Posts

Announcing: BIPOC Membership Scholarships

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  Librarianship is an overwhelmingly white profession.  This, as the ALA Member Demographics Survey from 2017 demonstrates, does not seem to be shifting despite efforts promoting diversity and inclusion within our profession.  This fall, the WLA leadership retreats included a session focused on anti-racism and how we as an organization can start dismantling the systems that uphold racism.  While this is not something that will happen overnight, WLA is committed to taking steps to address systemic racism within WLA and Librarianship. As the School Library Division committee chair and a white woman, I recognize that my efforts to add diverse titles to my collection and make all students feel welcome, seen, and valued, is not enough.  We need diverse voices in our profession, and we need to encourage our BIPOC colleagues to be part of our professional organization.   Your ScLD Leadership Committee believes strongly that it is time for change, and that we must begin taking steps toward re
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Librarians and the Washington Digital TeachKit: Partnerships in the Pandemic

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by Mark Rey Throughout my career as a teacher librarian and district leader, I’ve reveled in professional collaboration. As I continue my 29th year as a teacher librarian / instructional coach / teacher of the year / administrator / now free range educator, my rich professional friendships and diverse PLN have made me a better educator.  But collaboration in a pandemic is hard. Social distancing has translated into professional isolation. A virtual breakout room is simply not the same as popping into a colleague’s classroom or meeting in the break room to forage for snacks. For teacher librarians who once regularly connected with fellow educators to lead, teach, and support the work of the school, it’s increasingly difficult to sustain collaboration as classroom colleagues struggle with remote and hybrid learning.  The very real challenges of student engagement, management, and effective instructional design using diverse digital tools and services are yet to be solved. Despite an incr
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WWU Children's Lit Conference Heads Online

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by Adam Shaffer Hello, WLA ScLD Blog readers! Adam Shaffer here, happy to be a guest contributor on the new blog. It’s the end of February, and maybe you feel like something is missing from your life (aside from everyday social connection).  I know I do.  For me, the end of February is the most glorious time for children’s literature lovers in the Pacific Northwest: The Western Washington University Children’s Literature Conference (and nErDcamp Bellingham , but that’s a topic for a future post). For each of the last seventeen years, WWUCLC hosted an all-star lineup of acclaimed authors and illustrators.  And each of the last seventeen years, WWUCLC also welcomed 600+ teachers, librarians, and other kidlit advocates and devotees—a hot ticket indeed. Despite the size of the crowd, the event always feels intimate, as we connect with each other over the power of storytelling for young people.  WWUCLC 2020 was the last hurrah for many of us, before COVID changed nearly everything about ou
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Announcing: WLA ScLD's AASL National Conference Attendance Grants!

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 Have you always wanted to attend a national Library conference, but needed some funding to make it possible?  Do you dream of joining together with School Library professionals from across the nation to share practice, advocacy efforts, and fun?  Does the thought of carrying home a bag full of books signed by authors make your heart skip a beat?   Then YOU need to attend the 2021 AASL National Conference  in Salt Lake City, UT October 21-23, 2021! The WLA ScLD is pleased to announce our 2021 AASL National Conference Attendance Grants .  Grants may cover up to $500.00 reimbursement for conference registration, travel, and/or lodging. Recipients will be required to provide copies of receipts and a completed reimbursement form. Grant funds must be used to attend the 2021 AASL Conference. Application Requirements:  - Member of WLA School Library Division  - Demonstrate financial need - Preference is given to School Library Division Committee members and first-time AASL attendees. Applicat
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Sharing Our Stories and Support

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Welcome to the Washington Library Associations School Library Division's brand new blog!  We hope to use this site to share information, to promote opportunities for networking and professional growth, and  to highlight the fantastic work being done every day across the state. We are all working during an incredible and challenging time.  With students and families at the center of our school library services, Washington State Teacher Librarians are focused on continuing to provide safe and healthy library and information literacy services.  Working collaboratively with our school communities, district leadership, and following state guidelines, we continue to provide critical services that are integral to the educational, social/emotional, and mental health of our students. As we move through the challenges of the 2020-21 school year, our school libraries and librarians are now, more than ever, vital to the educational experience of every student in Washington  State.  School libr
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