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TASL Talks Tennessee Association of School Librarians
Inside This Issue: Letter from the President
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Advocacy & VSBA Updates
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ALA & TLA Conference Info
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Membership Campaign
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TASL Conference
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TASL Road Trip
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Regional Round Tables
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Member Spotlight
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Regional Updates
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Region ID/Contact Info
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Hello, Tennessee School Librarians! We hope your second semester is off to a positive start. The TASL Leadership Team is proud to offer you your first 2016 newsletter filled with lots of important, relevant, and updated information about the school library profession. You are a valued member of your school community, and we want you to know we think so! We hope you enjoy this edition of TASL Talks!
Save the Date! TASL Road Trip June 14 (EAST) @ Walters State Community College in Morristown, TN.
TASL Road Trip
TASL Conference
June 16 (WEST) @ University School of Jackson in Jackson, TN.
November 3-5 @ Embassy Suites & Conference Center in Murfreesboro, TN.
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From the President’s Desk: Happy February! Despite what others may say or practice, I have always been one to make New Year’s resolutions. For me, writing down a goal and committing to it holds power. If you share in this practice, I hope you find yourself well on your way to reaching your goals this February. Over the past month, I have consistently revisited my professional goals to monitor my progress and plan for continued growth in the upcoming year. Not surprisingly, a key support in reaching each of those goals has been TASL. The great news is that the same is true for you; an active TASL membership can provide the opportunities and support needed for your desired professional growth. As our leadership team plans for 2016, we are excited to feature a year of activities and networking opportunities devoted to improving Tennessee libraries one library and librarian at a time. We hope that you will take advantage of all TASL has to offer by first renewing your membership and then committing to take a more active role in our organization by participating in professional opportunities offered this year. After renewing your membership, invite another librarian to join TASL and invest in our organization and profession by participating in the following TASL-sponsored opportunities:
Regional and Grade Level Roundtables – Join librarians in your region and/or grade level in periodic roundtable-style discussions focused on best practice, library trends, and programming.
#TASLChat – We are excited to launch a monthly #TASLChat via Twitter to provide a platform for pivotal and poignant conversations to take place. Watch your inbox for more details this Spring.
TASL Road Trip – TASL members will once again hit the road this summer to renew our minds and refresh our practice. Mark your calendars for June 14 @ Walters State Community College in Morristown and June 16 @ the University School of Jackson. Check the TASL Professional Development page for the latest updates.
25th Annual TASL Conference – TASL President-Elect and Conference Chair, Misti Jenkins, and her team are already hard at work on TASL’s 25th Annual Conference, themed “Operation Excellence: Best Practices for Teaching Librarians.” You do not want to miss the amazing lineup of speakers and anniversary-themed events! Join us November 3-5 @ Embassy Suites and Conference Center in Murfreesboro.
Throughout the year, be sure to visit http://www.tasltn.org/ and TASL’s Facebook page for the latest TASL news, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @TASLTN. As I continue to operate in the hope and promise of a new year, I look forward to serving you in 2016. What a privilege it is to join each of you to improve the lives of our students and communities each day. Blessings for the year ahead,
Mindy Nichols 2
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ADVOCACY Of course, 2015 was a big year for school libraries on the national level with the passage of the ESSA, and TASL will keep you posted on the opportunities it provides. Ginger Kirchmyer of the Advocacy Committee has taken the time to write something that will help us all understand the importance of this legislation. Check it out here! Currently, the Tennessee State Legislature is in session, and TASL’s advocacy committee is keeping its eye on happenings that impact libraries. If you would like to keep up with proposed legislation that impacts schools, here’s one way to do so: http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/. It makes for some pretty interesting reading. As always, some of the best advocacy starts at home. Be sure that your stakeholders know what you do to support student learning and school goals. Don't be shy about tooting your own horn. Beth Frerking, Advocacy Chair
WATCH THIS SPACE! BOOKMARK WINNERS ANNOUNCED SOON!!!
VSBA The three nominating committees have been hard at work reading titles for the 2017-2018 lists. The committees will meet in April and May to finalize the lists for the four divisions of the VSBA. A special thanks to the committee chairs--Pat Shaffer (Primary) of Nashville Public Library, Jamie Bevins (Intermediate) of Knox County Public Schools, and Karla Keesecker (YA) of Unicoi County Schools--for all of their hard work toward the VSBA. Ballots for the 2015-2016 VSBA have been posted on the TASL website at: www.tasltn.org/vsba. The deadline to submit ballots is Monday, May 2. You may submit your ballots online or by mail. If you have any questions about the voting process, please contact Amy Dye-Reeves or Jeanine Akers. They are the TLA co-chairs for the award and are in charge of voting. Happy reading! Scot Smith TASL Co-chair for the Volunteer State Book Award 3
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Nichols and Jenkins Travel to 2016 ALA Mid-Winter Meeting in Boston TASL President Mindy Nichols and TASL President-Elect Misti Jenkins travelled to Boston, Massachusetts for the 2016 ALA Mid-Winter Meeting January 8-11. Nichols and Jenkins attended Affiliate Assemblies I & II, where they participated in roundtable discussions centered on how to build capacity for a stronger organization (AASL/TASL). At Affiliate Assembly II, Chair, Lori Donavan, introduced the new Affiliate Assembly annual timeline as well as the Concerns and Commendations process.
discuss the updated timelines, the Concerns and Commendations process, and conference planning. While in Boston, delegates were thrilled to explore The Freedom Trail, local Boston cuisine, and visit literary landmarks in nearby Concord and Cambridge. Pictures included (from left to right):
Region 4 delegates then caucused to
Nichols and Jenkins join AASL Region 4 Delegates to discuss the Concerns and Commendations process. A visit to Duck Pond to enjoy Boston Stopping by Harvard Library
ALA 2016 Annual Conference
TLA 2016 Annual Conference
In Orlando, Florida June 23-28, 2016
In Kingsport, TN April 6-8, 2016
Registration is open now!
Registration is still open.
#alaac16 4
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Conference package including 1 registration and a 2 night hotel stay.
3 CHANCES TO WIN! 1 entry for joining/renewing TASL membership by 3/29 1 entry for referring someone to TASL. When they join, send an email with the name of the person you referred to Cristol Kapp by 3/31 1 entry for completing the membership survey by 3/15
From Misti Jenkins, Conference Chair I hope you have already marked your calendar for our 25th annual conference, November 3-5, at Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro. I am so excited about our theme of Operation Excellence: Best Practices for Teaching Librarians. I think everyone will find something useful at this year's conference to take back to your school library. We already have great featured presenters lined up; you can see them on the main Conference page of TASL's website (http://www.tasltn.org/conference). While you're on that page, consider submitting a proposal to be a member presenter. I know many of you have a "best practice" that will benefit others, so please consider signing up to present a session. The form will close on April 14, so get your proposals in. I look forward to reading your great proposals and getting you on the schedule! 6
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Sneak Peek: 2016 TASL Conference (Click below to visit our webpage for details!)
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Act Now! TASL Road Trip: A Call for Presenters Librarians take your marks, and start your engines for two TASL Professional Development opportunities in 2016! You have made great strides in creating school libraries that go the distance, logging mile after mile to help your students and community. Put that training in action by registering for race day as one of TASL’s member presenters. We are looking for runners and drivers from all grade levels and backgrounds to present at either of our two events: Road Trip East or Road Trip West. Whether you are an experienced runner ready to improve your performance by challenging yourself with a new exercise or a novice who has seen success with your regimen, sharing your training plan with others benefits our entire profession. Information from member presenters is often the most practical, easilyimplemented, and performance-improving. As you review your running and driving logs, perhaps you have moved from the couch to a 5 evaluation, implemented some cross-curricular-training, or gotten some great mileage out of your library program. Share these successes with others, and we will celebrate at the finish line together! Face it; you’re ready for the next mile marker.
Race Day Opportunities: Road Trip East – June 14, 2016 Road Trip West – June 16, 2016 Member Presenter Forms may be found here or on the TASL Home Page @ www.tasltn.org
Proposals must be submitted by April 15, 2016. 8
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Something New: Regional Round Tables A fun, new opportunity to get involved AND take something away! This March, TASL Area Reps will be hosting regional roundtables for TASL members as a networking tool where professionals will come together to meet and discuss current trends in School Library and Information Science! This is a great way to meet some movers and shakers while picking up best practices to implement in your very own library! Come ready to share and take ideas. Here is the meeting information for each area: Appalachian Region: Saturday, March 12 from 10am-12pm at the Bristol Public Library. 701 Goode Street, Bristol, VA 24201. For more info, contact Vicki Winstead @vcwinstead@gmail.com East TN River Region: Saturday, March 19th from 10:00am-12:00pm at TBA For more info, contact Cristol Kapp @kappcm@gmail.com Highland Rim Region: Saturday, March 19th from 9:30-11:30am at TBA For more info, contact Lakisha Brinson @newaunt@gmail.com
Regions not listed here will be contacted soon via email!
Mississippi River Region: Saturday, March 12 from 10am-12pm at Arlington High School 5475 Airline Rd, Arlington, TN 38002 For more info, contact Amy Balducci @amy.balducci@gmsdk12.org Walking Horse Region: Tuesday, March 22nd, 7pm at Linebaugh Public Library, Upstairs Conference Room 105 W Vine St, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 For more info, contact Shannon Minner @mshannon.minner@cityschools.net
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Becky Coleman HCDE K-12 Director of Literacy & Social Studies serve. We spent the day sharing best practices and how we can ensure every child is reading at grade level. Speakers included: Megan Smith: U.S. Chief Technology Officer and Assistant to the President, Michael Smith, Special Assistant to the President, My Brother's Keeper and Robert Rodriguez, Deputy Assistant to the President for education.
Becky Coleman & Corinne Hill Invited to Washington, DC to Represent Chattanooga’s Libraries ConnectED Library Challenge is a commitment by more than 30 communities to work to put a library card into every student’s hand as soon as they enter school. Data analyzed by IMLS show that children who visited the library during kindergarten had higher achievement scores in reading and science in third grade, particularly for children in households with low income and low parental education. IMLS, in partnership with the American Library Association and the Urban Libraries Council, will host a national convening this year to identify and share best practices in reaching universal library card use among public school students.
Corinne Hill, Executive Director of the Chattanooga Public Library, and I were honored to be a part of this event and left with new ideas to support the students of Hamilton County outside of the school day. Since the inception of the plan, we have issued cards to 28,160 Hamilton County students, of which 25,551 are still active (when they graduate or move, the card is void). For more information, you can see a recent article published through District Dispatch that includes a YouTube video of one of the sessions.
Chattanooga & Hamilton County Schools were recognized along with other communities for making this happen for the students we 10
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REGIONAL UPDATES: Appalachian Region: An author from the Appalachian Region (Bristol) Kimberly Brubaker Bradley won a 2016 Newbery Honor and Schneider award for her book, The War That Saved My Life. Kim is available for school visits during the 2016-17 school year.
Highland Rim Region: Member Cami Townsel attended two national conferences and had this to say: “Here are two tips I received from the BCALA and AASL conferences: BCALA Conference Tip: Think of different events to be of service to patrons in the library. Example: Get tax preparers during tax time (serves working students, parents, and faculty). AASL Conference Tip: Use the voice of students. Example: Record a "how to video" created by students and share with faculty (how to use innovative instructional tools). Member Marni Bumpus is on her school Literacy Team and they have started making READ posters for their building. They asked students and faculty/staff their favorite book and then a quote from the book. They take their pictures and make posters that are all over the building. You can follow their hashtag #MCMReads
Walking Horse Region: CONGRATULATIONS to member Elizabeth Shepherd, librarian at Carson Lane Academy in Murfreesboro, TN for being named Teacher of the Year! Hobgood Elementary received the James Patterson Scholastic Grant for reviving our nonfiction section in the library. Hobgood was selected from 27,924 applications for funding grants! Member Penny Britton, a middle school librarian in Tullahoma City Schools, reported Between Shades of Gray author Ruta Sepetys visited recently. She explained that, thanks to a grant from Humanities Tennessee called “Student Reader Day,” every student was given a copy of the book before her visit. Also, in December, her students celebrated the holidays with the 12 Days of Christmas Trivia: Each day literature trivia questions were featured on the announcements & students submitted answers during their library visit! Her students are currently working on their TASL bookmarks!! 11
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REGIONAL UPDATES, continued: East TN River Region: HCDE Librarians take their professional development on the Go this year learning about the various resources within their community. They’ve visited Chattanooga State Community College, the Public Education Foundation, and WTCI (PBS) to learn more about the valuable resources these organizations offer K-12 educators. In addition to programs presented by the host organizations, an elementary and secondary librarian presents a lightening talk to share a lesson or resource that works for them each session.
Following in the footsteps of Hamilton County’s first PEF librarian Teacherpreneur Cristol Kapp, Signal Mountain Middle High librarian Ginger Kirchmyer was awarded funding to pursue an educational website she is designing which will be made especially for librarians, teachers, & students. The site is called Technibrary: a Library of Technology Resources, and it is currently in the beginning stages of creation. If you’re interested in learning more or participating in this adventure, view details at www.thechanginglibrarian.weebly.com.
Contact your Area Representative with the great things going on in your district, so we can celebrate and recognize the difference school librarians are making all over the state!
Friday & Saturday March 11 & 12 Murfreesboro, TN
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Appalachian: Claiborne, Hancock, Hawkins, Sullivan, Johnson, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Cocke, Greene, Washington, Unicoi, Carter Cumberland: Clay, Pickett, Jackson, Overton, Fentress, Putnam, DeKalb, White, Cumberland, Warren, VanBuren, Grundy East TN River: Marion, Sequatchie, Bledsoe, Rhea, Meigs, McMinn, Monroe, Polk, Bradley, Hamilton Highland Rim: Montgomery, Robertson, Sumner, Macon, Dickson, Cheatham, Davidson, Wilson, Trousdale, Smith Mississippi River: Lake, Obion, Dyer, Lauderdale, Crockett, Tipton, Haywood, Shelby, Fayette Volunteer: Scott, Campbell, Morgan, Anderson, Union, Knox, Roane, Loudon, Blount, Sevier Walking Horse: Williamson, Rutherford, Cannon, Maury, Marshall, Bedford, Coffee, Giles, Lincoln, Moore, Franklin Western Plains: Weakley, Henry, Gibson, Carroll, Madison, Henderson, Chester, Hardeman, McNairy West TN River: Stewart, Houston, Benton, Humphreys, Decatur, Perry, Hickman, Lewis, Hardin, Wayne, Lawrence
Mindy Nichols, President Mindy.nichols.tasl@gmail.com
Highland Rim Region, Lakisha Brinson newaunt@gmail.com
Stay Connected! To subscribe to the TASL e-list, log in at www.tasltn.org
Misti Jenkins, PresidentElect/Conference Chair misti.jenkins.tasl@gmail.com
Mississippi River Region, Amy Balducci amy.balducci@gmsdk12.org
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tasl.tn Follow us on Twitter: @tasltn
Dana Lester, Secretary dana.lester.tasl@gmail.com Lynn Lilley, Treasurer lynn.lilley.tasl@gmail.com Lora Ann Black, Immediate Past President LoraAnnBlack.tasl@gmail.com Appalachian Region, Vicki Winstead vcwinstead@gmail.com Cumberland Region, Kim Wattenbarger wattenbargek@k12tn.net East TN River Region, Cristol Kapp kappcm@gmail.com
Volunteer Region, Raina Scoggins scogginsr@hotmail.com
AASL: www.ala.org/aasl
Walking Horse Region, Shannon Minner shannon.minner@cityschools.net
TLA: www.tnla.org TEL: www.tntel.info
Western Plains Region, Sherry Copeland SherryCopeland.tasl@gmail.com
Tenn-Share: www.tenn-share.org
West TN River Region, Cindy Martin cindy.martin@waynetn.net
This issue of TASL Talks was designed and edited by Ginger Kirchmyer.
Web Manager, Beth Frerking frerking@gmail.com Want to be featured in TASL Talks in 2016? Email Ginger Kirchmyer smmhslibrarian@gmail.com