Great news! NCSLMA has extended the due date for BOB Compliance Forms! The new deadline is November 30, 2020. Remember in order to submit your BOB Compliance Form, your NCSLMA membership must be up-to-date. 

NCSLMA Leadership Academy is currently taking applications for our 2021 cohort and we’d love to have you join us!

What is the Leadership Academy?  

It’s a group of Library/Media up-and-comers with an interest in leading, whether in their schools, districts, or even in NCSLMA. We meet online once a month to discuss different topics, share ideas and opinions, and learn from each other. You will also be encouraged to get to know one another and build relationships as a PLC that you turn to when you have questions or need ideas.

Guests such as Board Members or authors are sometimes invited in to meet the group, join our discussions, and share their expertise.

How much of my time will it take?

The Leadership Academy does require a 2-year commitment. The first year is spent participating in the group discussions and in the second year you help facilitate these chats. Because you are striving to improve your leadership skills, you are also encouraged to participate in NCSLMA activities, like presenting at the Summer Learning Series or the Annual Conference.

It may sound like a lot, but it really boils down to little more than a few hours or so a month, and the time invested is generously rewarded with new friends and opportunities for personal and professional growth. You get out of it what you put into it.

Who can apply? 

Anyone with an interest in improving their leadership skills, developing relationships with like-minded people, and who would care to learn more about how they can become more active within NCSLMA. We do hope you have your MLS degree and have completed 2 years in a library setting, as we are looking for those who are ready to take their experience further.

How do I apply?

Just go to bit.ly/Leader21 and click the “Register” button to access the application.

We are accepting applications through the end of October, and our newest members will be notified in December.

Please know that we request your current resume along with a recommendation by an administrator or a peer -- someone who knows you and is ready to tell us how awesome you are!  Just send them this Recommendation Form.

Check out Bitsy Griffin's article "Behind the Scenes at NC's State Conference" posted on the Knowledge Quest website. 

Click HERE to view the article. 

I know I enjoyed the virtual aspect, especially the live sessions where we could connect with others. I also love that we can view all the sessions at our convenience through the end of September. What were your thoughts about the conference? Leave comments below!

Make sure you complete the BOB Compliance Form online no later than November 1, 2020. 

Click here to fill out the form online. You must be logged into your NCSLMA account to fill it out.

BOB Contact information:

• Director: Stacy Hersey, stacyhersey@ncslma.org
• EBoB: Anya Ross, anyaross@ncslma.org
• MBoB: Shelia Robertson, sheliarobertson@ncslma.org
• HBoB: Karen Meier, karenmeier@ncslma.org

BOB Levels:  Please register for each level you wish to compete in. 

• Elementary - 4 and 5
• Middle - 6, 7, 8
• High - 9, 10, 11, 12
• K-6 - Elementary List - 4 and 5, Middle List - 6th grade only

Other Information:

• The head coach 
• • should be the person filling out this form, and
  • must be a member of NCSLMA. Join here  
• The deadline for the compliance form is November 1, 2020.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Library Communities Respond

Friday, October 23 • 9 am-4 pm

Online Mini Conference

Sponsored by the College & University Section of NCLA

This is a mini conference designed to share ideas and initiatives for bridging the digital divide across library types and communities in response to the increased need for access to the internet and usable electronic devices during COVID-19. Presentations will address such topics as digital equity, tips for partnering with non-profits, virtual programming strategies, shifting collection development and technology needs, and other issues related to ensuring that library users in academic, public, and school libraries are able to effectively access online resources and services. The keynote speech will be provided by Rob Ross, Executive Director of NC LIVE.

I will be facilitating a round table discussion regarding school and public library partnerships and the digital divide.

NCLA members are free. Non-members cost $10.

Non-members who are presenters at the conference are free.

Register here: https://nclaonline.org/event-3998011?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=10/2/2020

Governor Roy Cooper declared April School Library Month in North Carolina! Our Advocacy and Governance Committee created a Smore of Virtual Activities you can use and share to celebrate. 

I hope you have marked your calendars for our annual fall conference, September 24-26, 2020, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, NC. 

I am excited to share with you the link for the Call to Present for our 2020 Annual Conference. We are currently accepting applications for concurrent sessions (50 minutes) and concurrent workshops (3 hours). The Call for Proposals will close on March 31, 2020. 

The conference website is now live and will be added to and updated periodically until conference. 

I can't wait to connect and learn with you! Have a great week!

Cindy Sturdivant, 2020 Conference Chair

The State Board of Education (SBE) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) are committed to providing personalized digital-age education that K-12 students need to be successful in college, careers, and as globally engaged productive citizens. Revising the NC Information and Technology Essential Standards (ITES) for students is an important part of this work. These standards are critical building blocks for the education of our students. ITES represent the "must have" information and technology skills and knowledge that each student must have in order to achieve success at the next level. The standards are designed to be delivered by classroom teachers in all curricular areas and grade levels.

As part of the NC Standards Review, Revision and Implementation process, the NC Department of Public Instruction is seeking your input on adopting the International Society for Technology in Education - Student Standards (ISTE-S). We recommend spending some time reviewing the ISTE-S prior to completing the survey. We anticipate the survey to take approximately 5 minutes. The survey may be accessed via: https://ncvps.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6gs8hkURr6o8j6R

Please share this with staff in your district. Thank you in advance for taking the time to contribute to this process.

NCSLMA is hosting a webinar next week, "Little Known Way to Increase Reading Engagement and Reading Skills with Students of ALL Reading Levels." There will be two dates, March 26 for elementary school librarians and March 27 for secondary school librarians. Join us to learn how large print books can help your students and earn one CEU!

Description:

Literacy is a key factor in student success. It impacts self-esteem, social emotional wellness and academic achievement. Thorndike Press supports literacy in and outside of the classroom by publishing books in large print, which can improve children’s reading skills and reading confidence. With greater comprehension comes greater reading satisfaction; learning to read can then transition to reading to learn. Come learn how large print makes a different for your students.

Speakers:

Tasha Squires is the School Librarian at O’Neill Middle School in Downers Grove, IL. She is the author of Library Partnerships: Making Connections Between School and Public Libraries published by Information Today, INC. She the creator and main contributor of the blog www.booksinthemiddle.wordpress.com and you can contact her on Twitter @tasquires or through email tasquires66@gmail.com She welcomes comments and conversations.

Bonnie Simcock is Manager of Acquisitions at Thorndike Press. Thorndike works with all the major publishing houses to put bestselling and well-loved titles into an accessible and comfortable format for all ages. Bonnie’s pleased to say she’s finally making great use of her Literature degree. She was raised in a family of educators, has a background in teaching literacy through the Title I (One) program, served a four-year term on a Maine schoolboard, and survived putting one kid through middle school with one still to go.

Elementary:

When: Mar 26, 2019 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM EASTERN TIME

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://cengage.zoom.us/meeting/register/78ad5e8016a9a25ac5b9141539e44ee6

I just got back from NCTIES19 and can't begin to tell you how much I learned! I tweeted out some of those like the digital interactive notebooks. I can't wait to try those. Gina Webster told me about SmashBoard. Another thing I can't wait to try. I've already been to their site and ordered a deck of cards. And I met dozens of new people in the Playground demonstrating how Padcaster might be used in schools. 

Even better for me was the networking. I saw so many NCSLMA members and had multiple meetings about items we should pursue. I even had a great phone conversation with one of our county superintendents about the value of school librarians. I don't know about you, but conferences allow me a chance to reconnect, rethink, revise, and regroup. While it may be hectic, it is truly a precious time.

The State of NC School Libraries

Now, I've got to shift my focus and think about our Executive Board meeting in May. We've got to think about the future of school librarians in a thoughtful and significant ways. We need a specific plan for shedding light on the value of our profession.  There is a frightening trend in NC right now to ditch the school librarian. I haven't heard of one (yet) that's ditching the library - just the librarian. So why is this happening?

• smaller counties cannot find one. 
• they need to save money.
• they don't understand the value that a trained librarian brings to the job.

I'm happy to talk with county officials, but I don't know who to pinpoint. And if I did, do I have the time to call them all?

Here are my short answers to the above:

• Did you know that you can move a teacher into the library with a provisional 076 licensure? They can attend an online program. Maybe you have a teacher in the building that would love to do this and doesn't realize it's a possibility.
• If you use your librarian as curriculum support, working hand-in-hand with your instructional facilitator, curriculum coordinator, etc., you will see enough growth in learning that will make that money a moot point. 
• Librarians are uniquely trained to develop a high-quality collection, deal with privacy issues, advocate for intellectual freedom, and support literacy. AND they can still support instructional technology.

I have to admit the last one is the hardest sell. If a school or county has made up their minds that technology is the answer to all their wows, they may well be resistant to shedding the image of a little old librarian with a tight bun, big glasses, and a cat cardigan. 

So where do we go from here?

In our May Executive Board meeting, we will be working on a strategic plan to move forward. We need new vision and mission statements. We need to figure out a way to help with the problems  mentioned above. Keith Curry Lance is applying for grant money to look at the changing roles of new librarians and NC will be part of that study if he gets the grant. I've been talking with Teresa Gibson from the Friday Institute about recruiting greater numbers of librarians for NCSLCN, a program that easily adds value to our roles. 

There are several ways you can help!

1. Join NCSLMA if you haven't already.
2. Share a pix of an engaging library activity. In her NCTIES session, Kathy Parker mentioned that we could use these as leverage in our districts and schools. Find one that shows what you'd like to do and share how you would implement and what kinds of funds you need.
3. Fill out a survey to help us get a clear picture of the state of libraries across the state.

Housekeeping:

Go to the new website! It's much easier to maneuver than the old one.  Special thanks to Cindy Sturdivant and Laura Long for the untold hours they have put into making it a reality. 

• Member first time login to new website
• Highlights of new site

Check out the new forum! It's set to replace the old google group later this month, so go ahead and start posting there! We also have Round Tables so you can join a smaller group of people in similar positions. 

The Awards, Grants, and Scholarships Section has opened applications on this page. Check out the AASL Travel Grant for first time attendees! Deadlines for all awards are 5/31.

Registration for Spring Regional PD is also open. Visit the Events page to register. PDs will be held across NC April 2nd - 8th.

Crystal Joyce and Lila Morel are planning a NC Legislative Day in May! Stay tuned for info on that.

Would you like to become more involved with NCSLMA? It's election season and we are looking for a few good librarians to run for President Elect, Coastal Director, and Piedmont West Director. if this is a role you want to pursue, please fill out the nomination form.

School librarians = school leaders! How will you lead today?

Warm regards,
Bitsy Griffin
President, NCSLMA
#NCSLMA19  . Connect . Create . Curate.
bitsygriffin@ncslma.org