A Great Article & Infographic on Weeding

The Adventures of Library Girl with Keeping Your Library Collection Smelling F.R.E.S.H

A Nifty Scheduling Tool

Pegasus Librarian reviews ScheduleOnce, a scheduling app that may provide an affordable option for TL’s trying to automate scheduling classes and student appointments

New Facebook Privacy Rules You Should Know About

InfoDocket outlines the new Facebook privacy policy regarding teens

Fun to Share With Your English Teachers or Literary Friends

Book Riot with The 10 Best Beards in Literature

Really?

Fired for Talking Too Loudly from LISNews

An Interesting Piece on the Difference Between Censorship & Criticism

Kelly Jensen via Book Riot with “Let’s Talk About Censorship”

Cool Infographic for Elementary & Middle-Grade Readers

The Busy Librarian shares an infographic from NYPL

Great to Share With Elementary School Parents

The Book Bug With 10 Cyber Safety Videos for Kids & Families

Add These to Your Christmas Wish List (I want the last one shown!)

8 Geek-Tastic Tees for Readers

An Interesting Christian Perspective on Ghost Stories

Her.meneutics/Christianity Today with Ghost Stories for the Christian Soul

Because It’s Halloween…

Book Riot with 15 Adorably Bookish Pet Costumes

Kristen Kramer

Kristen Kramer is the Volunteer Librarian at First Christian School in Napa, California. Her “official job” is the pre-school teacher there, and she’s also held several different volunteer positions at the school.

How long have you worked in libraries and how did you get your start?

My thanks to Kristen for taking the time to answer my questions!  If you’d like to be interviewed for this series, click here to let me know about your interest!

I have to remember usernames and passwords for Amazon, Follett, my library management program, Google Docs, my school email, supply vendors, my blog, our online attendance software, and so many more!

I created this free Log In Tracker Printable to help you keep track of all your different username and password combinations.

Now, obviously usernames and passwords are sensitive information.  That’s why I created the space for a password hint instead of the password itself.  You might also consider keeping this file in a secure drawer and away from students.  I also recommend you use a pencil so you can keep it updated in the event of any password changes.

You can download the printable by clicking on the image above or by clicking here.  Be sure to check out my all my other free printables, too!

Bruce Cummings

Bruce Cummings is the teacher librarian at Davis High Senior School in Davis, California.

How long have you worked in libraries and how did you get your start?

I started in 1995, shortly before I received my MLIS at San Jose State University. Anticipating the completion of my degree program, and in a job that barely paid a living wage, I responded to a job posting for library media teacher at El Camino High School in South San Francisco. I was drawn to the position partly because of a family tradition of teaching (I’m a third generation teacher from both parents). I still had more classes to take for the credential process, which I address in the “biggest challenge.”

What is the most enjoyable part of your job?

I enjoy working with students at the secondary level, and I particularly enjoy seeing students experience the joy of discovery, especially if it is of something that is of personal importance to the student (as opposed to a school assigned topic).

What is the biggest challenge?

Going through the process to get a single subject credential, then the library credential, was a bit tedious, but I ultimately embraced it. I think the greatest work challenge is persuading teachers (and students) of the lasting value of the skills I teach. While a single visit to the library may be life changing for a few, in my experience it is the repeated practice of essential skills that bears the most proficient fruit. This tends to be at odds with the “instant results” mentality that so often seems to be governing how schools are evaluated.

What advice would you give to someone just starting off?

Make sure you love what you do, especially in California, which is downright hostile to school librarians. Apart from that, see yourself in a support role for everybody at the school–students, teachers and administrators. Look to expand your influence (with appropriate boundaries!) rather than limit it. My greatest success stories are with those who are the “last, least, lost” groups, like new teachers, and teachers of challenging student populations (such as special ed and English language learners). I rarely see Advanced Placement classes in the library.

Brag a bit!  Tell me about the best thing you’ve done at your library.  Did you implement a program, a policy, or create something you’re proud of?

By following my advice (above), I embraced a “School to Career” (STC) curriculum in South San Francisco. The early recruits dreaded writing the curriculum, and I invited myself to their meetings. I became the STC coordinator a few years later. It was attached to the English and Social Studies departments, but each grade (9-12) had a unit, which had part or all of its STC curriculum in the library. It became a great vehicle for me to teach information literacy skills, but connected to content, rather than in isolation. That probably impacted the greatest number of students. But I’ve also been instrumental in helping the special education program to explain itself to the rest of the school, and in promoting the use of effective teaching strategies with special needs students to all students.

What are some of the issues you deal with that you feel are unique to Christian school librarians?

I can’t really think of issues that would be unique to Christian school librarians, except in how they are handled. I am mindful that when I am “on duty,” I am an agent of the state, and usually with a captive audience. I cannot proselytize. However, I can encourage students to seek out information from a variety of sources, which may include Biblical sources or Christian organizations.

Do you have any thoughts on how Christian librarians in secular schools can be lights for Christ while adhering to workplace rules about sharing our faith?

I will sometimes refer to myself when helping students unpack a controversial issue they are researching, especially where values are being examined. Many students need help looking at “contrary evidence” to avoid setting up a straw man argument. Students who find themselves either in sympathy with a Christian position, or opposed to it, find they cannot merely declare their position “right” by fiat. By seeing an adult willing to discuss values without becoming defensive, students can approach difficult topics with more humility and thoughtfulness. I hope through this to give Christian students a deeper understanding of a viewpoint they may have “inherited.” And for non-Christians, they learn that Christian viewpoints cannot be easily dismissed, at least if intellectual integrity matters to them. I have also been the faculty advisor for a student Christian club, although I don’t see that as a role unique to school librarians. My discussion has been in the context of students, but by supporting  the “last, least and lost” among my colleagues, I have had a positive impact there, as well.

Many thanks to Bruce for taking the time to answer my questions and share his thoughts!   If you’d like to be interviewed for this series, click here to let me know about your interest!

Each fall, I spend 9 class periods with my freshman students teaching them about web evaluation and advanced search techniques.  In an attempt to make it more meaningful, I tie it into their Science Fair projects.

But let’s be real.  Web evaluation and advanced searching can be super-dry and super-boring for freshman.  Heck, by the time I’m on my 5th class of the day, it’s super-boring for me, too!

So, I use these short videos to liven things up and get their attention.  I thought I’d share them with you in case you might use them, too.

To Explain How Google Search Works

Yes, this kind of seems like a Google commercial.  But my students really enjoy it and I think it does a great job at breaking down how Google works.

Wikipedia (or, Introducing Web Evaluation)

I don’t do a lesson on Wikipedia, but I use this to introduce my unit on Web Evaluation.  I show the clip and after the snickers stop, I say something like, “We’re not talking about Wikipedia today, but we are talking about how to get the best possible information Michael was talking about in the video.”

Determing Website Credibility

I love this video for its straight-faced, sarcastic humor.  It’s really entertaining for me to see how many of my students get this humor and how many of them are wondering what is going on!  I usually show this video the day after I’ve introduced the idea of credibility and after my students are already familiar with the criteria a site needs to have to be credible.

Scholarly Articles vs. Popular Articles

This is hands-down my favorite video and my students’ favorite video during their Information Literacy unit.  I use it instead of a lecture to introduce the differences between scholarly and popular articles.  It’s hilarious, and it has great content!  Just a note:  It does mention Playboy magazine as a “popular” source, but there are no images or anything that is potentially offensive.

I hope you enjoyed my favorite information literacy videos for high school students.

Please share your favorite information literacy videos for any grade level in the comments below.  I’d love to see them!

Dorinda Koelewyn is the Library Media Teacher at Central Valley Christian School in Visalia, California.

How long have you worked in libraries and how did you get your start?

I began as a part time home economics teacher.  The high school asked if I would “take care of the library”.  They gave me one or two periods to do that.  A volunteer parent told me about the teacher librarian credential through Fresno Pacific so I earned my credential and soon became a full time library media teacher.  I’ve been here over 20 years and love it!

What is the most enjoyable part of your job?

It’s a great day when students are successful in finding the information they need.  I teach them search strategies and when they use them and are excited about finding what they need, I’m very happy.

What’s your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge is to keep up with the workload.  It’s just me and student aids who come 2 periods a day.  I have new and donated books to catalog, lessons to prepare, books to buy and students to watch.  I need time to research how and when to begin checking out ebooks and other techy things like that.   I also “do” the yearbook, which is a big job.

What advice would you give to someone just starting off?

I’d advise anyone new to the library to get a library teaching credential.  It will give you the right framework for everything you do in the library.  Also keep up learning, join CSLA or CUE.

What are some of the issues you deal with that you feel are unique to Christian school librarians?

I don’t think there are any issues unique to a Christian school librarian.  I think public school librarians have many more issues to deal with.

Do you have any thoughts on how Christian librarians in secular schools can be lights for Christ while adhering to workplace rules about sharing our faith?

Your attitude and actions with your students will always show you’re a Christian, if you are in a Christian school, or not.

Many thanks to Dorinda for taking the time to answer my questions and share her thoughts!   If you’d like to be interviewed for this series, click here to let me know about your interest!

John Stanton  

John Stanton is Head of Library Services at William Clarke College, a Kindergarten-Year 12 private school in Sydney, Australia.  His library is two-in-one, as it has two separate students spaces (one for primary grades and one for secondary grades) in the same building.

How long have you worked in libraries and how did you get your start?

I got started in libraries while I was at University. While studying for my undergraduate degree, I took a job as a part-time library shelver (to basically put books away, and after a while I graduated to circulation!) at another university in Sydney.

My first “real” library job was a 1 year contract working for a multinational corporation, followed by ten years in public libraries. I have been in libraries full time for about 24 years. I have been at William Clarke College for 10 years, and it is (still!) my first school library.

What is the most enjoyable part of your job?

I enjoy most things about working in the library. I really enjoy interacting with students, collection development, and working with the teachers across the College.

What is the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge is figuring out what the best way forward is with respect to technology. Many great things simply disappear before they’ve take off, while relatively obscure things become a sensation. Balancing the desire for the “new” with the need to be financially responsible is an interesting aspect of the job. One of the greatest challenges that I’d like to get right – for my sake as much as that of the students – is to transition well from a print-dominant environment to a digital–dominant environment, without losing the benefits and convenience of print. The successful integration of all formats into the thinking of students is part of that challenge.

What advice would you give to someone just starting off?

The essential skills are people skills: customer service, negotiation, flexibility. Then comes the technology and curriculum content. Then comes the teaching and library management. I think that many people get them in a different order, or just focus on one of them without regard for the others. I know some librarians in schools who are committed, excellent teachers, but they really lack the people skills to make the library central to the school’s activities; or they lack the technology skills to move forward with the knowledge that the students have.

Take risks. Seize opportunities. Look for every possible way to connect the library with the wider school community – committees, co-curricular activities, classroom activities: whatever it takes. You are the only one who can bring your library to life.

Brag a bit!  Tell me about the best thing you’ve done at your library.  Did you implement a program, a policy, or create something you’re proud of?

The best thing I’ve done is to take control of the design process for our new library. In 2010 I was presented with the opportunity to move the library to a new location on the campus, into an existing building which would be completely gutted and refitted for library purposes. Having control over every aspect of the decision-making with respect to the design was tremendous. I was able to impose my philosophy of what a school library space should be, how the fittings would actually be laid out, access points for technology, class spaces, multi-functional spaces, workflow areas for staff, supervision, the use of natural light, and pick the colour schemes. I think we have a magnificent result. The K-6 Library space uses bright colour as a way to engage students with a fun environment, while the 7-12 library has more of a “grown-up” feel as the lounge-room of the school: relaxed but academic.

What are some of the issues you deal with that you feel are unique to Christian school librarians?

I think that censorship is the biggest issue. Our school chooses to provide students with a broad education, which means that some of the material we have in our library might well be challenged in another. I feel that it is vitally important for students, staff and parents to be realistic about the world beyond the school, and to be able to discuss information, concepts and ideas openly. It is easy to bury your head by removing particularly challenging material, and it is just as easy to become thoughtlessly fanatical about one ideological position. Our students come from many backgrounds, their families have many ideas. It is a gift to our students to allow them to see how others live, hear how others think and see what others see: and even to sometimes embrace and enjoy it!

I consider myself to be really fortunate that I work in a school library (at a Christian school) where censorship is not really a major issue. I don’t have to justify owning specific titles, nor do I get many titles challenged by staff or parents. However, I know of schools where certain titles are banned – like Harry Potter. I think that represents several lost opportunities: firstly, students lose the chance to read some really engaging stories; secondly, the opportunity to discover how JK Rowling (a self-confessed Christian) presents the magic in that world; and thirdly, the opportunity to have a broader discussion about the nature of supernatural power.

Do you have any thoughts on how Christian librarians in secular schools can be lights for Christ while adhering to workplace rules about sharing our faith?

Yes. Two things come to mind. As actions speak louder than words, I can only suggest that the biggest way you can “shout” in your workplace is to serve other people. You can serve those above you, you can serve your peers, you can serve your staff and you can serve your students. Offer yourself and the library to them. Defend and build your empire by giving it away. Volunteer your time, your expertise and your resources. Do unexpected things: if you know a staff member would really value a particular resource you’ve just bought, fast-track it through the cataloguing then take it to their desk while they are away teaching.

The second thing is kindness and grace. Show unsolicited kindness. Offer grace to your students, and the staff. Cultivate patience in the face of frustration. Don’t be the library dragon – we all know that library-land has too many of those. Laugh with your students while maintaining the school’s boundaries and expectations.

Many thanks to John for taking the time to answer my questions and share his thoughts!   If you’d like to be interviewed for this series, click here to let me know about your interest!