Curbside Checkout

by Sarabeth Holbert Lewis

WSFCS media coordinators are working hard to provide student access to books during remote learning during first quarter. Many schools host curbside pickup for library books, and schools are utilizing different methods to fill requests. Some media coordinators, like Holly DuBois (Caleb's Creek Elementary), Sarabeth Lewis (Southwest Elementary), and Kristina Morris (Easton Elementary) are mainly taking requests through the Destiny holds process which is explained to families on a playlist that was created collaboratively by DuBois and Lewis to include screencasts and simplified instructions.

Other media coordinators in the district, such as Rachel Stinehelfer (Whitaker Elementary), Lisa England (Morgan Elementary), and Colleen Yarnell (Union Cross Elementary) are utilizing Destiny holds in addition to other methods of taking book requests. Stinehelfer provides a "browsing feature" by offering a Google Form for students to request books by topic, main character, etc. Taking readers' advisory to the next level, she also has a "mystery books" spot on her Google form where students tell about books they've enjoyed in the past, and she chooses a book based on the response. Similarly, England takes requests any way that she can get them, including Dojo messages, Canvas messages, email requests, and through "surprise book" requests where the students tell their interests and the librarians choose a book for them based on those interests. Yarnell uses a team of assistants in her systematic way of fulfilling requests that she gets on her Google Form and in Destiny.

In addition to providing information about the book holds process, WSFCS media coordinators have gone the extra mile to provide readers' advisory for physical book curbside pickup as well as e-books. At Caleb's Creek, Holly DuBois provides weekly book talks for picture and chapter books, and she does a Discovery Spotlight on books about topics that she knows students will be interested to check out, such as origami, cooking, coding, dinosaurs, and space. Rachel Stinehelfer and Lisa England use the respective "mystery books" and "surprise books" at their schools, and Kristina Morris is making a big push to promote authors and books that celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through music, Zoom backgrounds, class read-alouds. and more.

Schools in WSFCS are using PTA newsletters, social media, Dojo, Canvas, and other methods to promote their curbside pickup programs. An example of some of the promotional materials used and shared by some in the district is attached (created by Sarabeth Lewis). Media coordinators have had positive feedback from parents and students on the library curbside pickup opportunities provided by schools in the district, and circulation continues! It has proven to be a great way to connect with families and continue to provide readers' advisory during remote learning.

Guilford County is Virtually Leading the Way in Online School Librarianship

Patricia Carrington and Margaret Sullivan Brannon are the first virtual school media specialists in North Carolina. They work for the Guilford eLearning University Prep Academy (6-8) and the Guilford eLearning Virtual Academy (K-5). “As far as we know, no other county has staffed the position at their virtual school,” said Christine Clark, Director of Library Media Services for Guilford County Schools.

Clark strongly advocated for the position, telling district leadership that they needed a professional at the schools who could help teachers effectively implement online teaching strategies and align available resources to the curriculum.

Carrington is part of a technology team that assists teachers with understanding and using a variety of programs and getting information out to teachers and students to help them become more familiar and confident with online learning. “This is unique experience and I'm grateful for the opportunity,” she said.

“Right now, I spend most of my time assisting teachers and parents with technology issues and making web pages where people can find the most commonly needed tips,” said Sullivan Brannon. “But that will slow down as people become more accustomed to the online learning environment and I’ll be able to concentrate on the curriculum and instruction piece more. Next week I’ll be helping a class learn to search NCWiseOwl for the resources they want to read as part of their text features unit.”

Sullivan Brannon provides one-on-one learning opportunities for the teachers at the virtual academy through office hours spaced throughout the day. “Just like students, teachers have different learning styles. Some teachers need a more hands-on approach and that’s what those hours are for,” she said. “Others learn better by following a video or exploring a tool on their own.”

Choice and flexibility are a big part of the learning philosophy at the Virtual Academy. Principal Lisa Jordan is directing teachers to implement a flipped classroom model. Students view videos of what used to be whole-group lessons at the time that’s good for them based on family schedules and individual circadian rhythms. The virtual environment allows the teacher to follow up with small group instruction uninterrupted by the distractions of a brick and mortar classroom.

Sullivan Brannon says she tries to “meet the teachers where they are.” “Right now, the best way I can support students is to support their teachers. But I have to see some kids to help me remember what this is all about, so I offer read alouds on Fridays.”

Margaret Sullivan Brannon

Teacher-Librarian, M.L.I.S.

@B00kl8dy, #BetterTogetherGCS