Check out the blog post from Future Ready Schools about Makerspaces and 1:1 Initiatives in Allegheny County!

The Fort LeBoeuf Foundation gave its Third Annual Friend of Education Award on Saturday, November 2nd at their annual Harvest Gala at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center. Nominees included Ed Burkhart, Kelly Clark, Ashley Chapman, Ali Coletta, Dennis Fortin, Casey Jack, Renee Kovacs, Nancy Maloney, Shannan McLallen, Nadine Merry, Angela Tarr, and Kaila Therasse.

Read more at: 

Calling all high school librarians! A reminder that PSLA's "Me? A School Librarian?" Contest is open for submissions!

Do you have teen patrons who are frequent visitors to or volunteers in the library? Do you have fantastic students who may be interested in becoming school librarians? 

If so, PSLA's "Me? A School Librarian?" Contest is a great opportunity for them to come to the 2019 PSLA Conference and learn more about our wonderful profession. You can find more information about the contest, including guidelines, entry forms, and the scoring rubric, at https://www.psla.org/me-a-school-librarian. 

The deadline for entries is December 1, 2019. Please contact the PSLA Awards Committee with any questions at [email protected].

Don’t forget to submit your proposal to share your library superpower at the 2020 Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Conference! Time is running out!  

Submit soon! The deadline is October 25th at midnight. 

Click here for ideas on concurrent session workshop topics and to submit a proposal.  Submissions are only accepted through the Online Proposal Form. 

Have you ever considered running for a two-year PSLA Director position, for PSLA Treasurer, or even for an Officer position? The PSLA Leadership Development Task Group is responsible for creating a slate of nominees for the 2020-22 PSLA Board of Directors.

If you say “Yes,” as a prospective nominee, you would need to fill out a Leadership Development survey in order to be considered for a position as a candidate. The survey questions are meant to provide information about each candidate, so the membership can make an informed decision when voting. The newly established Leadership Development Task Group, made up of six (6) PSLA members from across the state, will review the prospective nominees before names can be considered for the official slate. This procedure is new for the 2020 PSLA election.  Once the slate of nominees is approved by the PSLA Board, the election will take place in the spring. Successful candidates will begin their terms on July 1, 2020.

Prospective nominees   must complete this survey to be considered a candidate. 

Link to Leadership Development Survey

Have you submitted a proposal to share your library superpower at the 2020 Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Conference? 

You could highlight your awesome curriculum, share a cool tech tool, demonstrate your amazing book knowledge, or lead a hands-on Makerspace session. The sky's the limit! 

Submit soon! The deadline is October 25th at midnight. 

September YALSA News 

TeenTober Marketing Materials For TeenTober’s inaugural soft launch, YALSA has released its official logo, along with social media graphics. View and download them here. Celebrating? Share your photos and programs with us on Twitter by tweeting @yalsa and using #TeenTober. 

New E-Course ConnectedLib: Creating Learning Connections for Youth Oct. 20 - Nov. 23 $100/everyone Back by popular demand (again)! In this five-week e-course, participants will learn how to create engaging teen programs and services using the Connected Learning framework developed by the Connected Learning Alliance. Connected learning connects teens’ personal interests, their relationships with peers and mentors, and real-life opportunities to help prepare youth for life after high school with 21st century skills and new literacies, creating highly motivating learning experiences for teens. Learn more and register. 

Get in the Game and Vote Poster & Bookmark In collaboration with ALA Graphics, YALSA has released a poster aimed to encourage teens to become more civically engaged. The poster highlights the who, what, where, when, how, and why of voting and will help youth and new voters navigate their way to the polls. Check out and order the new poster and digital bookmark. A customizable, digital version of the poster and bookmark is also available. Check out the mini-poster, bookmark, or the set. 

Nominations for Outstanding Administrator, Outstanding Author/Illustrator, & Distinguished Service Awards!

Registration Open! - Leading At Any Level Workshop

Join us for the 2019-2020 Leading At Any Level: Leadership Development for Pennsylvania School Librarians.  

 The Leadership Development for Pennsylvania School Librarians experience is a collaborative initiative of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association and the University of Pittsburgh School Library Certification Program.

The leadership workshop, available to ALL PSLA active and associate members, will be at no cost to the attendees. The workshop will have open registration for up to thirty (30) participants. 

Click Here to Register for the following Leading At Any Level workshops and earn Six (6) ACT 48 hours!

Join us for the 2019-2020 Leading At Any Level: Leadership Development for Pennsylvania School Librarians.The Leadership Development for Pennsylvania School Librarians experience is a collaborative initiative of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association and the University of Pittsburgh School Library Certification Program.

Leading At Any Level, created and presented by lead instructor David Bendekovic of the B. A. David Company, is a one-day workshop designed to develop leaders at every level: school librarians, administrators, paraprofessionals, educators of school librarians, and students in school library programs. The workshop will focus on taking ownership of thinking, feeling, and actions for personal and career development.

September 21, 2019

9:00 am - 9:30 am - On-site Registration

 We are proud to announce the 2019-2020 Leadership Development for Pennsylvania School Librarians. The Leadership Development for Pennsylvania School Librarians experience is a collaborative initiative of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association and the University of Pittsburgh School Library Certification Program.

We will kick off this year’s activities with a foundational leadership workshop, Leading At Any Level (LAAL). The leadership workshop, available to ALL PSLA active and associate members, will be at no cost to the attendees. Each workshop will have open registration for up to thirty (30) participants.

ACT 48 hours will be provided.

What is your library superpower? Curation? Media Literacy? Collection? Programing? Makerspace? 

Share your projects, ideas, and knowledge through a  session!

Presenting is a great way to grow as a professional, share new ideas, and celebrate your accomplishments. Sign up today to present at the 2020 PSLA Conference and inspire others. Session ideas and the proposal submission form can be found here.  

Congratulations to our very own PSLA member Kelly Gustafson for being selected to serve on the AASL School Leader Collaborative. The “AASL School Leader Collaborative: Administrators & School Librarians Transforming Teaching and Learning” is a two-year initiative that aims to strengthen AASL’s collaboration with school administrators. This initiative champions the school librarian’s integral role in teaching and learning. Support for the initiative is provided by OverDrive Education (from the ALA Website, see below for more information).

Kelly is the principal at Pine-Richland School District in Wexford, Pennsylvania. She was nominated by M. E. Shenefiel.

We are so proud of her and her dedication to supporting school libraries!

http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2019/08/aasl-selects-seven-school-administrators-serve-its-school-leader-collaborative

Celebrate and Act Now - HB1355

If your representative is listed below - Send them an email, make a phone call or schedule a visit to thank them personally. Remind them why this legislation is so important to the students in Pennsylvania.

If your representative isn't listed below - Send them an email, make a phone call or schedule a visit to ask them to become a co-sponsor on the bill. Remind them why this legislation is so important to the students in Pennsylvania.

Behind the Scenes: Sharing Your Gifts

Dear PSLA Members-

As I write my first PSLA Pulse as president of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, I can’t help but reflect back to when I became a student member in 1992. As a nontraditional student at Millersville University and under the tutelage of Dr. Marge Tassia, becoming a PSLA membership was an easy choice for me. A few years later as a middle school librarian I recall reading a letter in Learning and Media (previously PSLA’s quarterly journal) by President Sally Myers. She expressed how important it was for all PSLA members to answer the call to volunteer in order to keep the school library profession and the association vibrant and healthy. I was inspired to join my first PSLA committee that year. 

Fast forward to July 2019. Eighty PSLA members spent a hot, summer July day in Hershey, PA answering the same call at the 2019 PSLA Summit. The excitement and energy in the room as we worked to strategize and plan for each of the PSLA committees for the upcoming year was and always is inspiring and fills me with pride for our association. The work that these Committee Co-chairs and members do during the Summit and throughout the year has a huge impact on what the association has to offer PSLA members and all school librarians in Pennsylvania. There is no way to describe this impact in this short space. From communications, professional development opportunities, local and state advocacy efforts, a quality annual conference, recognition of outstanding school librarians and stakeholders, quality literature reviews to the governance and operations of our association - it takes a large team of committed and passionate volunteers to keep PSLA moving forward. But what I want all PSLA members to know is that getting involved in our association committees, task groups and leadership opens your own eyes to the limitless ways we can all work to make our profession better.  Stepping up and volunteering in PSLA is rewarding for the association but also for all of us as individuals. Personal growth is always a benefit when we work together as a team. It also reinforces the theory that many hands make small work! I know that ALL librarians have special talents and gifts. Whatever they may be – I’m sure we can use them to impact PSLA, school librarians and Pennsylvania students.

Speaking of stepping up and volunteering... I’m honored to announce that Sandy Reilly, from Pleasant Valley High School, Pleasant Valley School District, will be the new PSLA treasurer for the remainder of the 2019-2020 term. The PSLA Board is very excited about Sandy‘s willingness to serve PSLA in this new capacity and share her expertise. Sandy has given her time and talent to PSLA in many ways since she has been a member through the conference committee, the LSTA leadership academies, conference presenter and through her local affiliate.

Pennsylvania Department of Education
Office of Commonwealth Libraries
Glenn R. Miller, Deputy Secretary & Commissioner for Libraries
Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Guidelines for Pennsylvania School Library Programs

I am pleased to announce that the Governor’s Advisory Council on Library Development (GAC) reviewed and approved a new set of Guidelines for Pennsylvania School Library Programs (PDF) at its most recent meeting in Carlisle on May 30, 2019. 

Designed to complement the National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries (American Association of School Librarians, 2018), the Guidelines for Pennsylvania School Library Programs (PDF) identifies and builds upon eight indicators for an effective school library program by providing goals, guidelines, and resources that will promote excellence in Pennsylvania school libraries and will result in highly positive learning outcomes. 

The guidelines are intended for use by school librarians, school administrators, classroom educators, families, community members, public library staff and board members, and university library science programs.

Have you ever considered running for a two-year PSLA Director position, for PSLA Treasurer, or even for an Officer position? The PSLA Leadership Development Task Group is responsible for creating a slate of nominees for the 2020-22 PSLA Board of Directors.

If you say “Yes,” as a prospective nominee, you would need to fill out a Leadership Development survey in order to be considered for a position as a candidate. The survey questions are meant to provide information about each candidate, so the membership can make an informed decision when voting. The newly established Leadership Development Task Group, made up of six (6) PSLA members from across the state, will review the prospective nominees before names can be considered for the official slate. This procedure is new for the 2020 PSLA election.  Once the slate of nominees is approved by the PSLA Board, the election will take place in the spring. Successful candidates will begin their terms on July 1, 2020.

Prospective nominees   must complete this survey to be considered a candidate. 

Link to Leadership Development Survey

Behind the Scenes: Contentment and True Belonging

As I sit on my porch with my husband (and cats) and reflect upon the past year as the PSLA president, I am filled with emotions. The one I feel most is contentment. I am a goal-oriented and improvement-focused person, so contentment doesn't come easy for me. Right now, at this moment, I am content in my situation - with what I have and who I am. 

This year, I learned about true vulnerability and belonging by presenting my "authentic, imperfect self" to you. 

As much as I would love Brene Brown's quotation to be the center of my last "Behind the Scenes," one of Seth Godin's posts from a few weeks ago has been swirling around in my head.

July Librarians' Spotlight: Matthew Good, Librarian, Donegal Junior High School

Congratulations Matthew, and thank you for all that you do for your students and community!

Would you like to be our next Spotlight Librarian? Nominate yourself or a colleague using this form.