Podcasting the Possibilities: Norman North High School’s YALSA Digital Equipment Grant in Action

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From passion projects to final assessments for units over psychology, human rights, and more, Norman North students have flocked to using the library makerspace’s audio equipment to record podcasts. Hundreds of students utilized the library during the last school year to showcase what they had learned in a unique way, as well as record podcasts with their friends about “whatever comes up in conversation at lunch.”

With the help of the YALSA and Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s Digital Equipment Grant, the Norman North Library was able to purchase additional podcasting equipment, as well as explore a topic yet to be discussed in our students’ podcasts — books! During the summer, North students that spent their summers volunteering with the public libraries were contacted about an opportunity to be the first to use the new equipment and record a podcast about any of the 2019 YALSA Teens’ Top Ten nominees. Before the school year began, several students came in record their podcast where they passionately discussed what their book was about, what they liked best, and what made it a “Teens’ Top Ten.” Many had never used the podcasting equipment before, so a quick crash course was given to each student so that they could use it independently afterward. Anchor was used to host the episodes of North’s Teens’ Top Ten podcast and each student was taught how to use Anchor to use in conjunction with the audio equipment.

As the school year began, more students who had read Teens’ Top Ten titles came in to record episodes. Library assistants were trained on how to use the equipment so that they could begin helping students as individual appointments began to come in from students interested in recording their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas about various topics. One assistant, Emma, a Senior and avid podcast listener, was amazed the library offered this. “I love podcasts and now I’m able to create my own and it’s amazing,” she said, after a training on how to use the equipment.

Because of the Digital Equipment grant, more of the 2400 Norman North students are now able to “podcast the possibilities” and a book podcast that the library will continue to record episodes for was born. Thank you to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and YALSA for this amazing opportunity.

Link to podcast: North’s Teens’ Top Ten

—Molly Dettmann, Teacher Librarian at the Norman North High School; currently reading Fullmetal Alchemist vol 1-3

#act4teens: Partnering with Policy Makers for Improved Advocacy Outcomes

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act4teens

Just in time for District Days!  In this podcast (click through to download or connect to online player), Dorcas Hand, longtime Houston-area Independent School Librarian, discusses her experiences working with school board members, candidates, and legislators in support of library services for young people in her area and beyond.

The files and links that Dorcas mentions can be found below:
YALSA Advocacy Benchmarks
Students Need Libraries in Houston ISD webpage
Students Need Libraries in Houston ISD facebook page
Students Need Libraries facebook page
TASL: Parents & School Librarians Partnering for Student Success
TASL: Teachers & School Librarians Partnering for Student Success

Wendy Stephens is a member of the YALSA Advocacy Resources Taskforce.

Learning Lab: Kansas City Public Library and Science City at Union Station

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This post is part of a series where YALSAblog takes a closer look at Learning Lab grantees from museums and libraries to learn how they engage middle and high school youth in “mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media.” To read more about the context of the Learning Labs, visit the first post in the series here.

Yashiwa Plays_Kansas CityToday we will listen to a conversation about the Learning Lab with Kansas City Public Library, MO in partnership with Science City at Union Station from Andrea Ellis, Learning Lab Project Coordinator.

Some of the highlights of this podcast include:
• Kansas City having over 34,000 digital storytelling jobs and a 7% increase in STEM related careers
• Using a Mad Libs format to elicit feedback and ‘buzzwords’ from teens helping plan the space and activities
• How a mobile component of the Learning Lab would work in the library
• Drawing on the professional community to continue to grow the program
• How prototyping and testing with teens and mentors really made the whole planning of the project all the more exciting
• How adult and youth relationships change through embracing HOMAGO

Kansas City Public Library podcast

Learning Lab: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

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This post is part of a series where YALSAblog takes a closer look at Learning Lab grantees from museums and libraries to learn how they engage middle and high school youth in “mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media.” To read more about the context of the Learning Labs, visit the first post in the series here.

Carnegie Library
Today, we will listen to a conversation from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Learning Lab in PA with Corey Wittig, Program Manager The Labs @ CLP.

Some of the highlights of this podcast include:

• How their Learning Lab is able to serve the entire system through an artist-in-residence program
• How the Teen Media ‘Labsy’ Awards motivate and acknowledge teens’ creative work
• Grants with the Heinz Endowments, Sprout Fund and Grable Foundation
• Using the skills the teens learn at the library to work in the community through the Hive Learning Network
• Extending the Learning Lab concept as an outreach offering to local schools

Podcast

Behind the Scenes: ALA Leadership Institute

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We’ve all probably got an opinion or reaction when we hear the word “leadership.” Maybe we think, “oh that’s just not for me,” or “I want to be more successful at making change,” or perhaps “I think I’m doing a pretty good job but could always use more pointers” or even “I’m not a manager so this probably doesn’t really apply to me.”

If it’s all or none of the above, you’re in the right place. Read More →

Behind the Scenes: ALA Leadership Institute-Part 3 of 3

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We’ve all probably got an opinion or reaction when we hear the word “leadership.” Maybe we think, “oh that’s just not for me,” or “I want to be more successful at making change,” or perhaps “I think I’m doing a pretty good job but could always use more pointers” or even “I’m not a manager so this probably doesn’t really apply to me.”

If it’s all or none of the above, you’re in the right place.

Last month, ALA held an inaugural four-day’ Leadership Institute‘ in Illinois.’ Forty participants‘ from all types of libraries and all kinds of positions were invited to participate on an application basis. Six YALSA members attended. We’ll hear from three of them on the YALSAblog. Stay tuned to hear from others through’ YALS,’ as well as other upcoming publications that will share their excitement about the powerful experience.

Maribel Castro, Instruction and Electronic Resources Librarian with Lubbock Christian University, TX shares her experience ‘ via podcast here.

Several resources Maribel recommends that can help us further our work with young adults and the communities we serve that were shared at the Institute include:

Behind the Scenes: ALA Leadership Institute-Part 2 of 3

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We’ve all probably got an opinion or reaction when we hear the word “leadership.” Maybe we think, “oh that’s just not for me,” or “I want to be more successful at making change,” or perhaps “I think I’m doing a pretty good job but could always use more pointers” or even “I’m not a manager so this probably doesn’t really apply to me.”

If it’s all or none of the above, you’re in the right place.

Last month, ALA held an inaugural four-day’ Leadership Institute‘ in Illinois.’ Forty participants‘ from all types of libraries and all kinds of positions were invited to participate on an application basis. Six YALSA members attended. We’ll hear from three of them on the YALSAblog. Stay tuned to hear from others through’ YALS,’ as well as other upcoming publications that will share their excitement about the powerful experience.

Annisha Jeffries, Youth Services Manager, with the Cleveland Public Library, OH shares her experience via podcast here. Several highlights of her interview include:

  • Community engagement was an important theme at the Institute. For example, letting teens know that the library is their place and belongs to them.
  • Listening to others was very helpful.
  • Engaging others to buy-in to ideas is possible!
  • Sometimes people are put into a leadership role without setting out to and we need the tools to be able to be effective no matter what our situation is.
  • Teens are the library’s best cheerleaders!
  • As a librarian you have the responsibility to be the leader that you are!

Podcast Episode #110: Carol Tilley and the Trends in YA Presentation

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The guests for this episode are Carol Tilley, this year’s Trends in YA presenter, and Denise Agosto, organizer for the event. The Trends in YA Presentation is an event that occurs each year at the Midwinter Conference. This year’s presentation will be on Saturday, January 26th at 4:30 in room 213 in the Seattle Convention Center. Tilley will read from her research paper, which explores the history of comic books and their relationship with libraries.

Trends in YA Presentation

For more information on Carol Tilley and her various projects, please visit her website at’ www.caroltilley.net/.

You’ll find the schedule of other YALSA-related events on the YALSA webpage.

YALSA Podcast #108: ALA Annual 2012 Preview

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This episode features three interviews, each covering a different aspect of this year’s ALA Annual Convention in Anaheim, California. First up is Allison Tran from YALSA’s Local Arrangements Committee, who shares some important and fun details about Anaheim and the surrounding area of Orange County. We then hear from Gretchen Kolderup about the always popular Speed Networking Event and close with Linda Braun filling us in on her special program, Being a Social Teen Advocate.

ALA Annual 2012 Preview

If you’d like to continue the conversation, just reply to this post and let us know what you’re looking forward to at this year’s convention.

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