Tom Bober

The JAMS Library Project continues! Phase Two is here: comfy furniture, more books students love, & better library tools. We’re not done yet—help us keep building!

Blog: bldglibraries.substack.com/p/were-back-...

@librarianjones.com @captainlibrary.bsky.social @andreatrudeau.bsky.social

Partnerships Making a Difference: Kids Discover As we worked to transform the library and the library experience for students at Jane Adeney Memorial School, we knew we could not do it alone.

Big thanks to @kidsdiscover.bsky.social for being part of our buildinglibraries.org journey! Their engaging nonfiction inspires curious minds every day.

Read more: bldglibraries.substack.com/p/partnershi... (link in bio)

School library bookshelves with a rubber duck reading a book amongst shelved books and books on display.

It was such an honor to participate in @lieberrian.bsky.social's program Ducks 4 Laryssa in memory of her sister. If you find yourself at a library somewhere in the world, you can post your own ducky pic here: sites.google.com/view/ducks4l...

#ducks4laryssa #bldglibraries #internationallibraries

Look for the Helpers (part 1) Many have heard of the Mr.

This post went up a couple of days ago, but I neglected to share it here. I think it’s a testament to the students we’ve met on our trip.

Look for the Helpers (part 1)
substack.com/@bldglibrari...

Hard at work and loving every minute of it! Today we’ve been busy labeling books for the library at JAMS in Kenya—getting each one ready to inspire, empower, and educate. Every sticker is a step toward building something beautiful for this incredible community. #LibraryLove #BooksChangeLives

Today we visited the Masolo family and the Jane-Pauline Audi Research Library, a community library they run from their home in memory of their daughter. Out of heartbreak, they’ve built something full of hope, love, and purpose.

Saturday nights are for dancing like nobody’s watching… because tomorrow we alphabetize like everybody is! 🕺📚💃

#LibraryLife #WorkHardShelfHard

Students play Clue

Students work on magnetic sorting puzzles.

Student coloring

Students working together on a puzzle

“If you build it, they will come.” And they did—big time! 🤩

Today, the JAMS library was alive with energy! Students browsed and checked out books, played games, colored, relaxed, and connected with friends. It wasn’t just a library—it was the place to be.

#JAMSReads #BldgLibraries #TLsky

We are deeply grateful to award-winning author @poetnikki.bsky.social for her generous donation to JAMS in Kenya. Her powerful stories and poems now line the shelves of the school’s library, inspiring young readers. Thanks a Million, Nikki, for investing in the minds and 💕 of the next generation.

Check out our latest blog post, “Hidden Gems,” about rethinking what we give and how it makes kids feel. We highlight the new and rediscovered books now proudly on display in the school library.
bldglibraries.substack.com/p/hidden-gem...

We've been hard at work at the library renovation at Jane Adeny Memorial School in Kenya! I've written about some of our first steps here: bldglibraries.substack.com/p/seeing-the...
You can also subscribe to our Substack for future posts coming over the next few weeks!

After a tornado, 2 days with no school, and 4 days in other buildings, we returned to Captain on Wednesday with 425+ books out.
Amazingly, just 2 days later, we ended the year with about 25 books out & lost.
Huge kudos to our students, parents, & teachers who helped get every 📖 back on the shelf!

Great conversation with Tom Nixon about all things library!

I saw this last night.
I know you could say he’s done 100+ worse things in these 100+ days.
But I know the good work Dr. Hayden has done. I worked at this place. I’m friends with people who still work there. And I professionally value what they do.
This one hits me in a different way.

The school-wide art show was last week. Two of the pieces came from the library’s new 3D printer, providing new opportunities for students to share their work.
Another was informed (and maybe inspired) by a library book on magical creatures.

We finished the week right with a visit from Max Brallier where he shared his new Last Comics on Earth series and he talked about how his daydreaming as a kid led to so many awesome books!

This may be the best birthday news I could have received!

Spent the morning at the MO History Museum LRC with 4th graders.
I had met with staff in the fall to ask about modifying a middle school program for our elementary students.
And.
It.
Went.
Great!
Kids were engaged, analyzing sources, and taking in secondary source information to make connections.

Spent the last couple of days in DC on behalf of the American Library Association speaking about the importance of libraries and the value to Missourians of federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Service and the Department of Education.

The Cold War | Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress Background In the years after World War II, the rise of atomic weapons, along with competing political and economic ideologies from two global powers – the United States and the Soviet Union – set int...

If you teach the Cold War or know someone who does, check out this new Primary Source Set from the Library of Congress!
www.loc.gov/classroom-ma...

We just started our news literacy unit. So many elementary Ss are paying attention to the news (even though there were some misconceptions) to a level of detail that I think would surprise you. And they are getting it from everywhere.

Teaching news literacy at the elementary level is a must!

If you’re a Chronicling America user you might have seen the new beta interface. But you may not have noticed that the “old” site is not being updated with new pages anymore.
The url will be redirected this year, but until then, you can find the beta version here: www.loc.gov/collections/...

We couldn’t thank all of our donors and bidders more!
Thank you for being part of this journey with us!

Today is the day!
Get that last bid in for great PD, author visits, signed books, and more!
bit.ly/LBLAuction

Ready for Research: Announcing New Collections and Additional Digital Images | Picture This The following is a guest post by Helena Zinkham, Chief, Prints & Photographs Division. Our talented teams in the Prints & Photographs Division (P&P) organized and described 250,000 pictures during the...

Knowing what is available is the first step in using #PrimarySources in your school or library. Check out the new Prints and Photographs available at the Library of Congress! blogs.loc.gov/picturethis/...

Just a couple days left to bid on some incredible items!
What are you waiting for?
Check them out at bit.ly/LBLAuction

Looking for PD for you, your district, your region, or state organization? We’ve got you covered.
Checkout the offerings at bit.ly/LBLAuction

Ready to take that next step in your writing? Or thinking about putting pen to paper?
Check out these great opportunities to meet with a literary agent and authors to start that next chapter!
More at bit.ly/LBLAuction

Find amazing Author Visit opportunities at our online action!
Open through March 20th
Explore at bit.ly/LBLAuction

Online Auction, help support our first project: the Jane Adeny Memorial School in Kenya, librarians building libraries, supporting library growth and development, more info at buildinglibraries.org

I love this idea and cause, and three incredible librarians are leading it. Check out their silent auction! Lots of cool books and webinar opportunities! www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticket... @captainlibrary.bsky.social @librarianjones.com @andrea-trudeau.bsky.social #TLsky #EduSky #KyLChat