In my school, we use a hybrid schedule in the library. This means that all lessons taught in first through third grade are done in collaboration with the homeroom teacher. The goal is to teach the library and… Read More ›
Makerspaces/Learning Commons
Stress Management Month: Ways to Promote This April
The month of April is national stress management awareness month. High stakes standardized testing begins this month, graduation and prom are on the horizon. Not to mention just the everyday stresses of life at any grade level that you serve…. 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 ›
Reaching Beyond English: Collaboration with Teachers in All Content Areas
This November, when an art class walked into the library with their teacher, the students didn’t seem incredulous that they were there. Rather, there was curiosity brewing on their faces: how in the world would the library connect with what… Read More ›
Library Zones
Spaces, Zones, and Students Our school is experiencing incredible growth in the wake of the pandemic. We are happy to welcome our new students! However, we need a plan to adjust for the additional student traffic. So the search begins… Read More ›
The 2020 & 2021 AASL Research Grants Session
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 ›
Summer Planning – Assessing the School Library Facility
Yes, Rest and Reboot, but Plan! By the time summer rolls around each year, many of us are exhausted and in need of rest and a reboot. Every other book or article I have read so far this break cover… Read More ›
Consulting the Library’s Crystal Ball: Planning Ahead for the Coming Fall
If we’ve learned anything from the past year, it’s that the poet Robert Burns was right: the best-laid plans often DO go awry. We’ve all had to pivot quite a bit, think on our feet, and be extraordinarily flexible. Although… Read More ›
7 Library Changes I Hope Remain Post Pandemic
Not Our First Pandemic Working at a school that has been around for 150 years means that this is not our first pandemic. Our school historian and our archivist are closely reading the documents from the 1918 influenza outbreak. We… Read More ›
Chess, The Library, and The Queen’s Gambit
Inspired by Television Several students and faculty members are abuzz about a new Netflix series, The Queen’s Gambit. The series premiered on October 23, 2020. I was a little surprised that students are recommending the show, including some older middle… Read More ›