Genrefication Reflections: 5+ things I’ve learned in 3 years

Genrefication Reflections: 5+ things I've learned in 3 years : Since genrefying my fiction collection a few years ago, I've learned a few things. Here, I share those lessons with you.

  Back in early 2019, I reorganized the fiction section of my library, categorizing books into genres and labeling them with colored stickers to help students find them.  You can read more about the exact process I used back here, and I’ll include more genrefication resources at the end of the post.  Since that time, … Read more

COVID Library Update Part 2: Bringing Books to My Students

COVID Library Update Part 2: Bringing Books to My Students // Since access to our library space is limited this year, I've found creative ways to continue to get books into the hands (and devices) of students.

This is a multiple post series.  In Part 1, I gave an overview of what my school has been doing during COVID and how my library’s physical space has adapted.  In this post, I’ll be sharing about programs I’ve done to encourage reading, plus collaborations with teachers.  For Part 3, I’ll share how we’ve adapted … Read more

COVID Library Update Part 1: Adapting the Space & Collection

COVID library update part 1: Adapting the Space & Collection - Finding ways to make the library space work and get work done on our library collection.

  To say it’s been an interesting school year so far would be an understatement.  This has definitely been the most challenging year of my career.  I consider myself lucky to be working at a school that has the resources and leadership to keep us safe.  I know that many, many schools have been left … Read more

15+ Ways to Celebrate Banned Books Week Virtually

15+ Ways to Celebrate Banned Books Week Virtually

Banned Books Week is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about censorship and the right to read.  There’s tons of great banned books activities and displays out there, but many of them work best in-person.  Since the pandemic has most schools meeting either virtually or in a hybrid model, students likely won’t be able to … Read more

How to Dream Big with a Library Space Analysis

How to Dream Big with a Library Space Analysis: Sometimes it can be hard to step back and take a look at the big picture. By creating a library space analysis, you can start dreaming big about the potential your space has. Plus, you'll create some great visuals that you can share with your admin.

How to Dream Big With a Library Space Analysis It may seem like an odd time to be reimagining your library space.  You might currently have limited access or might not be allowed on campus.  If you are having in-person learning, your library might not look like it normally does.  To help manage social distancing, … Read more

20+ Back-to-School Resources for Librarians

20+ Back-to-school resources for librarians // Here's a curated list of posts and other resources to help you get ready for a new school year.

It’s back-to-school season!  Some schools have been back for several weeks while others are gearing up to go back. But no matter when you start back up, your mind is likely buzzing with the possibilities of a fresh school year.  The beginning of the year is a great time to try something new, whether it’s … Read more

How to Create Conversation Zones to Support Learning Styles

How to Create Conversation Zones to Support Learning Styles : Our libraries support a variety of learning styles and activity. By creating conversation zones, we can better support the learning needs of ALL our students.

At Stewart, we had a pretty loud library.  There were robots racing through the stacks, the rustle of tubs of LEGOs being dug into, and the chatter of excited students talking about their favorite books and collaborating on projects.  At my current school, the previous culture of the library had been one where a whisper … Read more

3 Myths About Libraries, Makerspaces And Books

3 Myths About Libraries, Makerspaces and Books : The are many misunderstandings and misconceptions about how school libraries and makerspaces co-exist - this post addresses 3 of the myths surrounding makerspaces, libraries and books.

3 Myths About Libraries, Makerspaces and Books Even though they’ve been around since 2013, school library makerspaces still have a lot of misunderstandings surrounding them.  This confusion can come from administrators, teachers, students and the librarians themselves. Unfortunately, believing these myths can often cause decisions to be made about libraries that are detrimental to the … Read more

6 Tips for Creating Effective Digital Surveys for Schools

6 Tips for Creating Effective Digital Surveys for Schools: You can't make appropriate changes at your school without all the data, and using surveys with your teachers and students is a great way to gather it. It also gives an opportunity for your stakeholders to have a voice in your school

You can’t design a library space and program that meets the needs of your teachers and students if you don’t know what those needs are.  It’s hard to develop an effective library collection if you have no idea what genres and books your students want to read. Using surveys with your teachers and students can … Read more