MSLA 2017 Conference

In a globally connected but increasingly xenophobic era, fiction is the perfect way to inspire children to cross borders and build bridges. How can the stories we share with the next generation contribute to the formation of a compassionate and just imagination? Author and educator Mitali Perkins will discuss ten questions that equip us to see "below the waterline" of a story.

Mental Health is an issue in schools around the nation. We live in a time when depression and anxiety are at an all time high among our youth, Massachusetts towns are all affected by this national trend. In the 2014 Metrowest Adolescent Health Survey we found that 30 percent of our high school girls and 14 percent of our high school boys reported "depressive symptoms" in the past 12 months. As early treatment offers the best results for recovery, it is imperative to provide educational programming that will bring knowledge, awareness, and empathy to the issue. As a recipient of a LSTA grant for 2015-2016 school year at Westborough High School Library, this session will give an overview of the grant, resources and curriculum for programming and then allow participants to participate with in depth discussions around mental health in libraries. Focus for discussion will center around breaking stigma, reaching out to the community and the role of libraries in the mental health crisis.

The MLS Executive Director and other staff and Executive Board members will facilitate this discussion of the desired role of MLS with school libraries and ways that school libraries can become active members within MLS will facilitate this session. As part of the MLS goal to develop an advocacy plan, we’ll also discuss strategies to encourage advocacy among school libraries and their constituents seeking input from attendees on this important topic. This session is designed as part of the strategic activities from the MLS Strategic Plan: 2017-2019 to strengthen the Massachusetts library community.

Find out the most current information on the new ESSA legislation and how it directly impacts school librarians. The workshops will: * include the most current information on developments at the Federal level and work through the sections of ESSA that can be directly linked to the school librarian/library program; * connect ESSA language to school librarian’s role; and * discuss current state work with recommendations for opportunities at state and local levels to ensure the ‘effective school library program’ language in ESSA. The hands-on small group work will aid in identifying stakeholders, building coalitions, message crafting, and elevator speech development. Join Anita and Pam as they present both the state and national perspective on ESSA and how it impacts your school library program.

View our slides here! 

Access the handbook here

ESSA and School Libraries website 

This workshop will be a facilitated discussion as to how we can begin to effectively and thoughtfully integrate LGBTQ issues, stories, literature and more into our curriculum. We will explore ways to promote gender and sexuality equity in the library. We will start with a brief introduction to key terms and concepts surrounding gender and sexuality and then explore the importance of including these issues in our libraries. Finally, we will share what we do in our own libraries. Each participant will be given resources and annotated booklists for their own professional use.

Click here for the Google presentation for this session

Click here for the Google presention of recommended books

Click here for additional resources

Click here for an article describing gender neutral pronouns - PLEASE READ this beforehand if you have time.  If you can't, no worries! 

As it becomes more common to integrate libraries with the tech department, and as librarian jobs are in jeopardy, our profession faces an identity crisis. I believe our most important role in 6-12 is as a teacher of research skills, integrated with the core subject curricula. How can we promote a vision of that model with our teachers, principals, and districts?

This ignite talk will give an overview of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in education and generate ideas of how librarians can demonstrate to school administrations and funding decision-makers that library programing supports SEL goals. The Every Student Succeeds Act has opened the door to assessing measures outside of the traditional academic areas. National and MA state education legislation has formalized SEL standards and even this past summer’s MA superintendent’s conference theme was “Meeting the Social-Emotional Needs of Today’s Diverse Learners.” All signs point to SEL being here to stay and this could be great news for libraries. As librarians, understanding the bigger SEL picture, and how libraries fit into it, could be especially important in times when budgets are shrinking and more and more library positions are ending up on the chopping block. In effect, SEL initiatives could act as a lifeline for school libraries. I will share ideas and identify programming that most school librarians always do that already fits within SEL objectives. This brief overview will help librarians thinking about how to use tools to demonstrate to administrations how librarians can be leaders in SEL educational reform.

Session Description (maximum of 300 words) This session will give an overview of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in education and generate ideas of how librarians can demonstrate to school administrations and funding decision-makers that library programing supports SEL goals. The Every Student Succeeds Act has opened the door to assessing measures outside of the traditional academic areas. National and MA state education legislation has formalized SEL standards and even this past summer’s MA superintendent’s conference theme was “Meeting the Social-Emotional Needs of Today’s Diverse Learners.” All signs point to SEL being here to stay and this could be great news for libraries. As librarians, understanding the bigger SEL picture, and how libraries fit into it, could be especially important in times when budgets are shrinking and more and more library positions are ending up on the chopping block. In effect, SEL initiatives could act as a lifeline for school libraries. In this session, after learning some of the basics principles of, and research supporting, current SEL instructional models, we will transition to small group workshops where participants, grouped by grade level, will brainstorm and share new ideas as well as identify programming that already fits within SEL objectives. A sample SEL library action plan template will be provided so as librarians work together, discussing and sharing ideas, they can begin to draft plans to submit to administration. In short, this session provides useful tools to demonstrate to our administrations how librarians can be leaders in SEL educational reform.

This presentation will offer the participants a number of ways that they can create community service activities in their library makerspace.The participants will learn how to create community service projects in their schools, whether or not they have a makerspace, using low budget materials.

Maker spaces have been a big topic of conversation at conferences for the past few years. What does it take to create and sustain a successful maker space? Is a “space” enough or should we be working to develop a maker mindset across disciplines in our schools? Join this roundtable and come discuss maker culture in your school, your goals and challenges, and learn from colleagues about their experiences with maker spaces.

Link to presentation

Advocating for strong school library programs is an essential focus area for each of as educational specialists in digital literacy. Resources are plentiful, but we need to work hard to ensure our piece of the pie on behalf of our students. This interactive panel discussion seeks to examine and discuss best practices for further advocating for strong school library programs. Participants will Become aware of the need for advocacy for school libraries Become familiar with selected advocacy tools and strategies through interactive discussion. Share ideas and experiences drawn from best practices and lessons learned in advocacy efforts. At the end of the workshop, it is expected that participants will have further developed their capacity for advocacy, which they can use to implement advocacy efforts in their own institutions and beyond at the local, state and national level.

Massachusetts schools are experiencing growth in the number of English Language Learners (ELL) students. The school library can be the place with the necessary resources for ELL to access curriculum and be a welcoming space where  ELL students feel included. With the AASL mantra "All Students Achieve At The  School Library" as a guiding principle for this session we will present easy to  implement teaching strategies for instructing ELL students in any school library.Learning - and understanding - academic vocabulary can be a challenge for ELL  in all subjects, including subject specific library words. Participants will learn the definitions for Tier 1, 2, and 3 vocabulary. Engaging with each other  in small groups, participants will apply definitions and sort library terms into tiers. Using an audience brainstorm, a Tier 1 and Tier 3 word will be  defined and the process for integrating academic vocabulary instruction in the school library modeled.    Understanding academic vocabulary empowers all children and especially ELL as they grapple with standardized tests and the rigors of Common Core. Students require resources that they can read and understand in English and in their own  language. Creating an accessible as well as a diverse collection is a first step in  creating an inclusive school library program. Session participants will learn tips and  tools to create an accessible school library collection that reflects a  culturally and linguistically diverse school population - and the world.    A strong home connection enhances a child's education and school experience.  The school library can be an ideal place to welcome families new to the country and  the school. How to make effective outreach to the ELL parent community will be  addressed suggesting traditional as well as some innovative approaches.

Wish you could extend further topics with clubs?  Not sure when students could participate with the challenges of an elementary schedule?  Come learn some ways to bring clubs into your library program.  Also discover ideas, resources, and tips for a variety of types like: Newspaper Club, Story Club, Maker Club, Comic Club, Creativity Club, Book Club, Reading Club, and a Book Cafe.

Here's a presentation with resources.