The Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) provides a package of EBSCO resources to libraries, schools, and academic institutions across the state through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. There are several school districts throughout the state that link to the EBSCO resources from ODL’s website which has recently been updated.

ODL would like to provide school districts with links to the EBSCO resources that are specific to their school district. Additionally, ODL will set up an administrator account in the EBSCOadmin portal in order for school districts to manage the search settings and edit the branding on the user interface of a resource, run reports, and more.

If you would like to receive links to the EBSCO resources that are specific to your school district or have any additional questions, please reach out to Rachel Walker at rachel.walker@libraries.ok.gov or 405-522-5591. 

November is National American Indian Heritage Month. Consider celebrating this month by seeing which titles from your collection have received an American Indian Youth Literature Award.

The first American Indian Library Association American Indian Youth Literature Awards were presented in 2006. Awarded biennially, the AIYLA identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity.

In odd-numbered years, nominations are encouraged in fiction or nonfiction and may include graphic novels; for picture books, the award is for both author and illustrator. Awards are granted in even-numbered years.

Authors/illustrators may win the American Indian Youth Literature Award in the categories Best Picture Book, Best Middle Grade Book, and Best Young Adult Book. In addition, up to five awards may be selected as Honors books in each category.

Kristen Qualls

This is the second year that Kristen Qualls has served as the Library-Media Specialist for Tecumseh High School. Prior to 2022, she was an elementary teacher for 15 years. "The transition from elementary to high school was a little shocking, but I have loved the change," Qualls said. Kristen attended OKSTE in November 2022 and found several librarian support groups on social media to encourage her personal and professional growth. Qualls has an Instagram account for her library: ths_savage_library.

Qualls identified two significant gaps in the THS collection last year: Spanish titles and audio books. Tecumseh has a growing population of English learners and several students who are non-readers.  She purchased more current titles for both of these sections of the library. 

Book Speed Dating

Book Speed Dating is the first activity of the semester that Qualls organizes. She guides students through three-minute dates with different books. Students judge a book by its cover, read a small section of the book, and give the book a rating based on their first impression. "This is a great way to expose students to a variety of genres, font sizes, and lengths of books in a short amount of time," said Qualls.

Throughout the semester, students bring in their Speed Dating record sheets and use those to guide their book selections. Book Speed Dating is a quick and effective way to help high school students choose books wisely, and it develops skills they can use in the future.

Book Display

The main library book display in the Tecumseh High School library is a shelving unit that was donated from a local grocery store. Rather than displaying snack cakes, this piece of furniture now showcases books. This shelving unit sits close to the main library entrance, so it generates a lot of attention and increases circulation.

One side contains Sequoyah books year-round, one side has books for the monthly theme, and another side has teacher and student recommendations. Some students are not very confident in their book picking skills, so they want something that another student has enjoyed. Others are in a hurry, and they want something that immediately catches their eye.

Thanks to the eight football players who hauled in this book display, Tecumseh high school students can easily find a new book on the go.

Book Club

Qualls added a thematic monthly book club this school year. Students and teachers choose any book related to the theme, read it throughout the month, and then come together at lunch on the last Tuesday of the month to discuss their books. Students receive a handout of questions in advance to make notes as they read and to ease the anxiety involved with speaking in groups.

In September, they read Sequoyah nominees. This was a great opportunity to learn a little about several books and talk up the voting that will take place beginning in February. Qualls served aguas frescas in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and attendees received bookish pins. In October, they read mysteries/murder mysteries. Book Club just happened to fall on Halloween, which was the perfect backdrop for this genre.  Participants are reading dystopian novels for November. Qualls chose this genre in honor of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie being released this month.

Book Club is building positive relationships between students and teachers as well as giving students a place to belong.