Bookmark
May 2019
May Bookmark
My fellow NJASL members,
As I sign off on my last Bookmark as NJASL President, I take a moment to reflect on all of the accomplishments I’ve been part of this past year, in a photo review. NJ school librarians are facing deep job cuts, and I worked to personally respond to each district with a letter or testimony. I also attended numerous State Board of Education meetings to advocate for our roles in every NJ school. NJASL will discuss how to improve our strategy and prevent future losses in the coming months.
My goal has always been to leverage my position as NJASL President to begin conversations with stakeholders and develop key relationships. The NJEA Convention gave me the opportunity to speak to NJEA members and leaders. April was a celebration of school libraries and I am so proud of the NJEA Review cover story, “Celebrating School Librarians”. This week I am heading to the NJLA conference and am excited to continue to develop this important partnership as we look at the legislation, and create an action plan to move that forward.
Last week my husband found this huge turtle on the lawn outside of our house. I immediately thought of Aesop’s fable The Tortoise and the Hare and the moral of “slow and steady wins the race.” NJASL works tirelessly and constantly to advocate for school libraries across the state. Sometimes it feels as if the work is futile because there are many obstacles. Budget constraints, unsupportive administrators, shifting in staffing are a few that members shared with me. But despite any setback, NJASL will not back down. Like the tortoise, NJASL will maintain its consistency and dependability and will persistently support its members.
This August I will officially hand over the gavel to President-Elect Jill Mills, who is poised to be a leader with heart. I am fully confident in her skills to take our organization to the next level while engaging members and inspiring others. I hope to spend more time in the background of NJASL and read my way through my summer reading list. I thank all of you who have helped me along the way with a kind word of support, a guiding hand, or a shoulder to lean on. It has been a pleasure to serve NJASL and I am optimistic about our future.
Christina Cucci
President of NJASL 2018-2019
NJEA Review
NJEA Convention
NJDOE
Important News and Information
Better Together NJASL Fall 2019
Call for Proposals
#njasl19
#bettertogether
The call for proposals is now open for NJASL’s 2019 Fall Conference! This year’s conference will be held at the Hilton East Brunswick on Monday and Tuesday December 9 & 10. We are so excited to have John Schu aka Mr. Schu Reads and Jacqueline Woodson as our keynote speakers.
This year’s theme is “Better Together.” In keeping with that theme please share your ideas and expertise by submitting a proposal to present. Whether you’re a first-timer or a perennial presenter, there’s a format for everyone:
Spark and Tell (10 minute session)
Speed Learning (15 minute session)
Concurrent (60 minute session)
More detailed descriptions of each format can be found on the proposal form. If you have any questions, please reach out to Beth Thomas, Conference Chair at njasl19@njasl.org.
Please submit your proposal to the EMAIL LISTED ON THE FORM! Thank You!
Reading= Hope X Change (What's Your Equation?)
NJASL is excited to be a part of a special initiative in collaboration with
The New Jersey Center for the Book, The College of New Jersey, Rutgers
University and the NJ State Library featuring Jacqueline Woodson’s book Harbor Me.
If you are looking for an amazing book that spans all levels for your next
book club, class novel, One Book One School title, or as a summer read, Harbor Me is a fantastic choice.
Check out the flyer below for more information!!!
IMPORTANT: Attention ALL MEMBERS
Members-
NJASL's mailing address has changed. Please send our new address to your business office so that your purchase orders for membership and conference are sent to the correct location.
Time to Renew Your NJASL Membership!
NJASL membership runs from August 1 through July 31 each year. Don't forget to renew! If your school district purchases your membership, consider submitting your requisition before the end of this school year to keep your membership active and be ready to register for the Fall conference at the member rate. You can register with a credit card or PayPal using the online application here: https://njasl.org/page-1863117
Or you can print and submit your application with a purchase order or check: https://njasl.org/page-1863125
Support the organization dedicated to providing you with relevant professional development resources and programs and advocating for every New Jersey student to have access to school librarians and school library services.
Mary Lewis
NJASL Membership Committee Chair
Follow us on Instagram!
JOB OPENINGS!!!
NJASL Legislative Consultant
- Mary Moyer Stubbs
Legislative Highlights -
May 2019 Bookmark
NJASL Advocacy Efforts
Continuing efforts in the following districts:
Freehold Regional High School District
Union Township School District - Monitoring
Springfield Township Public Schools
Collingswood Public Schools
West Orange - successful efforts have led to SLMS positions to be maintained
Old Bridge
East Brunswick
Please email advocacy@njasl.org if you live or work in any of the listed districts and are interested in assisting with these advocacy efforts.
Parent Testimony at NJ State Board of Education
On May 1, Bonnie Lafazan, a parent and Director of the Berkeley College Library in Woodbridge testified at the open public testimony session of the NJ State Board of Education. She is a board member of Library Link NJ, NJLA/CUS President (which is the New Jersey Library Association’s College and University section). Additionally, she also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council to Rutgers University’s School of Communication and Information. View her testimony at: https://www.njasl.org/PublicTestimony
State Board of Education Updates
Teacher Leader Endorsement was approved at the April 17 State Board of Education Meeting and will be added to Instructional Certificates. This endorsement matches NJ State Law.
For Full details on the certificate requirements: View Google Document
NJASL did submit comments on this Endorsement - Listed below are the NJASL comments and NJ DOE response. Comments from NJASL
Department of Education Updates
NJ DOE Equity Conference: The Office of Professional Learning is hosting the New Jersey Department of Education’s Statewide Conference: Equity for All. The conference will be on July 31, 2019, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with registration beginning at 7:00 a.m.) at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. The conference is designed to highlight educational expertise from across the state, while providing a space to share best practices designed to strengthen teaching, leading and learning through the lens of equity for all in education.
View Conference details. Registration link.
NJ DOE Twitter and Podcasts
The NJ Department of Education has an active twitter account:@NewJerseyDOE
For those on twitter, consider following the DOE and tagging them in your tweets, when you are spotlighting great events in your school library.
Additionally, the office of ELL / Bilingual Education has a series of podcasts: https://www.nj.gov/education/bilingual/podcasts/
Financial Literacy Workshops
The NJ DOE will be offering workshops on Financial Literacy requirement on July 31 and August 1. Perhaps your district is struggling to find a way to implement. This may be an opportunity to include financial literacy as part of your information literacy curriculum.
July 31, 2019, Financial Education Boot Camp 2019 at the Rutgers University Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, Ewing, NJ; and
August 1, 2019, Financial Education Boot Camp 2019 at the Conference Center, Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg, NJ.
View Details for registration.
Legislative Updates
Expanded Family Leave: On Feb. 19, Governor Murphy signed into law (A-3975) an expansion to the state’s paid family leave program. The new law expands the existing paid family leave program from 2008. Additionally job protections are provided from those who miss work due to caring for a newborn child or a sick family member. Law becomes effective July 1, 2020.
New components of A-3975
Doubles the number of weeks for Family Leave Insurance (FLI)
Increases the weekly benefit
Increases intermittent leave from 42 days to 56 days
Adds anti-retaliation provisions
Expands individuals eligible to take paid family leave
Includes domestic and sexual violence (victims and caring for victims)
View Article with specific details.
Other Articles of Interest
Op-Ed on State Testing:
One of the authors, Julie Borst is the executive director of Save Our Schools.
Article details some of the research on the negative consequences of exit testing and the inequities in exit testing. There will be many new discussions on the topic of state testing since NJ does not have a plan for the current sophomores and beyond. Stay tuned for more articles and information from the SBOE and DOE on this topic. View full article
ALA’s 2019 State of America's Libraries. The section on school libraries includes simple talking points and facts about the value of school libraries and student achievement:
View the report at: http://www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2019/school-libraries
For example:
School library programs foster critical thinking, providing students with the skills they need to analyze, form, and communicate ideas in compelling ways.
Students in high-poverty schools are almost twice as likely to graduate when the school library is staffed with a certified school librarian.
Transform the High School Library: American Libraries Article
Article describes ways that an underutilized high school library can become a vibrant part of the school community. For example: try hosting brown-bag lunch workshops or for a simple change, try putting on music.
Georgia School Library Evaluation Tools
The Georgia Library Media Association has created an evaluation tool for school librarians that includes links to the National Standards: https://www.glma-inc.org/slei
All documents including the evaluation rubric are included on this website.
Some NJ school districts may allow their SLMS to customize the district evaluation tool specifically for SLMS. This tool may provide some ideas for customization.
NASBOE Report on SEL
The National Association of State Boards of Education released a report on Social and Emotional Learning. Based on a survey given to community influencers in Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, and Washington to gauge their understanding of SEL and their support for embedding SEL in K-12 instruction. Most viewed Social and Emotional Learning favorable and are interested in how to incorporate into K-12 instruction.
Press release: https://webspm.com/articles/2019/04/18/nasbe-survey.aspx
Included in this press release were key terms that resonate with stakeholders.
Interesting - the term, 21st century skills had the strongest unfavorable rating.
Useful note for school libraries:
How policymakers talk about SEL matters. Couching policy priorities in “teaching real-world skills” (91 percent agree, reason to reinforce SEL in schools) and “making sure all children develop the social, emotional, and academic skills they need to succeed in life” (87 percent), and tying in a message of equity, resonates best with this audience.
Key insights from report: http://www.nasbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Blanco-Norville_SEL-Final.pdf
nearly half of all children in US have experienced a traumatic event
SEL encompasses skills like collaboration, communication, problem solving, and resilience (all skills that SMLS address)
SEL delivers economic benefit, with an $11 return for every $1 invested in SEL interventions
Civil Rights Summit Held
Article states that although, NJ is one of the most diverse states in the US, its suburbs are one of the most segregated. A civil rights summit was held this past week to discuss the issue. The article details some of the information discussed during that summit meeting.
View article
Op-Ed on New Law for LGBTQ Curriculum
Although, this is an op-ed supporting the inclusion of the contributions of LGBTQ in the curriculum, there is supporting language that can be included as justification for LGBTQ
resources in school libraries. The author did his homework and included research to support his viewpoints.
View article.
AC High School Coffee House Event
NJASL member, Jennifer Jamison's event was highlighted in the AC Press on ways that she works to assist students social and emotional learning. View the article.
NJASL Scholarship and Awards
Another school year is ending and it’s almost summer--- time to close our libraries and enjoy all that is summer! It is also time for the NJASL Conference Committee to create, organize and arrange all that is necessary for our membership to attend, learn, and grow as we become “Better Together” at the NJASL 2019 Fall Conference at the East Brunswick Hilton on Monday and Tuesday, December 9 and 10.
It is at the 2019 Fall Conference that the recipients of several prestigious NJASL awards will be announced. Consider applying for or nominating a colleague for one of the following awards ---
Ruth Toor Outstanding Media Specialist
Jean E Harris Progressive School Library Media Program
Outstanding Administrator of the Year
NJASL Outstanding Author/Illustrator
Most application deadlines are September 30. But, why wait until the busy month of September --- summer is a great time to gather thoughts and information as well as collect the necessary recommendations.
All applications can be accessed on the NJASL website.
Any questions? Email awards @njasl.org
Al Saley Scholarship
CONGRATULATIONS to Lindsay Szul, selected as NJASL’s 2019 Al Saley Scholarship recipient. This scholarship is awarded to individuals who are in a program of graduate study in the field of school librarianship. Lindsay will receive her scholarship after successful completion of this semester’s coursework. She also agrees to obtain NJASL membership and actively serve a minimum of one year on an NJASL committee.
Lindsay ---Congratulations, good luck and welcome to NJASL!
Professional Practice & Development
Finding your Way with GPS: Going Places with the Standards
Battle of the Books 2019-2020
Questions are written by the committee throughout the summer, and therefore, will be posted on the same webpage in the fall.
We are always looking for more committee members, if interested, please contact Elizabeth Ullrich (eullrich66@gmail.com)
Girls Who Code Provides Free Books for 3-5 Grade Book Clubs
Girls Who Code, a national non-profit with the mission to close the gender gap in technology, is providing free books for our new 3-5 grade book Clubs. Students read and discuss our nonfiction book, Learn to Code and Change the World. We provide five free books per Club and grant funding! Clubs can be run entirely offline, and we offer an optional online component if you wish to use it. No computer science experience necessary! To claim your free books, free curriculum and support, just submit our online Club application at www.girlswhocode.com. For more information, contact Eve Balick at eve.balick@girlswhocode.com.
Library News from YOU!
Let's De-Stress at Hawthorne High School!
NJASL Affiliate News
AASL Conferences
by Hilda Weisburg
It’s that time of the year for me. I’m setting up my schedule for ALA Annual Conference, and I can’t wait to go. It’s true. I am a conference junkie – and you should be one too.
This year it’s a breeze. Conference is in Washington, D.C. from Thursday, June 20th until Tuesday, June 25th. With an easy train ride—or a drive—it couldn’t be simpler. And if you are still in school, go down on Friday afternoon and come back on Sunday. There’s plenty to do and see in just two days.
If you are an AASL: member and register by June 14, the cost for the entire conference is $210. One day cost for AASL member is $150. For non-members the charge is $480 and $225 respectively. Or you can get an exhibits only $75 for anyone. A lot of money? Yes. But the rewards are great.
I have gone to every ALA Annual since 1979. Most of the time the money came out of my pocket. I listed it as a professional expense on my taxes. I believe strongly that as librarians we are responsible for our own professional development. My memberships and conference attendance is a cost of doing business, no different from what it cost to drive my car to work or have suitable work clothes. And the professional development you get at ALA is superb.
Among the AASL programming is My Self, My World, Included in Books - Use the Free Tool from Teaching Tolerance to Select Diverse Books on Saturday, June 22, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM at the Washington Convention Center, 143A, and Bringing Genius Hour to your School: Implementing a Schoolwide Passion Project Program on Sunday, June 23, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM at the Washington Convention Center, 150B.
You can also attend committee meeting such as AASL Best Apps for Teaching & Learning as they review possibilities for inclusion in this year’s list. And then there are the auditorium speakers. Hear Sonia Sototmayor on Saturday from 8:30-9:30 a.m., Carla Hayden on Saturday from 3:00-4 p.m., and George Takei on Monday from 10:30-11:30. There are many other speakers including authors in the Exhibit Hall on the various stages.
All the vendors you use—and lots more you don’t—are in the Exhibit Hall. You can sit in on a demonstration of a new product or get ideas on how to use one you get more effectively. And there’s swag. You can load your suitcase with canvas bags in all sizes and colors.
But for me the best reason to go to ALA is meeting the friends I have made from around the country. My PLN is huge. You will meet people at the food courts and exchange business cards and begin widening your own PLN. Of course, the best way to do that is to serve on an AASL (or ALA) committee. I have been on at least two committees for over 30 years. Being a committee member has proved great PD.
If you have the time, you can’t beat Washington, D.C. for sightseeing. Bring your family. Have I convinced you? Good. Now, before you leave for the year, start advocating to go to AASL in Louisville, KY. Check it out at https://national.aasl.org/registration/ and download the infographic for making your case to attend.
If you have any questions about AASL, please contact me at aasl@njasl.org. I would be glad to answer or find the answers for you.
THANK YOU! Looking for submissions...
Don't forget that we are always looking for entries from ALL membership. Deadlines for the year are on the 15th of every month. Check out more information about our deadlines here. Please share articles with me at the bookmark@njasl.org email address by sharing a Google Document or PDF.
Check out more information about deadlines and submissions on the Smore linked below!!
NJASL
Email: bookmark@njasl.org
Website: njasl.org
Location: LibraryLinkNJ, Stelton Road, Piscataway Township, NJ, United States
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NJASL/
Twitter: @njasl