Book Cafe 2025-2026 Edition: Join the Quest for Exciting New Books!

This year, we are on a mission to uncover and share the best new books for our libraries and classrooms. To streamline the process, each participant will fill out a Google form for every book reviewed, making it easier to focus on crafting insightful reviews. The collected information will be featured on our blog, helping us crowdsource top book recommendations from our region and beyond!

The Details:

• Review one chapter book (over 150 pages) or three picture books to earn 1 credit hour.
• Accumulate up to 16 credit hours from October to May.
• Open to all genres for PreK-12 readers and professional development titles.

Important Notes:

• This is an entirely online and asynchronous course, with no in-person meetings.
• All hours are recorded for district Professional Learning requirements.
• Participants are responsible for procuring their own books.

For questions, contact me at hturner@ocmboces.org.

This asynchronous professional development session introduces participants to News-O-Matic, focusing on exploring the platform and navigating the essential tools that support instruction, literacy, and student engagement. This resource is available to all educators in the O²CM Region.

Through embedded videos and interactive tasks within this Google Form, you will learn how to:

• Navigate the teacher dashboard and locate key features
• Assign articles, customize questions, and build custom units
• Use student tools such as Read-to-Me, Fact versus Act, the interactive map, and accessibility settings
• Explore Active Learning lessons that provide ready-to-use instructional materials

You will watch short training videos, complete knowledge checks, and complete a hands-on task to apply what you learned. By the end, you will be prepared to guide students and colleagues in using News-O-Matic effectively to support inquiry, literacy, and engagement.

This asynchronous professional development session introduces participants to Sooth, focusing on creating an account and navigating its essential tools for research and information literacy. This website is available to all educators in the O²CM Region. Through embedded videos and interactive tasks within the Google Form, you will learn how to:

Create a Sooth account using your school email or single sign-on (SSO) Confirm your account and customize basic profile settings Explore key tools to support student research and critical thinking

You will watch short training videos, complete knowledge checks, and complete a hands-on task to apply what you learned. By the end, you will be prepared to guide students and colleagues in using Sooth effectively for inquiry and research.

The program seeks to support new school librarians both professionally and personally in their efforts to become highly effective educators. Research indicates that student learning depends, in part, on constructing a school culture that fosters growth for students and staff alike. We believe that mentors and mentees will learn and grow together in this process. While we are certain that your district provided you with a mentor teacher (not always a school librarian), we aspire to pair you with a mentor with library experience, knowledge and a passion for our profession. The purpose of this program is to connect librarians across "the borders” of their school districts to learn from and support each other while growing a vibrant professional learning network across the region.

Join us for an exciting day of professional learning as librarians gather around New York State to listen, discuss, and share best practices on programs, projects, and assignments based on the five ALA Core Values of Librarianship!

Learn directly from ALA President Sam Helmick and keynote speaker K C Boyd who will spark new energy for your practice.

Explore each ALA Core Value through short, powerful presentations with immediate table time to apply ideas. Gain practical strategies for access, equity, intellectual freedom, public good, and sustainability from expert presenters across New York.

Leave with actionable short term and long term goals that strengthen your program and support your school community.

Passive programming allows students to participate in library activities with a minimal amount of instruction or direction. This session will explore what passive programming entails and will outline various activities that can be used with all grade levels. Templates will be shared for iSpys, mazes, scavenger hunts, this or that polls, coloring contests, and more. Both individual and group activities will be included.

Presented by Melissa Corey
Melissa Corey is a middle school Library Media Specialist from St. Joseph, Missouri. Melissa is currently serving a two-year term as Director-at-Large on the American Association of School Librarians Board of Directors. She is also a Past President of the Missouri Association of School Librarians. She was previously named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker for 2024, a 2024 I Love My Librarian Award Honoree by the American Library Association, and a School Librarian of the Year Finalist for 2023 by School Library Journal. Melissa is passionate about creating engaging, dynamic library environments and diverse, inclusive library collections. She is obsessed with gnomes and fueled by iced matcha. You can follow her online at @melissacorey on most social media networks and access her Canva creations (for free!) at beacons.ai/melissacorey.

Every student has the right to learn how to read. But learning how to read isn't enough. Students must also want to read. Students deserve a literacy-rich environment in which reading is championed by all leaders serving in their school--whether in formal or informal leadership roles.

This book provides educators the tools and culture-building strategies needed to help all students fall in love with reading. And it will help you co-create a community of readers that challenges and inspires.
- This book is for any educator who wants to grow as a literacy leader.
- This book will empower teams to initiate conversations that will take the work deeper.
- This book explores six literacy levers that will help you create a community of readers.

This book will equip you with actionable ideas and the research needed to push the field forward. Filled with inspiring stories and practical advice and strategies, The 6 Literacy Levers is a book that will transform the literacy culture wherever you serve.

The Six Literacy Levers by Brad Gustafson is unlike any book for educators. Readers familiar with Gustafson's other books (Renegade Leadership and Reclaiming Our Calling) will recognize Brad's accessible style, self deprecating humor, and emphasis on practical strategies for immediate implementation. However, what sets The Six Literacy Levers apart from the rest of Gustafson's catalog, as well as from any other book on the topic, is its emphasis on story as the foundational tool for moving literacy practice forward.

Note: Participants will need to purchase a copy of the book for this book study.

Discover how Canva is more than just a design tool. It is also a user-friendly platform for creating videos and podcasts. In this session, you will learn how to use Canva's built-in recording studio to produce multimedia content for your school library or classroom. From book trailers and student interviews to podcast episodes and library announcements, you will explore how to script, record, edit, and share. No fancy equipment or advanced skills are needed. This is a great session for educators who want to amplify student voice and promote programs in creative ways.

Join us for an engaging book study on Disrupting Thinking: Why How We Read Matters by Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst. This study challenges traditional views of reading instruction and invites participants to reimagine how to nurture lifelong, engaged readers. Through shared reading and discussion, we will explore the importance of choice, relevance, and authentic response in building reading lives that matter.

Participants will:
Examine the research and reasoning behind the Book-Head-Heart (BHH) framework.
Reflect on how to shift reading instruction from compliance to engagement.
Explore strategies that foster deeper comprehension, empathy, and critical thinking.>br> Collaborate with colleagues to design lessons and practices that inspire student readers.

This study is perfect for educators, librarians, and literacy leaders who want to transform reading experiences into meaningful, student-centered journeys.

The SLS Communication Coordinators meetings are designed to be a bridge between the School Library System team and the school librarians in each of the districts and non-public schools that are members of the system. Each district has a designated Communication Coordinator who is required to attend the meetings but all members are welcome to attend.

We'll begin the series with a big overview of what's happening in book censorship right now nationwide, as well as in New York state. This will include highlighting the tools libraries already have at their disposal, such as collection policies, as well as a look at some of the legislation-good and concerning-bubbling up across the country. The session will include a who's who of people fighting back against book censorship and where/how the resources being created and used in other states can be useful tools for potential challenges locally. Attendees will participate in a values identifying activity to help them recommit to the things they're passionate about library work.

This professional learning experience connects library advocacy with the Seal of Civic Readiness, empowering participants as educators and active civic leaders.

Prior to the Albany visit, participants will attend a one-hour advocacy preparation session to build background knowledge, understand the structure of the day, and review the four legislative and four budgetary asks that will be the focus this year.

Participants will then spend a full day in Albany engaging in hands-on advocacy for school libraries, including meetings with legislators and their staff, sharing the impact of school libraries on student learning, and practicing effective advocacy strategies.

Participants will explore advocacy as a powerful form of civic engagement and examine how librarians can model and support skills embedded in the Seal of Civic Readiness, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, informed participation, and research practices. Connections will be made to inquiry-based learning and civic-focused capstone projects.

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Strengthen advocacy skills for school libraries and education
• Understand the connection between advocacy, civic readiness, and student research
• Design capstone projects centered on civic engagement, policy, and community impact
• Develop strategies for teaching research, source evaluation, and evidence-based argumentation
• Model active citizenship within school communities

Transportation: Participants are expected to either register for the CLR

Immerse yourself in an asynchronous online book study of The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller and Teri S. Lesesne. This inspiring book celebrates the transformative power of reading and provides practical strategies to foster a love for books in students.

Through structured online modules, you will engage with key concepts from the book, participate in reflective activities, and join discussions on enhancing reading experiences in your educational environment. Discover effective techniques to motivate students, build a vibrant reading culture, and integrate reading into everyday learning.

Ideal for educators and librarians seeking flexible, meaningful professional development, with the freedom to explore the content at your own pace.

Note: Participants will be provided with the eBook via Sora. In addition, the times are required to receive CTLE credit and will not be LIVE contact hours.

This session will begin with an overview of right to read/freedom to read lawsuits happening nationwide. It will include the current status and what these cases may or may not mean for public and public school libraries. Leila Green Little, lead plaintiff in Little vs. Llano County, will join this session to talk about her experiences and insights. The session will end with time for questions and answers.

The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Education

Based on the book edited by Wayne Holmes and Kaśka Porayska‑Pomsta (Routledge, 2022)

This asynchronous book study invites school librarians, K-12 educators, and edtech leaders to examine the ethical, social, and pedagogical implications of artificial intelligence in education. Participants will explore how adaptive, automated, and data‑driven learning systems affect fairness, equity, student privacy, and the role of human educators. The book draws on diverse expert perspectives to provide frameworks, guidelines, and critical questions for designing and implementing responsible AI in learning contexts.

Key Topics:

• Ethical challenges in AI‑powered education systems
• Equity, algorithmic fairness, and structural justice
• Balancing human judgement and automated support
• Privacy, transparency, and accountability in learning analytics
• Guidelines for ethically sound AI integration in schools

The SLS Communication Coordinators meetings are designed to be a bridge between the School Library System team and the school librarians in each of the districts and non-public schools that are members of the system. Each district has a designated Communication Coordinator who is required to attend the meetings but all members are welcome to attend. The morning (8:30 am to 11:30 am) will be the meeting and the afternoon will be a professional learning opportunity.

This session will dive into what self/soft/quiet censorship is and how it happens. Why and how does it happen and where and how can library workers avoid taking part (intentionally or not)? It will include an interaction series of prompts to encourage discussion among attendees. It is likely this session will include some insights from a current survey of the field and insight into one that is forthcoming from Kelly through her work with the United to Read Project (not yet announced). We will discuss the power of one's collection development policy in helping avoid quiet censorship, how that policy is helpful in defending collections against unsupportive administration, in making decisions on where or how you might label materials, and how such policies strengthen a library's commitment to diversity. This is trickier in public schools than in public libraries, but the hope is this helps encourage thinking about updates, getting to know the board who updates policies, and more.

The use of board games in education is under-utilized. As we come out of this pandemic, and adjust to new directions, education can reinvent itself, and create better learning environments. Gamification is a popular teaching buzz word that suggests educators take an element of play and retrofit it to achieve a classroom learning objective. Games can engage students with different learning styles and inspire individual creativity. Board games represent the missing tool in our toolboxes, and they can replace the traditional lectures with a method that reaches all students. This interactive professional development is for educators who want to use board games as teaching tools.

• Board games can be used in all content areas and teach a variety of skills including:
• Social, Emotional, Learning concepts
• Problem solving
• Trial & Error - Failure as a way of learning
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Creativity & Problem Solving

During this professional development educators will experience board games, be provided with sample lesson plans and include time to actually play games.

This self-paced book study is designed for school librarians and K-12 educators who want to transform student reading culture through engaging, sustainable book clubs. Learn proven strategies to foster reading enjoyment, attract participants, and build long-term engagement-even with reluctant readers.

Author Stacy Brown draws on over twenty years of experience to guide participants through best practices in planning, facilitating, and marketing modern youth book clubs. Each module will highlight hands-on activities, reflection prompts, and theme-based approaches to help you implement or reinvigorate your library's book club program.

Key Topics:

• Creating a culture of readers
• Types of book clubs and how to choose
• Planning and executing book clubs on a budget
• Marketing strategies and branding tips
• Sustaining participation over time

Target Audience: K-12 educators and school librarians

Duration: 6 weeks (asynchronous)

Location: Canvas LMS

Register: [Insert Registration Link]

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Is it okay to use YouTube in the classroom? Do students own the copyright to their work? What are the laws governing the sharing of student work? How can educators empower students to make responsible choices about the use of AI?

Register for this professional learning session focused on copyright, privacy, and emerging technologies in education. To ensure the training meets participant needs, the presenter will build the session around your questions. Please submit questions in advance by March 13.

During this session, participants will:

• Review laws governing copyright, trademark, privacy, and data security related to classroom materials and student work
• Explore OCM BOCES resources available to support compliance and best practices
• Engage in discussion and receive answers to in-depth questions submitted in advance
• Participate in a "train-the-trainer” model focused on student-owned copyrights and responsible use of AI
• Learn strategies for empowering students to make informed, ethical choices

Participants will receive a learning checklist and template training materials to support implementation

The use of board games in education is under-utilized. During this session we will focus on secondary level board games. As we come out of this pandemic, and adjust to new directions, education can reinvent itself, and create better learning environments. Gamification is a popular teaching buzz word that suggests educators take an element of play and retrofit it to achieve a classroom learning objective. Games can engage students with different learning styles and inspire individual creativity. Board games represent the missing tool in our toolboxes, and they can replace the traditional lectures with a method that reaches all students. This interactive professional development is for educators who want to use board games as teaching tools.

• Board games can be used in all content areas and teach a variety of skills including:
• Social, Emotional, Learning concepts
• Problem solving
• Trial & Error - Failure as a way of learning
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Creativity & Problem Solving

During this professional development educators will experience board games, be provided with sample lesson plans and include time to actually play games.

This asynchronous book study explores how reading medium-print, screen, or audio-impacts attention, comprehension, and memory. Ideal for school librarians and K-12 educators, this learning opportunity equips participants with practical strategies to support effective reading and learning in diverse formats.

Drawing on extensive international research, Baron offers insights into how learners interact with text in different settings. Rather than promoting one format over another, the book guides educators to make evidence-based decisions that prioritize student learning, especially in an increasingly digital world.

Key Topics:

• Understanding how reading format affects learning
• Challenges of screen and audio reading for comprehension
• Print vs. digital reading myths and realities
• Practical classroom strategies for multiple formats
• Supporting focus, retention, and critical thinking

Target Audience: K-12 educators and school librarians

Duration: 5 weeks (asynchronous)

Location: Canvas LMS

Note: The eBook will be provided through Sora.

The SLS Communication Coordinators meetings are designed to be a bridge between the School Library System team and the school librarians in each of the districts and non-public schools that are members of the system. Each district has a designated Communication Coordinator who is required to attend the meetings but all members are welcome to attend. This is our last meeting of the year that will consist of the CC meeting, as well as a celebration of our retirees, and this years award winners