Students Need School Libraries – Is your child's school library all that it can and should be?

State by State Certifications Locating the information for certification related to school libraries in each state is difficult. There are links to the various state departments of education websites, but these sites are not always user friendly. As Perritt states, "In the education field, of which school librarianship is a part, a confluence of terms and practices related to licensure and certification exists" (1998, 195). This handbook has been developed to simplify the process for individuals seeking licensure in school librarianship within the 50 states and to provide information regarding reciprocity. National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement: The NASDTEC Interstate Agreement facilitates the movement of educators among the states and other jurisdictions that are members of NASDTEC and have signed the Agreement. The American Library Association's listing of ALA-accredited Library Media Programs can be found at:

Young Adult In the US and want to get right to shopping, help support the site, and help indie bookstores? Please check out the LGBTQReads Bookshop! These titles are all Fiction. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues An elevator speech a message intended to spur decision makers to action. An elevator speech must be short, specific, and memorable. It is important to have your elevator speech rehearsed and ready because you never know when you'll have an opportunity to use it! Who is the audience for my elevator speech? For school librarians, decision-makers can be school principals, parent organizations, district administrators, elected officials, community partners and more. Celebrating Our Library Culture Culture is an aged word, but one with staying power. And culture describes just about everything: work, school, family, ethnicity, country, fandom, and on and on. People want to know what defines a culture, how to create and promote it, and how to keep it going. Why? Because culture defines and influences our social behavior. It explains us to ourselves and one another.

COVID 19 - School Libraries: Your Planning Guide for Reopening Consider How to Best Deliver Services How you adapt your services will depend on your school’s overall pandemic plan and will likely require that you create plans for a few different stages. Start by reconsidering your instructional space. Can you set up work surfaces and chairs to accommodate social distancing? If you are utilizing your floor space, use taped Xs or carpet squares to show students where to stand or sit and keep them separated. Take a look at your process for getting books in the hands of students.

Supporting School Librarians through COVID and Beyond Pennsylvania State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta speaks at January’s Rally to Save School Librarians in Philadelphia. As the start of school approaches (or is already here in some states), the Covid-19 crisis rages on, leaving many educators around the country very concerned about health and safety issues regarding if or when they and their students will return to the classroom or library. The reentry plans for many school districts are still in flux due to frequently shifting circumstances and guidelines. The disruptions and numerous uncertainties surrounding the pandemic have made an already challenging era for school librarians and other educators that much tougher. “It’s a real interesting world out there right now,” says John Chrastka, executive director of EveryLibrary, characterizing what advocacy for school librarians facing job cuts has looked like so far this year. Covid-19 response and school reopening hurdles

How-To: Not Good With Elevator Speeches? Try 'Taxi Chats' Everybody talks about the work they do. It’s a staple topic of conversation over meals, at meetings, during sporting events, in hallways, on airplanes, between classes, and yes, sometimes in elevators. Most librarians realize that they should have an “elevator speech” about their work, but few actually do. The origin of that phrase is simple: When you’re in an elevator with someone, and you’re riding together for a few floors, what can you say to make an impression in that brief time? Ideally, you should have a few well-crafted sentences to share; a practiced way to answer a question such as “So, what’s going on in the library?” or “What do you do at work?” Tips for reluctant readers We always turn to the experts for reading tips. This time, we turn to a different group of experts: kids who appeared on Book Club for Kids podcasts in 2019. We tallied up their list of favorite books and present them to you as recommended reading from our experts. After all, who knows better what a young reader really wants to read? 2019 Favorites From Book Club for Kids (grouped by genre)

Our Library and Makerspace To-Go Marketing Materials & Promotional Plan Every year, as we go back to school, I create a fun new library marketing plan around our resources in the library and online. I use it in the library, throughout the school, online, at the public library and to send home with our students and families. It is the best way to kick off the year and get everyone connected from the very start. School Librarian's Role in Reading Toolkit Thirty seconds and 100-150 words An effective elevator pitch generally answers questions such as: What the product, service, or project is. What it does for the buyer, investor, or sponsor (e.g. the benefits). Who you are and why you will be successful. Picture Books Read Aloud Videos for Lesson Use I am at our public library right now and it is deserted. Wisconsin was ordered to close their schools this coming week as more and more cases of Covid-19 pile up. The world is upside down.

What is an "elevator speech"? An elevator speech is a clear, brief message or “commercial” about you. It communicates who you are, why you are valuable, and how you can benefit your stakeholders. It’s typically about 30 seconds to 1 minute, the time it takes people to ride from the top to the bottom of a building in an elevator. 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. 10 Steps that Don’t Involve Points, Pizza, or Prizes to Create a School Wide Culture of Reading – Lifetime Literacy Blog I was recently approached by a school that I partner with in consultancy and asked for advice about how I might lead for developing a school culture of independent reading. Let’s start with the elephant in the room. When I talk about a school wide culture of reading, what I’m NOT talking about are reading programs that require students to read leveled books, take computerized tests for points, and get rewarded with pizza, parties, or prizes for the most points earned. This isn’t a practice that I believe in.