Earning our paycheck…and break
No matter. It’s still a very tough time of the year to engage students. I frequently tell my colleagues we really earn our paycheck from just a few days during the school year: first day, each day before a long break, and the last few weeks of school. These are the days that really good educators separate themselves from the ones who perhaps made the wrong career choice or need to retire. So how will you fill the remaining days of the school year?

Again I say, those who can engage their students this time of year clearly are jam up teachers and educators. Which brings me to our summer reading kick off.  

Library Engagement
Unfortunately, we will stop circulating books this year on May 14. With 14 more school days, and all books being due May 21, this will be a challenge for those who are readers and USE the library. Oh, of course, we’ll make exceptions for our regulars. We know who they are–know them by name. Last week, on April 30 we had a drop-in catered breakfast for our top circulating students. These are the kids who check-out all year long and support (and probably drive) our reading programs. We had BoJangles biscuits and fellowship around books that morning from 7:30 – 8:20, the bell to begin first block. Each student selected a free book from a stock of probably 100 we had accumulated this year from Atlantis, a paperback subscription service we use. For those who stressed over their free book decision, I admit I let them take more than one. This is about knowing your students and which are really avid readers. And a reader is always extremely happy when rewarded with free books.

Summer Reading 

Ruta Sepetys signing my book at #TXLA13

Our school also promotes summer reading. Our English department annually sends a letter home for summer break reminding students of their upcoming English course “required reading.” While their lists are still under construction, there is always a mix of popular fictions and classics. There are also nonfiction options for the students who are not fans of fiction. This year’s rising tenth graders are being asked to read Ruta Sepetys‘ book Between Shades of Grey in preparation for her visit in September.  We are delighted, as that is one of the books on our South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee list! Each summer we promote the reading of these books. I have  summer reading kick-off contest in place. I need some ideas for how to engage our readers over the summer. Send them my way if you have some.

Let the Summer Reading Begin
Just in case you’re curious, here’s our summer reading kick-off contest.

2013 DHS Summer Reading Kick-off!

DO Judge a Book by its Cover
2013 Summer Reading Kick-off Contest

• WHO?  Sophomores and Juniors
• WHEN?  May 13-24, 2013
• WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

Summer Prize Pack:

Book of your choice from the DHS summer reading list and a lunch date package valued at $25 (so you and a friend can have lunch and discuss the summer read!)

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

Paycheck:  www.flickr.com/photos/34132573@N00/2696769586
Found on flickrcc.net

Yalsa Top Ten Logo:  http://www.ala.org/yalsa/teenstopten

Ruta Sepetys: Picture from my own Flickr stream (licensed CC)

In my presentation, I started on this PowerPoint, then moved over to one of the winning tools, Projeqt, and finally planned to return to my Powerpoint.  Hindsight, I wish I had just put the remaining slides planned after the “Projeqt” in the actual BWTL projeqt I created.  I was so happy with my projeqt set, I never even went back to my powerpoint slides where how to nominate a site, how to get in touch with me, and the rest of the slides with other information were. Sigh.  I don’t think my audience noticed.  But I was really mad at myself when I realized I hadn’t included that.

Enjoy.

@TXLA Another fabulous conference in the books! Wonderful speakers! Amazing authors! Incredible programs! Awesome librarians! #txla13

That was one of the tweets I read this morning. I arrived home late last night, weary and worn from my two day whirlwind at the Texas Library Association’s Annual Conference. The conference began earlier in the week, but I couldn’t snag the days for the entire conference, so just scheduled myself to attend Friday and Saturday, the last two days. I was an invited guest speaker, giving a breakout session on AASL’s 2012 Best Websites for Teaching and Learning.

Texas, the lone star state & yes. that’s a star made cowboy hats! #TxLA13 by lonestarlibrarian (Flickr)

As you can tell I did not take many photos. I think I walked around more star struck than anything!! When I agreed to come and be a guest speaker, I had no idea the sheer size of this conference! In conferring with my shuttle mates on the way back to the airport Saturday afternoon, I found out that TLA (or TXLA, as some called it) is the largest library conference behind ALA Annual. Yeah, it was definitely LARGE. For general sessions there was a humongous ballroom set up to seat well over 3000, and then another location to serve as an overflow room. WHAT? Yeah, they have to have overflow rooms since everyone attending cannot fit into the general sessions.

Just two days

I didn’t arrive until LATE Thursday evening. I worked Thursday, and then booked it over to Charlotte Douglas to catch my direct flight to Dallas-Fort Worth. Despite the issues surrounding airports with traffic controller layoffs, both of my flights took-off and landed on time. My only travel issue was upon return, when I could not remember where I parked my car. All I could remember was “long term one” and somewhere CLOSE to the entrance. LOL, yes, I walked up and down a few rows in the RAIN looking for my car.  My electronic key’s battery was weak, so I couldn’t just “flash” my lock lights. I had to walk around a good bit in cold and dark all alone. That was a little unnerving.

Speakers

TxLA’s slate of speakers floored me. To discover my friends and rock star librarians (Joyce Valenza, Buffy Hamilton, Shannon Miller, and more) were speaking too put me in such a tizzy! Being a guest speaker too, I was in GREAT company. I must thank Mary Woodard of TXLA for inviting me AGAIN. Buffy had two sessions and Joyce had two.  I attended one of each which I will share here.

The Flipping Librarian 

I went to Joyce Valenza’s session titled “The Flipping Librarian.”  She absolutely flies through her material, and her handout is essentially her libguide on the topic.  Since I already understand the concept of the flipped classroom approach, the biggest take away from this session are some of the tools used.  I can’t wait to create and embed playlists in some of my virtual spaces using MentorMob. It is going on a nomination for AASL’s Best Websites for Teaching and Learning too, cuz I’m going to nominate it. Another I liked from the session was “Digital Libraries to School Libraries,” which lets librarians identify digital content, generate metadata, and ADD it to their OPAC so it can be searched in their system. How cool is that?? Another idea/takeway: Use google hangout to archive discussion/instruction in flipped classroom. Maybe Google hangout should be a BWTL too!

Buffy Hamilton talks about MakerSpaces

How could I do it justice?  As usual her session was very thought provoking.  Her ease with the topic amazed me, and she gave PLENTY of different examples, from small scale to big scale (where libraries have purchased EXPENSIVE 3-d printers to use in a “makerspace.” Her tip for those just beginning the concept: Start small. Here is her slide set. Be sure to use her embedded links.

Shannon Miller

Shannon Miller at the Mackin DInner, April 25, 2013. #TXLA13. Original photo by Cathy Jo Nelson

Shannon’s visit to Fort Worth was sponsored by Mackin, where she was slated to speak at the after hours dinner. I luckily snagged an invite to the Mackin Dinner.  She did a very informal speech using no powerpoint or slide, but rather a simple yarn necklace with 10 notes. She was fabulous. Her speech was about making yourself as librarian indispensable and vital in your school and community. Shannon shared 10 ways to make inroads with your school and community, tips that implemented can go a LONG way to making you indispensable in your school. I tweeted some of them as she spoke, so check out my twitter feed for Friday, April 25, 2013.  Here are a few I was able to tweet:

• Join Twitter; cultivate a PLN
• Model and teach digital citizenship to students, faculty, and community
• Be a collaborator! Work to develop collaborative working relationships in your school community.
• Make inroads with admin; be their friend as well as TL. Develop a relationship.
• Be linked to student learning. Be linked to your standards. TLs have a birds eye view to plugin here!
• Be at every table plug your skills on at every meeting in your building.
• Be inspiring to students, teachers, & community  Be creative; show the power of connected learning.

Friends, old and new

My sweet friends: Carlyn Foote, Buffy Hamilton, and Joyce Valenza. https://twitter.com/technolibrary/status/328232287776935937

Wow that sounds so harsh! My friends are NOT old. They are just experienced. At TXLA I reconnected with Sue Fitzgerald, my librarian friend and predecessor at Dorman High. Sue looks wonderful!! I can’t believe I didn’t get a photo op with her. I think she came to my session too. I spent a good bit of time Friday with Carolyn Foote, who I met for the first time in Atlanta at ISTE 2007 (NECC then.)  The last time I saw her was in San Antonio-ISTE 2009. We copresented with Joyce Valenza at the first Educon in Philadelphis that January. Much of our friendship has been virtual and online, so it was WONDERFUL connecting face to face again. Carolyn presented at TXLA, but it was on Thursday before I arrived. Read about her session (iPads in the library) on her blog.

Nancy Jo, Cathy Jo, and Carolyn-new friends a TXLA. Picture from https://twitter.com/lambertn/status/327963063879864320

I also made a new friend. Nancy Jo Lambert attended the Mackin Dinner event and sat beside me. She was one of the TXLA award winners, being named a 2013 TASL Librarian MVP Award for her most AWESOME library website.  We laughed at the “Jo’s” sitting together! There is so much power in connecting with like-minded school librarians. The networking at conferences like this is SO addictive. At times it is hard to choose between hanging out with your PLN and attending much needed PD through wonderful sessions. And TXLA13 had SO MANY to choose from.

Speaking of sessions…

Want to see the handouts that are available now?  Click here. I’m sure more will be added in the days to come. My own is not listed here yet, though I submitted it. I was told then it would be added after conference. I will be posting my session material on my blog soon.

Authors GALORE!

Okay it is difficult to explain how many authors were at this conference. This picture might do it a little justice though. You can tell from the author signing schedule there was a lot of competition for attention. This is yet another reason I walked around star struck!! Just look at the author signing schedule and activity posted in the Exhibit hall. I usually do not stand in line for author signings, but I decided to pay for and get Ruta Sepetys’s book Out of the Easy because she will be visiting our school in September. Most of the authors also had time in their publishers booth AND in panel sessions throughout the conference. What a treat to actually talk to Ruta Sepetys face to face! I attended several of the panel sessions of authors too.

Three of my TXLA13 photos (collage created at Big Huge labs).

Neil Gaiman – Last General Session

The view from my seat during the closing keynote by author Neil Gaiman. (Photo by Cathy Jo Nelson.)

Listening to Neil Gaiman close the conference was the very best treat. I heard from veteran TXLA attendees that this was the first year they had a really BIG NAME closer. There was speculation as to whether or not folks would stay. I have to say the room was slam full (and remember the general session ballroom looked to hold about 3000 people.) Neil Gaiman definitely made folks stay for the closing and his closing speech was so worth it.

In reflection

Great sessions, visiting authors, book signings, and more. The power of TLA and TASL coming together annually to put together such awesomeness has inspired me. I know SCLA and SCASL have worked together before  Maybe it’s time to revisit that idea. This conference was just awesome. I’ll close with these two tweets, one by a middle school TX librarian, and one from Neil himself that she retweeted.  Sums it up perfectly!! Magical. Yes, Neil, it was.

Screenshot of @TxBookiemonster (Amy Toombs) Twitter feed.

So you’ve decided to blog.  Congratulations!  I have to say I find the experience quite rewarding!  It’s just a great place to be reflective, entertain, to wonder, rant, express joy–to all around show your passion to the world.

The site itself

Posts

The Comments Feature

I’ve tried to pattern myself after Doug Johnson and his handling of vistors who comment on his blog.  He ALWAYS eventually will email a personal note of thanks along with a response or reaction, and post that same sentiment on his blog in his comments.  It’s nice to be acknowledged, and visitors appreciate knowing their thoughts were valued by you as the post author.

I can also use these as I showcase to students what a “book trailer” is–I have a teacher very interested in having her students create book trailers.  Some of these a re directly from the publishers, and then some are fan made.  I tried to select SHORT ones, so I may not have chosen the very best.  After doing this, it has made me want to go ahead and set up (and READ) some of these titles too.

• Shhh, I’m a Quiet Librarian
• Quiet Jobs for Quiet Librarians
• Unquiet vs Quiet Library Jobs

By martins.nunomiguel

Please read the request:

Hello, I have a MLS and my background is in public libraries. However I am considering changing to school libraries. I don’t feel like I’ve really found the best library fit for me-has not been easy. What are the things you enjoy about being a school librarian? What are the things that you don’t like as well? I was especially thinking of private schools since I believe the people would be more respectful. My personality-I’m very much an introvert and looking for someplace quiet/peaceful. I’ve considered getting into cataloging or acquisitions. This might be better for me. I found working with the public can sometimes be difficult. I’ve had experience as a children’s librarian and also reference. If you don’t mind my asking do you have suggestions on things I can do to help me to understand where would be a better fit for me?

By Kamil Porembiński

Now the request kind of took me off guard, and I was processing during a busy lunch!  After reflecting I’m not sure I answered all the questions asked, but did try to paint a picture of what it’s like working in my job as a high school librarian. Hee’s what I said.

In a school library,  you have to be willing to set perimeters (rules, expectations, etc.) and then consistently use them. You have to do this with students and teachers too. Otherwise they will walk all over you.

You have to promote your program, and come up with innovative and interesting ways to get students and teachers using the library. The library is a learning hub as well as a place to explore interests through a variety of mediums (books, papers, magazines, and yes, even computers and Internet )  Meanwhile you’re also teaching with and for classes. You teach a wide variety of topics, but work to include information literacy ( location and access of information, utilization of information, plagiarism, web evaluation, and much more.) You do a lot of curriculum related tasks, lesson planning, and even project design, helping teachers breath life into projects, increase rigor, and make the learning more authentic for students. There is quite a bit of project based learning going on in the school library realm.

 

You also have to push yourself to know about the new technologies, and try to find a way to implement them in a school setting, harnessing them for learning, which where today’s students are at. It’s about staying relevant to the students of today.  So you not only have to be up to sped on current and evolving technologies, but also the pedagogical  practice of teaching.

 

Another part of the job is promoting reading advocacy, and that is what most laypeople think–all we do is get kids reading. It’s an important part of our job, but most definitely not all there is to do. Along with reading advocacy comes the task of creating, managing, and maintaining an up to date, relevant collection. This is probably the hardest and most guilt ridden part of the job, as many schools have severely reduced or in many cases eliminated funding for library collections. Often this is a direct result of those decision makers seeing the Internet as an adequate replacement, when in fact this is far from the truth.  You must continuously provide newer resources, and evaluate those offered, ensuring they are still current, meet the needs of the curriculum, and are diverse in content. There is a very big difference in quantity vs quality in a collection.

There are also basic expectations that vary from school to school that most faculty and staff must take on. Consider morning duty, afternoon, duty, and yes even lunch duty. I have a “”homeroom” of students I am responsible for as well, though at my school we only meet every six weeks or so. All are asked to take leadership of or assist with the sponsorship of clubs and organizations (and this is in addition to the library responsibilities and does not include additional pay.)

 

In my teaching context, and yes the school library position is in the teaching context, I eat right here in the library daily, as I cannot close the library during lunch. We manage with the help of an assistant, but often our lunch is interrupted for service to patrons (students or teachers.) I could close the door and go to a lounge to eat, but I choose to offer uninterrupted service, which is why my lunches are often discarded half eaten, or ignored until very late in the afternoon. I just value the offered service of my program more than my need for a lunch break.

I love what I do and enjoy all of the challenges a school library position brings. The good I can say is that no two days are alike.  But that can sometimes be a bad thing. As far as whether a school position is a good fit for you, I dare not say. I’m skeptical that an introvert can do it well, but it’s hard to judge. You have to be strong for your program and market your skills. You have to let the decision makers know what your strong points are and really bring them to the table for the sake of learning, not only in the library but also for the school as a whole.

 

Sorry if I could not be of more help. I hope I’ve shed some practical light on this role as you contemplate a position. I am going to post this on my blog anonymously, and see if any of my readers can offer insights.

Picture Attributions:

Book.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/22178197@N00/4421317209

Weekly Photo Challenge #18 – Sexism.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/27823668@N04/8443103496

Sometimes great ideas are of the simplest concepts.  This was shared with me recently, and so I asked permission to share it here on my blog.  I am so hoping to do this in my own high school library.  It was created by Jenny Cox, school librarian in the coastal area of our state,  Kensington Elementary School in Georgetown School District.

After bombarding her with questions about it, I decided to with permission use her response directly in my post. Here is the inspiration and “how to” straight from the source:

It is not my idea originally. I saw something similar on Pinterest and tweaked it to look more like a Red Box. The Pinterest post used a rolling cart.  I wasn’t crazy about how it looked so I used a bookshelf.   I had a small shelf in the media center set up with paperback chapter books that 3rd – 5th graders use to swap paperbacks that they personally own, one for one.  I keep what they bring, they keep what they take until they are ready to swap it again.  The old “swap shelf” didn’t really stand out and was used by a handful of students. So when I saw this idea on Pinterest, I thought I would try it. More students are swapping books now because the Read Box is more eye catching and placed right near the circulation desk.  I do require students to show me the paperback they bring in before switching so that I can make sure it is appropriate and not damaged, slightly worn is okay.  Sometimes, I let kids just take a book from the shelf if they don’t have any at home–that gets them started. Then they have one they can bring back for a swap. Once I had a student bring me his Bible and asked to swap it for a book because he didn’t have any paperback at home.  Of course, I gave him a book and gave him his Bible back too!

I used Scholastic dollars to purchase the initial set up “swap books.” I only use paperback chapter books for this.   I even have a few parents who come and swap for their children.  Teachers love it too!  My principal was super excited about it.

I just decorated a three shelf standard book shelf to look like a Red Box with red butcher paper.  I printed some book covers from Google Images, cut them out and taped them to the bottom to resemble Red Box movies.  Then added the caption “Save a dollar, read a book.”

I have had a ton of comments on my Read Box from anyone who comes through the media center! I also post on FB to request paperback books that any of my FB friend’s children might have outgrown or no longer want.

Hope this helps!

Jenny

P.S.  I also have a swap shelf for teachers.  They bring novels and other reading materials that they are finished with and swap them out too.  This is in one of my smaller library rooms where I keep teacher materials.

 

Yes, Jenny, this helps a lot!  You have really set my mind in motion! I too have a free swap area ( a carousel with a sign) in my library. I keep it up for those students who for whatever reason need a book but have “library issues” (like fines, overdues, etc.)  The free swap is a “borrow on the honor system” set of paperbacks, and students can make a donation or borrow (and hopefully return) a title from the rack, no questions asked. We like it, and it helps those who really need a book be able to choose one. We also get donations from one of our high school clubs that do a book drive each year.  Maybe you can contact the local high school and see if they do a book drive or similar project with a club. It could be a source for some free books to add to your collection for this project.  Your answers were very helpful.  I may re-invent our carousel into a “ReadBox.”  

Not only that, I’m thinking THIS is a perfect mini-grant waiting to happen.  I’m on it! Thanks for sharing and graciously responding to my gazillion questions. I am so inspired!

Cross posted over at the SCASL Blog

Picture Attribution:

“ReadBox” by Jenny Cox. LMS, Kennsington Elementary, Georgetown School District.

We hops students will drop by the library to cast finals votes this week.  We will be naming our champion THIS FRIDAY, March 29, 2013.

We are asking students to put their names on their  ballots, as there is a reward for owning votes.  The reward plan has not been completely decided yet, but for sure there will be a drawing based on ballots.  We will celebrate the winners of our March Madness Tournament perhaps the Friday we return from our Spring Break, April 12, 2013.

The conversation began with an innocent question:

If you are in an Intermediate school, 4^th and 5^th grade, do you have an Easy Book section with E on the spine?

Here are the takeaways from this crowd sourced “wonder.”

• I had an E section but it was called Everybody Books.
• We have a E “Everybody” section.  Many of these books are good read-alouds that support standards, especially science and social studies.
• We call them “Everybody” books because they aren’t all that easy to read.  There are several picture books in our “E” section that have lexiles in the upper hundreds. I hate to call them “Easy” because they aren’t all that easy to read.  We call them “Everybody” because if you can’t read the words, you can enjoy the pictures.  Therefore “Everybody” can enjoy those books.
• I use E for Everybody books  – if I were starting new, I would use P for picture. Picture books are NOT easy books – some of them are on 4th, 5th, 6th grade levels!
• Very well stated! I totally agree with what you’ve said and that is how I promote my “E” section – easy is not part of the vocab here. And for what it’s worth, I despise the term “Chapter books”.  Makes me want to scream.  Why teachers use this when sending the kids to the Learning Commons is beyond my imagination.

Found on flickrcc.net

All of these are fantastic support from some great SC voices. As a high school librarian, I want to add my support for these books as well. These books are a GREAT way to introduce a topic in any classroom or content area. They can be the perfect segue from topic to topic or activity to activity in any classroom. These books also tap into the inner creative side for some, and we all know there are plenty of students who do not respond to dry text, but will respond to stories or pictures that make connections, evoke feelings, and allow for the appreciation of literature, dramatic readings, and in its purest form, the appreciation of art. Just think of the possibilities too, as you prepare for Common Core, and providing varied texts and formats of information.

So here we are today naming our Final Four.

The Final Four match up like this:

• Catching Fire vs. Mockingjay
• Legend vs. Hunger Games

I am amazed (and at the same time dismayed) to have an entire series in our final four.  Next year when we plan our March madness, if two books in a series make it to the Sweet Sixteen, the entire series will be a single team. That way we don’t have competitors from a single series like this year’s final four.  It would be very difficult for me to choose a winner.

Related and of interest to this storyline:

• March Madness: Our Elite Eight
• March Madness hits the library!