The making of a literary award winner
The best of the best are ALA’s YMA-winning titles, announced every January and selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts.
CEO at Follett Content Solutions
A fifth-generation family member, Britten Follett is CEO at Follett Content Solutions, which has long been the No. 1 provider of content and technology solutions to school libraries at more than 70,000 schools and school districts. She has led Follett’s PreK-12 business since September 2019 and is responsible for providing leadership, strategic direction, and business development. In September 2020, Publishers Weekly named her a “PW Star Watch” honoree, one of 40 professionals singled out from the North American publishing industry.
Latest posts by Britten Follett (see all)
- The making of a literary award winner - November 25, 2024
- Dog Man vs. To Kill a Mockingbird - August 19, 2024
- Boycotting book fairs no more - May 27, 2024
Dog Man vs. To Kill a Mockingbird
The definition of a classic in literature may be changing. Breaking news… (insert dramatic music) last year, librarians and teachers bought more than 17,000 copies* of Dog Man:…
Boycotting book fairs no more
Headlines since 2020 have highlighted the federal investment of ESSER Funding in schools. In a nation where an unprecedented amount of funding was bestowed upon public schools across…
More than a passion project, literacy advocacy takes a village
Whether it’s individuals with a passion project or organizations that exist exclusively to help connect students with books, it takes a village to advocate for literacy.
You’re my hero
I’ve always hated being put on the spot to answer some version of this question: “Who is your role model? Who inspired your career? Who is your hero?”
What students are reading
let’s take a look at what students are reading in school libraries and classrooms across the country. Here are the top requested titles according to trend reports in…
Books, ebooks, and audiobooks, oh my!
Despite my affinity for audiobooks, looking at the book industry sales figures, it is clear print is still king. I agree, there’s nothing like turning the page of…
10 reasons we love teachers
Just seven days a year to celebrate teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week is hardly sufficient. After all, they celebrate our students’ wins and teach them lessons through their…
10 reasons we love school librarians
Gone are the days when a school librarian’s job was defined by shushing, rocking, and reading. While reading out loud and building a love of literacy is still…
Building culture and community takes more than a committee
When organizations are mindful and deliberate about generating and maintaining a sense of teamwork and shared goals, team members are put at ease and more productive. The same…
The phonics fix?
Much like the return of Cabbage Patch Kids, He-Man, and the Lite Brite I saw at the store on Black Friday, we’re living in an era where what’s…
When I grow up: Nurturing girls to become leaders
Growing up, I was the class vice-president; the de facto leader of every group project ever assigned; elementary and high school valedictorian; and the captain of my sports…
Education’s Great Resignation
Is it another symptom of The Great Resignation facing many sectors in America? Is this an esoteric threat to public education?
110% humidity, 100% human collaboration
This summer, thousands of educators and vendors who serve education descended on New Orleans and braved 110% humidity for the first “back to normal” conference for the International…
What are your reasons to celebrate this school year?
We can all agree that the challenges we’ve seen in the last two years are unprecedented. However, when we consider all that’s happened and all that we’ve learned,…
Learn to use books to foster critical thinking
While I’m a far cry from a Newbery, once a year, I’ve gotten into the habit of writing a picture book for my nephew Knox. My goal is…
Using the book club model in the classroom
Middle school English teachers like Carrie Friday at Southwest Middle School in Palm Bay, Florida are using the book club model.
Happy habits: SEL matters more than ever
Like St. Louis, school districts across the country opted to add an additional partial or entire week off during the holiday season/winter break to allow the students and…
Are banned books challenges, or opportunities for innovation?
This fall, the conversation around controversial titles is heating up in Texas and across the country. In the Lone Star State, there was an inquiry into the books…
A tale of three cities: Emerging from the pandemic…or not
As our world is emerging from the pandemic, there is a distinct division in our communities that was clearly articulated by the three librarians who participated in a…
Student-centered learning lessons from the Future Ready Library Summit
As students across the country began heading back to classrooms, a couple hundred library leaders participated in one of this summer’s Future Ready Library Summits. The guiding principle…
Facing the future through Future Ready
For those district leaders facing difficult budget decisions, the Future Ready Librarian framework is a way for you to examine what role you see your library playing in…
Defining Future Ready by reflecting on the past
In a panel discussion about the future of libraries in McHenry, Illinois, librarian, Future Ready Librarians spokesperson, and Washington State Teacher of the Year Mark Ray said, “There…
10 educator suggestions to instill a love of reading in students
My husband quite often reminds me not to use my behavior as a child OR an adult as an indicator of others’… because I’m weird. From the moment…
How school librarians are getting creative in a pandemic
New questions from school librarians… Will ultra violet disinfectant devices damage books? How long should I quarantine a book before circulating it again? How can I use technology…
What happens when there is no ‘e’ in eLearning?
I love the smell of the ink on the page. I cherish the way paper feels to the touch. I enjoy reflecting on the moment in time, I…
Leading eLearning: A Future Ready Library opportunity
One of my colleagues is known for regularly reminding us that a crisis is a terrible opportunity to waste. The COVID-19 crisis has forced districts to redefine the…