Podcast

Ariel Dagan asks his students: “What are you gonna access next?” as part of his lessons on mobile phone addictions, where he colalborates with the health department; and with gamifying discovery of the various career departments offered at Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High school in Franklin. He was awarded the first annual Carolyn Markuson ​School Library Innovation Grant Fund from the New England Library Association. Ariel talks about TC PRIDE and the school's motto, “Work Hard, Today Counts'; also his philosophy around collaboration and the role the various media available in the library has in that collaboration.

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Suzanne Larson and Felicia O’Keefe discuss two other MA Teen choice Book Award nominees, books which rewire the heist genre and the self-help genre and teach us a lot about friendship.

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Morgan Keohane secured a maker space for her library at PA Shaw Elementary in Dorchester. Heart of America provided the grant and the volunteer-led upgrades went in this June. Before it happened, Morgan came on to discuss the grant process, how she plans to apply the new resources to her Guided Inquiry Design curriculum next year, and what the maker space means for a culturally responsive educational institution.

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Titles Discussed:

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You, by Ibram X. Kendi & Jason Reynolds

Punching the Air, by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam

Ella and Westwood Public Library Teen Services Librarian Felicia O’Keefe discuss two culturally relevant, timely books dealing with the mid-20th century.

Visit  or email the 'cast at podcast@mascholibraries.org

Titles Discussed:

Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown, by Steve Sheinkin

Our second installment of the MA Teen Choice Book Award hype: Reba talks Elizabteth Acevedo and Bonnie, Jennifer de Leon. The theme of this ep is family culture. Enjoy!

Titles Discussed:

Clap When You Land, by Elizabeth Acevedo

Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, by Jennifer de Leon

Colleen Simpson teaches at a decentralized library in the Lester J. Gates Middle School in Scituate. She wrote an article describing the layout and process of her day, but we dug further and discussed her involvement in the design and implementation of that space, through media literacy and research curricula. The sets of skills and hacks Colleen has gleaned from this decentralized space and responsibility get into areas of circulation, programming and administration.

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Episode one of our MA Teen Choice Book Award previews features Suzanne Larson, committee chair and Seekonk High School Librarian; Joanna Correa, Haverhill ublic Library Youth Services Department Head; and Wendy MacArthur, a recent SLIS Grad. The theme is "LGBTQ kids figuring out who they are" and each episode (there will be NINE more!) will focus on a different theme. Listen up, put em’ hold, and encourage your students to VOTE.

Titles Discussed:

Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas

The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen

Flamer, by Mike Curato

Patsy Divver, Millis Middle School-High School Library Teacher, who was awarded the Judy Paradis Memorial Service Grant this year, talks about her beginnings in libraries, her philosophies and approach, and what she’s leaving behind for the students at her school. Anyone who has talked to Patsy knows she's a dedicated, empathetic colleague, and Ella and I had a good time talking with her.

Books mentioned:

Things You Save in a Fire: A Novel by Katherine Center

Out of My Mind, Out of My Heart, and Blended by Sharon Draper

Other Words for Home, Jasmine Warga

You Should See Me in a Crown Novel by Leah Johnson

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

Unnatural Resources by Mindy Uhrlaub

with Rachel Bouhanda.