Embedded Files
Library Media Updates
Greetings!
Greetings!
I have a few important updates for you! Please reach out if you have any questions or need help with anything. Let's book a time to chat.
UPDATED Beyond Proficiency
UPDATED Beyond Proficiency
It has taken a hot second, but we now have an updated version of Beyond Proficiency. This 2025 version is published on the KDE website.
Beyond Proficiency is our guide for Kentucky school media librarians, school administrators, and SBDM councils on creating and maintaining effective library media programs. This set of guidelines from the Kentucky Department of Education aligns with national library standards and provides a framework for effectively managing a quality school library media program.
Major updates in this version:
Multiple documents have been combined into one, including the library program rubric.
Language that explains what a school library is and should be, and core beliefs, from our Kentucky Academic Standards for Library media are also in this document.
Updated budget allocation recommendation.
Links to additional school library evaluation resources.
School library connections to our 2024-2030 Kentucky Education Technology System (KETS) Master Plan
TeachingBooks Webinar
TeachingBooks Webinar
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.
WEBINAR: Learn All about TeachingBooks
WHEN: February 25 at 2 pm ET / 1 CT
Oh, and yes, we will be recording 😊
Enter the webinar: https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/e35ed7039baf477e976bda1d8bc0c3d5
Description: TeachingBooks, a new KDLA resource, has tools to assist library staff in providing easy and thorough Reader’s Advisory, including Discover Like Books, searching and filtering, and resources to preview titles. Come away ready to recommend a book for any reader and empower readers to independently discover a new favorite title. Additionally, learn about tools to promote the titles on your shelves, ways to keep up with Kentucky Award winners, and resources to support summer reading. TeachingBooks is now provided to all Kentucky schools, public libraries, universities, and residents through the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.
It would be useful for participants to use their own devices rather than signing in as a group. We will use the hour for ‘show and do’, guiding you in exploration and setting up your account, with time for questions at the end.
Amy Olson
Youth Services Consultant
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
KySTE Registration
KySTE Registration
You have one more day to get "early bird" registration for the spring KySTE conference. It is always a great event. I'll be sharing a collaborative notes document with you soon. Thank you in advance to every school library leader who is presenting this year! For registration information, visit the KySTE website.
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
Bluesky
Bluesky
I shared this in December. Are you a Kentucky school librarian and on Bluesky? I’ve created a list for us, but I get it if you’d instead remain anonymous-ish on there. BUT, If you’d like to be on the list, please fill out this form.
Here is the current list, named Super People. The list can be pinned to your Bluesky "home" for easy access.
I’d love to use this to help celebrate the great work happening in Kentucky school libraries. Please continue using #KyLChat to tag your posts. #TLsky is kind of the “agreed upon” tag if you want to see a wider geographic feed of school library things.
If you are not on Bluesky, it’s pretty easy and fun. (like 2012-ish Twitter). I have a post here on how to join and a starter pack to get you going.
Let me know if you have any Bluesky questions.
A few important items from the previous update...
A few important items from the previous update...
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).
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 this list. These are great events that offer a chance to talk and share with school librarians in your area.
Page updated
Report abuse