Library Media Tech Talk

Complete transparency: my first year back in a school library was a challenge. After five years balancing roles as an Army National Guard Company Commander and a public library administrator, I had forgotten the sheer pace of the K-12 world. I traded administrative meetings for constant foot traffic and a 30-minute lunch crammed somewhere between checkout lines. But as the final weeks of the year arrived and the shelves began to fill back up for summer, I decided to try something new. I wanted to see the year through the lens of a student. How did the library impact them? What would they remember? The best way to find out is to ask! Field Day provided all-day traffic to the school library The Simple Prompt During Field Day, I rolled out a long sheet of bulletin board paper and wrote one simple question: "What will you remember most about the library from this school year?" I left out markers and let the students respond—some signed their names, others stayed anonymous. The f...

When I worked as a school librarian from 2008-2020, I always opened the library before school so that students can access the space and resources we have. When I started this new position in August of 2025, I decided to continue this practice of opening the library before school each day.   Creating a Morning Sanctuary The response was immediate. Within two weeks, word had spread, and we reached "capacity" by 7:40 AM most mornings. While having to cap numbers due to seating is a challenge, it is a "good problem" to have—it proves the demand for a safe, engaging morning space. To maintain a balance of productivity and fun, I curated a variety of "Morning Stations": Literacy: Independent reading and book discovery. Gaming: Strategic classics like Chess and Uno. Digital Learning: Educational gaming via Nitro Type, Gimkit, and Blooket. Makerspace: Hands-on building kits and puzzles. The Strategy: To manage hall traffic, I require students to stay until th...

Students examine historical newspapers I've been experimenting with using our weekly 35-minute RTI (Response To Intervention) enrichment time to bring engaging, real-world programming into the library. This flexible time allows us to schedule programs for students who don't require mandated remediation, offering valuable enrichment instead. The need for local connection became profoundly clear when I discovered how few students connect with the Malvern Daily Record , a paper with a deep history in our county. It was surprising how many students don't look at the paper—one even told me they had never physically held or read one! To bridge this gap, I decided to invite Mrs. Heather Bennett Ritter , Staff Writer for the Malvern Daily Record , to present during one of our library sessions. We had an excellent turnout for the event. Mrs. Ritter and I take a moment for a photo! Building Connections and Learning History Mrs. Ritter took time to talk about the history of the newspa...

After returning to the profession as a school librarian this year, I quickly realized a critical gap. In my previous positions, I had always worked with at least one talented adult paraprofessional who handled decorations and displays. Now, as the sole teacher librarian, I was concerned. Creative ideas came easily, but the execution —making it look professional, appealing, and polished—was rarely my strength. I knew I couldn't ignore this essential component of library visibility and community engagement. I needed a sustainable solution that would turn my personal challenge into a programmatic opportunity . The answer, I soon discovered, was right in front of me: my students. The Experiment: Putting Students in Charge With several student workers lined up for the 2025-2026 school year, I immediately began assessing their talents. I noted that I had students with particular strengths in drawing, coloring, and digital design. "Fall Ball" Display I began challenging the kids...

L to R Mr. Dial, Mrs. Rash, and Mr. Evans When I returned to public school librarianship this year, my goal was clear: to transform the library into a vibrant hub for immersive programming that brings curriculum to life. I've seen firsthand the impact that this type of programming can have on the student learning experience. The first major collaboration—an interdisciplinary experience for 8th graders reading S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders —exceeded every expectation. I have so many fond memories of bringing books to life through collaboration, and it is incredibly exciting to have the full support of the Malvern Middle School building and district administration! Planning the Experience: ELA Meets Science With the help of Principal Mr. Ben Dial, one of our ELA teachers, Mrs. Terah Rash, showed immediate interest in a deep dive collaboration based on The Outsiders . Since Mrs. Rash also teaches Science, this opened up thrilling possibilities for the kinds of experiences we could ...

Beginning Again: The Journey Back to School Librarianship I accepted the opportunity to return to a public school as a middle school library media specialist in July 2025. Since 2020, I've enjoyed a long stint as an Army National Guard Warrant Officer, both full-time and part-time. Most recently, I worked in public library management full-time. During the entire journey since 2020, I've missed the interactions I had as a school librarian. So I've come full circle. It is exciting to be back after 5 years away from this part of the profession.  Beginning Again It is overwhelming in many ways to return. At the time of this writing, I've only spent 8 days with students. There are new books, new authors, new standards, new teachers, and new technologies. I'm also in a newer school facility. I actually worked in this district years ago during my last year as a school band director before transitioning to school librarianship in 2008. The facility is new and updated compar...