Kathy Mansfield

Kathy Mansfield

By Kathy Mansfield
kathy.mansfield@education.ky.gov

Welcome to the new format for Kentucky School Library Media News!

I’m Kathy Mansfield, library media/textbooks consultant for the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). I provide information and resources about effective school library media programs to Kentucky’s librarians, schools and districts, as well as represent the interests of quality library media programs for schools through work at the state and national levels.

Part of that national work includes a three-year commitment to the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Standards and Guidelines Editorial Board, which is tasked with revising the national library media standards and guidelines that our state follows. Kentucky’s version of those guidelines is “Beyond Proficiency @ your library” – introduced to Kentucky schools in 2010 – which includes K-12 student standards, “Standards for the 21st Century Learner.”

Kentucky school librarians are recognized nationally for their strong commitment to preparing students for future work and education. Terri Grief, one of two certified librarians at McCracken County High School, served as the 2014-15 president for AASL and spoke around the world about quality school libraries and brought a global spotlight to outstanding programs in Kentucky during her tenure. Franklin County’s Jessica Holmes was recognized in 2014 with the Carnegie Corp. of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award.

Many other Kentucky school librarians have received national and state awards and serve on state and national committees through professional organizations and at KDE to ensure Kentucky’s students have access to certified librarians, effective programs and quality resources, all of which are required by Kentucky statutes.

In this section of Kentucky Teacher, librarians will continue to receive announcements, professional learning opportunities, news and program ideas as in the past, but now on a monthly rather than a quarterly basis. Access to archives of previous newsletters still will be available, but I hope librarians and other educators will visit this section of Kentucky Teacher often to discover news, trends and resources to make their school library programs the best they can be for our students.

 

Kathy Mansfield worked as a librarian in Jefferson County (1991-2003) and Shelby County (2003-09 and 2012-13). She began her work as library media consultant at the Kentucky Department of Education in 2009. Mansfield received the Kentucky Association of School Librarians Award of Merit in 2015 and 2012, the Kentucky Library Association’s 2013 James A. Nelson Advocacy Award, and was selected in 2015 to serve on the American Association of School Librarians Standards and Guidelines Editorial Board. She also facilitates the work of the Kentucky State Textbook Commission and provides guidance to Kentucky’s district textbook coordinators. For questions about library media programs, email Mansfield at kathy.mansfield@education.ky.gov or visit the Library Media section of the KDE website.