Presenter: Lindsay Cesari, AKA Bee in the Library

Session Description: Discover the best new books and fresh teaching ideas in one dynamic session! In this interactive workshop, you'll explore 75+ standout titles released in the last 18 months. From picture books to middle grade and YA - each title is paired with a ready-to-use lesson or activity aligned to state and national standards. Perfect for energizing your program, this session equips school librarians with everything they need to captivate young readers and meet curriculum goals.

Workshop Highlights:

Hands on makerspace activities

Ready to teach lessons for each title with access to digital copies of graphic organizers and worksheets.

About Lindsay: Lindsay is a national board certified NYS school librarian with 15+ years experience. She has a social media audience of 40,000+ users across Instagram and TikTok under the username Bee in the Library where she provides micro PD to followers.

Your library has a story to tell. Learn how to create a clear and consistent brand that reflects your values and builds recognition in your school community. This session will help you develop a visual identity, define your core message, and promote your library's impact with confidence. You will see examples of successful library branding and leave with templates and tools you can adapt right away. Perfect for librarians who want to advocate for their work, boost visibility, and create a strong presence both online and in school.

Enhance classroom interaction and learning with Peardeck. Ideal for educators aiming to integrate technology and foster a dynamic learning environment.

What You Will Learn:

• Introduction to Peardeck: Core functionalities and teaching transformation.
• Engagement Strategies: Interactive presentations to captivate students.
• Real-Time Assessments: Instant feedback to adjust teaching methods.
• Tool Integration: Works seamlessly with Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Who Should Attend: Perfect for K-12 teachers, educational technologists, and administrators.

Key Benefits:

• Boost student participation and attention.
• Monitor learning progress in real time.
• Create an inclusive environment where every student has a voice.

Join Us: Transform your classroom with Peardeck. Gain valuable insights and tools to make lessons more interactive and impactful.

A booktalk in the broadest terms is what is spoken with the intent to convince someone to read a book. Booktalks are traditionally conducted in a classroom setting for students; however, booktalks can be performed outside a school setting and with a variety of age groups as well. Take your booktalking to the next level! In this online professional development you will learn how you to select books, present them, and increase circulation. We will go over several techniques from stand and deliver, collaboration with students, choose your own booktalk, edtech to increase interactivity, and so much more.

Discover how artificial intelligence can help you refresh and reimagine your booktalking strategies. In this session, we will explore AI tools that support creativity, save time, and help tailor book recommendations to different readers. Learn how to generate engaging summaries, prompts, and multimedia enhancements that bring books to life for students. We will also discuss ethical considerations and ways to maintain authenticity while using AI as a creative partner. Perfect for librarians and educators looking to spark reading excitement with a modern twist.

Overview: This webinar is for those new to Battle the Books or are looking to up their game. Enhance the Battle of the Books program with proven strategies and innovative tricks in this focused webinar. This session will provide essential insights to run a successful and engaging program.

What You Will Learn:

• Details: Receive an introduction to all things Battle of the Books. The who, what, where, when and how it can be done.
• Preparation Strategies: Learn how to prepare students, set up teams, and schedule events.
• Engagement Techniques: Discover methods to increase student interest and participation throughout the competition.
• Event Management: Gain tips on how to run a battle and the different ways you can accomplish this task.

Stay up to date with the most compelling new Young Adult books for your collection. This session features the best recent YA titles, including award-winners, debut authors, and under-the-radar favorites. We will look at publishing trends, spotlight diverse voices, and share ways to connect students with stories that resonate. You will leave with a curated book list, display ideas, and tips for using these titles in book clubs, reading promotions, and classroom partnerships. This session is designed for librarians and educators working with middle and high school students.

Explore the latest must-have titles in children's literature. This session highlights standout books for young readers, including picture books, early readers, chapter books, and middle grade novels. We will share stories that support identity, curiosity, and joy while meeting both academic and emotional learning goals. You will walk away with a fresh list of books to add to your collection and practical ways to feature them in your school. This session is ideal for elementary librarians, classroom teachers, and anyone who fosters a love of reading in children.

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.

Dates: July 31 - August 1
Location: OCM BOCES, Syracuse
Featured Presenter: Lindsay Cesari, National Board Certified NYS School Librarian (@bee_in_the_library)
Cost: $75
Payment Link: Pay Here via Zeffy

Join us for this two-day summer institute focused on Leveraging AI Ethically to Enrich and Innovate School Library Programs. This timely event will help school librarians understand and lead in today's AI-driven educational landscape.

Over the course of the institute, we will explore AI-related issues that directly impact school librarians, equipping you to help students and staff navigate this emerging information ecosystem. We will begin by building a strong foundation in how AI technology works, then delve into ethical considerations surrounding its use.

From there, we will examine what AI means for teaching media literacy, maintaining academic integrity, and addressing the provocative question: Is the academic research paper dead? We will also discuss the growing presence of AI-generated books and their implications for libraries and learning.

With a practical emphasis, participants will work with the PreK-12 AI Scope and Sequence developed under the direction of the School Library Systems Association (SLSA) of NY, contributing to a shared lesson pool aligned to its key strands. A special focus will be on identifying picture books that can effectively teach AI concepts to younger learners.

This institute will equip school librarians with the tools, knowledge, and collaborative support needed to lead confidently in the age of AI.

Website for Event

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.

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.

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 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.