Quality time is how I would describe the days that I spent the ALA Midwinter meeting earlier this month. Days that I walked around the convention center with a badge that eventually reached 38”, due to the 29 ribbons I attached to it. My favorite ribbon is a tie between the one that says “STAND BACK! I’m going to use library science!”, which I got at an information booth, and “I HAVE ISSUES & CONTROVERSIES”, which refers to a database on hot topics.
Have you ever participated in an ‘unconference’? I experienced it for first time on day one of Midwinter. People in the room popcorned topics, and then we split into about ten groups, had informal discussions, and then one person from each group reported back to the room the major points of each conversation. There were a lot of interesting options, but I couldn’t resist the discussion about teaching students research methods. Librarians are well-equipped to work with students on evaluating information, as well as finding it, and there is a lot of research out there that supports this. This is what gets me excited about the School Libraries Work! research compendium that Scholastic Library Publishing recently put out. It gives quantitative numbers for what I qualitatively experienced as a librarian/English teacher collaborating with a social studies colleague, and it validates the personal experiences that we were sharing at the table that day. For example:
- A 2014 study from South Carolina shows that 55% of administrators find it “essential that librarians and teachers design and teach instructional units together”, and it also shows that 85% of administrators and 76% of teachers assess librarians' skills at teaching the ELA research standards as good or excellent (p. 12-13).
- A 2012 study from Pennsylvania found that 98% of administrators value librarians and teachers teaching together, and it also shows that 88% of administrators and 84% of teachers assess librarians teaching of the inquiry-based learning standard of the Standards for the 21st Century Learner as good or excellent (p. 14-15).
There were a few times during the conference that after talking to a school librarian I found myself walking them to the Scholastic booth to get a print copy of the report. Finally, I put a few copies of School Libraries Work! in my bag so that I had them on me at all times. You can download it here: http://www.scholastic.com/slw2016/.
Aside from dialoguing with amazing fellow librarians who open a world of possible every day and swapping business cards, the highlight of the conference was definitely the announcement of the Youth Media Awards. I am excited for the Newbery and Odyssey honors awarded to Echo, the Stonewall win in the children’s category for George, Weston Woods’ Carnegie win for the adaptation of That is NOT a Good Idea, and David Levithan receiving the prestigious Edwards award. However, what brought a tear to my eye was seeing the cover for The Porcupine of Truth on the screen as the Stonewall winner in the Young Adult category. Here is why:
- We read and discussed it in our employee book club last year (as well as George and Echo).
- I have a soft spot for Porcupine because Bill Konigsberg gives Aisha such a good story and a great voice.
- I identify with Carson as he fumbles on his mission to be an ally to Aisha; sometimes I worry that I'm not doing it right - but I try my best.
- The book is funny.
- There was something I didn’t see coming on pages 254-257 that isn’t what you think I’m talking about, but if you know me and my hobbies then you’ll know why I was excited, but I can’t give even one hint because I don’t want to be accused of dropping spoilers!
- Pages 278-279, and page 323.
- I really really appreciate that the Stonewall committee found this book that I love among all of the amazing YA literature out there and recognized Aisha’s story as medal-worthy. Yay and thank you!!
This is the first year for a both a children’s and a young adult category in the Stonewall Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award. Once I saw the honor books, Wonders of the Invisible World and Sex is a Funny Word, and then George, I thought that was it and we were moving on to the next category. Then surprise: a second winner – The Porcupine of Truth!
Sigh… (sniff, wipe away tear). Midwinter has come and gone.
A good time was had by all.
