Tag Archives: School Librarian

Communication, School Media Specialist

An exciting award for K-8 school librarians!

 

K-8 school librarians are invited to apply now for a $5,000 ALA award recognizing outstanding humanities programming. See below for details, and email ALA’s Public Programs Office with any questions – publicprograms@ala.org. Thanks!

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School libraries are invited to apply for a $5,000 award recognizing outstanding humanities programming in kindergarten through eighth grade, the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office announced.

Nominations for the 2017 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming will be accepted until May 5, 2017. Applications, award guidelines and a list of previous winners are available at: www.ala.org/jaffarian. Continue reading An exciting award for K-8 school librarians! →

General, School Media Specialist

Back-to-school programming from across the country

NCPD packs school supplies
Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/m9zdxj9, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Can you believe it’s that time again? School is back! With all the planning and preparation that goes into a school year, you may be looking for some additional inspiration for activities.

This article from the School Library Journal features 26 ideas from innovative library folk all over the country, preparing to start the school year off right. The topics featured are Reading, Tech, Passive and Participatory Programming, ELL Environments, and Research Support. See below for a few of the ideas featured in the article:

  • In order to get his students engaged in election season, media specialist Travis Jonker in Michigan will have his students read a children’s book and then vote to elect their favorite character.
  • School Librarian IdaMae Craddock in Virginia wants to take her Makerspace activities to the next step, by allowing her students to figure out ways to create and experiment without use of the kits’ instructions.
  •  To help teens cope with stress and learn different ways to relax, Texas librarian Maggie Knapp will feature activities that are not technology based, like coloring books and puzzles.
  • The reading buddies program started by librarian Alla Umanskaya in New York gives ELL students an opportunity to develop their English skills while keeping their native language abilities. Middle school and elementary students read together in both English and their families’ native languages.
  • A new program that Oregon School Corps librarian Jacqui Partch helped introduce is aimed at helping middle and high school educators teach their students about digital citizenship, cyberbullying, and password safety.

Even if you don’t incorporate any of the ideas from the article, it’s fun to hear about what is happening in school libraries and media centers around the country!

 

General, School Media Specialist

What to look for when you’re hiring a school librarian

The magic umbrellaWe realize this is the time of year that some districts are hiring media specialists. This might include districts that have been without them for awhile or who are replacing retirees. In her recent “Open Letter to Principals,” Library Girl gives hiring principals a list of things to look for when hiring school librarians. As she says, hiring a school librarian can be more important than hiring a new teacher, “because your school librarian will work with every teacher and every student in your building. Here’s what to do:”

  1. Look for someone who loves children more than books.
  2. Look for the right person as opposed to the right degree.
  3. Look for data and outcomes.
  4. Look for someone who can grow readers, not just reading scores.
  5. Look for a leader (or one in training).
  6. Look for a learner.

Read the whole article now!

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/ozv3aq6, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
General, School Media Specialist

A day in the life of a school librarian

8HIn their recent three part series on school libraries, NorthJersey.com wrote about the High, Middle and Elementary school libraries of Millburn Township. Although in New Jersey, the stories they share are nearly universal across school libraries today.

The first part discusses the work of Millburn High School Librarian LaDawna Harrington. Her work bridges print and digital, but moves beyond the information source. “More than ever we live in a complicated information-inundated world and so students really have to learn to think for themselves,” she said.

Thinking critically about information is important for any life-long learner. “I can’t possibly anticipate what the next technology is going to be,” she continues, “so for me the most important thing is helping students to realize that they need to think critically about the information they’re gathering and looking for, and to provide multiple access points to the collection.”

The second part highlights the work of Millburn Middle School’s Librarian Amy Ipp. Her work prepares them for high school but also continues the love for reading established in elementary school. “One of the things that I really love about the middle school is students are still really interested in the pleasure of reading,” she said, “matching the book with the reader is fun for me.”

Finally, the third part of the series features Glenwood School Librarian Shea Stansfield. Not simply a place to check out picture books, Stansfield works on students’ public speaking skills through research projects. “I have them pick a topic they are interested in and have them choose three things they want to tell the students about, say, skates, bicycles, or LEGOS,” she said, “so when they get into research projects in third, fourth and fifth grade they’re familiar with the process because they’ve done it with something they’re interested in.”

We at CMLE are sure you have your own school library stories to share. Whether they are from your youth or if you are a school librarian living them now, please share them with us in the comments below or email us!

Image credit: http://tinyography.com/, licensed under CC0 1.0