Have your librarian card?
Because you’ve got to check out these sessions.
These bad boys are led by some of the most creative, supportive, knowledgeable librarians, media specialists, and library advocates out there. They’re ready to share favorite tools, new tips, the latest trends, and what’s working for them in their library. Get ready to learn from the best of the best!Â
| Name | Time (Central) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Opening Session | 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. | Join us for the opening session kick off our learning time together! We'll share what you need to know to get the most from the Librarian Conference and connect with other great librarians. |
| Upping Your Game with AI (Allyssa Loya) | 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. | Librarians are amazing, hardworking, creative and..... short on time! We want to create interactive, meaningful lessons. But by the time we are able to sit down and plan out a lesson, our brains are fried and coming up with something innovative can seem overwhelming. Enter: AI. Let's get familiar with using AI as a starting point to respark creativity, save time, and take library lessons to the next level! |
| Cultivating Connections and Community (Jolie Jennings and Katie Ann Prescott) | 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. | Feeling like a lonely island in the library? Join an elementary school librarian and a middle school librarian as they share how to make connections both on and off campus. Explore a variety of book clubs, passive programming, and special events that build relationships and foster community with students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders. You'll leave this session with easy-to-implement ideas! |
| Organize a School-Wide World Read Aloud Day with Virtual Author Visits (Karen Firstbrook) | 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | If you're looking for a school-wide literacy celebration, look no further than World Read Aloud Day! Celebrated in February each year with hundreds of authors volunteering to virtually visit classrooms FOR FREE, learn how to turn Kate Messner's amazing spreadsheet of available authors into a school-wide celebration. Receive step-by-step instructions for scheduling authors to visit each classroom at your site. Give your students the gift of meeting authors from across the globe and watch their love of reading and writing expand exponentially. |
| Bring Joy to the Library! (Michelle Cooper and Michael Pettiette) | 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | There is no doubt that the library is the heart of the school. Bring learning to life by making it fun, hands-on, and exciting. Leave with resources that can be used immediately for innovative Read Alouds, STEM, and STEAM! Qualifies for GT Credit |
| Travel the World with Google Geo Tools (Jennifer Wyatt) | 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | Want to take your students on field trips around the world but don't have the budget or passports? Technology makes it easy and free to explore the globe. Use Google Geo tools, like Maps, Streetview, and Earth to get close up and personal to the world's most iconic sites without leaving your classroom! Plus, we will explore how to use links and embed codes to add these geo elements to lessons and projects. |
| Turning the Pages: Manga for Elementary (Monica Loas) | 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | Ever heard of "manga"? Originally from Japan, these comics have expanded all over the world due to cultural globalization. Manga allows reluctant readers, English language learners, and special education students to be immersed in reading! But with its many levels, what should be considered when developing a manga collection for elementary students? Gather tips on how to get started with manga while creating engaging lessons focusing on writing and storytelling. Qualifies for GT Credit |
| Advocating for Yourself and Your Library (Shirley Dickey) | 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | Do you feel underappreciated? Do you feel your administration does not have a clear picture of what work you are doing every day? Explore ways one librarian quietly builds the capacity for respect with her administration, faculty, and community. We'll cover best practices for advocacy, building your social capital, data-driven perceptions, ways social media can be used to your advantage, and the perks that often come alongside the respect we all want to feel from our campus and community! Qualifies for GT Credit |
| Instructional Gold: Combining Makerspaces and Learning Standards (Alicia Vandenbroek) | 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | Have dynamic library lessons and a growing makerspace? Let's combine the two for empowering lessons through tactile learning! Turn your maker "stuff" into instructional gold with maker-centered activities and foster collaborative relationships with teachers while you're at it. Appropriate for all grade/skill levels. Qualifies for GT Credit |
| Art and Books: A Match Made in Heaven for SEL Growth (Monica Loas) | noon - 12:45 p.m. | Creating promotes critical thinking and growth in students' social-emotional learning. But how can we include arts in library lessons, even when pressed for time? Get tips and tricks from a former special education teacher turned librarian (including how to address accommodations for special populations)! |
| Cybersecurity for Librarians (Blake Carver) | noon - 12:45 p.m. | Attention librarians! Protect your patrons' data and safeguard your library's digital assets with expert strategies for IT security. Join Blake Carver, Systems Administrator at LYRASIS, in this dynamic session on cybersecurity. Learn how to secure your network, website, and PCs, and discover tools to teach patrons in computer classes. Uncover the truth about security myths, passwords, tracking, malware, and more. This session is a must-attend for any library staff seeking to stay safe online. Qualifies for GT Credit |
| Name | Time (Central) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Day 2 Opening Session | 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. | Bring your coffee and enoy a time of getting to network and laugh with other librarians before the learning begins! |
| Crush Your Creations with Canva (Kristi Starr and Charlotte Polk) | 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. | Canva is widely known and used in libraries and classrooms, but there are a lot of new and exciting features. Come take a look at how you can elevate your production game and walk away with creative new ideas. |
| Ensure Student Safety Online: CIPA Compliance Made Simple (Rachel Minton) | 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. | Compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is essential for the safety and well-being of your students and to support your district in qualifying for E-Rate funds. CIPA covers crucial topics such as internet safety, responsible online behavior, and cyberbullying. To comply with CIPA, Common Sense Education states that it is important to plan, implement, and document your process in case of an E-Rate audit. However, documenting your compliance can be overwhelming. That's where Learning.com and Common Sense Education can help! Discover an easy approach to implementing high-quality lessons and automated reports for documenting CIPA compliance for E-Rate with the help of Learning.com and Common Sense Education. |
| Meet Your Virtual Assistant: How AI Can Make a Difference in Your Library (Kristi Starr and Stephanie Galvan Russell) | 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | One of our greatest fears is the unknown. Yet as educators, one of our responsibilities is to have an open mind to new ways of learning and working. Let's approach AI with an attitude of playfulness and exploration to discover what we and our students can gain from incorporating AI into our lessons and practices. Qualifies for GT Credit |
| Huddle Up with Coaches and Athletes for Book Clubs (Ashleigh Osborne) | 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | Learn about collaborating with your coaching staff to create a leadership book club with your student athletes. Qualifies for GT Credit |
| Mentoring Educators Through the Copyright Maze (Jenn Roth) | 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | Copyright can be an intimidating concept in more ways than one. As educators and creators, we need to have a basic understanding and be cognizant of helping students and teachers understand these concepts as well. Discover practical ways to teach copyright concepts within your own curriculum while giving examples in education. Learn how you can adapt the FREE Copyright & Creativity for Ethical Digital Citizens curriculum in ways that will work for your school. This won't be a session about what you can't do because of copyright laws but rather what you CAN do! |
| Canvas in the Library! (Stephanie Galvan Russell) | 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | Explore how libraries can use Canvas to create both asynchronous and synchronous learning experiences and increase student engagement and satisfaction. We'll cover the technical aspects of implementation as well as strategies for integrating the library's resources into the LMS. |
| Prepping your Library - One Year at a Time (Jeni Tahaney) | 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | This is the perfect time to start planning for next year! Discover how to align monthly activities and classes with the six library strands: Information Literacy, Inquiry, Reading, Digital Learning, Safe & Nurturing Environment, and Leadership. Using tools like Canva, Wakelet, Google Sites and more, learn how creating a digital storage space can help you stay organized and make your appraisal easier when you have to provide documentation. Leave with concrete examples and all of the templates you need to start planning for next year. |
| Centers in the Library: If You Don't Have Them, You Should! (Kathy Hoffman) | 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | How can you keep a class of 22 six year olds engaged while still having them check out books? Centers! Discover "Investigation Stations" for K-1st grade classes and "Dewey Stations" for 2nd-5th grade small groups. Learn how these centers were implemented and how they evolved. Plus, we'll discuss how the library can be used as a classroom center! |
| Organization for the Techy Teacher/Librarian (Stephanie Galvan Russell) | noon - 12:45 p.m. | There are SO many awesome ideas out there that we want to try out, but how to keep track of them all? Learn different ways to keep your library programming ideas, presentation ideas, and lesson ideas, and make sure that they go from "I want to try this" to "That was so much fun!" Leave with practice on using Google Keep and Slides for organization and keeping track of activities for reflection and evaluations. |
| Escape into the 2023-2024 Texas Bluebonnet Award Books (Margaret Resendez and Wafa Ihweil) | noon - 12:45 p.m. | Teachers and librarians will learn about the latest and greatest Texas Bluebonnet reading list targeted for our 3rd-6th grade students. Leave with a plethora of ideas on how to integrate these books into your classroom reading program. Qualifies for GT Credit |
| Tips & Tricks For New (and Seasoned) Librarians! (Zinnia Bayardo and Jennifer Eckert) | noon - 12:45 p.m. | These are tips and tricks for new librarians to help make it a smooth and organized year. But even seasoned librarians can probably take away something new and cool! |
| Name | Time (Central) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Day 3 Opening Session | 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. | Bring your coffee and enoy a time of getting to network and laugh with other librarians before the learning begins! |
| Tik Tok You Don't Stop: Using Social Media to Support and Grow Readers (Deborah Zeman and Amanda Hunt) | 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. | Learn all the ways to create a brand and showcase reading programs, library programs, book recommendations, and book reviews using social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Hive, Clubhouse, BeReal and more! Leave with multiple resources to promote your own library, brand, and books in general. Qualifies for GT Credit |
| Culturally Responsive and Relevant Books: Why It's Important to Expand Your Awareness (Ashanti Mayes) | 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. | What is culture exactly? It goes deeper than just the foods we eat or the languages we speak. How can we provide students with culturally responsive and relevant materials? How can we look at the materials we use through a critical lens? Let's explore these ideas and look at some titles and resources to enhance your collection. Come prepared to think and add to the discussion. |
| Welcome to the Future with ChatGPT (Amanda Hunt and Deborah Zeman) | 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | Learn what ChatGPT is, what it can do for educators, how it will effect research and resources for librarians and how to use it effectively – both in and out of the classroom. Qualifies for GT Credit |
| The Power of Social Media: Supercharging Platforms to Tell Stories (Monica Loas) | 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | Want to know how to advertise your school's library program? Gather up ideas on how to showcase the amazing books, programs, and events you offer and get everyone involved in creating a buzz! Let's dig deeper into the importance of social media and review examples of high-quality content. Also, learn about free and affordable resources for easy content building! |
| Can I touch it? Yes, you can! Planning your own Sensory Museum (Anna Waugh) | 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | Gain insight into how to plan an engaging Sensory Museum experience for your whole school community. Let's drive critical thinking and inquiry-based learning centered around the five senses! Specific examples and stations will be shared, as well as tips for low-cost and fundraising. |
| Makerspace on the Cheap (Monica Loas) | 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | Starting out with makerspaces or just needing to refresh an already amazing area that promotes collaboration and critical thinking? Gather up tried and true ideas from someone who had to open an elementary school! We'll go over samples of different stations currently in use, how to start a makerspace with little to no budget, and even talk about grants! Qualifies for GT Credit |
| How to Choose Books That Won’t Get Challenged (Anna Waugh) | noon - 12:45 p.m. | How can librarians use district, state, and national resources to justify their selections of diverse and inclusive titles? Discover ways to prepare for possible challenges before they arise. |
| Teacher + Librarian: The Collaboration Dream Team (Jillian Pratt) | noon - 12:45 p.m. | Do you have a dream for your students or classroom that you can't accomplish alone? Reach out to your school librarian! Get tips on collaborative planning through the use of technology, and walk away with lots of examples and experiences. Catch a demonstration on how to schedule collaborative planning and lessons, whether there is a fixed or flex schedule! |
| Closing Session | 12:50 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Join us for the closing session and a chance to win some great door prizes! |
