Senator Hirono Convenes Roundtable to Discuss Book BanningOn Wednesday, October 11th, I had the honor of representing HASL at a roundtable discussion with Senator Hirono on the importance of protecting our keiki’s right to read. Also in attendance were State Librarian Stacy Aldrich, Legal Director of Hawaii ACLU Wookie Kim, as well as two high school students, one from the University Lab School and one homeschooler. During the meeting, I shared the HIDOE updated Library Materials Selection Guidelines and the need for all stakeholders, especially administrators, parents, and non-certificated library staff to be aware of and follow the guidelines in order to ensure student access to diverse materials. Senator Hirono attended the recent Judiciary Committee Hearing on Book Banning, which I recommend listening to when you have the time. In our meeting, she stated her unequivocal support for students’ right to read and for the importance of library collections that reflect and celebrate the rich diversity of our community. She also shared that her love of reading was sparked by her own school librarian at Koko Head Elementary, Ms. Petrie, which goes to show the importance and power of the work we do every day. I’m heartened by Senator Hirono’s attention to this important issue. Coffee Talk: Effective and Ethical Use of Generative AI in School LibrariesSeveral HASL members joined together to talk story about generative AI in the library. Mid-Pacific Institute’s Director of Libraries David Wee shared several innovative ideas such as guiding students to use ChatGPT as a tool to generate ideas for a long-form essay on a topic of their choice as well as helping students visualize how generative AI fits into the structure of the World Wide Web. Sacred Hearts librarian Laurel Oshiro discussed her reading of Ready Player Two, a follow up to Ready Player One, which was a good reminder of the power of fiction to help us imagine and explore our changing world. If that sounds like an invitation to read, it is. You might want to try one of these books from Penguin Random House. Librarians United Podcast also has a recent episode exploring the topic. Thanks to Meera Garud for taking minutes and to all who attended. Not only did we deepen our understanding of the topic, but we also strengthened our connection to one another. I hope more members join us in our next Coffee Talk. Upcoming Events
Mahalo for all that you do for our keiki!
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