Presenter: Jennifer LaGarde

Jennifer LaGarde is a lifelong teacher and learner with over 20 years in public education. Her educational passions include leveraging technology to help students develop authentic reading lives, meeting the unique needs of students living in poverty and helping learners (of all ages) discern fact from fiction in the information they consume. A huge fan of YA Literature, Jennifer currently lives, works, reads and drinks lots of coffee in Olympia, Washington. Follow her adventures at www.librarygirl.net or on Twitter @jenniferlagarde.

Keynote: #SaidNoGREATLibrarianEver: Reframing the Conversation Around Libraries by Reclaiming Your Why

Time and time again, research has shown that school libraries staffed by certified librarians, add academic and personal value to the lives of students and teachers. And yet, each year, librarianship remains a profession in peril, an occupation plagued by a single question: are you still necessary? In this session we’ll take aim at some of the language and practices that perpetuate stereotypes about our profession, while also identifying ways that ALL librarians can harness the power of WHY they chose this profession in the first place to both prove their worth AND make radical, positive changes in their school communities.

Co-Hosted by the School Library Systems of:
 Cayuga-Onondaga
 Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery
 Madison-Oneida
 Jefferson-Lewis
 Oneida/Herkimer
 Otsego-Northern Catskills
 Oswego/Onondaga-Cortland-Madison
 Wayne Finger Lakes