Key Points

By Buffy J. Hamilton

The Unquiet Library Annual Report 2011

EBLIP:How You Know, Where You Go, and What You Show

Texas Library Standards

By Richey, Wagner, and Cahill

Key Concepts Module 5

Key Points

The Texas Library Standards are expectations set to help evaluate Texas School Libraries. They are divided into six main strands with an additional strand that is an apendix. These are the main strands:

1. Information Literacy- offer information literacy instruction that enables students to efficiently and accurately gather information.
2. Inquiry- provide access to information where students are able to pursue, create and share knowledge.
3. Reading-promote reading as an essential skill for leaning, personal growth, and enjoyment.
4. Digital Learning- provide equitable acess and provide curated and open access to digital and print resources.
5. Safe and Nurturing Enviroment-provide a safe,inviting and flexible enviroment that conducive to teaching and learning
6. Leadership- shows evidence of best practices modeled by a full time librarian.

Rationale

The Texas Library Standards will be like the holy grail of my library program. As a teacher, I always used the TEKS to help guide my lessons. In the same way, I will use these standards to make sure they are all hit throughout the year. In addition, the tables towards the end of the document are also great guidance to the way we will be evaluated by our appraiser. There is little difference between each category such as between proficient and accomplished. I plan to study them and highlight the differences to make sure I land at least at proficient for my first year.

Key Points

EBLIP is a method used to gather and analyze practices in school libraries. The article explains that this method is not something additional we should do, but something that is already done in our day-to-day responsibilites. The authors explain that EBLIP has great benefits such as advocating for library programs, generates evidence of student learning in the library, positions the library and librarian as essential for student learning, justifies the value of the library program, and it creates accountability. EBLIP use evidence of evidence for practice, evidence in practice, and evidence of practice. Evidence for practice is something that all librarians already do which is using research and journals to carry out library programs.

Key Points

In this blog post, Buffy explains that each year their district expects each school to turn in an annual library report. She suggest to make reports interactive and not so much writing as they are dreadful to read. For example, in her own report, she included many pictures, QR codes, and even teacher testimonies. Writing an annual report can be quite time consuming and extensive, but it is a labor of love because it serves as a reflection and it is easy to visualize area of growth to formulate goals for the following school year.

Rationale

EBLIP is an awesome tool to use and pair with the Texas Library Standards. I love that its shines light on the value of the library. Sadly, many school libraries are getting rid of the certified librarian, and if more librarians practiced EBLIP, it would help show evidence to our value. One way I plan on using EBLIP is in our makerspace area. This year I will start makerspaces and I am excited to see the gains our library engagement will see. EBLIP will help keep track and show admin the value of funding makerspaces for students.

Rationale

I The example of the annual report provided by Buffy will be helpful as a basis as to what an annual report is supposed to look like. To my current knowledge, my district does not require annual reports, but I still plan to do one for my admin so they see the learning going on in the library. I love the QR codes and pictures she used as evidence to show all that has been happening throughout the year. I'm glad I saw it now, as it serves as a reminder to record and take pictures of all the great things happening throughout the year so I am able to use it as evidence at the end of the year.