Forum Newsletter - Massachusetts School Library Association

President's Column

5/23/2023

MSLA President Jen Varney is the Librarian at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School in Cambridge, MA

Wow. What a year, huh?

As I realize that there are only 6 more weeks (!) of my presidency, it’s easy to think of all the things that didn’t get accomplished. I thought I might go on a listening tour, start a mentorship program, work on some DEI initiatives. Instead, about 6 weeks into my term, I was called into a 4-hr long Saturday afternoon Zoom meeting with the ALA Intellectual Freedom office. In that meeting, state chapter representatives were warned of a new and intense wave of book challenges and ‘adverse legislation.’ And after that, Intellectual Freedom became the defining theme of my 2 years in office.

Column: From the Vault

5/23/2023

Reba Tierney is the Library Teacher at Waltham High School in Waltham, MA

This will be my last issue as co-editor of The Forum. In honor of both my first ever Forum issue as editor, and our incoming President, Ms. Barb Fecteau, I'm happy to bring back this column from October 2017. Barb had been awarded a Super Librarian Award, and the topic of her column for the Forum was Musings on Banned Books...Or, how to engage your critical stakeholders. I was a little hesitant to feature yet another article on banned or challenged books, but the confluence of it being my first issue as editor, of Barb being the author of this article as we prepare for her presidency, and the fact that Barb's article is really about so much more than Banned Books (trust me, it's worth the read/reread) and I couldn't resist. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I've loved my time on the Forum, and as I pass the baton to the wonderful Michelle Fontaine, I know the future of the Forum is in good hands. Luke Steere will continue on as co-editor, and I look forward to reading future issues!

Column: New Librarian Q & A

5/23/2023

Magenta Jasinski is the Library Assistant at Fenway High School and a MA/MLIS Candidate at Simmons University.

1. What's your name, title and school?

Magenta Jasinski, Library Assistant at Fenway High School and MA/MLIS Candidate at Simmons University.

2. How did you come to librarianship?

I came to librarianship at the ripe old age of 16, when I started working at a page at the Pauline Haass Public Library in Sussex, Wisconsin. It was an upgrade from the previous job I had, and I fell in love with the field when we did a group "page tour" around the library. I got to talk to all of the full-time librarians about what they do and why they like doing it. I connected with the youth services librarian, who I referenced in my personal statement to get into grad school. From then on, I've been working, volunteering, or interning in libraries of all types— in a church, a toy library, schools, public libraries, and more.

3. How would you explain the importance of your role to a nonlibrarian?

My role as a library assistant in a high school is to support the librarian. I do all of the things she doesn't have time for, like shelving books, making sure the printer is working, making sure kids are leaving when the library is closing, preparing materials as requested, and any other tasks laying around. If it wasn’t for this position, the librarian wouldn't have time to do the more important things like co-teaching, research help, and more.

4. What are you working on right now?

I'm working on a lot of MLIS stuff, like a thesis paper for my Fundamentals of School Library Teaching class, as well as long-term projects. These include developing a camp library for Camp Lightbulb, where I'll be working in July; I'm also doing a diversity audit for my school library. Further out, I'm working on creating a Student Interest Group (SIG) for MSLA and Salem State and Simmons for students to connect with each other, as well as brainstorming ideas for my capstone project.

5. What is going well?

I've found that I really enjoy getting to know students and having an informal relationship with them, as well as making the librarian's life easier. Since my second job is a graduate assistant for the Simmons Center for Community Engagement, I've done programming with my high schoolers outside of their school building, which was exciting. This position has been my first in a school setting, so I've been enjoying learning everything I can as I apply for full-time jobs.

6. What is the most challenging thing so far?

The most challenging thing has been behavior enforcement. I want students to see me as a resource they can come to or just someone to chat with, as I'm not THAT much older than them. However, when they're making out in the shadowy corners of the library and I have to close the space, I hate having to break them up. The awkward conversations and “please quiet down” reminders aren't my favorite.

7. What's the most unexpected thing about your new job?

The most unexpected thing was the connection I've forged with the librarian. Bonnie McBride (Ms. McB, as students call her) is one of the best people I could be working with in this capacity, and she's been a great resource. I didn't think that we would mesh on a personal and a professional level, and it's been fantastic to have her as a job reference and role model to look up to (even though she's shorter than me!).

8. What are you reading or watching?

I've been trying to read the queer books that have been donated to the Camp Lightbulb Library, so my most recent titles have been Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (read her coming out article here: I loved it so much), I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman, and She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan. I can't just read one book! I've been watching Cowboy Bebop and Twin Peaks: The Return while I do homework.

9. What do you hope the MA School Library Association can do for you?

I hope the MSLA can help me further my professional development and help me start off strong in the profession with networking. I've been a member since February, which is only about two months, but I've gotten so much out of the group already. I've gotten many donations for my camp library from the Listerv, I've connected with a lot of people at this past conference in March, I've been able to send articles to those who request them, and I feel like I have a good group of people I can go to for advice and support. Like I mentioned, I'd love for MSLA to help me start the SIG, so I hope that happens!

Elementary Column: Peep Show: Live Streaming Baby Chicks in the Library

5/23/2023

Courtney Ahearn is the librarian at the Annie L. Sargent Elementary School in North Andover, MA

Like many Americans during the height of the pandemic, my husband and I decided to try our hand at raising chickens. Over the last three years our flock has grown (due to a phenomenon known as “chicken math”) and we now have over thirty feathered friends in our backyard. We have developed a reputation in our school district as being “chicken people”. My husband, a high school science teacher, has hatched chickens in his classroom over the past two years with great success.

Tech Column: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education

5/23/2023

Kendall Boninti is the Instructional Technology Specialist at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School in Cambridge, MA

In my last tech column, “Copyright for Creators,” we explored the ethical and legal implications around student use of copyrighted material and broke down the ways in which educators can help students understand the role of copyright and fair use to support innovation. Since then, the discussion around Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and copyright has exploded. I particularly enjoyed the recently published NY Times article “Who Owns a Song Created by A.I.?”

A.I. is everywhere! And there are so many layers to the A.I conversation. Too many to discuss in this short tech column, so today we’re keeping it simple and focusing on the practical ways that A.I. can be used to teach and learn.

Picture Book Column: Exploring the element of color

5/23/2023

Francesca Mellin is the Head Librarian at The Pike School in Andover, MA

This is Fran's last column (until she moonlights for us as a guest columnist!). We are so thankful that Fran has given so much of her time and talent to make the Picture Book Column such a wonderful addition to the Forum.

It feels like the recent— and highly anticipated— explosion of spring color is more intense than usual this year. The many hues of green bursting on tree branches and the striking contrast of pink dogwood blossoms against a deep blue sky awaken our senses. I’ve found myself more highly attuned to the role of color while going about my library routines: selecting books for Poetry Month displays, choosing a read-aloud, or getting lost in the wonder of unpacking new books. Let’s reflect on how color is used to enhance storytelling.

Graphic Novels Column: Medium Matters: Comics and Social Justice

5/23/2023

Liza Halley is the Library Teacher at Plympton Elementary School in Waltham, MA

I want to focus on the convergence of comics and social justice, and for the majority of this article, I will be stepping outside the typical classroom. I am interested in how reading graphic novels on a particular topic can help shape our ideas about society and justice. How does bringing comics to particular spaces, like refugee camps and prisons, create a more just world? How can comics give voice to those often overlooked and underrepresented?

Academic Column: Principals as advocates for school librarians

5/23/2023

Deeth Ellis is the Head Librarian at Boston Latin School in Boston, MA, and a Doctoral Student, School of Library Science, Simmons University

“Voices of Decision Makers,” the qualitative portion of Project S.L.I.D.E. and the final phase of a three-year national study funded by the Institute of Museum & Library Services will be published this summer. Lead researchers Deb Kachel and Keith Curry Lance will provide an analysis of the data from 50 interviews conducted with school and district leaders in 39 states on their decision making processes related to the staffing of school libraries (Steere & Ellis, 2023).

Secondary Column: Notes from the Middle: Exploring the delicate nature of middle school collection development

5/23/2023

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

Middle school is a complex time for students, developmentally, socially, academically, you name it. As a middle school librarian, it can feel like walking a tightrope to balance students’ interests and needs while curating a quality collection. And there is no one model for middle schools, even a tiny sample of MSLA librarians revealed six different school grade ranges, the most common being K-to-8, 5-to-8, and 6-to-8. While none of us have all the answers, there is comfort in knowing we all feel the unique challenges of this level.

The Massachusetts School Library Association works to ensure every school has a school library program that is fully integrated at all grade levels across the curriculum and has a significant and measurable impact on student achievement….Read more…..and Learn more about MSLA

Contact MSLA:
Emily Kristofek, Office Manager/Event Planner
P.O. Box 336. Wayland, MA 01778
[email protected]
508-276-1697

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