National Library Week, Texas Library Association Conference, and Eagle's Nest Oh My!

 It might be the middle of March, but I am already looking at my calendar and thinking about ALL the different things that are on my to-do list for the next two and a half months.

Like many of us, I have lots on that list!

First Up:

National Library Week

Working in a High School I am always looking for different ways to engage the students and staff. I am doing some repeats from the last couple of years, but I also have a few new things up my sleeve. You can find lots of ideas and information from the ALA Website I took some of their days and created my own.

You can find the CANVA TEMPLATE HERE--------->

Library Week 2024 by akbusybee

Since the 8th the theme is Right to Read and also Total Solar Eclipse- I am going to have an easy bookmark for students to make.  Our area is in the path of totality.

Materials Needed:

-Bookmark

-Glue

-Foil

-Yellow Paper

-I used Avery 5523 Labels for the sticker- you can see my template here

Tuesday- National Library Worker Day- The Cardwell Library is stuck on our staff and students so I will have free water bottle stickers for people that stop by.

Wednesday- Library Outreach- I will be passing out free books and bookmarks

Thursday- Take Action for Libraries- I am going to invite people to write something they are thankful for on Post it Notes

Friday- I am going to do a Bookface Friday

Now- I hope that people participate, but I also know it is a hit or miss.  Most importantly- I have discovered that the more consistent that I am the more participation there is. 

With the end of National Library Week I have a Destination ImagiNation team going to state.. and then I roll into the Texas Library Association Conference

Texas Library Association Conference

I have already planned out a tentative schedule ready to go, but there are SO many amazing sessions!

I am pretty excited that I also get to share on Tuesday morning for Beyond the Books: Community-Driven Secondary Library Programming.  I am also working on setting up a modified Book Basket Exchange.  I know when we go to conferences we get a ton of new books, but the idea behind the book exchange is each person brings their favorite read from the last year, a bookmark that goes with it along with a small trinket.  Are you going to TLA and interested in participating?  Fill out the form here---> https://bit.ly/txla24bookexchange

Are you attending TLA? What sessions are you looking forward to? One of my favorite part of any conference is learning from others, meeting people that you have connected with through social media, and recharging yourself.

Right after TLA is the North Texas Teen Book Festival.  Another favorite day of mine! If you have not heard of NTTBF- be sure to check out this free event.

The Eagle's Nest

One of the things I love about being a librarian is working with all different students.  As the years have gone by the students have changed along with their needs.  In my current role, I have a handful of students that are either parents or soon to be parents.  Reading is such an important skill and we all know that reading starts young and at home.  I have created The Eagle's Nest as a monthly story time for these new parents. 

During this time I have stuffed animals that we use as the children.  We talk about how to interact with your child, how to pick out books, and how to read to your child.  I also share the resources that our district has along with the resources that Irving Public Library has.  During this time we also do a practice story time.  The last one we had was all about spring.  During the story time we did a song, read a book, practiced reading a book and also a hand print craft.  I sent home with each student a kit for their own handprint craft, a book and also a print out of the song and how to choose books.

I held the first two during the school day, but plan to hold the next one after school so the students can bring their kiddos with them.  I am also so happy that I did the practice handprint craft, because I forget that we need to teach all the things.  The next week I had one of the students share a video of her doing the handprint craft with her 8 month old. 

I can't wait to see this program grow!

What are some of your favorite programs?  What are you most excited about this spring semester?

I know this blog was chock full of information, and my days are going to continue to stay long!  Did I mention that this is only April?

Read Across America Week- High School

It has been a minute since I have had a chance to share what is going on in the library.  January tends to always be such a wash (and we had some crazy weather) and in February I live and breathe Destination ImagiNation.  

But- if you are looking at a calendar you know that the first week of March is Read Across America Week. 

Being in High School Read Across America Week looks a little different (and participation always varies) Each day I have a different activity that students can do- BUT.. this time I have added in prizes!  

Prizes- chips/candy bars/possibly a soda- High schoolers love food.. and we have some good sales going on right now at my local store.

Ways students can get their name in the drawing:
-check out an eBook or Audiobook- all of our students have devices- so all they have to do is show me what they borrowed
-check out a physical book
-enter into the Bookmark Contest
-come to my Hot Chocolate Storytime 
-leave a review of any book

Each day I am posting on social media about Read Across America Week. You can find my daily posts here-----> CANVA LINK (thanks Canva!)

 

RAA24 by akbusybee

I also have a bookmark contest going on and you can find the Template for that here

------> Bookmark and Contest information

RAA24 Bookmark contest by akbusybee

One more treat:

Last month we had Shannon McClintock Miller come to our library meeting and of course, I got SO many ideas!! I have started doing a monthly choice board that shares our resources.

Here is my March board- you can make a copy here------>

This is one of my slides on my TV that is outside the library and also printed and on my circulation desk.  

 

 I am always looking for ways to connect with my students and share our premium resources and reading.  My next blog is about the new program I just started- The Eagle's Nest.

What do you do for Read Across America Week? I am now also a Student Council Sponsor and next year I think I am going to have my kids help plan some dress-up days for Read Across America Week (if you are in high school... you know how much they love a reason to wear pajamas!)