When I came to my school library in 2018, it was a dump. And I don’t mean that metaphorically. I mean that literally. Once a gorgeous centerpiece of a school built in the 1930s, the library had become a desolate… Read More ›
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
LEAD OUT LOUD: Access Defended in the May/June 2022 Issue of Knowledge Quest
School librarians and information professionals unconditionally endorse the power of voice. We personify speaking up, advocating, and sharing our truths. Ensuring our communities are seen and represented is our mission. We are teaching and learning through our school libraries… Read More ›
Choose Your Own (Professional) Adventure
The AASL Member Engagement Committee is excited to invite members to join the association’s new Communities of Practice! “Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to… Read More ›
5 Picture Book Lesson Ideas for Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month. It is a time to learn about the bold and brave women who made a difference in America. Women make history every day. For far too long, women did not show up in history books…. Read More ›
Putting Your Graphic Novels On Vacation Is Censorship
A trend has developed among school librarians which we need to question and firmly eradicate. It is the trend of putting the graphic novel section or popular series on “vacation” to eliminate student choice. The books targeted have a graphic… Read More ›
On Being a Disabled School Librarian
When we study to be school librarians, we learn the importance of accessibility. I, like the majority of you, took courses on serving students with disabilities. But there’s an assumption that goes into the course design that made every one… Read More ›
Picture Books and Primary Sources: Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress by Alicia D. Williams and April Harrison
I first heard about Shirley Chisholm several years ago when visiting the National Portrait Gallery. A series of portraits of her around her 1972 presidential run opened my eyes to a piece of the past I had been unaware of…. Read More ›
Student-Centered Collection Development
I recently received a $200,000 grant from the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Library Services to expand our collection. The BUILD Opening Day Grant was created to spark the initiation of library programs in New York City…. Read More ›
Beyond This Crisis: The Near Future of Our Work in School Libraries
The Recent Past and The Near Future When we say “beyond this crisis,” some may ask which one? We are entering the third year of a global pandemic. The pandemic isolation and current political environment have further exacerbated polarization. And… Read More ›
Keep Calm and Carry On: Creating Quiet, Cozy Spaces in Active Libraries
“The world is quiet here.” ― Lemony Snicket Thankfully, school libraries in which librarians are constantly shushing their students are more or less a thing of the past. In fact, your humble author is definitely a “no shh” school librarian. School… Read More ›