The season for spring cleaning is upon us. Our school library collections are no exception, we need to clear out and clean up each year to make way for the new. Below are 5 weeding and collection cleaning tips that… Read More ›
collection development
Books Matter
On February 1, I attended the webinar hosted by AASL Partner organization, ADL Education, titled “Books Matter: Using Children’s Literature to Invite Conversations about Identity, Bias and Social Justice.” Attending this webinar, emphasized to me that during this time, when… Read More ›
Speed Dating with Nonfiction Books
Every year I collaborate with the 11th-grade English teachers on a nonfiction independent reading project. The goal is to increase student agency and create excitement about literature. While many juniors initially express an aversion to reading, they often show an… Read More ›
Engaging Nonfiction Titles for High School Students
Summer is a reading marathon for me. Each year, as I prepare to go back to my high school library, I take stock of titles I’ve read that might engage my students. I’m not always successful at motivating resistant teenage… Read More ›
More True Crime Books for Teens
Back in 2019, I shared some recommendations for True Crime Books for Teens. Since then, the true crime genre has only continued to expand. We ALL watched Tiger King on Netflix during quarantine, and the onslaught of new true crime… Read More ›
Fighting Anti-Semitism and Anti-Asian Hate Through Books
May is Jewish American Heritage and Asian American & Pacific Islander Month. Both these cultures contain vibrant histories. Unfortunately, something else they have in common lately is an increase in hate crimes against them. It’s more important than ever to read… Read More ›
Promoting Young Adult Books Through March Madness
Tournament Time Every year I eagerly await March Madness. Lifting me out of the mid-winter slump, the NCAA basketball tournament excites me with its college colors, team logos, energetic players, and unpredictable outcomes. Similarly, the March Book Madness tournament I… Read More ›
Why Collection Development is Important in the Mar/Apr 2022 Issue
When the opportunity to share about collection development came up, we both understood the urgency, timeliness, and impact of this multifaceted topic. We hope this issue will challenge you with new ideas and engage you with opportunities to view the… Read More ›
Inspiring Intellectual Freedom without adding fuel to the book ban fire
“But I know it when I see it.” This phrase is famous and is a quote by United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart. Stewart gave an opinion on an obscenity case in the 1964 Jacobellis v. Ohio. In the… Read More ›
Perking Up Your Poetry
In the spirit of the most romantic month of the year, I put together a list of some contemporary poetry collections to perk up your poetry sections this February. In the last two years my high school students have been… Read More ›