School Libraries: The Core of Student Success

I have always enjoyed professional development.  Reading blogs, pouring over journals, taking classes, or talking to my colleagues have always recharged my love for the job.  It energizes me and encourages me to do better.  I love that ISLMA's conference is in the first semester of the school year, because it give me the opportunity to try something different second semester.  I feel that if I learn just one new thing or get a spark of an idea for something different, then the conference was a complete success.  

The theme of the 2013 ISLMA conference is School Libraries: The Core of Student Success.  How wonderfully true is that statement!  The conference runs from October 31 to November 2 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield.  Between the 80 sessions on Friday and Saturday, seminars on Thursday, an Author Showcase Saturday, and all the friendly people to network with, this conference should not be missed.  Registration has started on ISLMA's website; hope to see you there!

New School Year is Upon us!

Whether you have already started or the day is still coming up, the new school year is here in many minds.  Once orientation is finished with, check-out has started, and the chaos has settled, make sure to visit the Google calendar attached to this blog on a frequent basis.  The event calendar is filled with many professional development opportunities and quite a few are webinars, which means you can look at them when it is convenient for you!  Have a great start to your school year and we will see you at the ISLMA conference in October!

Free Online Event: The Digital Shift

School Library Journal and Library Journal are offering a free day of professional development with the online event The Digital Shift: Reinventing Libraries. The event will be held on October 16, 2013. Registration and more information about the event is available here.

From the event website,

Reinventing Libraries will offer thought-provoking discussions and actionable solutions to some of the biggest challenges libraries are facing, including rethinking collections, engaging the community and helping students and patrons learn. The program will feature insights on managing new technologies and services; the latest developments in ebooks and streaming media; optimizing discovery; and much more!
Our speakers and panelists, including Dan Cohen, Susan Hildreth, Mimi Ito, Deborah Jacobs, Barbara Stripling and John Wilkin, will present innovative ideas and actionable solutions for and from libraries of all types – school, academic, and public.  

Sessions include:
Learning 2.0 Meets MOOC: Professional Development Evolves
Flipped School Libraries
The Community Joins In: Library Maker Spaces
eCollections: Beyond Novelty – Focusing in on Collection Development, Self-Publishing, and eMagazines