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.

Build a Collaboration Action Plan with the AASL National School Library Standards: Stage 2 Training

Co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) and the University of Pittsburgh School Library Certification Program

Build and strengthen your collaboration with teachers through aligning the American Association of School Librarians National School Library Standards with the PA Core Standards as well as with the ISTE Standards for Students. You’ll create an action plan for collaborating with teachers to promote information and digital literacy across the curriculum for all learners, both students and teachers. These aligned Standards provide a solid foundation for developing learner competencies in information fluency and have credibility with administrators and educators. Whatever your situation – one school or multiple schools, solo in your district, fresh from the classroom, or assuming new teaching responsibilities – you’ll take away an action plan to tackle how to collaborate effectively with teachers to help your learners.

Bring your most successful information literacy lesson plan and learn how to align it with these standards and transform the way you collaborate with your teachers. (This training incorporates Stage 1 training) Act 48 hours are available for participants.

Librarians' Spotlight

So much is happening in PA libraries, and we want to showcase what you are doing! Do you have special programming, an awesome makerspace, a fabulous and favorite lesson, a visiting author, a published article, etc? Please fill out the form below so that we can highlight YOU! You can also highlight other librarians.

https://forms.gle/mLEaqEu8y41qQrbB6

Everyone is Welcome to Join the #PALibChat

If you are on Twitter, you may have seen the monthly #PALibChat Twitter Chats.  (Please note that #PALibChat is not formally sponsored by PSLA but is a great way for members and nonmembers to discuss issues.)

If you are not familiar with a Twitter Chat, a moderator asks a few questions about a predetermined topic and followers answer. As you answer, use the #PaLibChat hashtag, and feel free to connect with people who are also chatting. If you aren’t able to make the live chat, you can search the hashtag, read what others shared and add their thoughts.

This year, we’ve discussed the following:

Congratulations to Karey Killian who was selected by Microsoft as the first educator to highlight in their “Changemaker” series!

They brought a video production team to her libraries for two days. Please take a little time to watch the video which highlights what happened to her libraries after she found out that thousands of books were thrown out due to the mold. You’ll love the student responses, smiles, and laughs in this video. Karey thinks it’s important that we take time to highlight the great things happening in our libraries.

If you have the opportunity, please share this with your social networks!

We have several items to share with you in today's Pulse.

From the Teaching & Learning Committee

Hopefully you enjoyed your weekend! I often start mine on the drive home with Science Friday through NPR. This website is listed on the AASL Best Websites for good reason! Check it out and get curious!!

PSLA member Ellen Zschunke, librarian and media specialist at the Pine Road
Elementary
School in Huntingdon Valley, PA, has been nominated as an Unsung Hero of Bucks and Montgomery County Public Schools! The Council for the Advancement of Public Schools has nominated Ellen as follows:

This week’s Unsung Hero, Ellen Zschunke is the librarian and media specialist at the Pine Road
Elementary
School in Huntingdon Valley, and co-president of the Lower Moreland Township Education Association. She is beloved by her colleagues and students alike for her sunny personality and positive and down-to-earth approach to work and to life.

Regardless of how much she has scheduled, Ellen is always eager to help colleagues and students, “whether it’s with technology, locating a book, union questions, etc.,” said her nominator, and if she doesn’t know the answer, she’ll find out. She produces a morning television show every day of the week featuring fifth graders and “is just an all-around hero in the ways she handles life and is involved in so much.”

Besides her full-time teaching job, Ellen also coaches diving for Hatboro-Horsham School District and loves to cheer on other teachers and students, whether it’s a district musical, fundraiser, or other after school event. Her nominator added, “I wish I was as cool, calm and collected as she. She’s a rock star!”

With the grant money she’ll receive, Ellen plans to purchase Playaways, MP3 players with pre-loaded books. This format supports English Language Learners, those with learning needs like dyslexia or other print disabilities, and readers looking for a different way to enjoy the printed word. The $1,000 award will fund 16 Playaways. and the $2,000 award will fund 31 of these devices to help all learners access materials in a meaningful way. 

Be sure to view the videos about Ellen and our other Unsung Heroes and vote at the link below. There is no limit to the number of times that you can cast a ballot.

Joyce Valenza receives AASL Distinguished Service Award

CHICAGO – Joyce Valenza, assistant teaching professor of library and information science at Rutgers University, is the recipient of the 2019 American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) Distinguished Service Award. Sponsored by The Rosen Publishing Group, the $3,000 award recognizes an individual member of the library profession who has, over a significant period, made an outstanding national contribution to school librarianship and school library development.

After teaching for over two decades at Springfield Township (Pennsylvania) High School library, Valenza joined the faculty at Rutgers University’s Library and Information Science Department. In that capacity, she advises students on research projects that promote a better understanding of the impact of high-performing library programs on student learning. 

“Her scholarly contribution is enormous,” Ross Todd wrote in his letter of endorsement. “To date she has published 5 books, 10+ peer-reviewed papers, 9+ book chapters, 60+ articles in professional journals. This represents a distinguished level of leadership through scholarly work.”

“Joyce possesses encyclopedic knowledge of the research in our field,” wrote Michelle Luhtala in her nomination. “I stealthily take notes of names, studies, and publications she mentions in conversation knowing that if it is on her radar, it is worth reading. Among her many, many areas of expertise are literacies. Joyce examines, reexamines, rethinks, reframes these as our roles and affiliated technologies evolve.”

Valenza has served on AASL’s Best Apps for Teaching and Learning Committee and AASL’s Community of Scholars Task Force.  In 2017, Valenza was recognized as an inaugural AASL Social Media Superstar: Leadership Luminary.

“The common remark that our committee shared was that Joyce was future ready before' ‘future ready librarian,’” said Liz Deskins, award committee chair “She has been sharing, leading, encouraging, and challenging thousands of school librarians to keep striving to stay current and try new things. We thank you for all you’ve taught us, Joyce.”

The AASL award winners will be honored at the AASL Awards Ceremony during the 2019 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. The ceremony will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 22. All are welcome to celebrate the accomplishments of their peers during this recognition event.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.

Advisory Council Luncheon Meeting: March 29, 2019

Advisory Council Minutes - 7/11/2018

Business Meeting: March 30, 2019

Business Meeting Agenda

Business Meeting Minutes

Annual Financial Report

“Behind the Scenes” Allison Mackley, Cathi Fuhrman, Operations (Aimee Emerson, Vickie Saltzer, Bob McConnell) and Communications (Mary Schwander, Laura Ward, Corey Hall) wrote and submitted an application for the AASL Affiliate of the Year Award.  On Wednesday, March 27^th, I was notified that PSLA is receiving this recognition.
 
The AASL Affiliate of the Year Award recognizes the AASL Affiliate most active and dynamic in achieving the goals of AASL at the state and local level. AASL established this award to acknowledge the important contributions made by AASL Affiliates and encourage affiliates to take pride in their accomplishments. Through this recognition, AASL encourages educational growth, increased involvement at the national level and community, and legislative involvement.

 It is exciting to see such an engaged, active and exemplary affiliate. - Kathryn Roots Lewis, AASL President

The award will be presented at the American Library Association’s 2019 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. during the AASL Awards Ceremony. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 22^nd from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.  If you are attending the ALA, please be sure to attend the ceremony to help us celebrate!

Ever Curious,
Allison Mackley
President, PSLA (PA School Librarians Association)
National Board Certified Teacher Librarian
Hershey High School
550 Homestead Road
Hershey, PA  17033
[email protected]
@amackley