Author Archives
I am a School Library Coordinator for the New York City Department of Education's Department of Library Services. I plan and deliver workshops, provide on-site instructional and program support to school librarians, coordinate programs, administer grants, and am program coordinator for MyLibraryNYC, a program administered with our three public library systems.
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Genrify your Catalog, not your Collection!
I still recall with a shudder the second school library I worked at in NYC: a small, cramped space that needed to be weeded, a large circulation desk taking up valuable real estate in a 500 square-foot room, and worst… Read More ›
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Upgrading Library Collections: Selecting books students want to read
A big part of my job as a School Library Coordinator in New York City is to support schools in revitalizing neglected library spaces. And, more often than not, the biggest task is to update the library collection. Untouched for… Read More ›
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Summer Reading Decisions
How do you decide what to buy, watch, or read? How do you choose what to eat or where to travel? Do you rely on crowdsourced reviews on popular sites, or the streaming algorithm? Do you use specific reviews and… Read More ›
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Digitally Fluent in New York City
What does it mean for our learners to be digitally fluent? I think we’ve got a good definition here in New York City: “Being digitally fluent means our students have the knowledge, strategies, and competencies (inquiry, critical thinking, and problem… Read More ›
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Let the Instruction Begin
If the last few years have taught us anything, it is this: media literacy needs to be a core subject of student learning. Everyone is Online The pandemic shifted millions of students online for learning, entertainment, and social interactions for… Read More ›
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When detecting threats becomes the threat
I thought being a responsible democratic citizen meant being informed about what was going on. But I never thought about how informed the everyday citizen should be without feeling depressed and anxious. I realize that’s a discussion we rarely have… Read More ›
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What Does Intellectual Freedom Mean for Collection Development
Recently, a fellow blogger from NYC, Ashley Hawkins, penned an excellent post about a disturbing trend of school librarians putting graphic novels on “vacation.” Ashley labeled such actions censorship. I agree. And if recent headlines are any indication, this trend… Read More ›
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Forming Words: How Librarians Help Students Learn How to Read
My five-year-old son loves books. As a school librarian, I would be upset if he didn’t. But he may well grow into an adult who doesn’t love to read. It would sadden me if this were to happen, but let’s… Read More ›
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Turning Obstacles into Action (After Pausing to Acknowledge Things Suck)
No, this will not be a post where I offer only tips and strategies for having a positive outlook and taking action. I think the issue with too many advice videos, articles, books, talks, etc., is they jump over difficult… Read More ›
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The Next Step in Media Literacy: Decoding
I think school librarians agree media literacy is a foundational skill for students. Given the exponential growth of digital media, the pandemic-induced increase in screen time, and the less-than-benign motives behind a lot of online content, media literacy is having… Read More ›