At the beginning of every school year, some school librarians inevitably grouse about sitting through whole-faculty professional development because they have to get the library — both patron records and the collection — ready to circulate. They often say their needs differ from those of classroom teachers, and their professional learning should reflect that.

I would argue that school librarians need that learning and more. School librarians actually need more ongoing professional development than anyone else in the building. Why? It’s not because we’re bad at our jobs. It’s because, in this critical, school-spanning role, we have to stay ahead of the curve to support the needs of students and teachers. This means we need to know the school things and also the library things, and maybe the technology things as well… Read More →

Are you a fan of YALSA’s App of the Week? Looking to incorporate more apps into your library programming? Wondering how to get apps into the library at all? Join Erin Daly, YALSA blogger and Youth Services Coordinator for a look at apps in the library. You’ll get an introduction to some of the post popular apps, program ideas, and tips for staying up to date in the wide world of apps. For a sneak peek of what’s in store, grab your tablet or mobile device, download Letter Press from the app store, and then get ready for more ideas during the January 16th webinar at 2 pm EST. To register, click here: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/apps-apps-everywhere.

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