Blog Archives

Emotion “sells” better than Logic

The most supremely logical Mr. Spock, from the Star Trek series I adored from the very first, says in one episode, “It’s not logical, but it’s true.”  As librarians we need to take those words to heart in order to

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Posted in Issues, Librarian Life

You Must Be Visible To Be Valuable

In 1997, Gary Hartzell wrote an article for the November issue of School Library Journal entitled “The Invisible School Librarian: Why Others Are Blind to Your Value.”  Seventeen years have passed and little has changed for many – and there

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Posted in Uncategorized

Libraries, Librarians, and Learning in the 21st Century

I have just returned the AASL Forum on School Librarians in the Anytime Anywhere Learning Landscape and as usual for this intense two-day institute I am precariously balanced between the excitement of new ideas (and old ones in new guises)

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Posted in Career, Professional Development

TTK: Helping Students Become Global Citizens… with poetry

As a 21st century school librarian you want projects to guide your students into becoming global and digital citizens.  Here is a poetry project that’s already up and running and will connect your students to others from around the world

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Posted in TTK: Things to Know

The Power of Literacy

Until the middle of the 20th century, Literacy meant one thing – you could read.  It sometimes was modified with the word “functional” to indicate you were capable of reading at a sufficient level to survive in our society.  Today

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Posted in General, Issues, Librarian Life

Indispensable – Yes you are

On a personal level, no word resonates more with school librarians than “indispensable.”  It’s what most of us believe we are, what some of us fear we aren’t, and far too many feel is not recognized by administrators, teachers, parents,—and

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Posted in Career, Librarian Life

Paradigms and Predictions – Exciting or Terrifying?

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines a paradigm as “a … group of ideas  about how something should be done, made, or thought about.”  Unconsciously, we approach almost everything in life through a certain mindset.  It is why those of us

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Posted in Career, Librarian Life

Declarations – Standing Up for Yourself and Your Library

I have been following the progress of the Declaration for the Right to Libraries, part of ALA President Barbara Stripling’s initiative.  Both as chair of AASL’s Advocacy Committee and as a staunch supporter of all libraries, with an emphasis on

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Posted in General, Issues