Getting My Learn on: MSLA Annual Conference

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 The first day of spring AND getting my learn on with fellow school librarians! 

That was fun and informative. I really enjoyed the Keynote Speaker, Martin Garnar, Director of Amherst College Library. 

I attended The Importance of Policies: Promoting our Principles in Practice with Dr. Garnar. It was very timely and addressed a lot of issues on my mind (helping me face my fears ahem around book challenges). We can be prepared through policy! 

For reference as I work on my school's policies: 

https://www.mursd.org/page/school-committee-overview


https://z2policy.ctspublish.com/masc/browse/mendonuptonset/mendonupton/IJL


And notes from Session 1: The Importance of Policies 

Collection Dev.:

  • Describe the scope and objectives of the collection 

  • Important to their development

  • Identify the people who have the authority to make decisions

  • Identify the criteria used in selection (review- vol as librarian)

  • How make small press materials- as a way to get in reviews for other librarians

  • Include criteria that are relevant to library’s mission and goals

  • Identity resources consulted in decision (award winners etc) 

  • Explain how approaching controversy 

  • Parents can talk to kids about not reading book but can’t take away that right for the rest of the community

  • How add to collection- as request/suggestions 

  • Consider request but nothing a guarantee

  • How handle gifts- doesn’t matter who is giving them to you, have to follow same collection policy 

  • How collection maintained– weeding, repair, transfer other format – space restrictions, reflect current thinking 

  • Explain how resources will be arranged in library and explain prejudicial labels will not be used - reading level/restrict what check out– stretch and grow!

Reconsideration policies:

  • Respect user’s rights to question selection decisions 

  • Outline procedures for handling complaints

  • Form create- request reconsideration

  • Challenged resources need to stay in place 

  • Committee formed- know open meeting and records laws

  • Report challenges to msla and  ala office for intellectual freedom -know data (seen uptick)

  • Provide a decision letter to use indicating ow to appeal the decision- not a form letter

Policy resources: 

  • Intellectual Freedom Manual, 10th edition – policy guidance, bill of rights, codes of ethics. Issue at a glance, minors by subject 

  • Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit- ALA

  • ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom 312-280-4224 oif@ala.org https://www.ala.org/oif 

  • Contact MSLA (state insights )

  • MLS has a policy collection /lib guide  -exemplary policies 

  • Policies need to be approved by school committee– invites comments/concerned 
  • If policies not up to standards, inviting trouble 
  • Want to make sure our school is set up to respond to these issues 
  • Trigger warnings in books– who gets to decide? Can they be helpful? One approach, recommended reading books feel comfortable with everyone reading as an example. Difficult topic section in library? Can cut both ways. 
  • Have a policy in place about this- helpful to make decisions, use judgement, clear about objectives to approach it 
  • Ala recommended– if has specific title challenge, once committee does work, can’t review again for another 3 years, for example – or this title or a title like it– do you have a standing– only residents of a school district, for example, could say only parents– but all taxpayers.
  • Acknowledgements vs policies — because serves wide range of readers levels and emotional readiness, there might be some materials more suited for different levels etc. but consult with librarian if trouble finding book.

Notes from Session 2: 

PDF of slides from state databases

And brief notes: 

  • Transparent Languages -non native English speakers and ASL
  • Presentation on Sched app
  • Blog- https://blogs.transparent.com/language-news/
  • Transparent App
  • Gale Databases: added new content, biographies and diversity
  • Misinformation and information -gale in context
  • Blog.gale.com keep on content
  • Differentiation and accessibility with Gale
  • Visual-video, adjustable font, high contrast, semantic markup
  • Captions
  • Increased readability
  • Persistent visual focus
  • Skip to content link
  • Navigation and landmarks 
  • Avoiding jargon -cognitive 
  • Translate tool 40+ languages 
  • Font size tool just article text
  • Display options
  • Listen tool – download mp3 
  • Open dyslexic font 
  • Google classroom integration– embeds get link tool – geolink password issues 
  • Get link -url persistent url share content can place wherever you want
  • Url qr code - portal search 
  • support.gale.com/mlin – posters, bookmarks, etc
  • Digital escape rooms!– Gale in context HS and have template build own in power point format/ can edit 
  • PebbleGo k-3 by capstone –2000 articles, foundations of research – used by all teachers in classroom not just librarian. 
  • Britannica School: “facelift” 2023 spring
  • New homepages at elementary and middle- more prominent search bar 



They just all look so beautiful and I am immediately smitten. 


Award criteria is important to remember in selection policy too and I am so excited to order these and getting my students excited to vote on the nominees!

I couldn't attend Sunday's session but I looked through the Sched app (which I LOVE):


 As did Project Based Learning with Zines. 

I was also over the moon excited about trade schools being in the mix and hope to see it/attend in the future!


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