Five years ago, I stepped into the role of school librarian at the same school where I had taught for fourteen years. I had been steadily reading blogs, such as Tiffany Whitehead’s Mighty Little Librarian blog, and gathering ideas to… Read More ›
leadership
What Is Leadership?
I don’t think that school librarians take enough credit for what we do. Last month, I heard someone pose the question, “What is leadership?” My answer is that you are probably already engaging in leadership activities. Rather than provide a textbook… Read More ›
“Survey Says…”
Four years ago, I gave my first user survey to students. Still new to my position as librarian/technology integrator, I inherited a traditional library that had fallen out of use, and was desperate to understand what students wanted from their… Read More ›
Advocacy Mindset
Advocacy. It is the job that is not officially part of my job as a high school librarian. It’s a mindset for me. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m “doing” advocacy because it informs so many aspects of my work…. Read More ›
White Privilege Part 1
Recently I heard the song “White Privilege II” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (play it before you read…) and using the lyrics as inspiration I started thinking about this blog post. I’ve heard that silences are action and I’ve been… Read More ›
Keeping Leadership Fresh
Leadership is at the forefront of what we do as school librarians. Almost every single day, we exemplify leadership. And because we are librarians, we have leadership opportunities that few in the school may see. Through the lens of our… Read More ›
Spark Change: Using Digital Skills to Share Your Story
I first met Olivia Van Ledtje a few years ago at a very busy Digital Playground amidst the chaos of ISTE’s annual conference. While I had been a fan of Liv (as she’s known by her audience), I was not… Read More ›
Co(mmunity)-Constructed Library
We Make Our Library Great. Together. I’m the steward of the school library. It’s my job to make the library a place that reflects our learning community, and responds to the community’s needs. Since our population of users is always… Read More ›
Advocacy – Something for Everyone!
I want all school librarians to be advocates for school libraries. It’s not just during budget season, and it’s not just when your job is on the line. That’s too little, too late. It’s not “just one more thing” to… Read More ›
I Earned a Badge Now What? Where to Display Badges and Micro-credentials
I earned a badge! I know how to keep track of my badges, save and organize them. But, where should I display my badges and micro-credentials? Professional development comes in many shapes and forms now. No longer are educators receiving… Read More ›