Embedded Files
Library Media Updates
Greetings!
Greetings!
I hope the start to the fall season is treating you well! Always, please reach out if you have any questions or need help with anything. james.allen@education.ky.gov or Let's book a time to chat.
Please check out the updates below!
Professional Learning
Professional Learning
Wow! I've been to a few, but I think this was my favorite national conference ever. The energy was great! The speakers were epic. And I took away things from every session I attended.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our shared notes! Google Doc for us to share our favorite takeaways. Shortened version: readwhatyouwant.com/AASL25.
Standards Update
Standards Update
It's already been 6 years since we published Kentucky's first set of library media standards, and it is time to reflect and make revisions.
This is a link to a form for public comment/feedback on our current Kentucky Academic Standards for Library Media. This form is for you, and anyone who would like to share their thoughts on our first set of standards. These remarks will guide our work in revising the standards. We need your feedback!!
This link is a call for applications to be on our Kentucky Academic Standards for Library Media review team. We will work to have a representative group. If you are interested in this work, please apply!
KAST 2026 Spring Conf.
KAST 2026 Spring Conf.
Please submit your sessions for the KAST (formerly KYSTE) Spring Conference! Here is the proposal link.
Our school librarian network always has some of the best and most popular sessions. The deadline is Friday , November 14.
Mentorship (new folks, sign up!)
Mentorship (new folks, sign up!)
I'm going to keep this open a bit longer... Are you new(ish) to school librarianship? Would you like a partner to bounce ideas off of? Have you been doing this school librarian thing for a while, like to learn, and share? This is for you too! I will match you up!
I'm looking forward to trying some new things this year with our mentor/mentee group. Again, new folks, sign up. The lift is very minimal. I also need experienced folks to throw their name in.
Mentor/mentee Signup Form (it will ask you to sign in so I can collect your email address)
School Library Readiness
School Library Readiness
Please help me identify key metrics you'd like to see in statewide data for Kentucky public school libraries. My goal is to recreate the system we use for collecting "digital readiness." Your CIO completes this annually and provides data on staffing, instructional devices, and other relevant information.
We utilize a data dashboard to facilitate the discovery of context and connections between data points. A connected goal is to have a Library Readiness Dashboard that you can access to see averaged (anonymous) information about our Kentucky school libraries. It's going to be AWESOME! Here is the form again. (It will ask you to be logged in to the Google.)
Important items from the previous update...
Important items from the previous update...
TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks
The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) is now providing statewide access to TeachingBooks, a website of resources that brings reading to life for all readers. With more than 372,000 resources for over 97,000 children’s and teen books, this literacy service empowers patrons to learn more about their favorite books and authors while supporting staff initiatives, including program planning and collection management.
If you haven't checked it out yet... Jump on there and start exploring. Here are some cool things I found:
Our 2025-2026 KBA books! - KBA Book Resources
Author profile – Jerry Craft
Collection analysis – this looks interesting
Titles with poetry multi-leveled lessons
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
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