AASL asked two past National School Library of the Year (NSLY) award recipients and current NSLY committee members to share insights into the application process and tips for AASL members considering applying. Carrie A. Betts (CB) is a school librarian at West Maple Elementary School in Birmingham (MI) and recipient of the 2023 National School Library of the Year award. Mary Woodard (MW) is a retired school librarian from the Mesquite ISD in Mesquite (TX) and recipient of the 2020 National School Library of the Year award.

To apply for the NSLY award, visit National School Library of the Year Award.  The application deadline is January 1, 2025.

AASL would like to thank Follett Content for supporting the NSLY Award.

What would you tell someone considering applying but is on the fence?

MW: While the application process is very detailed, gathering the information needed offers librarians the opportunity to think deeply about their programs and highlight the great things they are doing for their school communities. Discussing the program with other district employees and requesting the required letters of endorsement gives the librarian a new lens with which to view the program.

CB: Start at the beginning by thinking about whether you have an answer for each question in the procedure section of the application. The time invested in the application is not wasted, even if you are not selected as a finalist. When my application was complete, I had a better understanding of the impact our program made in our school community. Our administrators, students, teachers, and parents increased their investment in school libraries as part of the fabric of education and would have done so without the win.

What was your approach to pulling together the portfolio for submission?

CB: I created a Google folder to house all my application items. I completed each application form and uploaded it to the folder. I requested letters of recommendation from parents, administrators, and teachers and uploaded them. I prepared a separate document for each written response required. I collected photographic and video evidence to show the fruit of our program. Then I realized, with three weeks to finish, that submitting a Google folder with all the requirements was not a dynamic presentation of our library program. In a panic, I reviewed other winners’ submissions. I looked at online portfolios and began to figure out how to create one. I decided to use a Google Site to showcase the work because it integrated well with all the items in the folder. Additionally, I had just been asked by our fifth-grade team if I could help the kids build a website to showcase their work. Even if we did not secure a finalist position, I needed to learn this skill in order to teach it to students in two months.

MW: For our application, we curated all the necessary documents in a shared Google folder. We wanted to make it as easy as possible for whoever was evaluating the application to see that we had completed each required component, so each one had its own document that was numbered in alignment with the application areas. The Keystones and Evidence documents were developed in a narrative style with links to all pertinent information, such as curriculum overviews, Destiny collections, social media posts, state requirements, floor plans, school board policies, photos of special events and activities, activity reports, annual reports, weeding plans, collection development plans, databases and online resources, library web presence, newsletters, blogs, etc. Anything you can think of that shows real-life examples of how your program meets the indicators!

How much time should someone expect to set aside to complete the application, and how did you plan for or schedule that time?

MW: We spent about a month working on our application. My recommendation is to just take it one piece at a time, but be sure and request your letters of endorsement at the beginning of the process. Sometimes, it may take busy folks a while to get those back to you. You don’t want to be chasing them down when the deadline is looming.

CB: A person can submit a high-quality application in as little as six weeks. However, I spent a full year thinking and planning. I took my time considering the components needed to apply. THINKING… Did I have support from my administrator? Why did someone else believe this was possible for our program? Are we really doing the things that are expected? While I spent two months mulling over these questions, I finally asked the first two. I did have my administrator’s support. I spoke with the colleague who suggested I apply, and they shared some key observations about our program that inspired me to explore our readiness. The only way to answer my third question was to begin the application. I started with the easy parts. Determine what your questions are. Ask them. Begin answering the questions that are easy for you to address.

As past recipients, but now also committee members on the NSLY committee, what tips would you give after reviewing applications? 

CB: Showcase your impact on the community you serve. Every answer you provide about instruction and collaboration should include examples of projects and lessons that demonstrate those skills. Pictures, videos, and stakeholder comments are excellent pieces of evidence.

MW: As a member of the award committee for the past two years, I would recommend that you align your submission as closely to the application rubric as you can when you are organizing it. That makes it so much easier for the people who are scoring to give you credit for all the pieces. Include as many examples as you can. If you are talking about how your library is scheduled, provide a link to a sample schedule or to the library calendar on your website where teachers can schedule a class. When you are describing the library budget, link to your budget spreadsheet. Mentioning a lesson you taught? Link to a video or the supporting material you created for the lesson. The more actual examples you can provide the better. Lastly, always have someone else proofread your application!

Carrie A. Betts is a school librarian at West Maple Elementary School in Birmingham (MI) and recipient of the 2023 National School Library of the Year award.

 

Mary Woodard is a retired school librarian from the Mesquite ISD in Mesquite (TX) and recipient of the 2020 National School Library of the Year award.