📬 NC NEW(s) Librarian Vol 14 | Dewey or Don't We? Genrefied Libraries

North Carolina Public Schools sent this bulletin at 01/30/2024 10:40 AM EST

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Welcome! This is a virtual/hybrid support network for NC Librarians with
a focus on those newly entering the field, or any SLMC seeking new ideas & connections.

Each month, a new page will be added to the Canva resource, so all the information is in one place. You'll receive a reminder email via 📬 NCPublicSchools@public.govdelivery.com & a text-friendly version. Additional special bulletins or events may also be announced via GovDelivery so be sure to have that email address approved for your subscribed email inbox.

Based on direct feedback from those of you who shared in the form, via email or conversations, our Spring line-up features topics that you've asked for: Genrefication, Research, Reading Programming & more.

January's volume has been a long-time coming, since UDL went out in November 2023, but hope you find the stories from 3 librarians in their genrefied libraries insightful, as well as the celebrations on page 2 for book awards and more! Check out the recording of the January Lunch & Learn on Titlewise/wave + Reader Advisory.

The aim is to share good ideas across the state, and to cultivate a community so please consider participating on the Padlet this month to reflect upon how you help students grow past their reading comfort zone, and celebrate YOUR favorite 2023 reads.

If you have something you'd like to feature from your library/team, please reach out via email!

You have a few ways to explore this volume 14 of the NC NEW(s) Librarian:

1️⃣ Scroll down for a text-friendly version! Graphics & links still included but you don't have to navigate fonts, colors, or too many graphics

2️⃣ Click over to Canva | This will be a growing resource w/ new slides added monthly

3️⃣ Open the PDF for offline viewing

Got this as a forward? Be sure to sign up to get it delivered right to you in the future!

Dewey or Don't We? To Genrefy or not?

A hot topic for years in libraries is sticking with Dewey classification, or genrefying, at least in the fiction section. This month, hear from a few NC Librarians who have adopted some form of genre-based shelving in their libraries.

This isn’t meant to suggest that you should adopt these strategies in your library!

For some, using the Dewey system is what works best, but for others, genres have been a better route. Across the state, each district has their own way of approaching this concept, and in Dare County -- my home district -- each school can choose what’s best for their community. We have several sticking with Dewey, and others who have re-shelved, so for this month, you’ll see and hear from 2 new librarians on their experience with genrefied libraries, and another who has seen the impact for a genrefied 6-12 library for a few years now.

Check out their stories here:

Laura Daniels | Manteo Elementary School

Picture Book Genres at Manteo Elem.

Laura, a first-year librarian, adopted a genrefied library & has seen how readers have agency to explore & hone interests in both chapter & picture books organized by topic. Walk through the picture book section as she shares a few stories about what readers love. Want to learn more details about how the picture books were sorted? Here’s a throwback blog to 2015.

Shannon Brinkley | First Flight Middle School

Also a librarian in her first year, Shannon adopted a library mid-genre project! Listen in this video as she shares her journey, tips for success & how to invite students to participate in the process to increase ownership! In the slides, hear from two students & explore more photos of the FFMS Library.

Evan Ferguson | Cape Hatteras Secondary School (Grades 6-12)

“Relaxed Reading” is a popular shelf for secondary students at CHSS & Librarian Evan Ferguson talks in this video about how it came to be. A step-up from graphic novels, with more content & still some illustrations, its a great way for students to go from “comfort books” to finding different genres and discover new books that they'll love. You can also see this library & genres in a 360 tour here.

Dewey or don’t we? Either way! Share how you help students discover reads beyond their comfort zone over on our Padlet: in the Jan. column Dewey or Don't We?

Lightbulb Moment 💡
Instant & Inspired PD

I’ve been doing some professional learning myself since the last NC New(s) 101 went out and have to share how much I’m loving The PD Book by Elena Aguilar and Lori Cohen. If you are a PD provider in your current role, this is a helpful resource to learn about connection, purpose, and facilitation.

If you'd like to learn more about it, author Elena Aguilar did an introduction to it on her podcast, The Bright Morning.

🏅 Celebrations 🎉

Congratulations to Gabriel Graña, librarian at Smith Middle School in Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools for being among ten honorees nationwide, recognized at the ALA LibLearnX event in January 2024!

You can read more about Gabriel & how student-centered the Smith MS library and programming is, or watch the reception, in which he speaks about how he’s shifted his mindset about advocacy from “bragging about what I do” to sharing the impact of our profession.

NC is so proud of you Gabriel and how you represent us on a national stage!! Gabriel will also be featured in an recorded Lunch & Learn on genrefication (coming in February) and contributing to a research-focused newsletter this Spring -- great opportunities to learn from such a passionate library leader!

Youth media awards winners The Eyes and the Impossible, BIG, The Collectors book covers Image from: SLJ

Also celebrated at the same event in January 2024 is the announcement of the ALA Youth Media Awards!

Some BIG history this year in the awards included Vashti Harrison, the first Black female winner of the Caldecott, first anthology win for the Printz + first 2x winner, A.S. King! NC artist Dare Coulter is one of the youngest winners of the Coretta Scott King Award - you can see her murals in places like Raleigh, Greensboro & Fayetteville! Check out the full list of winners and honorees at SLJ, or read about the awards on the ALA website.

Celebrate what your favorite books from 2023 were on our Padlet: in the Award Winner/Winner of our hearts column

And also not to be missed:

The NC Children’s Book awards is open for
voting through March 31 so there is plenty of
time to engage with this program as well.
Check out nccba.blogspot.com for the list of nominees,
read-alouds & activities to use in your library,
and how to vote. Any of your favorites on the list?

Lunch & Learn

On January 24, 2024 we had a conversation about Reader Advisory in the school library, tools and strategies that can be used to help provide specific recommendations to students and staff, like NoveList K-8 and features within Follett’s Titlewise and Titlewave.

Catch the recording here!

You can review the notes & resources shared on this Google Doc, and access the transcript as well.

Coming in the February newsletter there will be a recorded discussion about genrefication: tools, strategies & lessons learned from those who have done it, and a few currently in the process!

Mark your calendars...

Graphic of NC with the 4 PD sessions and dates listed

February 25 - March 1 NCSLMA Winter Tune-Up | This virtual conference is open to members of NCSLMA, watch for details through their channels

February 26 in Williamston Northeast Region Media Coordinators and Tech Facilitators Bootcamp | More information on this flyer

March 6-8 in Raleigh NCTIES annual conference | Registration now open on their website!

April 15 in Wilkesboro NWRESA Media Coordinators Summit | More information forthcoming on their workshops website

NCCAT Online also has many offerings for free & some courses aligned with SLMC professional learning goals. Courses opened January 8 and the semester ends May 15.

Do you have any great professional learning to share with others in NC? Please add it to the left column on our newsletter Padlet.

Meet the Creator:

Mollee Holloman is a librarian from Dare County NC, currently on-loan to NCDPI Digital Teaching & Learning as an Innovative Learning Catalyst. I’m a steward of stories & curator of worldly experiences using text & tech. Would love to hear from you via email at Mollee.Holloman@dpi.nc.gov or on Instagram @EOLMollee

I'm always open to advice on how to improve the newsletter or what content you're looking to get from it! This form is open, anonymous & each question is optional so please use it, or email me, if there's something I can do to better meet your needs through the newsletter.

Previous Volumes:

For all the Canva links, view this one-stop doc

📬 VOL 13: November 2023 Canva | PDF | GovDelivery

📬 VOL 12: October 2023 Canva | PDF | GovDelivery

📬 VOL 11: September 2023 Canva | PDF | GovDelivery

📬 VOL 10: August 2023 Canva | PDF | GovDelivery

📬 VOL 9: May 2023 Canva | PDF | GovDelivery

📬 VOL 8: April 2023 Canva | PDF | GovDelivery

📬 VOL 7: Feb/March 2023 Canva | PDF | GovDelivery

📬 VOL 6: January 2023 Canva | PDF | GovDelivery

📬 VOL 5: December 2022 Canva | PDF | GovDelivery

📬 VOL 4: November 2022 Canva | PDF