#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 26, 2016
I just know you'll take away LOADS of brilliance on the subject tonight!
Tell us who you are and where you work!
Hello, Amanda B. here, middle school librarian
After a hectic day, I'm here to support the team.
Hi everybody! I'm Len, your friendly neighborhood school program coordinator Ready to talk annual reports!
Stacy Cameron - Frisco ISD!
Linsey Taylor, elementary librarian
I am Nancy Jo from & I am co moderating tonight with &
Hi to all! Becky, Dist Lib Coor, Leander ISD
Joni Hill, middle school librarian, Coppell ISD
Julee Murphy Librarian for PreK 3 year olds -6th grade at a Dual Language campus at
Hi! Lauren, a K-5 TL in Florida.
JH librarian from here from a windy hilltop. Praying no one gets bad weather!
Sue Fitzgerald Justin, Texas.
Sonja will be joining us in a couple of minutes. Running a little late.
Hi! Still trying to catch up after a mind-blowing week at , Ro, ES librarian, Mesquite, TX. https://t.co/ijKkxJkKOU
Hello amazing Librarians! Let's kick off by introducing ourselves!
A1: info we report is to district is minimal. copy:student ratio, AV:student ratio, weeded copies, total enrollment.
Kendall McCurdy, from Graham ISD-Graham HS and Graham Jr. High
LOVE the lip sync session at . Amazing!
Librarian @ Bernal MS in San Antonio, TX with NISD
Dee Porter Grandview Hills Elementary librarian Leander ISD
Remember we will use the Q & A format tonight so I will post the Q's & you respond with A1, A2, etc.
Bridget Jarrett, District Librarian for Rogers ISD.
Glad to be here from Copperas Cove ISD.
Pam Quantz, middle & high school librarian, Brownsville
I forgot the hashtag - let's see if this works - Lisa Hales - new librarian - Klein, Texas
K-5 librarian at Angleton ISD
Thank you so much! & I loved hosting it!
Hello folks! I'm Sonja, HS Librarian from Nacogdoches here and ready to learn after running home from my writers group!
Q1 What types of info do you include in your annual report?
I'm not sure I've recovered yet. Lol
A1 Highlight collaboration and programming experiences, goal progressions, impactful changes, basic circulation/collection stats
A1: # of total checkouts, database usage, program highlights
Joining in a few minutes late. Elementary librarian
A1: circulation, gate count, # titles added & weeded, classes taught, database usage, website hit count, lives changed = quotes
A1 Student & teacher comments from my website. Parent comments & quotes from their emails. Gives it warmth!
A1: Annual is compilation of monthly- circ & traffic stats, collaborations, etc.
A1 statistics, budget 4 the yr, books per Ss, collection age
A1: Data, programs, special projects, presentations, links to social media accounts, LOTS of visuals and photos.
A1 Examples of student work from collaborations w/ T's along w/ the number of collaborations. Lesson plan excerpts too!
A1 Statistics, programs for the year, collaboration numbers, reasons kids visit the library, etc
A1 all the basic info but I find everyone likes to read the S responses to EOY student survey
A1:In past mostly stats-collection, classes taught, # of student visits, times lib closed for testing. Need new ideas!
Love this idea! https://t.co/IKpZa0OMHQ
A1 Student & teacher comments from my website. Parent comments & quotes from their emails. Gives it warmth!
A1.5 pictures from events, evidence of T & S work made better by using the library (it was a looooong report)
RT A1.5 pictures from events, evidence of T & S work made better by using the library (it was a looooong report)
A1. standard circ stats as well as author visits, bk fairs, # of integrated lessons teachers and I created via collaboration;
A1: In my annual report, I include special programs and events, database usage, circ stats, and pics
Pictures are soooo important! videos of students too will be in mine this year!
Yup! My report is always at least 5 pages long!
A1: many of the things everyone is listing are in our yearly evaluation instrument -
A1-checkouts, funds spent (usually a visual graph) w/info about purchases, pictures of programs, collection age, weeding info
A1: Yearly program info, circulation stats, Reading team membership, budget info, goals accomplished, goals for next year
A1 Just learned today that Titlewise has some really nice visuals for collection stats.
A1: More visuals and less words.
A1.75 I'll have district level TPS reports sent out May 15. Need to include April's usage.
Q2 Is your report tied to the Texas State Library Standards or AASL? Why or Why not?
A1: Annual report: circulations stats, AR usage, TexQuest stats, and a description of special activities and accomplishments
Hey are you looking for summer PD on Makerspaces? Join and I this summer. Spots still remain! https://t.co/0XUYwGP1me
Rachel fr Stephenville A1-include accomplishments, duties, stats, days closed, (usu testing), new purchases
That is what I was thinking too. We put a summary of our programming in our final evaluation.
A1: Student pre-post survey info, this year- maker info/session & center topics
A1: several mentions of database usage statistics. Do you all have them customized, not just district stats?
how are you? It was nice meeting you last Tuesday!
A2 we hope to make TX standards easier to tie in, right ?
A1-statistics for digital resources, libguide hits, ebook counts vs print counts
a1-cont. community & professional activities, continued & future goals
A2 I have never really tied it to either, but that might be a good idea. I usually focus on the TEKS I helped teach.
A1. in addition to the infographic, all the librarians in my district fill out a report based on the standards!
A1: pretty sure our report has not been updated in over 15 years
Does anyone have a magic number to suggest as far as length?
Hi y'all... sorry just joining. Had cows and kid to feed...Michelle from tjrnacisd..changed accts
A2: Neither but looking forward to new Texas standards!
I will attend a PLC next week to get the major scoop on how to do the report, but it includes our monthly report information
Yes! That would be great!
A1-book study info & PD/conference learning
A2: yearly evaluation instrument is tied to state standards
Hey, friends. From Coppell and watching the weather. Please be safe.
The shorter the better. My P's rarely actually read mine...
A2 Not directly. Decisions/development reflected in report made w/ standards in mind. Report simple/visual,standard lists clutter
Please include April! So much research done this month!
A2 ours r tied 2 TLA Standards. I like that cuz it gives my principal a base line & it's not just me saying what we need
We are all over it, like a duck on a junebug!
My district sends our stats to compare campus to campus -they get it from our monthly reports
A2: I have not connected to standards - it's more reflective.
A2-I would like to think we do but it's not as intentional as it should be done.
I feel like shorter is more impactful for admin because they may just actually read it!
I guess we could call that our yearly report but I don't put nearly enough in it to qualify!
Great! I told hubby I was doing a twitter chat w/librarians. He said the ones you just saw last week?!? :)
agreed, that's why mine is mostly pics and captions
that's a GREAT idea. keeping a family journal!
I think short, sweet & 2 the or is best.
I ask that librarians reflect and set goals based on any new needs
I used to type 5+ page boring report 4 years. I got more from this visual than any typed report. https://t.co/AcvHkDqvxc
A1: have had good luck with simple infographic. Admin. Has limited time.
Absolutely! We can't get enough library talk! Even after right?!?! :-D
A2. as a district, we have found that making them tied to the standards really gives us more power with admin for budget, etc.
A2: I have never connected to standards.
U want enough info that is tied 2 S's that admin will find quote worthy 4 their end o yr reports
A2: this year we are using both & a checklist we created as well as our librarian appraisal.
I try but always think of a lot that I have left out or did not elaborate enough.
Q3. Who is your target audience?
to get a hint of their style, or ask the secretary! Long emails = longer report.
Show as many Ss as you can in stats/photos/pics.
I make mine 2-3 pages. With pics. Colorful and eye-catching.
A3: I make a district report and share with school board
A2: Report is not gauged against library standards. It is definitely in need of a redesign to reflect what we value.
Whoever mentioned a library survey as part of the annual report is brilliant. I am adding that to mine.
A3 Admin, Ss, Ts, Parents. My library coordinator! ;-D
A3: My audience is my entire learning community. I post my report on the L website.
A3-our audience is Admin, Ts, Parents, anyone that wants to know about the library
A3 Principal, staff mainly. Occasionally use pieces as parts of other presentations, posts to other audiences. And me as reflection
A2: My first attempt at tying yearly report to standards was created with doc shared w/me It blew them away
I have an EOY student and teacher survey. Results of both are always included in report.
A3 anyone who will hold still long enough to read it. Principal, superintendent, mayor? School board? Rotary club? Think outside!
A1: not a lot! Budget goals, other goals achieved.
A2 No, I don’t really have specific lessons spelled out; definitely something I could add
A3 Sounds like we are also an audience in & of ourselves! ;-)
A3. Principal, of course, but ALL stakeholders should have access, too
A3: Mine only goes to president, principal, and dean but I'm at a private school.
Q4 In what format(s) do you make your annual report(s)?
sorry, late to the party, but interested in your ideas about end of yr.
A3: Admin, superintendent, myself...so I can focus on what is coming next!
A3: usually for campus admin. Want to create one for the district admin and board this year. Tips appreciated.
So is this a compilation of all your libraries?
I did infographic this year - our communications department tweaked it to match district formatting https://t.co/ubhwWGQXmh
A3: in past only principal; I see I need to share more! Love these ideas!
Weeding stats makes case for replacement budget. I like this idea, https://t.co/2ByIdRqyRN
A1: circulation, gate count, # titles added & weeded, classes taught, database usage, website hit count, lives changed = quotes
is my library guru! https://t.co/thmczzGljI
A2: My first attempt at tying yearly report to standards was created with doc shared w/me It blew them away
Look at you 2! I love it! ;-)
Yes - 61 from last year - it was my first go at it - might look different this year
Can we make them hold still...say over coffee and pastries? https://t.co/uf63mzWVNy
A3 anyone who will hold still long enough to read it. Principal, superintendent, mayor? School board? Rotary club? Think outside!
A2: I will find out at the PLC next week. My mentor did not go into great detail since she is hosting the training.
A3: I also want to present to our PTO this year since they give us support in volunteers and money.
A4: Word document that I e-mail to admin.
A4. We have a standards-based document that is a more traditional report & I do an infographic, too
I just emailed your S'more to myself to review later. Thanks
A4- I'm curious about this. First thought Google doc with bullets, but maybe more visual like smore? Any other ideas?
A4 We require excel to document lib stats and a doc to describe programs, highlights, events, etc.
A3: Ours are shared with our principal and library supervisor and opens the door for planning the next year.
A3 Target is administrators but total community need to be able to see the good stuff that's happened.
I'm such an excel nerd, I did numbers monthly on tabs then rolled them up to total for the year
A4 I do an info graph &... what it called ??? The form we use that write out the standards. I'm blank here!
Thanks! I did it in first but our communications dept formatted it to fit the "brand"
A2. Can't wait to see new standards, but yes we use these as advocacy all time.
I used then imported that into !
What type of questions do you ask? I do a beginning of year survey,
A3 Parents, teachers, admin, students; that sounds like too many; if I were to choose one I think it would be students
Q5 What do you do to ensure your info has maximum impact?
A4: I think I am going to use this year and embed links.
what a great idea especially when I ask for things from PTO
A4: I have a binder I give the principal so she'll have it to share with others. This year it's going online!!
Q4: Since it is part of our evaluation we have a formatted document to complete in Word. We can add and tweak it to fit our needs.
it is just our district's library report template
A5 Make visual with lots of pictures. Use in summative evaluation with administrators.
A4-Narrative that includes pics, graphs, & info w/in bullets. Too wordy not so fun to read. Need to watch library language too!
Bonus Q: Why do you report? What goals are you accomplishing with this activity? Advocacy isn't a goal, it's also an activity.
A4-2 we use the infographic to summize our library snapshot info. this is used primarily for advocacy. I'm sharing that at TASLA
A5: keep text to a minimum, use lots of colorful photos and graphics, emphasize positives but also clearly state needs
you are so welcome! I love learning from everyone in this awesome
Q6 Is an annual report enough, or is it one of multiple ways you share your library's data?
A5 show how close we r 2 being exemplary. Some principals r very competitive. I use that 2 my advantage!
A4-some librarians create an infographic, some via Word doc
I collect info in GForm during yr 2 ensure I don't for get anything
A5: I try to include as many pics as possible to illustrate what we do in the library.
My report is the last communication with school board - love "advocacy is an activity!"
A3. My principal but I also send a district compilation to our Assist. Sup of C&I.
A6 data can be quantitative or qualitative. Tell your library's story, share amazing outcomes all year long!
A5-visuals! A picture is worth a thousand words
A6 Need to do better about sharing data. But share about the library through twitter, Schoology group, campus newsletters, email.
Bonus A: Goal is self-reflection, what went well, what didn't, plan to do better next year!
I am probably going to use multiple tools this year & who knows what else!
A Smore is a great idea! I need to get to working on that for my libraries.
A4: Our report is submitted via Google docs
A4 combo spreadsheet template provided by our fearless leader and word doc; I may try adding piktochart this year
A5: graphs, charts, lots of pictures!!
My report is more reflective. What are my strengths, weaknesses, goals, accomplishments I share my story. https://t.co/S3kiYttzrd
Bonus Q: Why do you report? What goals are you accomplishing with this activity? Advocacy isn't a goal, it's also an activity.
showing the value added, it gets lost in admins daily rush. Its an opportunity to show impact.
A6: Monthly reports good way to keep data in front of school community
A6. one of multiple ways! always trying to preach the good news of the library!
Bonus A I want 2 provide my Ss & Ts w the best lib. Doing a report helps me (& my principal) c where I can improve
A5-Frame info in a positive way; no complaining. Seek solutions to challenges you encounter
A5: I share with it with the world. PTA even posted it on their Facebook page.
Does anyone at a small school do a presentation for the school board? I'm the only librarian in a 3A school.
A5-I want to challenge my librarians to get some in their report. Don't we want to share what the kids think & want?
A6 it's 1 of multiple ways
A6 The rpt is a good summation, but feel we have to pepper our comm. with info throughout the yr to promote programs and literacy.
Q7 Please sure & share any examples you have if you haven't already! We'll storify them for the archive!
Will fill out AISD libraries' standard form for end of year, but will also create EOY https://t.co/fQrOsdfaRE for campus
A5: I also include a wish list of wants, and ideas
You should totally do a presentation! They would love it - libraries = great stories. Hit 'em right in the feels!
I think fails & successes w goals reflective ensure ur looking ahead
Monthly reports help compile EOY reports It's diff to remember everything in May. https://t.co/iz4OKjnZsd
A6: Monthly reports good way to keep data in front of school community
YES!!! Do it! awesome idea
A3. It is important to consider what style/ info. will speak to the admin. Stats, text, photos, etc.
Reflection is key & yet many don't take time to do this. What goals can you make based on your reflection? https://t.co/HXfC2N7WSs
Bonus A: Goal is self-reflection, what went well, what didn't, plan to do better next year!
YES! Must keep monthly data
I share monthly reports with entire campus with special pencils for staff that answers questions about the report correctly.
Yep! Reflection is learning from both success and failure.
A7 I can't get 2 my blog post right now w my infograph I'll post it 2moro.
Thank you all for joining us tonight! Be sure & post your annual reports this year to so we can all see them & benefit!
I had Ss write what they ❤️ about library and posted on window. This is PERFECT to include. TY!
thanks, girl! Me, too!!!! so cool to see what everyone has going on each month!
Key is to give a snapshot while still telling your story. Admin is busy-don't add more to their plate.
Another great chat - now to consider how to start preparing a end of year report for maximum impact with all stakeholders.
I haven't before(I'm in your boat) but it would be a great thing to do!
Thank you to everyone for sharing your wonderful ideas. I learn so much every week!
I'll post a sample TPS report tomorrow. Still working on layout, etc.
Thanks for all the great info tonight...I was just a stalker...new to me. Glad r my nac friends
Thanks & for taking the lead tonight. Great you could help spread knowledge of AR...Annual Reports
yes please share. Having to do a report this year and need ideas.
Thanks everyone. Just added end of year reports to our meeting agenda for next week. Have a great one!!
Stay safe tonight everybody!
stay golden, ! Best PLN EVER!
What says- customize TexQuest by campus. https://t.co/Wwh36GS5xM
Excellent question - be sure to customize by campus if you want to report stats by campus. No other way to see that usage!
Always looking for other prize ideas.
I'll storify by tomorrow and post to Twitter & TLC.
SO glad you joined us tonight!!!
thanks for a great evening.
Thank you! that would be great!
I think I am lost. Which question are we on now?
I keep all my stats in Google Drive. So easy to link to it & will be able to combine them all for EOY.
❤️❤️❤️ to all of you. Thanks for another night of great info.
A4. Here is my "report" from last year. Admins are so busy...we must make data easy to read! https://t.co/DrQ991heUG
. Twitter is great for that! Tweet pics often. Ask admins to follow you. Create & use a district lib hashtag.
