Books Read – 2025 I just updated my GoodReads list from 2025, as best as I can recall. Many of my books were checked out digitally on Libby from the public library. I have compared and imported lists as best as I could to represent my 2025 reads. Note: since many of the books that I have read were audiobooks, the page numbers are not accurate.

To wrap up 2025's year of reading, GoodReads provides a Year in Books Review stats page. Visit the link below to view my 2025 stats. www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2025/...

Finding and Printing Barcodes There was a great question on the Follett Destiny Users for Librarians Facebook group today asking how to print a large number of labels for processing books. I had notes in a couple of different places for that, so putting them together here is helpful! Find Your Starting Barcode The first step is to find which barcodes you have available. One of the people posting on the thread asked how to do this.

Printing labels in Destiny come with many challenges. My tips and tricks for creating and printing labels are combined in this post!

Project Previews and so much Reflecting Forward With so little summer left, and so much Reflecting Forward on my to do lists… Here are some Project Previews that will be showcased in the Library when school starts.

Project Previews and so much Reflecting Forward

Printing Labels – Make them fit! The question that I answer the most often on the Follett Destiny Users for Librarians Facebook Group is how to make labels fit onto their label stock. This questions comes up almost weekly. I have this and many other replies stored on my phone for quick sharing. (Some people resort to just printing on paper and cutting out the labels. My perfectionism on labels just couldn't do that!)

The question that I answer the most often on the Follett Destiny Users for Librarians Facebook Group is how to make labels fit onto their label stock. This is the trick!

First Genre Label Project: Sports It took a lot of work to designate which books belonged in which genre before I started at Jackson Middle School. I did almost of the genre work from a shelf list, exported from Destiny. Since I was new, I didn't even have access to the catalog! But, I made it work. I spent the summer examining the data, with support from both Mackin and Follett to help me narrow down possible genres.

Three years ago, when the new JMS Library was about to open, the Sports section was the first to receive genre labels. These not only showed the genre color and word "Sports," but it also has an image of the book's sport theme to help for better shelf browsing.

Approachable Library In this post, I discuss some of the ways that I have made the JMS Library more Approachable to all readers. By helping most readers find just the right book, it gives me more time to work 1:1 with the readers who need the most support.

I have worked hard to make an Approachable Library at JMS for all students. This post explains some major projects. In the future, I will detail work that I have done to make readers feel comfortable and confident in finding just the right book at JMS.

Slow Roll into Summer

My goal this summer was to do a lot of formal reflecting: reflecting backwards on this past school year to move forward on building a stronger Library program next year. But, during the last week of school, I put a ton of miles on my feet. I was checking the extra carts for…

Did your child lose their book collection in the Los Angeles fires? Are you a teacher at a school that lost its library or your classroom library? Whether you need one book or a whole library, we can replace your books. 📚

Everyone else, please boost this post so we can connect with those in need. 🙏

Today I used a Genre Personality Quiz from TPT by @MrsReaderPants with five 8th grade classes. It kept me on my feet all day. The kids were intrigued and engaged (as much or more than they ever are). Seeing which kids fell into which personalities was enlightening. What a great lesson! #JMSreads

Watch for high KP values. I won’t get out of bed for less than a 7 in this cold. It’s important that the BZ is also below zero. That’s the magic number that opens the door to letting the lights be seen. My go to Aurora apps are AuroraAlerts and SpaceWeather. Slightly interesting forecast tonight.

Space Weather is picking up after a lull. The sun has sent some X-Class solar flares, along with some M-Class, pointed at Earth? What does that mean? More Northern Lights chances will be coming. With the cold, I couldn’t get myself up last night, but there were great pics in MN last night.

A new iOS18 feature is “privately” sharing your photos with a global network to help Apple geotag pictures. Personally, I don’t want my photos leaving my phone unless I choose to share them. With Apple updates, at least one privacy concern like this pops up. Read more here: https://buff.ly/4h2jEq1

I love Fridays because I have a lot of small classes visit: English Learners and Reading classes. Some come weekly on Fridays. In a school of 2,000 students, it is nice to get to see some regularly in small groups. They also take time to put stickers on the poster, play piano, color, and more.

Two day week after winter break was hard. Today was Friday. I had tears in the Library first hour. An unexpected outburst later in the day. A standard visit from one of my regulars taking a break (and moving them back to class). But many kids were tired and off. Monday will be better for all! #TGIF

take herself off the schedule after visiting before break. I repaired books. Updated Holds. Made new signs. Organized physical bookmarks. It was a different day than expected, but #reflectingforward, one that I really needed. I also could connect better with the 3 classes that did come in. (2/2)

One of the things I love the most about being a Librarian is that no two days are the same. At bedtime last night, the schedule had 15 classes visiting today. I didn’t take time to plan any work other than kid connections. A sick teacher cancelled her classes after midnight. Another forgot to (1/2)

One grows best when they take time to reflect. My best year of growth was when I took time to reflect on what I did each day, share an insight, or ask for support. Also, looking forward to a hopeful future helps to make work more positive. Thus, #reflectingforward is again my goal for the year.

Happy New Year! I am bracing myself for two days of deregulated, sleep deprived students who are coming back to school for just Thursday and Friday this week. Maybe we can get all the weird energy out so Monday is back to routines!

squares later. The grandkids are getting married and having kids. I simplified a quilt pattern to fit the size of the family tree. I used Canva to try different fabrics in the design to see what looked best and create my own patterns. I used graph paper to help with fabric piece sizes. #Make (2/2)

I have not been doing anything at all for work or the Library world over break. The stress of motherhood, a very sick kitten, and health scares have made work feel VERY LOW priority. I did use Canva to plan out a quilt for my mom’s belated Xmas gift. I am making it so I can add personalized (1/2)

I love this! I only really doodle when trying to pay attention to a speaker.

As a way to relax and digi-detox, I enjoy classic paper scrapbooking. I am years behind, but I keep chugging on.

What do you use to relax outside of work?

#MakerSpace #Libraries #MiddleSchoolLibraries

What kind of lesson plans do you leave for subs when you are gone? Do you even get a sub? I wasn’t sure what to leave for tomorrow except.. keep the place running!

Join us, Minnesota friends!

I am jealous of that virtual visit. I bet the kids were thrilled!

Best Middle Grade Books 2024 | SLJ Best Books Gripping fantastical journeys, family secrets, unbridled joy, and inconceivable loss: in these pages, tweens are facing it all. These 26 middle grade titles are exemplars across genre of the power of…

It looks like I have some more shopping to do!

I loved Gooseberry. I grabbed Kareem Between yesterday on a quick B&N run, even though it wasn’t on my lists. I will need to explore the rest of the titles.

Are you a Canva Librarian or Teacher? ollow our starter pack to connect with likeminded people. Then share your Canva creation on @bsky.app and tag me. I'll add you to the pack! go.bsky.app/7nqp211

Out of My Mind Melody, while navigating sixth grade with cerebral palsy, shows that what she has to say is more important than how she says it.

Two more days until the movie for Sharon Draper’s Out of My Mind movie release. Who else is excited for this adaption?

Book 3, Out of My Dreams, will be on our new book display tomorrow!!

I love a day of class #SchoolLibrary visits. We had six classes today. We checked in over 150 books today and checked out around 200. I love seeing the range of books our students check out.

Bonus: We were able to get a small purchase of new books processed, too!

Adjective Order in English “Every Sunday, my grandma makes an Italian big meal,” said no one ever. Why? It’s technically correct—it’s a big meal, it’s…

When craftiny short messages again, I find myself paying more attention than ever to The Royal Order of Adjectives.

A sentence’s order: Determiner. Quantity. Opinion. Size. Age. Shape. Color. Origin. Qualifier. Noun.

Look for it.