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Colorful “Thank You, Librarians!” banner with books, coffee mugs, a laptop, hearts, and a light bulb. Text highlights library activities and resources and expresses appreciation for librarians.
Libraries

A Big Shout-Out to School Librarians

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

At the start of a new school year, I want to pause and thank school librarians.

TCEA recently wrapped up access to our fifth online Librarian Conference, where attendees explored practical strategies, innovative tools, and forward-thinking practices. I had the chance to listen to fantastic librarians share what they are doing and offer resources and support to fellow librarians. Thank you to everyone who attended and to librarians across Texas, the country, and around the world who continue showing up for students, teachers, and their school communities.

What Do School Librarians Really Do?

To explore what librarians do beyond the circulation desk, I turned to Shirley Dickey, high school librarian at Clear Lake High School. Her presentation, “Advocating for Yourself and Your School Library,” offered practical advice for helping others understand the value of a school library.

Her message was clear. Librarians listen to their communities, build relationships, advocate for their programs, collaborate with others, and give people a reason to walk through the library doors.

I turned Shirley’s advice into a LIBRARIAN acrostic infographic highlighting just a few of the many roles librarians take on each day.

Of course, nine letters cannot cover everything. Librarians are resource finders, technology helpers, program planners, collaborators, and problem-solvers. They create spaces where students can read, build, research, explore, ask questions, and sometimes simply take a breath.

A Personal Thank-You to Librarians

To school librarians everywhere, thank you for keeping the books moving, the programs growing, the technology working, and the library doors open.

You find the perfect book for the student who insists they do not like reading.

You help a teacher track down a resource five minutes before class begins.

And somehow, you still make time for clubs, research projects, technology questions, and all the unexpected requests that land at the circulation desk.

Your work matters, even when much of it happens quietly behind the scenes. To support the work you do, I have gathered six resources I have created for the past two TCEA online LibCons (plus a couple of other events) that you are welcome to use in your library with fellow librarians and students.

📘 Check it Out!

This library-themed phrase game puts the word check in the spotlight! Each clue leads to a phrase or saying that includes the word check. For example:

  1. Classic red-and-black Board game with jumping = checkers
  2. A tool that finds mistakes in writing = spellcheck
View the Resource
Canva Template

📘 It’s All About the Book

Another library-themed phrase game. Each clue leads to a word or a phrase that includes the word book. For example:

  1. A person who loves to read = bookworm
  2. Do not form an opinion based only on appearance = don’t judge a book by its cover
View the Resource
Canva Template

📘 United Shapes of America

Participants look at each clue and identify the U.S. state being described. Each clue highlights something distinctive about the state’s shape. Students are welcome to use a map for a little geographic backup along the way.

View the Resource
Canva Template

📘 FIFA World Cup 2026 Memory Challenge

The 14-question 2026 World Cup Memory Challenge trivia game tests the knowledge of tournament history, host cities, and fan traditions. Project it on a screen in your library and see what happens.

View the Resource
Canva Template

📘 Story Shout-Outs

Students are given a word and challenged to name a book title that comes to mind. They can work solo, in pairs, or as teams to see who can think of the most titles. This activity is a quick way to spark book conversations, activate prior knowledge, and introduce students to new reading choices.

View the Resource
Canva Template

📘 Picture This: Name That Book

Participants look at a set of image clues and try to figure out the book title they represent. Each puzzle uses pictures placed inside letters to give visual hints, and one uses those clues to make their best guess. I have organized the activity into elementary, middle school, and high school book titles so it can work with different age groups.

View the Resource
Canva Template

Whether you use one resource for a quick library program or save the whole collection for later, I hope something here earns a spot in your librarian toolbox. And to the librarians keeping students curious, teachers supported, and libraries buzzing, a BIG thank you.

Peggy

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HB 900 Changes for TX Public School Libraries
AdvocacyLibraries

HB 900: Changes Affecting Texas Public School Libraries

by Matt Russell
written by Matt Russell

One of the more contentious issues affecting public education and the state legislature during the 88th legislative session this past year was what types of books should be allowed in Texas public school libraries. Let’s take a look at information on TX HB 900 and the mandatory school library collection development standards.

The interior of a school library with tables, chairs, shelves, and lots of books.

What Is TX HB900?

HB 900, the READER Act (Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources), by Representative Jared Patterson (R-Denton) was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on September 1, 2023. It mandated that the Texas State Libraries and Archives Commission (TSLAC), with approval from the State Board of Education (SBOE), develop and adopt new mandatory school library collection development standards applicable to all Texas public school districts. These mandatory collection development standards became effective on January 3, 2024, with enforcement of the new standards being the responsibility of the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building - Austin, Texas
Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

How Will HB 900 Be Implemented?

There has been a great deal of confusion and uncertainty about how HB 900 will be implemented and, while much of the newly mandated collection development standards are similar to prior years, there were some significant changes.

The new standards define “sexually explicit” and “sexually relevant” material and require booksellers and publishers to assign “sexually explicit” and “sexually relevant” ratings. These ratings are required for any material for future circulation or currently in circulation that the seller determines meets the law’s definitions.

Additionally, the new standards require that sellers recall materials sold to a district that the seller has rated “sexually explicit.” Materials rated “sexually explicit” may not be sold to Texas school districts. Materials rated “sexually relevant” require parental consent for a student to check out the material. Sellers are required to submit their first report listing library materials they have rated “sexually relevant” or “sexually explicit” to the TEA by April 1, 2024.

United States Court for the Western District of Texas Ruling

Due to this new state mandate, a coalition of booksellers and publishers (plaintiffs) filed suit against the TSLAC, the SBOE, and the TEA (defendants) in the United States Court for the Western District of Texas in July of 2023. The district court issued an injunction and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, citing that the new mandate violated the plaintiffs’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights as defined by the U.S. Constitution. 

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Ruling

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit Seal

Lawyers representing the defendants proceeded to file an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. On January 17, 2024, in a unanimous opinion, the court found the statute compelling the booksellers and publishers to rate books, “…likely violates the First Amendment” and affirmed the western district court’s preliminary injunction against the defendants. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit did however stipulate that all other mandates contained in the adopted School Library Programs: Collection Development Standards shall continue to be implemented.

Will an Appeal Be Filed to the United States Supreme Court?

The final recourse of the defendants would be to file an appeal with the United States Supreme Court. It is yet to be determined if an appeal will be filed. So, as it stands currently, booksellers and publishers selling to Texas public school libraries do not have to rate the books that they sell.  

Sarah Chapman, Flour Bluff High School’s Lead Librarian originally presented this information during TCEA’s Lunch and Learn on Legislative Changes Affecting Texas Public School Districts. You can sign up for TCEA’s Lunch and Learn’s here. The information provided is intended to convey general information only and not to provide legal advice or opinions. 

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Featured image with screenshots of a librarian's BeReal posts and the title "BeReal: Show the world what you're doing in your library."
Libraries

Using the BeReal App to Advocate for Your Library

by Amanda Hunt
written by Amanda Hunt

When new apps for social media come out, generally I get all the tea about them from my students. This year’s hot new app that is taking the tween/teen crowd by storm is called BeReal, and we can use it in the library.

What Is BeReal?

BeReal is an app that is available for download across platforms to “show your friends who you really are, for once.” It removes filters and opportunities to stage, overthink, or edit photos. The app notifies users that it’s “time to Be Real” at a random time throughout the day, so in order to be successful, you must have notifications enabled. A two-minute timer starts when the user opens the app, giving them a limited amount of time to take a picture of whatever they’re doing at that moment.

How Does BeReal Work?

Throughout the day BeReal will send you a notification to post your BeReal photos. Be aware! The app will take two photos: 1) a picture of what’s in front of you and 2) a selfie. The purpose is to keep everything 100% authentic. It’s meant to capture where you are, what you’re doing, and what you look like (no filters!) at the moment the notification goes off. When you sign up, the app is going to almost immediately ask you to take your first BeReal photo. Get ready! You will have two minutes to complete this activity. This app is not a big-time waster. You can click on Discover to view others’ posts, but basically, you wait for your notification, take your selfie/photo within the two-minute time frame, and move on with your life.

Features in BeReal

Posting Late: If you don’t post within the two-minute time period, you can still post your photos. Friends will get a notification if you post late.

Deleting and Retaking Posts: While you can retake your BeReal as many times as you like during the two-minute countdown, once you’ve pressed “post,” you can only delete and retake it once.

Creating Content: Don’t try and create content on your own — you won’t be able to. The point of this app isn’t to capture the perfect picture. It’s meant to BE a REAL reflection of what’s happening in your daily life. 

“Realmojis:” You can react to friends’ posts in BeReal, but you can actually selfie the emoji yourself! When I went to put a heart-eyes emoji on a friend’s post, it asked me to take a selfie of what I think that emoji looks like on a human. BeReal saved the selfie, so I can continue to use my version of the heart-eyes emoji on anyone’s post.

Comments and Descriptions: Like with other social media apps, you can comment on others’ posts and write a description for your post to explain what you’re doing, where you are, etc. 

Digital Scrapbook: Like the app 1 Second Everyday, BeReal creates a digital scrapbook of all your posts that only you can see. I like that feature so I can have a memory photo roll to look back on.

How Can You Use BeReal As a Librarian?

I believe that a lot of what’s happening in the library community with book challenges stems from a lack of awareness about our profession. Many people don’t know what it takes to become a librarian, what librarians do on a daily basis, how much detail is involved in the job, how much professional development is involved, or how we choose books for our inventory. If we create an “open door policy,” so to speak, it gives the public a look into our lives in the library. Perhaps we can reach more citizens if we show what a day in the life of a librarian looks like? As my friend and fellow school librarian, Amanda Jones, says, “It’s not bragging; it’s advocacy.” 

With this app, I’m able to take real-time photos of what I’m doing, whether it be inventory, weeding, shelving, processing, curating, research, teaching lessons, working with library aides, clubs, professional development, meetings, hallway duty, creating displays, and more.

See some examples below of what BeReal “caught” me doing both in and out of my school work day.

Here, I was attending the Middle Grade Magic Conference.

I was setting up for our 7th grade Gifted and Talented (GT) Competition.

I was designing and writing questions for our Battle of the Books.

Organizing and taking inventory of our literacy library with my library aides.

I was reading graphic novels all spring break for the Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List committee through TLA.

I was working on book recommendation graphics for the Apple TV in our library one weekend. 

When new apps come out, I am always thinking of ways librarians can use them to their advantage. So many people don’t know what library media specialists do on a daily basis. BeReal is a great way to spread awareness, especially since librarians are under attack not only on the books we’re choosing for our libraries but also for what we do throughout the school day. BeReal allows me to take snapshots of my day so that I can share these with my stakeholders and advocate for my library. How will you use BeReal?

Did you know that April is School Library Month? TCEA will feature a guest article written by a member librarian once a week throughout the month! April also includes:

How will you show appreciation for your librarian, media specialist, and library staff?

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Back to SchoolLibrariesPlanning and Preparation

Seven Back-to-School Tips for Librarians

by Kristi Starr
written by Kristi Starr

Are you a librarian who likes to plan, or do you fly by the seat of your pants? Maybe it’s a bit of both. Intentions are good but, when the first day of school suddenly stares you in the face, it’s all about survival mode. No matter where you are in the planning process, here are a few suggestions to help you face the beginning of the year with confidence. 

Know thyself.

Be honest with yourself about your skills, your strengths and weaknesses, and the things you can and can’t control. Whether you’re considering sweeping changes or just want to make small alterations in daily tasks, think about what each requires and what stands in your way. Do you need an ally? An accountability partner? An alarm? Never be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s a friend on your campus, a fellow librarian, or a library leader.

Use a planning system.

Find a way to track what you want to accomplish and when! That could mean slotting a time every day, or a few times a week, to create and schedule social media posts or write blog posts. It can include noting days for changing displays as well as ideas for display and programming themes. Your calendar/planner is also a great place to track events going on in your library as well as classes or groups visiting and using the library. Don’t forget to include events you plan to attend and classes you visit. Your planner will also be a valuable data resource when it’s time to provide reports. 

librarian tip calendar
 Created by Zinnia Bayardo

You can find some excellent planner options for purchase or download. Demco offers a library planner designed by Kristina Holzweiss. Zinnia Bayardo of Northside ISD shared this fabulous weekly calendar template that can be printed or used digitally. You can also make your own in Canva or Slides. A general academic planner can also be easily customized, like this Star Wars-themed one from Erin Condren).

Find your go-to programming resources.

Planning and programming go hand in hand. There are many great people and sites to follow to help with ideas and resources. For this, social media might be your best friend. The Book Wrangler is an elementary librarian to follow, and he shares lots of printables on his blog. Shannon McClintock Miller and the VanMeter Library Voice is another good source for programming ideas. Use reading lists, designated months and weeks, and holidays. Or maybe Facebook groups are your jam. If you prefer more random celebrations, check out NationalToday.com for a compilation of popular as well as lesser-known events. Like today, August 10, you get National Lazy Day, National Spoil Your Dog Day, Update Your Bio Day, Vlogging Day, World Lion Day, and Duran Duran Appreciation Day. 

the book wrangler
the library voice

Pick your go-to tools.

Canva or Adobe? Nearpod or PearDeck? Wakelet or Padlet? Genially or BookCreator? Know which tools you can access in a pinch to create amazing content. When you have more time available, then you can play around and experiment with new sites and apps. 

Pick one big thing at a time to focus on.

Some people are better at multitasking than others, but if you want to work efficiently, your best bet is to focus on a job and get it done. Too many overlapping projects can lead to burnout. Weeding, diversity audits, genrefication and shelving changes, or website development are just a few projects that can require extensive time to complete. When you’re trying to launch a new program or initiative, establish one at a time before moving on to the next. Trying to establish a library advisory board, set up your very first book club, and institute a Tech Tuesday can be overwhelming if you’ve never done any of them before. 

Determine the data you need, then decide how you’ll collect it.

I keep track of 3 types of student visits: classes, individual students and small groups, and students needing loaner Chromebooks. I document each in a different manner. Circulation reports are easy. Numeric data is important, but it’s not the only data we need to tell our stories. Materials requests, reading preferences, and patron comments can inform and justify collection development and library services. 

librarians back to school class

Grow your PLN.

I have the best professional learning network ever. Some are friends I’ve only met once or twice face-to-face, but they consistently make my job easier and better. Find and follow the people to follow who fill your cup, who share great ideas, who make you a better person. My PLN contains people all across the state and even the nation, people I consider to be friends. If you’re fortunate enough to work in a district or live in an area with lots of other librarians, use them to learn from and grow your practice. If you don’t, the TCEA librarian community is vibrant, and Twitter and Instagram are wonderful places to connect with others. Iron sharpens iron. 

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LeadershipLibrariesProfessional Learning

A Librarian’s Approach to Launching Tech Tuesdays 

by Amy Marquez
written by Amy Marquez

“Tech Tuesday” all started with seeing a need for instructional technology integration support at my campus. At the time, we didn’t have a dedicated person who was able to provide training and support on how to use technology tools to support instructional goals. Since the start of the pandemic, librarians and teachers everywhere have been trying to figure out how their roles would need to evolve to embrace virtual learning, blended learning, and in-person learning post-pandemic. This was a pivotal moment for me that changed the trajectory of my leadership journey. I wanted to address the needs of my staff by providing targeted support on impactful technology integration. This was my opportunity to change how my role as a librarian would impact my learning community.  

Creating Tech Tuesday

A plan began to form in my mind for supporting our staff. What if I provided a weekly “Tech Tuesday” session that was meaningful and relevant for my staff, based on campus goals and staff needs? In short, 30-minute sessions, I set out to provide support, build relationships, and offer collaboration opportunities to meet the needs of my staff. I began by brainstorming a list of questions I would ask my staff to assess their needs, interests, and ability levels. Then I set up a meeting with my campus principal. My principal’s support was essential to the success of “Tech Tuesdays.” I created a sample needs assessment survey, a suggested timeline of topics, and I pitched the idea to my principal. With their support and feedback, I got the green light to move forward and meet with my staff weekly. 

Setting Tech Tuesday up for Success

At first, I was worried about how my staff would react. I didn’t want this to be one more thing teachers “had to do.” My goal was for my staff to see that the practical ideas I had to offer were valuable, relevant, and could be used immediately. Respecting their time was crucial, so I rarely canceled my sessions and ensured that I didn’t exceed the 30 minutes scheduled each week. I approached each session from the perspective of how teachers might use a strategy in a variety of ways to reach a goal. 

What Tech Tuesday Looks Like

Sessions weren’t focused on tools but instead focused on the instructional goal. During each session, teachers would have hands-on application of the tool or strategy from the students’ perspective. Then they would “put on their teacher hat” and see what the tool/strategy looked like from the teachers’ perspective. I included collaboration time and sharing of ideas just like we would want to see students doing in the classroom. I also gave them time for reflection about what they were learning, what they wanted to see more of, and what wasn’t working. 

tech Tuesday tips for success

Certified professional librarians are essential to building a strong school community. When librarians are empowered to lead and provide professional development for staff, collaboration among members of the learning community increases, and teachers are empowered to use technology in impactful ways.

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Content AreasContent CreationLibrariesOnline Tools and AppsProfessional Learning

Two Tools that Make My Job as a Librarian Easier 

by Andrea Keller
written by Andrea Keller

Like most humans, I spend a large amount of time on various devices using various websites and applications. Although there are a million different websites and applications,  I can count on just one hand the ones that have made my life as a librarian so much easier. When I look at websites and apps, I want to find ones that are useful, make my job easier, and help with community engagement and programming. 

Before I even dive into a website or app that I am going to use in school, I remind myself about my district policies and expectations. I also take a few minutes to really look at the fine print of the terms of service. There are so many great apps out there that our students are using, but they are not always listed for 13 and under. I also look at the data that an app or website takes from the user (be sure to read the fine print!) to be sure I’m protecting my students’ privacy.

1. Nearpod 

Nearpod is one of my favorite websites to use as an instructional tool. Think powerpoint or slides, but make it interactive. The district that I am in provides us with the upgraded version, but even the free version is robust. I can start a Google Slide, and by using Nearpod, I can easily add on other content.  Although the Google Slide add-on is convenient, I tend to create most of my content directly in Nearpod. Nearpod also has a library full of already created lessons and slides that are easily editable once you’ve added them to your own library. Students can access created Nearpods through the Nearpod app on different devices, or log in through the website. Nearpod can also be student-paced, teacher-led, or both, depending on the type of learning. Working in middle school, my students are not always the first to volunteer answers. When using Nearpod, I can invite students to answer open-ended questions, take polls, take short quizzes and so much more. I use the feature to hide students’ names to provide students a safer space. I also appreciate that I can have students log in using Google Single Sign-on, which helps with those names. Nearpod is easily embedded into different Learning Management Systems and offers great data reports to see activity. With any website or app that I use, I want to make sure that my students are engaging with it, and with Nearpod, I’ve hit the jackpot. 

2. Canva

If you haven’t jumped on the Canva bandwagon yet, do so now. Canva is a graphic tool that you can use to create, design, and edit images and videos. I was always in awe of all of the cute and interactive graphics I would see on my different social media platforms. Once I discovered Canva, I realized I could do the same. Canva offers thousands of templates, but also the option to start from scratch and create your own. I use Canva on a daily basis to promote what is happening in the library, provide information to teachers, and create items for my own personal use. I create most of my first line Fridays using Canva and their video options also offer the ability to add collaborators and share across platforms. And there is a free educator account you can sign up for! 

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LibrariesPlanning and Preparation

Want to Boost Your Librarian-Teacher Partnerships?

by Heather F. Adair, MSLS
written by Heather F. Adair, MSLS

Librarians, do you know your teachers? Teachers, do you know your librarian? Have you had a chance to work together yet? I’m not referring to students’ regular visits to the library to check out books. I mean, really work together?  

As teachers and administrators, we’re missing something in our teaching and learning community, but we can’t quite put our finger on it. So we cast the searchlight into the night sky, not quite knowing who exactly we’re looking for. But working quietly alongside our superhero faculty and staff is a super-secret weapon: the school librarian. They have the uncanny ability to swoop in and affect change, boost morale, and impact student success. They are a crucial part of the learning landscape on campus. Perhaps they are the missing link.

But how do you draw the school librarian into the conversation? Honestly, it won’t take much. They have been waiting for an opportunity to help. Remember, your campus librarian was first a teacher. Let’s take a look at four ways teachers and librarians can partner to impact student learning in big ways.

1. Build Teacher-Librarian Relationships.

Break out of your shell. Not comfortable mingling? Me neither. But just as we step into a frame when preparing to teach, we must break out of our shell to develop collegial relationships.

Librarians, seek a place and time to meet teachers on their turf or invite them to a teacher preview next time you unbox new books or have a book fair. Teachers, your school librarian is eagerly awaiting your invitation to collaborate, I promise. Invite them to your classroom, visit the library, tell them about an upcoming unit, schedule a meeting, or ask them to come to your next team meeting.

In my first library, I connected with a seasoned 6th grade social studies teacher who was a champion for the library and innovative instruction. We collaborated on an upcoming unit on Pompeii, agreeing that I would launch the unit for all of his classes. We worked together to craft the activities and resources for not only the launch but the entire unit. This led to opportunities to collaborate with 7th grade Texas History, 6th grade ELAR and Science, Music Theory, AVID, and much more.

2. Work Together to Meet Goals.

Librarian joining PLC

Sometimes the best advocates for teacher-librarian partnerships are the instructional leaders on campus. Librarians, discuss how you can support the campus goals with campus administrators. Review the campus needs assessment, standardized test scores, or other data points, and come to the table with ideas already in hand. Not sure where to access the information or how to disaggregate the data? Identify a campus department chair, content specialist, or instructional coach and ask for their support. Seek professional development events that focus on interpreting student performance data, structuring and implementing campus goals, and trends in instructional strategies for diverse learners. Teachers, don’t shy away from inviting your librarian into discussions about data to see how they can support you and your students in meeting learning goals.

3. Expand Your PLC.

Librarians, ask to attend PLCs (professional learning communities) in whatever form they appear on campus: by subject area, grade level, academic teams, special programs, etc. Teachers, invite the librarian to your PLC. What better way for librarians and teachers to discuss upcoming lessons or instructional concerns than within the structure of the PLC. Even if the librarian begins as an observer only, once they learn the structure, vision, and dynamics of each PLC, they will likely transition through PLC roles toward being an active participant. Librarians can bring ideas for integrating media and information literacy skills into the curriculum at the course, unit, or lesson level to meet students’ intellectual needs and boost student engagement.

4. Learn with Librarians.

Librarian leading ed tech training

Librarians, you are poised to be the campus ed tech gurus. Though you can demonstrate your aptitude in the lessons you lead in the library, and across campus, your greatest impact may be through conducting professional development sessions. This checks multiple boxes. It hones your presentation skills in front of your peers, provides you with the opportunity to develop lessons integrating technology into active teaching and learning, and presents teachers with the learner’s perspective on integrating tech tools into lessons. Though these sessions could occur on a dedicated PD day, they could also be short demos embedded in the next faculty meeting or PLC. Teachers, are you looking for a digital tool to support learning goals? Ask your librarian! They may already know of a perfect tool, or they can find you one.

Need a superhero to boost student engagement and achievement? Draw your campus librarian into the teaching and learning conversation.

For more ideas, check out:

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AdvocacyAnnouncements/Important DatesLibraries

School Library Month: Make Your Librarian Feel Valued This April

by Emily Horn
written by Emily Horn

Do you respect, value, and appreciate your school librarian or library media specialist? Well, April is School Library Month, April 7-13 is National Library Week, and April 4 is National School Librarian Day. So, it’s a great month to rally your school community to express it! I mean, every day is a great day to show your school librarian that you respect, value, and appreciate them and their work, but April is a great month to take your school library advocacy up a notch. Before we look at ways school leaders and educators can show appreciation, let’s look at the job of the school librarian.

What Do School Librarians Do?

Do you know the answer to this question? If the thought of a school librarian stirs up visions of a stern-looking, glasses-wearing, “shusher” sitting behind the desk in the school library, scolding students about late returns before slowly pushing a dusty, creaking cart of books to reshelve the returns all day long, I have to say– this is not what it means to be a school librarian today. It’s so much more.

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has a sample job description that can shed some insight into the life of a school librarian. But keep in mind that this is generalized. It doesn’t necessarily reflect the specific needs of individual schools that librarians may be required to meet. Many school librarians are also teaching (meaning they lead classes), responsible for duties (such as co-teaching, lunchroom, recess, car line, etc.), acting as instructional coaches, and/or completing other duties as assigned in addition to regular school librarian job duties.

Here is some additional information from AASL about the work of school librarians. You see, being a school librarian is jam-packed with diverse responsibilities that are all meaningful and important to learners, educators, and school communities. Librarians are change agents, guardians of information, life-long learners and researchers, and more. And the library is the heart of the school.

Why Are School Librarians So Important?

School librarians are as important now as ever before. Students have an immense amount of information at their fingertips. In addition to teaching and reinforcing library and media skills, reading comprehension skills, digital literacy skills, and supporting a growing love of reading, part of the work of a school librarian is to teach students how to think critically about information, how to sift through sources to determine which ones are reliable, how to conduct proper research, and how to summarize and communicate their ideas and the results of research.

This is not even touching the surface of the important work school librarians do each day in collaboration with teachers to support their work in the classroom. Not only do school librarians work with students, but they may also provide training for educators on trending topics, resources, and digital learning tools. Librarians I know are constantly completing trainings, certifications, and courses to stay on top of the latest and greatest ed tech tools and library best practices. They work with teachers to collaborate on learning goals, units, lessons, and more. It is extremely important to also note the tremendous value librarians offer students and teachers through the curation and management of a rich, equitable, diverse, inclusive, and engaging collection of literature, resources, and texts (both print and digital). Often, they are curating without adequate funding.

Source: State of America’s Libraries Report 2019

Resources about the importance of school libraries/librarians:

Showing Appreciation During School Library Month

Don’t you feel a welling up of appreciation and respect for school librarians? I know I do. I recently asked librarians on Twitter what colleagues and leaders can do to make them feel appreciated during National Library Week, School Librarian Day, and School Library Month. Let’s take a look at some of their suggestions and a few additional ways leaders and educators can say “thanks” during the month of April and throughout the year.

School Leaders:

Leaders, how your staff and community view the school library often starts with you. You are a powerful ally. In addition to the librarian’s advocacy for the library, your visible advocacy and support can help set your school librarian, the library, and your school up for success. Do you know your librarian’s vision? Are you actively promoting it? Here are some ideas for celebrating School Librarian Day, School Library Month, and supporting the library all year long.

  • Request a proclamation of School Library Month from your school board and elected officials (ALA templates).
  • Note School Library Day and School Library Month on your school calendar.
  • Send out an email to the school community promoting School Library Month and School Librarian Day. In the email, share the importance of the school library to learning. (Resources and more resources for promoting).
  • Set up a “Library Mailbox” where students, teachers, and parents can place handwritten notes for the librarian.
  • Acknowledge your library staff in staff meetings and give them the opportunity to give library updates.
  • Explicitly mention and promote in staff meetings ways that teachers and librarians can partner. Highlight partnerships and projects throughout the year.
  • Share your librarian’s Amazon Wish List or Library Wish List with your school community.
  • Post “library brags” on social media about the important work your librarian is doing.
  • Offer them a hot beverage and/or morning treat.
  • Buy them lunch!
  • Write them a handwritten note of thanks. State specific reasons why you’re happy they are at your school and/or how they specifically make an impact.
  • Give a shout-out during the morning announcements.
  • Visit the library. Ask questions and take interest in their work. Tell your librarian in person how much you appreciate them and give a specific example of something in particular you appreciate.
  • Cover a class or duty to give them a little break!
  • Encourage book donations or financial donations.
  • Volunteer in the library by giving book talks, shelving, etc.
  • Actively and regularly publicly promote your school’s library through communication highlighting what’s going on in the library (on social, via email, or through a newsletter, etc.).
  • In partnership with the librarian, make the school community aware of library needs and ways to help the library.
  • Facilitate and promote collaboration on pedagogical projects, units of study, and lessons between teachers and the librarian.
  • Last, but not least– ask your school librarian how you can best support them and show your appreciation.

Highlight the library to the community, promote what’s happening, facilitate collaboration among staff, and repeat…all year long.

Educators:

Educators, you are important partners for school librarians, and they love supporting the work you’re doing in your classroom. Are you currently collaborating with your school librarian to bridge the classroom and library? Here are some ways you can show appreciation, work with your students to help them express gratitude, and forge a solid partnership with your school librarian.

SLM Ideas for Teachers
  • Create a student choice board with activities for showing appreciation for the library and library staff (write a note, draw a picture, make a video, record an audio message, etc.).
  • Provide your librarian with chocolate (or another favorite treat).
  • Run a class (or staff!) book drive for the library.
  • Collect donations from staff and offer the funds as a donation to the library.
  • Lead your students in writing thank you notes (or drawing pictures) to your librarian for specific ways he/she/they have inspired, helped, or encoured them in their reading, personal, or academic journey.
  • Get them something off their Amazon Wish List or Library Wish List.
  • Give your librarian social media shout-outs!
  • Collect letters, or write a letter signed by staff, and send them to the school board outlining the importance of the library and the work of your librarian.
  • Write them a handwritten note expressing your respect for their work and your appreciation for what they do.
  • Reiterate to your students why the library is important to your community and to their learning.
  • Invite your librarian to your classroom!
  • Return your books on time, and remind your students to return their books on time.
  • With your class, brainstorm things you love about the library, and make a “We Love the Library!” collage for your librarian.
  • Ask students how the library has impacted them, and make a list to offer your librarian from the class.
  • Let your librarian know in advance what comprehension/reading, writing, or research skills you are working on and collaborate on how to connect the library and classroom.
  • Ask your librarian to attend a unit planning meeting and work together on a full unit of study or project.
  • Schedule times (outside of library class times) to take your students to the library for collaborative lessons or research time.
  • Share learning goals with your librarian and ask them about digital tools to support these goals.
  • Seek out their book recommendations for read alouds, your classroom library, or to support student learning needs.
  • Last, but not least– ask your school librarian how you can support them and show your appreciation. They’ll tell you!

Additional Resources for School Library Month

Here’s a National Library Week template by librarian Erin Jewell
Use American Library Association’s (ALA) National Library Week Tools
Play School Library Month Bingo thanks to librarian Karina Quilantán
Use this great National Library Week template by librarian Andrea Keller
American Association of School Librarian (AASL) Resources
Highlight your library through AASL’s Social Media
School Library Month PSA’s through AASL
10 Ways to Celebrate School Library Month by Ebsco
Resources from Shannon McClintock Miller through Follett
Wakelet School Library Month Resources
National Library Week social media post templates by librarian Andrea Keller
10 Great Ways to Celebrate National Library Week with Teens by YALSA

Please spread the word about School Library Month (April), National Library Week (April 3-9), and National School Librarian day (April 4) so that you and your school community can take this time to intentionally show appreciation for all the amazing school librarians. What will you do for your school librarian and library this April? Leave us a note in the comments!

Summer Librarian Conference Is Back!

Calling all librarians! TCEA’s annual Librarian Conference is back, and we want YOU to be a part of it. Three days of virtual learning exclusively catered to all things library? Yes, please.

If you’re interested in topics like the latest research on reading, organization and time management tools, promoting your library, and curation tools and tips, this summer camp is perfect for you. Join your fellow librarians and media specialists online this for this summer librarian event and grow your network, knowledge, and library. 

More Librarian Reads

Canva Templates for Librarians
Finding the Perfect Book to Read Next
Two Tools that Make My Job as a Librarian Easier
A Librarian’s Approach to Tech Tuesday
How to Get Started with Python in the Library
Want to Boost Your Teacher-Librarian Relationships?
Five Ways to Engage Your School Community with eBooks?

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Digital LiteracyLibraries

TexQuest: Curated, Safe, and Customizable Online Resources for Students

by Amanda Hunt
written by Amanda Hunt

Submitted by the Texas Library Association

As a library media specialist, I am fortunate to have access to the TexQuest materials and resources in the district where I work. I am confident in the quality and appropriateness of TexQuest. Because of my trust in the validity of their sites and information, I was able to customize the resources to best fit my students’ needs. Before we dive into how I did this, let’s take a look at what TexQuest is and why it is a trusted program for student research.

What Is TexQuest?

TexQuest, a program offered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, provides shared access to authoritative, curated online information resources for millions of public school students. Students conduct approximately 45 million information searches each year and download over 20 million educational resources through TexQuest. Currently, 73% of school districts participate in the program, approximately 92% of all K-12 students in Texas.

Districts pay just 29 cents per student to participate, a tiny fraction of what it would cost to subscribe to TexQuest resources separately. No matter the district’s size, TexQuest is affordable and plays a significant role in leveling the playing field and making education equitable.

TexQuest Safety and Validity

TexQuest is a safe online environment where students can explore many age-appropriate materials in their research, homework, and academic studies. The state library recently released a report, TexQuest Resources: Overview of Access and Safety Procedures, which outlines the levels of protection that are in place.

TexQuest offers five levels of curation and control:

1. Curation: Materials are selected by subject matter experts to be appropriate for K-12 audiences. Some are narrowly curated for elementary, middle, or high school students, and materials in core databases are grouped in collections tailored to early grades, middle school, and high school. 

2. Vendor’s Internal Filters: Among the over two dozen products offered in TexQuest, all but two have automated filters of their materials.  The two exceptions are the Britannica School suite and TeachingBooks.net, which are created and curated by the companies and do not require filtering (they filter for external content such as YouTube links).

3. School District Filters: School districts are required by federal law (CIPA) to use content filters to participate in the E-rate program; therefore, nearly every Texas school district has these filters already in place. TexQuest products do not bypass these district filters.

4. Configurable Access: Districts can opt in or opt out of specific resources at the campus level. They can create campus-level subaccounts that allow resources to be enabled or disabled so that students can access only age-appropriate materials and resources.

5. Collection Development and Reconsideration Process: TSLAC has a TexQuest Collection Development Policy and a process for reconsideration of materials in place. The agency’s K-12 Advisory Committee is also involved in product selection and review.

Library Search Apps: Rebranding Research for Students

At the Texas middle school campus where I work, TexQuest has been a staple when it comes to research. In all honesty, research isn’t my favorite thing to teach in the field of library science. I struggled for years to make it entertaining, fun, and educational for the students, but I always felt like I was falling short of that goal. However, a few years ago, I attended a Texas Library Association conference program where librarians from San Antonio described rebranding research to fit our students’ vernacular. 

This gave me the idea to create library “search apps” using TexQuest and other resources our district subscribes to.  I created a “libserv” for our district using Google Sites, which allows the website to be locked down for our district users only. Therefore, I was able to share usernames and passwords safely and create apps using Canva for each of the TexQuest options. By just changing the name to include the word “apps,” students automatically knew what I was referring to when we began our research units in their library lessons. Such a simple change can facilitate understanding immediately. 

Making Research Interactive

Middle school is usually the first time students are exposed to research, citations, plagiarism, and copyright. Taking the amazing, age-appropriate, and secure resources TexQuest provides and putting them into terms students can understand is half the battle when it comes to teaching research. To teach the TexQuest apps, I created a digital scavenger hunt that had students searching for items in each of the search apps through TexQuest to find the right answers. This familiarized students with the apps and taught them how to search effectively when doing research. By putting the lessons into terms students can relate to and understand, I can get them on board with research, which can be a very dry topic to learn at times. That said, TexQuest is a fantastic resource that we are so lucky to have in our district. 

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remote learning
Libraries

Remote Learning Resources and Ideas for Librarians

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

April 4 marks National School Librarian Day, an occasion to celebrate the contributions of librarians and media specialists in schools and districts across the country. Of course, librarians today face the challenge of a truncated, flipped, and thoroughly unpredictable school year. To help, we’ve gathered resources for librarians to help carry out their vital roles while facilitating the new reality of remote teaching and learning. 

Curated Tools for Remote Learning

A number of library-oriented and educational organizations are bringing together troves of links to free or temporarily-free remote learning resources useful to schools libraries. 

THE Journal

The staff at THE has put together a list of resources, archives, tools, and more from Adobe to Zoom. Be sure to spend some time looking through the list, not only to spot tools or techniques you may have missed, but to explore repositories of information and ideas to implement effective pedagogy, even (and especially) at a distance. 

In response to the number of states, districts and schools that are shuttering schools to students over the next several weeks in response to fears about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), education technology companies have stepped forward to help educators reach students in virtual ways. In many cases, the companies are making their paid services free through the rest of the school year; in other cases, they’re lifting limits to services and/or adding premium features to what’s free. The following list will be updated regularly as announcements are made.

THE Journal

Texas Association of School Librarians

TASL has put together a handy Wakelet that collates many remote teaching and learning tools. Notably, they include an “Ideas and Best Practices” section to help you juggle all the options you’re faced with. 

My hope is that we can use this time to get kids excited about learning things they aren’t able to do while they’re at school, rather than having them fill out worksheet after worksheet.

Denise Pope, “Stanford scholar offers ideas to upgrade lessons for kids at home during coronavirus school closures,” Stanford

Collecting Best Practices

In the vein of bringing together and sharing best practices, here are a few sites that collect good ideas for librarians faced with our current challenges.

American Library Association

The ALA has gathered a number of resources and recommendations. Their Pandemic Preparedness page include topics to consider in crafting library policy, remote professional development/training resources, and links to state and local information. 

Through ALA, the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) has even shared best practices for disinfecting circulated books.

Lone Star College-Kingwood

The folks at the Kingwood campus of Lone Star College have shared their Learning Commons Contingency Plan, a solid resource to help organize and structure your plans and practices as you deliver learning remotely.

TCEA Remote Learning

And don’t forget to check out the many resources and videos that TCEA has put together to help with remote teaching, learning, and leading. More are added daily. And this blog is constantly being updated to help librarians, teachers, and administrators.

Have your own ideas, tools, or good practices to share? Let us know in the comments!

unsplash-logoPhoto: Christina @ wocintechchat.com
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