Staff Development

     As school and Public  librarians, we need to become leaders in our schools and  buildings.. We ( along with administrators & direct) are the professionals that have the overall snapshot of the school   and community’s . We are the ones that know the instruction ,curriculum. and personal needs. Work  with your administrators  and directors to set up a schedule for staff development for the next year. Work with your staff to develop what needs to be done as far as educating the clerks .


     One of the first staff development workshops that you can do during teacher conference days is an Orientation to the data bases that your school has. This will give everyone a push to get the teachers thinking about which ones they can use with their students. At this time, offer to help classes learn how to use databases or mention that they can be used when the classes are doing research, guided inquiry or non-fiction texts.

 
     During the year, listen to staff and see what they need as far as staff development. Is there a grade level that wants to infuse more technology? Do clerks and staff have lots of questions on circulation, reports, other tasks?

     Some more ideas for staff development: e-sources, primary sources, information literacy skills, streaming video sites for your state- show them how helpful they can be, digital projects, inquiry based learning, and resources for the common core.

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Susan Couture

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Book Selection Policy

  What other library policies do you have in place?  A book selection policy will follow your Collection Development policy if you have one already in place!

   In your book selection policy, how do you select books that will be purchased for your library? Do you read reviews before purchasing? How many do you read?    Does what you do for selection all make sense and is it a reasonable way to select books for your collection?Whatever you do, refine and write it down.

   In my policy , I have written that I will read  two reviews for non-fiction and three for fiction. I will check also  the ALA listing for children's / teens books and will check other award lists for recommended books. The policy also details what  the current curriculum is following , and will note that library selection of nonfiction also depends curriculum requirement I had this written down in detail in my book selection policy.

     With your mission statement, your collection development policy and your book selection policy, you are now on your way to your policy and procedures book . I will continue to add different topics / statements  so that you will have a complete book for your library . Keep me posted as to what  you have and what you are working on. 

Whichbook

     Whichbook.com  is a UK based site, but still can be used by anyone who is looking for something different and new to read.   The interesting thing is when you find a book, it will give tabs  to buy ( links to Amazon and helps them support the site ) or  to borrow( links to local UK libraries) which is fun  and great for those in UK.

      Now back to the site: if you like to browse around different books  this is for you.  You can find similar books that match your choices.  WhichBooks offers choices  a bit different from regular genres  such as  mood, plot shape, emotion, types of main characters.
 
     There is a team of 70 people who create the entries about the books.  Theses people are real readers who love to read. They concentrate on books that most will not find by themselves. The books on the site are fiction and they are not Best Sellers.  They are lesser known but intriguing  titles.

    Use the MY lists tab to store books you come across that you want to keep track of.  You can also note on this Want to read/ Have read.  Also browse the author list and the guest lists/
    

Library Advisory Committe

As the librarian, you ultimately are in charge of library organization, and management. You are the major decision maker in policies and also purchasing. That is what part of our training is about.

    You may however want to think about having a library advisory group.  A library advisory group gives other members of your staff and patrons a voice in what material and programs are provided by the library.  This group would also let both staff and  patrons become more aware of library operations, services, and day to day activities and tasks.!

     During my years at the public library, I had a teen advisory group( I was in charge of Children 's Library Programs).   It was a small group . They gave me some great ideas of what books teens were reading and what activities teen s would the library to have provided,   They produced a monthly newsletter of book reviews, and articles that they wrote.  The group gave a voice to the teens that I served.

    Depending on your administration, board, teachers, and students , you may want to think about staring a group and include a representative of people you work with and for. They will serve as a sounding board and  also provide input on issues ( Challenged books, programs, policies, purchases, and other items.)

April Ideas for Librarians

     It 's time again to start thinking about April!   I like to always think ahead! Some ideas for your bulletin boards! Adapt them to your needs and space!

     I've got a poem in my pocket!-- pockets with poems typed stuck in- these can be changed  weekly. Or let  students put in their  favorite poems.

     Get Graphic@ the Library!  Scan covers of some of your Graphic Novels and put on a colorful Bulletin Board.

      Get Hooked on  Books!- Fishing line with book titles or covers along the line.
( Fishing for a good Book)

     Spring into Reading with Great Books

      Sports Stories

      It's Raining Books- Put an umbrella in the corner of the bulletin board. Then place large blue and grey raindrops with book titles on them.( Again let students put up their favorites.

     April showers bring great books! ( Similar to above idea)


National Humor Month
School Library Month
DEAR- Drop Everything and Read

Read it Forward.com

      Readitforward.com is a very interesting and exciting site. It is a great place to discover new books that have just been released . It is also a site where users can 'read it forward" and tell other readers when you discover a books that you absolutely love.

    On Readitforward , you can discover the next best seller even before it is out in books stores and libraries.  Weekly, there are behind the scenes  articles from authors and booksellers.
Also each week,  there is a Read it first giveaway. You can enter for a chance to win an advanced reader copy.

   There are two weekly newsletters that you can subscribe to: Read it forward book giveaways and what we are reading.  Other tabs on the main page to check out are: author essays, your reading life, bonus book content, and most read blog posts.

   Check this out and see if it is for you.
  

Helping readers connect with books!

   What can we do to help our readers connect with books? What kind of services can we offer?

   At our branches, we have several options that we do every month.  Our first and best  option is the brochure of new arrivals that is published at the beginning of each month.  This gives titles and also indicates  at which  branch  the books are located.  Also in each  branch, we have a dedicated section of the new arrivals so that make it easy for patrons to find the newest books!

  We also have similar 'new book " shelves in our juvenile and Ya section.  Our catalog is another way for readers to find and connect with new interesting books

 They can also view and select ebooks from our website and borrow them to their reading device.

 But our most interesting and effective way that we can  help readers connect with books and authors is through staff interaction. By talking about books( what they like, what we like) we can do indirect reader advisory  with our patrons.  The staff can provide ideas and suggestions  for the patrons,

What else do you do to connect readers to patrons? How do you help them connect with new books and authors?

Librarians under pressure to connect

   Libraries are under pressure to connect with patrons.  Technology may just be the key  we need to help up do that.

  When staff and funding are tight, then  is the time to start doing things differently.  Because of technology , libraries can use the latest tools to connect with patrons.  After all we are in the 21 st century.  Why not pull out all the stops  we can to get patrons using our resources and programs.

   But wait- why do we have to connect?  We want to match patrons to the books and information they want and need .  We want to free up routine tasks that staff spend time on so they can interact with patrons  and help them achieve their goals.

  As library staff we need to determine how we can use our website, face book page , or a twitter to excite and draw interest  with our comments, questions, and interests. So let's get thinking,  What other social media  can we use? Instragram, Pinterest? Q Codes?  What can we do with them?
  I would love to hear what your library does to help connect and pull in patrons  Comment below and share how you use social media to create  patron interest and participation,

BookBub

Book Bub is a free daily email that gives you notices about ebooks with a deep deep discount.  ( like 2.99, 1.99 &; .99)  There are many categories  to choose from : mysteries, actions, advice, biographies, children, cooking, historical fiction, history, horror , just to name a few.

  Book Bub features bestsellers and bestselling authors and books that have received good reviews from both critics and readers.  You can customize the types of books that you receive emails about.

  There are also links to Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble,  apple books, & Goggle p[play so you can easily get the ebook for your specific device.

  At the bottom of the page, you can see links to free ebooks and free kindle books.  There is a bookbub blog which has informative and easy to read articles  about books and authors.   Also on the blog are tabs with must read articles, book lists by categories, links to most popular posts and quotes from authors and best selling books.

Book Bub is a great place to explore if you read a lot of ebooks!

yournextread.com

   Yournextread.com has  a mission of providing input for the books you want to read next.  This site is designed for people who love to read but do not have lots of time to search for their next book.    One of their  ideas  and missions is to help readers find new authors.  

   Yournextread will help you find books, recommend books , link to other readers and also link you to Amazon if you wish to buy your next read.

  On the home page  there are featured books which you can click on. If you log in and register, you can create a really cool reading map.( There are examples for you to browse through) . The first thing you can do is to type in a book you like and it will lead you to similar books  , it will give suggestions on all levels.  The site also lets you share what you are reading , and connects up to GOOD READs. 

  Check out Yournextread.com and see if you like what it has to offer!

WWW.publiclibrariesonline.com

Publiclibrariesonline.com  is the companion website to the print journal, Public Libraries.   This is an official publication of the PLA ( Public Library Association) .  PLO focuses on issues and topics that concern Public librarians. 
 
the great part about this online journal is that it has great content and offers online interaction (comments, and social media sharing)  There is also daily updates, reviews, editorials, and author interviews.  Readers are also invited to submit their work.

On the main page there are many interesting articles on current issues / opinions in public libraries.  Under books & More you can find interviews with authors, and ebook reviews. 
  Under the magazine tab, featured articles from each issue are shown in full length.

  There is very interesting and informative content here, The articles provide insight to issues and give ideas of what is going on the public library world.
 Popular posts are highlighted on the side, and they indicate magazines features , news , and opinion. All in all very interesting  and informative site to help public librarians  with their jobs.

Digital Literacy: What is it?

    Digital literacy is getting to be more important as we achieve more technology use in learning. Digital literacy is the ability to use and understand information that is found  in multiple media forms ( blogs, podcasts, databases, videos, ect).  from a wide range of sources when presented.

   The key to literacy goes beyond reading to understanding, evaluating, and interpreting the information.    The person then needs to construct and create the information gained to communicate what have been learned and understood.

   Digital literacy encompasses both computer hardware and soft wear, by computer or any other hand held device.  

" The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot  learn , unlearn, and relearn."   Alvin Toffler

Value of School Librarians

   The true value of school librarians is  the  helping of students to become successful at learning. The question should always be : How  can we help our students to become more successful at learning?

   The message that school librarians needs to be focused on is this: The students !!   The key to the library program is helping the students learn how to keep on learning which will lead them to be successful in all avenues of their college  or work years.,

  Determine what tools the students need   and let those items be the goals of your work with the students. 

  Then it s your goal to share  what these tools are  with your staff , administrators, and parents,.  about the library assists and helps make the students successful.