My TxLA Experience: A Noob Northerner Heads South

By:  Steve Tetrault, M.Ed., Ed.D., M.I.

May 30th, 2023

Let’s start with some facts: 

• I’ve lived in the northeastern part of the country all my life; I’ve spent most of my adult years in New Jersey. 

• I hit my one year anniversary as a professional school librarian in February 2023, despite half a dozen years of “hobbyist librarian-ing”. 

So I came to the Texas Library Association’s 2023 conference with some serious outsider goggles on. I came away amazed, amused, awed, and empowered. 

AMAZED 

As a member of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL) and the New Jersey Educators Association (NJEA), I’ve been to, helped plan, and presented at conventions and conferences. So I thought I was prepared for what to expect when I was invited to present at the Texas Library Association’s 2023 conference. 

I was not prepared. I learned a whole lot about the library world during my visit. 

I know it’s a cliche, but everything really IS bigger in Texas. It makes sense - as a state, Texas is the size of middle-Europe, encompassing half a dozen countries. And with that size comes some interesting perks. I’ve never seen an expo hall that size dedicated solely to library-related vendors and services. Literally the first thing I saw when I walked in was an automated book return - it was sorting dozens of books into easy-to-shelve bins - amazing! (And lightyears beyond what my tiny library needs - but still amazing!)

As the days unspooled, I found myself constantly trying to be in no less than two places at once. The sheer quantity of amazing learning sessions being offered blew my mind. It was wonderfully frustrating - there were too many good options! 

And every session I attended was on-point and delivered by folks with their feet firmly planted in practice. To my mind, that’s the pinnacle of professional learning - hearing from folks who are sharing what has and hasn’t worked in their own practice. 

AMUSED

About a minute after I walked through the door, I got a huge hug from the amazing Karina Quilantan, who immediately introduced me to her friends. This was the second time I was fortunate enough to encounter Karina in person. She radiates joy and excitement - she was the perfect person to introduce me to this incredible conference. 

I got similarly warm welcomes from so many wonderful folks - Becky Calzada, Carolyn Foote, Deb Zeman, Amanda Hunt, Wenndy Pray - it seemed like everywhere I turned, someone was excited to see me! I figured folks would be pleasant, but the sheer joy each person had as they welcomed me and told me about how much they loved the conference made it abundantly clear that this was not just a place for folks to get some professional development hours. TxLA is a place where people who care about making the world better turn out to learn from each other how they can further improve the world, one library at a time. 

Besides the welcomes, there were great chances to hang out and have some fun. On the first night, I was torn between all the great options - Book Buzzed, Librarian Olympics, Nerf Wars, Pub Trivia - all so tantalizing! I ended up at Dueling Pianos, and sang along to some great tunes. I’ve enjoyed some after-workshop meet-and-greets before, but I haven’t seen anything as engaging and elaborate as what TxLA put together! 

One other thing that tickled my funny bone: The half-dozen times folks asked if they could take a selfie with me. The first couple times, I thought folks were talking to someone behind me. It was surreal and humbling to find that there are folks who knew who I was and were excited that they got to meet me. Especially in comparison to some of the folks I got to spend some time with. 

AWED

I knew librarians were facing some tough times in Texas. I hadn’t realized how difficult some folks’ journey has been the past few years. I heard some personal accounts that floored me - in part because I couldn’t believe the travails these folks have faced, and in part because despite those rough roads, these folks were still moving forward, still working to make the world a little better, even as they were targeted for those same efforts. 

That was what truly awed me: Despite being just down the road from the lawmakers who were, at that moment, trying to drive through yet more legislation that would make librarians’ lives more difficult, the folks at TxLA were more passionate and enthusiastic than any professionals I’ve ever had the privilege to meet. 

I was also amazed by some of the individuals I got to sit down with. Everyone I talked to was someone worth admiring, but one in particular just completely blew me away. During dinner with a bunch of amazing folks, I got to sit next to Dr. Joe Sanchez. While we had touched based once or twice online, his casual mention of his upcoming trip to Kenya led to a truly amazing explanation of a program he’s involved with to help turn shipping containers into fully functioning libraries, decked out with great tech and resources, and also to train locals to be librarians for these spaces. 

Realizing THAT was the kind of person I got to interact with at TxLA was pretty mind-blowing. 

EMPOWERED

All of the above was wonderful, and made TxLA an experience I won’t soon forget on a personal level. But I also came away feeling professionally empowered. 

Part of the reason I had such trouble choosing between sessions was because there were so many great opportunities to bring practical, shovel-ready ideas back to my school, staff, and students. 

The presenters at TxLA shared a million great ideas - some of them just asides while discussing other topics. For example, in a session on collection development, one teacher-librarian mentioned that on the rare occasions where she has to hand-deliver a student's book, she’ll cover it to preserve the student’s privacy. I hand-deliver books to students during class periods all the time - of COURSE I should be covering the books! That was literally the first item from TxLA that I implemented on my return. 

But it was far from the only practical professional knowledge I brought home: Lesson ideas, suggestions for practice, tips on process and procedures, book recommendations - I brought home several years’ worth of items to implement in my library! 

EXCITED

From Wednesday evening through Saturday morning, I got to experience a truly amazing gathering of library professionals. The Texans were incredibly welcoming, and the many visitors from other states were just as wonderful. 

Usually, by the end of a convention day, I am bushed and ready to crawl into bed. But I had the opposite feeling at TxLA - each day, I felt even more energized by the creativity, passion, knowledge, and kindness being shared freely by presenters and attendees alike. 

I was so enthusiastic and voluminous in my texts to my school library friends back in New Jersey that our state organization is considering sending representatives to TxLA every year! 

To sum it all up: Yes, you definitely want to go to TxLA! 

“La Lunada”, a Literary Experience

By:  Carmen Noyola, MEd.

May 15, 2023

The power of the written word can be an amazing marvel. Whether it be from a classic novel, from the written declaration of a great leader, or the words from a child’s poem. Even more marvelous is the sharing of these words when they become a symphony of beauty and heartfelt meaning. What a blessing for me to be the librarian who witnesses the words flourish from the minds of my students, and the thrill of having some of their pieces published. Thus, “La Lunada” was born, an evening literary event for showcasing my students’ voices “under the light of the moon”.  

It all begins with relationships. Over the years I have discovered the value of building relationships with my students. I do my best at learning each child’s name, regularly asking them about their day, and striking up conversations to let them know they are important to me. These relationships, while in a safe nurturing environment, allow for creative expressions to blossom in a wide variety of ways. Children feel accepted and appreciated for their differences and talents, and they recognize that my library is a place where diversity and inclusion are respected.

 In the library, I teach a poetry unit where my elementary students learn the various types and elements of poetry. I use a variety of authentic literature as models for teaching, and I highlight for my students the poets’ varied techniques and styles. The beautiful craft of writing becomes part of the library experience as I encourage them to take risks and share how poetry can be a short song from their soul. Once the children are satisfied with their poems, they are collected and forwarded to the Young American Poetry Digest, a National Schools Project that supports children’s writing, for possible publication consideration. For the past five years, I am proud of having a growing number of my students’ poems selected for publication. The excitement when my students find out they are published poets is magnificent and needs to be shared with the community. 

I came up with the idea of hosting La Lunada as a form of community engagement to offer these children an opportunity to share their poems and to promote literacy in my community. The area which I humbly serve has a high percentage of the economically disadvantaged population. Oftentimes, literacy is not made a priority by our families, and it is a challenge that I have undertaken time and again. As I began to plan the first event out in my mind, I soon felt compelled to expand on the idea of making it a grand literary event. The opportunity to touch the hearts of my community with the words of children was one I could not pass up. La Lunada required the collaboration of my wonderful music teacher and many other esteemed staff members who assisted with decorations, costumes, art lessons, and the constant hours of practice leading up to the event. My vision was for it to be a culmination of students’ creative expressions in the forms of poetry, literacy, and the arts all tied to a selected theme such as nature, immigration, or family. What started as a small poetry reading soon included other forms of creative expression such as drama, literary figures, literature, art, music, and dance. It became literacy in all its forms.

 I have come to discover that the beauty of La Lunada is not only the delightful words as expressed by the children’s poetry but also the way the families have embraced and become enamored with the evening literary experience. It is definitely not your typical school program. Instead, it encapsulates the voices of our youth and allows them to be celebrated in the community. As the school librarian, it thrills me to know that I am sharing the power of the written word with those I serve through La Lunada.

Growing In Leadership: 

The Texas Accelerated Library Leaders (TALL) Institute Experience

By: Zinnia Bayardo

May 2, 2023

Are you a librarian looking to develop your leadership skills and embrace your potential to grow and take new initiatives for your library, its stakeholders, and your profession to another level? TLA’s TALL Texans is the perfect program for you! 

The TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute, commonly called “TALL Texans”, is a truly transformational program designed to help participants unlock their potential and become exceptional leaders in their fields. After a week of deep diving into important leadership topics with librarian colleagues and mentors, you come away with so much.

I participated in the TALL program in November 2022 and can attest to its incredible benefits. I learned and grew alongside other like-minded professionals and gained a group of instant colleagues who are always available to offer help and support.  The sense of community and support the program fosters is truly unparalleled, and I came away from the experience with a network of instant colleagues to that I can turn to for help and guidance at any time.  The family of librarians I met through TALL encouraged me, challenged me, lifted me, and helped me continue to learn and grow my leadership skills not just during TALL but long after that one week in November. I refer to them, look to them, and learn from them daily.

We consider ourselves the #bestclassevah #TALLTexans22 (I’m biased!), but I’ve heard from many TALL alumni that participation was also beneficial for them.

One of the most unique components of the TALL program is its focus on growing and developing leadership skills. The program offers an in-depth exploration into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by libraries and librarians and provides tools and strategies to effectively lead from the library through innovation, collaboration, and more. Because I was relatively new in my new district position, I found the program's emphasis on personal growth and development genuinely inspiring. It made me more self-assured and effective due to my participation.

If you have five years of experience working in libraries or more, TALL is an invaluable program for anyone looking to develop their leadership prospects and capacity. The program includes a week covering topics such as communication, managing differences, interpersonal relations and skills, risk-taking, power/influence/persuasion, leading collaboration, developing others, strategic planning, and ethical leadership. The TALL Institute experience also includes coaching sessions with experienced mentor librarians from different library types, group discussions, and learning activities.

Perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of the TALL program is the opportunity to connect with and learn from a diverse group of professionals from across Texas and our profession. I learned so much about the different librarian careers and was able to look beyond the school library! The program attracts participants from various libraries, creating a rich learning environment and valuable networking opportunities.

I highly recommend the TALL Texans program if you want to develop your leadership skills and take them to the next level. The program offers a transformative experience that will not only enhance your career, but also provide you with a supportive community of like-minded professionals who are passionate about making a difference in librarianship. Don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity to grow in your profession. The TALL experience is expertly designed, professionally executed, and truly life-changing. Thank you, TLA, for offering such a valuable resource to the library community!

For more information on requirements, application tips and instructions, and important dates to note, click here: https://txla.org/professional-development/tall-texans/requirements-curriculum/about/

REMEMBER! If funding is a concern, your TLA District, round tables, and the Texas Association of School Librarians (TASL) offer some funding. Your district and community organization may offer help as well! 

The library is the vibrant heart of the school and plays a major role in the realization of the IB Mission statement which states: “to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” (IB Mission Statement Program Standards and Practices 2020).

As the librarian, I am very much involved in the implementation of our PYP Framework through collection development, inquiry or research, professional development, learning spaces and experiences, and parental engagement.

Collection development is geared towards different resources that would help all staff and students in our implementation of the program. I have added another classification system to label these resources according to how they support our units of inquiry and the learner profiles which develop different traits to help our students become lifelong learners. A dynamic and strong relationship with our IB coordinator and teachers has been established through periodic collaboration,  so much so that I am aware of what unit of inquiry they are on, and I am able to plan and provide the necessary resources for them and staff can also navigate easily in the library to find these resources. In addition, I also curated online sources, such as books, eBooks, databases, articles, and videos in form of choice boards according to their units of inquiry. Here is an example of this resource:

Inquiry is the focal point of our program. This ranges from simple investigations to the final project our 5th-grade students take on. This final research project is called the PYP Exhibition. Systems are in a place where our students and staff fully understand our academic honesty policy which entails copyright and fair use policies, plagiarism, and digital citizenship. I take the lead in advocating these policies to staff and students through learning experiences and professional development. As our fifth graders take on their PYP Exhibition, I am proactively giving support. I become a research mentor for everyone. Our library sessions are focused on how to navigate their investigations. I provide lessons so that they would be able to create their own lines of inquiry and decide critically which sources of information they will use. Not only that, but I also become their technology partner. Different technology tools have been explored during library sessions so that students can decide on what tools they would use to present their research project. I make myself available so that students can navigate their investigations with less stress.

I take the lead in providing professional development for our staff. As we implement our units of inquiry, I share with them various resources, strategies, and technology application tools that would help them to creatively explore their units. I have helped in the creation of our IB google site together with our IB coordinator and provided training to our teachers as we transitioned to a digital portfolio format, especially during the pandemic.   

As an IB school, our learning spaces have various criteria. The library is transformed into where we seamlessly imbed our program. I must make sure that we provide spaces for investigations, displays on books and resources supporting the learner profiles, an inquiry board, an approach to learning space that learners can readily access, a section for international mindedness, and a distinct language section in which we have Spanish and Mandarin.

Lastly, I actively take part in providing sessions with our parents. Together with our teachers, we hold literacy and IB nights where parents participate in the units of inquiry of  the students in the library. This might be an introduction to the unit, a summative project, or an action component of their planners. It is so gratifying to see how our parents work together with their children and hear their conversations about how they have learned and what learner profiles they display when exploring this unit. Parental engagement is a valued partner in our library.

As an IB librarian, I am immensely grateful to be a dynamic partner in the implementation of our program. I see how our IB scholars grow from how they conduct their simple investigations, display their profiles, and then grow into lifelong learners.  I believe that I have contributed to the fulfillment of the  aim of all IB programs which is “ to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.” (IB Programs standards and practices: International Baccalaureate Organization, https://ibo.org/ 2018, updated 2020.)

Graciela Garcia Elementary School Website

TLA’s Annual Conference is one of the best parts of being a Texas librarian. All year long, I look forward to the chance to come together with librarians from across the state and from different library types to get new ideas and learn about new technology. Now imagine attending that same conference but with your best teacher friend! 

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t be successful as a librarian without the help of my teacher friends. Being a school librarian can sometimes be a very isolated job – often we’re the only librarian at a school and we don’t get together with other librarians in the district more than once a month (if we’re lucky enough to have district librarian meetings and PLNs). Social media is a great way for librarians to network and communicate, but that doesn’t help when you need an advocate in your building. 

Enter Teacher Day@TLA!

January Is our usual month to try new things or set goals for ourselves. One of those goals might be to attend our annual TLA conference or recognize a colleague for the hard work they have been involved in the past year. If you are a TASL member, now is a great time to apply for one or more of our wonderful scholarships, stipends and awards we offer to support our members.   

There are two ways we recognize the efforts of our TASL members:

The Shirley Igo Award which recognizes the collaborative efforts of librarians and their school PTA organization to provide unique programming or much needed resources for their communities. With so much divisive language being tossed around on social media, it is important to highlight the programs that are truly working together to support their entire community. This award is offered in conjunction with Texas PTA and librarian recipients are recognized at our annual conference, while the PTA representative is recognized at the PTA annual conference held in the Summer.  It was truly an honor to present the 2022 award last summer and a wonderful balm to hear so many PTA groups exclaim who much they loved and supported their librarian.  These are the stories we need to highlight to counter the negative stories that continue to persist on various media channels. The application process does require a little bit of time, but I know your PTA boards will be so appreciative of the fact you are willing to put up their collaborative efforts for recognition.

The Media Virtual Presence award is offered to recognize those members who have used their social media to enhance their library work or support the larger library community.  Who has created engaging posts that inspired you to try something new in your library programming? Who has connected you to resources that made planning a lesson a bit easier? Who creates a thoughtful space online that encourages discussions among librarians to help us improve our field? If this describes you or a TASL member with whom you engage frequently, complete this application to recognize these contributions. 

The TASL Library Information School Student Scholarship is open to anyone who is pursuing graduate academic work to become a school librarian. Applicants do not need to be current TASL members, but will need to demonstrate a commitment to school librarianship and desire to be an involved member of TASL in the future. These $500 scholarships may be used to cover expenses related to graduate coursework. If you know someone who is currently pursuing their MLIS, please encourage them to apply for this scholarship.  We need dynamic librarians to help our students across Texas.

This year we are happy to introduce two new conference stipends. The Travel Stipend was created to encourage participation for TASL members from the areas of Texas that are located more than 250 miles from our conference site for that year.  Our friends who live and work in TLA districts 1, 2, 4, 6 and 9 are strongly encouraged to apply. We recognize travel across Texas can be long and costly especially for these members, but we definitely want to meet you in person and hear all the great things you are doing in your school libraries. The travel stipend takes less than 5 minutes to apply and simply requires a desire to learn with us and participate in future TASL committees. 

The second conference stipend is for First Time attendees. TASL members may have been involved for years in TASL but have not yet had the experience to enjoy all the benefits our annual conference has to offer. This $300 stipend is provided to help with conference expenses including registration fees, travel or hotel accommodations. We look forward to meeting you!

In the time of tight budgets and overwhelming demands these awards, stipends and scholarships aim to increase the number of dynamic Texas school librarians who actively participate in our organization, recognize hard working members and offer some financial relief to provide wonderful learning experiences for our TASL members. Don’t leave money on the table - take some time to apply today.  All applications can be found at bit.ly/taslconfstipend and the deadline to apply is January 1st or February 1st.