• Database season is coming! Be on the lookout in a couple weeks for the email with all the details on ordering for 2025-2026. For now, start looking at your statistics and consider attending our Vendor Fair on Wednesday (see flyer below).
• Kerrie has openings in her calendar for library visits this spring. Please email her if you haven't seen her yet this year to set up a time to meet.
• Apply for the Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award. Applications for this $5,000 award are accepted until May 1st.

Submitted by Alison:

I wanted to share an idea I had that seemed to work well for me. I had an issue with students pushing the books to the back of the shelves (nothing new right?) and I have about three metal shelving units that are very deep! After much discussion with Lori McKernon, my library aide, we came up with....tension rods! I was able to purchase tension rods that I put behind the books so they stay forward. I have also discovered more students checking out books from that area now that they can see the books better!

SLS Resources Tips and Tricks has been discontinued in favor of a weekly bulletin called WSWHE Wisdom. You can find previous editions of WSWHE Wisdom on our LibGuide.

In January 2025, the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services shared the Media Literacy Toolkit for Educators with several stakeholder groups across the state. Join us as we unpack this toolkit and find practical ways in which this information can be incorporated into what you are already doing. In addition, you may be surprised to learn that there is already a professional in your school who is doing this work. Participants will leave with a working understanding of the toolkit and its practical uses in schools.

Date: April 24

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm

Register: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=18589&I=5040013

Enjoy an interactive digital summer reading resources flyer and join us for a webinar:

Summer Reading Adventures with TeachingBooks

Get excited about summer reading! Explore summer reading lists and activity ideas. Inspire independent reading with TeachingBooks resources that let the books and their authors speak for themselves.

Register Here

Live attendees will be entered into a raffle to win a book bundle!

Please share with your colleagues. This session will be recorded, so registrants will get a link to the recording.

Topic: Agenda can be found here. We will also celebrate our retirees and our School Librarian and Administrator of the Year Award winners.

Date: May 15, 2025

Time: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Location: Ballard Road Conference Center

Register: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=18589&I=4959120

In January 2025, the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services shared the Media Literacy Toolkit for Educators with several stakeholder groups across the state. Join us as we unpack this toolkit and find practical ways in which this information can be incorporated into what you are already doing. In addition, you may be surprised to learn that there is already a professional in your school who is doing this work. Participants will leave with a working understanding of the toolkit and its practical uses in schools.

Date: May 7

Time 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Register: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=18589&I=5064261

• The New York State Library and Office of Early Learning are excited to host a live webinar event for library staff focused on supporting the State’s latest literacy initiatives on Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• This session will offer insights on research-based literacy practices, strategies for enhancing the home-school connection, and methods to involve families in creating a robust literacy foundation for their children.
• For more information on this event, please visit the New York State Library website.
• Interested parties can register for the Libraries Supporting Best Practices webinar here.
• Please contact Sharon Phillips with any questions or suggestions at Sharon.Phillips@nysed.gov

Digital Theater+ has set up a free trial of their product through May 9th. You can access information about the product here, and information about the trial here.

As budgets begin to be developed for next year, now is the time to take a look at your current database stats (let us know if you need help) and see if any changes might be necessary.

As we have done in years past, we have asked our vendors to provide trials for our librarians so that you can begin to see if you want to make any changes to your databases for 25-26. You will want to start thinking about any new products you might want to purchase next year.

We have secured trial information from a number of our vendors to make it easier for you to try new products now when there is plenty of time to share with teachers and students and fully evaluate the resource. You can access trial information on this spreadsheet. If you want to see if a trial is available for something not on the spreadsheet, reach out to Laurie Doyle and she can try to secure a trial for you.

Upcoming: Be on the lookout in early May for information on ordering.

If you need help or have questions, please reach out to libraryservices@wswheboces.organd we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Kerrie Burch, School Library System Director

Karin Howansky, School Library Media Specialist

Laurie Doyle, Information Processing Specialist

Deb Massa, Information Processing Specialist