Colorado State Library

✨ Congratulations to Marika "Mo" Olson, teacher librarian at Douglas County High School for earning all five credentials in the HESTL Teacher Librarian pathway! Mo and her library dream team have transformed the DCHS library into the heart of the school community-- a welcoming space where every student belongs and every reader thrives. We are proud to recognize her with the HESTL School Designation.

🎉 Congratulations to Ash Brandin on earning the HESTL School Designation at Broomfield Heights Middle School in Boulder Valley School District. As their school's Equity Facilitator, Ash pursues belonging as a design principle: they ensure students who experience text differently have the same rich access to stories as every other reader, and model what it looks like when a library functions as a hub for inclusion and collaboration.

They lead PD for school staff and district colleagues, mentor the next generation of school librarians, and are a published author. Their data-driven approach has deepened collaboration with school leadership and made the library essential to their whole school community.

This is what a highly effective school library looks like. 📚

There's nothing quite like a room full of people who love libraries as much as you do. 💙 School librarians and public librarians serving K-12 youth — join us June 9th for HESTL EdCON 2026 at DCSD Legacy Campus in Lone Tree, CO. A full day of learning, connection, and leadership. Registration closes June 1st.

🔗 View the program and register: bit.ly/hestledcon2026

8 Continuing Ed contact hours. One incredible day of learning.🎓
HESTL EdCON 2026 is June 9th at DCSD Legacy Campus — register by June 1st to save your spot!
https://bit.ly/hestledcon2026

Congratulations to Gina Bernacchi, Teacher Librarian at Highlands Ranch High School, on earning the HESTL School Designation! 🎉The HESTL School Designation recognizes teacher librarians who have completed all five credentials in Colorado's Highly Effective Schools Through Libraries program — demonstrating exemplary practice and a powerful impact on their school community.

Gina and Library Assistant Angie Yearous have built a library program that is a true center of learning at HRHS — a warm and inviting space that draws all students in, and where they develop the critical thinking and information literacy skills they'll carry far beyond high school.

Also pictured is Tracie King, Douglas County Schools Library Programming Director, who is retiring this year after many years of dedicated service growing strong school library programs across the district. Thank you, Tracie — your impact on Colorado school libraries is immeasurable. 💙

School Library Month is the perfect time to celebrate the teacher librarians who make Colorado schools stronger! Meet Alexis Tritz, teacher librarian at Ponderosa Elementary in Cherry Creek Schools. Through intentional support and a deep knowledge of her collection, Alexis builds the kind of sustained reading culture where every student can discover a love of reading. That's the power of a strong school library. 📚🌟

School librarians AND youth services public librarians, this one's for you! HESTL EdCON brings together Colorado library professionals who serve K-12 youth for a full day of student-centered learning, networking, and a keynote from the incredible Jennifer LaGarde.
🔗 bit.ly/hestledcon2026

✨ National School Library Month spotlight! Carla Flanhofer at Peak to Peak Charter School in Boulder Valley School District reminds us libraries are so much more than books — they're the heart of a school.

🌟 Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of this year's CAL School Library Awards-- you are an inspiration to the entire Colorado school library community!

Big congratulations to Hollie Hawkins at Eaglecrest High School in Cherry Creek Schools who just earned the HESTL School Designation — Colorado's highest recognition for school library programs! 🌟

Hollie and her library team have built a program where students belong, read, think critically, and leave prepared for what's next. We're also celebrating Principal Gwen Hansen-Vigil, recipient of the HESTL Principal Collaboration Credential, for her steadfast support of the Eaglecrest library. This is what a thriving school library looks like!