There are moments where my heart aches at the losses of some amazing people we have lost in our lives; it sounds out of context, but graduation is a bittersweet timeof the year for me, I am so blessed for the amazing people that I have built relationships with and I miss so much the people that have been stolen from us.
It took me back to the message I thought about in being recognized for an amazing honor, but knowing the others around me help me be who I am every day.
Starting at 27:51 I was asked about receiving this honor in 2021. In rewatching this, I simply cannot get over the amazing talent I have seen in youth leaders since I arrived in Delaware in 2011.
Nominations and Awards matter when they shed the light on where else we can improve conditions for others.
It has been that long, and yet, seeing graduates from the classes of 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, AND the classes of graduates from the American School Foundation in Mexico City,
a world away, from 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016-
it is necessary to write out to remove the take for granted-ness we have a tendency to do with numbers…
I hope communities realize what a difference it makes when guardians and parents work alongside faculty, schools, school libraries and programs that start in the schools, and extend into the community.
It is important to realize that writing out all of the years above helps bring the reality of how many students are affected when you make learning personal and are invested. In a time when school librarians are becoming obscure, when teacher positions are harder than ever due to lack of guardian and parent involvement from day one, it is now more important than ever that community members AND legislators, AND community leaders work together to continue to grow the numbers of students that will come back, and be leaders in their communities.
Do not take for granted that it is just another school year, just another graduating class, just another flock of students. Never take the years or the graduates of any particular school, year, or area for granted, and if you take a vested interest in the ways to increase school librarians, quality experiences for quality teachers, and support in creative ways for your schools, your community will improve.
You just need to keep asking questions, wanting more positions for the above professionals, and create community paths for youth, and things change before your eyes. It happens all over the world, and is not particular to any specific geographic area/ demographic area. It might take different approaches, but the tenets are still there 🙂
In obtaining some great collections of books from the Library of Congress Surplus Book Program, we stumbled upon some amazing discoveries that are new books to our collection:
We knew we were on to something when e invited Alaya Dawn Johnson, Adi Alsaid, and Zoraida Cordova to Authors Among US in Mexico City years ago, and here they are AGAIN together!
and are excited to see a way to discern, analyze and be informed about periods of our history in the 60’s and 70’s studying the origins of feminist movements.
Coming off the cuff of the value of Books of Diversity, we were excited to see how closely related we are to connecting to Ellen Oh’s call for books of diversity.
Thursday’s 12:00 lunch speaker – Invigorating to say the least when opening the pages of a storyteller. Ellen Oh, the CEO of We need Diverse Books, was one of the best candidates to speak on the challenges facing all schools and librarians of their time today.
If you look closely at the Board of Directors, you will also see Zoraida Cordova, who was one of our amazing invited guest authors at the Authors Among Us event at the American School Foundation in Mexico City – APRIL 25, 2016! (Scroll down to see this amazing menu of authors – LOVED seeing Ms. Zoraida as a part of this as well -amazing!)
I do not recall the reference Ms. Oh made to the Grand Army Plaza Library, but in looking at this library it reminded me of the Public Library in Los Angeles, and from Susan Orlean’s book, The Library Book. when I visited there for the Humanities Conference, wow, I realized how much power the written word, and libraries have, even more than I knew already. An interesting connection to someone from that book is also found HERE.
I loved this illustration from 2012 that Ms. Oh presented to demonstrate why, indeed, we need diverse books amid swirls of controversy against them.
In addressing the value of pushing back against censorship and banning, Ms. Oh often told of comments made to her about being told to return to her own country, often directed to China, and she proved the very point of being informed- she mentioned she was Korean, not Chinese!”
Her request to always have inclusion was no truer than when she stated how today children’s books are political where they never used to be at all. She as well offered a nod about how similar to Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four compared to today’s society’s norms, all has become.
Ms. Oh went on to tell a possible story titled, “Never Trust Billionaires” that could occur, which was HYSTERICAL and involved an image of Ex Lax causing havoc on the world. Her reference to the evils of money which equals power, and how power makes the law, it was no secret how her disdain of millionaires control the story of equity in the world. Her statement, “There are alot of jokes about rich people, but none of them work!” made her point about the realizations about how money can control the narrative. Knowing and realizing helps begin to understand how to make positive changes.
Lisa Oh began to delve into her familial backstory from Korea, was heartbreaking and can’t be replicated here, but had the attention of every single person in the room, you couldn’t hear a pin drop. Her inspiration for Finding Junie Kim obviously stemmed from this amazing bio of her family’s experience, breaking down democracy and communism.
This is only half of the power of Ellen Oh’s talk and the second half will be appearing in the next post in order to capture the importance of this amazing opportunity with Ellen Oh.
Before focusing on another amazing key note speaker from the MLA/DLA Conference, one detail is worth taking a look into that was brought up from Justina Ireland. Her 2021 book, Ophie’s Ghost stuck with me for one specific reason – the words Justina Ireland stated that the topic of Ophie’s Ghost was always there, but yet never had to be mentioned. Obviously this referred to topics, events, and themes that today are deemed controversial and too taboo to surface, let alone young readers.
When you actually get into the description of Chapter one, you realize the acts of kindness given by Ophie and her mother, rewarded by acts of hatred and events that mirror today’s evens – you realize, there need to be books, opportunities, and resources available to any individuals, of any age, to make sense of events that have happened in the past, are happening in the present, as well as with often despair of events that COULD happen, but need to be addressed to prevent from happening.
IN her powerful talk about how educators, librarians, and all those involved in education have an obligation to educate, advocate, and truly define what education means. Providing a path for everyone to make sense through all situations, and have a space at a table of discussion that many do not provide.
One of Ms. Ireland’s quotes- “It is harder being the worst of ourselves versus the best of ourselves.” sticks with me and reminds me that advocating for those that have their voice taken from them, is one of the responsibilities school librarians, as well as all librarians have to allow writers, storytellers, and authors to help others see issues, events, and identities of themselves and others that are often not represented.
As we take a break before posting more workshops from the MLA/DLA Conference, we wanted to congratulate recipients of honors that represent the best of librarianship in 2023:
(Since we have the program pictured below – we will let you take it in without repeating what honors these recipients are receiving!) (Also check out the bottom of this page! -(https://dla.lib.de.us/divisions/pld/pld-showcase-showdown/)
Community Partnership Award – Sylvester “Syl” Woolford (Thank you Christina Celona for introducing this award!)
Helen H. Bennet Scholarship – Helen H. Bennett was Supervisor of School Libraries in the Delaware Department of Public Instruction. Mrs. Bennett was dedicated to the development and advancement of school library services and school librarians. She established a scholarship endowment and left her estate to the Delaware Library Association to support the training of professional librarians.
The Grace Estelle Wheeless Scholarship – Grace Estelle Wheeless was a former president of the Delaware Library Association. The Grace Estelle Wheeless Scholarship was established in her honor, “…to aid Delaware students in library schools, or those who have completed college study but need assistance in earning their Master’s Degree.”
Rev. Dr. Howard G. Backus and Director Gail BruceSylvester “Syl” WoolfordCambridge Hyatt – MLA/DLA ConferenceDLA President Rachel Culver and incoming President Anne Hiller-ClarkRev. Dr. Howard G. Backus, Susan Elizabeth Cordle, and Gail Bruce celebrating Laurel Public Library!Updates from Dr. Norman, DE State Librarian and commemorating Senator LonghurstRev. Dr. Howard G. Bruce honoring Laurel Public Library’s recognition.Sylvester “Syl” WoolfordDLA President Rachel Culver and Susan Elizabeth Cordle making all run smoothly.Elizabeth Miller, from Rehoboth Beach Public Library introducing Rosie Mujica.John Chrastka from EveryLibrary.org and updates of Librarian Climates
Andrew Russell – Explained the production and process of audiobook creation.
The Readers’ Advisory Interest Group, in collaboration with the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, will: (1) illustrate the importance of audiobooks in libraries;
(2) demonstrate how libraries may become more aware of the services provided by the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled; and
(3) distinguish between various appeal factors in audiobooks for better readers’ advisory interactions and conversations with patrons.
The panel of experts and research presented was SUPERB – and from the beginning, the difference between text to text speech technologies (not human voice) versus audiobooks was established. Also, the point was made that there exists no single term for all spoken recordings. And yet, one of the biggest myths is that “listening” to a book is not reading. I LOVED the fact that when you consider the point of view of someone that does not have vision to physically read a book visually as another does, this point becomes “clearer” in principle.
In fact, some of the benefits of audiobooks through science tests to show the reduction of pain and anxiety despite that many have considered audiobooks not reading, or inferior to print and that this form cannot substitute print. Some consider an audio book “cheating” when it comes to reading. 100% false.
In reality, there is no difference to listening compared to reading a book. It was pointed out there is bias in literature about how well people read AND what people read. An important fact is that when you consider audio reading 2nd rate, then you also consider the person taking part in audio reading second rate, and that is not the case when you look at the benefits of audio reading and their impact on comparable comprehension.
Looking in history, there has been privilege associated with the ability to consume literature base don geographic, language, and literary considerations. Combined with the Western love of literature, it is easy to see how much print is romanticized and valued above all other forms.
It was pointed out that when we consider books we consider:
pleasure of characters
setting
dialogue
drama
an impulse to what happens next
The strength of an audiobook can bring the above to life, as well as a level of intensity a print book cannot reach. The element of sound brings new meaning to setting, conflict, and so much more. With audiobooks also being an issue of diversity of inclusion, and 43 million adults in the U.S. considered at the low literary level, (see this study in 2020 showing levels at 54% being at a 6th grade level), the power of audio books to:
provide an education mechanism, appeal to different sensory modalities, not to isolate readers, and intensify reader’s surroundings is very much real.
The book Lanny is a perfect example of how difficult it might be for readers to process the order of reading in print, differentiating the tones of different dialogue as is indicated to the advanced reader though italics and other physical cues, and with the audiobook, many of this is differentiated to the audio listener and is able to present this to the listener, where in print a reader could easily struggle.
When considering children and audiobooks the following characteristics play a vital role when it comes to reading: promoting family literacy, the ability to test driving another genre that might not be as interesting diving into a book / print, promoting personal growth of a read, literary techniques exemplified such as in the book Ready, Player One, and the ability to connect with new authors in a different way than others do. All of these are additions and bonuses to promoting literacy, the same as any print book would.
Why are audio books important? The ability to help language learners, assist individuals with a special need, the ability to draw in new readers, and the ability to adjust varying speeds to appeal to the abilities of readers are all additional, spectacular benefits of audiobooks.
Questions regarding which audiobooks are best for ESL learners also can be found in several places (podcasts too!)
It was interesting to hear from Andrew Russell the technical process that goes into creating an audiobook (and the length of time needed to create a quality audiobook is more understood when you dive into the meticulous process of doing so).
PLEASE check the bottom for some amazing studies and the works that help to support so much knowledge about audiobooks and their benefits.
I did like that limitations were presented such as those of pacing, audiobooks sometimes being a difficult entry point for some people with learning disabilities, and the voice of the reader may impose some difficulties for the listener.
It was AWESOME that a reader’s advisory was listed and that this was emphasized:
Audiobooks are NOT simply recreation, they ARE reading. This is reading, just like all forms of reading that empower all readers. The important point made, listening patrons might not be looking for read-a-likes as you do in print, but looking for “feel-a-likes” as audio taps into a new sensory of realization for readers and yes, readers, not just listeners!
The one thing to consider is the following awards given to audio books and with this many Awards, it is impossible to deny the power and impact of audiobooks on readers!:
(Disclaimer, before this session which was at 9:30 AM on Thursday, we had our DLA Executive Breakfast and reporting meeting – I will definitely being sharing that as soon as I put a few final detailed touches on that post!)
Photos Courtesy of Tom Gavin.
The session I attended, Let’s Talk About Stuff, Thursday was a perfect blend of sharing the latest going-ons among public and school libraries. Like what?
Then Frederick County Public Libraries talked about utilizing Life Sized Jenga in communities when visiting and also displays. How they began to experiment with attaching photos of library staff under books that were being reviewed to resemble a book store feel and personable review of books. In that vein the conversation was brought up about books that are taken off after being “new” were converted into other spaces on the library to make other types of displays, as those “new” books come off displays for “new” books.
Again, I thought of the plan I had to assign a student their own shelf to help, throughout the year – to come up with new ideas to promote, weed, and familiarize people with the books on those shelves, to give new perspectives to shelves of books in the library. I like this idea alot as I think many different ways would be thought of to have shelves, and what is on them represented in different ways.
It was mentioned that Library IQ was utilized to help generate stats for the libraries, and the fact that libraries were providing lunches for individuals so that this also brings patrons into the library and is a way to connect them with summer reading programs and getting them into this early before summer starts.
Another mention was the need for hot-spots to keep students connected over the summer, and I mentioned how some rural areas, and even in towns in DE, hot spots do not help and how frustrating that is. I brought up the various programs that Delaware has regarding the consortium schools currently and how public /school libraries can connect because of that. Additionally, we through out the idea of how to involve students more – and I asked how other libraries reach out to students and connect their public libraries to the school libraries.
Several ideas that people wanted to do or who already do, was to put on the idea of library lock-ins for promoting the library, events, and resources/ games for a chance to advertise the libraries services to youth, also involving home-schooled students in those events.
Going back to the issue of helping student connect, one library mentioned having routers to check out in place of hot spots, and I wondered if that might make a difference in connectivity at all if hot spots cannot help. One attendee mentioned his library has the issue of hotspots either disappearing and not being brought back, or a reset button being used that lifts all the restrictions for patrons (mainly younger ones) then having to be reprogrammed when coming back. Both of these were reasons that partucular library was moving towards not lending them anymore due to the negatives and time tied to them being greater than the benefits. Some attendees were able to offer some possible solutions to that issue as well, so the back and forth ideas, problems, and talk was ideal for this workshop.
Some of the libraries work with Bibliocommons and I can see how this connects all libraries together in the public library realm. Additionally, some libraries discussed a space they designated a Discovery Layer area just for Tween/tens etc that felt as if that was their space at their public library that help younger patrons be more at ease and likely to be part of other events at their public library.
A suggestion also give to me for making a tighter connection to students who can’t always travel to their public library was an idea called Battle of the Books. I didn’t know this was a THING, but I am intrigued – The competition possibility of this is interesting and a great project to promote literacy, love that! I am intrigued by the book lists and chance to delve into new books I never discovered before. Might be a project to get into 🙂
Another great suggestion was just getting students to keep records of a booklist, 1000 total in a year and as they make it higher they get object to mark their progress on a visual like a caterpillar being moved up to the next level of milkweed and then add a butterfly at the end of their goal. Another person mentioned having an ice cream festival to celebrate books read by students and then free books given out at the end of year event, and yes, we all agreed ice cream and books? A win.
It was nice to have a session with an easy back and forth feel and just to get to know what other libraries use, struggle with and suggest and get ideas back and forth. VERY important when libraries and libraries get together often to do this allows everyone to generate ideas that fit their needs. The workshop presenters below did a great job in letting everyone compile and hash out ideas and issues.
I being able to compare Delaware to Maryland, I cam et realize how far reaching counties were in Maryland and the challenges to connect with so many differences in populations and needs. I feel we are VERY lucky in Delaware due to the followng aspects:
The existence of UDLIB where the whole state has access.
The ability to join the State Consortium that will provide a stage and platform for more professional librarians to have a place and visible need, and the chance to bring public libraries and school libraries together to advocate for each other stronger. We have many successes despite the challenges we see everyday.
I do see the challenges we have in rural areas in DE similar to rural areas in Maryland with connectivity- I am wondering if renting routers would be better than renting hotspots to connectivity, and want to research that deeper.
It was great to have State Librarian Dr. Norman and Tom Gavin, and seeing Kaitlyn Jurewicz from Capital School District all in the same place as we were able to represent Delaware well with many of the topics that were being brought up.
An open discussion session in which attendees can share what’s happening in their libraries related to any area – circulation, technology, programming, new services, post COVID changes, supervising, etc. Attendees may submit any questions they have ahead of time so that they m
I loved the sense of humor Justina Ireland presented, represented, and through out to the attendees following her keynote talk – so let’s hit it!
How did you get from California to …Maryland?
“I met a man…” laughing – Ms. Ireland explained she joined the army to get out of a not getting anywhere situation in CA, her husband was from PA when she met him, and then they settled for the east coast – (we are glad she did!).
It was interesting to hear her say most stories in the army started with “No sh*t, there I was…” and soldiers would go around telling stories to that prompt. (laughing). When she told her stories, everyone told her she should be a writer- and of course she imagined older men, stoic and she said that is not for me! We know that was NOT for her, but she is an amazing story teller and she defies that stereotype of what a writer looks like and has to be.
I loved her comment that while she was pregnant, and trying to deal with that identity, (people always rubbing her belly and not really recognizing HER as a human being!)- writing became a way that she found identity, and more of a person.
I almost do not want to share this because I will not do this justice, but if you know me (Harry)- I think odd things and just am really strange most of the time the way I see things, and I 100% connected when Ms. Ireland said, “I thought it was the most dead people in 1 place, and I thought, what a place for a zombie rising!” I laughed so hard, because I LOVED her answer, LOVED! She want on to say how she comments on how odd of a tragedy it would be when she goes places like what a flood would look like ripping through a valley, etc and her husband just remarks, “What makes you like this?!” VERY funny.
I loved how she also looked at Dread Nation as a form of showing how American has institutionalized education to “educate” (train) populations to think the way they want- from sending indigenous populations to “proper” schools to influencing narrow “truths” in ways throughout the same seating arrangements and procedures in school through the history of education – such an interesting topic.
When asked to come up with a reader’s advisory of books that followed the theme of TRUTH – within SECOND she spouted off so many recommendations, I am sure I only obtained a small portion of what she suggested, but let me try:
Truth seekers – “As a society, individuals have forgotten how important the truth is.”
“It is not how truth makes you feel, but what you do with it.”
“It is harder being the worst of ourselves versus the best of ourselves.”
“Social relationships are built on trust.”
“People as a group are lazy, It is easy to stay with a comfortable answer rather tan research it.”
“It’s like fiction can contain a little too much truth.”
“Being human can mean looking into how we’ve failed in the past.”
“Let uncomfortable truths challenge us to be better.”
“Fiction gives us a door to handle uncomfortable truths.”
“People who fear truth have to stop those ready to embrace truth.”
“Everyone’s truth is worth embracing fear.”
Takeaways from Justina Ireland’s keynote. It was difficult at first to see where Ms. Ireland was going with her anecdotal story of being a teen and covering as a lookout for a friend when she was doing something she didn’t want her parents to know about -and then lying about it. And paying the consequences for being a “cover” for her friend. Yet, as we get deeper into the story of Ms. Ireland’s experience as a teen, adult, mother, author, and as she experiences the world around her through those roles, if we allow ourselves, we see a bit of ourselves, (okay, maybe a lot), and future generations trying to make sense of this world with the events happening around us.
Maybe it is not so far-fetched that story tellers can weave stories that help interpret truths…
I LOVE (as an educator nerd) the fact that studies between reading fiction to understand empathy, and the idea of “repeatable settings” helping to set the tone of an individual to learn how to handle uncomfortable truths, but work through scenarios through fiction.
Anyone that comes bearing studies and providing paths to gaining more insightful information must be a librarian/author/reader, right? Actually Justina Ireland showed it could be any of us.
The anecdotal story how how the question What was the cause of the Civil War stood out to me, as many historian students danced around the question, and when the professor asked why she did not speak up, being surrounded by individuals that did not look like her, she had witnessed possibly an uncomfortable truth in a sea of individuals that unconsciously were not aware they were shying from a truth. Yet, I love how as a history buff, she is able to see societal norms that take uncomfortable truths and gloss them over – torus of mansions with pieces of history left out of the tour, justifying the transatlantic slave trade for the economy of America, a tradition of having weddings in locations where so much tragedy of the past has occurred, subtle, but very much glossed to smooth out an uncomfortable truth.
The comment that adults make miserable readers versus youth, LOVED. Thinking of all the issues and dilemmas adults get caught up with and the energy that youth bring to those same dilemmas, is a lesson we can learn from as adults every day in everything we do.
In saying that it’s like fiction can have a little too much truth when alot of fiction is being asked to be removed by adults, it is important to “…have difficult questions” in order to teach youth what we are showing them” in the best possible way.
Justina Ireland emphasized that we need to learn to reconcile when we comes across a piece of fiction something that might shake our core, and that we’d be less likely to reject an idea if it is not happening to us, but being able to consider it before outright rejecting it. Totally agree on this, absolutely. SO CONNECTED to Medhi Hasan and perceiving audiences with storytelling (and pathos).
After being a visitor to the Harriet Tubman Museum and Underground Railroad State Park and being able to take in the landscape peacefully among the powerful displays inside the museum, I respected a little more the absolute fight Harriet Tubman had for her very soul, and it would be a complete let down to ignore those truths and move on without resolving to carry fights for the truth forward that matter. It prevents the movements of individuals like Harriet Tubman and so many unheard stories from being erased as a part of our history and representing the often hidden and unheard truths that are our history amid much of history celebrated, that often is not the true history of so many.
It is perfect that Ms. Ireland challenged all to keep truth as everyone’s North Star, just as Harriet Tubman resolved to go back and rescue truths time and time again at her own risk of losing herself.
It is absolutely fascinating to hear questions asked to Ms. Justina Ireland, and I will save that for the next post – to let you take all the really motivating information in about truths and our history.
Absolutely, this keynote message and the messages of truth librarians across the United States is deserved to be passed on to future generations and should be represented.
What do students feel when they are asked ? Librarians are always curious, so we first are producing their raw answers and in a day or so, and will extract out what stands out to us as we let content soak in.
Something poignant stands out – “It feels like something that’s happened already that shouldn’t have.” I keep coming back to this one line. It makes me feel and think about topics that relate to librarianship, librarians, and students when they aren’t asked, then they are left out of pertinent conversations, when they aren’t considered. Yet, I also think about how waves of issues can pop up and just fly past you and leave you feeling as if you are a spectator and not actively involved in events around you as so much happens, so quickly, so sudden, sometimes as it just feels like a reaction.
Not sure if that sticks out to you in some way, but that line still sticks in my mind as a come into contact with a myriad of viewpoints, issues, and concerns from individuals from all walks of life. Stay tuned for more 🙂
I love the fact that when asked something that many do not think of asking, students will take the questions themselves and try to gather many opinions of their peers- as happened here. I feel we need to see much more empowerment of youth regarding issues and have more discussions with youth on topics that are occurring around us in librarianship arenas; their thoughts and views will surprise you!
PAVEing a Blog 