Professional Learning Opportunities February 2024

2024 is well underway, and professional learning opportunities are starting to become plentiful. So, here is your list of professional learning for February. A great mix of podcasts, webinars, articles and more on topics around AI, navigating BookTok in the school library, strategic collection development and much more.

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Webinars

Building Relationships with Student Advocates – AASL – 1 February 2024, 6pm Central time – Free.

“But I saw it on BookTok…” Navigating the world of bookish social media and how it is impacting school libraries – ASLA with Emily Feetham – 7 February 2024, 7:30pm AEDT – free for members, $40 non-members.

The Transformative Journey of Empowering Literature Circles – Eduwebinar with Melanie Robinson and Kate Harvey – 14 February 2024, 7pm AEST – free for members, $45 non-members.

Summer Reading: New ideas for exciting engagement – Follett with Carrie Friday – 20 February 2024, 8am AEST – free.

YABBA and DET Virtual Author Program 2024 Launch with George Ivanoff – 20 February 2024 – Free for members.

Switching it Up! Creating a video game collection for your library – Joseph Lanning – 22 February 2024, 3pm UTC-5 – free.

Co-Creating library services for transformative impact – Dr Audrey Barbakoff, Angel Jewel Tucker and Beck Tench – 27 February 2024, 3pm UTC-5 – free.

Strategic Collection Development: Aligning library resources to meet your community’s needs and interests – Eduwebinar with Sam Wasson – 28 February 2024, 7pm AEST – free for members, $45 non-members.

Conferences

Leap Into the Future of School Libraries Conference – San Jose State University School of Information – 29 February 2024, 10am – 1pm Pacific Time – Free.

Podcasts

The Portable Magic Dispenser – recent episodes include Book Award Library Lesson Activities, 3 Ways to Start Your School D&D Campaign and Two New Library Lesson Programmes!

Class Tech Tips – Study Strategies for Students and Lifelong Learners and How Real-Time AI is Transforming Schools

Contribute to the School Librarians United call-in episodes. February’s topic is Purchases I Regret. Details here.

Latest episodes of the School Librarians United podcast include AASL’s Chapter of the Year: MASL, Building a Brand and Visual Book Lists.

Library on Lock podcast. Latest episodes include Talk Techy to Me, The One About Books and Crafting in the Library.

Resources

PLCC Backpack Project. Inspired by the CBCA’s Travelling Suitcase, school libraries in Australia can sign up to receive a backpack filled with books, engagement materials and author info to respond to.

Australia Readers have shared their research review around research of the importance of reading and the reading habits of Australian teens, children and adults. There are also shareable graphics with key findings.

Special Days to Celebrate in Your School Library 2024 – Term 1. Softlink Education.

Reading Tracker 2024 shared by Amanda Hunt

Reading for Pleasure research from The Open University.

February 12-16 is QSLA’s Queensland School Library Week. The theme this year is Our Heart, Our Stories. You don’t need to be in Queensland to celebrate. There are awesome resources and ideas to find on the QSLA website.

Celebrating Library Lovers’ Day? Check out the resource hub from ALIA. Some incredible graphics to use and ideas to borrow to celebrate the day in style.

Articles and Blog posts

Looking to connect with your teen readers on social media? This article explores their social media use in 2023, with some helpful statistics. Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023.

Libraries Play an Important Role in the Human Use of AI by Amber Boedigheimer.

10 Ways to Nurture and Nourish Nonfiction Writers by Melissa Stewart.

Strategic Planning for School Libraries by Karen Bonanno

Teaching Nonfiction Craft Moves by Melissa Steward

How to Start a D&D Campaign by Lucas Maxwell.

2021 School Librarian of the Year Amanda Jones Creates Lesson About Navigating Social Media by Amanda Jones.

“Every school should have a library”: Philip Pullman calls for new UK laws – Vanessa Thorpe.

Building a bridge to somewhere: A Critical dialogue to further media and information literacy practice – Jennifer L. Bonnet, Judith E Rosenbaum, R. Alan Berry.