Here's your chance to meet the candidates that will be on the PSLA ballot. We are hosting a zoom meeting where you can hear their goals and priorities for PSLA. This event is open for PSLA members with voting privileges only. Click here to register now!
The "Meet the Candidates" event is on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at 7 p.m.
The PSLA Board approved the 2021 Slate
Join members of the PSLA Literature Review on Tuesday, January 26, from 6-7 PM for a sneak peek at our best titles of 2020. We've already reviewed 330+ titles for K-12 this year and want to share even more favorites than we present annually at the conference. With grade level breakout groups, you'll learn about new titles for your next order and TBR lists. You can follow our reviews throughout the year on the blog: https://pslamediaselectionreview.edublogs.org/.
This is FREE to PSLA members. Click here to register: https://psla.memberclicks.net/lit_review_sneak_peek_best_of_2020.
Equity in Action: Fostering an Antiracist Library Culture; 2/23/21 - 3/9/21 - 3 sessions; 2-4 pm; Library staff at all levels within their organizations have the power—and the responsibility—to help cultivate an antiracist culture, from evaluating spaces, programs, services, and collections to examining policies and practices to reflecting on one’s own implicit biases. Creating an internal culture founded on principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion is essential to building a community-centered library that meets the needs and expectations of its users.
Equity in Action: Building Diverse Collections; 4/27/21 - 5/11/21; 3 sessions; 2-4 pm; For libraries to effectively meet their mission of serving the educational, informational, and entertainment needs of their communities, their collections must be diverse and inclusive, offering windows into and mirrors of the vast array of perspectives and stories that make up our world.
Grab your favorite holiday treat (homemade or purchased), and join us for a (virtual) Holiday "Open House" on Tuesday, December 8, at 7:00 pm!
This social event is being co-sponsored by the PSLA Teaching & Learning and Operations Committees and is open to all who are interested in attending. Click here to register: https://psla.memberclicks.net/virtual_holiday_open_house
Consider sharing a favorite holiday recipe here: https://jamboard.google.com/d/121utm_qtooJ4Vj-jnKQZduP50M0YN1h2GRGKlwc-lBY/edit?usp=sharing
Interested in joining PSLA Leadership as a board member or officer? Complete the form no later than September 30, 2020.
This year, there are seven positions to be filled: Two Director positions (2 yrs), One Director position (1 yr), One Secretary (2 yr), One Treasurer (1 yr), One Vice President (4 yr commitment), and One President Elect (3 yr commitment).
Description of Officer Responsibilities: https://www.psla.org/assets/docs/policies/Responsibilities%20of%20Officers%20and%20Directors-Administrative_Final_06_15_20.pdf
Guidelines for selecting Officers: https://www.psla.org/assets/docs/policies/Officers-Administrative_Final_06_15_20.pdf
The Nominations Task group will evaluate and submit the ballot to the PSLA board, per the bylaws. If you have questions, please reach out to the PSLA Operations co-chairs (Bob McConnell and Vickie Saltzer) at [email protected]
Outstanding School Library Paraprofessional
The Outstanding School Library Paraprofessional Award honors recognize the exemplary performance of a school library paraprofessional who directly supports the school library at the school or district level.
Eligibility
No school district, individual school, or individual is eligible if any librarian or individual is on the Awards Committee, a member of the PSLA Board of Directors, or an elected officer of PSLA. The nominee must currently be a school library paraprofessional. Nominations must be completed by a current PSLA member.
PSLA Statement Condemning Violence and Racism Towards Black Americans and People of Color
The Board of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) stands in alignment with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the American Library Association (ALA) condemning violence and racism towards Black people and all people of color.
We will continue to work as an organization to break down racial barriers and provide an equitable education for all students. Please reference the links included for more information from ALA and AASL.
“Change is Mandatory, Growth is Optional.” (Author Unknown although many have used this quote.)
This has always been one of my favorite quotes. One that I have to say aloud for myself many times as well. When I was thinking back to June 20, 2019, I had expectations and visions of what my presidential year in PSLA would be like. But as in all things - it’s never quite as you imagined.
Our world is nothing like we could have ever even guessed or planned for. Our schools, our libraries, our families, our communities, our social circles, our profession, our association - our world has changed.
My heart aches with that our students missed this school year. It aches for the students who were and continue to be impacted by the pandemic - academically, socially, emotionally, physically and financially. Their families and all around us are impacted each day.
We face a crisis! Right now, school boards across Pennsylvania are voting to eliminate school library programs and librarians in next year’s budgets. Now, more than ever, it’s critical to amplify and define our roles in effective school reopening plans whether online or in-person. All students deserve equitable school library opportunities. This message must reach all stakeholders before short-sighted cuts lead to long-term educational inequities.
Step up and lead on behalf of all students! The PSLA Advocacy Committee has created sharable “card” messages to be used in social media posts. The “cards” succinctly convey that all K-12 students benefit from an effective school library program and a certified school librarian. Card images are located in this Flickr album. You will find Social Media Storm: Suggested Posts you can use as well as blank cards for customized visuals.
Take action now!Sign! Tweet! Retweet! Post! Repost!
Go to SaveSchoolLibrarians.org/pa and sign and share the “PSLA Open Letter to School Boards Across Pennsylvania” and share it with others.
Our recent video contest called “The School Library is Always Open!” had so many great videos submitted that we decided to feature them all on YouTube! Thank you to everyone who participated. Please share to stakeholders, administrators and others to celebrate the great work that school librarians did during the COVID-19 school closure and how we impact students digitally! Thanks to EveryLibrary for helping PSLA sponsor this contest!
We know that schools are beginning to discuss re-opening plans. Some school librarians have been asked for ideas, protocols and plans. However, some school librarians are not part of the conversation.
In an effort to share ideas, strengthen our positions in our schools and to advocate for keeping school libraries OPEN – we have created a space for anyone who has developed a plan, protocol, procedure or ideas to SHARE them. This is what we do BEST!
Please upload a PDF or Word Document of your Re-Opening Plan that you are willing to share with other school librarians. Please provide your email address IN THE PLAN as well as the form if you would also be willing to answer questions from other librarians through email.
Hello PSLA Members!
The Teaching & Learning Committee would like to hear from YOU! Please help us by completing the short Professional Development Survey linked below. With a few clicks, you can inform us of your training needs and skills for the upcoming year and beyond! Thank you for your time, and best wishes as we end a most unusual school year!
Sincerely,
PSLA Teaching & Learning
https://forms.gle/vWTUgGPLMENTpY9u8
The Librarian Influencer of the Week is Pennsylvania elementary librarian, Jennifer Roth. She is actively involved in the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association. Her ongoing goal is to advocate that the library is more than just storytime and book checkout.
Click here to listen to her interview now.
Congratulations to PSLA member Debbie Barrick for being named one of the 12 finalists for Pennsylvania's Teacher of the Year 2021.
Read about her accomplishments here: Transforming library into school hub helped Selinsgrove's Barrick into Teacher of the Year finals (May 18, 2020)
The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association’s Board of Directors has approved a one page document titled “School Librarians at the Center of School Renewal and Transformation” to be used by the association and school librarians in their advocacy efforts. Created by Allison Mackley (@amackley), PSLA Immediate Past-President and endorsed by the PSLA Board, this can be shared widely with stakeholders as we educate them about the value and expertise of school librarians.
The Librarian Influencer of the Week is Karey Killian, a library media specialist in rural Pennsylvania. She supports 900 students at two elementary schools. She loves seeing the joy on their faces when they make new discoveries!
Click here to read the overview and listen to the interview.
Click to view the documents: 2020 Google Folder
Advisory Council Agenda
All members have an extended 5-month grace period on their dues to give you additional time to renew.
This does not include members who were within the 2-month "Grace" or 'Lapsed" period as of May 31, 2020.
We wish you continued health and safety during this extraordinary time.
Board of Directors© Copyright 2017 Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
