School Library Connection | State by State Certifications Locating the information for certification related to school libraries in each state is difficult. There are links to the various state departments of education websites, but these sites are not always user friendly. As Perritt states, "In the education field, of which school librarianship is a part, a confluence of terms and practices related to licensure and certification exists" (1998, 195). This handbook has been developed to simplify the process for individuals seeking licensure in school librarianship within the 50 states and to provide information regarding reciprocity. National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement: The NASDTEC Interstate Agreement facilitates the movement of educators among the states and other jurisdictions that are members of NASDTEC and have signed the Agreement. For more detailed information, please see individual state certifications by clicking the links on the left. Perritt, Patsy H.
Disaster Recovery for School Libraries Lately, it feels as though we are in a constant state of preparing for or recovering from disasters, both natural and human made. As storms Irma and Jose were downgraded to what still devastated some U.S. southeastern border communities, we were thankful that apocalyptic media reports were not fully realized. Yet, as citizens of both the Houston and the southeast Gulf Coast areas start the year, thousands of school children begin school in grave need of recovery assistance. School librarians are sometimes the overlooked “link” to recovery; yet they stand singularly poised to offer some very specific assists. As Information Curator Librarians are masters at curating information. Research Specialist Librarians may also wish to offer services that provide both in-house and online links to all the resources necessary for assistance and recovery. Recovery Center: The Library as a Safe Haven Never is there a more immediate need for providing a safe haven for students than post-disaster. Donations
Watch and share YouTube videos safely | teachers and family friendly YouTube Celebrating Our Library Culture Culture is an aged word, but one with staying power. And culture describes just about everything: work, school, family, ethnicity, country, fandom, and on and on. People want to know what defines a culture, how to create and promote it, and how to keep it going. Why? Because culture defines and influences our social behavior. It explains us to ourselves and one another. Organizations love culture. Substitute employees with students, teachers, and parents for school libraries. explore their passions and interests;build understanding and knowledge about themselves and the world;learn to collaborate and communicate effectively with others;discover their voice to advocate for positive change;think critically about information and evidence;confront misinformation and propaganda;and, of course, become lifelong readers and creators. So how do we claim our culture when others appropriate it all the time? Work Cited: [1] “Khan-do attitude; Bartleby.” Author: Leanne Ellis Like this: Like Loading...
the accountant’s hat (Barbara Braxton) Of all the hats the teacher librarian has to wear, for many the accountant’s hat may be the most ill-fitting because the management of money matters, particularly the preparation, submission and disbursement of a budget, requires expertise beyond that of our teaching qualifications. And yet it is an essential part of what we do. From messages to TL networks, it would appear there are three types of budgets… those that are based on the administration’s careful consideration of a properly prepared budget submitted by the TLthose that are based on an amount allocated by the administration (often the school’s business manager) with no consultation with the TL with the expectation that the TL will provide all services within that amountthose that are non-existent requiring the TL to go to external sources such a parent bodies, book fairs, grants and sponsorship and so on to raise the required funds funding Cover these issues in your Collection Policy. preparation disbursement documentation
Young Adult | LGBTQ Reads In the US and want to get right to shopping, help support the site, and help indie bookstores? Please check out the LGBTQReads Bookshop! These titles are all Fiction. B/P/Q/A – MC is bisexual, pansexual, queer/questioning, and/or asexual (B/P = character is questioning on-page which of those labels fits and never decides)+ = label is stated explicitly on-page~Also includes allocishet POVsTitles with MCs of color or indigenous MCs by BIPoC are in purple* = Not yet released(Amz|IB|Ap|Bks) = these are affiliate links for Amazon, IndieBound, Apple’s iBooks store and Bookshop, respectively. Please note multi-POV books will be listed twice where more than one list is appropriate. Gay/Bi/Queer/Questioning/Pan/Ace Male Protagonists Contemporary *Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide*This is Why They Hate Us by Aaron Aceves – BHow it All Blew Up by Arvin AhmadiSimon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky AlbertalliWhat if it’s Us? Historical Fantasy/Paranormal Contemporary Historical
The Elevator Speech | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues An elevator speech a message intended to spur decision makers to action. An elevator speech must be short, specific, and memorable. It is important to have your elevator speech rehearsed and ready because you never know when you'll have an opportunity to use it! Who is the audience for my elevator speech? For school librarians, decision-makers can be school principals, parent organizations, district administrators, elected officials, community partners and more. Crafting the elevator speech Elevator Speech Sample for ESSA (PDF) Additional ESSA Elevator Speech Examples (PDF)
But My Principal Won't Let Me! Leadership, Advocacy, & Some Rebel Yell from the Library “I love that idea–but there’s no way my principal would ever go along with that…” “That is really cool that you can do that. But it wouldn’t fly in my school…” “I wish my principal would let me try something like that…” Have those thoughts ever flitted through your mind while you read an inspiring article, sat in a workshop, or took a class? It’s important to remember that administrative rules for libraries don’t derive from bad intentions; they are usually just deeply rooted in misperceptions and the ease of following long-set tradition. Pay attention to what your principal needs. The school library needs to provide resources for all of its patrons. Share national guidelines and goal-setting with your principal. Set goals for your library and then support them with AASL’s Standards for the 21st-Century Learner or the AASL’s National School Library of the Year criteria. Make visuals to show what you do and where you want to go. Part of our job is to keep the unsavory invisible. Be excited!
Books with potentially disturbing content - list 4.5 Stars Clandestine paranormal agencies with women who are totally awesome gun-toting, magic wielding badarses? Sign me up! What a cracking good read! 4.5 Stars What a cracking good read! Harmony and Jessi had such good chemistry and I look forward to reading the next in the series. CW: (view spoiler)[kidnapping of babies/children, murder, suicide on page, gore (hide spoiler)] ...more How-To: Not Good With Elevator Speeches? Try 'Taxi Chats' Everybody talks about the work they do. It’s a staple topic of conversation over meals, at meetings, during sporting events, in hallways, on airplanes, between classes, and yes, sometimes in elevators. Most librarians realize that they should have an “elevator speech” about their work, but few actually do. The origin of that phrase is simple: When you’re in an elevator with someone, and you’re riding together for a few floors, what can you say to make an impression in that brief time? Ideally, you should have a few well-crafted sentences to share; a practiced way to answer a question such as “So, what’s going on in the library?” or “What do you do at work?” Sure, you can just stumble through an answer, but then you miss out on a teachable moment. If you work in a library, you’re probably not in a high-rise building with lots of non-librarians. In direct conflict with what your parents taught you, I encourage you to talk to strangers—about the goodness of libraries, at least. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Supporting School Librarians through COVID and Beyond As the start of school approaches (or is already here in some states), the Covid-19 crisis rages on, leaving many educators around the country very concerned about health and safety issues regarding if or when they and their students will return to the classroom or library. The reentry plans for many school districts are still in flux due to frequently shifting circumstances and guidelines. The disruptions and numerous uncertainties surrounding the pandemic have made an already challenging era for school librarians and other educators that much tougher. “It’s a real interesting world out there right now,” says John Chrastka, executive director of EveryLibrary, characterizing what advocacy for school librarians facing job cuts has looked like so far this year. “The cuts that we’ve seen coming into the 2020–2021 school year have all been using Covid-19 as an excuse rather than the budget actually falling apart yet,” says Chrastka. Covid-19 response and school reopening hurdles
COVID 19 - School Libraries: Your Planning Guide for Reopening Consider How to Best Deliver Services How you adapt your services will depend on your school’s overall pandemic plan and will likely require that you create plans for a few different stages. Start by reconsidering your instructional space. Can you set up work surfaces and chairs to accommodate social distancing? If you are utilizing your floor space, use taped Xs or carpet squares to show students where to stand or sit and keep them separated. Take a look at your process for getting books in the hands of students. Provide increased access to e-books through a partnership with your public library.Have students create their own shelf markers to use when browsing for books and keep them with their individual belongings. You can also leverage your technology capabilities to bring the outside world into your library while keeping everyone safe. Adjust Your Makerspace Activities Start by taking a look at your tools to see which ones can be disinfected. Inform, Instruct, Model, and Repeat
School Librarian's Role in Reading Toolkit Thirty seconds and 100-150 words An effective elevator pitch generally answers questions such as: What the product, service, or project is. What it does for the buyer, investor, or sponsor (e.g. the benefits). Who you are and why you will be successful. Designed to get a conversation started: Concise Clear Compelling Credible Conceptual Concrete Consistent Customized Conversational Audiences SL Colleagues The bar for 21st-century literacy is set higher for today’s students than for any previous generation. Classroom Teachers and Other Specialists I am your partner in promoting reading and teaching literacy skills. Administrators Like you, I am concerned about our students’ reading proficiency. Parents Being an engaged, proficient reader is critical to your child’s/student’s success in school as well as in life. Resources O'Leary, Chris. 2009. back to main page
Our Library and Makerspace To-Go Marketing Materials & Promotional Plan Every year, as we go back to school, I create a fun new library marketing plan around our resources in the library and online. I use it in the library, throughout the school, online, at the public library and to send home with our students and families. It is the best way to kick off the year and get everyone connected from the very start. This year as we return to learn, I wanted to create a marketing plan that would work in meaningful, fun and exciting ways if we were in person or virtual. It is called The Van Meter Library and Makerspace To-Go! I found a cute little van that I added images in the windows, information and graphics on the body, books and Makerspace supplies on the top and even a flag announcing a Special Delivery From Our Library off the back. I included everything within our library in the Van Meter School Library and Makerspace To-Go such as a link to our library website, our Destiny Discover, DESTINYFLIX, Our Virtual Makerspace, our Symbaloo and my contact information.