Author Archives

After 24 years as a classroom English Language Arts teacher, Steve became a school librarian in January 2022. He has earned an M.Ed. (2006) and an Ed.D. (2014) in Educational Administration and Supervision, and completed an M.I. degree in Library and Information Science (2019). He is certified as a teacher, school library media specialist, supervisor, and administrator. He is an old dog constantly learning new tricks!
-
(Re)Building A School Library, Part 1: The Website
Raising My School Library’s Profile During a renovation a couple years back, my middle school’s library closed, and it never reopened. Students and teachers were told they could access the high school library, which is literally on the opposite end… Read More ›
-
Joining the Ranks: My Long Journey to School Librarianship
What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been Friends, it please me to no end to share with you the news that by the time you read this post, I will officially be a practicing School Librarian. It has been a… Read More ›
-
“Auld Lang Syne”: Reflecting at the New Year
“Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?” For almost five decades, I’ve heard at least a few bars of “Auld Lang Syne” every New Year’s Eve. But despite some guesses, I never knew what that title actually… Read More ›
-
Book Challenges, Part 2: A Resource Handbook
They Keep Going, and Going, and Going… Last month, I wrote about the rising number of book challenges facing libraries across the country. I offered a few tools to help school librarians prepare. Since then, the number of challenges has… Read More ›
-
Book Challenges: Coming Soon to a School Near You?
Challenging Times If you or someone you know hasn’t yet had a book challenge, give it time. As you are undoubtedly aware, there is a rising tide of book challenges across the country. Targets include specific titles and particular topics;… Read More ›
-
Education’s Silver Bullet? School Libraries
A Panacea That’s Not Snake Oil I’ve heard school librarians called the super-heroes of education, since they have so many skills to draw on and serve their entire school populace. School libraries are often called the Swiss army knives of… Read More ›
-
We’re #BetterTogether: Sharing What Works
Sharing Online So much of our world, both professionally and personally, has moved online. One benefit of being digital is the “virtuous cycle” of colleagues both near and far sharing ideas. These online shares often receive lots of replies from… Read More ›
-
By Any Other Name – Inclusion and Finding Non-Gendered Terms for Students
What’s in a Name? Calling a rose by another name would not make that rose smell less sweet. But when it comes to talking to students, it’s important to recognize that a lot of common English terminology highlights males, heteronormativity,… Read More ›
-
What If We Were “Just Book Slingers”?
Perceptions versus Reality Okay – WE all know that school librarians are the “Swiss Army knives of education.” (Thanks for that phrase, guest on School Librarians United!) But too many people are confused about the many diverse aspects of being… Read More ›