Byrd Fort, V. (2021, March). Supporting dyslexic readers in the school library. School Library Connection. https://schoollibraryconnection.com/content/article/2252101
Programming with Diversity in Mind: Conducting a Diversity Audit School Library Connection, August/September 2019
Writer, Library Goddess www.valeriebyrdfort.com - Author of blog posts pertaining mostly to literacy.
Writer, Columbia SC Moms Blog (http://columbiasc.citymomsblog.com/) - Author of posts mostly pertaining to literacy (directed to parents) for children of all ages.
Articles include:
May 2018 and 2019 - “Ultimate Guide to Summer Reading Programs”
April 2018 - “10 Things You May Not Know About Your School Library”
November 2017 – “Reading With Your 6 – 9 Year Old”
August 2017 – “Reading With Your 3 – 6 Year Old”
June 2017 – “Reading With Your 3 and Under Child”
• Book Reviewer, School Library Connection
• Writer, School Library Messenger (SCASL publication) - Author of articles pertaining to the interests of school library media specialists in the state of South Carolina.
• Literacy Links, January 2005 “Working with Your Literacy Coach, “Author
• “BeSS won't Go There: a research report on filtering Software,” Current Studies in Librarianship 7-19 (2001) Research report with Jessica Felker and Allison Duncan.
June 2024 READCON - ALA, with Dr. April Dawkins and Dr. Lucy Santos Green
May 2024 Presentation to SC State Museum
March 2024 Generative AI: What School Librarians Need to Know - PreConference Session, SCASL with Dr. Jenna Spiering and Dr. Vanessa Kitzie
February 2024 Generative AI: What Librarians Need to Know - Webinar for SC State Library with Dr. Jenna Spiering and Dr. Vanessa Kitzie
June 2023 - LOC Resources - ALA, with Dr. Liz Hartnett
June 2023 - Growing our Own, with Christy James and Dr. Lucy Santos Green - ALA
June 2023 - Get Ready, Stay Ready Panel - ALA, with Dr. April Dawkins and Dr. Lucy Green
June 2023 - Get Ready, Stay Ready: Community Action Toolkit with Dr. April Dawkins - Library 2.0
June 2023 - Examining LGBTQ+ Lead Characters in Picture Books Read During Drag Storytimes - ChLA Annual Conference
June 2023 - Library Policies for Administrators with Dr. Jenna Spiering
May 2023 - Presentation to State Museum
May 2023 - Get Ready, Stay Ready Community Action Toolkit - SCLA Webinar
March 2023 - Complex Collaboration with Dr. Jenna Spiering - Newberry School District School Librarians
November 2022 - West Metro Rotary Club - SCCCL/CRE Presentation
October 2022 - SCASL/iSchool/SCDE Regional Workshops (2 total)
October 2022 - Olde English Consortium School Librarian Conference - Intellectual Freedom & Diverse Books in Elementary Libraries & Classrooms
Summer 2022 - ALA and IASL - STEAM and LOC Resources
April 2022 Panel - Intellectual Freedom
February 2022 LISSA, Diversity in Children's Literature
October 2021 South Carolina Library Association Bilingualism Matters Poster Session with Kyungjin Hwang
October 2021 Polo Road Elementary Bilingualism Matters presentation for Family Literacy Night with Kyungjin Hwang
April 2021 "Civic Engagement: Education and Literacy" UofSC Capstone Scholors Student Group Presentation
October 2020 "Youth & Social Technology" South Carolina Department of Mental Health - Virtual
May 2020 "Selecting Reading Materials for All Ages" SCASL Book Award Committees Meeting - Virtual
April 2020 "Ideas for keeping your patrons engaged with virtual storytime, booktalks, and more!" Librarian.Support - Virtual
2020 "Resources for Family Literacy" Bilingualism Matters Conference *cancelled due to COVID-19
2020 "Check out SCCCL and CRE!" SCASL Annual Conference concurrent session
2020 "Resources for Struggling Readers" SCASL Regional Workshops
2019 "Building Inclusive Collections" Charleston County School District Professional Development Workshop
2019 "Building Inclusive Collections" Richland 1 Professional Development Workshop
2019 “You Need Diverse Books! Promoting Diversity in Children’s Literature in your School Library – Grades K – 5” SCASL Regional Workshop
• 2019 “Community Outreach: How to Build Partnerships, Increase Reading Engagement and HAVE FUN!” SCASL Conference
• 2019 “Selecting Reading Materials for All Ages” SCASL Book Award Committee
• Guest, Elementary Librarian Podcast. “Collaborating with Other Librarians with Valerie Byrd Fort and Betsy Long.”
• 2018 “Reignite Passion for Reading.” SCASL Conference
• 2017 “Teamwork makes the DREAM work.” Presentation for Lexington 1 Professional Development
• 2015 “Simple MakerSpaces.” Presentation to Lexington 1 School Librarians
• 2012 “ReimagineED.” Presentation to Lexington 1 School Librarians and Technology Integration Specialists
• 2007 MySpace Uncovered Panelist Richland Library
• 2007 “Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, Oh My!” ETV Professional Development Conference
• 2006 “Why Blog? Why Podcast? Why Not?!” SCASL Conference
Rainbow Connection (SCCCL Team) https://sccclrc.usccreate.org/
DaybyDaySC Family Literacy Calendar content and updates https://www.daybydaysc.org/ (2015 - 2022)
Project READY S.C. (SCCCL Team)
Cocky's Reading Express (Coordinator 2018 - 2023)
Bilingualism Matters Center Lending Library (2021 - 2022)
StoryWalk at Irmo Community Garden
READCON (coming soon)
2023 - 2024 IFLA School Libraries Section Information Coordinator
2023 iSchool/ALA Alumni Accreditation Committee Co-Chair
2023 - 2025 ALSC School Age Programming Committee - Co-Chair
2023 School Library Search Committee, iSchool, USC - Chair
2023 Audit Committee, SCASL - Chair
2023 South Carolina Picture Book Award Committee Member
2022 Children's Literature Association Book Award Committee Member
2022 - 2023 SCASL Presidential Advisor
2022 IASL Conference Planning Committee
2021 SCASL Audit Committee
2022 - 2023 IFLA School Library Section Committee Member
Freedom to Read Task Force
Get Ready; Stay Reading: Community Tool Kit Task Force
Teach My Kid to Read Board of Directors 2020 - 2022
BiLM Executive Board 2020 - Present
50th Anniversary Planning Task Force - Davis College/iSchool
2021 - 2022 ALSC School Age Committee
UofSC School of Information Science Social Impact Committee, Co-Chair
UofSC School of Information Science School Library Committee
2021 / 2022 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming Committee
2022 / 2023 ALSC Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Committee
2017 American Library Association May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture Committee
2021 - 2022 SCASL Distinguished Service Award
2021 CIC Inclusive Excellence Award
Recognized by Scholastic Books as one of ‘15 Librarians to Follow on Instagram’
Teacher of the Year New Providence Elementary School
Teacher of the Year Dutch Fork Elementary School
Service
Independent Study Supervisor - Summer 2023 Graphic Novels
Senior Thesis Director - Fall / Spring 2022 - 2023
Independent Study Supervisor - Summer 2022 Graphic Novels
Independent Study Supervisor - Summer 2020 Picture Books in Public Library Storytime
Girl Scout Troop Co-Leader
Safe Zone Facilitator