Sneaky Tactics
The exchange goes something like this:
Librarian: “I wanted to let you know about some great resources that I have available for research with your students.”
Teacher: “I just send my kids to (insert well-known search engine here).”
You are here
school library
Making Trivia Masters: Using Trivia to Turn Students into Explorers
A few months ago on Programming Librarian, I talked about asking a trivia question as part of your passive programming. Now, I've taken it a step further to create a Trivia Master Challenge that encourages students to search the library’s catalog, explore our nonfiction section, and learn how to search successfully within a book.
ALA's Sara Jaffarian Award Presents - Empathizing with Teens in Trauma: An Exploration of the Terezin Ghetto/Camp
In this free, 60-minute webinar, we will hear from staff at St. Marys Area Middle School (PA), winner of ALA's 2022 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming, as they discuss their winning program and share tips for school library professionals interested in developing a similar program.
Cultivating Community Outside of Class: A Look at School and Academic Libraries
Community engagement is a key component to the work of all library types. In fact, knowledge of the community is one of the 9 Core Library Programming Competencies as identified by NILPPA (the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment).
Recycle a Ton in 2021!
Recycle a Ton in 2021! is Benton Middle School Tiger Library's successful community service recycling program.
The ability to pull off any type of community service project this year, during COVID, was a feat. To do it at a new middle school, on a new campus, with a new staff and students who had never stepped foot on this campus before this year, was unbelievable. This put the library as the center point, the gathering place, the hangout and the place with the answers. Fostering collaboration of our faculty and community is essential to the life of an exemplary library program.
Apply Now: Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award
School librarians are invited to apply for a $5,000 award recognizing outstanding humanities programming in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Virtual Book Clubs for School Libraries
In our 2019 blog post "Reel ‘Em In! Get Secondary Students Hooked on Self-Selected Titles," we shared how classroom book clubs were taking off and how the culture of reading we were developing within our school.
Junior Ambassadors Program
In 2015, the United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with the intent that these goals be met by 2030. In May 2019, the UN began an SDG Book Club for young people. The UN encourages young people to read the books that they hope “will inspire the children to help make the world a better place for everyone.”
Not Just for STEM Class: Makerspace Programming & English Language Arts
As librarians, we are passionate advocates for makerspace programming. We share with teachers and students how makerspaces engage and develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Our school library has supported many makerspace programming events, from Makerspace Monday to our monthly Makerspace challenge.
ALA’s Sara Jaffarian Award Presents - Tales of the Crypt: Danville’s Living History Night
Tales of the Crypt: Living History Night brings back to life “gone and forgotten” persons of historical importance in their community and state. Through the cultural and historical preservation of an old cemetery, and by learning about the people interred there, students gather data and transform the information into a historical reenactment for an eventful night. Learn more about Tales of the Crypt.
So Many Books, So Little Time
As library professionals, we feel compelled to stay abreast of new publications, award-winning titles and the latest installment in a beloved series. But the reality is that keeping up with so much reading can be overwhelming.
Here are some tips to help library professionals find ways to conquer their ever-growing stack of books to read.
Literary Games
Books and games — a winning combination. With minimal cost and prep time, you can create literary challenges that are not only fun, but that reinforce kids' perceptions of themselves as readers. Here are four easy-to-plan, easy-to-implement, low-cost ideas.
Eight Nifty Summer Programming Ideas to Fight Summer Slide
Summer is nearly upon us. It’s the season where life slows down, vacations happen, students joyfully turn off their early morning alarms and teachers can catch their breath for a few moments. It is also a time when students are less likely to read.
Bookmark Design Contests
Ranganathan’s Sixth Law of Library Science: Every reader his/her bookmark. I kid, but we do all know that there are two types of people in the world: those who use bookmarks ... and monsters.
Is Your Online Reputation College- and Career-Ready?
Digital footprint, digital dossier, online reputation, digital reputation … insert your term here: _________. Whatever you choose to call it, teaching high school students how to manage their online reputation is more about teaching them to share thoughtfully and less about telling them not to post.
Reading Rocks: Programming to Create Lifelong Readers
As students get busier, both in and out of school, how can we promote a lifelong love for reading? Here are a three program ideas to help promote literacy throughout your school.
Everybody Has a Story: Creating Cultural and Historic Preservation Programs with Impact
Everybody has a story. Each person is unique in their background and what they bring to the world. Culture and history are part of this uniqueness. While schools teach about endangered species and our effects on the environment, we don’t always look at other endangered aspects of our world. Students enjoy learning about the people who are invested in cultural and historic preservation, because everybody has a story and these stories are making a difference.
Video Game Club
Video Game Club (VGC) is a club that meets biweekly in the library, with 60 members who show up at various times. We let the students pick the games they play, as long as they are pre-approved by myself or the other librarian.
APPLY NOW: 2017 ALA Sara Jaffarian Award
School libraries are invited to apply for a $5,000 award recognizing outstanding humanities programming in kindergarten through eighth grade, the ALA Public Programs Office announced.
The Post-Election Library
It’s been a hard week for many Americans, as Tuesday’s election amplified divisions within communities and flamed feelings of isolation, anger and fear among much of the population. As the dust settles, libraries across the country are coming up with ways, large and small, to make all people feel safe and welcome, regardless of who they are or which candidates they supported. Here are some of those ways.
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