Author Archives
-
Top Ten Qualities to Look for in Your Future Library Clerk
by Carrie Marting and Julie Marie Frye Let’s face it: there’s high turnover in support staff positions, even in school libraries. Some of our clerks enter the classrooms, others earn an MLS degree and head into their own school library,… Read More ›
-
The 12 Most Important Things to Do . . . in the First Week of Your New Job
By Carrie Marting and Julie Marie Frye Congrats on your new position! Whether you are just starting in this awesome profession…or starting over in a school that is new to you, you may be wondering: “What now?” And “How do… Read More ›
-
What’s Your Maker Heritage?
I come from a rich maker heritage. Making is in my DNA. My great-grandfather, Monte, was an Indianapolis carpenter during the Great Depression. I never met him, but I own some of his beautiful furniture creations that were designed with… Read More ›
-
Why Teaching Young People about Research Design Matters: A Middle School Student’s Perspective
Many school librarians dread the research design course in library school, and they avoid the research studies that are presented by library scholars at AASL and ALA. But this Guest Teen Blogger, Sophia, shares the importance of school librarians… Read More ›
-
Chris Grabenstein and Effective Collaboration
Thanks to a generous Scholastic offer, I recently observed Chris Grabenstein promoting his 2016 publication of Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics. He reminded me of an effective librarian: he knew how to captivate an audience, he knew how to keep the action… Read More ›
-
The Creation of a Successful, Inquiry-Rich Maker Culture
While makerspace leaders/librarians remain the most important aspect of fostering a successful, inquiry-rich maker culture, what role does the aesthetics play in the space? Construction and architectural firms, such as Haworth, assert that there are ways to literally build a… Read More ›
-
When It’s Not Just About the Money: Reasons Behind Grant Writing
Last week, I was asked the question, “If you aren’t competitive, then why are you a grant writer?” Reason after reason flooded my mind. In fact, so many surfaced that I could barely articulate them in the conversation. And, as… Read More ›
-
They Had Me at Hello: Sharing Transformation and Innovation @ AASL Conference
I’m not sure who had the marvelous idea for this participatory display at the AASL Experience Education Evolution conference in Columbus, Ohio… I saw it as soon as I entered the convention center door. Helllllo! Immediately, I had this sense… Read More ›
-
A Fine Catch: Lobsters @ the Library
THE PLANNING APPROACH When I (jmf) was in a teacher preparation program and in library school, I planned my lessons around the best-of-the-best books. The books were the central feature of my lessons, and this approach helped my knowledge of… Read More ›