#TXLchat Archive
The #TXLchat provides a forum for Texas librarians (but not limited to Texas librarians) to create collaborative connections, share educational resources, and foster life-long learning.
Tuesday April 5, 2016
Welcome to School Libraries Meeting Our Community Needs. Who is with us tonight?
Sarah, high school librarian from ft worth here
Thank you both for leading our ! I'm off to connect with librarians now at !
Welcome to School Libraries Meeting Our Community Needs. Who is with us tonight? I went ahead and posted this
Linsey Taylor, elementary librarian
Tracee, teacher-librarian in Rockwall
I'm here from Copperas Cove ISD. Looking forward to great ideas.
Sonja, HS librarian from fabulous Nacogdoches here& ready to learn!
Charonne King from Sunnyvale. Excited to be here tonight.
Elementary K-5 librarian in Frisco ISD
welcome to all tonight Please intro urself
Charlotte, librarian at Jacksonville ISD East Side Elementary
Karen from Arkansas. This is my first . So excited!
-not to be confused w/, the transformers-reporting for ! ES librarian. Sugar Land, TX.
, I'm Cynthia Lopez from Mesquite ISD and a library practicum student at TAMUC!
Math time...1 month & 9 months till I am a graduate of A&M Commerce. It takes 6-8 weeks for the diploma to arrive....
Nicole Graham in Fort Worth
Michelle, from White Oak ISD, here and ready to learn! Love &
Cassie here, elementary librarian from Fort Worth!
deven from texas, first year librarian and graduating in a month from tamuc!
i'm looking for ways to forge community partnerships!
Welcome! Glad you're here!
Q1: Why is it important to open our Libraries to our community families?
Hello I was a librarian in Arkansas for many years. Now working in the heart of Texas.
Hey, friend! Glad to see you at tonight!
Good evening. Stanette from Pipe Creek, TX
A1: are built on . The only way to transform the C is to infect them w/ to fulfill all needs.
A1 the community needs to know we r there 2 help them 2. We offer so much more than "just" books.
We need their support & want them to know what we are doing.
Shana, MLS grad student in Fort Worth
A1 Our schools are part of the community. They are stakeholders. We serve them as well
Same here! 🙃☺️ I can't wait to meet you at !
A1. Many Ss & families do have have books at home or access.
A1 Builds relationships, builds the library program, and encourage students and parents the importance of reading.
a1: we serve the school community as a whole; meaning more than just students and staff, but their families as well!
Partnering with the community allows us to better serve our students. We both want them to be successful!
A1 BC student's learning is a partnership between school and family.
A1 necessary to be part of a whole - family units and needs of our community and S's
Q2: Give examples of ways you have used your Library to support your community.
A1: The library IS the community. The more involvement->the stronger the program ->benefits our students through more opportunity
To build relationships and trust with parents and students
Terry from Region 10 joining in. . A1 Libraries are strengthened by connecting to whole community
A1 Transparency in services the library offers to help support Ss and families in the many literacy they face today.
A1: Our community family are important stakeholders in our libraries. They should feel valued and welcomed.
Any school libraries have public library books for parents to checkout on school campus? Does it work? How?
A2:Aside from PTO mtgs, we use the for tech camps/fundraising, but I want to use our resources for .
A2opening library during summer b/c of lack of access to public library
A2 Several our teen programming needs to be carried over - S's literacy strengthened w both involved esp during summer
signed campus up for the all ages collection from Open eBooks--elem kids can read picture books, parents/older sibs can use it too!
Sorry I'm late. Len from Austin here.
In my experience, community members love being invited in to help, share & lend support. It goes both ways.
A2: I have hosted parent training sessions in the evenings to show parents the skills their children are learning in the library.
A2 just 2nite I made a brochure 4 a community tailgate party 4 Fuel Up to Play 60 @ how the lib can help u get healthy
A2. We allow parents to check out books but we don't have books specifically for adults
I haven't had a need for it, but if the public library wasn't close by, then that collaboration would wk! https://t.co/680FblB9G8
Any school libraries have public library books for parents to checkout on school campus? Does it work? How?
A1: we must support families as they are the biggest key to student success.
A2: We hosted a local heritage society meeting where a Holocaust survivor spoke. People of all ages crowded into our library.
During my practicum I spoke w/ a bank manager & discussed programs we have in our library. He read to some classes at our school.
A3.all school programs, PTA meetings, Delta Kappa Gamma, 6th Kabuki theatre this week..I'm a book mobile library this week
Hi Len! You're not late, but fashionably on time! Lol! 🤓
A2 When I was on an ES campus every other Thursday I was open until 7pm to allow families to come with their students.
A2 ALC presentations are held in the library, parent mtgs, etc. Would love to have literacy night.
Can you share it now or later on ? Please
Q3 Partnering with the local Public Library can be very powerful. Have you done this?
I allow parents to have accounts and check out books to read with their children. I do have a professional library they can use.
Late to the party but ready to chat
A2: During the summer, we have opened up to allow families to come in to make, using technology, read & cool off. :)
Ps have full access to our resources, library is available for meetings, and P trainings are offered
A2: I had a dad who's a fire-fighter he took over the L w/his uniform, taught the kids not to be afraid of his shape in a Fire!
A3 I informally partner with the public library asking them to visit with my students and promote their summer reading program.
We are reaching out to parents & 2-5 year olds not in school and have come into the library once a week for 45 min for read aloud.
A2: Host PTA meetings . Offer summer hours.
Q3. Collobrating w/ author visits, resources I don't have, reading programs during the summer on school campuses that serve lunch
A3 Usually only for summer reading or to borrow resources.
A3 Have offered but didn't get a response. I need pointers
A3 Field trips to public library and pushing summer resources
A3 Mesquite and Balch Springs Library comes out a couple times a year to our school to promote the public library.
A3 We partner w The Big Read w community reading - very powerful program
A2: literacy night, I have done some technology training one on one with some parents which I hope to expand on next year
Some libs in Mesquite have special programs for neighborhood pre/pre-k kids. A win-win for the campus.
A3 Our high school library is also our community library!
A2: Pascalville Library has a new offering: neckties! https://t.co/HhV6IGeecd Check this out and other great offering ideas!
A3: We invite the public librarian each May to visit campuses to share the summer public library programs.
Work with neighboring libraries on summer reading.
Love how flexible public libraries with meeting community needs, makerspaces, spaces for resume/job hunting, spaces for voting help
A3: Yes! This will be the first your our public library makes a presentation of their resources available and the summer program.
Q4: How can your Library be used in special unpredictable situations, such as a crisis or grief event?
We have a mechanical engineer volunteering time to help our students with The Great Maker Challenge. https://t.co/cvSct0t3wx
A3- our public librarian comes to our schools every so often and before summer to talk about summer reading.Booking that now
A3: I promote public library events for my students, display their calendar...
A4: Maybe after a tragic loss of life, we could host - where Ss could grieve & hug w/some1 that understands
Did you get a good response to staying open late? Did you do a program for parents and children? Interested!
Our library has complete open door policy and is used in any and all events
A3: The public lib comes during Open House to get Ps and Ss library cards. They also come at EOY to talk about summer reading.
Q4. Library could be used for disaster relief efforts, we had Ss who lost everything over Christmas due to tornadoes.
A4: my shelves are movable so a large space can be created quickly.
In years past, we open our doors to community members, youth pastors, etc. during times of tragic loss
A3: Our elem. libs, headed by are having a community-wide Tale-gate party in April & our public lib is participating.
A4 Library can use opportunity to educate others and build empathy-Hurricane Katrina -teach history, geography, culture, people
A3. Collaborated with Communities in Schools to host parent training
I love the idea of movable shelves it makes the library extremely flexible. Wish mine had movable shelves.
It was a slow start but after doing it for a while I got a good base of parents and students that came.
Maybe like a community thrift store for donated items for those families affected? https://t.co/bUH6wTRETb
Q4. Library could be used for disaster relief efforts, we had Ss who lost everything over Christmas due to tornadoes.
That sounds like so much fun please share details.
Q4. We were also used in local elections for voting, the bond passed & we are building a new library & school!!!!
FYI there are 28 combination public/school libraries in Texas, mostly in small towns. They do great community work, too!
Thanks for the info I have been considering it for a while.
Q5: How can we become more intune with the needs of our community and other related opportunities?
Do we have a plan in our Libraries for special situations and needs or is it necessary?
Wow! I didn't realize! TY for enlightening me! https://t.co/Imr48cniW9
FYI there are 28 combination public/school libraries in Texas, mostly in small towns. They do great community work, too!
Kim has created a fabulous reading celebration to get Ss excited about reading, just in time for summer!
Our library is a drop spot for our campus Care Closet-gives clothes & toiletries to Ss in need
Are grants to help w/this? Evant is small town/no LIB or school librarian. Poss future job :-) https://t.co/jrl7BPmpGD
FYI there are 28 combination public/school libraries in Texas, mostly in small towns. They do great community work, too!
A5. Building relationships with Ss and their families
A5: Sharing what is going on in the library helps, as it lets the community in. Also, opening up during school wide functions.
A5:
We need to listen and be involved. Seekout opportunities with community partners. Get them involved, let them know we need them
A5 b personally involved in the community so u know how the lib can meet their needs
A5 Communication! Share! ❤️ your community and volunteer!
start conversations to foster makerspace, read events, literacy, etc
A5 Start library advisory board 2 get input & make connections/build relationships. Invite community groups 2 use lib. 4 meetings.
Maybe we could work together a second career?
A5: surveys. Honestly, this is an area I am weak in and mostly I am just going to make more of an EFFORT!
A5- I think it is good to go talk to public library and do joint projects with school library. I need to do more of this!
A5 working with public librarians to help fill needs. Cross programming, possibly using Nextdoor app to see what community wants
Don't forget to follow all these fine fabulous Library Tweeps
A5 Talking with the classroom teachers to see their community struggle and trying to bridge that gap.
Thanks everyone for the great Keep the ideas coming! Rock on
Thanks so much for joining & me tonight
asking them! Send out a questioner, Google forms when they come in for parent teacher conferences
Thanks for another great chat and some amazing ideas to try. Already planning for next year!
oyou share link to our resources we discovered when we did the combination Public Lib & School Lib for district mtg
An important topic tonight on ! Thanks so much & ! Great chat!
Thanks for another fabulous chat filed with amazing ideas!
Me too Karen! Making an effort is a good place to start https://t.co/aNsPIGr4mL
A5: surveys. Honestly, this is an area I am weak in and mostly I am just going to make more of an EFFORT!
Each campus lib will have their own area for games & activities centered around a book.
I've missed these amazing chats....so grateful for the archives!
Thanks ! So many great ideas!
Lurked 2nite while multitasking. Will archive chat 2nitet & post to tlc & weebly archives ASAP. Can't wait 2 read full archives.
thank you for the archives!!!
A community member is donating tshirts for the kiddos! And, of course there will be books!
Share pics of the event at in the future.
