Kershaw County School District librarians joined hundreds of educators from across the state for the 2025 South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL) Conference, held March 19-21 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Kershaw County was represented by 14 librarians, library assistants and district leadership, reflecting the district’s strong commitment to literacy and school library advocacy. Participants returned with new ideas and initiatives to strengthen reading engagement in their schools, including book club programs, financial literacy lessons, summer reading strategies and hands-on creative projects. Several librarians also shared their excitement about introducing new book award nominees to students.
Katelyn Smith, librarian at Jackson Elementary School, was inspired by sessions focused on inclusion and accessibility. “I’m excited to try adapted books for students with disabilities—especially those with fine motor skill challenges,” Smith said. “One idea I loved was adding ponytail holder tabs to make page-turning easier for all students.”
“One of the most impactful takeaways was seeing how involving faculty and staff in summer reading can build a true culture of literacy,” said Renata Inabinet, librarian at Midway Elementary. “When students see adults around them reading, they gain role models who reinforce the joy and importance of books.”
Inspiration from the conference also sparked creative programming ideas for schools. “I was inspired by a session connecting Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour to year-long genre studies,” said Betsy Long, librarian at Doby’s Mill Elementary. “It sparked so many ideas about engaging students creatively with reading and building community around books.”
Long added that the conference reenergized her passion for student-centered reading experiences. “The conference reminded me of just how much students love the simple act of a read-aloud,” she said. “I left excited to start a new Lunch Bunch group, reading Wishtree with students and connecting it to a school-wide Arbor Day project.”
Daley Branham, librarian at Pine Tree Hill Elementary, said the event was especially valuable as a first-year librarian. “The conference left me feeling inspired, more confident, and ready to grow our library program,” Branham said. “I learned that it takes more than just the librarian—it truly takes the whole school community to make a library program thrive.”
In addition to professional development, KCSD librarians earned several awards and recognitions at the conference:
- 100% SCASL Membership Award: Kershaw County was recognized as one of the few districts in South Carolina with 100% membership in SCASL, reflecting the district’s commitment to professional growth and advocacy for school libraries.
- Nancy Jane Day Scholarship: Beth King of Lugoff-Elgin High School received the scholarship, which supports SCASL members pursuing graduate coursework in library science.
- Middle School Book Banner Contest, Third Place: Camden Middle School earned third place for their banner inspired by the 2024-2025 SC Junior Book Award nominee What Happened to Rachel Riley by Clare Swinarski. The banner was created by students Maybre Davis, Aleena Preacher and Alexandra Murphy.
- SCASL Board Elections: Emily Baccomo of Lugoff-Elgin Middle School was elected SCASL President-Elect for 2025-2026. Daley Branham of Pine Tree Hill Elementary was elected as a Member-at-Large.
“These recognitions highlight the dedication and leadership of our school librarians,” said Julie Putnam, KCSD Director of Web and Media Services. “They are passionate about fostering literacy, promoting lifelong reading and supporting teachers and students.”
For more information about the South Carolina Association of School Librarians, visit www.scasl.net.