Get Your Head in the Game

The Secret Lives of Library Parapros

They keep the books moving, the doors open, and the students supported—often without any recognition. They're paraprofessionals, and their invisible labor makes a visible impact. Janette and Leah are joined by Kellie Treece (Longfellow Elementary) and LuAnn Grimm (Oakwood Middle School) to pull back the curtain on the day-to-day realities of running a school library as a paraprofessional. Relevant Links: Illinois School Library Workers Symposium (ISLWS) [https://railslibraries.org/education/islws] Kindle Paperwhite [https://a.co/d/0iwjG0SS] Education Support Professionals (ESP) [https://ieanea.org/members/esp/] Short Term Substitute (STS) License [https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Short-Term-Sub-Teach.aspx] Professional Educator License (PEL) [https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Professional-Educator-License.aspx] Loaded Tea [https://www.theloadedteashop.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoocG8KGXSMPxmlSrd3RnCY2P1ElDQttZk73wzPidoBm4FzYBuLQ] Orlando Informer Meetups [https://meetup.orlandoinformer.com/]

Get Your Head in the Game

Reading doesn't have to be solitary. It can be a team sport! Janette and Leah are joined by school librarian Lisa Marcum (Plainfield Central High School) to unpack what gamified reading looks like: what works, what flops, and how competition can build connection. Plus, Lisa shares step-by-step how she created a thriving district-wide Book Battle that gets teens (and teachers!) excited to read and talk about books together. Relevant Links: Notion [https://www.notion.com/] "Sociopath: a Memoir" by Patric Gagne PhD [https://patricgagne.com/sociopath/] Beanstack [https://www.beanstack.com/] Kelly Jensen [https://kellybjensen.com/] Lincoln Award: Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Award [https://aisled.org/lincoln/] "Huda F Are You" by Huda Fahmy [https://hudafahmy.com/book/huda-f-are-you/] "Love in English" by Maria Andreu [https://mariaeandreu.com/books/love-in-english/] "Dungeons and Drama" by Kristy Boyce [https://www.kristyboyceauthor.com/dungeons-drama] "Hollow Fires" by Samira Ahmed [https://samiraahmed.com/book/hollow-fires/] "The Getaway" by Lamar Giles [https://www.lamargiles.com/getaway-by-lamar-giles] "Cracking the Bell" by Geoff Herbach [https://bookshop.org/p/books/cracking-the-bell-geoff-herbach/fb7feb7f8b230ab0] "Star Splitter" by Matthew Kirby [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/561891/star-splitter-by-matthew-j-kirby/] John Mark Enterprises [https://www.instagram.com/johnmarkenterprises] PHS on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/readwithphs/] PHS on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@readwithphs] Lisa's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mrsmarcum_edu/] Lisa's TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@libraryladylisa] Lisa's Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/lisainthelibrary.bsky.social]

Not Lost in Translation

When students walk into school carrying the weight of language barriers, uncertainty, and fear on their shoulders, the right welcome can mean everything. Janette and Leah are joined by Veronica Ramos (¡WEPA! líbros) and Rosie Camargo (South Holland Public Library) to share how small actions can turn a library into a place where multilingual students feel safe, seen, and valued. Relevant Links: ISBE Educator Licensure [https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Educator-Licensure.aspx] RAILS EDI Committee [https://railslibraries.org/board/committees/83287] ¡WEPA! líbros [https://www.wepalibros.com/] Miss Rosie Reads [https://www.missrosiereads.com/] Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries [https://miapmanansala.com/series/tita-rosies-kitchen-mysteries/] SPARK Networking Group [https://railslibraries.org/networking/groups/101532] Lote4Kids [https://lote4kids.com/] Language Access Resource Center (LARC) [https://www.dupagefederation.org/larc] Bitty Bao [https://www.bittybao.com/] Canticos [https://canticosworld.com/] Lil' Libros [https://lillibros.com/] Dig Deeper Journal [https://www.insidethenout.com/products/dig-deeper-journal] Tasting History with Max Miller [https://www.tastinghistory.com/] ALA Annual Conference [https://2026.alaannual.org/] Miguel Briones (bilingual author visits) [https://www.miguelbrioneswrites.com/] Colorín colorado (multicultural/multilingual book finder database) [https://www.colorincolorado.org/] Storytime Solidarity [https://storytimesolidarity.ca/] Follow ¡WEPA! on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wepalibros/] Follow ¡WEPA! on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/wepa-libros/] Follow Rosie on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/missrosiereads/]

If We Build It, They Will Read

Plot twist: reading culture isn't built with rewards, levels, or quizzes. Janette and Leah are joined by Pernille Ripp and Dr. Sarah Sansbury to explore reading identity, student choice, and how we can create the conditions that invite kids into reading. Relevant Links: Game Changers series by Rachel Reid [https://www.rachelreidwrites.com/books] First-Time Caller by B.K. Borrison [https://bkborison.com/first-time-caller] The Global Read Aloud [https://theglobalreadaloud.com/] Dr. Margaret Merga [https://www.notredame.edu.au/about-us/faculties-and-schools/school-of-education/sydney/staff/margaret-merga] Expectancy-Value Theory [https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/expectancy-value-theory] Illinois School Library Workers Symposium [https://railslibraries.org/education/islws] Front Desk by Kelly Yang [https://www.kellyyang.com/frontdesk/] One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker by Timothy Janovsky [https://www.timothyjanovsky.com/chocolate-maker] Follow Pernille on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/pernillesripp/] Pernille's blog [https://pernillesripp.com/] Follow Sarah on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/supersansbury/] Follow Sarah on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/supersansbury.bsky.social] 💭 Have a topic idea? Want to be a guest? Email Ola at ola.gronski@railslibraries.org or leave us a voicemail on our hotline at 630.734.5015.

Sitting Down with That Librarian

School librarian, author, and activist Amanda Jones joins Can't Shelve This to share her story in a candid conversation about censorship, courage, and hope for the future of libraries. Note: This episode includes discussions of harassment and threats against educators. Relevant Links: This is For Everyone by Tim Berners-Lee [https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374612467/thisisforeveryone/] That Librarian by Amanda Jones [https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/that-librarian-9781639733545/] ALA One Voice Ecosystem [https://www.ala.org/advocacy/ala-ecosystem-initiative] Journeying with Jones: Amanda Jones, 2021 School Librarian of the Year [https://www.slj.com/story/journeying-with-jones-amanda-jones-2021-school-librarian-of-the-year-pandemic-COVID] Apology Video [https://www.instagram.com/p/DQkBM2GDwbE/] MLK Jr What Is Your Life's Blueprint Speech [https://projects.seattletimes.com/mlk/words-blueprint.html] Human Rights Coalition 2023 Youth Report for Librarians/Media Specialists [https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Youth-Report-Librarians-Media-FNL.pdf] SLJ Article: Amanda Jones Creates Lesson about Navigating Social Media [https://www.slj.com/story/2021-School-Librarian-of-the-Year-Amanda-Jones-Creates-lesson-about-navigating-social-media] The Librarians Documentary [https://thelibrariansfilm.com/] Death By Numbers Documentary [https://deathbynumbersthefilm.com/] Defending the Freedom to Read 101 from PEN America [https://pen.org/defending-the-freedom-to-read-101/] K.C. Boyd on Can't Shelve This [https://sites.libsyn.com/543952/the-one-where-they-get-connected] Andrea Trudeau [https://www.andreatrudeau.com/] EveryLibrary [https://www.everylibrary.org/] Mychal Threets [https://www.instagram.com/mychal3ts/] Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship [https://www.la-cac.org/] Librarians Building Libraries [https://buildinglibraries.org] 💭 Have a topic idea? Want to be a guest? Email Ola at ola.gronski@railslibraries.org or leave us a voicemail on our hotline at 630.734.5015.