School Library Portfolio
Resources
Working in any professional field requires one to stay up to date on new ideologies and pedagogy. It is particularly important for school librarians, seeing that they operate within the intersection of schools (service to students) and libraries (access to knowledge). In our service to students, we school librarians must ensure that provide what they need most: access. In order to ensure that we are upholding our obligations to our students and to ourselves as life-long learners, we must continue to seek new ideas and resources. Below is my curation to help accomplish this goal.
Librarianship Studies and Information Technology. (2022). Maas Quote [Photograph]. https://www.librarianshipstudies.com/2018/05/quotes-libraries-librarians-library-information-science.html
ALA. (2022). ASSL Logo [Logo]. https://www.ala.org/aasl
The American Association of School Librarians is the only national organization particularly focused on school librarianship. Staying connected within this organization will help keep me connected to new and relevant trends and information in the field. Following AASL on social media, as well as joining the organization, will ensure that I have frequent access to updates and important knowledge.
Virginia Association of School Librarians. (2022). VASSL Logo [Logo] https://www.vaasl.org
The Virginia Association of School Librarians will be an excellent resource for me because it is focused on school librarianship in Virginia. As laws and regulations differ from state to state, this organization can provide relevant and timely information that may apply only in Virginia. It's always good to have connections, so meeting new peers that are central to the area I live in will be beneficial.
ALA. (2022). YALSA Logo [Logo].https://www.ala.org/yalsa
The Young Adult Library Services Association is a chapter of the ALA that focuses on librarians that work with children in the teen (12-18) age range. I currently work in a middle school with 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. I see myself staying with this age range or possibly venturing into the high school age range. Either way, this organization will help equip my librarian toolbelt with skills and information that are relevant to the patrons that I will be working with in the school library.
Librarianship Studies and Information Technology. (2022). LSIT Logo [Logo]. https://www.librarianshipstudies.com/
The Librarianship and Information Technology website is a treasure trove of free information for individuals in the library profession. The site features a blog of both interest and information based posts. They also have other resources, like a Library and Information Science Encyclopedia equipped with relevant terms and topics as well as resources and articles to go along with them. This is a "one stop shop" type of site for questions about an array of topics in the library field.
School Library Journal. (2024). SLJ Logo [Logo].https://www.slj.com
The School Library Journal is both a print publication and a resourceful website. I signed up for their free newsletters for weekly updates. SLJ has a multitude of offerings, like book reviews, articles, and blog posts. This is a great resource for staying up to date on current trends and finding new, appropriate texts for a school library.
As a reader, I don't usually push myself outside of my comfort zone. I like certain genres of books best and usually stick with those. However, as a librarian, I need to be knowledgeable about all types and genres in order to help my students. The show hosts choose a new book from a random genre to discuss for each episode. By listening, I'll become a better librarian and be more informed and be able to make recommendations within different genres. This podcast is a great resource because it helps me grow my knowledge about books that I otherwise probably wouldn't read.
Book Club for Masochists. (2022). BCM Logo [Logo]. https://bookclub4m.tumblr.com/
The Public Library Association. (2022). FYI Podcast [Logo]. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/category/media/podcast/
The FYI podcast is published by the Public Library Association and is a great resource for staying up to date on current library news. They focus on social services, underserved populations, and book desert communities. This is a great resource for me as someone who will work with students from varying backgrounds with varying needs.
Ted. (2022). How to be a better human logo [Logo.] https://www.ted.com/podcasts/how-to-be-a-better-human
While not focused on library skills in particular, this podcast is focused on being your best self. The podcast emphasizes ways to show up for the people around you and how to improve yourself in all areas, including at work. As someone who already currently works with children and plans to continue doing so, I believe that resources like this one are important. I teach my students to be kind and grow, so I should try my best to do the same. I'm not perfect, which means there is always something that I can work to improve. This is important to me, especially as a role model for students.
In the Library with the Lead Pipe. (2024). In the Library logo [Logo.] https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org
This is an open peer reviewed journal by librarians from a variety of types of libraries. This journal will keep me updated about current issues and theory in library and information sciences.
KQED Teach (2024). PBS media literacy logo [Logo.] https://teach.kqed.org/p/certification
This collaboration between KQED and PBS offers a free certification for educators and librarians in media literacy. I can use this free professional development by completing the eight micro-credentials to become certified and endorsed by PBIS in media literacy. This site, and others like it, will allow me to keep learning and growing through professional development.
Follett. (2024). Follett logo [Logo.] https://www.follettlearning.com/about-us/advocacy/future-ready-librarian
This collaboration between Follet and Future Ready Librarians focuses on ensuring that librarians and libraries can become more future ready. The website offers webinars, teaching topics, and guides librarians to use to ensure their library is future ready.
Digital Public Library of America (2024). DPLA logo [Logo.] https://dp.la/primary-source-sets
This website offers many free resources that would be helpful when planning library lessons. There are digital exhibitions and access to digital books, including banned books. This site also offers free primary source document sets on a range of topics. This website would be very useful when collaborating on cross-curricular lessons for history or ELA classes. The text sets would be helpful for helping students evaluate primary sources and use text evidence as support in writing. It also would be a good addition to the library hub as an information source for students to access independently.
While not focused on library skills in particular, this podcast is focused on being your best self. The podcast emphasizes ways to show up for the people around you and how to improve yourself in all areas, including at work. As someone who already currently works with children and plans to continue doing so, I believe that resources like this one are important. I teach my students to be kind and grow, so I should try my best to do the same. I'm not perfect, which means there is always something that I can work to improve. This is important to me, especially as a role model for students.