Collective Nouns - How to Describe School Librarians

by Dorcas Hand, Editor of TASLTalks

This began as a random comment on TLC but many enthusiasts joined the conversation. We were requested to stop clogging email boxes - so here we are in a new location. I think I picked up all the offerings but all the suggestions out – if I missed one, do let me know.  These are not in the order suggested.

Now keep this going – what is the best collective noun for our community of school librarians??? More ideas are coming along I hope.

A Charm of Librarians
A Zeal of Librarians
A Congress of Librarians

A Collection of Librarians

A Circulation of Librarians

A Catalog of Librarians

A Manage of Librarians

A Boss of Librarians

A Shush Buster of Librarians

A Stakes of Librarians

A Index of Librarians

A Codex of Librarians

A Chapter of Librarians

A Dewey of Librarians

A Shush of Librarians

Dorcas Hand

Editor, TASLTalks

September 15: Power Up at Your Library Day from TLA

by Dorcas Hand, Editor of TASL Talks

Remember all the way back to April when TLA Conference was here in Houston? Ideas Powered as a PR program was unveiled there by outgoing TLA president Susan Mann and the TLA PR and Marketing Committee – check out the video from the event.  It was powerful at conference – the idea wall was amazing! And really, “Ideas Powered – It’s What We Do” is exactly the right slogan for Texas school librarians along with our colleagues in other kinds of libraries.

Now we have Power Up at Your Library Day just around the corner on September 15. Consider how you can use TLA promos in your school community to raise awareness of what your do towards student achievement.

Logos for download 

Posters (7) for download 

Toolkit of ideas 

WHY would you want to do this? All school libraries in Texas work hard every day to demonstrate to campus, district and state leadership all that we contribute to student success: our innovative and collaborative practices that directly impact student learning. We know you are really busy – but we also know that taking a bit of time to promote your program will help to keep your library program strong, or even build support. Take this opportunity to use TLA materials to toot your horn to the community.

• Invite district administrators and school board to visit. your superintendent and district leadership cannot be reminded too many times how great your school library program is and why every student in your district deserves a strong school library to support their love of learning, love of reading and the skills those bring to their academic achievement. SHOW OFF! You are doing a great job, but they need to know it
• Even invite your state representative (but ask permission first). Remember, the state legislature will be enacting a new budget in spring 2017 – it is exactly the right time to remind your representatives why they want to support school libraries.
• Also, ESSA (Federal Elementary Students Succeed Act) is on the table. State leadership is working out how those funds will be allocated across Texas. We need to remind everyone that we are included in ESSA language and should be included in the funding.

So Power Up at YOUR Library on September 15. Take the ideas presented and make them your own – or add new ones. And then take lots of pictures – you can use those photos all year round! Share them on Twitter and Facebook. This really does matter – for you, and for all your library colleagues across the state. When we do it all on one day we increase the impact of the information.

Last advice: HAVE FUN! Your students love it when you love it - and that enthusiasm builds bridges with all these decision makers as well. Really, have a great time planning and then enjoy the best Power Up at Your Library Day EVER!

Libraries Transform: ALA supports YOU!!!

Thanks to ALA I Love Libraries - adapted by Dorcas Hand, TASLTalks Editor

ALA Past President Sari Feldman and current President (and Texan) Julie Todaro have developed the Libraries Transform and Expert in the Library initiatives to help you in your campus and district efforts to strengthen school libraries. The website ILoveLibraries offers memes and resources you can use, with more coming. And at the bottom of this post are some memes offered by Texas librarians – as a suggestion that YOU can develop your own. 

And because we know you are stressed for time, this post is very easy to read! It's almost all in MEME format. Read on!

Click here if you want to ORDER the badge.

                           

And here are some Texas offerings:

·       Because according to Einstein, what one has to absolutely know is—where is the library?

·       Because we match students with the right book at the right time

·       Because we help them understand the value of a credible source

·       Because we provide a safe place for students

·       Because we bring innovative ideas to life

·       Because matching the right child to the right book changes everything.

·       Because the library may be the only place in a student's life that demands she or he quiet themselves, and spend some time seriously thinking either their own thoughts or those of Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dickinson, Stowe, Austen, or even Freddy the Pig... Sitting still and practicing thinking is the most important work a student ever does. Not the only important work, but definitely the MOST important.

·       Because people who identify as readers vote at higher rates and volunteer more in their communities.

·       Because students always want MORE to challenge their thinking

·       Because teachers need MORE to build more engaging projects and lessons

·       Because librarians think outside the box to bring LEARNERS what they want and need.

Which of these can you use – or what would you like to add to the list??? Here’s the Google Form where I am collecting Texan meme ideas.