Author Archives

Hello, I am the Library Director at The Webb School of Bell Buckle. I use my past experience in college and university libraries to help my current students in school libraries transition into college, career, and life. I am currently the lead Senior Class Adviser for the Capstone Project. I also served at the state level with the Tennessee Association of School Librarians executive board from 2009-2013 and was the TASL president in 2012. I am certified as a Library Information Specialist for PreK-12th grade, have a BS in Communications with a concentration in Advertising and Public Relations, a BS in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Education and Information Systems and a Masters in Library and Information Science.
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April is also National Poetry Month
Could you recommend a SHORT book? As a librarian for tweens and teens, I am always on the quest for extraordinary, shorter novels to offer my patrons. Unfortunately, books now compete with schoolwork, video games, and social media. One of… Read More ›
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Inspiring Intellectual Freedom without adding fuel to the book ban fire
“But I know it when I see it.” This phrase is famous and is a quote by United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart. Stewart gave an opinion on an obscenity case in the 1964 Jacobellis v. Ohio. In the… Read More ›
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Collaboration Definition 1 or 2
When a word means something very different Some words in the English language have two very different meanings—for instance, the word compromise. One person may use the word by its first definition to reach an agreement or meeting in the… Read More ›
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Beyond This Crisis: The Near Future of Our Work in School Libraries
The Recent Past and The Near Future When we say “beyond this crisis,” some may ask which one? We are entering the third year of a global pandemic. The pandemic isolation and current political environment have further exacerbated polarization. And… Read More ›
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Different Information Worlds
More Than a “Filter Bubble” In a two-part post in December of 2020, I discussed polarization and information literacy. Not a month after writing these posts, I watched the events of January 6, 2021, unfold on the big screen in… Read More ›
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Library Zones
Spaces, Zones, and Students Our school is experiencing incredible growth in the wake of the pandemic. We are happy to welcome our new students! However, we need a plan to adjust for the additional student traffic. So the search begins… Read More ›
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Nonfiction for Personal Growth in the High School Library
Reading Nonfiction Coming from a corporate background, I enjoy business-related nonfiction. This past summer, my selections included several recommendations from KQ bloggers. I started the summer with a recommendation by Kelly Hincks, Backable: The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People… Read More ›
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Authors Discuss the Crisis in Afghanistan
As the United States withdraws from Afghanistan, many American children and adults do not know what to do to support the Afghan people caught in the turmoil. Throughout the pandemic, we have turned to both literature and research to guide… Read More ›
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Summer Planning – Assessing the School Library (continued)
Assessing the School Library Collection and the Catalog As we gear up for whatever the 2021-2022 school year has in store for us, now may be a good time to evaluate a few areas before the semester begins. This summer,… Read More ›
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Summer Planning – Assessing the School Library Facility
Yes, Rest and Reboot, but Plan! By the time summer rolls around each year, many of us are exhausted and in need of rest and a reboot. Every other book or article I have read so far this break cover… Read More ›