondary Multilingual Programs Teacher on Special Assignment; and Kerrin Moeller, Elementary Multilingual Programs Teacher on Special Assignment Sponsored by Mackin Educational Resources Get a CE Certificate for this edWebinar Learn more Our inquiry series continues as we take a deep dive into building a diverse collection and nurturing a community of curious readers.
Collection Development: Meeting the Needs of Our Emerging Readers
A few years ago, when I began my current position as a school librarian, the most regular library users in my building were our CDC-A (Comprehensive Development Classroom – Activity Based) students. These students receive special education services that are designed for learners with deficits across the curriculum that are significantly below grade level. Teachers in this class emphasize not only academic success but social skills, self-help skills, advocacy skills, and life skills. Our CDC-A students typically have severe disabilities that sometimes prohibit their communication or physical capabilities.
Learn How We Categorize Multicultural Picture Books
We have identified nine unique book categories that capture the dominant messages conveyed by current children’s picture books featuring Black and Indigenous People and People of Color (BIPOC). Each book in our collection is tagged with at least one category. Anyone can use our book categories to consider how BIPOC are represented in a story to ensure that no single message dominates bookshelves.
