Jean Darnell: Awaken Librarian

The book that I worked on as a researcher and contributor, Uncensored: Educators Speak Out on Teaching in a Time of Book Bans by Dr. Jonna Perrillo (Harvard Educated Press, 2026), has hit the shelves in academic libraries across the country. Please check it out from your preferred local library. If you like it as much as I hope, then please purchase here . Thank you to Dr. Perrillo and all other contributors and editors of the book. Am I happy to have my perspective and experience finally validated in a librarian's favorite way--a book? Of course. Does it make me anxious? Of course. But the source of fear isn't where you'd think it's from. I have a habit of speaking my truth, regardless if it's documented or tolerated. I see it as only I can. I bring my whole self to everything I touch. It's a matter of fingerprints literally and figuratively. Within the book, I recount my darkest days as a school librarian from 2020-2022 in the hotspot for book bans: de...

Hello friends! I know it's been a while since I posted, but big changes happened in my life. I accepted a new leadership role on the east coast in Philadelphia. This presentation below is how it all began: Reimagining Philly by Jean Darnell Which led to this... And this... So, there you have it. I'm a Library Director in Philadelphia! Here are a few pictures of me in action: Don't worry, I will get back to my AI adventures in 2025. You can still catch me at TCEA 2025 as a conference presenter in February and I will be a SXSWEdu in March!

Recently, I was asked to create a lesson on teaching students how to differentiate and determine use of websites as credible online resources. I created a handy acronym (CRAFT vs. CROOK) on grading websites. I made a previous knowledge connection between "handcrafted toys" vs "mass-produced toys" via a "t-chart" checklist on the dry-erase board. Below is the word document for the lesson plan and a brief slide presentation using some of additional resources.

Woo-hoo! It's National Library Week! Are you participating in the ALA National Library Week Challenge?? I am! :) @ALALibrary Here's my #bannedbook from the 2015 list! 😈 #LibrariesTransform #photochallenge #LoveMySchoolLibrary pic.twitter.com/vAOEJnU2lW — AwakenLibrarian (@awakenlibrarian) April 11, 2016 Happy #NLWD2016 Myself & Mrs. Noceja-my beloved Kindergarten #coworker / #friend !! #WNDLibs @ALALibrary pic.twitter.com/llmLkhufRB — AwakenLibrarian (@awakenlibrarian) April 12, 2016 The best part of my #library 's the entrance door: Seeing those kiddos' smiles, hugs & exuberance inspires me! #NLW16 pic.twitter.com/f50iA27vSq — AwakenLibrarian (@awakenlibrarian) April 13, 2016 Libraries inspire hope w/in the community& provide the resources needed to achieve their dreams! #LibrariesTransform pic.twitter.com/u6ZLZo3csg — AwakenLibrarian (@awakenlibrarian) April 14, 2016 Pls chk out how we've celebrated #NLW16 ...