NYLA Annual Conference 2024

The 2024 New York Library Association (NYLA) Annual Conference was held from November 6th to 9th in Syracuse, NY. As always, I am grateful that my role allows me the opportunity to attend various state conferences. In addition to participating in meetings for the various organizations I belong to, the NYLA Conference provides a valuable opportunity to network with peers and stay informed about new developments in the library field.

One of the highlights of this year's conference was the keynote address by Amanda Jones, a school librarian from Louisiana. Amanda gained national attention when she spoke out against censorship at a public library meeting. As a result, she became the target of a vicious effort to discredit her professional integrity and tarnish her reputation. Despite the ongoing smear campaign, Amanda has shown remarkable resilience, standing firm in her beliefs and continuing to advocate for the vital role of school librarians. Her courage in the face of adversity was truly inspiring.

Amanda’s book, That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America, was published this past August. In it, she shares her personal journey and her passionate advocacy for the freedom to read. I read the book when it was released and found it to be a powerful example of the challenges many school librarians face today in defending students' right to access diverse literature. I also had the privilege of hearing Amanda speak during a virtual professional development session hosted by Boss Librarian, which only increased my excitement to hear her keynote at NYLA.

Of course, upon arriving in Syracuse on Wednesday, I realized I had left my copy of Amanda’s book at home. Fortunately, NYLA was selling copies at the conference—so now I have two! Having an extra copy is just one more way to support Amanda and her important work.

Amanda’s discussion on overcoming censorship was truly inspiring. Her strength and determination make her a role model for all librarians. If you ever have the chance to hear her speak, I highly recommend it. And if you haven’t yet, definitely read her book—it’s a must for any librarian.

The Academy for Human Rights Fall Conference for Educators

On October 24th, I had the privilege of attending The Academy for Human Rights Fall Conference for Educators: At the School House Gate at Erie 1 BOCES.  The Academy for Human Rights is an organization founded by teachers in Western New York.  Their goals are: 

• To help our participants have the knowledge and skills necessary to lead contributory lives in their communities, nation, and world--especially in the arena of human rights education and genocide prevention.

• To cultivate the next generation of concerned citizens that are necessary for the health of civil society.

• ​To provide examples of past and current role models of citizen-leaders that participants can emulate.

• To empower educators, civic leaders, and citizens to take part in their communities and to promote tolerance, understanding, and our shared humanity (The Academy for Human Rights).

The objective of the day was to highlight the importance of student free speech rights in public schools. The speakers referenced many landmark Supreme Court Cases, including Tinker v. Des Moines that helped define students rights. In addition to highlighting cases, the focus was on giving educators strategies and resources to navigate students rights in the classroom.

Myself with Mary Beth Tinker

One of the best parts of the day was being able to meet Mary Beth Tinker, a plaintiff of Tinker v. Des Moines.  It was really interesting to hear the Mary Beth's story.  Mary Beth is a roll model to students and demonstrated how one little act can influence change.  Her message on the importance of empowering students resonated with me. She continues to challenge injustices, and was excited to talk about visiting a library during Banned Books Week.

Understanding and upholding student free speech rights is essential in fostering a democratic and inclusive educational environment. The Academy for Human Rights does a wonderful job of providing professional development to equip teachers with the skills an knowledge necessary to teach and uphold the rights of students. I would recommend any event they lead.

The Science of Reading

One of the newest buzz-phrases in education is the concept known as the "science of reading," which has garnered significant attention and become a politically charged topic within US education. While educational trends often come and go, the science of reading appears to be an enduring approach supported by research. It revolves around evidence-based practices that aim to instruct students in reading by using a spectrum of essential reading skills, thereby bolstering a comprehensive reading model.

The closure of schools during the pandemic resulted in a significant impact on education, particularly in reading proficiency. Despite efforts to continue virtual education, reading scores suffered. During the 2022-2023 school year, fewer than half of New York’s third graders were proficient on state reading tests (New York State Education Department).  Responding to this issue, Governor Kathy Hochul recently called for NYSED to “require school districts to certify that their curriculums have embraced ‘scientifically proven’ approaches to literacy by September 2025” (Ashford, 2024).

The fundamental role of the school librarian centers on supporting classroom teachers and students with their reading and information goals.  How, then, can school librarians contribute to promoting the science of reading? A crucial aspect involves providing a diverse array of reading materials that cater to the needs of teachers and students. By curating the library collection in alignment with the curriculum and the broader school community, students gain access to high-quality resources. “Reading for understanding, reading for pleasure, and the depth and breadth of the reading experience remain at the heart of library instruction” (Rowe and Soulen, November/December 2023).  Supporting the science of reading entails addressing the diverse needs of students, removing obstacles that hinder access, and facilitating opportunities for students to actively engage in the reading process. This multifaceted approach empowers school librarians to play a pivotal role in promoting literacy within their schools.

This article is helpful for more in-depth information regarding the science of reading and school libraries.  There is an extensive works cited page with more resources to continue your learning.

Works Cited:

Ashford, Grace. “As Literacy Lags, Hochul Proposes Changing How Schools Teach Reading.” New York Times, 03 January 2024. www.nytimes.com/2024/01/03/nyregion/new-york-schools-reading-hochul.html?mwgrp=a-dbar&unlocked_article_code=1.K00.vdPg.b2dl3_0nvBqq&smid=url-share

New York State Education Department. “New York State Report Card [2022-2023].” NY State Data. https://data.nysed.gov/essa.php?instid=800000081568&year=2023&createreport=1&38ELA=1&38MATH=1.  Accessed 03 January 2024.

Rowe, Marjorie W., and Rita Reinsel Soulen. "The Science of Reading and School Libraries." Knowledge Quest, vol. 52, no. 2, Nov.-Dec. 2023, pp. 38+.

My Year in Books

 

I read 27 books for 2023; 9,548 page. I finished up another degree this year, so a lot of what I read this year was professional literature. However, I did also listen to many audiobooks on my work commute and many work trips. This list does not include picture books and novels I read to students from January to April. I also don’t count books I read to Sam. The numbers would be much greater!

My 2024 goal is 50 books. That’s close to a book a week. I’ve already started and always have multiple books going at once!

CS&DF in the Library - 2023 NYSCATE Presentation

 

    This past Sunday, I had the privilege of presenting at NYSCATE's annual conference.  If you have not attended the NYSCATE conference, it is one that I would highly recommend.  My presentation, titled "CS&DF Standards in the Library," has been a project I've been working on since the standards were in the development stage. I was excited to share my insights and experiences to a room of around 20 people.  You can access the resources from this presentation, and others on my dedicated presentation page.

    The vision for Computer Science and Digital Fluency (CS&DF) standards in New York is that every student would know how to live productively and safely in a technology-dominated world. This includes the understanding the essential features of digital technologies, why and how they work, and how to communicate and create using these technologies.

    A school's vision statement encapsulates broader educational goals, and the CS&DF vision echoes the overarching goal of numerous school districts. To align with this vision, the CS&DF standards were designed not as the sole responsibility of a specific group of educators but as a shared obligation among all. Collaboration among librarians, teachers, and educators from various areas is imperative to meet these standards effectively. While no single group bears the entire burden, librarians must refrain from adopting a "not my job" mindset.

  

    To help librarians meet the CS&DF Standards, I have examined what they are currently doing in their curriculum that already meets these standards. I have worked with 3 districts where we have explored and dissected the standards to gain a greater understanding. Once the librarians know what the standards are and have heard some examples, they make note of lessons they teach students that meet these standards. Examining what you're already doing is helpful to help guide where you need to go.

    It is not the sole responsibility of a librarian in a school building to meet all theses standards. After all, they are only one person who sees students. Seeing what standards are being met by the librarians can show areas where standards are not being met and identify other curriculum areas that can fill in the gaps.

    To assist librarians in supporting the standards, I created a list of trade books that I matched with the CS&DF concept areas. Trade books, intended for a general audience and distinct from textbooks, serve as powerful instructional tools. They aid in vocabulary development and foster interest in diverse topics. Having books that support standards in your library collection can provide "unplugged" computer science instruction and provide teachers with resources. My goal is to update the trade book list as more books are published. You can find the list here and in the resources from my presentation. Note that I have not read every book and I made my standard alignment based on summaries and reviews provided on Amazon and Follett's Titlewave.

    Even after I gave this presentation, I am continuing my work with school districts on the CS&DF Standards.  From my experience working with librarians, I am able to offer more support as these standards go into full implementation next year.  My tips for implementing these standards in your library is to let students know that you are learning with them, take opportunities to learn from students, and have fun!  Libraries are spaces where students can take risks and learn what interests them.  The same should go for the librarians in the library!

Wakelet Community Leader

 

Wakelet is the ultimate ed tech tool for librarians.  I use it all the time to share resources during professional development and meetings and to keep my bookmarks easily accessible on any device!  It is more than just pintrest for educators because you can upload your own documents and hyperlink websites, tweets, videos, or any other online content.

I've been using Wakelet since its early days.  However, I just became a Community Leader.  This gives me even more access to resources to help me use Wakelet.  Some of the great things I have found are the resources on Wakelet for Librarians.

Check out my Wakelets here.

Banned Books Week

As a librarian, my mission is to promote knowledge, foster critical thinking, and provide access to a wide range of ideas and perspectives. It is this commitment to the principles of intellectual freedom that librarians celebrate Banned Books Week this week.  I want to shed light on the dark practice of banning books and why it is not only counterproductive but also so harmful to our society.

Banning books goes against everything at the heart of what our nation was founded on.  It stifles this freedom by restricting access to ideas, information, and different viewpoints.  Limiting access to different ideas undermines a persons ability to think for themselves and form their own opinions.

Libraries are places of learning and enlightenment. When we ban books, we limit the educational opportunities available to our communities and our students. Books are valuable resources for students and allows them to see themselves and view the experiences of others. By banning books, we deny individuals the chance to explore diverse perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of the world.

Books are essential in preserving our cultural and history.  Banning books erases the voices and experiences of different groups, usually groups that have already historically been marginalized.  Banning books is saying that someone's history does matter.  We risk losing the ability to learn from that past.

As a librarian, I stand firmly against the practice of banning books. Banning books undermines the principles of intellectual freedom, limits education, erases our cultural and history Instead, let us celebrate books as vehicles for exploration, enlightenment, and personal growth, and trust in the power of informed individuals to make responsible choices about what they read and believe. If you don't agree with a book, don't read it.