6/14/2021 Amanda Jones | Movers & Shakers 2021–Educators | Library Journal

Amanda Jones | Movers & Shakers 2021–Educators Jun 03, 2021 | Filed in People 

Virtual Tour Guide

Four days after her school closed due to COVID-19,

Amanda Jones, Teacher-Librarian at Live Oak Middle

Library in Watson, LA, launched her first virtual trip for

students and their families. To date, she’s completed 50

such trips, with topics ranging from the Renaissance

and the Mars Perseverance Rover to Uganda and

Nepal. “As a school librarian, I not only aid my students

in the acquisition of print texts, but am a ‘wonder

defender’ and ‘knowledge cultivator’ that helps them

grow in the digital age,” she says.

Jones worked with teachers to make sure each trip met

grade-level standards. She also organized virtual author chats and created parent resource boards with learning resources to help families coping with the pandemic isolation.

Demonstrating the drive that made her—along with Diane Mokuau from Molokai, HI—School Library Journal’s 2021 School Librarian of the Year, Jones also acts as a mentor on a large scale.

“I am passionate about freely sharing my knowledge,” she says. “I started a webinar series with my friend Heather White, and we have had educators and other librarians from over 15 countries and all 50 states attend.” The hashtag she uses for the events, #BetterTogether, makes her mission clear.

CURRENT POSITION

Teacher-Librarian, Live Oak Middle Library, Watson, LA

DEGREE

MEd, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, 2007

FAST FACTS

Jones has hosted 50 virtual trips for her students since March 2020.

FOLLOW

librarianjones.com; lomlibrary.org; @abmack33 

Photo by Kathryn and Travis

Photography

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6/14/2021 Amanda Jones | Movers & Shakers 2021–Educators | Library Journal

Lafayette School Librarian and mentee Kelsey Baudoin

says, “We met through a Facebook group and she has volunteered repeatedly to mentor and assist me with various library projects. I could list one hundred things Amanda has done that are perfectly amazing…she is the most talented, hardworking, helpful, generous, and knowledgeable librarian I have ever met.”

school librarian SLJ School Librarian of the Year virtual trips

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