It has been a rather long while since I’ve been in this space, since I’ve put pen to paper or fingertips to keyboard. You may be wondering: “Well, where have you been?” Since truly and completely answering such a query… Read More ›
intellectual freedom
School Library Month, ALA Elections, & More!
I love School Library Month! School Library Month is a wonderful opportunity to focus on all the great things going on in my school library and all the school libraries across the nation and CELEBRATE! Including stakeholders in this celebration… Read More ›
Holding Out for a Hero Who Can Bring The Noise
“Welcome to the Jungle” We all know that school librarianship has come into some dark times. Small but vocal national groups are making a lot of noise about titles they have personal objections to. Their playbook includes personal attacks vilifying… Read More ›
A Passion Project to Help Juniors Enjoy Research
It’s that time of year again when juniors are on their way to being academically exhausted. Our Advanced Placement English Language & Composition teachers tackled this fatigue by introducing passion projects to their 11th-grade classes. Allowing students to choose topics… Read More ›
Right To Read Act: Join AASL in Thanking Sponsors
Please join AASL and ALA in thanking Senator Jack Reed and Representative Raúl Grijalva for introducing the Right to Read Act (S. 5064 and H.R. 9056) on 10/6/2022! The ALA/AASL goal is to reach 5000 ‘thank you’ signatures and we… Read More ›
Hallway Conversations as Book Challenge Repellent, Part 1
Laying the Groundwork Ahead of Book Challenges There is a lot of information about book challenges out there. I’m just one of several folks who have written about this in Knowledge Quest previously. Out in the wider world, there are… Read More ›
What Does Intellectual Freedom Mean for Collection Development
Recently, a fellow blogger from NYC, Ashley Hawkins, penned an excellent post about a disturbing trend of school librarians putting graphic novels on “vacation.” Ashley labeled such actions censorship. I agree. And if recent headlines are any indication, this trend… 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 ›
Top Knowledge Quest Blog Posts of 2021
Can you dedicate 10 minutes out of your busy day to learn and grow as a professional? If so, I encourage you to get in the habit of reading the Knowledge Quest blog. Here, you’ll find ideas, resources and opportunities… Read More ›
Beyond This Crisis: The Near Future of Our Work in School Libraries
The Recent Past and The Near Future When we say “beyond this crisis,” some may ask which one? We are entering the third year of a global pandemic. The pandemic isolation and current political environment have further exacerbated polarization. And… Read More ›