If there is one consistency in our ever-changing school library profession, it is the need to tell the world who we are, what we do, and why we’re essential workers. Remote Collaboration Collaboration is always difficult for educators. But this… Read More ›
communication
Staying Connected in Remote Learning
For many of us the feeling of connection in our profession has changed by the new educational world since the pandemic. We aren’t engaging with our students and staff in person, and we don’t have the chance for organic conversations… Read More ›
Communication Is Key
This is the first time in my many years as an educator that I have experienced a major societal event without being with my students. Even in the summer, I had the reassurance that I would see them soon and… Read More ›
Unmasking Your Contributions to Decision-Makers during School Closures
There are definitely times when people need to cover up. However, there are also times when we need to unmask. Over the past two days, I have attended three meetings during which school librarians have shared the essential contributions they… Read More ›
Circles of Concern, Influence, and Control
Everything we do in our work is an opportunity for advocacy, and we should take full advantage of each opportunity. Every email we send, every conversation we have, every resource we curate, and every event we plan all have an… Read More ›
Creative Communication Distribution to Staff
I try to be intentional about the communication the school library sends to building staff. If you send too many emails, there is a strong chance the staff will stop reading. I also have noticed our past print newsletters often… Read More ›
The District Library Newsletter: An Advocacy Tool
As you plan your advocacy efforts for 2019, don’t forget about your district-level administrators. The decisions they make can have a huge impact on your library and on your district’s library program. Even if they’ve always been supportive of libraries,… Read More ›
Connecting with Parents
As a school librarian, my contact with parents is not as frequent as a classroom teacher’s. In the past, parents only heard from me if their child had an overdue book or when it was book fair time. Since starting… Read More ›
Using Newsletters to Advocate
The concept of a newsletter is a simple one. It is not flashy or overly creative, but for the library program it has been transformative. Currently, I send a monthly newsletter, which allows for a quick, effective, and easy way… Read More ›
Weeding to Let My Collection Grow
It’s May, and in the South, that means we’re gearing up for the end of the school year. While this time of year brings thoughts of summer and a well-deserved break, we all know that the last few weeks of… Read More ›