Chair of the American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee Pat Scales responds to questions about book challenges, summer reading lists, and boundaries for school library parent volunteers.
Give Children a Choice: Advocating Open Access to Materials | Scales on Censorship
By on September 16, 2013 Leave a Comment
TL Cafe Hosts “Back to School Special”
By on September 8, 2013
September is a great time get your network on. On Monday September 9 at 8 pm ET, it’s the very special third annual Back to School Special, featuring an idea share led by Tiffany Whitehead (Mighty Little Librarian), Jennifer LaGarde (Library Girl), and the daring Gwyneth Jones. Visit the TLCafé homepage for instructions on how to join the event using Blackboard Collaborate.
I’m a librarian: that’s my j-o-b
By on August 29, 2013
We don’t read all day. Our hair’s not in a bun. We don’t all wear glasses. Don’t always says shush. We do love books. We’re the bosses at the Internet. We do provide the freedom to escape the room you’re sitting in. . . We’re on a quest to teach you how to find the [...]
School Library Research Summarized (and newly updated)
By on August 11, 2013
(Note: I just realized that I created a draft of this post a few weeks back, but forgot to publish. Forgive me!) Deb Kachel, my colleague at the Mansfield SL&IT, just shared her latest revision of School Library Research Summarized. The revised booklet updates the work of Deb’s grad students in her Spring 2011 Advocacy [...]
Your back-to-school letter
By on August 3, 2013
In response to LM_NET queries, Doug Johnson published a BFTP (blast from the past) post today on Your Library’s Back-to-School Letter. Doug encourages us to use the start of school as an opportunity for connection and advocacy, inspiring us to design an initial communication that conveys the energy and contributions of our library programs in [...]
Working together is working smarter [Infographic]
By on July 26, 2013
Based on a report recently released by the National Center for Literacy Education (NCLE), Working Together is Working Smarter, visually demonstrates the role of school librarians as highly involved leaders playing a critical role in their schools through consistent and sustained collaboration with other educators. The infographic reveals our dedicated, voluntary leadership in the delivery of [...]
Libraries Changed My Life | A Platform for Patron Advocates
By on July 8, 2013 2 Comments
Ingrid Abrams, children’s and teen librarian at Brooklyn Public Library in NYC and Natalie V. Binder, a systems librarian at the Jefferson County R.J. Bailar Public Library in Monticello, FL, teamed up virtually to create Libraries Changed My Life (LCML), a patron-driven Tumblr initiative, in direct response to Michael Rosenblum’s article “What’s a Library?”, which was published in the Huffington Post this past May.
Celebrating another meaningful declaration
By on July 4, 2013
It’s the 4th of July and I am delighted to share another important declaration. Our new ALA President, friend, former school librarian, and Syracuse iSchool professor, Barbara Stripling declares that libraries are essential to a democratic society. She shares: My presidential initiative, entitled Libraries Change Lives, will focus on increasing public understanding of the value of libraries, [...]
ALA, It’s Time to Step Up for School Libraries | Editorial
By on June 4, 2013 9 Comments
What if ALA leadership fought for school librarians like it fought for access to ebooks?
Rally for NYC Public Libraries; Christopher Awards Gala
By on May 24, 2013 Leave a Comment
NYC Councilmembers and other library supporters gathered on the steps of City Hall to protest proposed cuts to library funding. Warren St. John and Jo S. Kittinger were both presented with Christopher Awards on May 23.
What Are You Afraid Of? We Can’t Afford to Hesitate | Project Advocacy
By on May 14, 2013 Leave a Comment
Educators “must be fearless in advocating for our students’ needs,” says Carolyn Foote. In this debut of her SLJ column, “Project Advocacy,” Foote provides school librarians and media specialists with a “seed kit” of inspiration for stepping out and building a professional network and leveraging the autonomy of your library program.
Mo Willems Exhibit; Kidlit Book Awards; Gaming in the Classroom | News Bites
By on May 9, 2013 1 Comment
Celebrate 10 years of Mo Willems’s Pigeon with a visit to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA, which will be hosting an exhibit on the award-winning author/illustrator. Winners for the Jane Addams, Golden Kite, and IRA awards have been announced. Attend a one-day workshop focused on integrating games into the K–12 classroom. These stories and more, in this week’s News Bites.
The Cost of Cuts: When we lose librarians, it’s the kids who suffer most | Editorial
By on March 7, 2013 6 Comments
The Pennsylvania study joins a growing body of research that proves the efficacy of librarians in our schools, but the findings of this study alone should take the decision to cut a librarian off the table.
Latest Study: A full-time school librarian makes a critical difference in boosting student achievement
By on March 7, 2013 7 Comments
An important new study of Pennsylvania’s schools shows that students in schools with full-time librarians score substantially higher on reading and writing tests than their counterparts in schools that lack librarians.
Making the Principal Connection
By on January 31, 2013 Leave a Comment
Mark Ray asserts that principals and librarians have a lot more in common than you might think—and he should know. After 20 years as a teacher librarian, the 2012 Washington Teacher of the Year has become a district IT administrator. From his new perch, he shares insights into the the pivotal alliance possible between two key solo players in the school: librarian and principal.
WLMA: The library should be the heart of the school
By on January 12, 2013
The wonderful teacher librarians of the Washington Library Media Association (WLMA) recently released the five-minute video, Teacher Librarians at the Heart of Student Learning. The video, partially funded by Mackin, is designed to present school libraries and teacher librarians as a vital resource for student learning and to highlight the essential role teacher librarians play [...]
A Call for ‘Blended Funding’: Schools must pool money to support Common Core
By on December 10, 2012
How will schools pay for new CC resources, including digital? One approach is to look for existing funds within your school and district that can be redirected so that your library can purchase CC resources for the classroom. But that requires that libraries market their expertise in resource selection and collection development so that your value is obvious to others, says Christopher Harris.
SLJ Summit 2012: Of Leadership and ‘Blended-Learning Baristas’
By on October 27, 2012 2 Comments
“I love the library, and I firmly believe in it,” says Mark Ray, a former teacher librarian and Washington’s 2011 Teacher of the Year. “But what I also think is that we can redefine perceptions on the part of administrators and decision makers by not necessarily wearing the library on our sleeves.”
SLJ Summit 2012: Full-Time School Librarians Boost Student Test Scores in Reading, Writing, Says PA Report
By on October 25, 2012 14 Comments
Access to a full-time school librarian increases test scores, closes the achievement gap, and improves writing skills, according to a new study of Pennsylvania public schools announced at the start of SLJ’s Leadership Summit.
DC Parents Demand School Librarians Be Restored
By on October 15, 2012 1 Comment
Parents in Washington, DC, are taking to the streets, advocating for more funding for their school libraries and librarians. The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization (CHPSPO) has spent the past seven months pushing for Washington, DC, to open its coffers to school libraries to replenish shelves, upgrade library spaces and hire more librarians for K–12 students.
