Presented by Michelle Luhtala, Library Department Chair, New Canaan High School, CT; and Donna Burns, Technology Integrator, New Canaan High School, CT
Sponsored by Mackin Educational Resources

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The library makerspace is emerging as a powerful vehicle for increasing library visibility and value to the student community. In this session, Michelle Luhtala, Library Department Chair, and Donna Burns, Technology Integrator, of New Canaan High School in Connecticut, feature how reorganization and materials selection helped one learning community fully embrace “making” across disciplines and grade levels.

Participants can expect to learn strategies that will grow maker culture. This session is of particular benefit to K-12 librarians, teachers, and administrators, and is designed to empower educators to lead transformational learning through making regardless of where they are on the maker continuum. 

About the Presenters

Michelle Luhtala is the Library Department Chair at New Canaan High School in Connecticut and was one of five school librarians named as a “Mover and Shaker” by Library Journal in 2015. She is the winner of the 2011 “I Love My Librarian” Award and the Library Association’s 2010 Outstanding Librarian Award. The New Canaan High School Library won AASL’s National School Library Program of the year in 2010. Follow her on Twitter @mluhtala.

Donna Burns earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Southern Connecticut State University. She also earned a Master of Science degree in instructional technology from Western Connecticut State University. In addition, Donna attended Sacred Heart University where she completed the Educational Leadership program and earned an Intermediate Administrator Certification and Certificate of Advanced Study in Administration. She began her career in the East Haven Public Schools as an integrated language arts teacher. Next, Donna served several roles in the Bethel Public Schools including Library Media Specialist, Administrative Intern, K-12 Coordinator of Computer Science and Library Media, and Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator. Currently, Donna is a technology integrator and web content manager at New Canaan High School in Connecticut.

Join the Emerging Tech for Schools and Libraries community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.

 Mackin is one of the top providers of library and classroom materials for grades PK-12. Working with over 18,000 publishers and a database of nearly 3 million printed titles, and more than 1.9 million digital titles, Mackin supplies print books, eBooks, online educational databases, audiobooks and video resources to schools around the globe.