Gail Meyer
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readingmeyer.bsky.social
Gail Meyer
@readingmeyer.bsky.social
High School Librarian; AISLE (IL) Advocacy Chair 2022-present; black tea runs through my veins
All my work for school library advocacy feels small and insignificant in the face of the problems the US is about to face. 😔📚
January 21, 2025 at 1:41 PM
When I made this account over a year ago I somehow set up a "school library" feed for myself and I love it- it shows me so many comments that strangers leave on random post about how their school library was wonderful when they were a kid. Got me wondering... 📚 #libraries
December 24, 2024 at 2:26 PM
Our responses to the biased article the Chicago Tribune posted about IL's book banning law. Happy to share a pdf with anyone. 📚
If you get beyond the paywall you’ll find letters from Gail Meyers, Advocacy chair of AISLE & school librarian Tara Donnelly re: Public Act 103 and funding school libraries: www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/13/l...
Letters: School districts misunderstand Illinois’ book ban law
The purpose of this book banning bill is to protect local control.
www.chicagotribune.com
December 14, 2024 at 2:04 PM
If you read one article this week about why all schools should have a library and licensed librarian, make it this one. Wow. 📚
Closing School Libraries: A Shortsighted Catastrophe

Following a conversation on LinkedIn Eoin Garland agreed that I could publish his words.

"This isn’t just a bad decision; it’s a betrayal of the very purpose of education."

www.elizabethahutchinson.com/post/school-...
School Library Closures: A shortsighted Catastrophe
Closing school libraries: This isn't just a bad decision; its a betrayal of the very purpose of education.
www.elizabethahutchinson.com
December 6, 2024 at 12:10 PM
Want to keep this a happy place? Don't engage the trolls. I've discovered it's so easy to look at my "school libraries" feed and simply block anyone who's commenting things like "that book shouldn't be in the school library!" Keep the site working for you! #tlchat 📚
December 5, 2024 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Gail Meyer
Elementary School Librarians:

Do you all use the Dewey Decimal system for organizing books in your library?

I'm asking for a manuscript that I'm revising. Please REPOST if you see this. I seriously need to know the answer.

Thanks!

#elementaryschool #libraries #deweydecimalsystem #amwriting
December 4, 2024 at 8:53 PM
Reposted by Gail Meyer
recreating another twitter thread of mine:
stock photo site search results on “librarian” that cause me varying degrees of discomfort 📚
November 25, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Watching old L&O SVU episodes. They find a library book next to a body and take it to the high school, where the library staff lady scans it and says "oh this was checked out by Michael [somebody]." *glances at computer* "He's absent today."

So many things wrong with that 15 second scene 📚 😆
November 23, 2024 at 3:21 AM
Reposted by Gail Meyer
Lots of new followers. Let's talk...#SchoolLibraries

School libraries are essential to student education but...

There is no money for them.
They are only used by the English Department.
Not all students use them.
We have digital.

Thoughts?

www.elizabethahutchinson.com/post/misconc...
The School Library Challenge: Misconceptions and Stereotypes
Why are school libraries so misunderstood, undervalued and closing?
www.elizabethahutchinson.com
November 19, 2024 at 7:40 AM
Anyone have a starter pack to get pictures of cats on my feed? Not AI images, just cats being cute and/or assholes, to fit in between all the lovely library and literacy posts I've got going on. Picture of a cat at the Tower of London last summer for tax.
November 17, 2024 at 3:07 AM
Reposted by Gail Meyer
Oh goddammit, this fucking pest. Nip this in the bud, all of you block and so not engage. This guy engages in targeted harassment of libraries and librarians for defending intellectual freedom.
Ugh. Block him.
November 16, 2024 at 5:05 PM
I did a thing. Thank you to AISLE and the #schoollibrarians of IL. #schoollibraries
November 9, 2024 at 5:32 PM
When you have strong feelings about the order a series should be read… #schoollibraries 📚#narnia
February 23, 2024 at 5:14 PM
My students favorite thing in the school library- charging cords always out for use. They’re attached to the post and have 3 connections on each (one does chromebooks, which I didn’t even plan for!). Every hour they are in use. I have four, two at two different tables. Purchased from Amazon. 📚
January 23, 2024 at 5:34 PM
I am presenting to a small group (our local chapter of school librarians) tonight on using statistics for library advocacy and I’m more nervous than I usually would be, for some unknown reason. Wish me luck 📚😣
January 16, 2024 at 4:43 PM
Advocacy requires a thick skin. In the last 2 years of school library advocacy work, I’ve been grilled about why we need librarians at all, argued with school board members about the book banning bill, accused of “bullying tactics” when sharing research studies, and today, blocked on this platform.
January 8, 2024 at 11:19 PM
Have any #schoollibrarians out there presented at a conference for administrators or school board members on the importance of school libraries? 📚
January 8, 2024 at 2:30 PM
Has there ever been a study done to see if towns where the school has a certified librarian results in a higher % of residents having public library cards? Exposure to a library setting as a child resulting in using the library as an adult… Any correlation there? #schoollibrary #library 📚
January 2, 2024 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Gail Meyer
@cybrarerin.bsky.social hello Librarian over in the US!
We’re raising ££ to create a proper school library in our English elementary school. Would you give us a shout out to help us try to raise the cash to create an amazing library for our community? X
www.justgiving.com/campaign/redlandslibrary
Help us bring our school library up to scratch! - JustGiving
www.justgiving.com
December 30, 2023 at 9:36 AM
Attended the ILA Legislative Breakfast this morning. So nice to see representatives who want to support public libraries… and so disappointing to be asked by one rep, when seeing my name tag, “oh, do schools still have libraries?” Yes, they do, and we need your support. So much advocacy to do still…
December 6, 2023 at 6:15 PM
Today for booktalks we pulled five fav books- “thankful for these”- that only had a single copy of each (usually we talk multiple copy titles). The emotion my aide and I shared when telling why these five were some of our favs had the kids entranced! Never had such good audiences! #schoollibraries
November 22, 2023 at 12:47 AM
IL school librarians, have you ever met your local legislator? ILA is giving us a chance to do so! Check out the upcoming Library Legislative Meetups and see when one will be in your area. Show up and show school librarians have value! Register before 11-24. tinyurl.com/3thwfz4v #schoollibrarians 📚
Legislative Meetups
  2023 Legislative Meetups This series of seven legislative events provides an opportunity to meet with your legislators and speak with them firsthand about issues affecting you and your librar...
tinyurl.com
November 13, 2023 at 4:58 PM
School libraries- AND their librarians— matter. Another article to share if you need to advocate with someone. #schoollibraries #skybrarians
www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
Here's What Students Miss Out on When Their Schools Lack Librarians
Some administrators think school librarians are obsolete, but these schools prove otherwise.
www.edweek.org
November 10, 2023 at 3:09 PM
Today after school a random teacher told 3 students to “hurry up and pick books, the librarian wants to go home.” ⁉️I went over and assured them they didn’t need to rush, we started talking books, and they ended up taking 7 books between the 3 of them. Just… don’t “help” me, ok? #schoollibraries
November 10, 2023 at 12:58 AM
Found this gem while perusing photos on my old iMac. The time I met Neal Shusterman and didn’t take a photo with him, c2011. Tip for new librarians- take photos with every author you have the chance to meet. You’ll thank me someday.
November 2, 2023 at 11:57 AM