Smart Librarians: October 2016

Thursday, October 27, 2016

More Music in the Library!

October 27, 2016

Every Thursday, you’ll get this short, fun, relevant newsletter. It will contain a quote or smile about the library and those who love it, an idea you can use to promote your library or reading in general, and an occasional shameless plug for the programs I offer. Enjoy!

If you are new to us or have missed any previous issues, you can read them all at www.smartlibrarians.com. And please tell your friends about it!

In this issue:

Music in the Library! Part 2

Quotable!

Sharpen the Saw!

What Tiffany Said!

Music in the Library! Part 2

Last week I wrote about Shannon Miller and her webinar about using music in the library. I heard from several of you who listened to the webinar or the replay and had good things to say about it. Within hours of sending the Smart Librarians newsletter, I received this idea for using music in the library from Sabrina Smith, media specialist at Austin HS in Decatur, AL:

“Our high school is on a block schedule which begins at 8:30 each day. Our previous librarian found through a survey that students preferred to come into the library early rather than stay after school. I open the library each morning at 7:30. The news is on the big screen. Students can use the computers, work at the tables, talk quietly with their friends, listen to their music with earbuds or just "hang out." It is a comfortable, safe environment for the hour before school. I generally have around 100 students who come in during that time. On Fridays, we play music instead of the news. We tune into www.jango.com and usually choose to do the decade of the 60's hits. The students grin and shake their heads. I think that all of us enjoy our mornings together. When the 8:30 bell rings for school to begin, we turn off the news and music so that classes can use the library. It is quite enjoyable.”

Thanks Sabrina! I must add that when I asked for permission to share her email, she was quick to point out that it was not her idea alone. She gave credit to the previous media specialist and others who helped make this work at her school – just like a good media specialist should!

Quotable!

“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”

Confucius

Encouraging reading – from 45 Ideas in 45 Minutes – Sharpen the Saw

We continue this week with yet another way to “sharpen the saw.”

45. READ! Practice what you preach. If you are going to tell others the value of reading, you should get caught with a book every now and then. Read for professional development, read to see what your students are reading AND read for fun.

Here’s what they are saying about Tommy Johns Presents!

“I loved your magic show. It was the best show I have ever seen in my whole entire life. You're the best magician in the whole world. My class loved your magic show.”

Tiffany, 3rd Grader, Roswell, Georgia

Let me know how I can help! See you next week!

Encouraging kids to read, I am
Tommy Johns
Educational Entertainment Specialist

PS – Don’t forget to share this newsletter and blog with your colleagues!

www.TommyJohnsPresents.com
tommy@tommyjohnspresents.com
Call 770-315-3339 or Toll Free at (866) 490-READ
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Thursday, October 20, 2016

Music in the Library? Are you kidding me?

If you are new to us or have missed any previous issues, you can read them all at www.smartlibrarians.com. And please tell your friends about it!

In this issue:

Music in the Library!

Quotable!

Sharpen the Saw!

What Erin Said!

Music in the Library!

I have long been a fan of creative media specialists (like you!) who shatter the stereotypes and embrace the different ways the school library can change lives. One of those creative colleagues is Shannon Miller, who is hosting a free webinar next week on using music in the library. The webinar is next Monday at 3:00 CDST, but if you register for it and can’t attend, it will be available to you online afterwards. You can download it and listen to it as you drive to school or watch it during your kids’ dance practice while the other parents are looking at their Facebook feeds. Register and get the details HERE.

Speaking of Shannon, her blog is AMAZING! This week she tells you how to put over 15,000 beautiful, high-quality and popular books into the hands of your students today FOR FREE! Click HERE to find out how!

Quotable!

“What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfold world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”

Anne Lamott, author

Encouraging reading – from 45 Ideas in 45 Minutes – Sharpen the Saw

We continue this week with another way to “sharpen the saw.”

44. Attend GaETC, regional training events, online webinars and see what your regional RESA (in GA) or ASLA District (in AL) offers. Or invite a speaker to come to your school district on the next teacher training day to speak just to media specialists. I have a number of topics I have presented at local and large events, and I would LOVE to come see you! Check out http://tommyjohnspresents.com/tjp/teachers/ for a list of topics!

Getting out of the media center (or completely out of the school!), even for an afternoon can be SO valuable.

Here’s what they are saying about Tommy Johns Presents!

“This is a belated “thank you” to let you know how much I appreciated and enjoyed your visit to Owens Elementary in March. As I reflect on the past school year, your visit stands out as one of the most entertaining and rewarding experiences for the students at Owens. I have shared your information with others and look forward to future visits!”

Erin Elkins, Media Specialist, Owens ES, Athens, AL

Let me know how I can help! See you next week!

Encouraging kids to read, I am
Tommy Johns
Educational Entertainment Specialist

PS – Don’t forget to share this newsletter and blog with your colleagues!

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Bookkeeper? Maybe!

October 13, 2016

If you are new to us or have missed any previous issues, you can read them all at www.smartlibrarians.com. And please tell your friends about it!

In this issue:

Not the Bookkeeper!

Quotable!

Sharpen the Saw!

What Sharon Said!

Not the Bookkeeper!

Our good friend and colleague Ingrid Hanson posted this on her Facebook page last week:

“Today a 6th grader came into the media center and waited very patiently for me while I was teaching. I finally went over and asked him what he needed. He said "My teacher said I needed to talk to the bookkeeper."

I explained the bookkeeper was in the front office...then I got it. Yes, I have books and I keep them for everyone to check out, but I am not the bookkeeper you are looking for.” Go Ingrid!

Now you can add “Bookkeeper” to your resume’!

Quotable!

“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”

Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler)

Encouraging reading – from 45 Ideas in 45 Minutes – Sharpen the Saw

Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People coined a phrase about constant self-improvement, “sharpening the saw.” I fear that too many of you are like a soup kitchen cook, starving over a full pot while you are feeding the masses and never taking time to eat. You need to get your battery charged if you are going to keep going and going and going.

#43. Become a member of a Professional Learning Community – locally or online. If you can’t find one, create one. Meet regularly, ESPECIALLY if you are in a small system. You need the support of your colleagues. Face it, a second grade teacher or 11th grade music specialist does not understand what you are dealing with on a regular basis. And you can’t complain to one teacher about another. But another media specialist can help. And you can return the favor. GLMA and ASLA have excellent listservs that allow you to ask questions, share your expertise (and frustrations), and make virtual friends all over the state. You can’t do it alone. Lean on each other. (BTW, if you don’t know what GLMA and ASLA are, you should find out!)

Here’s what they are saying about Tommy Johns Presents!

“Thank you so much for coming to Hopkins! You are AMAZING! The students and staff loved you! Looking forward to you coming back to our school again!”

Sharon Britt, Media Specialist, Hopkins Elementary

Let me know how I can help! See you next week!

Encouraging kids to read, I am
Tommy Johns
Educational Entertainment Specialist

PS – Don’t forget to share this newsletter and blog with your colleagues!

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Sharpest Knife in the Drawer!

Every Thursday you’ll get this short, fun, relevant newsletter. It will contain a quote or smile about the library and those who love it, an idea you can use to promote your library or reading in general, and an occasional shameless plug for the programs I offer. Enjoy!

If you are new to us or have missed any previous issues, you can read them all at www.smartlibrarians.com. And please tell your friends about it!

In this issue:

Sharp as a Knife!

Quotable

You are a TEACHER!

All Aboard the Arctic Express!

Sharp as a Knife!

Growing up in a small town in Alabama in the 60’s, I carried a pocket knife with me everywhere – even to school! The single blade Barlow knife I had carried since I was 8 was replaced when I was 10 by a gift from our Scoutmaster – a genuine Swiss Army Knife. Now, in addition to whittling and sharpening pencils, I could pick my teeth, tighten a screw (Phillips or slotted!), poke a hole in leather or open a bottle of wine. That last one was pretty useless for a 10 year old Baptist kid from a dry county!

I thought about my Swiss Army Knife recently while reading an article by Bob Reilly, where he talks about school librarians, saying,

“…applicants for these jobs have to be able to perform a "Swiss Army knife" array of duties. The reality is that the position of librarian…has evolved very quickly into curriculum leader and technology expert, in addition to the traditional librarian stuff.”

“Jeesh! It seems to me that there should be some mention of "healing the sick and raising the dead" in such job description documents. But this is how it's getting to be almost everywhere.”

It’s a good read. You can read the rest of it by clicking here.

Quotable!

"The most important asset of any library goes home at night -- the library staff."

-- Timothy Healy, former president, New York Public Library.

Encouraging reading – from 45 Ideas in 45 Minutes – Promoting the Library and Its Value to the School

#4. Refer to yourself as a teacher and your library as a classroom. Words mean things. You ARE a teacher and your media center IS a classroom. One reason your colleagues talk out loud at the copier when you are teaching a lesson (something you would NEVER do in THEIR classroom), may be because they don’t see you as a teacher or your classroom as a classroom. Use the words teacher (or teacher/librarian) and classroom when you talk, when you write, and even when you think!

All Aboard Arctic Express!

It’s not too early to be thinking about the holidays! One of my favorite programs is Arctic Express, a reading show that talks about the many holidays celebrated around the end of the calendar year, all over the world! Find out more about this fun and educational program by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Here’s what they are saying about Tommy Johns Presents!

“If you are looking for a program that will engage your children and educate them as well...boy do I have a performer for you!”

Debbie Turner, Jesup, GA

Let me know how I can help! See you next week!

Encouraging kids to read, I am
Tommy Johns
Educational Entertainment Specialist

PS – Don’t forget to share this newsletter and blog with your colleagues!

www.TommyJohnsPresents.com
tommy@tommyjohnspresents.com
Call 770-315-3339 or Toll Free at (866) 490-READ