Develop a Safe Space for Students to Explore and Create: with Nina Canales
Happy National School Library month! The Librarian Influencer of the Week is Texas librarian Nina Canales. She now works at an international baccalaureate high school library in Dallas, Texas. Click here to listen now!
Here are some librarian influencer tips Nina shared:
She uses students as helpers in her library. They are called library ambassadors.
Know your audience as you start to build your collection.
Nina wants all librarians to build a safe and welcoming environment:
Aim for a homey and welcoming environment built for your age level of students.
Nina uses pillows, plushies, lamps, and plants to warm up her environment.
Get to know your students and their needs. Every school is different.
Start small and use vocabulary with teachers and students that get them talking about the library space (warm, welcomed, inviting, comfortable, relaxing, safe) They start to embrace the vocabulary themselves.
Let students make the library space their own (I have let students move furniture around to how they want it, they have freedom to use supplies, pillows, plushies) with rules of course!
You can connect with Nina Canales at:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HillcrestLib
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Jr7aWdK1KneHy5sXDiQsQ
Wakelet (Under construction) https://wakelet.com/@NinaCanales
***Join our library squad! Scroll to the bottom of the page and subscribe to our mailing list. Stay up to date on latest blog posts, podcast interviews, and other related topics.***