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 ›
This short volume of a post stands between bookends: #AASL21, which just occurred last week, and the upcoming #VAASL conference, which takes place next week. The word “confer” has been around for over five hundred years; its first known use… Read More ›
This is the second post in a series about creating book displays in the school library. There is a true art to creating a successful book display, one in which students will stop and scan the titles, maybe browse a… Read More ›
As I was teaching a research lesson to an AP literature class the other day, a student raised her hand and asked, “Why is this list mostly dead white males?” She had been looking over the chart of author choices… Read More ›
Did you know that each year, AASL has a research award competition that ABC-CLIO sponsors? The winners typically speak face-to-face at the ALA Annual Conference or the bi-annual AASL national conference. Naturally, COVID-19 disrupted conference plans and some of the… Read More ›
“Dang. They’ve got some good books here!” We don’t always eavesdrop on student conversations. But our ears perk up when we hear compliments about our collection here at the Butler Traditional High library in Louisville, Kentucky. And we do a… Read More ›
I applaud the Seuss Foundation for taking a stance on several books that are culturally insensitive. It was brave for the foundation’s leaders to acknowledge that some books penned by our beloved Dr. Seuss perpetuate stereotypes. They are books that… Read More ›
I have always been drawn to Hispanic culture. For my Master’s of Library Science thesis, I wrote a 100-page study examining the portrayal of Hispanic characters in contemporary young adult books. Though I’ve never traveled to Latin America, I keep… Read More ›
This summer has been unique for me. Usually, I jump into professional development opportunities or professional reading, but this summer I have needed a minute. Instead, I have focused on reading for pleasure every day. I have just tried to… Read More ›
As the United States withdraws from Afghanistan, many American children and adults do not know what to do to support the Afghan people caught in the turmoil. Throughout the pandemic, we have turned to both literature and research to guide… Read More ›