COLLECT + CONNECT

The SD State Library is excited to announce that it will hold its annual professional development event called ExCITE! (formerly School Library Boot Camp). This opportunity is open to school library staff and other kinds of educators.  Each year brings a new theme and this year it's  Textual Literacy. We'll focus on topics revolving around reading and engaging for academic and personal growth.  Learn more and register!

Every year the SD State Library puts on a professional development event called School Library Boot Camp which is usually in the summer. This event, we changed things up a bit. The face-to-face portion of the event was held in conjunction with the annual SDLA conference on September 25 in Spearfish and the rest of the two credit course was online. We had a full house! Thirty people participated with quite a variety of backgrounds ranging from certified teacher-librarians to library para-professionals to English language specialists to school counselors to teachers. In total, 18 districts/entities were represented. This year's theme was centered around inclusion, equity, and diversity. Attendees focused on how they as educators can support ALL students with a unique focus on students with special needs, those with disabilities, English Language Learners, LGBTQI+ students, and the culturally diverse. During the face-to-face segment of the course, teacher-librarian Jennif...

Each year the SD State Library offers a professional development opportunity called School Library Boot Camp. And, each year, we change up the theme. This year’s Boot Camp theme is Inclusion: That All May Learn. We'll focus on how librarians and educators can support ALL students with a unique focus on students with special needs, those with disabilities, English Language Learners, LGBTQI+ students, and the culturally diverse. Here's low-down: When:  We're trying out something different so this year Boot Camp is on Sept. 25, 2019 starting at 8AM to 6PM. The rest of the clock hours will be completed online. Boot Camp will be saddled with the annual SDLA (South Dakota Library Association) conference scheduled for Sept. 25-27, 2019. NOTE: Boot Camp is NOT a part of the conference and conference attendance is not required to be a part of Boot Camp. Where: Spearfish, SD at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center What: Boot Camp is a two-credit Black H...