Embedded Files
Library Media Updates
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Happiest of the New Years to you all! Here are a few school library updates.
TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks is such a terrific website and it is being provided for free for ALL Kentucky residents by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. There is a good quick overview video at this link. I've played around some and found some interesting resources. Here are just a few that I've found:
Out KBA books! - KBA Book Resources
Author profiles – Jerry Craft
Collection analysis – this looks interesting
Titles with poetry multi-leveled lessons
New KYVL Resource
New KYVL Resource
I'm passing along the following great news from Enid Wholstein at KYVL:
"As of January 1, we have added Britannica School Early Elementary for our pre-second grade learners. Britannica School Early Elementary features:
Encyclopedia built for browsing and exploring
Image-based with very little text - read aloud
Audio and translations
Spanish text and audio by native speakers
Includes citations
Integration with Google Classroom and Clever"
Britannica Early Elementary link (be sure to get your custom district links from Enid).
TLskyChat
TLskyChat
So... still working on a reboot of #KyLChat, but until then... There is this national chat on the Bluesky for school librarians. https://www.tlskychat.com/ Wednesdays at 8:00 PM Eastern on Bluesky.
"#TLSkyChat is a weekly educational chat held on Bluesky. It's organized by Jennifer LaGarde and Heather Turner. We are so glad you are here! Our goals for this chat are to: grow a community of educators to learn from and support, share resources, ideas, triumphs and challenges, make social media fun again!" Check their website for more details: https://www.tlskychat.com/
I put some directions together for creating an account and getting started on Bluesky here. If you are new to “chats,” I have some directions for the chat, too. (just replace #KyLChat with #TLskyChat).
AASL Gathering: Writing for Change
AASL Gathering: Writing for Change
From AASL: "Local decision-makers need to hear why school libraries matter. Join us on January 16 for an #AASLgathering that will focus on spotlighting your school library stories and services by crafting a compelling op-ed. Register here."
I love these meetups. You do not have to be an ALA member to attend.
edcamp Cardigan Camp
edcamp Cardigan Camp
Sign up for this "free, 24-hour, international, virtual event for librarians and people who love libraries. January 25, 2025. Visit Kristina Holzweiss' website to register and for more information.
Librarians Building Libraries
Librarians Building Libraries
"Librarians Launch Nonprofit to Support and Build School Libraries Abroad" Add this live YouTube talk on January 30 at 7:00 PM Central, with Amanda Jones, Tom Bober, and Adrea Trudeau to your calendar. More info on their nonprofit project. Here is a School Library Journal post on the same topic.
AASL - Attend & Present!
AASL - Attend & Present!
I know it seems far off... but go ahead and mark these dates. This is OUR national conference, which only happens once every two years, and this one is driveable for many of us here in Kentucky! October 16-18, 2025
With enough time to plan, strategize, and make arrangements, your district/school may be able to help get you and your colleagues to this awesome professional learning opportunity.
Now is the perfect time to submit a session for AASL25. I believe poster session proposals will open later on.
Important dates:
March 1, 2025 - Concurrent session proposals CLOSE
March 1, 2025 - Research Empowering Practice session proposals CLOSE
March-May, 2025 - Concurrent and Research proposal reviews and final determinations
July 1, 2025 - IdeaLab presentation proposals CLOSE
July 1, 2025 - Poster presentation proposals CLOSE
July-August, 2025 - Ideal and Poster proposal reviews and final determinations
KASL Advocacy Updates
KASL Advocacy Updates
Be sure to check out these updates from the Kentucky Association of School Librarians. Advocacy Updates on 2025 Legislative Session and KY Library Legislative Day.
Staffing Updates
Staffing Updates
I'm keeping this in here... Thank you for any updates you have.
If you are retiring, congratulations! Please let me know so I can edit my statewide directory of school librarians. If you are moving to a new school or district, I'd love that information, too! Send all the updates to james.allen@education.ky.gov
Spring District KASL Meetings
Spring District KASL Meetings
District leaders, please let me know when your spring meetings are, and I will add them to my next update email. These are great events that offer a chance to talk and share with school librarians in your area.
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