Author Archives

Iris Eichenlaub is the Librarian/Technology Integrator at Camden Hills Regional High School in Rockport, Maine. She is the 2017 Knox County Teacher of the Year, and was named an Inspiring Educator in 2017 by the Maine Education Association. Iris serves on the board of the Maine Association of School Libraries as the chair of professional development. Follow the story of the Edna St. Vincent Millay Library via Facebook (@ESVMLibrary or https://www.facebook.com/ESVMLibrary) or Instagram (@ESVM_Library or https://www.instagram.com/esvm_library).
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Take a Deep Breath!
This spring was uncharted territory for everyone. Everything we thought we knew about how to do our complex and multifaceted jobs as educators was called into question. But this isn’t new for us school librarians. Innovation and iteration, thinking critically… Read More ›
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Maine Library Legislative Day 2020
“Libraries Are Good for Maine!” That was our collective message at Maine’s second Library Legislative Day on February 20, 2020. Librarians representing public, school, university, and special libraries turned out in the State House in Augusta for an exceptional day…. Read More ›
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COVID-19 School Librarianship – Part 3
Proceeds from this shirt support independent booksellers [This is the concluding post in a three-part series. Click here for parts one and two.] At first, there was collective exhaustion and the hope that we would return to normal after April… Read More ›
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COVID-19 School Librarianship – Part 2
[This is a three-part series. Read part 1 here.] Sunday March 15 When I left our MASL virtual meet-up, I felt inspired and energized by my professional community. I was still processing the message from our central office that I’d… Read More ›
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COVID-19 School Librarianship – Part 1
[Note: This is the first in a series.] MASL Leads As rumors of school closures and transition to remote learning began to circulate in Maine, my Voxer chat started blowing up with voice and text messages from my fellow MASL… Read More ›
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“Survey Says…”
Four years ago, I gave my first user survey to students. Still new to my position as librarian/technology integrator, I inherited a traditional library that had fallen out of use, and was desperate to understand what students wanted from their… Read More ›
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Advocacy Mindset
Advocacy. It is the job that is not officially part of my job as a high school librarian. It’s a mindset for me. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m “doing” advocacy because it informs so many aspects of my work…. Read More ›
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Co(mmunity)-Constructed Library
We Make Our Library Great. Together. I’m the steward of the school library. It’s my job to make the library a place that reflects our learning community, and responds to the community’s needs. Since our population of users is always… Read More ›
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Advocacy – Something for Everyone!
I want all school librarians to be advocates for school libraries. It’s not just during budget season, and it’s not just when your job is on the line. That’s too little, too late. It’s not “just one more thing” to… Read More ›