AASL 2019 National Conference Highlights: Thinking, Creating, Sharing, and Growing

by Daniella Smith, Associate Professor, Department of Information Science, University of North Texas

I attended the 2019 AASL National Conference in November, and it was amazing! As you can see from my picture, Texas librarians were well represented. If you have not gone to the AASL National Conference yet, I recommend that you add it to your agenda for 2021. Every time I attend, I learn something new. Many of the sessions were standing room only. Here are the highlights from some of the presentations that I attended.

The “Do the Bot: Librarians Using Robots to Impact Learning” session gave me several ideas for integrating robots into the curriculum. Three school librarians from Texas presented it. Their names were Archon Auzenne, Gloria Miller, and Lee Glover. They demonstrated how robots are used to teach subjects such as social studies, reading, and math multiple grade levels.

When I walked into the session, I was surprised to see the interactive displays for the Edison, Sphero, and Bee-Bot robots. I also liked that they had a display that incorporated a drone. I find drones interesting because there are trained drone pilots. Drone piloting is a STEM career that can impact space travel. The presenters shared a link for their presentation. I highly recommend viewing the presentation slides if you need ideas for incorporating robots into your curriculum: https://bit.ly/377hcvi.

Another engaging session was, “Let This “Dynamic Duo” Answer Your Graphic Novel Questions.” Mitch Greenwell (literacy coach) and Tim Jones (school librarian) presented the session. Some of the key points were:

• Graphic novels teach empathy by showing the diverse viewpoints of characters involved in adverse situations
• Helping students to create their graphic novels can help them to express their feelings. While students may not want to write an essay, they might enjoy telling their stories with artwork accompanied by text
• Graphic novels share the stories of diverse characters and can help students to understand complex social justice issues.

I also presented at AASL. One of my presentations was for the Educators of School Librarians Special Interest Group research symposium. My co-presenters were Drs. Maria Cahill and Judi Moreillon. When I am working, I try to blend research, theory, and professional practice. I was pleased that school librarians, school librarianship researchers, and school librarian educators participated in the session. Here are the slides from my presentation: https://bit.ly/2t1od0Z. Dr. Moreillon shared her slides too: https://bit.ly/2Pwsy48. You can read more about the symposium here: https://bit.ly/2qEdVTK.

In conclusion, there was so much to explore. I never get­ to all of the sessions that are interesting to me. There is still an opportunity to learn, although the conference is over. You can read more about the conference happenings by visiting the Attendee Information link and clicking on the AASL Digest for each day. You will find blog posts and other social media conversations reflecting various sessions. Also, full registration conference attendees can watch the presentations that were recorded until January 31, 2020. This link has the directions for accessing the archives: https://national.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/FA-Flyer.pdf.

 

Breaking Down Walls: One Library's Remodeling Efforts

by Julia Nations, Librarian at Cedar Park Middle School in Leander ISD


As libraries evolve, spaces that were once cutting-edge can become outdated, and change is necessary. Our 25-year old library space was beautiful, but tired, and often crowded. It is a sunny room, with a long wall of windows overlooking an enclosed courtyard surrounded by hallway windows on the other sides. Sadly, the only access to the courtyard was through two doors from the halls, separate from the library and classrooms.

Students longingly expressed wishes to sit in the courtyard to read or eat lunch on our many lovely Texas days, but lack of staff and practical access made this impossible. Teachers occasionally asked to hold classes there, requiring office personnel or myself to leave our posts to unlock and re-lock afterward. Due to awkward accessibility, the courtyard was also not well-tended.

The library arrangement is rather stationary by necessity. Because I am the only staff member in a very large room, visibility is paramount for supervision. The downside is a lack of zoning for volume control. Working or socializing groups disturb students needing quiet to take tests, study or read. I attempted compromise, but access to the courtyard would allow a space with more freedom to converse while preserving a serene library area.

In the middle of the windowed wall was a framed window seat. Doors there made more logistical sense, since with a larger student population than our building was intended to accommodate, courtyard access would expand library seating. Mornings before school and during lunch times, our library regularly houses 80-100 students.

I approached my principal about installing doors from the library to the courtyard. As a public school district, initiating a facilities improvement process (FIR) was required. I began researching door types and data points to justify the expense. A district official visited and estimated a cost of $20,000, of which we would need to offer at least half for the district to consider approving construction and appropriating funds.

I then solicited financial assistance from our PTA, which generously earmarked $10,000 for the project. Armed with funds, I confidently submitted an FIR. After an inspection of the library and courtyard, the project would necessitate additional work for structural compliance, and the cost would be closer to $150,000. This was a huge blow to all optimistically supporting the endeavor, but our PTA bravely contributed another $10,000 in a show of support.

We forged ahead. For several years, it was two steps forward, one step back, which is not uncommon with construction, and doubly so with the many departments and laws associated with a school district.

All our efforts began to make progress with a fortuitous eclipse -- a new superintendent and the approval of a bond which included updating our school. On a visit to our school, my principal guided him to the library, and he allowed me to passionately explain our vision; what this would mean to our students, the need to create zones for different student purposes, and how we could increase usable square footage with relatively little cost. He seemed intrigued, and later told my principal that he would see our reasonable request to fruition.

My principal persistently reminded central office and contributed another $15,000 of campus funds. We had to wait another 18 months, but finally, the day arrived for me to pack up the library. (Thankfully, the district contracted a moving company to address the bulk of it.) Included in the bond improvement was new HVAC, modern lighting, fresh paint, and new carpet, to replace originals installed 23 years earlier.

After so many false starts, my principal texted me over the summer to say the library wall had been opened to install the doors. No more delays. Courtyard doors were actually going to happen.

This fall, the students, staff and I are ecstatic with the changes. The overall effect is both stunning and pragmatic. I can visually supervise students through the windows, and quickly enter the courtyard when necessary.

My best advice to anyone considering a major renovation: patience. It took us six years. We got very discouraged at times, but perseverance was eventually rewarded. Best of all, kids preferring quiet can enjoy a serene library space, while it literally opened new doors for other students to utilize our outdoor library space almost every day. On to a courtyard beautification project!

Because We All Have Something To Share

By Wenndy Pray, Librarian, B. L. Gray Jr. High School, Sharyland ISD

I’ve just started in my library. I haven’t even done anything yet. I’m in my “beg, steal, & borrow” phase. What could I possibly contribute? And other similar thoughts occupied my mind when I thought of making an impact in my librarian community. What advice would a brand new librarian have to give?

Lucky for me, our district librarian has always been very helpful in providing opportunities to expand our horizons, and after writing "Reflections of a First-Year Librarian" for the Texas Library Journal, I realized that I could contribute my experiences to my community and help my fellow librarians establish a strong start in their career. Shortly after I wrote this article, I read Brave Before Perfect: A New Approach for Future Ready Librarians by Traci Chun. That, along with further encouragement from my peers, provided the impulse I needed to answer an invitation that Dr. Laura Sheneman, Coordinator of Library Services and Information Resources for Region One Education Service Center, had extended to experts in the field. It was an invitation to propose topics for her new Librarian Influencers podcast. So I was brave.

Filling out the proposal was a piece of cake. I’ve always inspired my students to write about what they know, so I would do just that. I wanted to share about my successful start in the library. I was to begin my fourth year and was confident that I could share my experiences and advice over a new platform: podcasts. Frankly, it was exciting. Whether I’d be approved or not, just filling out the proposal and stepping out of my comfort zone made me happy. 

The turnaround was quick. Dr. Sheneman sent an approved message with detailed instructions on how to arrange what we would discuss. This made me feel confident and secure. I need structure, so preparing notes before our recording helped me keep my discussion and answers on topic. When I get excited about something, I tend to talk about other related topics, so this was incredibly helpful. She presented it in a form of a Google Slide. I selected a quote that summarized my vision and thoughts about librarianship and provided a picture for the podcast promo.

  

And now for the play-by-play. I introduced myself, shared about my school and student body, talked about the wonderful faculty on my campus, and expanded on the relationship I have with my school’s administration. I shared on my professional learning network (PLN), important books that keep me grounded and focused, and about how attitude is everything. I even expanded on what I would tell myself at the start of my career. (Wouldn’t we all just love a time machine?) It was a wonderful experience to share and enrich my librarian community. And although I had prepared some notes to help me answer the questions, I felt relaxed with the organic experience. And the best part is that I was chosen to be the inaugural speaker to kick off the podcast! Being the first guest speaker was indeed a special treat. (Thank you, Dr. Sheneman!)

I know I have peers whose minds are riddled with the same thoughts of not knowing what to contribute - especially those of us who have fewer than five years in the field. But you do. We do! We all have something we can share to grow, broaden our perspective, provide encouragement, or just confirm the path we’ve taken. We all do great things and can be called experts in something we do well for our students and library program. I encourage my fellow librarians to reach out. 

You can tune in to The Librarian Influencers podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and Spotify. I am one of many librarians who have provided their insight on various issues in librarianship. “It’s a time to share your professional voice. It’s a time to offer other librarians a chance to build their PLN. Especially for those who are alone in their district or area. It’s a time to connect and be empowered,” shares Dr. Sheneman.

  

Listen to Wenndy"s Podcast!

I felt just that. Was it perfect? Not by any means. But being brave enough to step out into uncharted territory has sent ripples of support into my librarian community. This experience has also given me the confidence to share through the TASL Lunch & Learn platform with short webinars. Imagine what we could all do for our fellow librarians. I encourage you to step out, search within you, your style, activities, ideas, outreach - let’s be brave for each other. Because we all have something to share.

Enter the Letters About Literature Competition

by guest blogger Rebekah Manley, Coordinator at Texas Center for the Book 

Has a book made you laugh, brought you to tears, or changed your life? Write a letter to the author and enter the Letters About Literature Competition.

All 4th-12th grade students are invited to participate! Winners receive $100 and travel assistance to the Texas Library Association Annual Conference for a special awards ceremony.

You may read winning entries on the Letters About Literature Texas website.

There are three categories for contestants:  

Level 1 - Grades 4-6   

Level 2 - Grades 7-8

Level 3 - Grades 9-12

Follow these steps:

READ  Select a fiction or nonfiction book, a poem, or a play you have read that you feel strongly about. (Sorry, no song lyrics!) It might be a book that helped you through a difficult time, or it

might be a book that simply touched your heart or inspired you.

REFLECT  Think before you write. How did this author’s work change you or your view of the world? How and why are you different now than you were before you read this work?

PERSUADE  Write a personal letter to the author stating how reading his or her work changed you. Be personal and persuasive! Support your ideas with specific details, including details from the work itself. This is not a fan letter, but rather a reflection on how an author’s work influenced you.

WRITE  Type your entry in letter format. All submitted letters must be typed and between 400 and 800 words.

SUBMIT  Upload your letter to the new online submission platform (opening November 4, 2019). A permission form is required for all student participants who will be younger than 13 years of age on November 4, 2019. Make sure entries are submitted by December 17, 2019.

Teachers: Please encourage your students to enter. The website has a dedicated educator resource page. Many instructors tack this program onto an already planned curriculum, like memoir, letter, and essay writing.

How are the letters judged? The letters go through four rounds of judging. Judges ask: Is the letter written to the author and does it provide reflective details to support how the author’s work changed the reader’s view of the world or self? They also rate the content, expression, structure, and grammar of the letter.

Tips: Have someone proofread your letter. Make sure you read your letter out loud to someone and have them read it back to you. This way, you will hear how your letter sounds and catch any typos.

Important: Be sure to visit the Letters About Literature page* for the submission steps, permission form and official rules set by the Texas Center for the Book at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. This year’s contest runs from November 4, 2019, to December 17, 2019.

All contest information is available at *www.tsl.texas.gov/lettersaboutliterature

Taking a Turn Behind the Circulation Desk

This post was written by Meghan Dietsche Goel, a children's book buyer and programming director at BookPeople in Austin, Texas. The original post was featured in the Publisher's Weekly blog, ShelfTalker, but has been edited to fit length guidelines.

I wrote over the summer about the wonderful experience of hosting April Stone, a local middle school librarian, for a three-day internship at BookPeople. I jumped at the chance to welcome her into our space and only asked for the opportunity to return the favor. I’ve worked with so many librarians through the years, so I was curious to see what a day in the life of Four Points Middle School library really looked like—and to see what I might learn. Since she kindly shared her thoughts about her time in the store, she asked if I would answer a few questions about my time on the other side!

Meghan was invited to the FPMS library for a day.

AS: What made you want to spend your time in a school library?

MG: I work with school librarians all the time and have popped in and out of so many of your spaces. But I’ve never actually watched the flow of kids in and out throughout the day. I was mainly curious what that felt like and how kids interacted with the library space.

AS: Was there anything you found surprising or different from what you expected?

MG: It was fun to come on a day when so many classes came through one after the other—both because I could see the variations between groups and because I got to watch the orientation repeat so many times. That element of predictable repetition is not common to a bookstore experience. Even for events at the store, where we create systems for parents and kids and babies and authors to all interact smoothly, we don’t really redo that interaction back-to-back in the exact same way. While I know the school library space also welcomes unexpected traffic every day, the bookstore is almost entirely oriented around the free flow of customers in and out.

I also think our systems are generally created to solve different challenges. In your interview, you talked about seeing how “every time a book moves it needs to be accounted for to make sure other booksellers can find it.” At the library, while you don’t have librarian colleagues to communicate with about placement, you had many systems in place to make sure that the books AND kids that flow in and out are all accounted for as they come and go—and (ideally) return again.

AS: So after this window into the school library world, what do you think librarians and booksellers have in common? Where do you our approaches diverge the most?

The FPMS library has a collaborative media table for students

                to use throughout the school day.

MG: I think that we are both just trying to engage. We are looking for any opportunity to connect with readers, to turn a passing interest into a passion, or help a kid find just the right book at just the right time.

Going in, I suspected that the biggest difference between our approaches would be technology, but WOW was I impressed by the integration of technological expertise and digital literacy into the library space. With a green screen in one classroom for filming class projects, a maker space in another, a media table for groups to collaboratively work together on a big screen—technology was everywhere. I learned that the librarian serves as tech support for the school-issued laptops given to the kids every year.

AS: Were you able to make any book recommendations to any students?

 

An 8th grader recommends a graphic novel.

MG: I did get several recommendations from kids, which I always love. I heard all about Kiersten White’s Bean Stalker, which looks really fun, but which I’ve never read. And I got turned on to the totally creepy and hilarious graphic novel Ghostopolis.

AS: Did you have or witness any fun or memorable (or weird) interactions with students or teachers?

MG: I had a great time hanging out with a lunchtime book club of eighth graders. This was their first meeting of the new year, and it was really fun to hear them talk about their literary plan. They compared notes on books read over the summer (the record was 55!) and strategized their upcoming book rotation by genre. They told me how much they love Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah series and Holly Goldberg Sloan’s Counting by 7s, and then we unexpectedly bonded over Amar Chitra Katha comic books (which my Indian American husband has been introducing to our second grader).

AS: Is there anything else you want to add?

MG: I feel like I absorbed a lot. After sitting on the sidelines for multiple rounds of library Jeopardy, I’m going to have to look into that Jeopardy game for bookseller challenges or even field trips (for prizes??)! You can make your own game using a Google spreadsheet extension called Flippity. The best part is that I didn’t even have to look at my notes for any of orientation information. The rumors are true: Librarians know how to make information stick.

  

Teacher Day @ TLA - Teachers + Librarians = Dynamic Duos!

By Jennifer Eckert, Library Specialist in Northside ISD, San Antonio

Collaboration with teachers is a large part of any school librarian’s job. We are always looking for ways to inspire and encourage collaboration in order to meet all our students’ needs. Let that inspiration come from facilitating an experience at the Texas Library Association's 2020 Annual Conference!

The TLA Annual Conference – made up of books, authors, technology integration, makerspaces, curriculum connections, and supportive librarians – is the stuff of teachers’ dreams. Connect with your teachers, encourage their innovation, inspire them to greater collaboration, and impact their instruction by inviting your teachers to join you at this year’s Teacher Day @ TLA!

Teacher Day @ TLA, which will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2020, provides classroom teachers with the opportunity to experience a special one-day event during the TLA conference comprised of speakers, activities, and pricing designed just for them.

This is your chance to inspire your teachers and form a dynamic duo! You, as a sponsoring school librarian, will play a crucial role by identifying interested teachers, helping them secure permission and funding for their attendance, guiding them through the registration process, and ensuring our guest teachers have a positive experience.

The planning has begun for a fun, interactive day for the teachers who attend, as well as the librarians who sponsor them. Participants are welcome to stay for the full conference. Now is the time for interested librarians to:

a) identify motivated classroom teachers and

b) start to lay the groundwork for conference attendance and travel funding.

The focus of this program is for classroom teachers who experience a TLA conference to return to their districts as library advocates and collaborators - or perhaps become librarians themselves. Details and application information about Teacher Day @ TLA, an event that has become an annual highlight, can be found at http://www.txla.org/teacher-day. You can also follow us on social media for updates using the hashtag #TDTLA. Don’t miss this opportunity to increase collaboration on your campus!

Getting Creative: Collaborating With Your Fine Arts Department

by Nicole Cruz, Lead Librarian, Sharyland ISD

TCA Touring Artists pictured: Outspoken Bean-Slam Poet, Donna Ingham-Storyteller, and Ruby Nelda Perez-Actress. 

Sharyland High School Theatre Director Christopher Fernandez is pictured with the students in the bottom left corner.

On Thursday, September 5th, a joyous squeal was heard at the Penny Payte McLeaish LRC. A very happy librarian had just opened her email and read the following message: Congratulations! Your Arts Respond Performance Support application was reviewed by our board today and approved to receive this amount - $1,350. Grant number 85748 was funded. 

The mission of the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) is to advance our state economically and culturally by investing in a creative Texas. TCA supports a diverse and innovative arts community in Texas, throughout the nation and internationally by providing resources to enhance economic development, arts education, cultural tourism and artist sustainability initiatives. Even though this is not my first TCA Arts Respond Performance Support Grant, every time I read those words - grant funded, it is always a euphoric feeling. It means quality performers will be entertaining, informing, and connecting with the students and staff of the campuses that I serve. It means that successful teacher and librarian collaboration has been achieved. It means that the arts are alive and well at the school that I serve. Students will cultivate an appreciation of the arts when they are exposed to quality dancers, illustrators, musicians, storytellers, authors, and actors. The arts encourage creativity, innovation, and self-confidence—essential skills for a 21st century workforce. The Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster is comprised of talented and professional performers. 

The news was received in September, but the initial collaboration and planning was done in July to meet the August 1 deadline. This application was a collaborative effort between teacher and librarian. The Sharyland High School theatre director Christopher Fernandez and I have built a professional collaborative relationship over the course of four years. I credit Mr. Fernandez's successful theatre program as being the partner for the matching portion of each grant. In order to apply, applicants must commit to funding half or a little more than half of the total cost for performance fees, per diem, travel, and hotel expenses. School librarians can find partners through parent organizations like PTA or PTO; booster clubs, art department funds, principal accounts, or community organizations. I’m also grateful to have a supportive campus principal. Lori Ann Garza has provided the necessary approval and assistance with logistics, scheduling, and audience recruitment.

The fall round of grants were awarded to 111 sites across the state. Non-profit sites include community theatre programs, museums, symphonies, fine arts councils, public libraries, development boards, and schools. The total funded is just under 9 million. The TCA staff are supportive and helpful when it comes to questions during the application process, after receiving the award, and follow-up on necessary documentation at the close of the program. Anina Moore, Director of Communications for TCA, is a constant source of wisdom and support. 

How can you apply for a TCA Arts Respond Performance Support Grant? I want to encourage librarians to collaborate with art teachers, music or band directors, theatre directors, or dance instructors to bring quality performances to their campuses. The applications and attachments are due November 1, 2019. The application is straightforward and easy to complete online. Applications are for performances and activities by artists from the Texas Touring Roster occurring December 15, 2019 - March 14, 2020. Go to the TCA website to learn more or email Anina Moore at anina@arts.state.tx.us 

#txlchat, or Yes, Virginia, you really should be using Twitter for professional development

by Kristi Starr, librarian at Coronado High School in Lubbock ISD, TxASL Chair-Elect

August and September always bring lots of excitement and renewed energy. It’s a time of new beginnings and reboots. With September comes a new season of #txlchat - a weekly 30-minute Twitter chat each Tuesday evening at 8:00PM Central. Each week you will find a topic of discussion applicable to librarians and library settings. You can lurk (observe) or contribute as much as you’d like. From seasoned veterans to first-year librarians to those still completing certification, all are welcome!

#txlchat, like most Twitter chats, follows a Q&A format. Questions will appear every 5 or so minutes, noted by Q and the question number. Responses should be preceded with A and the question number. Each response should contain the hashtag #txlchat For a more in-depth guide to engaging in #txlchat, check out this document if you plan to follow from a mobile device or this guide for participating on a Chromebook, laptop, or desktop.

We know that it’s difficult to set aside time every week for a chat. Family takes priority, work can get in the way, and sometimes we just plain forget. That’s why each chat is archived using Wakelet. Sharon Gullett sends out the archive Tuesday night or Wednesday morning via the TLC listserv. You can also access all the archives at http://txlchat.weebly.com/archives.html Want a reminder 30 minutes before each chat? Sign up to receive messages via Remind. You may also preview the topics and questions for the week prior to the chat. If you want to share ideas but know you won’t be available, use a site like Twuffer to schedule your tweets.

#txlchat has been one of the best, most consistent learning platforms I’ve encountered. The weekly chats have allowed me to expand my professional learning network (PLN) through contact with other librarians across the state and country. For 30 minutes each week, we come together - learners and sharers from disparate locations and time zones, each seeking ways to improve our practices, to engage and impact our communities.

Topics for September include

September 3 - Welcome Back with the Power of TexQuest
September 10 - Falling into Programming
September 17 - Libraries Transform
September 24 - I Can’t Live Without ...

Join the #txlchat team tonight for a fast-paced half hour of learning. You’ll be glad you did!

Lunch & Learn Webinars

by Brandi Rosales-Dawson, Library Systems Administrator in Richardson ISD, and Stacy Cameron, Coordinator of Library Services in Frisco ISD

The Texas Association of School Librarians (TASL) Lunch & Learn webinars are back for another year with timely topics including scheduling, collaboration, communication, programming, and more. The webinars began last year after the TASL executive board saw a need for additional professional learning specifically for Texas school librarians, since not all school librarians are able to attend the annual TxLA conference. Through the support of former TLA Executive Director Dana Braccia, TASL Lunch & Learn webinars were created in a weekend and launched in December of 2018. 

We knew we wanted the series designed around Texas educators presenting the content for several reasons. First, we have amazing school librarians across this state doing great things on their campus, and we want to highlight and lift up their hard work so others can learn and implement those ideas. Second, presenters need to be accessible to those attending or watching the recording. While there is value in seeing national speakers present, we want an attendee to feel they could contact a presenter for additional tips and tricks as they move through their own implementation. Lastly, as we know school librarianship can make us feel like islands, and this is one way to help school librarians connect with each other across the state. 

During the initial year, presenters were selected by word of mouth and their online reputation for innovative implementations on their campus. The Lunch & Learn webinars were such a hit last year with the average registration for each webinar being about 80 and live attendees around 25. This year we opened it up to any Texas librarian/educator who wants to share library programming implementations or instructional practices they are doing on their campus and/or with their community. At this time we are still looking for presenters to fill weekly webinar offerings through the end of the year. If you have a great programming or lesson you would like to present, please fill out the following form so we can get you on the schedule. 

Webinars are free to all TASL members, but registration is required. Each webinar lasts only 30 minutes, but if you’re unable to attend live, you can access the recording once it has concluded. 

To register for a September webinar, click here. 

September 4 - Flexible Scheduling in the Elementary Library

September 11 - Library Ambassador Customer Service Program

September 18 - Upgrade Your Secondary School Library

September 25 - Level Up Your Staff Newsletter

For future webinars, keep an eye on your inbox for emails from TASL or you can find registration links on the Texas Library Association website! 

We're Still Promoting Libraries, But We Need Your Help!

by Brooke King, Middle School Librarian in Humble ISD, TxASLTalks Editorial Board Chair

The "Let's Promote Libraries!" social media campaign is back for the third year and better than ever! The campaign began with the TxASL Legislative & Advocacy Committee with the hopes of encouraging school librarians to promote themselves, their programs, and their instruction. TxASL is continuing the campaign this school year with a few minor changes.


It is still organized around the revised Texas Library Standards, and each month’s topic is framed as a question. Each question begins with, “Did you know that school libraries…,” followed by one of the standards.


The date has been changed to the 1st of each month in hopes that it will be easier to remember to participate. On the first day of each month, September through May,  we’re asking school librarians to send a social media message about what we do. You can post on any social media outlet or even send an email to a stakeholder. We want to focus on local stakeholders first, and then at the state and national levels.

The hashtags have also been simplified. Please use #TxASLTalks so it is easy for all of us school librarians to find and help share our messages. Then use #Txlege to share our message of the important role school libraries have with students and learning with our state legislators.


It’s easy to participate!


Step 1: Look at the current month’s question.


Step 2: Snap a photo and write your message showing how your library shows that standard.


Step 3: Post your message and photo on any/all platforms of social media.


Step 4: Be sure to use the hashtag #TxASLTalks and #Txlege along with other key hashtags.


Step 5: Repost/retweet/share


There are two infographics to guide you. One explains the full campaign. The other shows only the monthly topics.


So gear up and get ready to showcase those great programs, instruction, and collaboration that contributes to the success of students and your school!

A Message From Your TxASL Chair

by Richelle O'Neil, TxASL Chair and engage2learn coach, trainer, and facilitator

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year! You might be thinking to yourself, where the heck did the summer go? Even though you may be feeling a little sad about the end of summer, I bet you're feeling even more excited to get back to school so you can begin working on all of the goals you have for yourself and your learners. It can be very easy this time of year to get swept up in all of the planning, meetings, professional development, cleaning, decorating, and reorganizing. The next thing you know, it's 9pm on a Wednesday night, you haven't eaten anything all day, and you're the last one in the building. While all of these beginning of the school year tasks are important, there's one thing that rarely makes our to-do list: taking care of ourselves.

Those that know me well know that taking care of myself is not my strong suit. I am really good at telling others to stop and take care of themselves, but I rarely take my own advice. This is something I have been struggling with a lot lately, especially since taking on the role of TxASL Chair. I have a lot going on - a relatively new job, new house, 2 nutty dogs, a kind and caring husband, friends that are like family, and a myriad of professional obligations. I mean, who has time for a pedicure or a spa day? Not me! (TBH, I don’t even really like those kinds of things!)

In the midst of the day-to-day craziness, I’ve actually forgotten what I do like. Seriously. If you ask me right now what I like to do in my spare time, I don’t think I would be able to give you an answer. While I am obviously not an expert on self-care, I do realize I have a pretty big problem. And I bet a lot of you have this same problem, too.

So, what’s a librarian to do? I’ve been doing some reading on self-care and I am committed to taking the following actions:

1. #TheYearOfNo. I actually said “no” to a professional speaking request the other day, and it felt so scary but so good at the same time. This may sound totally strange, but this is going to be #TheYearOfNo for me. George Couros recently wrote about saying no to requests more, and it really resonated with me. I can say “no” graciously while keeping the door open for future opportunities.

2. Do something active everyday. Working out is decidedly not part of my daily routine, but I know being active will only get harder as I get older. Studies show that exercise is beneficial to mental health, so I am committed to simply being active every single day. That doesn’t mean I have to run a marathon or join a crossfit gym, but I know I can take a walk around my neighborhood, chase my dogs around the yard, or, my favorite, ride my stationary bike while I catch up on The Great British Baking Show.

3. When I’m with friends and family, I need to really be with friends and family. Phones, laptops…..if these things are around, I find my attention drifting to them instead of the people I’m with. And you know what I’m doing? Checking my work email or scrolling through Instagram! That’s not ok! I want to be present with my loved ones and really enjoy their company.

I encourage you to make a commitment to take care of yourself, really take care of yourself, over these next few weeks. When you go home at night, focus on being at home. The emails, the texts, that can all wait. It will be there in the morning, I promise. What won't always be there though, is this time with your loved ones. So be sure to share a meal with someone who is important to you, call a family member or friend, go for a walk with your dog, play a game with your child, or just sit quietly and take some time for yourself. You, and your learners, will be better for it.

What self-care actions are you committed to this year? Let us know in the comments below!