1. We Need Diverse Books
We Need Diverse Books. (2022). Resources for parents, educators, and librarians. Diverse Books. https://diversebooks.org/resources/resources-for-parents-and-educators/
All students deserve books that serve as mirrors to see themselves and books that are windows to look through and view other perspectives and lifestyles. We Need Diverse Books has many resources for librarians to diversify their collections, support children and teens, protect intellectual freedom and students’ right to read, educate about and celebrate Banned Book Week, and so much more. This organization provides valuable information and resources to help patrons of a variety of diverse backgrounds.
2. Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Association for Library Service to Children. (2022). Association for library service to children. American Library Association. https://www.ala.org/alsc/
A division of the American Library Association, the Association for Library Service to Children focuses on how to best assist the youngest of patrons. Book award lists are in one centralized location to make collection building easier; a blog highlights current trends and shares innovative ideas; and a professional toolkit has a large variety of resources including advocacy, copyright information, digital media, early literacy, summer reading programs, technology, and how to best help children with special needs.
3. American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
American Association of School Librarians. (2022). American association of school librarians. American Library Association. https://www.ala.org/aasl/
Another division of the American Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians focuses on how to help students from preschool to twelfth grade. Knowledge Quest is AASL’s journal that provides valuable articles on how to serve student patrons. The AASL Learning Library provides webcasts, podcasts, and other digital resources for librarians to grow professionally.
4. Virginia Library Association (VLA)
Virginia Library Association. (2022). Virginia library association. https://www.vla.org/
The Virginia Library Association provides a local support system of peers and resources that librarians can use to better serve their patrons. Job postings, various committees, state bylaws, scholarships and awards, and conferences and events are some of the benefits that members can enjoy. Though VLA is a statewide organization, it is also broken up into six separate regions so that members can have a more relevant and localized support network.
5. Book Display Pinterest Board
St. Joseph Public Library. (2022). Library display ideas. Pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/library1902/library-display-ideas/
Book displays are a terrific way to advertise books and resources, as well as get students excited about reading. While it’s fun to think of your own themes and display ideas, it’s also wonderful to save time and be inspired by the creativity of other librarians. This Pinterest page has over 770 display ideas, covering a wide range of ages, topics, and materials. There’s something for all school librarians here, regardless of what grade levels they serve.
6. ALA’s Booklist
Booklist. (2022). Booklist: Leading book discovery. American Library Association. https://www.booklistonline.com/
Booklist’s tagline is that they are “leading book discovery,” and they do just that. They have a long list of book and media awards, such as Caldecott, Pulitzer, and Coretta Scott King, all in one location. They also curate their own lists, such as “Top 10 First Novels for Youth” and “Tropical Rain Forests.” Booklist makes it easy for librarians to find valuable resources and build themed collections.
7. Beanstack Digital Badges
Beanstack. (2022). Beanstack for schools. Zoobean. https://www.beanstack.com/schools?
_ga=2.221997597.422326784.1636741739-1268522956.1636741739
Beanstack is a reading challenge resource that allows you to award your patrons with digital badges for reaching reading goals. Accounts can be set for students to reach personal goals, class goals, or whole school goals. Students earn fun badges by reading different genres or topics, completing a certain number of books, or reading for a set number of minutes. Librarians benefit by encouraging reading and having an easy ability to track which resources are being used.
8. Virginia SOL Standards
Virginia Department of Education. (2022). Standards of learning (SOL) & testing. Virginia Department of Education. https://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/index.shtml
School librarians should collaborate with teachers to ensure that the library collection supports student learning. Librarians can spearhead this process by using the Virginia Standards of Learning to build a comprehensive collection. Each SOL standard should have a variety of resources that help students better understand it, from the United States Constitution to the life cycle of a frog.
9. The Classroom Bookshelf Blog
School Library Journal. (2022). The classroom bookshelf: Teaching with children’s and young adult literature in the 21st century. The Classroom Bookshelf. https://www.theclassroombookshelf.com/
The Classroom Bookshelf is a School Library Journal blog that has reviews of recent children’s and young adult books, as well as resources and teaching ideas for them. Though this blog is mostly targeted to classroom teachers, school librarians can certainly use these books in library lessons or simply use the reviews to select excellent additions for the school library collection.
10. Looking Backward Blog
Paciotti, B. (2022). Looking backward – No sweat library lessons & management that works. Edublogs. https://lookingbackward.edublogs.org/
Barbara Paciotti is a middle school librarian, after having been a science teacher for nine years. Her blog, Looking Backward: No Sweat Library Lessons & Management That Works, walks librarians through the steps of yearly or daily tasks, such as how to use a library lesson matrix, how to create a collection plan, or how to wisely use your work week before the school year starts. Her blog takes the abstract principles we have learned in this program, and shows how they are used in practice.
11. School Librarians United Podcast
Hermon, A. (2022). School librarians united podcast. School Librarians United.
https://schoollibrariansunited.libsyn.com/
Amy Hermon is a high school librarian that hosts a podcast for her peers around the world. New episodes are published weekly and cover a wide range of helpful topics. Recent episodes include makerspaces, levels of collaboration, storytime strategies, audiobooks, building inclusive spaces, family outreach, and fighting censorship.
12. Common Sense Education — Digital Tools for School Libraries and Media Centers
Common Sense Education. (2022). Digital tools for school libraries and media centers. Common Sense
Media. https://www.commonsense.org/education/top-picks/digital-tools-for-school-libraries-and-media-centers
Common Sense Education has many valuable resources for educators, but this webpage in particular is very useful to librarians. “Digital Tools for School Libraries and Media Centers” has 46 tools that are the top picks for librarians to use for their libraries and with their students. The tools are divided into the following categories: Research and Citation; Makerspaces and 3D Design; Reading and Writing; and Robotics and Coding.
13. School Library Directory
Bertland, L. (2022). Resources for school librarians. SLDirectory. https://www.sldirectory.com/
School Library Directory is a website maintained by retired librarian Linda Bertland, and is a terrific example of the adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Upon first glance, a user may be deterred by the website’s simple layout and outdated design. However, there are many valuable resources across several categories: Learning and Teaching; Information Access; Program Administration; Technology; Education and Employment; and Continuing Education. Under each category is a long list of topics. Clicking a topic will bring the user to a new page of resources that are organizing by subtopic. This website is a treasure trove of information for new and experienced librarians alike.
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