Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month

What is it? Why should you nominate yourself or an OELMA colleague?

The Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month recognizes one school librarian a month who designs, develops, and implements a collaborative lesson plan and/or programming that empowers student learning. This award spotlights the importance of both the school library community and librarian and the pivotal role each plays in transforming learning throughout students’ K-12 education.

Consider nominating yourself or another OELMA library media specialist to be considered for the Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the month!  You can nominate yourself or a colleague anytime.  One recipient is selected by the 15th of each month (except June, July, August).  Recipients receive a free set of books published by Rosen. The Rosen award nomination form can be accessed under the Professional Recognition tab. Contact Susan Yutzey (oelma.awards@gmail.com) with any questions. 

OELMA has partnered with Rosen Publishing for this award since 2019 when Leslie Haynum, school library media specialist at Kimpton Middle School, received the award for a collaboration with the Stowe-Munroe Falls Public Library.  From April 2019 until May 2025, we have honored thirty-six school librarians with the Rosen.

For the first time, the Awards Committee sponsored a Rosen Panel at the 2024 Annual Conference that featured Melissa Wolf (2022) and Angie Jameson (2020) who shared their Rosen projects and discussed the benefits, both personally and professionally, of being named a Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month.  This year we are pleased to sponsor a Rosen Panel featuring Kelly Silwani, Sheree Crandall, and Pam VanArsdale. Stay tuned for more details.

We are pleased to partner with Rosen because since its establishment in 1950, Rosen has offered engaging print and digital books on a wide range of topics that are aligned with the curriculum.  Rosen is also known for its databases and interactive e-books.

Congratulations Angela Husband, 

May Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month 

Congratulations, Angela Husband, library media specialist at Cleveland Metro School District. Angela is the Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month for May.

The goal of the project “Book Creator Celebrating Young Authors” is to focus on two objectives: inquiry and creation.  Learners engage with new knowledge by following a process that includes generating products that illustrate learning.  Acquiring digital skills, students log in to Book Creator and learn how to use some of the tools and features within it to create multimedia content.  The final product is the creation of an ebook.

The duration of the project is eight (8) weeks or 8 sessions at 45 minutes per class. The necessary supplies include the Book Creator App, Chrome book or other personal laptop. The project can be done across disciplines.  As Angela explained in her application - “teachers can have the book assignment reflect their particular subject.”

The end product was an ebook that focused on a super hero theme that included a cover with title, author, and picture. In the story, students enrolled at Valley View Boys’ Leadership Academy had to share how they gained their superpowers and how they use them.  The project was in collaboration with a fourth grade ELA teacher.  After students learned the basics of Book Creator, they had the creative license to write and design the book as long as it included key story elements. Once the projects were completed, the books were published online and the class celebrated their accomplishment. Several copies were printed, signed, and given to younger students to read.  As Angela shared “one student was excited and said his book sold out; another said he would buy me a car from his book sales.  It was a joy to celebrate young authors.”

In her elevator pitch for “Book Creator Celebrating Young Authors,” Angela said “Looking for a fun way to get your students engaged in reading and writing? Here’s how Book Creator can help! Book Creator is designed to be used by everyone.  With hundreds of accessibility features built right in, this tool will make your classroom an inclusive space.  There are so many ways to collaborate with other teachers and opportunities for peer collaboration.  It is truly magical to witness student creations come to life.  The key to authentic learning is developing future-ready skills such as collaboration and communication.  With the option to publish books online, students can share their books within the community and worldwide promoting literacy near and far.  NOW LET’S CREATE AND CELEBRATE!

The Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month recognizes one school librarian a month who designs, develops, and implements a collaborative lesson plan and/or programming that empowers student learning. This award spotlights the importance of both the school library community and librarian and the pivotal role each plays in transforming learning throughout students’ K-12 education.

Consider nominating yourself or another OELMA Library Media Specialist to be considered for the Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month!  The Rosen award nomination form can be accessedunder the Professional Recognition tab. Contact Susan Yutzey (oelma.awards@gmail.com) with any questions. Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month are selected September through May, but please nominate yourself or a colleague anytime during the year.

Congratulations Angela!

Are you looking for summer PD that can be immediately applied to your school library? Are you looking for PD to renew your license? But it can’t be anything too taxing, after all, it is summer break. OELMA is pleased to offer a virtual book study using the book entitled, Using Literature to Support Children’s Mental Health edited by Kim Becnel and Robin A. Moeller. The class will meet virtually on Tuesday mornings between June 17th & July 8th with special guest authors throughout. The class will wrap up with a student project designed to be implemented into their school library. An optional final project round table will be held in early August for those wishing to share their project with the class and receive feedback.

The class is available for general information, for a 15 hour attendance certificate or one graduate credit through Ashland University. OELMA members as well as nonOELMA members are welcome to join the class. Sign up between now and June 16th on OELMA.org.  

The Awards Committee is in its final week of promoting OELMA Awards.  Your life’s work as a school librarian and as an advocate for students’ right to read what they want, when they want, should be applauded.  Your professional association, the Ohio Educational Library Media Association, is here for you, to support you in your efforts to become the leader in your building, your district, that you want to become.

Many of our past award recipients have eloquently expressed the profound honor it is to receive an OELMA award and what it has meant to them personally and professionally. Here are some of their thoughts:

“Garner additional recognition and support for our program. In turn, the support has helped us to evolve and create a even more dynamic learning opportunity for our students, which is always the goal.”  Kristin Roope

“Inspired me to return to my leadership roles with renewed vigor”

 Brandi Young, OELMA Leadership-in-Action Award

“Reinforced the power of libraries as spaces for connection, creativity, and growth and a platform to advocate for Ohio libraries.” 

Angie Jameson, OELMA/Follett School Solutions Outstanding School Librarian Award

“Able to affirm that OELMA recognizes the work I have done in my various roles of leadership.”

Sarah Thornbery, OELMA Outstanding Contributor Award

Receiving the OELMA Intellectual Freedom Award was a profound honor that reinforced my commitment to advocating for students’ right to read and access diverse perspectives.”

Kristin Dages, OELMA Intellectual Freedom Award

“These awards celebrate the vital work we do.”

Kristin Dages, OELMA Intellectual Freedom Award

“Receiving several OELMA awards over the years has been a transformative experience, both personally and professionally.  It has reinforced my passion for the work I do within my school community and stakeholders as well as my volunteer work with OELMA. The awards have encouraged me to evolve in my role as an advocate for students, school librarians, educators, and the power of school libraries.”

Angela Wojtecki, OELMA Outstanding Contributor

Imagine what receiving an OELMA award can do for you in both your personal and professional life?  Apply by April 4 by 11:59 p.m. 

Thank you,

The OELMA Awards Committee

Congratulations Ellen Lewis, 

March Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month 

Congratulations, Ellen Lewis, library media specialist at Chapman Elementary School, Strongsville City School District. Ellen is the Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month for March.

Ellen was nominated by Joan Battle, school library media specialist at Center and and Albion middle schools. Joan had this to say about the goals and learning objectives of the Sensory Book Collection at Chapman: “We wanted to address the needs of students with more intensive special needs in our building who would benefit from additional sensory interaction with literature; making books more accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful to them.”  Furthermore, she stated “We wanted to provide books with a variety of tactile, auditory, and sensory feedback to our students.”  The students can use the books during their weekly library story time, in their classrooms, and to check out so that they can share the books with their families.

Currently the collection includes sixty books that are heavily used and are so popular that Ellen and Joan are looking to create a similar collection at another elementary school that has students with tactile, auditory, and sensory needs. The collection was initially introduced during their weekly library story time and students were then able to check them out to take to their respective classrooms and homes.

Chapman Elementary partnered with the PTA and obtained a grant to purchase the books for the collection.  In addition to the partnership, Ellen advertised the special collection and received donations from various school and community members.

As part of the nomination, the OELMA Awards Committee asks the nominator to write an “elevator pitch” for the program/activity/lesson plan that includes a statement about the impact on the learning community.  Here’s the elevator pitch for the Sensory Book Collection:

We have created a “Sensory” book collection in our Chapman school library. These books are for our population who would benefit from additional sensory interaction with literature making books more accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful to them.  The books have features such as textures, sounds, and buttons to manipulate.  Our special needs population comes in once a week to spend time exploring the collection and can check out a book or two to enjoy with their families.

The Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month recognizes one school librarian a month who designs, develops, and implements a collaborative lesson plan and/or programming that empowers student learning. This award spotlights the importance of both the school library community and librarian and the pivotal role each plays in transforming learning throughout students’ K-12 education.

Consider nominating yourself or another OELMA Library Media Specialist to be considered for the Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month!  The Rosen award nomination form can be accessedunder the Professional Recognition tab. Contact Susan Yutzey (oelma.awards@gmail.com) with any questions.

Congratulations Ellen!

The Awards Committee is in its 5th week of promoting OELMA Awards.  Let’s recap what receiving an OELMA award means to Kristin Roope, Brandi Young, and Angie Jameson:

“Garner additional recognition and support for our program. In turn, the support has helped us to evolve and create a even more dynamic learning opportunity for our students, which is always the goal.”  Kristin Roope

“Inspired me to return to my leadership roles with renewed vigor” Brandi Young

“Step into a broader arena by presenting at two international professional development events.” Brandi Young

“Motivated me to return to OETC as a presenter.” Brandi Young

“Bolstered my confidence to take on new challenges.” Brandi Young

“Be braver - to speak louder, advocate harder, and push boundaries.” Brandi Young

“Deepened my commitment to serving my school library community, my staff, and my students.” Brandi Young

“Expand collaboration with teachers; foster new partnerships.” Brandi Young

“Validated my efforts and reinforced my passion for leadership, innovation, and advocacy.”  Brandi Young

“Reinforced the power of libraries as spaces for connection, creativity, and growth.” Angie Jameson

“Gave me a platform to advocate for Ohio libraries.” Angie Jameson

“Able to showcase the vital role libraries play in education, literacy, and community building.” Angie Jameson

“Inspired than ever to continue shaping an inclusive, dynamic library that serves as the heart of our school community.” Angie Jameson

Imagine what receiving an OELMA award can do for you in both your personal and professional life?  Apply by April 4 by 11:59 p.m. 

Thank you,

The OELMA Awards Committee

BE A PALENTINE AND NOMINATE AN OELMA MEMBER

Greetings OELMA members and friends. February 14, 2025, is the OELMA awards season opener and the OELMA Awards Committee is pleased to announce the following awards and scholarships:

Ross J. Todd Collaborative School Library Award

OELMA Emerging Leader Award

Tech Innovation Award

Intellectual Freedom Award

Leadership-in-Action Award

Literacy Leader Award

OELMA/Follett School Solutions Outstanding School Librarian Award

OELMA/JLG Floyd Dickman Programming Grant

OELMA Service Award for School Administrators

Outstanding Contributor Award

J. Allen Oakum Scholarship

OELMA Founders Scholarship

OELMA READ On! Ohio Award for Children & Teens

The Awards Committee now reports to Melissa Wolf, Director of Communications. We are pleased to announce this year’s Awards Committee members: Casaundra Bronner, Heidi Fletcher, Lisa Gallagher, Kristine Konik, and Susan Yutzey. If you would like to join the Awards Committee, please contact either Susan or Lisa for details.

Awards season is open until April 4, 2025. 

As Angie Jameson, 2024 OELMA/Follett School Solutions Outstanding School Librarian Award recipient stated:

Winning the OELMA/Follett School Solutions Outstanding School Librarian Award was an incredible honor that reinforced the power of libraries as spaces for connection, creativity, and growth within my district. The recognition brought media coverage, not only highlighting how school libraries evolve to meet the needs of students but also giving me a platform to advocate for Ohio libraries. Through this coverage, I was able to showcase the vital role libraries play in education, literacy, and community building. It has been deeply rewarding to see this work celebrated beyond our walls, and I am more inspired than ever to continue shaping an inclusive, dynamic library that serves as the heart of our school community. 

Be a Palentine to lift someone up today by nominating them for an award that recognizes the work they do and the impact it has on school libraries. Please check out the awards pages for further information.

Stay tuned for awards and scholarship updates throughout February and March! 

Congratulations Rachael Fryman, 

January Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month 

Congratulations, Rachael Fryman, library media specialist at Edgewood Middle School, Edgewood City School District. Rachael is the Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month for January.

What is the goal of Kaleidoscope, the school literary and arts magazine?  The goal of the literary and arts magazine is to give the Edgewood Middle School students an opportunity to experience publishing as well as inspiring them to continue to learn and grow in their art.  Kaleidoscope’s focus for its first issue was themes in nature.

Throughout the year, the school library offered several contests around the theme of nature.  The nineteen-member EMS Student Media Team as well as the  EMS school staff selected the winners from each contest. The winners of each contest was then featured in the magazine. Students created bookmarks, stories, poems, and pieces of art. Digital copies of Kaleidoscope were emailed to students, shared through social media, newsletters, and the district website. 

Why do you feel the program is a success? Fryman explained that students enjoyed the individual contests and the opportunities to excel.  “It was especially wonderful to see students who otherwise might not join in school activities reach out and participate.  Several students and adults reached out to share how they enjoyed being able to experience some of the best products from our students this year in a magazine format.” The link to the digital magazine created in Canva.

Is there any other information you would like to share? Students are excited to participate in this year’s digital magazine.  The theme is “space.” The anticipated timeline for contests is:

• January 2025 - bookmarks

• April 2025 - poetry

• September 2025 - stories

• November 2025 - art

• Release date is December 2025

The Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month recognizes one school librarian a month who designs, develops, and implements a collaborative lesson plan and/or programming that empowers student learning. This award spotlights the importance of both the school library community and librarian and the pivotal role each plays in transforming learning throughout students’ K-12 education.

Consider nominating yourself or another OELMA Library Media Specialist to be considered for Rosen Ohio School Librarian of the month!  The Rosen award nomination form can be accessedunder the Professional Recognition tab. Contact Susan Yutzey (oelma.awards@gmail.com) with any questions.

Congratulations Rachael!

Congratulations, Meggan (Megg) Aston, library media specialist at Davis Middle School Dublin City School District. Meggan is the Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month for December.

What is the goal of Digital Detectives? According to nominator, Brendan Erb, Digital Detectives is a three-day lesson in digital literacy in which the students create focused research questions, generate search terms to access information about their question, and identify authoritative sources from databases and the free internet.

Can you give us an overview of Digital Detectives? Brendan Erb elaborated on the lesson. “Students in a Digital Literacy class were getting ready to research an ‘essential question’ related to social media.  In order to do the research well, Megg had the students become Digital Detectives. Everyone had a detective code name (which Megg used to refer to each student throughout the lessons) and spent three days going through lessons about databases, the open Internet, search terms and Boolean operators, and how to write an essential research question.  By the end of the lesson, students had a far more complete understanding of the value of source authority and relevance of information in research.”

Why do you feel the program is a success? After the lessons, students spent the next week researching and becoming experts on the topic surrounding their essential question. They used the handouts and knowledge from their lessons with Megg to read and take notes on at least four sources - at least two from databases and two from the open internet, They used lateral reading for their open internet searches, which is also something that Megg discussed with them (Erb).

Is there any other information your would like to share? According to Erb, “the linked slides that were created in Canva, gives a sense of Megg’s humor that hooks kids and her masterful instructional planning in this unit.”

The Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month recognizes one school librarian a month who designs, develops, and implements a collaborative lesson plan and/or programming that empowers student learning. This award spotlights the importance of both the school library community and librarian and the pivotal role each plays in transforming learning throughout students’ K-12 education.

Consider nominating yourself or another OELMA Library Media Specialist to be considered for Rosen Ohio School Librarian of the month!  The Rosen award nomination form can be accessedunder the Professional Recognition tab. Contact Susan Yutzey (oelma.awards@gmail.com) with any questions.

Congratulations Meggan!

Congratulations Sheree Crandall, November Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month 

Sheree is the library media specialist at Portsmouth West Middle School, Washington Nile Local School District.

What is the goal of Career Day at Portsmouth West Middle School?

The goal of the program, according to Sheree, “is to excite, educate, and inform our middle school students about the many different career opportunities available in our community and beyond.  We believe that middle school is a foundation for learning how to become a successful young adult.  We want to give our students every opportunity to find a career path that will help guide them into becoming productive, happy, and successful members of society.  All career paths are vital to our community and so we invite any/all career types to participate.”

Can you give us an overview of Career Day at Portsmouth West Middle School?

According to Sheree, “Career Day is an all-encompassing program/event that the library provides each year to all students, grades 5-8. We have a wide range of career paths represented each year to educate, enrich, excite, and inform our students.”  The program takes lots of planning.  As Sheree explained, “I start by advertising the need for volunteers to share at Career Day on social media with specific times and dates for the event.  I also speak with students and send letters home to let parents know that we would love to have them participate in our event if they would be willing to attend and share their career.”  The set-up begins at 8:00 a.m. in the gymnasium. Each participant has a table and a student helper.  The students are grouped by grade - the fifth and sixth graders attend the Career Day for two hours in the morning; the seventh and eighth graders attend the Career Day for two hours in the afternoon. Sheree prepares a list of appropriate questions and the students must select twenty-five from the list and record the answers to the questions as they engage with each participant.

Why do you feel the program is a success?

The program started in 2016 with a very small group of students and twenty tables.  “Last year we had over sixty-five tables.” Sheree credits the growth of community participation in Career Day to social media. Another reason Sheree believes the program is successful is “that it allows students to learn and understand the education, finances, and overall workings of each career.  This gives the student the understanding of what classes or pathways they will need to take when registering for high school classes.  We have seen a significant increase in students going to the trade school, the military, and enrolling in the  College Credit Plus program in our area over the past several years.”

Is there any other information your would like to share?

Sheree believes that it is “very important to educate our students on the many types of career opportunities available to them in the world today, especially in our community.  The program planning starts early in the year and we ask community members, parents, businesses, colleges, trade schools, unions, etc. to volunteer their time for a whole day to bring their career knowledge to our students.”

The Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month recognizes one school librarian a month who designs, develops, and implements a collaborative lesson plan and/or programming that empowers student learning. This award spotlights the importance of both the school library community and librarian and the pivotal role each plays in transforming learning throughout students’ K-12 education.

Consider nominating yourself or another OELMA Library Media Specialist to be considered for Rosen Ohio School Librarian of the month!  The Rosen award nomination form can be accessedunder the Professional Recognition tab. Contact Susan Yutzey (oelma.awards@gmail.com) with any questions.

Congratulations Sheree!