Session 3

1:10 - 1:55

Available sessions are listed below with locations. Scroll down for session descriptions.

Passive Makerspaces for the Busy Librarian
Rm# 2052

Erin Irvine & Michelle Brookover (CCISD)

Getting Started /
What I Learned
(for New librarians)
Rm# 2042

Lilian Spriggs & Regan Davis (Aldine ISD, FBISD)

Digital Citizenship: Connect Responsibly, Communicate Kindly
Rm# 2039

Laura Rahman (PISD)

Creating and Maintaining an Engaging Library Course in Canvas
Rm# 2010

Shanda Fraser (SBISD)

Your Favorite Book Talking Librarians: Collaborating across campuses and disciplines
Rm# 2025

Darci Burroughs &
Erin Logan (CCISD)

Beyond the Hype: Practical AI Applications for Libraries Today
Rm# 2028

Lindsey Brewer-Munoz (HISD)

Session Descriptions and Presenter Bios

Title: Passive Makerspaces for the Busy Librarian (Erin Irvine & Michelle Brookover, CCISD)

Session description: We'll introduce you to a variety of lower-maintenance maker activities that don't require you to be Martha Stewart or a NASA engineer to use with your students. This would be a good first step for those of you just dipping your toes in the makerspace ocean. You will leave with a resource of ideas, tips and tricks that you can use in your program.

Presenter bio: Erin Irvine: A school librarian for 15 years, I've presented at AASL, TLA, TCEA, and Setting the Trend about makerspaces and great reads for middle schoolers. I love connecting students with books and helping them find their passions through makerspaces. Michelle Brookover: I've been a school librarian for 13 years, but this is my first year in the intermediate library. I love the challenges of collection curation, meeting the needs of a variety of readers and learners, and providing inclusive makerspaces that foster creativity and critical thinking. My presentation experiences include TLA, AASL, and Setting the Trend.

Title: Getting Started / What I Learned (Lilian Spriggs,Aldine ISD, and Regan Davis, FBISD)

Session description: Helpful Tips for new librarians on how to get started to make their first years a success.

Presenter bio: Ms. Spriggs: I am the Information Literacy Specialist at Drew Academy in Aldine ISD. This school year is my seventh year in education and my third year in the library. I received my Master’s Degree from Texas Woman’s University and Howard University is my alma mater. I have lived in Texas since 2017. I have served as a librarian for both elementary and middle school. Regan Davis: I am a native to Missouri City and a product of the Fort Bend ISD school system. After graduating from Elkins High School, I attended the University of Mississippi and graduated with a degree in journalism and a degree in business. After returning home to Texas, I realized I had missed my calling and took the steps necessary to get my teaching certificate. I taught journalism at the high school level for two years and fourth grade ELA at Schiff Elementary for seven years. I went back to school at the University of Houston, Clear Lake and earned my Masters in Library Information Science. I then spent 3 years as the Baines librarian. I then got the exciting opportunity to make the move to Thornton and set up a library from scratch. This is now my 6th year at RTMS. My vision is for the library to be a learning commons where students and teachers of all subjects come to explore and discover. Follow me on Twitter @rcdavis0930 or Instagram @rtms_library.

Title: Digital Citizenship: Connect Responsibly, Communicate Kindly (Laura Rahman (PISD)

Session description: In this digital age, media and technology plays a big role in our students’ lives. It can be difficult for our students to understand how to navigate this world responsibly and respectfully. As educators, how can we help our students become good digital citizens? In this session, you will be given multiple examples, ideas, and resources to help you support and guide your students with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a digital world.

Presenter bio: Laura Rahman is the librarian at Southmore Intermediate in Pasadena ISD. She has been in education for 20 years and taught ELAR and ESL at the intermediate level. She has been a librarian for 11 of those years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from the University of Houston and Master of Science in School Library and Information Science from the University of Houston Clear Lake. She is committed to fostering a love of reading in her students and to help them become confident, independent users and producers of information and media.

Title: Creating and Maintaining an Engaging Virtual Library Course in Canvas (Shanda Fraser, SBISD)

Session description: Expand your library's reach! Create a virtual library to increase your library's visibility and accessibility. In this session, you learn how to make a Virtual Library in Canvas LMS. We'll cover how to create a Canvas course, modules to organize your library resources, and a home page using Canva. Bring your computer to explore if time permits.

Presenter bio: Shanda Fraser is the librarian at Memorial Middle School in SBISD. She has worn many hats in her 25+ years in education. She has been a library assistant, a Tech Apps teacher, an elementary librarian, and now a middle school librarian. She loves books featuring diverse characters with quirky personalities and a good plot twist. Her favorite part of being a librarian is connecting students with stories and characters they’ll love!

Title: Your Favorite Book Talking Librarians (Darci Burroughs & Erin Logan, CCISD)

Session description: Darci and Erin will share their approach to sharing as many titles as possible with as many students as possible, even when those classes don't visit the library regularly. Our collaborative effort to spread the love of literature has helped spark connections both on campus and across the district. We'll show you how we do it and generate ideas together.

Presenter bio: Erin spends her days in the wild world of a middle school library. She also loves yoga, books, the outdoors, and heavy music. Darci, librarian at Bayside Intermediate in CCISD, is passionate about her role as an educator who ensures that diverse resources are readily available to all shareholders. You can hear her and her librarian friends talk about YA books on their podcast UnshushedLibrarians! on Google and Apple or at www.unshushedlibrarians.com

Title: Beyond the Hype: Practical AI Applications for Libraries Today (Lindsey Brewer-Munoz, HISD)

Session description: This session cuts through the hype and dives into the concrete ways libraries can use AI today to improve services, engage patrons, and stay ahead of the curve. We'll explore real-world examples of AI in action across various library functions. Leave this session equipped with actionable strategies and real-world examples to start using AI in your library today!

Presenter bio: Lindsey Brewer-Munoz is a Library Coordinator I for Houston ISD. She previously served as a secondary librarian and middle school teacher (English language arts, magnet creative writing, and teen leadership). She received her Masters in Library Science at Sam Houston State University. She enjoys memes, her cats (Sadie and Moira), her dog (Agnes), most things Disney, and traveling. Lindsey is available to answer all of your questions and share her experiences. You can reach her at lindsey.brewermunoz@houstonisd.org.

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