Tom Bober

Getting ready for my talk with @librarianjones.com next Wednesday at her St. Louis event with Left Bank Books. Want to hear us chat it up? Learn more (and register) here: www.left-bank.com/event/amanda...

Our “What are we reading?” Display started with two staff and now we’re almost to 20!
Hoping to show that every adult in the building is a reader. And I’m happy that students are checking it out. 📚❤️

A Kinder was struggling to get started with his drawing. He was enjoying the time chatting with classmates.
When I spoke with him, he threw his arms up and said, “I have TEN letters in my name!” and promptly went back to writing his name. (He was on letter 8.)
📝😥😉

To all of my St. Louis friends and my librarian friends who will be in on Wednesday for AASL, I want to invite you to a talk with my amazing friend Amanda Jones where she’ll share the story behind the story of her bestselling book That Librarian.
RSVP here: www.left-bank.com/event/amanda...

When a kinder wants a “research book” about snails because he hopes there’s a new pet on the way, you stop everything to find that book.
I can report that he left very happy.

Reason #238 to befriend your art teacher: when you lose a button at school she can set you up with needle and thread to get you good as new. Thanks Tiffany!

Spending lunches reading to kids who voluntarily come up for a story time.
Not a bad part of my day. 📚❤️

By this time next week I’ll be wrapping up my Keynote at the Tennessee Association of School Librarians’ annual conference!
Honored to be asked to close out the event and share with colleagues.
If you’ll be there, below are my sessions and Keynote times and topics.

Excited for AASL to be in St. Louis next month and also excited to be able to do all kinds of sharing over Friday and Saturday.
If you're there with me, here's where you can find me!

An awesome morning hosting Aaron Reynolds for his newest book with Jasper Rabbit, Troubling Tonsils!
This guy has some energy!
He signed our wall right next to the Creepy Carrots Peter Brown drew for us a few years ago. 🥕❤️

New NF hitting shelves today and on display for easy access!

Day 3 of school:
What did this student say when she checked out these books during her first visit to the library for the year?
“THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!”
P.S. School Libraries are Important ❤️📚❤️

Second day of school:
S: Do you have another book like Magic Ramen?
Me: Sure! What did you like about it that you’re hoping to read in another book?
S: Like another biography with noodles in it.
Me: Actually, I don’t have anything like that. 😂🍜

Student on the second day of school:
“I read a whole Weird But True book last night. I was only supposed to read for 30 minutes. But I extended that.” 📚❤️

When you feel seen by your local Kaldis Coffee…
#BackToSchool

Library of Congress Unveils Major Upgrades to Chronicling America Website Library of Congress Unveils Major Upgrades to Chronicling America Website Enhanced Platform Improves Accessibility and Research Capabilities for Historic Newspapers The Library of Congress has...

If you're a fan of Chronicling America's 23+MILLION pages of full text historical US Newspapers, you may have already seen that their Beta site has now officially gone live. There's a great write-up to check out here: newsroom.loc.gov/news/library...

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.