Connections ESC Region 11 Fall Library Conference 2024

Ready to amplify your impact and showcase your expertise? Join us for an inspiring session where you’ll discover a variety of creative programming ideas designed to captivate students, teachers, and families alike. From small-scale activities to larger initiatives, you’ll explore projects that foster literacy engagement, strengthen community ties, and promote inclusivity on your elementary campus.  Learn how to design and implement innovative programs that bring families into the library experience, create memorable learning opportunities, and build a vibrant, supportive community culture. Whether you’re aiming to increase student involvement or inspire collaboration with teachers, this session is packed with practical ideas and resources to make a lasting impression!

Join P. J. Hoover, author of the "Pick Your Own Quest" series and the instructional guide "Write Your Own Quest," for an engaging presentation on how interactive stories can inspire a love for reading and writing in children. In this dynamic session, Hoover will delve into the unique power of interactive storytelling, where readers become active participants in the narrative, making choices that shape the story's outcome. Discover how this immersive approach can captivate young minds, encouraging them to explore different scenarios and develop a deeper connection to the characters and plot. Hoover will share insights from her own experiences, demonstrating how interactive stories can transform reluctant readers into enthusiastic ones and motivate budding writers to craft their own tales. Attendees will learn practical strategies for incorporating interactive narratives into educational settings, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and literacy skills. Whether you're a teacher, librarian, parent, or writer, this presentation will provide valuable tools and inspiration to make reading and writing an adventure for every child. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the magic of interactive stories and their potential to ignite a lifelong passion for literacy.

Learn about a librarian and math teacher’s collaboration to incorporate the Mathical Book Prize list on our campus. We use children’s books to remind students of basic math concepts in an engaging way. We also advertise STEM novels to push our brightest mathematicians to see how math can influence their hobbies and careers in the future. Participants will leave with practical ways to support both math and literacy goals on their campus. 

Come see what’s new from the publishers and Children’s Plus, Inc. that will help you connect the perfect title to each reader on your campus.

In today’s digital age, information literacy is a crucial skill for students preparing for the rigors of college-level research. This professional development session is designed specifically for high school librarians who play a pivotal role in guiding students through the complexities of information gathering, evaluation, and utilization.  Participants will explore effective strategies to foster information literacy among students, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for academic success. The session will focus on defining information literacy and the threshold concepts students explore as they move from novice to expert researchers.  Librarians will engage in interactive discussions and hands-on activities around the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy. These activities will include creating a research plan, evaluating sample sources for credibility, practicing the use of advanced research databases, and applying critical thinking skills to evaluate information quality. By the end of the session, participants will gain practical insights and ready-to-implement strategies to enhance students’ research capabilities.  Join us to transform your library into a hub of academic excellence and support your students in becoming confident, college-ready researchers.  

Research PROVES that kids of all ages LOVE nonfiction, yet many teachers and librarians struggle to curate nonfiction titles for their school and classroom collections. During this session, Lex will book-talk some of the best and most current nonfiction titles available for your readers. Hope you have saved money in your book budgets - you are going to want these titles!  

With more schools adding Pre K, and Librarians being expected to service these students, where does one start? Let 2 seasoned Pre K Librarians get you prepared and ready to go with Pre K library Lessons, strategies, and more.

Join us for an engaging and informative session where you'll discover cutting-edge instructional strategies and resources designed to enhance student learning and engagement. Explore how Britannica Education's vast repository of knowledge can be seamlessly integrated into your library programs, supporting curriculum goals and fostering a love for learning. Whether you're looking to enrich your lesson plans, support diverse learning needs, or simply bring fresh, dynamic content to your library, this session offers valuable insights and practical tips tailored for K-12 librarians. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock new potentials in your educational environment!

Looking to enhance your library visits with early learners? Join us for a dynamic session filled with simple, effective strategies designed to strengthen your instruction and transform your library into an engaging and welcoming space! Learn practical procedures and routines that facilitate smoother visits, boost student engagement, and make lesson delivery easier. In this session, we’ll cover efficient operational ideas, collaboration tips, and essential management tools to help you plan and deliver successful lessons. You’ll also discover storytime secrets, including captivating lesson hooks to increase excitement and strategies for improving classroom management. Perfect for librarians working with young learners and ECSE students, this session will leave you inspired, equipped, and ready to infuse more passion and energy into every library experience!

Calling all Swifties, Reference Lovers and Deal Hunters! Join Literacy for Texas as we get up close with the new ABDO Reference collection and take a behind the scenes look at how "Taylor Swift - Eras Tour" and other "not your grandma's" reference titles are created from the ground up. Looking for a deal? Learn more about ABDO Reference online and how you can build your collection starting at $3/eBook. Spend time collaborating with other librarians and submit your ideas for future ABDO Reference titles! 

This session will focus on the best practices for collection development, including a focus on local policies and procedures, tools available to help librarians with collection development, and the new Collection Development Standards adopted by  TSLAC.  Shawna will bring her experience as an ESC library services consultant, adjunct professor and book vendor together to look at collection development from different angles.

Capture the attention of your early learners with tried-and-true strategies that transform library time into a magical experience! This session is designed to equip you with engaging, effective methods that keep young children focused, excited, and eager to participate. You’ll leave with a treasure trove of storytime ideas, interactive activities, and best practices that foster a love for reading while strengthening classroom management. Perfect for librarians working with early learners, this session will ensure you’re ready to create a library environment filled with more giggles and fewer wiggles!