Author Archives

I am the Library and Media Services Specialist for Charleston County School District in South Carolina. Previously, I was the teacher librarian at Northwoods Middle School in North Charleston, South Carolina. When I'm not working with our district's teacher librarians and advocating for our school libraries, I like to read on the beach, play with my puppies, and try new restaurants with my husband.

• Getting VOCAL

  By Christine James on 06/16/2017 • ( 0 )

  

  The need for advocacy in our school libraries is nothing new. The truth remains that others won’t know our stories if we don’t tell them. So, it’s up to us to share and to share often and share widely. Recently,… Read More ›

• Weeding to Let My Collection Grow

  By Christine James on 05/11/2017 • ( 1 )

  

  It’s May, and in the South, that means we’re gearing up for the end of the school year. While this time of year brings thoughts of summer and a well-deserved break, we all know that the last few weeks of… Read More ›

• Something to Celebrate

  By Christine James on 04/11/2017 • ( 0 )

  

  April is National School Library Month, and that is a great reason to celebrate! But, there’s no reason to wait until almost the end of the school year to have some fun, build community, and promote your library program. “There’s… Read More ›

• Breaking Into New Collaborations with BreakoutEDU

  By Christine James on 03/10/2017 • ( 0 )

  

  It’s true. I’m obsessed. My students are obsessed. My teachers are obsessed. We can’t get enough of BreakoutEDU in the library! We only have one BreakoutEDU box, and we’ve only had it for about a month, but we’re officially hooked…. Read More ›

• Lunch in the Library

  By Christine James on 02/10/2017 • ( 10 )

  

  Lunch in the library? Kids eating at the computers? Students hanging out while I’m teaching? Of course! Thinking back on all the big and small changes I made as the new teacher librarian at my middle school three years ago,… Read More ›

• The Journey to Greater Access

  By Christine James on 01/13/2017 • ( 2 )

  

  Access is definitely a universal priority among teacher librarians. Technology has definitely made meeting patrons’ needs quicker in some ways, but there are many other things that school librarians do to make patrons’ library experiences better. Creating more access for my… Read More ›

• Help Wanted: The Right Clerk for Our Library

  By Christine James on 12/16/2016 • ( 0 )

  

  They say good help is hard to find. I contend that it’s not so much about finding good help as finding the right help in the school library. Whether your school library has paid assistants or volunteers, making sure the… Read More ›

• Embracing the Space Between Fixed and Flex Schedules

  By Christine James on 11/09/2016 • ( 4 )

  

  The collection. The instruction. The collaboration. The program administration. It all comes together with The Schedule. Our jobs as teacher librarians can be much easier or much harder based on how our time and space are used and shared. The… Read More ›

• Voice and Choice: Student Library Advisory Team

  By Christine James on 10/14/2016 • ( 5 )

  

  Giving students voice and choice is one of the leading trends in education these days. While the focus for the movement is usually on traditional classrooms, it presents many benefits for the school library. This is the third year I’ve… Read More ›

• Partnering with Your Principal

  By Christine James on 09/15/2016 • ( 0 )

  

  When you’re a school librarian, there are a few people in your building that you need to ally with immediately. First, befriend the bookkeeper who will make spending your limited budget stress-free. Keep the custodians on your side so they’ll… Read More ›