COLLECT + CONNECT

Each year the South Dakota Library Association  offers one librarian in the state its Librarian of the Year award. This year the Association chose school librarian Shelley Rath! Shelley is a certified school librarian at West Middle School in Rapid City, SD. The SD State Library asked Shelley ten questions about her role as a teacher-librarian. Read on to learn a little about Shelley and her top-notch work. Shelley in her library. Tell us a little about your personal background. I was born and raised in Minnesota. I’ve been married 33 years and have three daughters. I graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Elementary Education and my first teaching job was at Duke School for Children in North Carolina. When I became a mom, I took time off from teaching to focus on my own children and was a major PTA volunteer. In 2001, we moved to South Dakota and the rest is library history! I worked as a librarian at Corral Drive Elementary for two years and then at West Middle Scho

Digital Citizenship Week starts on Monday, October 19. One of our many roles as school librarians is to help students cultivate skills necessary to thrive in today's fast-paced digital world. We guide students as they develop the habits of mind to navigate fully and appropriately in their everyday lives - including their digital lives. Common Sense Education - Digital Citizenship Week    Check out the link above for free activities and lessons to specifically celebrate Digital Citizenship Week. There's lots more on the main Digital Citizenship page.  Ready-to-teach lessons browseable by grade or topic, videos, slides, bilingual materials, downloads, etc.  The main feature is the award-winning lessons that revolve around six core topics: Media Balance & Well Being Privacy & Security Digital Footprint & Identity Relationships & Communication Cyberbullying, Digital Drama & Hate Speech News & Media Literacy (PS - a favorite resource to learn more about this

The South Dakota State Library, a division of the SD Department of Education, has awarded several school libraries the 21st Century School Library Award . This annual award recognizes school libraries as Effective, Enhanced or Exemplary, based on performance in three areas based on the South Dakota School Library Guidelines . The Program. Mission: To provide all learners with a collaborative program for teaching and learning. The Place. Mission: To provide all learners with quality physical and virtual learning environments. The Professional. Mission: To provide all learners access to a highly qualified professional for leadership to advance the program and the place.    Exemplary Award Douglas Middle School Library, Box Elder; Librarian Melissa Hubbell Harrisburg Middle School Library, Harrisburg; Librarian Kristi Jones Horizon Elementary School Library, Harrisburg; Librarian Leslee Reiland Madison Central School Libraries, Madison; Librarian Joanne Kallhoff Robert Frost Elementary