RESOURCES
School Library Month Resource Guide
April is School Library Month. It is sponsored by the American Association of School Libraries with a focus on the amazing work of school libraries and librarians. Every year school libraries and school librarians get the opportunity to showcase what they do on a daily basis. This is definitely your “golden” opportunity to make magic that becomes real advocacy.
The theme for this year’s National Library Week 2024 (April 7-13) is “Ready, Set, Library!” National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and Newbery and Pura Belpré-award winning author Meg Medina will serve as the 2024 Honorary Chair.
You can find more information about Meg Medina here.
You can purchase Meg Medina’s books here.
If you are new to the library or are the Curriculum administrator who gets this sort of thing on the Board Agenda, this is an event you never want to miss. Always a good idea to call out your libraries and the work they do.
[Editor’s Note: Every year I would show up for the Board Resolution to be read. If you worked for a superintendent and a school district which valued libraries, you knew many good things would be said. My presence would remind them that it was happening that night. They very much did the rest!]
Inside School Library Month are a variety of events including:
School Library Day (April 4)
National Library Week (April 7-13)
National Library Workers Day (April 9)
National Library Outreach Day (April 10)
Take Action for Libraries Day (April 11)
Also in April is National Librarian Day (April 16).
Promotional Tools from ALA/AASL
Administrator Toolkit (toward the bottom)
Proclamation Templates (links to School Board but there are others)
Graphics and Presentation Templates (toward the bottom)
Professional Learning Webinars (toward the bottom)
To explore the topic further and directly from the source, use the links below:
Learn more about School Library Month here.
Learn more about the history of School Library Month here.
Additional Resources
Top 10 Ways to Celebrate School Library Month (from EBSCO)
8 Ideas for School Library Month and National Library Week (from “Staying Cool in the Library”)
Do you have other things you do in your library, school, or district? Drop them in the comments below!
RESOURCES
Connect 2 Books: “Read with Raegan”
This week Golden Libraries is bringing you a new feature called “Connect 2 Books.” In short, these posts will provide you with information on the many book clubs out there for a variety of different folks.
First up is Read with Raegan, the book club actress Raegan Revord who plays the sister on “Young Sheldon.” The books are Young Adult in nature.
In addition to the books that Revord recommends, she also has her own book coming out soon, “Rules for Fake Girlfriends.” It will be published in fall 2025 by Wednesday Books.
Read With Raegan Social Media
Instagram
Pinterest
Tik Tok
Read with Raegan Newsletter
RESOURCES
Eddy Hood – The Read Well Podcast
In my email today was this sage advice about reading from Eddy Hood. With his website and podcast, he provides a wide variety of support, particularly for adults, on how to become a better reader.
“Becoming a reader takes patience. It’s no different than going to the gym, eating healthy, or waking up early. When we try and do things that are “good for us,” we often start with the best of intentions, but then a few days in, find ourselves in the pantry surreptitiously eating entire bags of Oreos (guilty as charged).
When that happens, start again. You might think you’re doomed to never read a book the way you did as a child – that your focus is just too frazzled to sit through a 500-page book. But here’s the secret – it’s hard for all of us.
The truly great readers have one thing in common: they’re good at starting again. It’s a skill. Instead of hating ourselves for messing up, we flex that repetitive muscle and get back in the boat. It’s the people who are good at starting over that eventually get the gold.
You can do this. Pick up your book, and try again.
Until tomorrow, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.”
RESOURCES
Career Online High School Grants available to Public Libraries
Purpose:
The Career Online High School (COHS) program enables public libraries to provide an online high school diploma program and career certificate to California adults who are not high school graduates. COHS is provided at no cost to adults who are awarded scholarships by local libraries. The program supports libraries in serving the career, educational, and personal needs of approximately 17% of California adults without a high school diploma.
Description:
The funding opportunity offers public libraries the chance to offer Career Online High School, an online diploma program for adults age 19 and up. Approximately 17% of California’s adults do not have a high school diploma. Typical award amounts range from three to over a hundred no-cost scholarships. AS OF January 2023: the participation process is currently under revision and applications will not open on the previous cycle.
Typically, up to 20 awards are made each year. An archived webinar and staff provide support to applicants. There are no planning grants. Keywords: secondary education, adult education, library, diploma, career training.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible Applicants:
- Public Agency
California public library jurisdictions are the only eligible applicants. A branch library should apply to participate through its jurisdiction, not as a specific location within the jurisdiction.
Eligible Geographies:
Keywords: rural, suburban, urban, library
Matching Funding Requirement:
AS OF JANUARY 2023, the matching funds requirement is being revised.
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