Love 2 Read

   It has been a while since I have sat down at the computer and typed out my thoughts for the library. Alas, life gets busy and finding balance between family, teaching grade 7 and being the teacher-librarian is always a struggle.
   I do hope that I will be able to put some time aside every week or two to write a post. There has been a lot happening since my last post that was in October. Personally and professionally I have accomplished something I never thought I would. I finished my last class to complete my Masters in Education in Teacher-librarianship! It was very surreal to submit my last project and know that I am finally done. I was and am very proud of myself that I continued my education. I learned so much through that program, it was some of the best professional development I have ever done. To balance work, family and schooling was hard at times but in the end it was well worth it. Having my sons and my students see me go through school to continue my growth and understanding was an added bonus!
   There has been a number of things that have gone on in the library since my last post. In December I hosted another Book Worm Cafe! I had elves help serve hot chocolate and cookies! It was a blast to have the library hopping with yummy treats and fantastic talent! We had a number of students entertain us with singing and guitar playing. When I watch these talented students I always wish I was born with some musical talent so I could join them.

    After Christmas to ring in the New Year the library purchased a number of new books! I introduced students to the exciting world of manga. I found a great deal on part of the Attack on Titan series and the students ate it up! I loved seeing the excitement these students showed for this new medium of book. The library has never had any manga on the shelves so students were a buzz trying to get the next book in the series. Most students didn't even care about what number in the series they got. They just wanted to read one. There was such interest in this series that we purchased the rest of the series! In the next week or so the full series will be in circulation. To add to this exciting series the library purchased a number of new titles! We are continuing to grow our graphic novel section with titles like: Justice League United, Star Wars The Babysitters Club and Lumberjanes. I previewed the Lumberjanes the other night and I was pleasantly surprise with this series. This series has strong female characters with a mystery and fantasy twist. I really think that students will enjoy reading these books. I am also really excited to introduce the students to Justice League United, written by Canadian author Jeff Lemire! To have students identify with Canadian symbolism and culture will be neat to see, especially our First Nation  students seeing a strong female First Nation hero Equinox a 16 year old Cree girl.
   Along with the graphic novels purchased for the library we also have brought in books that speak of mature issues that include eating disorders, losing a parent from illness, racism and abduction. I am hoping that bringing more titles into the library with this type of content will help bring the older students into the library.
   Another project I am working on is to help create a Culture of Literacy in the school. Upon reflection of how our school prompts literacy I have decided to start with a few projects. Currently I am working with our junior teachers to help support their classroom libraries. We are meeting and discussing what their and their student's needs are. In the next couple of weeks I will be putting together book lists for each classroom and ordering new shelving to help promote books with in the classroom. I can't wait to get these orders down and have the books in the classrooms! The last thing that I have been working on is creating a display at the front entrance of the school. Utilizing a trophy case I have come up with a display (that isn't quiet done, I'm still waiting for a lock so I can display books and photos the senior photography students are taking or other students reading). So far the display has books "coming soon" to the library, a new hashtag for Twitter and Instagram #kcireads, info-graphs showing the importance of reading, a spot for students caught reading and lastly my craftiness coming out. Large wood block letters decoupaged with pages of Shakespearean quotes.The end result of these letters look awesome and can be seen from the end of a very long hallway. I hope this display gets students interested in what is happening in the library and maybe entice students to come visit me in the library.