DASL UPDATE
January 2025
ilovelibraries Honors Two Delaware Librarians
Advocacy
Curriculum for Library Readiness, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment During Challenging Conditions
Courses are asynchronous and include video/audio lectures and readings, with transcripts available in Spanish, French, and English.
There is also a section/course for our Teens Student Advocacy.
John Chrastka, EveryLibrary executive director, asserts that control of education and related funding rests with local and regional authorities, rather than federal ("The Seven Bills That Will Safeguard the Future of School Librarianship"). So school library supporters should focus their efforts there. (This is an article posted in School Library Journal.)
Sora
School Stars is Overdrive's global contest to showcase how your school promotes Sora. Show us how you're spreading the word about Sora through school displays and social media posts, community engagement initiatives, and beyond. No entry is too big or too small, and everyone has a chance to win. Each school may enter up to five times, once per category. One grand prize winner will receive three thousand dollars USD in Sora content credit to build their digital library. Visit resources dot overdrive dot com slash school dash stars today to learn more and snap, share, Sora.
Sora Spotlight
You can share your story with them as well.
Early Literacy activity calendar
Demco has monthly calendars on the blog section of their website. The calendars may be useful for passing ideas on to families in school or library newsletters.
Childhood activity calendar
Find a creative idea for elementary libraries.
MLK Day of Service January 20th
Observed each year on the third Monday in January, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is a federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King and improve their communities. AmeriCorps has been charged with leading this effort for 30 years.
Share with us on social media. DASL Instagram: @delawareschoollibrarians
Creativity Week January 27th-Febrary 2nd
News Literacy Week February 3rd-7th
Library Shelfie Day January 22nd
Every year, we celebrate Library Shelfie Day on the fourth Wednesday in January. This year it is celebrated on January 22. It is a day for book lovers to share their favorite books and library shelves with the world in a fun way. After all, the world belongs to those who read! On this day, readers are encouraged to take a selfie with their most beloved library shelf showcasing the books that stand out for them. Book stores, libraries, schools, and individuals from all over the world celebrate the day by sharing their favorite books or shelves on social media. So, make your shelf as pretty as can be, snap a shelfie, and share it with all who wish to see it.
The National Day of Racial Healing is a time to contemplate our shared values and create the blueprint together for #HowWeHeal from the effects of racism. Launched in 2017, it is an opportunity to bring ALL people together and inspire collective action to build common ground for a more just and equitable world.
April 5th at Stanton Middle School
Use the link to learn more about National History Day. The Historical Society is often looking for judges.
MLA/DLA Conference May 7-9
We are very excited to gather with our colleagues as we return to Ocean City next year. MLA|DLA: The Beach Edition will be hosted in Ocean City, Maryland, May 7-9, 2025 at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center.
As our conference attendees reflect all areas of the library, we encourage submissions from staff at all levels, backgrounds, and types of library organizations (academic, school, public, special, etc.). We look forward to proposals from a full range of library staff, including librarians, circulation, support, collection development, technical services, processing, mobile services and outreach, facilities operations, social impact, human resources, training, marketing, fundraising, and more!
Delaware Diamonds
See the booklist here
The purpose of this award program:
▪ to encourage young readers in Delaware to become better acquainted with quality literature
▪ to expose students to recent books
▪ to honor favorite books and authors
▪ to broaden students’ awareness of literature as a lifelong pleasure
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