The Monthly Library Challenge is a fun way for School Librarians to make their libraries even better! The Challenges started in 2019, and they have changed a lot over the past few years. It started as a monthly challenge in a guided Facebook group, but now, it is a self-paced challenge with support in the Facebook group.
Each challenge features a different theme. I am in the process of revamping the challenges to make them self-paced, but this is not a quick process. I plan to work on these more regularly in 2023 to make them as useful as possible for school librarians to implement.
WHO AM I?
I am an 18-year library veteran with a MLS from University of North Texas. I’ve served libraries from PreK-Grade 12 in Texas and in two cities in China. I also taught 7th grade English in Texas prior to becoming a school librarian.
My “sweet spot” tends to be upper-elementary and middle school grades. I have worked in two IB libraries and am also familiar with Cambridge (one of my libraries in China was at a British international school). I’ve worked closely with PYP Exhibition, MYP Personal Projects, and DP Extended Essay. I was especially involved in the IBCP program as a mentor teacher for the Reflective Project for Production Arts, plus I taught a weekly research skills course that was required for all IBCP students.
HISTORY OF OUR GROUP
I left my school library in China after the end of the 2018-2019 school year to homeschool my two boys. Looking for a way to continue to stay active in the library field, I started the Monthly Library Challenge FaceBook Group so I could continue to give back to my beloved school library community. I knew I would miss my library colleagues, so I wanted to create a place where I could cheer on my fellow librarians and offer my experience to those who need help.
Our first Monthly Challenge was in September 2019. We started with the topic of Library Selection & Reconsideration Policies (Challenge #1). That very first Monthly Challenge only had about 50 participants.
The Monthly Library Challenge grew so much that by early-2021, I was completely overwhelmed! I ended the monthly Facebook Lives but left the challenges on the MrsReaderPants blog for anyone who still wanted to give them a try on their own.
In 2022, I decided I would revamp the Monthly Library Challenges as self-paced task lists. I reopened the Facebook group, but I do not currently do live videos there. At this point, I am just too busy!
For now, I am continuing to work on the challenges. It’s slow-going, but I’ve committed to finishing the current challenges in 2023 and looking forward to creating some new ones in 2024. Stay tuned!
WHAT DOES IT COST?
Joining the Monthly Challenge Facebook group is totally free, with no strings attached. The task lists are on MrsReaderPants and also totally free.
DO I HAVE TO DO THE CHALLENGES IN ORDER?
Definitely not. You can do as many or as few challenges as you like, and they are in no particular order. Some challenges might not work for your library, or maybe you just don’t have the time to manage it right now. I’m here because I want to help you. I do not want the challenges to be a source of stress, and I will not kick you out of the group for not doing the challenges.
HOW DO I JOIN?
You can click here to request to join the Facebook group. Members should be involved in the library in some capacity, so be sure to answer the questions about your library in order to be approved. If I cannot verify that you are affiliated with the library through your answers, I will not accept your request.
“Affiliated with the library in some way” includes current and future library students, teachers thinking about going into the library, library aides, parent library volunteers, retired librarians, and of course, current librarians. My focus is school librarians in particular, but public librarians are also welcome to join us!