*And Now We Are 60: SLJ, the profession, and culture from 1954 to today This month marks School Library Journal’s 60th year as an independent magazine—no small feat in this changing media landscape. With ongoing coverage of library news, big-picture issues, practical applications, and reviews, SLJ has worked to become an essential go-to guide for schools and librarians working with young people. As we observe this milestone, we look back at some highlights from the past six decades. The 1950s In its premier issue, editor Gertrude Wolf stated, “Junior Libraries comes to you at a time of high tide in the interest in children’s reading. The 1960s A growing concern for social justice was a hallmark of the decade, marked by the civil rights movement, Lyndon Johnson’s war on poverty, and the establishment of programs such as Head Start. The 1970s Librarians grappled with the reality of school desegregation in the 1970s and a new understanding of librarianship—all in the midst of rising book prices and massive budget cuts. The 1980s The 1990s
Steal This Infographic: Librarians as Tech Leaders SLJ’s May 2011 cover featured the technology survey. Librarians are leading the way in technology use, according to School Library Journal’’s annual technology survey. It’s been a consistent trend, which SLJ has tracked for several years, documenting how librarians use technology and—more importantly—how that use has enhanced teaching and learning across their schools and districts. This year, the magazine has visualized the “proof” in a handy infographic, which is freely available for reuse, printing, and posting (in JPEG and PDF formats). The graphic (below) hits the high points of the 2013 survey. The full results, with details on the top tools favored by librarians, ebook use, 1:1 programs, filtering and bandwidth issues, and more, are also available for download.
Knowledge Quest | AASL (Become familiar with!) *Library Media Tech Talk: What Can A Library Be? Do you ever stop and think about what the school library can be for your learning community? It is easy to get caught up in the daily activities and forget about the endless possibilities that exist for our learners. As I prepare to begin my tenth year as a school librarian, I've been thinking about how the library spaces and resources can transform our students' lives. A Safe Place Recently we hosted an 8th grade school wide orientation. A Place of Inquiry and Innovation We started our brief orientation sessions in the fiction room portion of the library. After this, we moved next door to the non-fiction room for a brief tour. A Place of Connections In the past, we have used Skype and Google Hangouts to connect students all over the country and world. We enjoy having guest speakers in the library. Final Thoughts I hope you will join me in pondering these things as the school year starts and progresses. My table of contents for the blog is here! Contact Me/ Follow Me
Library Media Tech Talk: So You Are a New School Librarian... Now What? I remember taking my first school library job in the summer of 2008. When I arrived at the school in July to begin working, I quickly realized I had no idea where to start! Even after doing this job for 7 years, I still have to remind myself what needs to be accomplished in the summer before everyone gets back on campus. I hope this will help you see some of the steps you need to think about as you prepare for a successful school year from the library media center. Most of the July "to-do" list is really all the items that I renew or order during the summer months. The first things I always think of are the periodicals, journals, and newspaper subscriptions we take. For periodical renewals, I have always used a jobber or a subscription service. This is also a good time to find out if there are any subscription databases or online encyclopedias that the previous librarian purchased. We are provided a whole host of online databases and tools through the Arkansas State Library.
Advice to New Librarians As the school year begins, some of you may be starting as a school librarian for the first time. With my position, I am able to work with new school librarians in my district. Whether the librarians have just a few or many years as a classroom teacher, they step into this new role feeling overwhelmed with the common question, “Where do I begin?” Build Relationships: When I go out and speak to groups and advocate for classroom teachers working with their building librarians, I sometimes hear a comment or two about how they don’t feel comfortable approaching their librarians. Dive into the Content: Grab the curriculum guides for all content areas. Be Patient: When you enter your library, you may want to rearrange the space and make it “your space.” Become Familiar with the Collection: Get to know your collection by walking the shelves. Enjoy the Transition: If you are transitioning from the classroom into the library, there are times when you will wish for the small classroom again.
Five Tips for New School Librarians – A Guest Post by Cathy Potter | Page in Training January 2012 marks the one year anniversary of when I started my first position as a teacher librarian. In celebration and in way of thanks for all the help I’ve been given in that year, I am hosting a series of posts this month for new teacher librarians. Today’s post is by Cathy Potter. I love getting reading recommendations from her and seeing what is happening in her library. Being a school librarian is a rewarding career. Five Tips for New School Librarians 1) Collaboration is Key! Make connections with librarians at the public library. 2) Read, Read, Read! Listen to your students! Read reviews regularly. A Few of the Kidlit Blogs I Follow:A Fuse #8 Production100 Scope NotesA Year of ReadingBrain Burps (podcast) 3) Create a web presence. 4) Reach out to parents. 5) Develop a support system. Remember to smile and share your love of books and technology. Cathy Potter is a K-5 school librarian in Maine.
Mrs. ReaderPants: New school librarian? 10 things you should do first... point you in a direction, but now, you are it. A team of one. Uno. Honey, we have all been there. Hang in there--it will get better! 1. Librarians wear many hats, but let's face it, when most people think of librarians, they think of book circulation first. Free equipment sign-out sheet shared by University of Washington-Tacoma Institute of Technology. Free download from TPT seller Totally Teaching: SaveOrganized Classroom2K+Brandy CorreiaActivities to try at school.... 2. Your library will change much in your time there, and you will want to document that. If you are really feeling adventurous, take a video as you walk through the library, commenting on what you like and don't like. From my first middle school library opening... 3. The library handbook may be difficult to find. Once you find the handbook, take it home and read sections on collection development, circulation policies (may differ from what's on the website), and procedures for challenged materials. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
What Every New Media Specialist Needs to Know These 10 tips can help your career get off to a great start Illustration by Steve Wacksman It’s not easy being a media specialist, especially if you’re new to the profession or you’ve switched schools and you’re suddenly the new kid on the block. Let’s face it, many administrators and teachers don’t understand what we do. And like it or not, we’re still battling that age-old stereotype of the school librarian as a little old lady with a bun who shuffles around shushing people. Take a deep breath! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. *Five laws of library science (Make sure you are aware of these & think about their evolution) The Five laws of library science is a theory proposed by S. R. Ranganathan in 1931, detailing the principles of operating a library system. These laws are: Books are for use.Every reader his / her book.Every book its reader.Save the time of the reader.The library is a growing organism. Overview[edit] First Law: Books are for use[edit] The first law constitutes the basis for the library services. The first law of library science "books are for use" means that books in libraries are not meant to be shut away from its users. Second Law: Every reader his/her book[edit] This law suggests that every member of the community should be able to obtain materials needed. The second law of library science "every reader his/her book" means that librarians serve a wide collection of patrons, acquire literature to fit a vast collection of needs, do not judge what specific patrons choose to read. Third Law: Every book its reader[edit] Fourth Law: Save the time of the reader[edit] Variants[edit] In 2015,B.
Say Yes to That Practicum Student Librarian “Example isn’t another way to teach; it is the only way to teach.” – Albert Einstein Throughout the years, I have been so fortunate to host library practicum students who are training to become school librarians. Student librarians must complete many hours of service in school libraries (usually around 100+ hours), depending on the graduate school, in order to earn their degrees. Rather than exploit the free labor, I enjoy collaborating with them on lessons, book clubs, and other fun activities. Mentoring With Emily King Echols (one of my favorites) and Gene Luen Yang The beauty of mentorship is that it’s a reciprocal win-win. Friendship I recently returned from the Texas Librarian Association convention in Dallas, and I ended up running into and spending time with one of my favorite former student librarians, Emily King Echols, who is now the librarian at St. My current practicum student, Lori Van Dike, joined me at TLA. With current student librarian, Lori Van Dike Legacy Like this:
The Constantly Evolving Role of the School Librarian Over the past twenty years, perhaps no position in education has transformed more than the school librarian. I spoke with two veteran school librarians to get a better idea just how much their jobs have evolved: Dr. Andrea Ange is a veteran librarian and web master at Campbell High School in Litchfield, NH.Marifran DeMaine is a high school librarian in Putnam Valley, NY with additional experience working in public, elementary, and middle school libraries. Andrea and Marifran were gracious enough to share the ways in which their positions have allowed them to support teachers and students in this ever-changing educational landscape. Librarians are Teachers School librarians are teachers, first and foremost. “I had two opportunities to choose from. In their libraries and media centers, librarians have the opportunity to reach and support students in ways that are more unique and personalized than a traditional classroom experience might allow. – Marifran DeMaine Librarians are Collaborators
The importance of having a school library Lisa Kent, the chapter leader at PS/IS 155 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, has taught there for 22 years. In all that time, the school has never had a working library. That finally changed this spring, thanks to the school’s current and former principals, community grants and donors, PTA volunteers and the tenacity of art teacher Lisa Ryan. What will it mean for students and teachers to have access to their school’s own library? “It’s going to mean everything,” says Kent. In our politically fraught times, as the rise of social media has made gathering reliable information more challenging, libraries are experiencing a renaissance. Decades of research known cumulatively as the “school libraries impact studies” tell us that schools with strong library programs produce students with better standardized test scores in reading, stronger information literacy skills and higher graduation rates. But finding space, staff and resources for a well-maintained library can be a challenge.
*5 Tips for New School Librarians (and those who aren't so new) . (Nikki Robertson) Congratulations on your new job as a school librarian! It is hands down the absolutely best job...EVER! Below are 5 tips to help you as you enter this new chapter of your life. Connect Being a school librarian can be a shockingly isolating profession, especially after having formed tight, supportive networks while you were a classroom teacher. Find Your People Don’t wait around for your district to connect you. Where To Find Your People Twitter Twitter is one of the best places you can go to connect, share, learn and grow with other school librarians and connected educators. There are a few secrets to truly harnessing the power of Twitter. Hashtags: By following, commenting, sharing, and connecting using hashtags you will maximize your own professional learning. Twitter Chats: Twitter chats are the scheduled conversations, usually in a Q/A format lead by a moderator or moderators that take place on a weekly or monthly basis. Facebook is a great place to join groups. Be YOU It’s Not About YOU