Can't Shelve This

Can't Shelve This

The podcast where we hammer home the importance of school libraries. Hosted by RAILS Data Analyst Janette Derucki and IHLS School Library Membership Coordinator Leah Gregory. Can't Shelve This is a product of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) in collaboration with the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS).

Episodes

September 10, 2024 57 mins

Welcome to Can't Shelve This: your new school library podcast.

Co-hosts Janette Derucki (RAILS Data Analyst) and Leah Gregory (IHLS School Library Membership Coordinator) introduce themselves and discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly happening at Illinois school libraries.

Rel...

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Help us help you…share the important work that you’re doing in school libraries.

Janette and Leah chat with school librarians Gail Meyer (Thornton Fractional High School) and Deb Will (Zion-Benton Township High School) about the simplest and most impactful ways that anyone can advocate for school libraries.

Relevant Links:

AISLE Letter Writing Campaign/Legislation Letter Template

AISLE By The Numbers Canva Template

SLATE Project

 

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November 12, 2024 71 mins

Janette and Leah chat with district librarian Nichole Folkman (Hartsburg-Emden CUSD #21) about the best ways to get your tots, tweens, and teens excited about visiting the school library. Plus, we read and discuss your submitted programming stories!

Relevant Links:

Follow Nichole on Instagram

AISLE Readers' Choice Book Awards

 

 

 

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School librarian and administrator relationships can be tricky to navigate.

Janette and Leah are joined by school librarian Beth Kovacic and principal Akemi Sessler (Dryden Elementary School) and discuss how you can foster that positive relationship to improve student, teacher, and community success. 

Relevant Links:

Shannon Miller 

John Hattie

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February 11, 2025 95 mins

Janette and Leah sit down with the internet's favorite librarian, Mychal Threets! Together, they talk about how even the smallest moments of library joy help us persist—both in librarianship and in life. Plus, we read and react to your library joy stories! 

Books We Discussed:

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally ...

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March 11, 2025 71 mins

We talk about certified school librarianship all the time in Library Land, but what does that even mean?

Janette and Leah break it down for you in this episode with Lauren Ochs (School Library Licensure Coordinator at University of Illinois) and Hannah Fiedler (recently-certified school librarian). 

Relevant Links:

Illinois School Library Workers Symposium (September 17, 2025)

Association of Illinois Sc...

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April 8, 2025 70 mins

Every student deserves to be seen in their school library.


Janette and Leah are joined by "A" (local school librarian) and Jessica Silva (RAILS Member Engagement Specialist) to discuss how to create welcoming and inclusive school libraries. Together, they share strategies for supporting EDIA in the changing educational landscape.

 

Relevant Links:

Coopera...

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May 13, 2025 67 mins

Instead of feeling sad, let's get mad.

In the spirit of a mid-year Festivus, co-hosts Janette and Leah address the current library landscape and read listener-submitted rants.

Relevant Links:

Agencies of Impact Report

IMLS Advocacy Pulse Page

Illinois State Board of Education ELA Standards

ISAIL Standards

AASL Standards

Books Mentioned:

Yellowface by R.F. Kuanga

All Fours by Miranda July

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June 10, 2025 63 mins

It’s a summer send-off at Can’t Shelve This!

In this season finale, Leah and Janette go straight to the source for school library wisdom: Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School librarian Heather McCarthy and two of her eighth graders, Emily and Nathan! Together, they talk about what it feels like to have a school with a thriving library, and what you can do to help build one.

Relevant Links:

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August 12, 2025 66 mins

Season 2 is officially in session!

Settle into back-to-school season with Janette and Leah as they unpack all the library propaganda we're not falling for. No homework—just laughs, mythbusting, and a few hot takes. 

Relevant Links:

AISLE Conference 10/5-10/7

Extra Credit! 8/20

Illinois School Library Workers Symposium 9/17

Public Act 103-010...

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