I attended the NCCE 2025 Teacher Librarian Summit, and my brain is still buzzing with ideas! The summit focused on how school libraries can maximize impact with limited resources, and I walked away with so many practical strategies I can’t wait to try. Instead of keeping them in my notes, I’m sharing five things I’m implementing in my library before spring break—maybe you’ll find something to try, too!
1. Supercharging Student Engagement with Quick Connection Cards
One of my biggest takeaways was the power of Quick Connection Cards—simple conversation starters and activities that help build relationships. These can be used for icebreakers, book talks, or just getting students to share ideas. Before spring break, I’m going to incorporate these into my library visits to create more opportunities for student interaction.
Try it: Download free Quick Connection Cards by making an account at Harmony Academy and use them to spark meaningful discussions.
2. Making AI Work for the Library
AI isn’t just a buzzword—it can actually help us personalize learning experiences and streamline tasks. The summit introduced a range of AI tools for curation, lesson planning, and even book recommendations. My plan? Experiment with tools like Canva’s AI-powered design features to create custom book displays and reading challenges before break.
Try it: Explore Canva for Education to create visually engaging library materials in minutes.
3. Hosting a Podcast Listening Party
I love the idea of integrating podcasts into literacy instruction, and the summit provided a huge list of engaging, student-friendly podcasts. Before spring break, I’m going to host a “Podcast & Popcorn” session, where students can listen to an episode, discuss key themes, and maybe even brainstorm their own podcast ideas!
Try it: Check out bit.ly/podcastsforkids for an amazing selection of educational podcasts for different grade levels.
4. Curating Choice Boards for Independent Learning
Choice boards are an easy way to give students autonomy in their learning, and the summit reinforced how they can work for everything from research projects to book selection. I’m planning to create a March Madness-style book tournament choice board to encourage reading and discussion.
Try it: Get inspiration from this ready-to-use digital choice boards (link) and customize it for your students.
5. Advocating for My Library with Data
One of the most powerful messages from the summit was the importance of advocacy—we need to be telling our library’s story with data! I’ll be tracking circulation trends, student feedback, and event participation in a simple dashboard to share with administrators before spring break.
Try it: Start small—pick one metric (like circulation increases or student engagement) and use it to show your impact.
Final Thoughts
The NCCE Teacher Librarian Summit reinforced that even small changes can have a big impact. Whether it’s engaging students with interactive activities, leveraging AI tools, or making library advocacy more data driven, I’m excited to test these strategies before spring break. If you try any of these ideas—or have a great one of your own—let’s chat in the comments!
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Written by Erin Downey, NCCE Professional Learning Specialist; District Consulting Librarian at Boise School District
