News

March can feel like a loooong month in schools. Everyone’s going a little stir crazy, right? We decided it would be the perfect time to showcase some of the inspiring things happening in Maine school libraries. 

From Suzanne:

I've been working with a 7th grade team and their language arts teacher focusing on free verse novels. We turned it into a March Madness tournament.

And the winner of the March Madness verse novel tournament is… The Crossover by Kwame Alexander!

Do you have a bright spot to share? It could be a program or event, a lesson that went well, a fabulous display, collaboration or community partnership, or a positive reader's advisory moment with a student — email your positive library news to Iris Eichenlaub (irisdeichenlaub@gmail.com).

March can feel like a loooong month in schools. Everyone’s going a little stir crazy, right? We decided it would be the perfect time to showcase some of the inspiring things happening in Maine school libraries.

From Leanne:

Working with teachers and students is my favorite part of being a school librarian. When the Humanities 11 and 12 teachers, Laura Pulito and Christina Gaumont, asked me to help them with an independent reading project, I was really excited. Students were first asked to read a book that pertained to their interests. At the end of the semester, the classes gathered in the library and we made paper books. Students filled their books with textual connections, thematic statements, and visual representations based on the novel they read. The students then designed a series of bulletin boards to display their work.

What a fabulous example of collaboration, critical thinking, choice reading, integrated arts, and a showcase of learning for the school community to see. Thanks for sharing this, Leanne.

Do you have a bright spot to share? It could be a program or event, a lesson that went well, a fabulous display, collaboration or community partnership, or a positive reader's advisory moment with a student — email your positive library news to Iris Eichenlaub (irisdeichenlaub@gmail.com).

March can feel like a loooong month in schools. Everyone’s going a little stir crazy, right? We decided it would be the perfect time to showcase some of the inspiring things happening in Maine school libraries. 

From Abby:

After moving in the library position in September 2020, I've been advocating for some key renovations to the library. One of the biggest is new, lower, mobile shelving where my youngest readers browse and borrow. I wanted to improve accessibility, have a better sight line for student behavior, and safer shelving as the older shelves were very unstable. 

After almost three years of my superintendent and I advocating at many meetings, the new shelving arrived! 

The space looks incredible and, even beyond that, the students love the lower, more accessible shelving. Now they can actually reach the books!

Do you have a bright spot to share? It could be a program or event, a lesson that went well, a fabulous display, collaboration or community partnership, or a positive reader's advisory moment with a student — email your positive library news to Iris Eichenlaub (irisdeichenlaub@gmail.com).

March can feel like a loooong month in schools. Everyone’s going a little stir crazy, right? We decided it would be the perfect time to showcase some of the inspiring things happening in Maine school libraries.

First up in this series, a few beautiful bulletin boards created by Loraine Murray, librarian at Lincolnville Central School. Loraine’s library is just inside the main entrance at LCS, so this bulletin board is seen by every child and adult who enters the building.

Below are two more examples. Imagine how these messages would positively impact your day!

Do you have a bright spot to share? It could be a program or event, a lesson that went well, a fabulous display, collaboration or community partnership, or a positive reader's advisory moment with a student — email your positive library news to Iris Eichenlaub (irisdeichenlaub@gmail.com).

Check out this FREE webinar series from AASL and the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom:

Register here: https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=858

The Maine Council for English Language Arts invites all school librarians to their FREE Poetry Night celebration at Portland Stage on March 16th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. 

Join us on Thursday evening for an event with Maine Poet Laureate Julia Bouwsma and Portland Stage. Get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/417082624357

There will be an opportunity to network with other teachers, listen to a poetry reading, and learn about educational programs offered by Portland Stage. Food and drink will be provided thanks to the generous donation of Portland Stage with a cash bar also available. An additional bonus from Portland Stage: attendees of this event will also be offered free tickets to the Thursday evening performance of August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned (more about the play here: https://www.portlandstage.org/show/how-i-learned-what-i-learned/

You are also welcome to attend the MCELA Conference on Friday, March 17th, from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM (Workshops and Keynote): Reconnect, Renew, Revive.

Program here: MCELA Spring Conference 

Tickets for both events can also be purchased online here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/417082624357

The paper registration form can be accessed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OgMK4glTDgwpDQ3NQzqjOfo_DpT4kE3t1CyImh-McZw/edit?usp=sharing

Diversify Your Read Alouds

Need contact hours? (Don’t we all?)

MASL member, Amy Ryder (Spruce Mountain School District), has generously shared her presentations on Diversifying Your Read Alouds. Amy presents titles and descriptions of books  that include diverse representations and authors, perfect for your next read aloud session! Recalling our fall PD with Lawrence Alexander, this is an actionable step you can take to make your library full of windows, mirrors, and sliding doors for all readers. 

Primary Books   Elementary Books    Handouts

At the end of the sessions, make sure to fill out the Google Form to receive your certificate of completion here: Primary Level  and Elementary Level.

Maine Book Awards Padlets

Do you love award season? We do! 

We love supporting the nominees for our Maine awards: The Chickadee Award, Maine Student Book Award, and North Star YA Award! The stickers on the covers, the amazing contributions to children’s and YA literature, the thrill of discovering which books will be the winners! So exciting!

MASL has created Padlets so you can share your great ideas for integrating the nominees into your school library — pictures of an amazing display, lesson plans, ideas for technology or art integrations, and more.

The Padlets are also there for you to browse for inspiration, right from the comfort of your couch. You could have a whole week’s worth of lessons lined up after mining the Padlets for ideas from your peers!

So pour yourself a cup of tea and spend some time with the Padlets!

The Chickadee Award

Maine Student Book Award

North Star YA Award

Reading Round Up (April 27th, 8–4 p.m.)

Yes, Reading Round Up is open for registration! 

One of our goals this year is to integrate our professional development offerings through collaborations with other organizations across the state, such as RRU and ACTEM. This adds visibility for our organization and leadership opportunities as we step up and offer meaningful PD to educate other educators.

In addition to the opportunity to see Jason Reynolds (live and in person!) at RRU this year, you can enjoy sessions some of our own MASL members:

• Cathy Potter: Conducting a Diversity Audit in Your Library
  
  
• Jen Stanbro and Megan Blakemore: Using Data in Collection Development
  
  
• Karen Silverman, Heather Perkinson, and panel: Book Challenges in Maine Schools
  
  
• Suzanne Dix: School and Public Library Partnerships: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!

Make sure to stop by our table at RRU where we have lots of exciting activities planned this year. We will have a photo booth, information about becoming a MASL All-Star, and information about an exciting bookmark art contest. You will also be able to check out our new swag which you can purchase here.

~ Beth Andersen, MASL President-Elect, and the Chair of Professional Development Committee

Congratulations to all of you!

MASL has been recognized by the Maine Council for English Language Arts with their 2023 Intellectual Freedom Award! This award goes to each and every one of you who has been working tirelessly in your library to protect students’ right to read. 

MCELA president, Patti Forster, presented us with the award and said: 

“We are honored to be able to recognize MASL for the courageous work you have done in the last few years and continue to do to advance the cause of intellectual freedom and fight against censorship. 

We will be announcing this award at our MCELA Conference on March 17th. As an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English, you will also be recognized as our intellectual freedom award winner at the NCTE National Convention affiliates breakfast in November 2023. 

In addition to awarding MASL our MCELA 2023 Intellectual Freedom Award, we plan on nominating MASL for the National Council for Teachers of English Intellectual Freedom Award. 

Thank you again for all that you do to advocate for the freedom to read." 

Read more about the award on MCELA’s website here.

If you happen to be attending any of MCELA’s great professional development offerings on March 16th and 17th (more about that in a blog post on PD coming soon), you will get to see Patti present the award to one of us in person!

In addition to writing letters of support for challenged books to many school boards in Maine this year, the intrepid volunteers on your MASL Executive Board, along with IF Chair Karen Silverman and her committee of Abigail Thompson and Kerrie Lattari, have been hard at work fighting for intellectual freedom. If you’re experiencing a challenge of any kind (Maybe your administrator is second-guessing your book order? Maybe a colleague has asked you not to let their students check out a certain book? Maybe you are worried that you can no longer safely order certain books for your library?) please do not hesitate to reach out to us for support and advice. 

MASL President Heather Perkinson has been busy spreading the word about intellectual freedom. Hopefully by now you’ve seen her media appearances: she was quoted in the Washington Post, interviewed by local Fox 23, appeared on Richard Rudolph’s Community Voices for Change radio show, wrote an important opinion piece for the Press Herald, and was featured on the podcast School Librarians United. Be sure to register for Reading Roundup where you can join Karen, Heather, and others who will be presenting a panel discussion on intellectual freedom in Maine schools.

Most recently, Heather and Beth Andersen have also been working with the Maine Library Association and John Chrastka of EveryLibrary.org to battle LD123:  "An Act to Eliminate the Educational Purposes Exception to the Prohibition on the Dissemination of Obscene Matter to Minors." Beth and Heather have exchanged countless emails and had several meetings with John Chrastka and members of the MLA Board. Additionally, Beth and representatives from the MLA recently met with the sponsor of the bill. With the help of EveryLibrary, MLA and MASL have created a letter writing campaign site which we encourage you to share widely: Action.EveryLibrary.org/LD123. 

If you live in the districts of any of the following state legislators, we especially need you to write a personal email to them asking that the bill be rejected before it makes it out of their Education and Cultural Affairs Committee: Joseph Rafferty or Holly Sargent of York, Jim Libby of Standish, Teresa Pierce of Falmouth, Michael Brennan of Portland, Barbara Bagshaw of Windham, Jan Dodge of Belfast, Belmont and Northport, Sheila Lyman of Livermore Falls, Rebecca Millett of Cape Elizabeth, Kelly Murphy of Scarborough, Edward Polewarczyk of Wiscasset, Heidi Sampson of Lyman (Part) / Alfred/ Waterboro (Part), J. Worth of Ellsworth.

Their email address will follow this pattern: Firstname.Lastname@legislature.maine.gov. If you need any guidance writing such an email, please do not hesitate to reach out to us! 

MASL and MLA are also forming a coalition with other Maine groups who would be affected by the bill. Currently on board with us: the ACLU of Maine, Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, Maine Humanities Council, Maine Chapter of the National Social Workers Association, and The Telling Room. MLA and MASL have drafted a joint statement with these groups, so look for that to appear soon and be prepared to share it widely! For now, you can share the email campaign website with your union leadership and ask them to share it with members. You can stress that this legislation will have far-reaching effects, not just on libraries and librarians, but on any school staff that shares material with students that might be considered “obscene.”

Here are some talking points to guide you when discussing LD 123:

• This legislation would affect not just a school librarians, but any teacher who works with curriculum or literature that could be considered "obscene": English (including AP), Health, Art, School Counselors, School Nurses, potentially some Social Studies and PE teachers as well

• This is not just a 1st Amendment issue but a “Dignity of Work” issue, it will impact how we are treated as professionals, we will be questioned and micromanaged on everything we teach, every book we purchase, and it threatens to criminalize our workforce, this is effectively intimidation of workers

• This bill would also criminalize certain identities and threaten the civil rights of those teachers and students who identify with any of the protected categories affected by this, specifically LGBTQ people

• The criminal code it would amend is commercial code, not meant for nonprofits, education has always been exempt in Maine, along with 44 other states with similar exemptions for education

• This bill has serious implications for school funding: the cost of insurance & risk management are unknown but would be significant, in order to protect school districts against potential lawsuits and prosecution of their employees

• Putting the bill in practice would have possible implications for schools' abilities to observe the legal constraints of Title IX

• We already have good policies in place (IJJs) that guide teachers and librarians in choosing materials, this bill needlessly targets educators, overreaches the authority of the Legislature, and conflicts with the local control and jurisdiction of School Boards

• This law will not stand up to the Miller Test, which is based on a Supreme Court decision used to determine if material is actually obscene or just makes some people uncomfortable. This federal decision, which also applies in Maine schools, allows parents to opt their children out of any material that makes them uncomfortable by following the IMJB policy. This proposed bill, however, would take away parental rights, because it would limit access to materials for ALL children. Libraries and public schools are for everyone, you can not limit access to materials for other parents' children.

The sponsor of this legislation and his allies have said that they are responding to the presence of one book in school libraries, Maia Kobabe’s highly acclaimed memoir, Gender Queer (the same book that has been repeatedly challenged in Maine schools over the past two years). But this legislation goes far beyond the banning of one book. Make no mistake, the people that are organizing this fight are not just trying to limit our intellectual freedom, this is a direct attack on public education. Letting this legislation out of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, let alone allowing it to pass, will open the doors to many more bills like it. In this fight, we are not just opposing the censorship of one book or the passage of one law, we are letting our legislators know that we will not be silenced by a vocal minority. We need all hands on deck to do this work and protect the education system that keeps our democracy strong.

Beth is our intrepid President-Elect and is in charge of all of our professional development programs. She works at Helena H. Dyer Elementary School in South Portland, which is grades K-5. The professional development innovation she developed for us around the Maine book awards has been a game changer! Check out this year's Padlets, get some great teaching ideas from your colleagues, and maybe add an idea of your own:

Chickadee

MSBA Padlet

North Star YA

This is her second year in this position. She worked at a high school previously. She made the move because she was ready for a change. She wanted to see students on a more regular basis and really have the time to spend on reader's advisory with each student. She also specifically wanted to work in South Portland because of its collaborative model. Teachers come to the library with their classes so there is the opportunity to collaborate on a weekly basis. At first, this felt a bit intimidating, but now it feels so authentic that she wouldn't want it any other way.

One of the things she focuses on as a school librarian is building community whether it is through collaboration, student helpers in the library, or school-wide literacy and STEAM events. MASL builds community at the state level.

Beth says, "I don't think I would have had the opportunity to meet so many amazing colleagues from around the state if I was not a MASL member. I relied on these colleagues when I was considering making the move from high school to the elementary level and even now if I need inspiration, I reach out and ask for help. In these times of book challenges, we need to see each other as a resource. We need to be here for each other before we face any obstacles so that we don't ever feel like we are facing this alone. I run into MASL members all the time, I even ran into another member at my hair salon!"

Beth points out that the MASL Board is working to make these connections even stronger. We want representation from all over the state and we want to make sure everyone feels connected, no matter the size of your district or how many years you have been working in a school library. Feel free to reach out to any Board member if you have any suggestions on how we can do this better! And, of course, you haven't had the full MASL experience until you have volunteered for a committee. If you are interested just reach out! You will meet new people and learn so much!

Looking for a goal to support growth for the new year? Consider requesting a mentor or volunteering to become one, to connect with another MASL librarian for conversation and connection. The benefits go both ways — both mentors and mentees experience benefits through these partnerships.

Partnering with a mentor can happen at any point in the school year. More information can be found here.

Debra Butterfield, the MASL Mentoring Chair, would love to chat with you more about this opportunity to build your professional community.