Using and Creating Community Resources [19:26]

Given the fact that school libraries are too often underfunded and undersupported, my feeling is that community collaborations may often be approached as a solution for helping provide students at our schools with resources that we are unable to provide on our own. This is indeed a good way to build our programs when there may be a dearth of other support. However, in this interview with teacher librarian Sara Smith, the charge is really to think about how we as school library professionals can contribute our expertise creatively to the greater community.

Sara's passion has inspired her to create and share a number of graphic novel reviews and guidance, which you can learn more about on her blog The Graphic Library (https://www.graphiclibrary.org/). While she obviously uses this knowledge to benefit her local school, her decision to share her work more widely has enabled her to add value to the profession as a whole. Be sure to check out the resources that Sara shares and also think about what you have to offer. What do you care about most? What experiences do you have that make you uniquely qualified? Are there ways that you can contribute to the larger school library community? We would love for you to share your expertise!