Courtney Johnson is incredible and, sometimes, an Incredible. Three years ago, we featured her classroom library. A lot has happened between now and then, and, as it’s the beginning of another school year, we took the opportunity to catch up.
After our 2015 feature, Courtney earned her Master of Library and Information Science degree and moved into a roving librarian role within Columbus City Schools. For two years she served 11 schools, a daunting task where time connecting with young scholars was precious. Courtney’s drive to create meaningful impact translated into building strong relationships and hosting exceptional authors, including the likes of ALA Stonewall Award Winner e.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Newbery Medal Winner Kwame Alexander.
Best Day Ever. -Courtney Johnson
Kwame Alexander’s visit with tour bus and guitarist Randy Preston was an incredible day for students. Kwame instantly connected with the kids, and over 200 copies of Rebound were gifted.
This school year has been a homecoming for Courtney. She rejoined Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center as their full-time librarian, and she’s already begun to innovate. By starting a Project LIT Book Club chapter at Fort Hayes, Courtney is placing contemporary literature that excites students in their hands. Further, she looks forward to connecting with other Columbus city schools and the community at large.
Help make reading contagious by supporting Courtney’s Project LIT chapter!
You can conveniently purchase books on Amazon that will go directly into the hands of students at the Fort Hayes high school. Learn more HERE.
What an exciting school year for Courtney Johnson, the students and faculty of Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center and Columbus City Schools. We wish everyone a great 2018-2019 academic year!
Established in 1829, the Ohio School for the Deaf serves students from all over Ohio who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The school has over 200 students from preschool age through high school and also offers a program for graduates called 4PLUS, which helps young adults transition to life after school.
Librarian Nancy Boone began her career with the school as a teacher and worked with students in elementary, junior high and high school before taking on the role of librarian. With help from Library Assistant Tatum Cook, Nancy provides opportunities and programming for all of the students at the school. Tatum joined the library staff earlier this year and is a graduate of Ohio School for the Deaf. She previously worked in the preschool. Student workers also assist with shelving and other tasks around the library.
The OSD Library was built in 2013 and features ample natural lighting, open space and plenty of room for books. Nancy was able to reduce the collection size by using more digital reference tools, but noted that the collection of graphic novels has boomed since she’s been with the library.
Class groups visit the library regularly throughout the week to check out books, work on their reading skills and enjoy story time. They provide programming for high school classes as well, such as information literacy for students studying journalism. The library maintains a flexible schedule to accommodate all levels of students and is open after school hours for the students who live on campus during the week.
Nancy and Tatum create eye-catching, fun displays to engage students, and collections are marked with bright visual aids, allowing students to easily locate materials and navigate the library. The library features a large story time area, where books are read in sign language and acted out by Nancy and Tatum for the enjoyment of the students.
The library maintains a large collection of deaf materials, including books and videos related to deafness, sign language, education and culture. The library also offers DVDs and materials developed by the Shared Reading Project and designed to help parents and tutors of deaf children effectively share books with their children.
The fun environment, special collection and range of services provided by the staff make the library at Ohio School for the Deaf incredibly special.
It’s hard to believe summer is coming to an end and school will start again in a few short weeks. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to meet with wonderful school and academic librarians from a variety of institutions.
We thought it would be fun to look back and to catch up with some of our friends at school libraries to learn about their plans for the 2017-18 school year.
Dr. Christina Dorr, media specialist at Hilliard Weaver Middle School, is ramping up for the school year with Cat Days, a two-day orientation that helps students explore the building, learn their schedules and pick up their school books and iPads. The library helps manage the school’s one 2 one program, offering students technical support for their iPads. Once school is in session, Dr. Dorr will provide library orientation classes to incoming middle schoolers and refresh upperclassmen on the library’s role. She provides the students with information about how to access the library’s collections, check out material and ebooks, and opportunities to volunteer and participate in library events.
In October, the school will welcome award winning author Jason Reynolds. In preparation for the event, students have been reading his books and some even met over the summer discuss his works at the local Starbucks. Dr. Dorr is working in collaboration with other teachers to engage the students in anticipation of the event and has planned a number of fun activities that will excite them make for fantastic event.
Dr. Dorr is also looking forward to working with student groups, including the book club, Books and Brownies, and the newly established Gay/Straight Alliance. Dr. Dorr is enthusiastic and energized for the new school year. Her students are sure to have a fantastic year!
Windermere Elemetary School librarian Shannon Hemmelgarn is excited to begin another school year too! Her summer activities have included efforts to keep students reading year-round with the use of social media and in-person book chats. Her summer reading included “Refugee” by Alan Gratz and “Return to Sender” by Julia Alvarez, middle grade stories that tackle issues in today’s world. Shannon shared that this reading can be used to help approach tough topics and start important conversations with youth.
The new school year promises plenty of excitement for Windermere Elementary. Shannon has been working on new curriculum for her students to help improve their information literacy skills (and avoid “fake news”), digital citizenship and responsible technology use. Shannon has partnered with the youth services librarian at Upper Arlington Public Library to provide a story hour for kindergartners and their families. She will work with students of all grades to engage them and reintroduce them to the library.
In April, the district will welcome author and storyteller Mac Barnett. Library lessons will help prepare and engage students for this exciting event. Shannon is also organizing a family reading program, inviting students and their families to read Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. The program includes activities and contests and will commence with a viewing of the movie. Shannon’s excitement for the year to come is contagious – her students are in for a fun school year!
Thank you to all that are creating learning centers of excellence–we wish everyone a fantastic year! Additionally, check out these other amazing school & academic libraries we’ve featured:
Columbus State Community College Library
Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School
Mount Carmel Health Sciences Library
The Ohio State University Fine Arts Library
Oberlin College Conservatory Library
OSU Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum