Librarians in Music City

Podcast Takeover: Ms. Tidwell's Class at McGavock Elementary

Today, we welcome students from Ms. Tidwell’s 2nd grade class at McGavock Elementary for a podcast takeover. Students are going to share facts and information about a variety of topics, such as animals, sports, weather, and more! These students worked hard to read, write, and record this special episode for you. Enjoy!

Student Voice: Meet Students from Stratford STEM Magnet School and Overton High School

Today, we meet students from Stratford STEM Magnet High School and Overton High School. What do school libraries mean to students? To find out, I’m talking with students, about what they’re reading, the variety of ways they are involved in their library, and what they love most about their school library.  Our first guest is Charles from Stratford. His librarian, Diane Chen, involves students in the running of the library. From shelving books, to making deliveries, and being hosts for special events, the “Chenions” as they call themselves, take pride in their library and the loving and accepting community it is for Stratford students and teachers. Charlies is one of the Chenions. Then, we’ll meet Gabby, Shada, Cade, and Hana from Overton. Their librarians Krista Winnginham and Lori Bervoets provide loads of opportunities for their students to get involved in the library. These students will be discussing the Battle of the Books team and Project Lit Community Book Club, two popular programs that Overton librarians provide. Book Recommendations: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher Bluebird by Sharon Cameron The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris Dread Nation by Justina Ireland Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Student Voice: Meet Students from Hume-Fogg Academic High School and Meigs Middle Academic Magnet School

This episode features students from Hume Fogg Academic Magnet High School and Meigs Academic Magnet Middle School.What do school libraries mean to students? To find out, I’m talking with students, about what they’re reading, the kinds of things their libraries offer, and what they love most about their school library  Our first guest is Clara from Hume Fogg. Her librarian, Amanda Smithfield, brings in a variety of voices on hot topics, giving students the opportunity to explore issues, perspectives, and to challenge students to think about the importance of civic engagements. Clara is a Senior, and she is involved in helping plan Lunch and Learn sessions for students and a few of the sessions that have been extra meaningful to her and how they are having an impact on her and her future career.   Then, we’ll meet Emmie, Esther, and Sam from Meigs. Their librarian Amanda Tucker provides loads of opportunities for her students to get involved in the library. These three 7th graders take advantage of many programs they library has to offer, and they even have a few books to share with you. Book Recommendations:  The Keeper of Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger Becoming Michelle Obama by Michelle Obama Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Episode 12: When the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Came to Nashville

Season 2: Episode 12: When the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Came to Nashville  Welcome to season 2 of Librarians in Music City hosted by Library Services of Metro Nashville Public Schools! I’m your host, Lindsey Kimery, Coordinator of Library Services.   This season, we will be focusing on students and the power of reading. We will be visiting schools, attending book clubs, and going on field trips so that we can talk with students about books, author visits, and the power of stories. We will also continue to highlight the great work, creativity, and leadership of librarians in MNPS.   We have an incredible team of 130 librarians and 44 clerks who are working diligently to grow and nurture a culture of reading, support students’ academic needs, prioritize equity and innovation, and ensure that every student is known.   In this episode, we meet students from Westmeade, Mt. View, and J.E. Moss Elementary Schools. They had the amazing opportunity to go on a field trip to Lipscomb University and meet author Meg Medina, who is the 2023-2024 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature [https://megmedina.com/naypl/]. Meg is also the recipient of the Newbery Medal, the Pura Belpre Award, and she’s a NYT bestselling author. Christoper, Maria, and Keyaela were chosen as Student Ambassadors and joined Meg on stage to talk about books. I visited each school to interview the student ambassadors and their librarians about their experience.   This field trip was made possible by the Nashville Public Library, and Westmeade Elementary School librarian, Katharine Dieckmann, whose application for a visit with Meg Medina was selected! You’ll hear all about how Katharine found this opportunity. In MNPS, over 30% of our 80,000 students are Hispanic. Meg’s visit is a perfect example of Dr. Rudine Sims Bishops’ statement that books are windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors, and Westmeade student, Christopher, eloquently shares why her visit meant a lot to him.   So, come along with me to hear what happened when the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Came to Nashville.   Thank you to MNPS staff, the Nashville Public Library, the Library of Congress, and author Meg Medina. Books mentioned in this episode: Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina  Hatchet by Gary Paulsen  Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney Narwal and Jelly by Ben Clanton The Babysitter’s Club graphic novels by Ann M. Martin, Raina Telgemeier, Gale Galligan, Gabriela Epstein, Chan Chau, Cynthia Yuan Cheng, Ellen T. Crenshaw, and Arley Nopra Shark Lady by Jess Keating Bad Sister by Charise Mericle Follow @MNPSLibrarians on Instagram and X.

Episode 11: Limitless Libraries part 2 (Meet the Shared Systems Team)

We are in a two-part series featuring the partnership between Metro Nashville Public Schools and the Nashville Public Library, which is called Limitless Libraries. This is a shared system between our district and the public library. Beyond their school library, our students and teachers can access items from the public library and have those items delivered via courier to them at school. This year alone, students and staff requested over 66,000 items through Limitless Libraries. Combine that with the over 948,000 items checked out at the schools, our students have accessed over 1 million items this school year.   In this episode, we meet the Shared Systems team at the Nashville Public Library, which includes Jenny Lane and Kate Wingate, who are 2 of the 7 librarians who are working to run the website for Limitless Libraries and the Nashville Public Library, support our integrated library system, automation, discovery, and acquisitions, which are all integral to the function of Limitless Libraries. When we talk about a shared system, we are talking about how our school library catalog and the public library catalog are one. Our students go to limitlesslibraries.org and they can see the holdings of their school library and the public library and access age-relevant items. Their library card number works for the school and public library, and when a student or staff member requests an item from the public library, it is pulled from any of the 21 branches, and sent via courier to their school. The Shared Systems team makes this magic happen. In the previous episode, we mention the MOU, a Memorandum of Understanding, which is the agreement between the district and the public library, which guarantees funding for our school libraries. An aspect of that agreement that is mentioned here is the requirement of a full-time, certified school librarian at each MNPS school. This supersedes state minimum requirements and is not only key to a successful school library program but it’s a key component to the success of our Limitless Libraries program. I hope you enjoy this more technical look behind the scenes, and perhaps this helps you think about how to start a partnership like this in your area.  Book Recommendations:  Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease--and How to Fight It  By Benjamin Bikman, PhD   Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age  By Katherine May  Resources: www.limitlesslibraries.org