True, I am only on the second session in detailing the results of the AASL Conference but, funny story on the very first day of AASL. As I disembarked from the flight at the Tampa Bay International airport, tried unsuccessfully to board a public bus and head to the Tampa Bay Convention Center, I decided to enlist for Lyft; I took in the amazing vastness of Tampa. The location of the Convention Center was ideal, overlooking the bay and the Center itself was amazing, bordered by a courtyard lively with music and food, and despite the steep stairs, it truly resembled a historical landmark.
I figured I would be the one and only individual this early to pick up registration items, and as I made my way up the stairs with my lone suitcase, I saw one other individual making their way, I approached the registration desk and as I checked in with my name, that same individual I had seen beside me? When she heard my name she turned her head and said/questioned Harry?
No kidding, beside me was the former Woodbridge Middle School Principal, now in Caroline County, Dr. Tara Downes! I will be honest, worn and tired from such an early flight, it took me about 10 seconds to reconfigure my brain and realize she was right beside me and who she was – but timing? How does that happen? What I would find out was I bumped into so many other librarians as well from my own state at this National Conference- and was so incredibly amazed at how it took a National Conference for us to bump into each other, lol. Did that happen to you too? I took that as a good start /omen for the start of this conference, and as the second session I attended was warm and inviting, and as we go into detail on the AASL Opening Session I had attended- coming soon!
Amazing experiences. Impacting community. Making the change you want to see in leaps and bounds. I had no idea what I was in store for when I attended the AASL Opening Session.
NPR had highlighted Nikkolas Smith back in 2020 so AASl definitely had the low down on this amazing individual WAAAAAAY before the conference. Pretty excited from the event already and realty the conference had not technically started yet, I was sure this was going to be a home run.
If not, a powerful TedTalk related to children of Watts, Los Angeles gives you a peek into the talent and generosity, as well as foresight, applied to the talent of Nikkolas Smith which is a small slice of what we received this day- what a great way to start the day but here is the coincidental aspect I often talk about about how much is related.
Recently attending Rally, the National Land Conservation Conference on Portland Oregon, Nikkolas Smith has done what I love to do, combined the various organizations and talents into several beneficial community projects. His garden concept – in Watts. (see 5:43 minutes into this video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyS4NNnwT-w). shows WHY and how, Environmental organizations, Artistic organizations, Humanity organizations, can all come together to create a community of treasured activities for youth, as well as all generations, IT IS ALL RELATED and connected and I have to say, more certified librarians, who specialize in connecting all these together are needed in every school, every community, every state. This is the secret ingredient of certified librarians that many people overlook and are unaware they could have – to maximize the power of their communities (school, neighborhoods, etc)..
His sketch of Nina Simone is one example of how perspectives can change evertything.
“It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the time in Wildlife Conservation, Environmentalism, immigration, and mass incarceration.” Smith has and is doing this so publicly, any conversation that results from art can usually lead to positive impacts and volunteerism, which I feel is a powerful talent an artist can possess from canvas to community.
anyone so afraid of an issue that a BANNING needs to take place, is worthy of questioning why, investigating and requesting the information to research and not ban. Period. The amazing perspectives that are maybe outside of a common point of view, is what makes people have the ability to grow, and obviously, some states care more about the politics of staying in a comfortable lane, than growing. That is a travesty the certified librarian does NOT represent nor should they ever.
I LOVE that as an artist, Nikkolas Smith sees himself as an ally to counter so much that is negative, close-minded, and wrong in the world today and is able to see constructive paths of what is right, open-minded, and spaces to grow. This is simply what the role of a library media specialist is, and being able to plug individuals into the countless paths that ca lead them to their ultimate path. Nikkolas Smith is one awesome example of this and where creativity can take you, especially when the artist become an ally.
When I moved away from a mesmerizing first workshop session that connected myself as well as my school to so many current event actions, I ventured into the AASL Welcoming session. (12:30- 1:30). I was intrigued that two rooms were used for this – and time was split between various rooms and we did indeed have a bingo card. While I am not a stranger to AASL, I was to an AASL Conference and was grateful for this amazing amassing of librarianship under one roof. In addition, you get to see the faces and personalities behind AASL.
Some awesome discoveries were revealed- an evening where classic movies were being shown in the city, amazing restaurants like Carmines and Colombia, author visits in the evening
and more- all became shared property helping us find the back alleys and main streets of attractions that glued us together as librarians and information curators. It was worthwhile just to meet a few people and learn some new names tied to the states we often see them attached to in AASL. In my case, believe it or not, I bumped into a colleague from my own state and talking about topics we never had, and we were in the same state!
The first AASL author session I went to, which was one of the first of a series of step in talks with AASL authors, was with Mona Kerby, drawing me to the topic of Collection Development as we were covering that area as part of my Florida State University graduate course.
Some GREAT tips were revealed from this session- three important companies to help you review selections you are thinking about for your collection and adding those at defaults in Follet to help you see selections from these companies was recommended. The big three were Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Booklist – I agreed. While Kirkus at times can seem harsh, they are straight to the heart. I have found also using SLJ, I use a portion of them for graphic novels, but forcing myself to dive in and explore on my own new authors, new releases, etc. I love how Booklist highlights many new authors and releases that I have carved time to discover. If you can find three positive referrals for a selection you are considering, you are in – that is a winner.
The Mustie formula was referred to in using weeding- and goes hand in hand in managing your collection, as well as your collection development policy.
Some key steps in making a collection development plan and policy working for you, you need to do the following:
Define learner characteristics to see the audience you are serving from your collection.
Create a curriculum chart – which Ms.Kerby’s text help guide you through.
Use key selection services (Kirkus, Booklist, SLG).
Evaluate your collection by the school curriculum, the age, the quantity, the quality, and the diversity your collection represents. The report that Follett is able to generate also helps do this in a comprehensive manner for your collection.
Using the CREW guidelines, is yet another process of guiding your weeding.
In Delaware, we have an extensive guide to weeding and collection management as well:
The inner workings of Ms. Kerby’s book is just that, charts, specific tools that guide yout rhrough the process being listed of a comprehensive Collection Development Policy. But more than that, it allows the librarian to do more than talk about a Collection Development Policy, but to actually put together a real policy in the works for your library? – Priceless. This was a good start to discovering what the AASL Author talks were all about.
In attending this amazing session representing Echoes and Reflections, by speaker Kim Klett, being the actual first session of AASL, it seems as I mentioned in ties to Ms. Ruth Toor, this seems appropriate to have such a great resource such as Echoes and Reflections for curriculum.
What was shocking to me, and I find I keep discovering new aspects of the Holocaust despite the many workshops, seminars, and courses I have been part of in the Holocaust, I STILL learn new aspects of the manipulation that went into this whole movement against the Jewish people.
In light of the current confict between Israel and Palestine, this is even more timely to incorporate into the curriculum across the country. Such as:
To “sell” the idea of concentration camps, people were paid to get into concentration camps as wel as this was sold as a work place or resort – even some German soldiers were not truly informed about what these camps were. This truly blew my mind and shocked me, despite knowing so much about the Holocaust already.
It is amazing the lengths Germans took to “sell” this propoganda-filled sell of concentration camps:
In 1943 October, Denmark (look at 1943 on this timeline) wanted to see the camps, and so it took until June 23 1944, which showed a beautified camp. By the time the Red Cross came, Theresienstadt looked like an amazing place, images exist from film, and made it appear how the furor gave the Jewish people a city – so much propaganda at work. The beauty of this amazing site is additional resources like the interviews – such as this one of Eric Nash – which his one statement how there were coffee shops with no coffee- so much of a facade!
I also felt the examination of Prewar Jewish life and the existence of antisemitism is as important as we find other origins such as origins of slavery, displacement of indigenous tribes, so much carryover to other societal patterns based on examining history.
An example of this was how in January 1933 how many Jewish communities there actually were in GERMANY, let alone other European areas – as well as the massive number of Jewish positions all over Europe, and how the statistic of less than 1% of Jewish people made up the country – and yet targeted so much in World War II.
One of the powerful tools is how you can trace routes of immigration when people leaving and this led to the Henry Sinason interview.
In being able to define antisemitism – Echoes and Reflections is able to show the depth of these lessons and how they can change the thought process of the Holocaust- I LOVE these resources.
What is propaganda? – “Files or partly false info intended to shape people’s opinion and action that fulfills the propoganda’s intent.” Another great resource on this –
and such a powerful way to tie Rhetorical devices using modern examples of Vogue, teen, and other publications. The resources in Echoes and Reflections that lead students and teachers to this are powerful.
Resources such as a Campaign poster 1932 indicating that Germans last Hope was Hitler
Resources to the Holocaust museum, issues of scapegoating, name-calling, asking What rhetorical devices are the strongest?, all this propaganda in 1938 that referred to the book the Poisonous Mushroom and the analysis of posters among students is powerful. From a mother picking mushrooms and trying to convince readers that Jewish people are lying and thieving, Jews depicted as Christ killers , and what a good Aryan family looks like- there is much to be learned on how prejudice can be started.
In looking at the Esther Clifford interview yet another aspect of what was happening from a first hand account through Echoes and Reflections provides.
There are some great references and images to the Der sturmer newspaper at kiosks, where is a child is reading it, (showing how youth are being influenced by German propaganda) a tag line that said, “The Jews are our Misfortune” emphasizes the level of antisemitism and the lengths that were spent in this time. It was noteworthy of this quote and how relevant to today!
What is also important in the ghetto of Theresienstadt is what happens to the individuals AFTER the fascade was over. I feel this encourages students to not just tale face value information presented to them but to begin to feel empowered to ask questions before and after events as presented. This encourages the manipulation towards the truth about all media in many differing points in time, not just the one presented.
Further, the look at Thomas Fritta is an important one, as a voice pushing back against the Nazi propaganda that was being pushed out. The death of Fritta in 1944 is a sad one as the work he had done up to that time, was vital in pushing back against false narratives and the end of this period was so close to being ended, and yet he did not leave to see libreration.
Story Audience. Message. Style in the backdrop of all this information available to teachers and students alike. All of these can be looked at from the receiving and sending ends to show how reality is manipulated. The sophisticated organization and interactive elements of Echoes and Reflections puts you in a museum setting, wherever you are accessing this information. From the podcasts, to student activities, to educator alignments, it is vital to the question of asking this present day question, why didn’t antisemitism end?
The units written as lesson plans is ideal – and with over 10 student activities, room for adjustment of differentiation exists from the very beginning. Lessons are 90 minutes per session, and I do remember years ago being involved with an educator Holocaust seminar for several days, quite extensive, and being given for my school district, a complex collection of CD’s that held the voices, interviews, and looks into survivor’s accounts. Now, this is even more streamlined and organized, and more robust to help the educator present an even more complex picture, of how the past has caught up with us in some ways regarding so many issues. This is priceless, and was a priceless session offering a wealth of support for educators.
In looking back on Thursday, October 19th’s AASL 2023 Awards Ceremony, I do feel I was justified in recognizing all Delawarean invested individuals that have made it possible for us to make huge steps forward in strengthening our ties between public and school librarians. The Toor family and Ruth Toor do indeed a legacy of librarianship to be represented and it is rightly so this year a piece of Delaware was recognized in their role as they try to bring value and recognition to all those in past years that serve in the big “L”. The timelines we have for DASL over last months – has been a HUGE consorted effort!
In researching a little about Ruth Toor, her life, after fleeing the Nazi’s was miraculous. Looking at her obituary creates involves a mixture of admiration and sadness at a missed opportunity to celebrate how she devoted her life to so many in a profession she believed in. She was added to a Wall of Fame for her accomplishments, her books show her thought process and dedication to the profession, and her long-time collaboration with Hilda K. Weisburg still lives on today. In fact, Hilda K. Weisburg, as an author, continues to represent what Ruth Toor would have wanted to keep doing today, advocating and more advocating, and emphasizing as of late, why communicating is so priceless. It is awesome to here her latest take on the AASL standards and Classroom Management.
Even 6 years ago Ruth Toor’s book Being Indispensable, is STILL SO VALID today and branding ourselves as Certified School Librarians.
Book Review of Toor and Weisburg’s book
In stating the branding of leaders, it is amazing to see the below individuals and what they have done to further the role of librarianship:
The ceremony thanks to Allison Cline, Jennisen Lucas, and Kathy Lester was truly an amazing event, despite being so early in the AM, I was in admiration of so much everyone had done in the various awards received. Think of the companies, as sponsors, that believe in the idea of librarianship and we should keep going back to them and thanking them for supporting libraries and librarians. Throughout the days of the conference, I had many come up to me and congratulate me that I had never met, and to know and see so many librarians and advocates of librarianship across the state – was the real award. it is needed and invaluable for you as a librarian, and as a librarian group to already be thinking of what award can be yours to apply for, to create a platform of advocacy. It is just as important to thank the supporters and sponsors that build that platform to rally behind advocacy in libraries every day,.
As we finished early in the AM, it was fitting that the very next session I was headed to in Thursday, October 19th, was Analyzing Propaganda and Teaching Media Literacy by Kim Klett from Echoes & Reflections, as Ruth Toor had escaped the Nazis as that four year old. Stay tuned for these amazing resources from this first session- and thank you for everyone that support so many in this field- it helps reach so many current students that will in turn, support this field for generations to come.
The gallery below shows the amazing winners, awards, and meeting up with fellow Delawareans at AASL!
In cracking open the Pandora box of librarianship day after day, in promoting voices that have been shuttered, librarianship has morphed in front of so many. Divisions between counties, states, and types of librarians and libraries need to disappear, and collaboration grow exponentially.
-Students like Olivia and Suzely make library level decisions that impact the collection and they go on to create displays that invite and initiate discussions from books to voices. They dig, they interview, the create, they discover, they connect. Students deemed socially uncomfortable or keeping to themselves like Korin, Bryce Kelly, Logan find their voice and their “third space” in the most unexpected ways when it comes to tying librarianship to the world around us.
-Admin like Kelley, Annie, Sue, Tom, to name a few, show what can be done for just taking a risk in collections and development representing voices not usually funded or found,
-Teachers like Kira, RoseMarie, and Sara take time out of an already tight curriculum to open the world to their students,
-Parents like Jennifer who do not sit passively but challenge the myths behind what removing books can do to influence young minds,
-Organizations like AASL, DLA, Girls Who Code, DASL, Upward Bound, NEA, Everylibrary.org, the Humanities and Independent bookstores support school and public librarian initiatives and spaces
–Senators and representatives change decisions as they hear voices of youth that are trying to preserve spaces and resources they treasure. The world comes into their spaces. What you can dream can become reality and our students believe this, our school librarians need to continue to support this.
-Movers and shaker liaison supporters like Susan, Catherine, Jennifer, Michelle, and Debbie, show what happens when you bring amplified voices to the forefront that were normally shushed, hidden or put on a shelf.
Any award, recognition, or hurdle that is set before us that amplifies voice is worth going after. Pushing our voice to the forefront to advocate for others safe spaces and inform against a tide of misinformation, priceless. This can come in the form of librarian Karoake, fluffer pumpkin Ice Cream, laughing and celebrating with colleagues from North Dakota, Maryland, and all over the U.S., and keeping the box of librarianship open.
Our students and community rely on this box to be opened to keep myths at bay and realities of librarianship growing. As advocates and protectors of voice and information, we find more third spaces to connect, represent, and grow those that have remained in hiding far too long. Thank you ! –so much for providing opportunities for so many amazing talents here to be represented and advocate for the very element that brings voices together and enables opportunity – The Toor Family and AASL have been instrumental in opening this box of opportunity!
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood aspect of education become comics. Or graphic novels. Or maybe even Manga. Yet, the tendency when fear or misunderstanding is to take away rather than embrace the unknown. We are amazed at the connections made through this podcast and Woodbridge High student Olivia as she helps explore the knowns and unknowns of Graphic Novels with educator and author, Tim Smyth! You will love this episode!
From the time relevant issue of Manga and illustrated books, to the process and technical ins and outs of writing, to simply inspiration and living a good life, Ms. Traci N. Todd provided gifts of wisdom and instruction that have led her down paths through Ezra Jack Keats and poet Robert Frost. With House Bill 198, there are so many niches that school librarians and libraries can offer that connect to black culture that have impacts on all of us today. From not taking for granted the naming of our elementary school Phillis Wheatley, to how our decisions today impact all races, this is an opportunity for all schools to find creative steps forward in enhancing the curriculum and inspiring youth. From clubs like Girls Who Code to Black Girls Who Dive recently represented at Coast Day in Lewes, school librarians and libraries need to thrive and provide gateways for opportunity for students, not merely textbook page turning assignments to cover a bill’s requirement. HB 198 should inspire our educational systems, not belabor it.
It is interesting as you experience the series of experiences the last few days the Walter P.J Gilefski Media Center has had the privilege to be involved with. When you include students voices and involvement from the very beginning, more positive results occur in all that happens after. I thought this after Manga had been pulled from a nearby school library district, as also thinking about how individuals other than youth are consulted when it comes to what is appropriate, when students can visit their own school libraries, who consults the youth when a decision is made about removing a librarian or library, and how areas are set up in new libraries with youth are not consulted. How much different would scenarios play out when youth’s voices are part of the planning, collection management, building, and staffing of facilities, individuals, and resources that directly motivate and promote literacy?
Too often enough, youth are the last group consulted or informed of decisions that involve them from day to day, from plans of new businesses and opportunities in communities, to school librarian and library access, to opinions and views on the layout of a media center, to the removal of the very resources that help lift an individual up in a moment of need. Voice. With Traci N. Todd’s visit, many of the students realized they can be, and should be, a part of their own futures and have a say and a direct impact on decisions they are often left out of.
One of the best stories Ms. Traci N. Todd shared with her experience with Phillis Wheatley was the fact that when she told and shared that she had written her book, Holding Her Own – The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes by herself, elementary students applauded her and congratulated her. They congratulated her work she finished, just as Ms. Traci N. Todd was encouraging each of these young people to follow their dreams as well.
I felt we need to each do our own part to continue to support the fact that school libraries and librarians in the state of Delaware are always a staple of anyone’s education, and continue to bring connections inside and outside of the classroom for everyone to realize their potential. Working with independent books stores, community event planners, and more, much more in education is achieved and realized. Thank you Ms. Traci N. Todd for sharing so much for so many in one day and thank you Billion and Browseabout bookstores for putting piece of real life in so many student’s hands.
NPR has always been something I have been infatuated with mainly due to the fact that voice is so well represented. I have been always excited about recordings, music, editorials, documentaries, but more than anything all of the above that is captured with radio and voice. It soothes my nerves, it informs me, it often brings books to life, and in addition, I always felt there is a layer of learning not achieved through other mediums; radio has always intrigued me. NPR has ALWAYS filled the void of any information or interest I have had. Someone such as Inskeep and an institution such as Public Radio and NPR coming to our back yard, behind priceless.
Thanks to the generosity and quick thinking of Biblion and Browseabout Books, all was set to receive Mr. Inskeep at Woodbridge High and for them to experience his throughs through books they would provide. I hoped it would create the ability of students not normally involved in a podcast to be so. Ironic I thought, students podcasting a master of podcasting. To me it added a level of involvement to youth that was yet another facet of the History Book Festival.
The students from Ms. McGill’s History class as well as Ms. Wagar’s yearbook class that prepared questions – their attention to detail in their questioning was without question. In the days preparing for Mr. Inskeep’s arrival, the review of open versus closed ended questioning, questions that had not been asked a hundred times, questions that brought into information that you might not find anywhere else previously, questions tied to his publication as well as to his experiences as a journalist, writer, podcaster, it took some research. I was proud beyond belief at the capability of a 9th grade class and then upperclassmen as they came armed with a extensive lit of inquiries, worthy of what any school library would expect representing a school of Information Science.
The day itself was phenomenal, meeting Mr. Inskeep was beyond surreal. Here was an individual that has been a part of my weekly schedule for years, represented a voice and look into the world that often had not been detailed as well as through his experiences, and he was literally in our library, sharing his experiences that I had always heard, but now was experiencing again in person. The students had this current of excited electricity you could feel through the podcast, as well as through their questioning and receiving of his insights as a large group. With over 70 attendees in the Walter P.J. Gilefski Media Center, it was interesting and thoughtful to see this happening in a library, named after someone who always sought information himself. It represented what school librarians and school libraries do represent and bring to a community population.
The graciousness, patience, and interest that Mr. Inskeep represented in discussing, questioning, and learning of student’s experiences also modeled the type of person he seemed to be on air. He wanted to know what students were involved in, how they saw the world, joked with them about lessons he had learned growing up, and continued to show his thankfulness for being with us, while we were just as excited of his willingness to be here.
Sometimes there are so many scheduled events, holidays, celebrations, etc. that occur, it is difficult to have them all stick in your memory. However, the more personal in nature events are, the more niches that are found to connect to all individuals in some way, the more those memories become permanent. In finding ways to meet students, and any population, halfway and connect with their interests and goals, be it their future, their employment interests, their experiences, hopes, dreams, talents, or abilities, and have a place to bring voice to any one of these, that is a defining moment.
School libraries have transformed over the years to implement that very potential, and not just hold countless experiences in print and digital resources, but also to open the door of individuals, guest speakers, audio books, connections to the community, local events, and connections to the world. It was all of this, wrapped up into one, that was able to come out with Mr. Steve Inskeep’s visit. His topic of Lincoln and working through divisiveness came at an appropriate time where populations can indeed find a place to agree to disagree, but to learn more about each other and break a chain of conflict, and learn how to come together to recognize how our differences can strengthen our nation and communities.
Few people think about the after impacts of such a visit and the followup. Editing, reviewing the information receiving, discussing, and applying.
These are sometimes the most crucial stages of an event, even though while in the middle of it seems to be the climax of an event. I like to see the follow also involve students when they reflect on the process that just came through.
How lucky are we to have students that can realize this and pass this on to others as well? Please take a moment to appreciate the partners that enable such an event like the History Book Festival and speakers to share their insights with our communities.
October 1st kicks off Banned Books Week and before you start seeing this as a holiday that is confrontational, take a few steps back and rethink how you view this week. While the connotation does present a us versus them mentality, a better view of this week should be considered.
Everything we experience in our lives, including events, shapes new understandings of others views. The following events/experiences have made a huge impact in connecting the ideal of literacy together:
Steve Inskeep visiting our High School – The power of meeting opponents half-way despite their views and stands.
Traci N. Todd visiting Phillis Wheatley – The ability to reach and educate students on aspiring, creative, artistic individuals they might not be aware of in history.
The Lewes History Book Festival – Presenting authors and topics that cause people to contemplate, be aware, and question. Mr. Tessein and the History Book Festival Board continue to reach out and grab interests of so many, often before they realize they will be drawn in. Priceless.
Latinx Kid Festival – Students able to communicate directly with Justin Sotomayor, key Latino illustrators and authors, and receiving and sharing advice every Friday during Hispanic Heritage Month.
The Delaware Humanities – Supporting avenues of education that inspire creativity, ingenuity, and opportunity.
Browseabout and Biblion bookstores – Bookstores that continue to represent their shelves and commitment to the community IN the community.
Everylibrary.org serving as an umbrella of what we want to achieve on a larger scale in librarianship, education, open-mindedness, and diversity in learning.
Banned Books Week – A chance to discover and learn what is out there that might cause fear in adults, and how children are drawn to view and bridge to connect youth and adults together on issues today.
Classes – students and teachers able to contribute via podcasting, attending, contributing, representing, Ms. Wagar, Ms. Shiley, Ms.McGill, Mr. Truitt, Ms. Kirkland, to name a few, are the first to enable such opportunities to occur and spread to others.
If you take all of the above, and combine them, you see a cornucopia of ways that all individuals involved can connect how literacy and diversity of approaches can indeed combine organizations, individuals, and institutions together for one very important cause – widening the scope of our minds, conversations, and experiences.
Mr. Inskeep and Ms. Traci N. Todd activated enthusiasm and history when it came to viewing what school can and should be like in learning about themselves and their place in history, as well as taking on diversity and embracing it, not fueling it.
Interwoven connections
The Lewes History book Festival, in coordinating Mr. Inskeep and Ms. Traci N. Todd, through Jen Mason, the shop owner of Biblion, and Browseabout Books as book suppliers and definitely community bookstores, rise to the occasion to allow experiences to come to our school. They supplied over 100, ONE HUNDRED, books to students involving them in the History Book Festival. The Delaware Humanities,,under the leadership of Michele Anstine, supports and underwrites events like the Lewes History Book Festival knowing we all have shared relationships to provide to our state, young, old, and future generations. We all have something to contribute and share and should have places to do so (be it a podcast, a school library, a public library, a festival, or in a coffee shop in our community). In between the upcoming Lewes History Book Festival, streaming in our school library every Friday has been the Latinx Kidlit Festival. Connections between ALL authors, ALL genres is so important, and even more so during a current physical festival in Lewes and the Hispanic Literary Festival during Hispanic Heritage Month, bringing ALL heritages together during MANY different events during many different days tis week and month. Our forward thinking Woodbridge administration leadership continues to recognize the role faculty, library media center, and schools play in encouraging thinking outside of the box and allowing diversity in learning to shape future learner. Professional Development Days enhanced thanks to Alyssa Moore, Susan Cordle, Thomas Gavin, the Delaware Department of Education, and DASL, in promoting our October 13th PD allow all librarians, administrators, Department of Education and more to weigh in on how to advocate for their librarian position and find avenues for enhancing/education the public of the exciting things taking place IN school librarian, and instilling certified librarians to work with public librarians in our state. Organizations such as EveryLibrary.org and Delaware Association of School Librarians continue to promote how as a state, we can interact with other states in sharing ideas, ways to meet individuals that think contrary to our views, and provide opportunities for all to grow and bring out the truer meaning and purpose of Banned Books Week.
Anyone can be adversarial at any moment. Is it the most productive path to addressing values? I would say no. Before addressing any number of issues you might differ on with anyone, BEFORE you attach a negative connotation to the title Banned Books Week, think about what opportunity exists starting today, until October 7th, that you can learn and apply EVERY DAY. The above list of priceless events occurring in and out of our libraries, communities, and schools is only a one week look at what is possible ALL year to individuals willing to come together, in the most divisive of times, and bring levels of positive motion forward we can all contribute to, and benefit from. I hope you also will make a determined effort to find out how you can also continue to bring literacy of all sorts to everyone around you, as we move forward this next week and month with some exciting opportunities – that is what school libraries, public librarians, librarian advocates in all organizations, and parents and students can do when they come together – despite their views and stands.
Thank you to everyone involved who continue to show what can happen in and out of physical spaces to widen the views of our minds every day. Making connections and finding ways to tie us together, rather than separating us through action, speech, and literacy should be our goal. Examples of funding our nation to keep the government moving forward, meeting halfway on reducing disappearing school librarian and libraries, preventing disappearing open spaces and land, educating youth on how they can take environmental leadership roles, reducing detrimental impacts on our environment, and improving immigration challenges, ALL involve literacy. We have so many youth that can help solve these problems, along seasoned community members, to waste these opportunities could be our own downfall. Let’s try to make this week be one out of 52 that we can find ways to make positive change in the issues we might not see eye to eye on.
PAVEing a Blog 