SLRI UPDATE
Spring 2021
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dearest Membership,
I am coming to the end of my term as your president. I will proceed through the door marked "Immediate Past President" on June 1st. Looking back on our achievements over the last two years, we have had some successes to report, even in the face of a 100 year pandemic that turned the world upside down! Here are some highlights:
Most recently, SLRI gave a presentation to the RI Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, getting our national standards unanimously endorsed by RIDE! This wrapped up a nearly 2 year effort after meetings with RIDE, conducting surveys, and offering PDs on the national standards.
Earlier this year, the SLRI Advocacy Committee met and worked with a team of Providence Librarians to successfully get a resolution passed by the Providence City Council that officially recognizes the value of School Libraries and Librarians within Providence schools. This came after two middle schools’ librarian positions remained unfilled after being vacated at the beginning of this school year. This is something that we might want to consider doing with other cities/towns as well.
We also had our own SLRI-produced documentary, "Overdue: The Value of School Librarians," air on PBS last December!
Over the course of the last 2 years, our newly-created Curriculum Committee researched and created the RI School Library Curriculum Guide, which includes assessments and a lesson database to provide content for school librarians.
I will still serve on the board as Immediate Past President and expect to continue working on the Advocacy Committee to keep fighting for fully staffed and funded School Libraries, as well as being recognized for the important role we play in education. Please consider joining me on this or any of our other committees. You choose how much time you can afford to give to the committee’s efforts. With more volunteers, there’s no telling what we can accomplish.
Very truly yours,
SLRI President
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RIDE Endorses ALA Standards
On April 6, the Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education officially endorsed the new AASL National School Library Standards. SLRI members Deanna Brooks, Sarah Hunicke and Mary Moen made a strong presentation, the culmination of several years of work, before the Council, whose vote to recognize the standards was unanimous. In a press release publicizing the endorsement, RIDE said "We recognize that strong school libraries play a key role in student learning and achievement. These standards emphasize important aspects of student learning and development that include competencies in four domains; think, create, share, and grow.The roles and responsibilities of school librarians have evolved in recent decades to meet the needs of today’s learning initiatives. It is more important than ever in this age of information and disinformation, that students are given the research skills necessary for college and career readiness."
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SLRI Members Meet with Sen. Jack Reed
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In Memoriam
Dr. Cheryl Ann McCarthy, Professor Emerita at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Library and Information Studies (GSLIS), passed away on May 16, 2021.
Dr. McCarthy was known to many of us as the Coordinator of the GSLIS School Library Media Program. She was also Coordinator of the Information Literacy Instruction Certificate Program during her 25-year tenure at URI. Prior to her 2016 retirement, she served as Interim Dean of URI University Libraries.
A past President of School Librarians of Rhode Island and the New England Library Association, Dr. McCarthy had also been Chair of the RI Coalition of Library Advocates (COLA) and had served on the executive board of the Rhode Island Center for the Book.
Among the many qualities for which she will be remembered are her enthusiasm as an instructor, her advocacy for school libraries, and her guidance as an inspirational mentor to scores of GSLIS students and school librarians.
Information on funeral arrangements and donations can be found here.
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Membership Elects New Officers
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SLRI Mini Grants Available!
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SLRI Needs You!
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The Votes Are In....
RI Teen Book Award Winner
RI Middle School Book Award Winner
RI Children's Book Award Winner
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WHERE ARE YOU?
If you have begun teaching at a new school, please email Joanne Gongoleski so she can update our membership list.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
- RILA Conference: RILA's Annual Conference will be held June 3-4, 2021. The theme is "Well+ Connected: Libraries and Healthy Communities." To register by June 1, click here.
- Summer Reading Program: This year's theme is "Tails and Tales," and celebrates animals and animal stories. Find out more here.
- RISTE Summer Institute: No matter how you will you be teaching in the fall, RISTE's Virtual institute offers skills and strategies to help. Register here for sessions to be held on July 14-16, 2021.
- SLRI Board Meeting: Our next board meeting will be in August, date TBA.
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ABOUT US
Email: SLRI.prez@gmail.com
Website: slri.info
Location: Rhode Island
Phone:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/School-Librarians-of-Rhode-Island-SLRI-141124869254764/?tn-str=k*F
Twitter: @SchLibRI