There were inspiring speakers, thought-provoking sessions, and protests at the ALA Annual Conference. Here are highlights, news, and notes from this year's event in Washington, DC.
YA author Amber Smith talks about the constantly twisting road that led her to being out, happy, loved, and incredibly proud of the life she's created.
As much about finding yourself as it is about finding love, this smart, feminist story shows that expectations shouldn't dictate the future.
This is a powerful and painfully honest memoir that looks at surviving while finding your place, your people, and self-acceptance.
A new player emerges in the YA market vowing to publish “unapologetic, authentic, and politically relevant” heavily illustrated and graphic nonfiction; Erin Entrada Kelly joins the list of authors tapped for Netflix adaptations; and more in this edition of News Bites.
This heartfelt story about a nonbinary teen will empower readers. Ben's journey is not always easy, but it is full of love, affirmation, and eventual happiness. This story, this representation, this example is so needed.
The National Book Foundation today announced the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) as the winner of the 2019 Innovations in Reading Prize.
Lou is determined to make this summer the best one ever and she has just the plan to do it. It's not a great plan. It's not even a good one. In fact, it's pretty terrible. Will her scheming bring her closer to her crush or obliterate her most important relationship?
Though this novel is funny and highly readable, the tragic trans narrative makes it one to skip.
This look at the school experiences of LGBTQ youth in schools, the challenges they face, and the support they need should be required reading for anyone who works with students of any age.
The spotlight is on the loss of federal funds to the Special Olympics, but that is only part of the story. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos told Congress "difficult decisions" had to be made when it came to $7.1 billion in cuts to the Department of Education.
As climate change activists continue the history of younger generations standing up and demanding change, they ask educators to support them with comprehensive curriculum and honest discussion.
Author Hal Schrieve writes about the way that queer people and many others are seen as monsters; the threat of breaking violent systems through survival, solidarity, and love; and hir forthcoming novel, Out of Salem, a Teen Zombie Werewolf Witchy Faerie fantasy murder mystery.
Librarians represented at SXSW EDU, as SLJ's School Librarian of the Year honorees, Ali Schilpp, Cassy Lee, and Michelle Carton, presented the session "Going Global with the School Librarian of the Year" in Austin.
The founding members of the group, all librarians, hosted "Reading my World: Diverse Books for Birth to 8."
School librarians in Iowa celebrate, an update in Texas where educators are fighting for raises, and more news in this edition of NewsBites.
This smart and engrossing read full of twists and turns tackles prejudice, privilege, lies, and hatred in a world where everyone seems like a potential spy, liar, or double agent.
Tehlor Kay Meija talks about the power and importance of discovery and of finding yourself in the pages of a book.
Teens Mena and Zena Nasiri started Girls of the Crescent to donate books with female Muslim main characters to local school districts, libraries, and mosques.
John Sullivan, Oge Mora honored by Ezra Jack Keats Awards and more in NewsBites.
The phrase "best friends forever" takes on new meaning for Dino and his former BFF July, who is not-dead, in this really readable, engaging, strange, poignant, and funny journey through a relationship autopsy.
This empowering and inspiring book did the impossible: it made me nostalgic for my own teen years as a young feminist.
Librarian Cicely Lewis, whose new column debuts in SLJ in March, was recognized by YALSA for her Read Woke initiative.
This updated edition is a useful resource that is aimed at queer teens, but those seeking to provide a welcoming, affirming environment for LGBTQ youth will also find this indispensable.
For an upcoming feature article, School Library Journal wants to profile school librarians who are leading the way in technology use at their school or district.
In too many communities, books aren’t available for purchase, borrowing, or rereading. Our focus must be on all kids getting a solid start on literacy, learning, and the joy of reading.
Readers who like really complex relationships will love this book about best friends Sophie and Peter and what happens after Sophie donates a kidney to Peter. Life never really goes as planned, does it?
When Riley's mother goes missing, his only hope is that the Whispers in the woods will help bring her back home. A moving, thoughtful examination of trauma, grief, and the power of imagination.
Greg Howard joins us to talk about his forthcoming middle grade debut, THE WHISPERS, absent mothers, and turning reality into fiction---sort of.
January's LGBTQIA+ new books include sequels, trilogy starts and finales, a Muslim girl with a secret, and a middle grade debut.
Moms for Social Justice has started its 2019 initiative, putting a diverse collection of books into Chattanooga classrooms where school library collections are woefully inadequate.
The #ReadForChange initiative is wrapping up, but the fun isn't over! Check out the new NOVELLY app and enter for a chance to win a great giveaway!
By popular demand, the New York City chapter of Drag Queen Story Hour will start programming for middle and high school students.
The 2018 SLJ Leadership Summit featured two days of panels, workshops, speakers, honest conversations about the industry.
Publisher’s description A heart-expanding novel about four Latinx teens who make New Year’s resolutions for one another—and the whirlwind of a year that follows. Fans of Erika L. Sánchez and Emery Lord will fall for this story of friendship, identity, and the struggle of finding yourself when all you want is to start over. From […]
Publisher’s description This tender story of friendship, music, and ferocious love asks: what will you fight for, if not yourself? You Don’t Know Me But I Know You author Rebecca Barrow’s next book is perfect for fans of Katie Cotugno and Emery Lord. Who cares that the prize for the Sun City Originals contest is fifteen grand? […]
Publisher’s description In 1955, eighteen-year-old Janet Jones keeps the love she shares with her best friend Marie a secret. It’s not easy being gay in Washington, DC, in the age of McCarthyism, but when she discovers a series of books about women falling in love with other women, it awakens something in Janet. As she […]
When I talk about doing a diversity audit, one of the first questions I get asked is how I know whether or not a book is diverse. There is no easy answer that does not involve doing a small amount of research. Though over time, because I tend to deal exclusively with YA, I gain […]
Publisher’s description A fresh, charming rom-com perfect for fans of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Boy Meets Boy about Nathan Bird, who has sworn off happy endings but is sorely tested when his former best friend, Ollie, moves back to town. Nathan Bird doesn’t believe in happy endings. Although he’s the ultimate film buff and an aspiring […]
Famed actor and activist George Takei will kick off School Library Journal’s annual Summit. This year’s theme: Making “good trouble.”
How valuable is a master’s degree in library science? Opinions from the field have fluctuated, along with the fortunes of the profession.
Publisher’s description Tasia Quirk is young, Black, and fabulous. She’s a senior, she’s got great friends, and a supportive and wealthy family. She even plays football as the only girl on her private high school’s team. But when she catches her mamma trying to stuff a mysterious box in the closet, her identity is suddenly […]
Tips on language and presentation to get administrators to listen (and act) when advocating for the library.
A look at the titles, data, a round up of recent related content, and more, as the literary world focuses the spotlight on censorship.
New initiative focuses on equity and social justice.
A frequently challenged book club pick; insisting on the Pledge of Allegiance
A climb up Mount Kilimanjaro and a mission to improve a district's libraries while motivating others to advocate for themselves.
AASL has launched two eagerly anticipated crosswalk documents on the new page of AASL's National School Library Standards Web Portal.
Tone policing happens during conversations or debates when one person, typically of greater privilege, thwarts a speaker's thoughts or opinions by reacting to their emotional tone.
The author of So You Want to Talk About Race spoke with SLJ about what educators, and specifically librarians, can do to better serve students of color and change institutional bias and patterns of systemic racism in U.S. education.
In a recent white paper, Gale, a Cengage company, explored eight best practices on how leading librarians across the country are building relationships with administrators, changing perceptions and sharing their stories to better serve students.
Displays are a place where libraries are not being neutral. What is chosen to highlight or not makes a statement.
Erin Entrada Kelly creates illustration as part of the Raising Our Voices Today advocacy effort.
I am just back from ISTE in Chicago where I shared in some very interesting developments and experiences. 1. Following input and feedback from more than 1300 educators from the US and around the world, ISTE released its new Standards for Education Leaders, formerly known as the ISTE Standards for Administrators. According to the official press release, These […]
New framework connects to ISTE standards and a guide helps librarians work in a collaborative, practical way.
Librarians joined their colleagues across the country at rallies and protests, but as they fight for funding and change in public education, they must continue to battle for respect and understanding of their role in schools.
The news is full of horrific stories of young children being taken away from their families for the sin of wanting to come to a new country to flee the extreme poverty, violence, and whatever else it is that one flees from. There are pictures of babies crying, audio of children wailing and crying out […]
Jakari Singleton was moved to action when he heard his school might lose its long-time teacher-librarian.
Strategies for adaptability, financing, and assessment are key to the movement’s future.
Educators look at coding in a new context, with computational thinking and basic computer literacy as the goal.
From before eliminating positions is proposed to getting those jobs back when they’re gone, Elissa Malespina gives you a plan of attack.
The Washington Library Association (WLA) advocates helped secure a line-item allocation for school library supplies in a school funding bill that is now headed to the governor's office for signature.
In these changing times, librarians must take action to build community, foster equity, and develop a rich and resilient social fabric.
A school district superintendent describes school libraries as "a model of the type of learning space towards which education is evolving."
The comments section enables readers to provide feedback and engage in conversation. In this case, we’ve far exceeded the standard function of comments on a news story.
The White House budget proposal to eliminate federal library funding would adversely impact all children, particularly those in at-risk communities.
A recent conference at the Brooklyn Public Library focused on “Interrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline.”
Four bold strategies to elevate your school library.
Susan Grigsby has embarked on the adventure of a lifetime, leaving the U.S. for a school librarian position in Singapore. Here she shares some prized new finds as she begins to explore a whole new world of children's literature.
Manage the money, amplify student voice, and more tips from SLJ's 2017 Hero of Equitable Access.
When did you last think deeply about why you are a teacher librarian? I challenge you to articulate that. You will be empowered.
It’s one of AASL’s Shared Foundations in the new National Standards. It’s identified as a leadership area on the Future Ready Librarians Framework. But what does it look like when the school librarian really dives into digital curation? A little while back I had the opportunity to create a video on school librarians and social media curation […]
Four tech experts recommend a selection of websites and applications.
Teens, as a culture, are pretty maligned and misunderstood. They’re loud, they’re lazy, they’re disrespectful, they’re dangerous – pick your stereotype. They like to travel in rabid packs, that’s my favorite. I believe lots of adults sit around and visualize teens as actual packs of wolves in their minds. Teens get a bad rap. In […]
As a member of the AASL National Standards Implementation Taskforce, I was honored to take part in the rollout in Phoenix. Whether you were in Phoenix or were #NOTATAASL, you will need to get your arms around the Standards and share them with your colleagues or stakeholders, I’d like to highlight a few of my personal […]
I have worked in public libraries for 24 years now and every few months (weeks? days?) it seems like another think piece or post on social media comes out proclaiming that we should just shut down and stop funding our public libraries because no one even uses them anymore, or everyone just uses the Internet, […]
Move over, John Green. In an event featuring star authors, a group of Oregon high school students stole the show at SLJ's 2017 Summit. Here's video of the teen panel.
Author John Green opened School Library Journal's 2017 Leadership Summit in Nashville, TN, with an emotional keynote. Here's the video.
Tools are on-hand to help children cope and thrive, socially and emotionally, and combat hateful and bullying behavior.
As the new director of library services for New York schools, Melissa Jacobs plans to attract more educators to the library profession, expand maker spaces, and create more opportunities for librarians in public and nonpublic schools to learn from one another.
Ways to help hard-hit libraries recover after Hurricane Harvey and to win literary swag and stand up for reading—and more.
Since 2014, when SLJ conducted its first maker survey, maker activities have increased by four percent at the elementary and middle school levels.
The five individuals cited in this year’s competition for our School Librarian of the Year award illustrate today’s state-of-the-art approach to the work, and point the way forward for anyone who wants to make a positive impact on kids’ lives and learning.
Publisher’s description Calling all Raina Telgemeier fans! The Newbery Honor-winning author of Roller Girl is back with a heartwarming graphic novel about starting middle school, surviving your embarrassing family, and the Renaissance Faire. Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with two parents working at the Renaissance Faire, and she’s eager to begin her own training as a […]
As school leaders, you’ll want to dig into the NMC/CoSN Horizon Report: 2017 K-12 Edition. The annual K12 Horizon Report regularly identifies and profiles six key trends, six significant challenges, and six developments in educational technology likely to impact teaching and learning.
I loved the movie Labyrinth as a little kid. Aside from being fascinated with David Bowie, I liked the main character, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), whose baby brother is stolen by Jareth (Bowie), the Goblin King. The only way to get him back is to defeat a formidable labyrinth, with traps and twists that render it […]
Three recent titles on providing literary instruction to all students, making the best use of children's literature, and taking a leadership role in schools.
2017 School Librarian of the Year Finalist Alisha Wilson’s library “Spark Lab” has all the supplies kids need—including a writing lab for one-on-one help.
An ALA committee has designed a set of professional competencies that emphasizes leadership and growth.
Advocating for equitable tech access and participating in professional learning are among the mandates of the new standards.
As the 2017/2018 school year approaches, it would be good to know about a couple of documents/frameworks that will be influencing the ways we teach with, learn with and support our classroom educator and coach partners. First ISTE’s refresh of its Standards for Educators impacts our practice as educators as well as the practice of our […]
A strategic district media specialist “re-professionalized” school librarian positions in Georgia schools.
Save School Librarians, a project of EveryLibrary, Follet Learning, and state library associations, is an online activist site for librarians, parents, and others.
A public librarian gathered teens, school leaders, and parents for community forum on the controversial adaptation of Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why.
A Texas school district's strategic design plan includes a digital citizenship program to accompany a 1:1 rollout.
Neal, who assumes ALA leadership in June, will bolster support for school libraries, while also prioritizing equity, leadership, advocacy, and partnerships with other organizations.
With the help of Kickstarter and Capstone Publishing, Rhode Island school librarians are producing a video to highlight the critical importance of well-funded and properly staffed public school libraries.
Change in your school administration may derail your library program—but only if you let it.
The Lilead Fellows program is a long-term professional development opportunity for a select group of school district library supervisors.
Strategic positive exposure for school libraries in her district helped this Lilead Fellow gain recognition for teacher librarians.
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