ExCITE! Offers School Librarians, Educators an Opportunity to Learn

Exchange, Create, Infuse, Transform, and Energize! That's what 28 school librarians and other educators from across the state did in the South Dakota State Library’s ExCITE! program in July.

The ExCITE! Library Methods course is an annual professional development opportunity (two grad/undergrad credits or 30 continuing education contact hours) for all types of educators: librarians, teachers, specialists, paraprofessionals, administrators, and coordinators.

This year’s ExCITE! theme was Civic and Ethical Literacy, which is the third strand of the South Dakota School Library Standards. Participants focused on the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living and learning in an interconnected world. A similar course will be offered during the 2023-24 school year. Information about this course and other professional development opportunities offered by the State Library can be found at https://library.sd.gov/LIB/SLC/.

Of the 28 students in this summer's course, 18 were certified teacher librarians, seven were certified classroom teachers, two were paraprofessionals, and one was in another stage of library education. They represented 24 school districts and all levels, from elementary to high school.

Federal funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services provides speakers, resources, and full-tuition scholarships for ExCITE! attendees.