MSLA 2025 Conference

Grab some coffee a bite before things get underway, and pick up your registration badge and information!

Sunday March 2, 2025 7:00am - 8:00am EST
Foyer & Terrace Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience ES, HS, MS

8:00am EST

Keynote: Kwame Mbalia

Sunday March 2, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EST

Description TBD

Speakers

Kwame Mbalia

Author, Author

Kwame is a husband, father, writer, a New York Times bestselling author, and a former pharmaceutical metrologist in that order. His debut middle-grade novel, TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY, and the sequel TRISTAN STRONG DESTROYS THE WORLD (October 6, 2020) are published... Read More →

Sunday March 2, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Ballroom (Tiffany) Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Keynote

Audience MS, HS, ES

9:00am EST

Author signing: Kwame Mbalia

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:00am - 9:30am EST

Speakers

Kwame Mbalia

Author, Author

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:00am - 9:30am EST
Ballroom (Tiffany) Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

9:30am EST

AI and the Re-Search Process

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST

Room 104

In this session, participants will explore AI tools that help support student research skills, such as generating research questions, selecting sources for readers of varying levels, and discussing citations and copyright law. We will look at tools like ResearchRabbit, Diffit, plagiarism detectors, and some policy considerations for their use.

Speakers

Laurie Taylor

Nashoba Brooks School

Molly Wong

Milton Academy

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST
Room 104 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, HS, ES

9:30am EST

There's a Badge for That!

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST

Learn how to build a personalized learning experience for your students around information. Participants will see example lessons, micro credentials, evaluation platform, and a self-reflection tool to fully integrate this into their own library.

Speakers

Barbara Johnson

Librarian, Colchester Public Schools

Information Literacy Coach and Teacher Transitioning to a Gr. 3-5 Library

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST
Room 108/109 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience ES

9:30am EST

The Great Genrefication Project

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST

Room 101

Discover how the genrefication project helped me: involve students in the process, create a collection development plan, streamline operations, improve access for ELL and special education students and increase circulation by 14%. Learn from my missteps and discoveries as you consider how genrefication might work for your collection.

Speakers

Jennifer Jones

Library/Media Specialist, Triton Regional High School

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST
Room 101 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, HS, ES

9:30am EST

DESE School Librarian Evaluation Rubric Focus Group

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST

Room 103

DESE has asked MSLA to assist with the creation of a library-specific evaluation rubric. An MSLA task force is currently working on the creation of this rubric. This session will be a focus group with members of the task force. MSLA attendees are invited to give feedback and ideas about what our new evaluation rubric should look like and do. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Speakers

Jennifer Varney

Librarian, Cambridge Public Schools

Jennifer Varney (she/her) has been a school librarian for 17 years. She currently works at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School (K-5) in Cambridge, MA. She is the Past President of the Massachusetts School Library Association.

Deborah Lang Froggatt

MSLA Director of Outreach

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST
Room 103 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

9:30am EST

Quiet break & prayer room

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 3:30pm EST

Room 115

No food please in this room.
If you need a silent space to sit or to work, this room is set aside for you!

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 3:30pm EST
Room 115 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

9:30am EST

Social break & meeting space

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 3:30pm EST

Room 106

No food in this room please!
Want to catch up with a friend or have a spot to meet? This space is for you!
Not interested in having lunch but you want to sit and chat with other? Stop in!

Sunday March 2, 2025 9:30am - 3:30pm EST
Room 106 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

10:30am EST

Hot Topics in Law for Libraries

Sunday March 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST

Room 104

This session will cover First Amendment issues facing libraries and also touch on privacy and general legal information using case studies nationally and locally. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of free speech, limited public forums, and how best to manage procedure and policy to work within the law while promoting the library mission. Come with questions!

Speakers

Jennifer Guerin

W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School in Great Barrington, MA.

Andrea Fiorillo

Chair MLA, Intellectual Freedom/Social Responsibilites Commitee, Head of Public Services, Reading Public Library

Tricia London

School Librarian, Abington Middle / High School Library

This is Tricia London’s fourth year at Abington Middle/High Library serving students in grades 5-12. Tricia is also the advisor to the National Honor Society and S.A.M. (the Student Art Magazine.) Prior to working in Abington, she spent 13 years at the Avon Middle High School Library... Read More →

Sunday March 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST
Room 104 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

10:30am EST

Adapting Media Literacy Education in an Age of Misinformation

Sunday March 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST

Room 101

For ten years, school librarians in Cambridge have partnered with Instructional Tech Specialists to teach 5th graders how to examine advertising and other media. As social media has exploded, the landscape has changed - but many of the persuasion techniques and critical skills remain the same. Come see sample lessons using humorous media, old and new, that empower a new generation of savvy consumer-creators.

Speakers

Jen Mason Stott

School Librarian, Cambridge Public Schools

Sarah Blout Rosenberg

Cambridge Public Schools

Sunday March 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST
Room 101 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES

10:30am EST

Destiny Library Manager - Tips & Tricks

Sunday March 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST

Room 103

This session is designed for attendees who currently use or are interested in purchasing Destiny Library Manager. Get the most value out of the software by implementing strategies that maximize usage. A range of topics include: creating a library inventory, combining duplicate MARC records, setting up self-checkout, generating a weeding log, tabulating library usage statistics to share with your administrator, and more!

Speakers

Patti Sullivan-hall

Library Media Specialist, Natick Public Schools

Sunday March 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST
Room 103 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

10:30am EST

Storytelling -- for you AND your students

Sunday March 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST

Introduction to using storytelling as both an interactive and presentation tool in the elementary library. Curriculum connections as well as exposure to cultural and historical materials are part of using this tool in the library. I've taught a storytelling class as a graduate class for years. I really can't figure out a way to offer it virtually and so would love to use the Conference as an opportunity to bring this traditional librarian skill to newer staff. I have lots of simple games that allow students to interact with stories and stories engage classes, extending and expanding their listening skills.

Speakers

Carol A. Kelly

Senior Visiting Instructor, Salem State University

Sunday March 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST
Room 108/109 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience ES

11:20am EST

Lunch served

Sunday March 2, 2025 11:20am - 1:30pm EST

Eat & enjoy.
Buffet Lunch will be served.
Tables are in the Ballroom.

Sunday March 2, 2025 11:20am - 1:30pm EST
Foyer & Terrace Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

11:20am EST

Visit Vendors

Sunday March 2, 2025 11:20am - 1:30pm EST

Check out our vendors

Sunday March 2, 2025 11:20am - 1:30pm EST
Foyer & Terrace Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Vendors

Audience MS, ES, HS

12:30pm EST

Hot Books in 2025

Sunday March 2, 2025 12:30pm - 1:20pm EST

Room 104

Great books to look for this year

Speakers

Bindy Fleischman

Executive Board Member, United States Board on Books for Young People

Bindy Fleischman, School Liaison at Wellesley Books and English teacher at German International School Boston, has been an active member of USBBY since 2002. In that time she has served many of the board committees, including being Massachusetts State Ambassador, chairing the Outstanding... Read More →

Sunday March 2, 2025 12:30pm - 1:20pm EST
Room 104 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Vendors

Audience MS, ES, HS

1:30pm EST

School Librarians and Imposter Syndrome: Why We Doubt Ourselves and Why We Shouldn’t!

Sunday March 2, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST

Room 101

Imposter Syndrome (doubting one’s own skillset, experience, and/or expertise) is pervasive in librarianship. Whether you’re new to the school library or an old pro, chances are good that you’ve experienced imposter syndrome at some point. In this session, we’ll examine some of the reasons why that is. We’ll also break down some reasons why, in actuality, school librarians are equipped to do almost anything! Finally, we’ll start trying to change our mindset about what we are qualified to do and why.

Speakers

Jennifer Varney

Librarian, Cambridge Public Schools

Sunday March 2, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST
Room 101 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

1:30pm EST

Transformative Storytelling: Lesson for High School Students

Sunday March 2, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST

Room 101

Explore how creating Anti-Bias Bookshelves are essential and highlight some guiding principles–possibilities when leaning into this work of creating stories that can be a mirror, window, or sliding door for others to see themselves or other identities and communities through a more just lens. Being conscious of the identities we hold can help us understand our proximity to the power we have in different spaces, specifically when we are telling stories. Explore how creating Anti-Bias Bookshelves are essential and highlight some guiding principles–possibilities when leaning into this work of creating stories that can be a mirror, window, or sliding door for others to see themselves or other identities and communities through a more just lens.

Speakers

Christina Dominique-Pierre

Middle School Library Director, Buckingham Browne & Nichols Middle School

Christina Dominique-Pierre currently serves at Buckingham Browne and Nichols Middle School where she spends most of her days collaborating with teachers on curriculum, literary programming, and facilitating opportunities for information and research instruction. She has served at... Read More →

Sunday March 2, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST
Room 101 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience HS

1:30pm EST

Removing Roadblocks to Reading

Sunday March 2, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST

Room 104

Many students don't see themselves as readers, they pass by the library doors saying "there's nothing in there for me". There are many privacy compliant tools that can be used with both print and digital books that make them accessible to all readers. This session will just introduce you to a few and crowdsource others so that you can leave with a toolbox full of resources to offer your readers.

Speakers

Barbara Johnson

Librarian, Colchester Public Schools

Information Literacy Coach and Teacher Transitioning to a Gr. 3-5 Library

Sunday March 2, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST
Room 104 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Technology integration

Audience MS, ES, HS

1:30pm EST

Using Digital Tools to Create Expert Learners

Sunday March 2, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST

Room 103

This session will focus on integrating digital tools into your instruction to provide an equitable learning environment for a variety of learning and language proficiency levels in the library.

Speakers

Morgan Keohane

Teacher Librarian, Boston Public Schools

My name is Morgan Keohane and I am a Teacher Librarian for Boston Public Schools. I have been at the P.A. Shaw Elementary School in Dorchester, MA since 2014. I have built the school’s library from the ground up and am passionate about providing my students with the skills to analyze... Read More →

Sunday March 2, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST
Room 103 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Technology integration

Audience ES

2:30pm EST

Storytime on Steroids: Turn read alouds into student engagement showcases.

Sunday March 2, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST

Room 101

Come and hear how Dr. Bishops language of windows and mirrors can anchor a library program in the important work of fostering an environment belonging and compassion.

Speakers

Emily Litman

Tobin Montessori School - Cambridge Public Schools

Sunday March 2, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST
Room 101 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience ES

2:30pm EST

Demystifying AI: The Cans, Can'ts, Coulds, and Shoulds

Sunday March 2, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST

Room 104

What's real? What's hype? How do I keep up?! We'll dive into the current AI boom, exploring how generative models work, current abilities and limitations, hidden human intelligence that keeps things running, and unintended side effects that range from silly mistakes to life-altering consequences.

Speakers

Zak Kolar

Waltham Public Schools

Sunday March 2, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST
Room 104 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

2:30pm EST

Dig into Digital Citizenship for Elementary and Middle School Learners

Sunday March 2, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST

Room 103

As students become more engaged with technology, the need to raise awareness on on their digital footprint, media balance, and privacy protection can begin during early elementary school all the way through middle school and beyond. Digital citizenship works well when families and schools partner together. Come learn about ways to incorporate digital citizenship in the classroom, with families on what can work for home, and promote overall critical thinking activities that support healthy digital communities.

Speakers

Amy Salinger

Waltham Public schools

Paul Hundley

Waltham Public Schools

Sunday March 2, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST
Room 103 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES

2:30pm EST

The Cataloger is "IN"

Sunday March 2, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST

TBD

Sunday March 2, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST
Room 108/109 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

3:45pm EST

Author Panel & Signing

Sunday March 2, 2025 3:45pm - 5:15pm EST

Description TBD

Moderators

Bindy Fleischman

Executive Board Member, United States Board on Books for Young People

Speakers

Rob Buyea

Author

Roshani Chokshi

Author

Kate Fussner

Author

Stephanie Seales

Author

Sunday March 2, 2025 3:45pm - 5:15pm EST
Ballroom (Tiffany) Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Panel

Audience MS, ES, HS

5:00pm EST

Dinner on your own

Sunday March 2, 2025 5:00pm - 7:00pm EST

This time is for you to grab some dinner on your own before the big party starts at 7. Light apps and desserts and drinks will be included, but if you're hungry or just want a break for a couple of hours, there are no planned activities at this time!

Sunday March 2, 2025 5:00pm - 7:00pm EST

Audience ES, MS, HS

7:00pm EST

50th Anniversary Party

Sunday March 2, 2025 7:00pm - 10:00pm EST

Zachariah's

Celebrate & have a good time! Included with admission to either/both days of conference

Sunday March 2, 2025 7:00pm - 10:00pm EST
Zachariah's Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

7:00am EST

Breakfast & Registration

Monday March 3, 2025 7:00am - 8:00am EST

Grab a bite and if you're a Monday-only person get your badge and registration materials.

Monday March 3, 2025 7:00am - 8:00am EST
Foyer & Terrace Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience ES, HS, MS

8:00am EST

MSLA 2025 Awards Announcement

Monday March 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:15am EST

Speakers

Ella Stocker

Librarian, Amherst Regional Public Schools

Ella has been the high school librarian at Amherst Regional High School since 2018. Her primary goal as a library teacher is to instill in all her students that libraries are spaces for them and to provide them with the knowledge and skills to be confident and committed lifelong library... Read More →

Monday March 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:15am EST
Ballroom (Tiffany) Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

8:15am EST

Keynote: Mass. Sen. Jake Oliveira

Monday March 3, 2025 8:15am - 9:15am EST

Description TBD

Speakers

Senator Jake Oliveira

State Representative for the 7th Hampden District

Monday March 3, 2025 8:15am - 9:15am EST
Ballroom (Tiffany) Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Keynote

Audience MS, ES, HS

9:30am EST

Photos, Videos, and Webcams to Enrich Nonfiction Reading and Writing

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST

Students often say, “I like books with photos because then I know it’s real,” but most high-quality nonfiction picture books feature illustrated artwork. Learn how to enhance read alouds by sharing photos. Then discover how giving students access to a range of still and moving images can help them craft more engaging and precise informational writing.

Speakers

Melissa Stewart

Author, Children's book author

Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 180 nonfiction books for children, including Seashells: More than a Home, Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs, and Can an Aardvark Bark. She is the co-author, with Nancy Chesley, of Perfect Pairs... Read More →

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST
Room 108/109 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience ES

9:30am EST

Research in the Elementary Library - Skills, Projects, Lessons Learned and more!

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST

Room 103

Research with the littles - it can be more than another animal report! Come hear about how I've tackled information literacy with our youngest learners. Come learn from my successes, as well as my failures!

Speakers

Alex Caram

Summer Street School, Lynnfield, Ma

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST
Room 103 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience ES

9:30am EST

Screens and Teens

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST

Room 104

No more blame and shame; let's get curious about teens and screens. We'll discuss mental health, sleep, distraction, the importance of boredom, and how we can help kids and teens have more TRUE FUN by looking at 8th grade survey data. Participants will brainstorm strategies they can take back to their own school communities to start productive conversations with students around screen time, social media, and more.

Speakers

Laura Gardner

Teacher Librarian, Dartmouth Middle School

Laura Gardner, a National Board Certified Teacher in Library Media, is Teacher Librarian at Dartmouth Middle School in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Laura was awarded the School Library Journal (SLJ) School Librarian of the Year Co-finalist Award in 2016 and the AASL Reader Leader social... Read More →

Ella Stocker

Librarian, Amherst Regional Public Schools

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST
Room 104 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience HS, MS

9:30am EST

Reach to Teach: Marketing Library Services to Achieve Equity

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST

Room 101

How can you Increase your reach and impact? In this session you'll learn about marketing library services to students, teachers, administrators and curriculum coordinators through direct marketing, co-teaching, co-planning, special programs like author talks and holidays, and perhaps a little bribery on the side! I'm planning to divide it into four sections: Strategies for direct marketing to students, strategies for marketing collaborations with teachers (read along lists, curated resources, co-teaching, etc), how to get support for collaboration with/from curriculum coordinators, and getting support from administrators.

Speakers

PJ Feynman

Shrewsbury Public Schools

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EST
Room 101 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience HS, MS

9:30am EST

Quiet break & prayer room open

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 3:30pm EST

Room 115

No food please in this room.
If you need a silent space to sit or to work, this room is set aside for you!

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 3:30pm EST
Room 115 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

9:30am EST

Social break & meeting space open

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 3:30pm EST

Room 106

No food in this room please!
Want to catch up with a friend or have a spot to meet? This space is for you!
Not interested in having lunch but you want to sit and chat with other? Stop in!

Monday March 3, 2025 9:30am - 3:30pm EST
Room 106 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

10:30am EST

A Head Start on Building a School-wide Community Reading Program

Monday March 3, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST

Room 103

In this session, participants will learn about implementing a One School, One Story program, as well as the challenges and triumphs that such a program can offer. Participants will be invited to share their own experiences and brainstorm ways such a program can provide equitable access to materials and build a stronger community. Benefit from all I have learned and bring your ideas back to your own school library!

Speakers

Dana Gauthier

Librarian, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School

Monday March 3, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST
Room 103 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience HS, MS

10:30am EST

Getting Active in Your Union

Monday March 3, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST

Room 101

TBD

Monday March 3, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST
Room 101 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

10:30am EST

Librarians as critical collaborators on the MA student-led Civic Engagement Project

Monday March 3, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST

Students at the middle and high school levels are required to participate in a student-led civic engagement project. This important learning experience should not be shouldered by the social studies teacher alone! Librarians play a crucial role in helping prepare students for responsible citizenship. Learn about the experience of a school librarian on the team that created PD for MA educators responsible for facilitating the civic engagement project, and what you can do at your school.

Speakers

Leslie Skantz-Hodgson

Librarian, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School

Monday March 3, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST
Room 108/109 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Collaboration & co-teaching

Audience HS, MS

10:30am EST

Redesigning Curriculum Units with Inquiry, Breakout Boxes, Narrative Storylines, and Maximum Engagement

Monday March 3, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST

Room 104

Join an elementary Library Teacher, a Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator, and a Science Curriculum Coordinator as we share how we completely revamped two traditional units: the first grade National Symbols unit and the second grade Rocks, Landforms, and Mapping units. We incorporated inquiry elements, Breakout Boxes with specifically designed puzzles that align with the unit, and video challenges all tied together with a narrative story that anchors the learning and generates excitement and engagement. Presenters will share both of these units and give participants time to try some of the Breakout Box puzzles.

Speakers

Laura DElia

Library Teacher, Westborough Public Schools

Laura Beals D’Elia is currently the Library Teacher at the Armstrong Elementary School in Westborough, MA. She has been an elementary school librarian since 2002. She has a BA in English and Children’s Literature from Framingham State University and a MLIS from the University... Read More →

Tara Gestrich

Westborough Public Schools

Merideth Ekwall

Westborough Public Schools

Monday March 3, 2025 10:30am - 11:20am EST
Room 104 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Collaboration & co-teaching

Audience ES

11:20am EST

Lunch served

Monday March 3, 2025 11:20am - 1:30pm EST

Eat & enjoy

Monday March 3, 2025 11:20am - 1:30pm EST
Ballroom (Tiffany) Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

11:20am EST

Visit Vendors

Monday March 3, 2025 11:20am - 1:30pm EST

Check out our vendors

Monday March 3, 2025 11:20am - 1:30pm EST
Foyer & Terrace Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Vendors

Audience ES, HS, MS

1:30pm EST

How a Year-Long Nonfiction PLC Promoted and Celebrated Nonfiction

Monday March 3, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST

Room 104

In 2024, two groups of Massachusetts school librarians participated in a nonfiction-focused personal learning community that met monthly via Zoom. In this panel presentation, discover how they supported one another as they curated their collections and implemented new programming to increase student awareness of and access to a broad array of nonfiction books. We will share our ideas, projects, goals, and a few of our favorite nonfiction read-alouds!

Speakers

Laura DElia

Library Teacher, Westborough Public Schools

Melissa Stewart

Author, Children's book author

Rachel Small

Teacher Librarian, Burlington Public Schools

Pine Glen Elementary Teacher Librarian

Zoan Stokes

Teacher librarian, Fayerweather Street School

Liza Halley

Library Teacher, Waltham Public Schools

I am a K-5 library teacher with a particular passion for graphic novels, poetry, and folklore.

Kristin Moses

Boyden Elementary, Walpole

Monday March 3, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST
Room 104 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience ES

1:30pm EST

Getting Ready to Retire?

Monday March 3, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST

Room 101

TBD

Monday March 3, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST
Room 101 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

1:30pm EST

The Decolonial Mindset: Exploring the role of the library

Monday March 3, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST

Room 103

Explore how your library can begin to approach collection development, classification, and organization around a decolonial mindset. Leave with a better understanding and toolkit to tackling your own scaled projects exploring curricula and space.

Speakers

Jenna Wolf

The Cambridge School of Weston

Monday March 3, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EST
Room 103 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience HS, MS

2:30pm EST

Create Digital Book Recommendations Using Canva

Monday March 3, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST

Do you wish you could share book recommendations with students and families even when they aren't in the library? Learn how to use Canva to make a digital newsletter of book recommendations, complete with book cover images and links to your catalog, Sora, or other online resources. Then share your newsletter with your school community using a public link. Familiarity with Canva is not required but recommended.

Speakers

Marina King

Boston Latin Academy/Boston Public Schools

Monday March 3, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST
Ballroom (Tiffany) Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience HS, MS

2:30pm EST

Creator Connection - How you can bring an author to your school

Monday March 3, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST

Room 104

There is nothing like the experience of hosting an author or illustrator at your school. Students (and teachers!) are inspired by connections with book creators, and a visit brings a surge of vitality and visibility to your library program. Let's talk about planning, preparing, and funding a visit to your school - even if you think you can't afford the price tag!

Speakers

Sheila Magovern

Library Media Specialist, Westford Public Schools

Librarian for 2 public elementaries, K-2 and 3-5. I teach library classes, but also something called Innovation Lab, which is partly a STEAM makerspace and partly research skills. Trying to learn more about guided inquiry and project based learning. Also trying to be more organized... Read More →

Monday March 3, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST
Room 104 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

2:30pm EST

AI: Current Landscape and Future Direction

Monday March 3, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST

Room 101

This session will take a big picture look at the current landscape of AI in education 2 years since the launch of ChatGPT. We will look at what integration strategies are being trialed, attempts to curb cheating and plagiarism, and future implications for education. The session will also share strategies on improving AI literacy, recommendations on thought leaders to follow, and how to be a leading voice from the library.

Speakers

Mark McNeil

Sarah W. Gibbons Middle School, Westborough

Monday March 3, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST
Room 101 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

2:30pm EST

Integrating Media Literacy into Your Curriculum

Monday March 3, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST

Room 103

Learn about media decoding and how to use it with students at the elementary level. Our youngest students are engaged with media every day. We can help them to start developing the critical thinking skills they need to understand the media messages to which they are exposed.

Speakers

Mary Kate Leidal

School Librarian, Forest Avenue Elementary School/Hudson

Monday March 3, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EST
Room 103 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience ES

3:30pm EST

Jobalike: Elementary

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST

Description TBD

Moderators

TBD

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST
Ballroom (Tiffany) Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience ES

3:30pm EST

Jobalike: High School

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST

Room 101

Description TBD

Moderators

Jen Dimmick

Library Teacher, Newton South High School

Jennifer Dimmick is one of the library teachers at Newton South High School, and is a graduate of Simmons School of Library and Information Science. Jennifer came to the school library profession after a career in marketing consulting and has had a deep experience in media and its... Read More →

Jennifer McGillis

Library Teacher, Wayland High School

Donna Phillips

School Librarian, Middleboro High School

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST
Room 101 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience HS

3:30pm EST

Jobalike: Independent

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST

Room 115

Description TBD

Moderators

Jenna Wolf

The Cambridge School of Weston

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST
Room 115 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, HS, ES

3:30pm EST

Jobalike: Middle School

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST

Room 103

Description TBD

Moderators

Sara Ravid

Library Media Specialist, Wayland Middle School

Elizabeth Vaccaro

High Rock, Needham

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST
Room 103 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS

3:30pm EST

Jobalike: Multi Grade Spans

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST

Room 104

Description TBD

Moderators

Lani Blechman

Springfield Conservatory of the Arts

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST
Room 104 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, HS, ES

3:30pm EST

Jobalike: Vo/Tech

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST

Room 106

Description TBD

Moderators

Katie McGuinness

School Librarian, Shawsheen Valley Technical High School

Monday March 3, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST
Room 106 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience HS

4:25pm EST

Regional Meeting: Boston

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST

Room 101

Description TBD

Moderators

Trent Bordok

Chelsea High School

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST
Room 101 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

4:25pm EST

Regional Meeting: Central

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST

Room 104

Description TBD

Moderators

Michael Caligiuri

Florence Sawyer, Bolton

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST
Room 104 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

4:25pm EST

Regional Meeting: Metrowest

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST

Description TBD

Moderators

Reba Tierney

Waltham High School

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST
Ballroom (Tiffany) Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, HS, ES

4:25pm EST

Regional Meeting: Northeast

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST

Room 103

Description TBD

Moderators

PJ Feynman

Shrewsbury Public Schools

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST
Room 103 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, HS, ES

4:25pm EST

Regional Meeting: Southeast

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST

Description TBD

Moderators

Sue Larson

Seekonk High School

Colleen Simpson

Gates Middle, Scituate

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST
Room 108/109 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood

Audience MS, ES, HS

4:25pm EST

Regional Meeting: West

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST

Room 106

Description TBD

Moderators

Emily Willis

Mohawk Trail Regional School District

Monday March 3, 2025 4:25pm - 5:10pm EST
Room 106 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood