Katherine Steiger and Reba Tierney are Co-Editors of the MSLA Forum
and librarians at Newton South High School and Waltham High School, respectively.
and librarians at Newton South High School and Waltham High School, respectively.
In these unprecedented times, school librarians are struggling with shifting schedules, developing lessons for in-person, hybrid, and fully remote lessons, and new challenges such as how to sanitize an entire library quickly between classes or how long to quarantine returned books. As a result, many of our scheduled contributors needed to postpone their submissions until a later edition. So this Fall 2020 Forum is a little lighter than usual, but you will still find some valuable articles.
In light of the current situation, MSLA has undertaken some initiatives to provide additional support to members. This includes moving professional development online and coordinating periodic jobalike Zoom calls so members can meet to share successes and brainstorm issues.
In light of the current situation, MSLA has undertaken some initiatives to provide additional support to members. This includes moving professional development online and coordinating periodic jobalike Zoom calls so members can meet to share successes and brainstorm issues.
The first online PD offering was a PLC (professional learning community) that worked through the book Me and White Supremacy over the summer. Nearly three dozen members signed up for this free course which ran from July 5 to August 15. msla-free-online-pd-launches-with-me-and-white-supremacy-book-study-plc.htmlLearn more in an article by Professional Learning Chair Alida Hanson in this issue of the Forum.
The second online PD offering over the summer was a Reopening Plan PLC to support members preparing to reopen their libraries (in-person or virtually). The PLC discussed a range of reopening topics including materials circulation and quarantining books, socially distanced library services, modifying the space, and adapting services to online and hybrid models. Members bounced ideas off of colleagues and all were welcome. This was flexible, informal, and virtual. This was a popular PLC and resulted in the creation of a Reopening Plan Template that was shared with all members in September. Visit the MSLA website to explore the reopening repository and the planning template that was developed and read more about the Reopening Plan PLC in an article by President-Elect Jennifer Varney in this issue of the Forum.
The jobalike Zoom calls began after the pandemic closings in March, continued through the summer, and will go on as long as members remain interested. Learn more about them in an article by Metrowest Area Director Patsy Divver in this issue of the Forum.
The next middle school call will be held Wednesday, October 14th at 7 PM and the next high school call will be held Tuesday, October 20th at 2:30 PM. Watch the MSLA listserv for Zoom links.
The elementary group is looking for a member to take on hosting or for multiple members to sign up to host. If you are interested, please contact Emma Kwon (kwone@weston.org).