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School Library Month

April is School Library Month and April 7-13 is National Library Week! Celebrate with Canva Templates for the library.
CanvaLibraries

Canva Templates for Librarians

by Sara Qualls
written by Sara Qualls

It’s time to break out the confetti and strike up the band because it’s National Library Week, April 7-13! Let’s give a round of applause to those magical havens where every shelf holds adventures and where imagination knows no bounds: school libraries. But libraries wouldn’t be the community hubs they are if it weren’t for librarians! Let’s celebrate with a curated list of Canva templates specifically for librarians. But first, let’s take a look at some important dates.

Important Library Dates

School Library Month kicks off every April, thanks to the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). They’re the ones who decided to shine a spotlight on our fantastic school librarians and libraries all across the country in 1985. The idea? Well, it’s all about getting everyone in the school and community pumped to understand how libraries are essential to learning and education.

  • School Library Month: April
  • School Librarian Day: April 4
  • National Library Week: April 7-13 (second full week in April)
  • Right to Read Day: April 8
  • National Library Workers Day: April 9
  • National Library Outreach Day: April 10
  • Take Action for Libraries Day: April 11

Canva Templates for Librarians

I’ve curated a collection of Canva templates tailored specifically for librarians. From eye-catching event posters to activities that can be done in your own library, these templates have customizable elements and vibrant visuals. The purpose of these templates is to empower librarians to showcase the magic of their libraries and inspire a new generation of readers. Don’t forget qualifying educators get a Canva Pro account for free! Just another reason to love Canva. 

Reminders and Events

Create reminders that teachers can pick up to hang in their classrooms or around the school.

Library Day Reminder

Book Fair Poster

Family Library Night

Learning Posters

Create posters that teach students about genres or library processes. 

Types of Literary Genres

Genres Mindmap

Dewey Decimal System

Processes and Expectations

Create posters that teach students about your expectations for the library. 

Library Rules

Meeting Room Rules

Library Expectations

Motivational 

Decorate and motivate your students in the library with motivational posters.

Dream Big and Create Your Own Story

Introverts Quotes

Reading Quote

Library Signage 

Create signage that directs students. 

Genre Signage

Return Books Here

School Library Welcomes You

Newsletters

Advocate for your library by spreading the word about everything you do! 

Elementary Library Newsletter

Library Menu Board

Classroom Newsletter

Activities

Canva’s templates make crafting exciting library activities like scavenger hunts, word searches, and more straightforward. 

Genre Scavenger Hunt

Design a Book Cover

Library Genre Word Search

Digital Citizenship

Many librarians are tasked with teaching digital citizenship to students. Canva has you covered.

Digital Citizenship Responsible Use Presentation

Five Tips to Identify Fake News

Digital Footprint Digital Citizenship Lesson 

Bookmarks

Create printables like bookmarks to give to your students. Add their name, your school motto, or mascot to personalize it.

Libraries Are a Treasure Bookmark

Keep Reading Bookmark

Every Chapter Is a New Adventure Bookmark

Random Canva Librarian Finds

Search for Library Templates in Canva

Try clicking on the search terms below and begin to explore on your own:

Let’s continue celebrating the magic of libraries and fostering a love for learning and reading in every student, one template at a time.

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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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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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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national library week
Libraries

Why You Should Be Celebrating National Library Week

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

It’s been a challenging 12 months for libraries, whether public or in schools. The changes brought on by the pandemic have altered the way libraries function. Some have adapted with curbside services and more online offerings, making the most of tech to deliver the free, public knowledge services for which libraries are so beloved.

So, when time came to plan this year’s nationwide celebration of libraries — National Library Week — the American Library Association (ALA) worked hard to recognize these changes and the hard work of librarians in schools, universities, and public facilities across the United States.

Welcome (Back) to Your Library

That is why the theme for this year’s National Library Week, April 4–10, 2021, is simple: “Welcome to Your Library.” Indeed, many will be returning to their local libraries soon, students will fill media centers, and librarians will again adapt to changing circumstances.

Ready to honor those who help spread the word of the power of words? Here’s how you can be a part of the occasion, whether at school or in your community.

What Is National Library Week?

National Library Week was started in 1958 and is observed during the first week of April to recognize the vital work of school, public, academic, and special collection libraries. 

The organizers also want to recognize the good works of specific library workers. From a NLW press release:

On April 6, 2021, the nation will celebrate National Library Workers Day (NLWD), a time to recognize library staff members for their public service contributions in transforming lives and communities through education and lifelong learning.

The ALA Allied Professionals Association (ALA-APA) invites library advocates, patrons, and staff to show their support of our nation’s library workers by posting words of encouragement and appreciation for their local library stars at http://bit.ly/librarystar. Academic, public, special, school library patrons can “Submit a Star” by providing a brief testimonial about a favorite library employee. Patrons are welcome to share stories about how library staff has an impact on their lives or community. Each testimonial will appear in ALA-APA’s “Galaxy of Stars.”  Library staff and the general public can also share well wishes over their social media channels with the hashtag #NLWD21 or post messages to the National Library Workers Day Facebook page.

ALA. “Nation to celebrate library workers’ contributions, April 6, 2021.”

In addition, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) builds on the celebration to mark School Library Month all throughout April. 

Spreading the Word about National Library Week

First, you can keep up with nationwide activities and events by following on social media. The NLW organizers and ALA suggest following the hashtags, #NationalLibraryWeek and #LibrariesTransform, to follow along, pick up inspiration and ideas, and share your library successes.

Each day of the week features a unique theme, event, or release relevant to librarians, administrators, teachers, or simply library-lovers. Here’s what’s on the schedule. Check out the links to learn more about each item.

Further, you can build a love of libraries at your school during School Library Month. Check out all the ways to do so, including posters, activities and resources, and more on their website. 

More Library Resources from TCEA

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School Library Month
Libraries

Why Do We Celebrate School Library Month?

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

April brings School Library Month, National School Librarian Day, Library Workers Day, and National Library Week. What is the point? What have libraries and librarians ever done for us?

Consider the legacy of libraries. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was the Great Library at Alexandria. Libraries all over the world have preserved works of other cultures when those cultures would have seen those works destroyed. Libraries are national treasures, or at least treasure troves; think of the Library of Congress or the Bodleian (Oxford). Many books have included library settings, and librarians are something akin to rock stars for many authors.

Why? What’s so great about libraries and librarians?  

Librarians are teachers.  

If your campus has a certified librarian, he or she has also been a classroom teacher. They know a thing or two about curriculum and instruction. In fact, they still love teaching! Their library classroom looks a little different and has more students, but librarians are still teachers. And it doesn’t stop with the students. Many librarians lead professional development on their campuses and in their districts while others offer educational opportunities for parents.

Librarians love books.

Of course librarians love books. Everyone knows that. But it’s more than a love of books. Librarians want others to be readers and will go out of their way to turn a reluctant reader into a voracious one. Librarians spend hours outside of school reading and listening to a wide variety of books that they can then recommend to their teachers and students. They create displays to highlight books and promote them over social media. They find and purchase books and resources that support curriculum. They know that books are “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors” as stated by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop in 1990, underscoring the need for diversity in library collections. Books, like libraries, are for everyone.

Librarians are Future Ready.

Librarians who are Future Ready go beyond literacy. They collaborate with teachers, building instructional partnerships. They help students become creators and problem solvers, and they protect their students by protecting privacy and teaching students digital skills. Future Ready Librarians select, organize, and share digital resources, looking for ways to provide access to all students, and they invest strategically in digital resources. But Future Ready Librarians aren’t concerned only with the digital landscape; these librarians build community support and offer spaces for their school communities to learn, create, and grow.

Librarians embrace change.

Gone, we hope, are the stereotypical shushing librarians. School librarians now are working in a changing landscape. Books will continue to exist in print, but ebook and audio book collections are expanding. Graphic novels are increasing in popularity and acceptance. Technology is becoming the standard, not the exception. Makerspaces and coding can be found in more and more libraries. And whether it’s a place to read, relax, charge a device, study, or visit, the library is a place for anyone and everyone.

Most importantly, librarians love students.

Whether teaching a class, helping a student select a book, or taking time to learn about the newest resources and tools, librarians are committed to the success of every student every day.

If it’s been a while since you visited your school library, drop by to find out what you’ve been missing. Whether you’re a librarian, a teacher, an administrator, or anything in between, happy School Library Month! Libraries are for EVERYONE.

This is a guest blog post by Kristi Starr. Kristi is the library media specialist and co-campus technology leader at Coronado High School in Lubbock ISD and the Past President of LIB-SIG. This blog is part of a monthly series from LIB-SIG. 

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