Library Lady’s K-12 Edition is a mostly weekly newsletter for K-12 school librarians. Today’s topic is Tech Tips.
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A personal note before I get into today’s topic. My family had a huge curveball last month – my husband had triple bypass surgery (90% blockage). We are thankful that the problem was caught and repaired and that he is recovering nicely. However, this put a full stop to most of my online activities, including blog posts, book reviews, and emails. I hope your school year is off to a great start.
Today’s Library Lady’s tips focus on integrating technology into your library. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic
Tips from Library Lady
Tech Tips for a New School Year: Integrating Technology into Your Library
Technology can open doors for both students and teachers—but only if it’s intentional and easy to use. Here are some practical ways to bring tech into your library this year:
1. Take Inventory of What You Have
Before adding something new, evaluate your current devices, software, and subscriptions. Are there underused tools that could shine with a little promotion?
2. Connect Tech to the Curriculum
Ask teachers what projects they have planned. Then match them with digital resources, research databases, or e-book collections that can support their lessons.
3. Expand Digital Access
Students love options! Offer e-books, audiobooks, or interactive databases so they can access resources anytime, anywhere—not just during library hours.
4. Teach the “How,” Not Just the “What”
Introduce new tools with quick demos, cheat sheets, or student-led tutorials. Confidence grows when students and teachers know how to use what’s available.
5. Build Digital Skills
Think beyond research—consider coding kits, maker apps, or multimedia projects that help students practice real-world digital literacy.
6. Keep Learning Yourself
Stay current with webinars, professional organizations, and library tech blogs. Even one small new idea can make a big impact.
7. Ask for Feedback
Check in with students and staff regularly: What’s working? What’s frustrating? Their insights will guide your next tech upgrades.
| Need to do some fundraising for your library? Here are some posts on my blog which describe my fundraising camps. |
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📚 New Tools for School Librarians 📚
As librarians, we’re always looking for creative ways to engage students and enhance programming. I’ve developed a few custom GPTs that can help you:
- Create original stories to share with students
- Generate images for displays or handouts
- Save time when planning lessons or activities
These tools are easy to use and designed with library needs in mind. Explore them today and see how they might fit into your toolkit. These were created by a friend of mine and have great potential for helping you in your library programing.
Whether you’re just starting out
The Kid Lit GPT Bundle gives you three custom-built GPTs designed to help you brainstorm, outline, and format children’s content — faster, with more clarity, and with complete confidence.
Whether you’re just starting out
The Storytime GPT Bundle gives you three custom-built GPTs designed to help you write engaging stories, craft polished covers, and generate kid-safe illustrations — faster, with more clarity, and with complete confidence.
Each assistant focuses on one part of the storytelling process, so your books always feel professional, cohesive, and market-ready.
Character Creator’s GPT Bundle
You’ve already got the vision for your characters. Now let’s make sure the prompts bring them to life exactly as you imagined!!
The Character Creator’s GPT Bundle gives you three custom-built GPTs designed to help you brainstorm marketable ideas, create flawless kid character prompts, and design cohesive animal character prompts — faster, with more detail, and with total consistency.
Each assistant is trained to focus on one core part of your character creation workflow, so you don’t have to juggle brainstorming, prompt writing, and styling all on your own.
For a limited time, you can use the code custom10 to save $10 off of $37
Authors and librarians, would you like to have a post on this blog?
I’d like to add a couple of features to my blog in the coming months and I’d like your help. I am looking for school librarians interested in being interviewed on the blog. I am also looking for librarians and children’s or young adult authors to do guest posts on the blog. Click on the links below to fill out a survey.
Is there a way I can help you? Drop a note in the comments or shoot me an email, I’d love to help.
See you next week.
Jane (Library Lady)
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