Presenter: Name: Maura Madigan

Title: Librarian
Organization/School: Fairfax County Public Schools

Program Description
Most school librarians don't have a co-librarian in their schools to act as a sounding board. Many routinely turn to social media for ideas and advice. This session will provide school librarians the chance to discuss questions, troubleshoot problems, or just share ideas with other school librarians. At conferences, often the most valuable experiences are the informal conversations you have with other school librarians. This session will embrace this concept, encouraging audience participation and interaction.

This session will use the book, The School Librarian's Guide to (Almost) Everything by Maura Madigan, as a springboard for discussion. The format will be fluid and responsive to participants' needs and questions. Participants can ask questions via microphone, using notecards, or Padlet. Panelists will post a link to the Padlet before the conference on social media to generate questions and advertise the session. Questions commonly asked by school librarians on social media will be available to spark discussion should the conversation lag.

The 4-person panel includes experienced school librarians at each level and a school library district supervisor.

-Maura Madigan: ES librarian (VA) and author of The School Librarian's Guide to (Almost) Everything, Project-Based Learning for Elementary Grades, and Learning Centers for School Libraries.

-Dr. Andrea Trudeau: MS librarian (IL), adjunct professor, co-founder of Librarians Building Libraries, expert in VR/AR and tech integration.

-Kelsey Bogan: HS librarian (PA), creator of the blog "Don't You Shush Me!--Adventures of a High School Librarian," adjunct MSLIS professor, Dynamic Shelving creator/expert (and much more!).

-Kaycie Blaylock: Former MS librarian, HS librarian, and principal, current Alexandria City (VA) Schools Instructional Coordinator for Libraries and Curricular Resources.

This session addresses several AASL Standards:

"Modeling and promoting the use of personal and professional learning networks (AASL 2018, School Library V.C.1.)."
"Embracing new skills, knowledge, and standards in the profession as they relate to teaching, learning, technology, and innovation (AASL 2018, School Library V.D.3.)."
"Devising and implementing a plan to fill knowledge gaps (AASL 2018, School Librarian I.B.2.)."

AASL American Association of School Librarians. 2018. National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries. Chicago: ALA.

Learning Objectives
Participants will:

1. Troubleshoot their most pressing school library problems to find potential solutions.
2. Explore new ideas and best practices to improve their school libraries.
3. Share their experiences with a professional learning network.

Program Outline
1. Introductions
2. Short description of The School Librarian's Guide to (Almost) Everything
3. Q & A (Participants can ask questions using the microphone, via Padlet, or write on note cards available onsite. The Padlet link will be shared via panelists’ social media posts beforehand to gather questions. These will be supplemented, if necessary, with questions pulled from social media.)
Crowdsource Your Questions: Expert Advice on School Librarians' Hot Topics

Grade Level: Not grade specific

Session Strand: Other

Presenter
Kelsey Bogan

Kelsey is a high school Librarian, adjunct MSLIS Professor, and a professional Speaker/Presenter who enjoys helping librarians learn to leverage the power of social media for their library’s advocacy, collection development, outreach, and community-building efforts. Kelsey is an outspoken advocate for reform in the library profession, especially as relates to outdated collection organization and development traditions. She is particularly proud to have created the library organization concept Dynamic Shelving and of her ongoing work to redevelop her library towards greater inclusivity, accessibility, and equity.

Andrea Trudeau

Andrea Trudeau, Ph.D., NBCT, and a 2025 Library Journal Mover and Shaker, is a no-“shh” librarian with 28 years of experience in education. She has transformed her middle school library into a human-centered learning commons rooted in community, creativity, and critical thinking. Her innovative leadership inspired doctoral research on the intersection of virtual reality and empathy in adolescents. In 2022, Andrea taught in East Africa as a Fulbright-Hays scholar—an experience that deepened her global perspective and led her to serve on the board of Tanzania Development Support and co-found the nonprofit Librarians Building Libraries. She recently spent nearly a month transforming the library at an all-girls secondary school in rural Kenya. Wherever she is in the world, Andrea believes the library is the heart of the school—a space where every learner should feel seen, valued, and welcome.

Kaycie Blaylock

Kaycie Hoffman Blaylock is a seasoned education professional with over 20 years of experience, specializing in school librarianship and educational leadership across diverse age groups. Currently serving as the Library and Resource Coordinator for Alexandria City Public Schools in Virginia, she oversees the strategic adoption of high-quality instructional materials across all content areas. A licensed school administrator and former principal, Kaycie is an expert in educational best practices, having delivered advanced training sessions at national forums like AASL and ALA on topics ranging from integrating science standards in library instruction to human-centered design and project management for school libraries. Kaycie holds dual master’s degrees in Educational Media & Librarianship and Curriculum & Instruction from Portland State University, alongside an administrator's license from the University of Portland.


Description: Do you routinely turn to social media for ideas and advice? Is there a problem you need creative help to solve? At conferences, some of the best experiences are conversations with other librarians. Join Maura Madigan, ES librarian and author of the new book The School Librarians' Guide to (Almost) Everything, Project-Based Learning for Elementary Grades, and Learning Centers for School Libraries along with panelists--Kelsey Bogan (HS librarian, "Don't You Shush Me!" blog creator); Dr. Andrea Trudeau (MS librarian, co-founder of Librarians Building Libraries); and Kaycie Blaylock (Instructional Coordinator for Libraries and Curricular Resources)--to discuss the ins and outs of school librarianship, pose questions, share advice, or just listen. Areas of expertise include Dynamic Shelving; Genrefication; PBL; Learning Centers; VR/AR; Makerspaces; Reading Promotion; Passive Programming; Handling Conflict and Building Relationships. This session will have a flexible, discussion-based structure. No problem is too big or too small for our panel!