Webcast Recap: 4 Ways to Strengthen Diversity in Your Library Program
By: Deborah B. Ford | February 09, 2017 | Shelf Life
In our webcast today, I shared four ways to strengthen diversity in your library program. As I said, every effort you make towards inclusion and diversity matters to someone. By being aware, keeping up with the literature, shaking up your programming and bringing in outside resources, the impact you can make is so valuable. Read More
You've Got the Winners, Now What?
By: Deborah B. Ford | February 02, 2017 | Shelf Life
The Youth Media Awards for 2017 have been announced. Your favorites won. Your favorites lost. There were surprises. Is there anything out there to help sell the books to the winners? And if I already have the books, how can I get those shiny stickers to add to their marketing charisma? What about programming should that be part of what I do with these winners?
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Tech Tuesday: Using Video in Social Media
By: Deborah B. Ford | December 20, 2016 | Shelf Life
You can teach an old dog new tricks! Woof! Woof! Yesterday Kayleigh and I played around with video on social media. It was Christmas sweater day, so I brought out my Mrs. Claus outfit. Nostalgic for winter booktalks with my kids, I did my first Facebook Live. How hard was it to shoot live? Read More
10 Scary Librarian Super Powers
By: Deborah B. Ford | October 03, 2016 | Shelf Life
What are your Super Powers? Are you willing to try anything once? Can you use the power of duct tape to keep a much-loved book together for a half dozen more reads? Do your technology skills allow you to create infopics that drive new customers through your door? Do you know everything?! (or at least where to find the answer?) Then you, my colleague, have Super Powers. Read More
Three Cool Online Tools for Engaging Presentations
By: Deborah B. Ford | July 05, 2016 | Shelf Life
As I polished my Presentation Tools for the 21st Century workshop this morning, I also updated the 101+ (Mostly Free) Online Resources LiveBinder. With the ever-changing world of presentation tools, it seems impossible to keep up. However, AASL just released their new list of Best Websites and Apps for Teaching and Learning. There you'll find a crossover of tools that are both website and apps. These vetted tools will help you whittle down the options. I, myself, am venturing out from PowerPoint and using one of last year's tools for most of my presentations. It's called Haiku Deck. Read More
Tech Tuesday: Book Infographic
By: Deborah B. Ford | May 03, 2016 | Shelf Life
While pinning things you should know from my email, I was reminded that May is National Pet Month. Wouldn't it be fun to have an infographic about 9 Books about Pets for Celebrating Pet month? You see those graphics all the time on Pinterest. What are people using? Can I do it in Word? Would a table be better so the holes are filled? I asked my graphic designer, but she's a Mac girl, and wasn't sure Word would let me do it. Determined to find an answer, I opened a new Word doc. Here's what I learned. Read More
PPP Irving ISD: Ensuring Diversity in Your School Library Program
By: Deborah B. Ford | March 17, 2016 | Shelf Life
What is diversity? Is it race, gender, ethnicity, ability, or culture? Is it all of the above and more? If we work with diverse students and patrons, shouldn't our teaching strategies, programs, and literature collection be a reflection of our community and beyond? Librarians are faced with the challenge of linking these students and arming them with tools for life beyond academia. Read More