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President's Address

2/27/2018

4 Comments

 
MSLA President Carrie Tucker is the Librarian at East Bridgewater Jr/Sr High School ​
It was February 16, the Friday before vacation, and I had an ambitious to-do list to knock off before embracing nine glorious days of freedom. Freedom to read, freedom to sleep past 5 o’clock, freedom to enjoy my family and catch up with friends.

I was single minded in my drive to get it done. So when my independent study student, Alyssa, asked if I thought teachers should be armed, I did not miss a beat. The very idea of working with students in an armed or militarized environment horrifies me. My response went something like this: “I am against arming teachers. My opinion is one of many, I know, but a society that addresses its problems by adding more guns just saddens me.”

I left it at that and continued working. But since I got home, I have been bothered by the exchange. At the very least, my library science professors would say I conducted a crappy reference interview. Alyssa needed me to ask--
  • Do you think teachers should be armed?
  • Do you feel safe in our school?
  • What do your friends and classmates think?

She, like many of us, needed to process her thoughts in the wake of such violence. She needed the ear of an adult who would listen. She did not get that from me, and this has pricked my conscience all vacation, especially as I watch Parkland students find their voices and begin to actively participate in democracy. 

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Picture Book Column: Celebrating Chinese New Year

2/27/2018

4 Comments

 
Char Sidell retired from her elementary school library in Needham,
but continues to work as a librarian at the Codman Academy Public Charter School in Dorcherster.
Editor’s Note: It is with great sadness we share that Char Sidell passed away suddenly on February 24th. Even in retirement, she continued to contribute to our community with this column. Over the years, she served the MSLA in countless capacities including membership on the Executive Board and Conference Committee. Her definition of retirement also included volunteering three days a week as a librarian at Codman Academy. Please enjoy her final column and comply with Char’s request to share your ideas in the comments below.

I am looking forward to spending this winter break in Penang, Malaysia, where they will be celebrating Chinese New Year, beginning February 16 through March 2. In Malaysia and other countries outside of China, this holiday is also called the Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year. The holiday is based on the lunar calendar and its beginning is different every year, unlike our New Year celebration on January 1, which is based on the Gregorian calendar.    


I have a few favorite picture books that I feel have withstood the test of time and are still relevant today. Many of the picture books on Chinese New Year in this country deal with stories around family preparations, celebrations, red bao envelopes, and the lion/dragon dance, all stories that are comfortable and understandable to the Chinese children of Chinese backgrounds that live here. I have also found some new books that I feel will add to your teaching experience that I would like to share with you. My goal is that each of you will find at least one new picture book to share with your students!


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Change is Good in the Library

2/27/2018

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Andrea Belanger is the Library Director at Hampshire Regional High School in Westhampton
​ and received a 2017 Super Librarian award.

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”
-- Winston Churchill in Commons, 1925

​Winston Churchill must have had libraries in mind when he spoke these words. In recent years, there has been a huge push for librarians to repurpose their libraries and many of us have taken up this challenge. Trends have come and gone throughout the years, and the Internet has been a fantastic resource for librarians to reinvent themselves and their library programs. We have all thought about genrefication, makerspaces, library commons, and cafés. I have decided that only one thing is a must for every library--make everything in a library as easy to change, move, or re-purpose as possible. In other words, 
change often; change really is the only way to improve. 

I have been the library director at Hampshire Regional for ten years. In that time, I have moved the entire collection (approx. 10,000 volumes) four times. Just this past summer, my assistant and I had to pack everything up and move so that the library could be painted and new carpet could be installed to replace the dark paint and tired carpet from the 2004 school renovation. Each time we “change” the library, I take great pride and joy in feeling that I’ve gotten it right, that I’ve responded to students suggestions or new theories, and that now my library is “perfect.” And yet, somehow, I am always wrong. 

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What Do You Mean There’s No Library? Embracing Ultimate Open Concept in a New Building

2/27/2018

5 Comments

 
Colleen Simpson is the Library Media Specialist at Lester J. Gates Middle School in Scituate.

​Within a few months of taking my current position as a middle school library media specialist, the town voted on a new building for us, with project based learning at the core of its design. In discussions with the visionaries in the district and the design firm it was clear: anything I knew about library management would be revolutionized.


New beginnings on the horizon
As with any town project, rumors about the building ran rampant as people were “horrified’ at the idea of no “actual” library, which lead to thinking there would be no librarian. Wherever I heard this, I made sure I clarified my job was secure, but I also regularly found myself half-heartedly projecting confidence about the future. Sure, I was aware of the design and had conversations with the architect and project management team, but that was in the early stages.  What I saw on my walk-through last spring was still a shock to the system and no one could offer me a model for inspiration.

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Ask a Library Legend

2/27/2018

1 Comment

 
Valerie Diggs is the Librarian at Lowell Catholic High School, an Adjunct Professor at Salem State University,
and a former President of MSLA
How important is a yearly report? What sort of things would you put in it besides circulation stats, collection development and classroom visits? It seems like the sort of thing that I ought to have, but I need to motivate myself!

Ahh, the quintessential annual report! The document most dreaded in May/June when we know we should be creating and delivering this to our principals and other administrators or boards. It doesn’t have to be this way. Think of an annual report as the recording of a year-long journey that both you and the students in your school embarked on in September. Does an annual report garner any attention? Is it even read by anyone, you might ask? Well, if it is in Word, with bullet points and some pictures thrown in, you can guarantee that it will most likely be “filed away” with just a cursory glance.
So why bother? An annual report is one of the best advocacy tools you can create. Done right, it should be a chronicle of your school year, and as interactive as possible. Your library program deserves to be noticed. As Deb Kachel so aptly states: “A well-crafted annual report ... can be an effective advocacy tool not just for school administrators, but also as  a vehicle to showcase the unique contributions of the school library program to parents, community members, teachers, and students.” Use the annual report to not only showcase your library program, but also as a self-evaluation tool. Have I accomplished my goals this school year? If not, then why not, and what could I have done better? Share the report widely, include statistics, but more importantly, include students, parents, teachers and other school community members learning, creating and sharing exciting new milestones.

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Why Not to Become a School Librarian

2/27/2018

1 Comment

 
Allegra D'Ambruoso is the Library and Technology Director at Boston Arts Academy
and is a recipient of a 2017 MSLA President's Award.

Being a librarian is a thankless job; being a school librarian is even worse.

Reason 1: Early Mornings.

The school day starts anywhere from 7am until 9am; but of course, teachers (including you!) have to be there before classes start. This means that if your school starts at 8am, you should probably be there by 7:30 or 7:45 at the latest, or else students will be lined up outside your library door, impatiently waiting for you to show up and let them in. These kids will be the kids who need to print an assignment for their class that starts at 8 (“Well, Miss, you see, what happened was...”); or who simply must tell you about their newest break-up; or who want to get your advice on what color they should dye their hair next. These kids are often the most needy kids; you’ll often realize that they need snacks, breakfast, juice, gloves, and a hug. They’re some of the best kids to get to know. They’ll be willing to help you shelve books, talk about new books to order, and always know when you need a compliment to cheer you up (“Miss, did you cut your hair? It’s cuuuuuute!”).  Accept that you are one of the reasons they come to school; that you might be the most understanding adult that they know; and realize that you are going to cry when they graduate.

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Tech Column: New Partnerships in the Library

2/27/2018

2 Comments

 
Margaret Kane Schoen is a Library Teacher at Newton South High School.

Earlier this year, our library team was approached by some teachers with a typical request: students were beginning a new project, and would need to do some research in the library and possibly get some help producing a product to show their learning. But what made this an unusual project for us was the subject teachers who had come to us: the Physical Education department was trying a new idea, project based learning. PBL was new for them, and working with the PE staff was new for us.

The project centered on functional exercise: design a workout program to support a specific goal, such as rehabbing an injured muscle, or developing skills needed for a sport like increasing flexibility or core strength. Students worked in groups to choose their goal and then came down to the library to begin their project.


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National Honor Society Tutoring in the Auburn HS Library

2/27/2018

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Bethany Dunton is the Librarian at Auburn High School
and received a 2017 President's Award.


PictureOne on one tutoring in the AHS Library

I am the librarian and National Honor Society (NHS) co-adviser at Auburn High School (AHS). As co-adviser to the NHS students for the past 10 years, I have received many requests for tutoring support. For years, tutoring was only considered to be an after school thing, which often conflicted with the availability of the NHS students. Usually the NHS students are the ones who are overbooked with activities, sports, and work, so, in reality, tutoring did not happen often. Additionally, it has only been within the past four years or so that AHS offers the daily 30 minute directed-study, which is critical to the success of the program.

What started out as my Professional Goal a few years ago has turned into a staple for the AHS students. Four years ago, I asked the NHS members if they would tutor during the directed-study period. This was purely optional, and still is to this day. The NHS students receive volunteer credit, and the students who wanted help would receive the extra support. That first year, we had a total of 75 partnerships. In my eyes, the program was a success from the start, and it has just grown from there. This school year, during the first trimester, we had 42 tutoring partnerships. (AHS is on a trimester schedule, so I track student usage of tutoring services by trimester.) The program is growing!



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Elementary Column: Cooking up a Literary Lunch

2/27/2018

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Wendy Garland is the Librarian at Avery Elementary School, in Dedham, MA,
​and received a 2017 Super Librarian Award
Recipe for a Lunch Bunch 
(Wherein I change the culture of the library, gain support from my principal and read a book or two)


Below follows my recipe for Lunch Bunch. It is a basic, easily sustainable program that does not break any new ground. What it does do is reflect the changing culture of our library and the growing support for our program. Lunch Bunch continues to be the most highly-attended library program and children vie for “their turn” for a literary lunch.

Lunch Bunch
Ingredients:
1 theme
2 read alouds
30 minute lunch
20ish students
Pinch of laughter
Splash of relaxation
Handful of Principal support
Well-stocked bins of condiments and silverware

Optional (but a great help):
Student helpers that stock the condiments & silverware
Wipes for cleaning surfaces (donated by parents)
Vacuum for under-the-table messes

Prep time: 5-10 minutes for book selection
Active time: 30 minutes
​
Serves up to 25

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What's new in school libraries in 2018? The AASL National School Library Standards.  Read all about it!

2/27/2018

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Chris Swerling  is the School Library Media Coordinator K-12 for Newton Public Schools. She is the recipient of the 2017 MSLA Peggy Hallisey Lifetime Achievement  Award. 
In November 2017, I attended the 18th American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. As conferences always are, it was exhausting as well as exhilarating! From pre-conference workshops to general and individual sessions, the conference buzzed with talk about the new AASL National School Library Standards.  Attending a pre-conference afternoon workshop, I anxiously (but enthusiastically!) delved into them. As I unpacked the standards with school librarians from all over the country, I repeatedly heard “Here’s how I teach that” and “This is what it looks like in action in my school library.” I emerged from the workshop – and the conference – with respect for the common beliefs upon which the standards are grounded and can be applied equally to all schools, all levels. The shared foundations are concrete and tangible in defining how students, school librarians, and the school library program should think, create, share, and grow. I tip my hat in admiration to the AASL Standards and Guidelines Editorial Board – and for everyone who had a voice in shaping our profession’s new standards. They build on the past and point us to the new horizon – and beyond. ​

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Academic Column: What's Next? Educational Futurism and the School Library

2/27/2018

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Dr. Robin Cicchetti is the Librarian at Concord-Carlisle Regional High School.

School librarians are already among the busiest people in the school. Teaching classes, prepping lessons, providing reader’s advisory services for their students and oftentimes faculty, reading review journals, ordering books, supplies and materials, and keeping the library up and running every single day. Many work without library aides and parent volunteers just aren’t the same. It’s a lot.


We have a research-based understanding of what good library programs look like; deep integration into the curriculum, collaborative planning to deliver instruction in inquiry-based learning, information and media literacy skills, technology integration, digital citizenship, fostering a love for reading and reading incentive programs, participation in school leadership activities, and many other aspects of teaching and learning. It’s a lot.


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Youth Mental Health First Aid

2/27/2018

1 Comment

 
Patsy Divver is the School Librarian at Millis Middle/High School.
The Massachusetts Library System offered a workshop on “Youth Mental Health First Aid” this past month. I signed up for it, as a Professional Development opportunity. It was ‘free’ to me as I went through the Mass Library System, www.masslibsystem.org. (If you have not taken advantage of attending their workshops, make that another resolution!) This training was very worthwhile and, in light of the social and emotional concerns with our students, I strongly recommend it. In addition, it provides certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid USA which is valid for three years.

What does this training offer? The course was a full day (9 AM - 5 PM) and offered training on recognizing and assisting young people experiencing ‘mental health’ problems. This overview teaches the way to know the warning signs of such illnesses as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, and possible signs of suicide intent. This is not a program for treating these issues, but an intense training in recognizing those signs and responding until help arrives.

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Secondary Column: Age of the Chromebook

2/27/2018

5 Comments

 
Zoe Keenan is the Library Media Specialist at Frontier Regional School in South Deerfield
One thing they do not teach you in library school is how to adjust your practice to fit the latest technology. It is the age of the Chromebook and I am meeting my match.

Chromebooks allow students to access the internet, explore databases and download eBooks, audiobooks and more. Our school has recently switched to a one-to-one program where every student has a Chromebook to use at school. This has been a wonderful step to teach all students technology skills and provide access to the internet for all of our students. Students can now access numerous learning tools for the classroom and resources without even stepping into the library. You now see my problem, right?

Our students grew up with technology, but that does not mean they use it responsibly or appropriately. Skills on using online tools, web searches and databases are key skills that need to be honed, but with Chromebooks being ever present, it is easy to assume that students already know these skills. Chromebooks can be a wonderful addition in the classroom, but teachers have to remember that this digital generation still needs to teach lessons on technology and research skills.

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STEAM to Go!

2/27/2018

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Emily Remer is the librarian at the Michael E. Smith Middle School in South Hadley, MA. 
MakerSpaces (and Maker Carts) are being implemented by libraries across the nation to support the STEAM and Maker movements and to give students the opportunity to utilize tools, devices, and supplies they might otherwise never get to experience. However, despite the enthusiasm and increase in product availability, not all school libraries can accommodate a MakerSpace – they may not have the extra room, or open periods built into the schedule when students can freely use MakerSpace supplies, or staff to oversee the hundreds of small parts, or budgets large enough to purchase thousands of dollars of products, or ongoing funding to replace lost pieces or used supplies.
​ 

I was intrigued by the concept of MakerSpaces and how they could support STEAM learning when I started hearing about them a few years ago.  I wanted to support STEAM learning through some kind of MakerSpace, but when I considered developing one, I came up with a number of problems that seemed to preclude housing a MakerSpace in my library.  So, I took a page from public libraries that circulate nontraditional items like ukuleles, cake pans, and fishing poles, and created STEAM to Go.  

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To Tweet or Not to Tweet: That Is the Question

2/27/2018

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Emily L. Warner is the Library Director at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham
​and received a 2017 Web Seal of Excellence. 

Today, various social media platforms are powerful tools which are used for many reasons: to connect with others, promote certain messages, and to bring social groups together being just a few. Most teenagers and young people today use social media platforms of all kinds for these reasons, to see what others are doing, and in some unfortunate cases, for negative purposes. Over the last year, Twitter has become even more popular, and often controversial, due to its prominence in our most recent Presidential election and in our current President’s first term in office.


On many levels, Twitter can be a great tool to use for promoting one’s agenda, speaking directly to one’s audience. However, one must be careful when using any social media, as it has the potential to cause trouble. In this article, I will be looking at how I use Twitter to promote my school library, various school-wide activities, and even provide a few messages of motivation! I am able to reach out to a wide and varied audience, especially tweens and young adults, as well as our faculty, staff, parents, and beyond.

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The Mass Literacy Champions Program

2/27/2018

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Patsy Divver is the School Librarian at Millis Middle/High School.

​This past September, I read about a promotion for the “Mass Literacy Champions” grant, and considered applying. Like many other intentions, I “forgot” about exploring it, and didn’t reconnect with the idea until the MassCUE Conference. There, I spoke at length with Julie DeFrancesco, Mass Literacy Director, who both explained the program and encouraged me to apply. 

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