Commonly referred to as Día, this celebration of children, families, culture, and reading is observed each year on April 30. It emphasizes using reading, literacy, and stories to educate young learners about different cultures and languages. Celebrate Día at your library with the following ideas ..read more

With the ever-increasing use of mobile devices, it’s important to ensure that your learning environment or library offers users adequate options to plug in and power up. However, many schools and libraries lack the electrical infrastructure needed for today’s device-driven world. Often there aren’t enough electrical outlets, and when outlets are available, they aren’t always placed in the most convenient locations ..read more

In this article, you'll find a wide variety of low-tech making projects that are sure to get the wheels of creativity turning for your students. These project ideas and challenges can be adapted in ways that work best for you and your students. Likewise, they can be modified to be more or less difficult in order to fit ages and skill sets. Adapt the supplies and time lengths however you need and still have a successful making activity ..read more

Explore programming ideas, as well as book suggestions to boost kids’ cultural awareness and help them practice kindness and respect ..read more

Make little ones smile with June activities that help them learn while having fun ..read more

Like many in your community, teens will likely have Paris on their minds during the 2024 Summer Olympics! Tap into their enthusiasm by offering thematic programs and activities scaled to their interests. Try the following ideas, selecting the ones that best fit your community ..read more

The U.S. is home to around 56,000 public school librarians across roughly 98,000 public K-12 schools1 – which means that most of the time, librarians are holding down the fort alone or working across multiple schools. While classroom teachers get to plan in teams, most librarians create curriculum and manage their libraries solo. And while community members share an understanding of what classroom teachers are doing each day, librarians’ work is widely underestimated and misunderstood. What could it look like for librarians to take steps toward feeling more connected to their school communiti ..read more

Many educators have the misconception that makerspace activities must always involve expensive technology like 3D printers and circuit kits. Fortunately, this isn’t true. Students can have valuable learning experiences in makerspaces with low-tech and even no-tech tools. Parents, educators, administrators, and other well-meaning adults sometimes dismiss students building with cardboard, toy bricks, or craft supplies as “just playing” or “messing around.” But while students are having fun, deeper learning is also occurring; in fact, research shows that play can lead to intense learning for chi ..read more

School libraries are often viewed as sanctuaries of knowledge, exploration, and growth. Yet, for some students, they can also be associated with discipline — a place where quietness and strict rules dominate. However, transforming the school library into a hub of excitement and creativity is not just a possibility; it's a necessity. The following ideas are ways to make the school library a space that students eagerly embrace instead of fear ..read more

High-capacity zig-zag displays are surprisingly versatile, inspiring exciting ideas that extend far beyond their footprint. I anticipated using them to organize series books and to provide easy access to highly circulating titles. I appreciate the large capacity and the unique design that allows visitors to see many covers easily. These versatile pieces have surprised me, though. Keep reading for just five of the ways they've worked in my school library ..read more