Collection development is a science and an art that certified school librarians are specifically trained for. In addition to the preparation provided during graduate courses, school librarians continue to learn about collection development via conference sessions, webinars, journal articles, professional… Read More ›
diversity
Speed Dating with Books: The Power of Creative Nonfiction
This year I was thrilled to be back in person for our yearly 11th-grade Speed Dating with Books event. Though last year’s digital version was successful, it could not compare to the energy of a live activity. Amid the chaos… Read More ›
Book Challenges, Part 2: A Resource Handbook
They Keep Going, and Going, and Going… Last month, I wrote about the rising number of book challenges facing libraries across the country. I offered a few tools to help school librarians prepare. Since then, the number of challenges has… Read More ›
Nonfiction November: Titles to Motivate High School Students
When the leaves begin to turn and the air becomes cooler here in the Northeast, I find myself turning more to nonfiction. With #NonfictionNovember a popular hashtag on social media, maybe I’m not the only one who craves reality-based stories… Read More ›
Inspiring Students to Change Their Communities through Social Justice Biography Project
In 2019, I attended my first AASL National Conference. I attended a session titled “Truth, Justice, and the School Library Way: Integrating the AASL and Social Justice Standards for the Win!” In this session, the presenters identified the relationship between… Read More ›
Concurrent Session at #AASL21: Radical Inclusion in Every School Library
At #AASL21 in Salt Lake City I was honored to get to watch Meg Allison present “Radical Inclusion in Every School Library” in person. When I say we are better together, colleagues and friends like Meg are why I know… Read More ›
Librarians, Let’s Confer about Who We Are
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 ›
Concurrent Session @ #AASL21: Core Values in School Librarianship
There are many wonderful learning opportunities at an AASL national conference, but the true magic is the concurrent sessions. Practicing school librarians and researchers are the experts in our community and having opportunities to learn from the leaders in our… Read More ›
I Am ReadWokeButler
“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 ›
Novels to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
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 ›