#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 May 10, 2016
Hi friends! Shawna from Weatherford ISD here to talk about connecting w/ our students this summer!
Sue Fitzgerald from Justin, Texas in the middle of a Texas size storm this evening.
Elementary Librarian in San Antonio
I'm out celebrating a friend's b. day. :) I'll miss the chat 2nite. : ( I'll read the tweets 2moro!
Rachel Kammerer from Stephenville HS
hey, y'all! Sonja, HS librarian from Nacogdoches here for tonight!
Sharon. Only about 40 miles from in East Texas
Glad to be here tonight from Copperas Cove ISD.
Hello from central Texas. S C Lee Junior High librarian.
Neil. Awaiting Thunderstorms in Dallas. librarian
Seantele from Pearland, TX
Don't let the storms keep you from tonight. We are looking for ideas to reach our readers during the summer!
We mostly had wind and a little rain I pray the same for you in N Texas
Don't send those thunderstorms to ETexas. We've had enough.
Q1 How do you promote summer reading? Contests? Rewards? Required reading?
Any new visitors tonight? Please feel free to share or just watch. Ck archives later as well
Hi, This is Ro ES Librarian in Mesquite, TX.
Hi, Melinda an elementary librarian from Pennsylvania.
Hi Ro! Glad you are here!
A1: Use lists & fun events to promote summer reading. Encourage Ss to start on the list!
A1: We participated in the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge last summer and plan to do it again this year.
A1: I usually have some kind of challenge or tasks for Ss to do and then they get a reward when we get back
Hi Cynthia!! I hope you are having a good week!
I suggest and Lone Star books with my students
Hello from South Texas--I'm Pam.
A1 Lots of tweets, Instagram, FaceBook, flyers, f2f promo & schl marquee
A1: Students can earn book fair bucks for summer reading by showing logs or certificates.
A1 I'll be opening the library 4 half days during the summer w/MakerSpace, Games, Crafts, Readalouds&CheckIn/Out Possibly Minecraft
A1: promo our collection before school is out
Hi, Shawna! Thank you! So nice to see you!
A1-I send kids to our public library. They have a great YA selection.
Also promote our public library reading program as well as and reading programs
A1: I also usually issue some kind of challenges with prizes when students return in the fall.
A1. Paperback book giveaways. half price books and faculty discards provide enough books
A1- hi all, last summer, we did a reading challenge, list titles of ebooks and books read- Popsicle party.
A1 I'm adding idea of BookFair Bucks!
Our district bought all BB, TX Lone Star, and TAYSHA eBooks and digital audio books for Ss to check out over the summer
A1 We link summer reading to our fall author visit. Students asked to read a book by that author. https://t.co/wmyrTuGp9f
A1: Have used in the past reading lists and encouraged use of the public library. Looking for some new ideas.
A1 & I would meet with all Eng classes & with public librarian. fun! Talk OverDrive, hours, etc. https://t.co/7SAWYAjkMn
A1: Contests- students/teachers share a picture of them reading during summer through group for prize
A1: I put summer reading programs on my library Symbaloo: HEB, B&N, Scholastic, Half Price Books, etc.
A1: give away some ARCs, promote the audiobooks on SYNC.
Q2 Have you formed a partnership with your local public library to bridge the summer learning gap? If so, how?
Me too (& free audiobooks with SYNC)
So easy! And they love having $5 to spend at the Oct. book fair!
A1. Fine forgiveness for May--"like" us on social media. Will booktalk, etc. on them all summer.
like the idea of the pic of them reading! Proof and great idea for display when they return
A2: We always invite WPL to come visit during May to share summer reading programs.
Overdrive and weekly free downloads via
A1. Public librarians coming to promo their awesome summer stuff, too
Welcome! Glad to have you join us.
a2 Just met with the other day. Hope to improve on this! Experience with has been awesome in past!
A1: I bring in the public library to promote their summer reading activities.
A1 Big push to have Ss bring devices at the end of the year to get them on digital library so they can have books on devices.
a2.1 We would promote theirs, and they would promote ours, and we would reward students for both!
A1 we are book talking for the rest of month and allowing some summer checkouts
Contacted all our local public librarians getting info to share w/ Ss on their programs, getting cards, checking out books, etc.
Not promo SYNC this year with JH, more HS appropriate titles this year. https://t.co/tmy8p9NYrH
A1: give away some ARCs, promote the audiobooks on SYNC.
A1 - district-wide reading challenge with shirts for participants. Prizes at campus level. This yr's theme - The Reader Awakens
A2- pub lib visiting our kiddos now & bingo challenge to go to pub lib. Working on this now https://t.co/vZ5sNmZ5nT
A1 My library is open Monday mornings for checkout, makerspace, craft, read aloud, summer edge program. Bought ebooks.
Great author for your visit! I would like to be there!!
Great idea!! What is the website for free audio books for summer?
Q3 Does your library provide summer maker activities?
Should also require a 140 character review. ;-)
A2 Include info about and links to public lib summer programs in my summer reading newsletter emailed to parents
A2: Our local library will provide flyers for us to share for summer programs.
A3: I would open the library throughout the summer for a few hours for maker activities. Great way to connect w/ Ss & families.
A1 Our public library is short-staffed, Im hoping tp help&in the process get kids to go bc there'll be a familiar face.
A3:This summer I will be planning our Makerspace with 2 other teachers to launch in the fall! So excited!
Love 's books! What a great way to encourage summer reading for ALL! Many teachers love them too!
Some of our Ls will open for summer hours. We will promote thru website, Twitter, and Facebook.
A2 I'll be volunteering because 1 of the children's librarians resigned. They are having a hard time right now.
A3 Yes! Last yr did bldg challenges, diy flashlight, sand art, spheros, green screen pics w/ readalouds
Do you get paid to open during summer or are you donating your time?
A3: Thanks to I collected paper tubes, put out supplies & let students come during summer hours to create marble run!
Q4 What summer resources do you share with students and parents?
Our district's librarians (Lubbock) get paid for summer hours.
Donation, donation, donation.
I opened on my own, without pay, but definitely think librarians should be paid for summer hours.
I am paid to open for 3hrs 1x a wk. They chose my lib bc we are hosting summer school.Open for all elem. Ss in ISD.
Q3: Not sure if it is technically Makerspace but lots of arts & crafts.
We will choose our MS Book Brawl titles and share over the summer. Never too early to begin the competition
A3l'll be testingatest Maker tech I got through a grant: MackeyMackey & squishy circuits; hope to get Minecraft license approved.
A4 I definitely promote plus and reading lists. And just updated titles.
Q5 Do you give your students a "summer takeaway" at the end of the year? Books, flyers, etc.
A4 Important to include how to access school eBooks in any summer reading communication to parents! I link to a tutorial video.
Love listening to audio books over the summer and share via social media. Listening to Counting by 7s right now
A5: We always do a BOGO fair, but also sell "gently used" books for $.25, still BOGO. Try to get books in their hands!
Here is a fun way our district librarians kicked off Summer Reading! Summer Tale-gate party! https://t.co/GcuPa7NDdN
A4 it's a great time to publish on social media outlets resource or other lists 2 ensure PL & S's know where to find bk recommends
A5. I provide a free book to each book club member (45 kids). Wish I could give everyone a book!
I'm hoping to get a Remind101 started before summer so I can send texts to our families with reading recs, our library hrs, etc.
What a great way to stay connected with your students!
A4: I am considering checking out books to certain students for the summer. Has anyone had experience doing this?
A5 I normally have a summer reading brochure I have available in school and on my symbaloo. I still need to update it.
A5 fliers for B&N and half price free book info., my rdg program, will do a used book swap before school gets out
Join VR webinar this Thurs. I'm taking their summer challenge and would love other Ls to join https://t.co/Uan9fiaLwW
A5 We give bookmarks, reading logs. Will try to get info from to share as well.
We checked out books throughout the summer to any district student. May have lost a couple, but nothing terrible.
Please share a link if you can. Sounds great! https://t.co/POB1feLoGm
A5 I normally have a summer reading brochure I have available in school and on my symbaloo. I still need to update it.
I have also applied for a grant to get our school a
I check out books to kids enrolled in summer school. Return rate is very good.
And as pointed out, audiobooks are books too!
A5: Would also be a great time to give out the Bluebonnet Reading Log forms to get them started.
Bks r not of use sitting on shelves in closed rooms. Just encourage them to leave at skol if they move in summer
A5 With STAAR so late, couldn't do BOGO fair this May. I'm planning better next year...missed giving kids opportunity 2 stock up!
Thank you for joining and myself for Happy Summer Reading & Making!
Thank you for sharing some great ideas to connect with our readers during the summer months!
Could get a round robin exchange going w our avid readers to exchange during summer
As always, you all gave us a banquet of ideas to feast upon. Thank you to everyone for joining and sharing.
A5 During Reading Night last wk we had a Book Swap, lots of families exchanged gently used books! Free reads for the summer!
It's off to reading time. Thanks for another great chat. Please join us next week.
Yes! Help your students get started on the list during the summer! https://t.co/teXVgTXhty
A5: Would also be a great time to give out the Bluebonnet Reading Log forms to get them started.
Take time this summer to review the chat archives for things you missed this year. Your PLN https://t.co/GrtBHSieRF
A5: I am planning on doing a book swap.
Thanks everyone! https://t.co/tnHGbJK1aK
It's off to reading time. Thanks for another great chat. Please join us next week.
Thank you to all and enjoy your summer!
