AAPS Library Services Department
Quarter 1: 2024-25 School Year, Vol. 21
Welcome Back to the 2024-25 School Year!
We are excited for another great year in the AAPS Libraries!
Friends of the Ann Arbor Public School Libraries:
Advocacy in Action
by Kim McLean
AAPS Librarians are excited to have the support of the newly formed Friends of the AAPS Libraries! The Friends mission is to raise money and public awareness in the community to support the programs and services of the AAPS Libraries. To date, this organization has formed a board, achieved 501(3)(c) non-profit status, created by-laws and a mission statement. The board consists of a team of parents with students in a variety of schools spread throughout the district. They will be working hard to:
- promote equity across all school libraries
- raise money for specific actions (FAAPSL has already applied for several grants!)
- advocate for libraries
- fundraise money to supplement the district library budgets
- recruit volunteers to help in the school libraries.
The board is in the process of planning a board and public meeting schedule for the 24-25 school year as well as creating a website and social media presence. The board consists of:
- Mike Robins, President
- Jamie Haberichtner, Vice President
- Mariana Gonzales Cuevas, Officer
- Jill Shiffert, Officer
- Megan Hastie, Officer
Friends of the AAPS Libraries will be having a big kickoff on October 22 at the Huron High School Library at 6pm. Information on this event will be available soon on their forthcoming website!
Community Partnership Spotlight: UM Center for
Middle East and North African Studies
by Rachel Goldberg
In early 2024, the AAPS Library Department began a partnership with UM’s Center for Middle East and North African Studies (CMENAS) to get more books by and about Middle Eastern and North African people into our school libraries. We know that representation matters to our students, teachers, and families, and we are constantly working to increase our students’ access to diverse, inclusive, and representative books in our school libraries.
Librarians across grade levels submitted wishlists for books to serve their unique student populations. To determine what books to request, librarians read dozens of reviews, award lists, and other professional recommendations.
After receiving our wishlists, CMENAS generously donated 121 books to 27 different school libraries across all grade levels. They purchased the books from Booksweet, one of our beloved local bookstores. We were also grateful for additional titles purchased for our libraries (also from our wishlist) by the Arab American Parent Advisory Group. The books arrived at the end of the 2023-2024 school year and we were able to welcome our students back to school with these beautiful new titles this past August.
We are grateful for our community partnerships and local bookstores because they support us in our efforts to build more robust collections to reflect our students’ and their families’ lived experiences, as well as to broaden our students’ understanding of the world in which we live.
Beyond the Stacks: Meet the Extraordinary School Librarian
Transforming Learning After Hours
A2 STEAM Librarian, Julie Darling has had a busy year. In addition to teaching classes and managing the library at A2 STEAM, she’s published three books and given several presentations at conferences and events. In 2024 alone, Darling presented at MACUL, ISTE, the Longwood University’s Summer Literacy Institute, A2 SummerFest and CSTA’s National Children’s Book Week. She was also recently interviewed on Stateside/NPR (you can find the interview at around the 22 minute mark), and in the AAPS news.
When asked how she reached such diverse audiences on such a variety of topics, Darling answered “I think as librarians we’re really well poised to do just about anything. In addition to managing libraries, our degrees span research, technology and just generally fostering a lifelong love of learning”. She added, “I have such incredible colleagues in both the library department and at A2 STEAM. They inspire me every day”. When asked what she had planned next, Darling answered “On November 3rd I’ll be at the Ann Arbor Community Bookfest and on November 19th I have a storytime/author event at Schuler Books". As an aside, she added “I’m also currently learning about screenwriting”. To learn more about Julie Darling, visit her website at authorjuliedarling.com
Chromebook Troubleshooting Tips
Throughout the year, your student will likely have some issue with their computer. Before you contact the family help desk, try the tips and tricks in the slides below which will fix the most common problems. Of course, if the computer is still now working you can contact your designated school personnel or call the family help desk at 734-997-1222 or email family_techsupport@aaps.k12.mi.us.
Rachel Goldberg, Librarian, Wines Elementary & Library Dept. District Chair Y5-5
Over the course of my career in schools so far, I’ve worked as a program administrator, school administrator, camp director, classroom teacher, and school librarian.
Outside of school, I enjoy running, bread baking, and spending time outside with my husband, Michael, and our daughter, Margo (seventh grader at Forsythe). We have a mischievous cat, named Peggy, who frequently tries to escape so that she can sit on the front porch.
What inspired you to study library science?
I’ve always known I wanted to be a teacher, but I was drawn to the library because of the way it functions as a community center. I have always been drawn to informal learning spaces, like libraries and museums.
When I was an undergraduate, a professor connected me with Julie Darling (A2 Steam librarian), who was a graduate student at UM School of Information. Julie suggested I look into library school, which turned out to be an excellent suggestion.
Why are school libraries so important?
School libraries are the heart of our schools. Our students need spaces to feel connected to their school community as well as to be connected to the world outside. Through access to both stories and information, our libraries give students tools to be contributing citizens of the world.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Every child can be successful in the library and I get to help facilitate that. Every student can come in exactly as they are and find something that interests them or brings them joy or piques their curiosity. Of course, I love helping kids find books they like, or listening to kids recommend books to each other, or listening to kids read to each other. I also love working with my brilliant colleagues. It’s hard to choose. I have a really rewarding job.
What’s something exciting about your professional life right now?
Professionally, I am super excited about our Friends of the AAPS Libraries group. As far as we know, we are the only school district in the country to have a group like this. Knowing that we have such strong community support is tremendously inspiring.
Also, I was recently interviewed about a proposed plan for more public school to have professional librarians across Michigan by The 'Gander, which is a Michigan-based online newsroom that tells the stories of interest to our community. I feel strongly that literacy skills are critical skills. Media literacy, evaluating resources, sorting fact from fiction, understanding how to analyze informational texts—these are arguably some of the most important skills that our kids are leaving our schools with. Click here to read the full article!
Who do you admire or has been a role model for you?
Jan Chernin, retired Greenhills School Librarian and forever mentor, taught me how to create space for kids to be their whole selves by being my whole self. She always met students’ curiosity with genuine interest and enthusiasm, and the students felt it. She created a library space that invited inquiry and connection. She loved her work as a librarian and taught me how to love this work, too.