WHAT?! I am not allowed to read that?

By Jacqueline Higginbotham, Lead Media Specialist, White Oak Middle School, New Caney ISD

Artwork courtesy of the
American Library Association,
ala.org/bbooks/NLW-Top10

At the TxLA Annual Conference in 2017, I may have stalked Alan Gratz and attended every session where he was a panelist. Pretty sure after day two of seeing my face several times, he started avoiding me (just kidding, maybe). I had just recently read Refugee and had been telling anyone who would listen how much I loved it. He was happy to talk about Refugee (and his other books), but he was promoting Ban This Book, which I had not read. So, I promptly I ordered it and read it within a week of getting home from TLA.

It was such a great read, and it is a great introduction to talking to students about banning books. I love how Amy Anne starts her own banned book library out of her locker and it grabs the interest of many students that are secretly reading her books. As a middle school librarian, I would venture to say that most of my students don’t know that there are books that get banned (and/or challenged) until I tell them about it. And, of course, some are surprised and appalled at the books that make the list. There’s no better way to promote a book than to tell them that some libraries don’t have that book because it was banned! 

The American Library Association Banned Books Week website has some great resources as you gear up for Banned Books Week September 23-26, 2018. I always try to pull books from the lists (and/or print the covers of the books) and create a display that stays up for several weeks. Those books definitely circulate more when students know that there is someone out there that might not want them to read it. Whether you are creating a display or teaching a lesson or finding other ways to generate conversations about censorship and banned books, I hope you will celebrate literature with your students and take advantage of some of the resources that ALA has to offer.

Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association,
ala.org/bbooks/NLW-Top10

This is also a great time to check and make sure your school district has a policy in place to review books that are challenged. If not, you may want to start some conversations about how to get that policy in place. And, if you do have a policy, make sure you know where your Request for Reconsideration forms are -- and have them ready if someone questions the books sitting on your shelves.

If you want to know what books are being challenged, check out the 2017 Most Challenged Books List.

This is Us

by Nancy Jo Lambert, High School Librarian in Frisco ISD, TASL Chair

Do you watch the show This Is Us? I love this show. The Pearson family is amazing! I feel like I am a part of their loving, often dysfunctional, but beautiful family. (If you aren’t watching this show, I would highly recommend it!) This summer I had the pleasure of hearing Joyce Valenza keynote the ISTE Librarians Network Breakfast in Chicago. She chose This is Us as the theme for her talk. As she weaved her presentation in and out of the show, she chronicled her journey as a librarian in a humorous, touching, and poignant keynote (linked here). She emphasized that our librarian groups are like a family. They change and grow over time; we have moments of triumph and setbacks, but ultimately we are here to support one another and share in this journey of librarianship together.

Her message inspired me to reflect on my own journey thus far in school librarianship and the impact that professional library organizations have had on me. As an active member of several organizations (ALA, AASL, ISTE, TCEA, TLA, & TASL) I can say without a doubt that the educator and librarian I am today is a direct result of my participation and service to these groups.

The Texas Association of School Librarians (TASL) is an organization that I passionately serve. The purpose of TASL is to promote library services and librarianship in school libraries in Texas and to cooperate in the promotion of general and joint enterprises with the Texas Library Association. With more than 4500 members, TASL strives to meet the unique needs of school librarians forming ties with librarians throughout the state.

TASL and TLA feel like a family to me. Being part of this family has brought so much to my librarian life. I want to encourage all Texas School Librarians to join TLA and TASL and become part of our family. If you are already a member of TASL, but your membership doesn’t feel like a This Is Us experience, I want to encourage you to get involved! We have tons of opportunities for you to get involved and serve.

TASL Website: http://txla.org/groups/TASL


TASL Advocacy: http://txla.org/groups/TASL-Advocacy


TASL Volunteer form: https://goo.gl/OM3Wkm


TASL Committees http://tinyurl.com/TASLcommittees


TASL Committee Appointments


TASL Google+ Community


TASL Advocates for you! Did you know...



TASL advocates for librarians as teachers who are essential components of a robust educational system. We actively share emerging information and technology with the legislative, administrative, and learning communities.

TASL advocates to the state legislature and other decision-makers on behalf of school libraries.

TASL uses the division's awards to increase understanding beyond the library community of the integral role school libraries play in the successful education of the state's children.

Let's Promote Libraries (Again)!

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

Last school year, the TxASL Legislative & Advocacy Committee began a social media campaign, Let’s Promote Libraries!, with the hopes of encouraging school librarians to promote themselves, their programs, and their instruction. The campaign is back for the 2018-2019 year, and it has been tweaked and improved to help showcase all the fabulous happenings in school libraries.

It is 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.

On the 17th of each month, 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.

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 #txaslleg along with other key hashtags.

Step 5: Repost/retweet/share

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