As a part of the first AASL Induction Program cohort, I have been working alongside school librarians from across the country to think, create, share, and grow in leadership. Each month, we examine a different area of leadership, reading about… Read More ›
Advocacy/Leadership
Overdue Thoughts on Lost Book Fees
In elementary school, librarians try very, very hard to start the school year on the right foot with proactive book care lessons. We remind ourselves every September that for some of our kids, this may be the first time they’ve… Read More ›
The Glass Half Full: Focusing on the Positive
Recently, I was able to attend my state library conference, the MAME Conference, for the first time. While there we heard from speakers like Colby Sharp, John Shu, and author Jewels Rhodes Parker. Needless to say, it was two days… Read More ›
Are you an advocate for school libraries? Consider applying for the ALA Policy Corps.
In 2017, I applied to be part of ALA’s inaugural Policy Corps, and honestly, I didn’t think I’d get selected. Although I’d been involved in advocacy locally and had made some fledgling attempts at the state level, I had very… Read More ›
Foreshadow: Reflections of an African American School Librarian
I found a small seemingly private room called the Communications Library on a huge college campus in the Midwest. It was tucked in the right corner of an old historical building where glistening concrete floors smelled of Pine Sol. The… Read More ›
Do people even read anymore?
An administrator recently told me, “We don’t really need a school library. Let’s face it…in 10 years…wait, FIVE years…we won’t need print books anymore. Nobody reads books anymore. They can Google everything they need!” I’m guessing the look on your… Read More ›
Going 1:1 – I wish I would have…
I am a school librarian in the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, KS. We have been fortunate to have access to technology in a variety of ways throughout the building, including the school library. In January, technology access… Read More ›
Your Wish Granted with Library Grants
“By a show of hands, how many of you have visited the Parthenon in Nashville?” I asked a second-grade class one day in the library. Even though my school is 40 miles from the full-scale replica of the original Parthenon… Read More ›
Action Research: Building a Pathway Between Large Research and Local Anecdotes
Action Research: Building a Pathway Between Large Research and Local Anecdotes Over the past year, I have given a lot of serious thought to school library advocacy. I admit my original catalyst was a AASL 2017 National Conference session and… Read More ›
Collaboration: Building Relationships One Person at a Time
Let’s admit it: collaborating with fellow educators can be a rewarding experience. After attending conferences or participating in professional learning communities, we are excited about sharing new titles, the latest tech tools, and/or trends in social emotional teaching and learning…. Read More ›