November in the Library

 So, I realized that I had not shared in my blog since last March! I have been sharing much more library land happenings over on TikTok (akbusybee) and Instagram (beeinthebookends)

First an update:
I moved schools!! I had the opportunity to move to a high school (same district) At this high school I am the librarian and the DLC (Digital Learning Coach) I miss my middle schoolers, but I sure am loving high school.  I also got my lifeguard certification so I could lifeguard for my Girl Scout troop.. but I don't know if you have kept up with the news this summer- pools were short staffed! So, I also now lifeguard and teach swim lessons- currently working on my water aerobics instructor courses.

Before I get into all that I am doing.. want to give a little background on my new school
-Our campus serves 9th-12th graders
-Our campus also has what we call grad lab
-Our campus also serves students in our Nigh Owl Academy

Let's get into November.  Here are the things that I have planned with templates, links and more! November for me is also going to be a little crazy.  I am in the process of moving houses, I am attending the TALL Texan Leadership Institute, I am traveling to New York with one of my Girl Scout troops, and I am traveling to my hometown to celebrate my parents 50th wedding anniversary.. so this Busy Bee is WAY busy this month!

Book Club

I have a confession to make- I have never hosted a book club.  Last month was my first one.  What I decided for my book club is that I would focus on a theme rather than an actual book.  October 31st was our first book club where we focused on Ghoulish reads.  Students that signed up in advance were able to come in share about their books and we made candy pumpkin catapults (another confession- this is my first year in the library here.. so I am working on building relationships.. I only had 2 students sign up) I had some extra students in the library during this time, so you know- start small and it will grow!

The month of November my focus is Nonfiction November.  Here is the template to the Canva that I created  On the flyer that I make for school it also has a QR that links to a form that students fill out.  The reason that I need that information is that my book club happens during the day.  It is also good data to have! I am not for sure of the activity that we are doing yet- but I will share once I do have it.

Stranger Things Day

If you are a fan of the show- you will probably already know this trivia.  Stranger Things Day happens on November 6th- the day that Will went missing.  I have written about Stranger Things Day here before

Here is the social media post I am creating to share- you can find the template here (also- I took these pictures at the Stranger Things store.

There are so many great Breakouts that have been created and so many ideas that are out there on the web.  I created my own Digital Breakouts last year through Google Slides.  Since I am at a new school- I am doing what any smart person would do.. and reusing them.  Last year I posted a new clue each day, this year I am going to have them posted around the library on November 7th (when we are celebrating Stranger Things Day.

My plan:
-this week I am promoting that we are celebrating Stranger Things Day on Monday November 7th.  I will promote through social media and on announcements.
-since I am doing during the day, students will need to sign up by Friday to participate during SWAG on Monday
-all students and staff will be invited to wear their best 80s outfits
-I am inviting students and staff to share their favorite 80s or Stranger Things music so I can make a Spotify playlist
-During our SWAG time (SWAG is just like a "homeroom" that we use during the day) the students that signed up will be able to come down to the library to participate in the digital breakouts
-I do have prizes and incentives- there are some great affordable stickers on Amazon (I would always recommend going through the stickers first before giving them out!) and also some fun off brand Stranger Things jibbitz that I found.
-I also went to the Stranger Things Store this summer and took some pictures- I think I might have students use these to create their own scene.

The Breakout
I will print these posters in color. You can find my template from Canva here  Also, on the posters that I am printing for school they will have a QR code on them that lead to the Google Digital Breakout that I made.  Don't worry- I have those too!!

These will force you to copy

Virtual Escape Room- The Letter
Virtual Escape Room- The Code
Virtual Escape Room- Morse Code
Virtual Escape Room- The Bike
Full Virtual Escape Room- This one will take a little bit more time

For The Letter, The Code, Morse Code and Bike- any one that is playing can get through it even with wrong answers.  For the full Virtual Escape Room you must have the right answers to proceed!  What are the answers you may ask...this is the document with them so you can help students (or yourself!) get through.

The Answers

Feel free to edit/change (or you might even find a mistake) and use yourself.  I would love for you to share and also tag me in any photos or other ideas!

Scavenger Hunt

If you don't already follow Melissa Corey on Twitter- go do it now!! She shares the best stuff- and also shares the templates to go with it! She shared a cute ghost hunt template during October and then came out with this cute Turkey Scavenger Hunt. My high schoolers loved it!

Here is the template to mine (but she shared two- both are SUPER cute!)

The end of the month (after Thanksgiving) I am also collaborating with my art teacher to work on holiday cards as part of a service project for Keep Irving Beautiful.  We will create cards to donate and then Keep Irving Beautiful will pass them out to Nursing Homes. My next blog I will share how I do some of my social media such as my #FirstLineFridays.

What programming are you doing in the library? What exciting things do you have coming up?

Hopefully I included everything that I am doing in November.  If I missed something or didn't change a sharing setting- let me know. It is going to be a wild month! 

Library Month 2022

Sometimes in Libraryland I am SUPER far behind and other times I am a little ahead of schedule.  My life has been full of Destination ImagiNation for the past month (and.. my Nerdy Birdy Trio competed yesterday at state.. and are now headed to GLOBALS at the end of May!) I am ahead of schedule though in preparing for Library Month.

In this blog you will find:
-Ideas to do for School Library Month
-Infographic that I share with staff/community
-Canva templates for Library Week activities (week template and daily Instagram posts)

Library month is in April and many school libraries celebrate Library Week the first week of April.  You can find lots of ideas and goodies American Library Association website  Emily Hopkins with TCEA just shared a great article about different ways you can support your local library.  

You can find it here--->School Library Month-Make Your Librarian Feel Valued this April

Using the National Library Week as a planner is a great way to easily advocate for your library. As a librarian, we do so many activities that affect not only our school but a broader community.  We know what we do, but sometimes feel awkward really taking a moment to educate others in what a role a librarian really plays. Preparing for National Library Week is a great way to take a moment and point out the things we do.

At the beginning of the week, I share an infographic with staff and administrators through email, but I also share it through the various social media platforms to share with our community. I have created this in Piktochart

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Not only is it a great time to share what the library does, but also a great way to engage students in various programming that promote the library.  I created a weekly calendar to go along with ideas from the ALA.  You can find the full template here---> Library Week Canva

Each day is a different activity.  I will share this at the beginning of the week but have also created daily posts that I can share through Instagram and Twitter.  You can find the full template here ---> Social Media Canva Template

Monday-Stuck on Lamar Staff- passing out water bottle stickers. I found these on Amazon and they are a huge hit (it is important to take a moment to really look through stickers before you just pass them out although they say okay for kids and teens.. some are questionable)

Tuesday-What is your favorite thing about the library

Wednesday-Create 2 bookmarks- one to keep-one to share- We are currently working on kits (and by we, I mean my amazing clerk Lautaret!) 

Thursday-Make a book recommendation

Friday-#bookfaceFriday

I plan to also share my social media platforms to share daily as well what goes on in the library and of course, there are going to be some TikToks! 

Do you do anything special for National Library Week?

Another big thing that happens in April is our Texas Library Association Conference- are you headed there? If so- I LOVE selfies and would love catch up! I have a chance to present 2 sessions!

Read Across America 2022

When I look at programming, one of my favorite things to do is look at calendars and upcoming events.

Anyday I can put on a Tutu and a Tiara-
 SIGN ME UP!

Such as today was 2/2/22 which is not only a GREAT Twosday but also a Palindrome!

To celebrate, April Richmond (my counterpart Campus Leadership Ambassador) put on the Ultimate Twosday! Since it is also a palindrome- we had Desserts-because Desserts spelled backward is Stressed!

But, right around the corner is also Read Across America. I wrote last year about the different things I did here. Although Read Across America Day is March 2nd,  I am going to be celebrating all week long.  Last year, since we were in a hybrid model, I had read alouds each morning with students and staff.  I still plan to have at least one read aloud on March 2nd, but that is still in the scheduling stages.  Below is my week graphic that I will be sharing. I made it in Canva (if you haven't signed up for an account- get on it!) You can find the template for it here

Each day of the week I will also be posting a promo on our social media accounts and inviting students to fill out a form or email me to be possibly featured on our social media accounts and of course prizes!

You can find the Canva template here

Jillian Heise has created an AMAZING Read Across America blog that has various books from various locations.

I took her idea last year and updated it to coincide with North Texas Teen Book Festival. Guess what- North Texas Teen Book Festival is IN PERSON this year on March 5th! If you have never heard about the North Texas Teen Book Festival- check out this totally FREE event that happens in my backyard

Can't make it in person on March 5th- never fear, the Educator Day is March 4th- and it is virtual.  The author's lineup for both of these days is amazing.  The first North Texas Teen Book Festival is the reason that I took the leap to become a librarian.  There is just something about seeing 10000s of teens so excited about meeting authors that have changed their lives. Did I mention that it is FREE?

I am currently working on an updated Read Across America NTTBF style right now.

You can find the full presentation here- but please understand that I am still adding authors and books. 

The links that are on the books lead back to information about the author through Teachingbooks.net and the link that is underneath each book leads to information about the panel that they are on.

What are you doing for Read Across America? Are you headed to North Texas Teen Book Festival? I am so excited to share the virtual event with my campus. I am so thankful for all the different things my community puts on to share the importance of reading.  Check out The Irving Public Library on Twitter and YouTube

Speaking of YouTube you can find tons of past author visits from the North Texas Teen Book Festival. Check out this promo video from the last in person event in March 2020

Other than NTTBF, my next big event is the Texas Library Association Conference- are you headed that way? I am so excited to attend in person again!