Not a Rocking Chair Librarian

Laurie Halse Anderson, Ashley Hope Perez, & V.S. Santoni reflect on current campaign of censorship/book banning & educational gag orders sweeping across the country. These banned authors reflect on the impacts of book banning & discuss how the public endorsement of hate silences, suppresses & erases the voices of marginalized groups & ultimately undermines our public education system.

Members and advisors of the York Central Banned Book Club and Panther Anti Racist Union (PARU) located in York PA, join me to discuss the student activism that led to a book ban reversal in York Central School District. Renee Ellis (HS student), Patricia A. Jackson (HS teacher & author), and Ben Hodge (HS teacher) discuss their journey, what motivated them to take action, what members have experienced and learned through this process, what's the latest on curriculum materials "freeze", and what advice they have for other student activists pushing back against book bans and censorship. 

Guests John Trischittii, Nancy Jo Lambert, & Cathi Fuhrman discuss the wave of K-12 book bans, librarian vilification, & educational gag orders sweeping across the country. Guests represents hot spots for this activity, TX & PA, & share their perspectives on the impact censorship has on students, collection development, & the profession, why is this happening now, who is behind the banning effort, & who are our allies in activism to combat censorship?

Conversation w/Denver Public Schools Library Technical Services Manager, Len Bryan. Len shares lessons learned over the past year, his thoughts on advocacy, & where K-12 librarianship is headed post pandemic.

Conversation w/Library Media Specialist Kelsey Bogan about her approach to marketing the value of library services & librarians beyond just the books. We also discuss her work to create a collection that is reflective of her students cultural & life experiences via her data driven Diversity Audit.

Conversation w/4 PA TLs on how they are navigating remote librarianship & what does library/librarianship advocacy look like moving forward.

Conversation w/4 NY TLs on how they are navigating the CoVid19 remote/crisis learning environment, their ups & downs, & how their role is evolving.

Sheena Kelly, Teacher Librarian at Ascend International School in Mumbai, India, gives us an update on her role at Ascend and life in India. Sheena faces many of the same challenges & obstacles all TLs encounter but w/an international twist. Great discussion about how she’s approached building a PLN & tapping local expertise to help her quickly come up to speed & find resources for her patrons. She also discusses cultural differences and how she’s been navigating those waters.

Jonathan Hunt, Coord. of Library Services for San Deigo County Office of Education & VP of Professional Development for California School Library Assoc. discusses how to “reframe” library advocacy talking points to better illustrate how traditional priorities associated w/K-12 library services, programming, & librarianship DO in fact contribute to and support larger district and system goals, and are uniquely positioned to do so.

A chat w/Kristina Holzweiss about the book she co authored w/Stony Evans, Hacking School Libraries: 10 Ways to Incorporate Library Media Centers into Your Learning Community & what she considers the most important library hack.

Mark Ray, Dir. of Innovation & Library Services Vancouver Washington Public Schools, discusses changes, trends, & obstacles impacting teacher librarians as we re position ourselves as teachers and school leaders. What’s changed since his 2016 TedTalk?

E21 | Creating an Attitude of Skepticism- Jennifer LaGarde & Daren Hudgins, authors of Fact vs Fiction: Teaching Critical Thinking Skills in the Age of Fake News, talk about information/media literacy & the need for teachers, parents, and students to become skeptical consumers of information.

BVSD Elem, MS, HS teacher librarians discuss the benefits of patron self service in their libraries.

Shannon Miller & Bill Bass share their views on the critical role teacher librarians serve in our learning communities & the need to expand our definition of Literacy.

Marnie Steele & Brent Caldwell share their journey to create Meadowlark’s Curiosity Center.

Dynamic Duo - Kelly Sain & Andrew Moore discuss the changes they are seeing in BVSD library spaces, programming, & the positive impact of staffing the collaborative hearts of our schools w/licensed & endorsed teacher librarians.

Ginger Ramsey & Jane Schissel from Broomfield High School discuss their vision for the library as a student-centered, multipurpose space that is dynamic & continually evolving to meet the needs of patrons.

Jenn B. & Tracy H. Superior Elem. reflect on how they are repositioning the teacher librarian as a co-teacher & library as an extension of the classroom to help staff & students continue learning explorations.

Eldorado K-8 Principal, Robyn Hamasaki, & Teacher Librarian, Lindsey Dantino, talk about their library RESET.

Emerald Elem Principal, Samara Williams & Lizzy Carmihael, teacher librarian, reflect on their patnership to bring Future Ready Librarianship to their learning community.