“The library is my safe harbor since I dare not go into the cafeteria alone, a whale surrounded by starving sharks.” — Lisa Fipps, Starfish This month being April, I had a veritable menagerie of subjects swirling about in my… Read More ›
equity
Explore the Experiences of Black School Librarians in the Mar/Apr Issue
Equity, diversity, and inclusion (commonly shortened to EDI) is a term that has become common in our institutional language around race and racism. In schools, EDI most often refers to the demographics of the student and employee body, the need… Read More ›
Assessing Your School Library to Ensure All Students Are Represented
Five Years Ago It seems like many long ages have passed since Lin-Manuel Miranda, accepting the Tony Award for Hamilton’s score, gave an emotional and heartfelt speech (in sonnet form!) that honored his own wife and also gave tribute to… Read More ›
Connecting with Others via StoryCorps
Typically the holidays are a time for connecting with others. With the current pandemic limiting our ability to gather together, StoryCorps is one way people can maintain their connections and create new connections in a new and memorable way. StoryCorps… Read More ›
Everyday Native American Voices
[SPONSORED CONTENT] Movements nationwide are growing in intensity and volume as they demand that marginalized voices be heard and represented in our schools, neighborhoods, workplaces and government. It’s long overdue. What began decades ago as an acknowledgment and acceptance of… Read More ›
Addressing Implicit Bias
I must say that I have learned more about equity, diversity, bias, and inclusivity in the past year than I have during my entire adult education. Lately, students, faculty, and staff have been doing training sessions and reflective practice where… Read More ›
Developing Inclusive Learners & Citizens: A Call to Action
One year ago, our ALA Emerging Leaders group presented our project, “Developing Inclusive Learners and Citizens Activity Guide.” We had no idea at that time that just a year later our country would be in crisis with nation-wide shutdowns due to… 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 ›
It’s Time for a Permanent Change in Reading Habits
If there is any aspect of reading librarians excel at, it’s the curated list. Over the last two weeks – as protests around the country and the world intensify – librarians in New York City shared countless lists on anti-racist… Read More ›
COVID-19 School Librarianship – Part 3
Proceeds from this shirt support independent booksellers [This is the concluding post in a three-part series. Click here for parts one and two.] At first, there was collective exhaustion and the hope that we would return to normal after April… Read More ›