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.
#txlchat Heather, HS Librarian from Castleberry joining. Excited to join tonight + my rock star colleague @CassieJanda a co-moderator tonight! Go Go Cassie!
A1 Our biggest advocates are our students. You ask them about their library and they’ll tell you how much they enjoy being there. Our coordinator @jdlaboon is also a fantastic advocate for us and our library program #txlchat
A1: One of the biggest advocates for my library is our family specialist. He enjoys every new resource that I show him and he tells the parents how important the library is for them and their kids. #txlchat#NEISDtweecher
A1-our biggest advocates are the people we serve. If they have a great experience with a librarian, they are going to share that far and wide! #txlchat
Q1: The biggest champions for my library is the teachers on my campus. They will be the first to tell you that our #collaboration and #flexschedule is the best for our Ss. My former coordinator @richellereads was one of my biggest champions as well #GISDLibraries#txlchat
A1 Our students, our most collaborative teachers, our admin team, lead librarian @heatherlamb08 and our Asst. Superintendent. (Busy with the #txeduchat right now!) @faulknerr#txlchat
A1 We are advocates ourselves. Sharing what we can do to support instruction with our teachers. Getting the right books/resources to the right students. #Txlchat
A1 my biggest advocates are my students and my 2nd grade team. My students love coming in and participating in the different activities. My second grade team supports me and all my crazy ideas unconditionally. #Txlchat
#txlchat There are many library champions but when your students are telling your story and the many reasons why they love your space, something right is happening. Oh, and my principal, @priddylibby. So many reasons She is THE best!!! #castleberryisd
A1: my students! They are often the ones getting parents and community members involved! Today I mentioned to a group of 4th graders that the library had an Instagram account and I had 4 new parent followers by dinner time! #Txlchat
A1: The students! How they use the library, the books they check out, and the time they spend in there (especially if they have a choice of where to go, like before school, during recess, etc. and they choose the library) are strong testaments to the library's offerings. #txlchat
A2 our unexpected advocates are usually visitors and substitutes. We always hear positive feedback when people who’ve never visited before. They talk and we have built a great reputation for our library and our programs #txlchat
A2: Mine was the technology support person on our campus. She LOVES coming in when I am using technology. She even bragged about me to another teacher. It’s nice since I’m a first year librarian.#Txlchat
A2-School board members and our Ed Foundation-we share our @LeanderISD_Lib info and they follow, mark favorites, etc. Then we chat about lib happenings when we meet #txlchat
Sorry I’m popping in late!! #Txlchat A2: unexpected advocates-my volunteers! Seeing all the behind the scenes work we do helps them speak about all aspects of our job, not just the most visible parts everyone sees.
A2 Unexpected advocates...happy parents, PTA, former beloved librarian, substitutes (one hand delivered unsolicited resources for #makerspace today Great news travels fast #txlchat@aisdlibsrv
A2: I’m thrilled to hear the Ss who’ve moved on to the secondary world still sing the praises of the Kimball Library! It widens my view on the size of the community I impact. #txlchat#kimballES#poteetstrong#misdlibraries
A2 Unexpected #advocates can be business leaders and politicians. Sometimes we just have to talk with them to find out they are on our team. Then we must get them to actively work for the cause of school library services. #txlchat
A2: I was always so amazed by and grateful for the support from the local community. They took part in our library celebrations each year - guest reader days, book drives, starting up a school/neighborhood Little Free Library. #txlchat
A2: our campus secretary has been an unexpected champion for me, she sees how much the library does for the school, so she goes out of her way to make sure we have what we need #txlchat
A3 I’ve had volunteers speak to administrators about additional support for our library, but more importantly they speak to other parents! THAT communication was/is priceless. Same goes with teachers talking to each other about the impact the library has on Ss. #Txlchat
A3 The Rotary Club invites community members to give presentations - an exceptional way to reach out and activate business leaders who can effectively influence superintendents and school boards. #txlchat
Students & teachers spread what is going on in the library to parents, administrators & others in the community — for example bringing parents to the library after a parent-teacher conference! #txlchat
So..@mrskbholder's 8th grade Ss are completing "What makes something worth fighting for" projects. Annie's choice was "showing appreciation", & she chose to do that for me & @JenGilbert42! Collected notes from tons of @EminenceSchools Ts. Thank you Annie! & Ts! #AASLslm#KyLChat
A3: To have the PTA give funds to my projects, send in volunteers, & excitedly ask, “What’s next?” is the greatest support and drive to do & be better. ❤️ #txlchat#kimballES#poteetstrong#misdlibraries
A2 I work with our testing coordinator, APs, principal’s secretary, sub coordinator, fine arts teachers, and digital learning/tech folks and they in turn help me out. #txlchat
A3: Our family specialist pushes for funds to be directed towards the library any time there are budget discussions or donations to the campus! #txlchat#NEISDtweecher
A2 Unexpected advocates - local community and even the secretary! At my previous school, she was always in my corner asking "what is next!" You know what they say about the secretary of the school!!! It is so true. #Txlchat#castleberryisd@SallyValverde xoxxo
A4 Be willing to think outside box. Offer to do the leg work on projects to show your talents. Always have something planned. Look for non traditional partners in collaboration. Be willing to fail. #Txlchat
A3: The local community, elected officials, & our local newspaper were the library's cheerleaders - sharing info on our events, giving their time and/or resources for our library, and building strong relationships. Local ed foundations were great about supporting us too. #txlchat
A4 Be open to having volunteers, community members-in addition to staff and teachers- in the library. They can’t help you if they don’t know what you’re doing. #txlchat
A2 Yes! In AZ we just elected a pro-district public schools state Superintendent of Public Instruction @kathyhoffman_azI can hardly wait to welcome her to her new position. Looking forward to reaching out to her to talk libraries. #txlchat
A4 Be bold about what you need, but be flexible. It’s always better, if possible, to be the first to offer help, and then others are more likely to respond favorably. #txlchat
Exactly! When given the choice, some students would prefer to be in the library. I think that's a strong testament to what the library stands for and offers. <3 #txlchat
A4 Listen to others to find out what their needs are and how #schoollibrarians and #libraries can work with them to solve problems/meet challenges. #txlchat
A4-leverage Social Media to share the great things that are happening and to promote your resources, especially ones that extend beyond the walls of your facility #txlchat
A4: For an introvert, like myself, that finds new relationships sometimes daunting & intimidating, I get the best success by serving. Putting effort into their causes gives back two-fold! #txlchat#kimballES#poteetstrong#misdlibraries
A4 Open door policy, have ideas for helping with what is important to THEM and they will work for what is important to YOUR LIBRARY #txlchat@aisdlibsrv
A2 Yes! In AZ we just elected pro-district public schools state Superintendent of Public Instruction @kathyhoffman_az I can hardly wait to welcome her to her new position. Looking forward to reaching out to her to talk problem solving (thru school libraries). #txlchat#txlchat
Ask local libraries (public & university), Education Foundations, digital learning team, teachers, admin & other community partners like @HEB to events you are having in the library! Once there, they can see the great things going on in your library! #txlchat
A5 PTA members, especially the board members. Members of the community who are part of site based decision making teams. Our elected board member who might not know what we do. The local media who love a good human interest story. #Txlchat
A5 In AZ we just elected pro-district public schools state Superintendent of Public Instruction @kathyhoffman_az I can hardly wait to welcome her to her new position. Looking forward to reaching out to her to talk problem solving (thru school libraries). #txlchat#txlchat
A5 In AZ we just elected pro-district public schools state Superintendent of Public Instruction @kathyhoffman_az I can hardly wait to welcome her to her new position. Looking forward to reaching out to her to talk problem solving (thru school libraries). #txlchat
A5: Parents can be huge advocates. Invite them to use the library and check-out books. Show them what their kiddos are doing/learning in the library. #txlchat@aisdlibsrv
A5: I am trying to reach out to the parents on my campus by increasing the amount I am sharing about the library. We are sharing evidence of student learning through @Seesaw, sending out monthly newsletters and trying to tweet regularly. #txlchat#NEISDtweecher
A5 I try to work with district curriculum folks when I can. I need to reach out to other curricular areas besides English to let them know the resources that are available. #txlchat
A5: Community leaders and district administrators! Show them all the great things you're doing, invite them to visit the library, share your library's news on social media, and engage in conversations on how to best meet the needs of your students and teachers. #txlchat
A potential hero could be the press! I love it when I see a local library (especially ours) or library program in the newspaper or our district website! #txlchat
A3 Champions tell others & when others can tell your story & tell it well, you know you are doing something right! They ask for things for you, volunteer, seek out more for you. When you ask, they ask how high! It's "You build it, they will come". Relationships Matter #txlchat
A5 At my HS, having a book fair in December. Going to have Pastries for Parents event celebrating reading. It was always successful in Elementary, hoping w/ great marketing it will be just as successful! Who doesn't love a yummy donut, coffee & good book? #txlchat#castleberryisd
A1: Yes! Students are such great advocates. And they are a great start to change the culture of your school as school libraries seek to become #FutureReady and support future ready schools. #txlchat
