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August 19, 20255 Ways to Leverage Your ALEX Library Learning
There's pure value-add in hiring a professional who knows authors, books, the power of literacy and who can create innovative and expanded book experiences for students.
1
Invest in Certified Librarians and Bridge Tech to Teaching
Librarians connect physical library to high tech online support and connections and can help individualize learning (add Lexile, add AR), support shortfalls (poetry support, ask-a-librarian), and bridge gaps in support of teachers inside the classroom (customize your essay writing resources) and make these innovative learning experiences available 365/24/7.
Studies show a proven correlation between certified librarians and improved reading scores. “Libraries and librarians not only spark a love of learning; they are crucial to reversing low reading assessment scores across the country” (Martinez, 2024).
We need to value and monitor the impact libraries and librarians have on learning. Ensuring that every school has a full-time, certified librarian and sufficient support staff to maximize library impact is a must.
Need customizations for your ALEX? Reach out and ask.
2
Build a Robust and Diverse Collection
Access to a wide variety of high-quality, diverse books is critical for reading development and engagement. Exploring best books, newest award-winners, outstanding authors, subjects that support curriculum and programs are a must. There's also a lot your librarian can do to bring events to the library hour or beyond the school day—or book explorations that can become a districtwide or school wide Fun Friday event.
Every school should allocate by-the-enrollment funding for a continually updated collection that reflects the interests and needs of all students.
Librarians may serialize the collection to make the library super engaging for students. This helps them find books by the characters and/or series they love. Librarians may create gamified learning experiences, book tastings, scavenger hunts, and so much more to really engage readers in beyond-the-book discussions.
Creating a Welcome to the library that shares many ways to interact and search for books, ebooks, and tech resources clearly pays off as much as launching a Book Club, or sharing and celebrating cultural months with a searchable Explore Pane.
3
Boost Collaboration between Librarians and Teachers and Parents
TedEd videos, CSFirst Challenges, extra Google tech add-ons can be readily shared to make learning more engaging and fun.
As a Librarian, you are an instructional partner, lesson co-planner and resource support classroom service center provider, and book lover—all rolled into one.
In Alex, you may create a One Book, One School Bulletin that even include Formative and Summative Assessments, so students in multiple classrooms will share the same experience from the readings, research and book discussions.
You can encourage collaboration through joint professional development opportunities, share and streamline planning, and open communication channels. It's easy to push tech with links, launch book events online, create voice and choice activities and so much more in Alex.
4
Enhance Information Literacy Instruction
Librarians are experts in information literacy, teaching students how to find, evaluate, and use information effectively. They teach students about online sources, how to identify quality resources, and make certain students understand academic integrity.
The need to cite and locate credible resources in both APA and MLA positions them for collegiate success. Thanks to Alex, it's easy to share links to the resources students use and learn from often and make them available 24/7.
Librarian may also add a library discovery search engine like Monarch and help kids to learn in a safe and secure environment with immediate access to quality learning material.
Librarians may tie information literacy skills into the curriculum and provide students with opportunities to share these skills across all grade levels.
Alex makes it easy to promote authors and books and power-up literacy and create innovative and expanded book experiences for students. If you need tips and tricks and insights into how to use Alex to do more, reach out! We'd love to hear from you.
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