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, PSLA Immediate Past-President in collaboration with 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 DirectorsThis Behind the Scenes is a no frills – no graphics – no quotes from me - update.
I know many of you are anxious for the links for the Town Hall Meeting from last week – but please keep reading – Save the date for the Business Meeting, the Model Curriculum on SAS, an exciting video contest to win Amazon gift cards and AASL Town Hall meetings all follow.
PSLA Town Hall Meeting - April 21, 2020
Thanks to all who attended the Town Hall Meeting. We are so excited that we had over 150 attendees. The Chat Transcript is filled with ideas and links that you don’t want to miss. PLEASE fill out the evaluation form so that we can determine if there is enough interest to continue to hold virtual town halls. We are considering another meeting in May – but we need to hear from you.
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Join us for the most anticipated day-long gathering of librarians and educators—now fully virtual and free to attend! Come hear from more than 40 authors and publishers about the latest and most exciting forthcoming titles for children, tweens, and teens, ranging from picture books and nonfiction to graphic novels and YA, and engage in Q&A sessions with authors and illustrators. Visit the virtual exhibit hall to network with leading publishers, enjoy additional author chats, and download digital galleys as well as other free resources and giveaways. Certificates of completion will be provided to submit for CE credits. |
The Librarian Influencer of the Week is Allison Mackley, a school librarian in Pennsylvania who is currently the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association's immediate past president and an American Association of School Librarians (AASL) board director. She serves in numerous positions in her state and national library associations. Allison was named the 2019 AASL Social Media Superstar Leadership Luminary.
Click here to read the overview and listen to the interview.
How do you tell the story of your school library? Whether it’s through your instruction, professional interactions, or community engagement, the AASL National School Library Standards Framework offers the indispensable resources to unlock limitless learning opportunities for all.
Join this self-paced, asynchronous, 3-module course, Limitless Learning with the AASL Standards, to earn a certificate for six (6) professional development hours.
Self-enroll in the course with this link: https://canvas.instructure.com/enroll/79ED49
This course provides training in the implementation of AASL National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries.
During uncertain times, it is more important than ever for school library professionals to share resources and information as a community. The PSLA Member Community Forums on the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association website is your opportunity to join your peers and collaborate through discussions and document sharing.
The PSLA Community Forum is a centralized space for members to communicate online, share questions and ideas with other library professionals, and seek or offer support
As a member of PSLA, you are automatically part of PSLA Member Forums and have full access. Your login credentials are the same username and password that you use to log in to the PSLA website.
Once you log in, your Member Landing Page is your place to manage your personal details and email notifications:
As I write this Behind the Scenes in the times we’re living in, it’s easy to think about what could have been. We all are mourning tasks or events we thought we’d be doing at this time in the school year – 
Or more personal events – a special birthday, a wedding, a celebration, visits with family – maybe even retirement parties for yourself or your colleagues.
We never could have imagined we’d be here. Myself, I was not prepared to walk my presidential journey in this format. However, I went back to my first Behind the Scenes from July 24 and I found that I wrote this:
“We are a profession of doers – educators who work hard to BE the answer.
Did you get a chance to view the Beyond the Standards: Creating Partnerships Guided by the AASL National School Library Standards webinar presented by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association?
Whether you watched it live or watch the recording, you can receive a certificate for one (1) professional development hour (if accepted by your employer).
This webinar is designed to support you as you put the AASL National School Library Standards into action in your local school community. Through community engagement, school librarians can gain administrator, faculty, parent, community and student support as they embed the AASL National School Library Standards into instruction and infuse the school community with opportunities to think, create, share and grow.
The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) Board of Directors and Teaching and Learning Committee are proud to offer this free webinar made possible through the AASL Past-Presidents Planning Grant for National School Library Standards sponsored by Roger and Susan D. Ballard in honor of E. Blanche Woolls who is not only a past president of the American Association of School Librarians but also a Distinguished Service member of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association.
Featuring:
"To thrive, schoolwide inquiry learning programs need support from librarians". Check out this article on Phi Delta Kappan about the role of librarians in inquiry learning programs.
If you are an ALA member, please consider voting for Steven Yates for ALA President. Voting is open March 9, 2020 - April 1, 2020. Steven is a former AASL President (2017-18) and former school and public librarian. Steven currently serves as Assistant Director of the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alabama. Steven regularly teaches courses in school librarianship, library management theory and practice, philanthropy and fundraising, among others. He will be a great voice at ALA for school librarians! He is hosting a Town Hall Meet and Greet via Zoom on March 10, 2020 at 4:00 pm ET. For more information about Steven and to join the conversation at http://voteyatesala.com.
The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association is pleased to announce the
The Model Curriculum for Learners in Pennsylvania School Libraries (2019)
https://www.psla.org/model-curriculum-for-learners-in-pa-school-libraries-2019-
Between May and September of 2019, the Model Curriculum Committee developed The Model Curriculum for Learners in Pennsylvania School Libraries as an update and expansion of Stage 1 of The Model Curriculum for PA School Library Programs published in 2012by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
Greetings: Active and Distinguished Service Members:
The following Proposed Bylaw amendments have been approved by the PSLA Board. The Operations Committee is announcing these proposed amendments before the 2020 spring election so the members can review these changes before voting. The rationale for these changes is included with each proposed amendment. Inserts are bold-faced and italicized and deletions are strikethrough. If you have any questions, please contact, Vickie Saltzer or Bob McConnell at [email protected]
Proposed Changes to Bylaws of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) Board of Directors and Teaching and Learning Committee is proud to offer a free webinar made possible through the AASL Past-Presidents Planning Grant for National School Library Standards sponsored by Roger and Susan D. Ballard in honor of E. Blanche Woolls who is not only a past president of the American Association of School Librarians but also a Distinguished Service member of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association.
Beyond the Standards: Creating Partnerships Guided by the AASL National School Library Standards
Thursday, February 27, 2020, 7 PM EST
Registration Link: http://bit.ly/BeyondtheStandards
Don't forget to register for the 2020 PSLA Conference by February 28th for the Early Bird Discount!
Join hundreds of Librarians and Library advocates from around the state and beyond.
Meet the 2020 Michael L. Printz Award winner, A.S. King, called “One of the best Y.A. writers working today” by the New York Times Book Review.
The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) Board of Directors and Teaching and Learning Committee is proud to offer a free webinar made possible through the AASL Past-Presidents Planning Grant for National School Library Standards sponsored by Roger and Susan D. Ballard in honor of E. Blanche Woolls who is not only a past president of the American Association of School Librarians but also a Distinguished Service member of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association.
Beyond the Standards: Creating Partnerships Guided by the AASL National School Library Standards - Thursday, February 27, 2020, 7 PM EST
Registration Link: http://bit.ly/BeyondtheStandards
This webinar is designed to support you as you put the AASL National School Library Standards into action in your local school community. Through community engagement, school librarians can gain administrator, faculty, parent, community and student support as they embed the AASL National School Library Standards into instruction and infuse the school community with opportunities to think, create, share and grow.
(Image via pxHere.com)
By Debra E. Kachel
All students are assessed on the same scale for standardized tests. If this were truly fair, shouldn’t they also have access to the same educational resources with which to learn?
© Copyright 2017 Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
