Sorry, I'm All Booked with Emily Golightly

What happens when school librarians trade their stacks for muddy boots and national park trails? In this episode of Sorry, I’m All Booked, host Emily Golightly chats with Pre-K–8th grade librarian Dawn Simpson about how educator travel through STEAM in the Park transforms field science into place-based library learning. From stargazing over the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon to spotting banana slugs and exploring tide pools in Olympic National Park, Dawn shares how immersive nature experiences reignite educator passion and capture students' imaginations. Tune in to discover actionable strategies for your school—from hands-on middle school engineering kits to Flat Ranger projects and live virtual ranger visits—and learn how to stretch learning far beyond the four walls of your library!

Shownotes:

STEAM in the Park website: steaminthepark.net

**Applications for this summer's experiences open January 1st, 2027!**

Expeditions in Education: https://www.expeditionsineducation.org/

Crossing America: https://www.crossingamerica.net/

US National Parks Service: https://www.nps.gov/index.htm

The squeak of metal cart wheels, the crinkle of poster sleeves, and the distinct aroma of scratch-and-sniff bookmarks can only mean one thing: Book Fair Season is here!

In this episode of Sorry, I’m All Booked, Emily Golightly dives into a topic that evokes equal parts pure childhood magic and deep systemic existential dread for school librarians across the country. We’re pulling back the curtain on the traditional school book fair—the good, the bad, and the piggy banks.

In this episode, we unpack:

• The Magic & Nostalgia: Why walking into a book fair still feels like a candy store for kids (and why parents are obsessing over nostalgic Scholastic mugs).

• The Systemic Reality: The uncomfortable truth about funding public school libraries on couch-cushion change and 25% cash-back profits in an era of slashed state budgets.

• Equity in Action: How to use "not-so-random" drawings to ensure every single child leaves with a book, regardless of what's in their wallet.

• 5 Practical Survival Hacks: Pro tips for digital e-wallets, wishlist days, volunteer management, and navigating cash vs. vendor credit payouts.

• Bonus Book Reviews: Heartfelt middle-grade recommendations featuring Lisa Graff’s A Scar Like a River and Jamie Sumner’s Wish You Well.

Grab your coffee and hit play to join the conversation on balancing the dream and reality of hosting a book fair!

Shownotes:

Link to #TrueBookFairs Episode w/ Julie Stivers

Book Fair Pinterest Board 

Link to Scholastic Book Fairs

Link to Literati Book Fairs

Link to Gigi’s Library (Contact Gina Mays to schedule your own curated book fair in NC or SC area)--[email protected] | 803-924-2466

More About Gina Mays HERE (Podcast episode about her transition from educator to bookseller) 

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

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Is your school library budget running on fumes and optimism? Join Emily Golightly on Sorry, I’m All Booked for an action-packed guide to hunting down grants and unlocking alternative funding for your media center! Whether you’re working in North Carolina or anywhere across the nation, this episode breaks down how to secure serious cash without losing your sanity in the process.
In this episode, we cover:

• The "Master Folder" Hack: How to organize your core specs once so you can pull off fast, stress-free grant applications in under an hour.
  
• Where the Money Is: Key opportunities in North Carolina (Bright Ideas, NCSLMA, SLNC) plus major national grants (Laura Bush Foundation, Dollar General, EJK Mini-Grants, and more).
  
• Compelling Storytelling: How to blend human impact with hard data to turn standard applications into winning narratives.
  
• The Do's and Don'ts: Essential guidelines, budget rules, and administrative steps to keep your application at the top of the pile.
  

Grants are opportunities, not guarantees—and the more you apply for, the closer you get to funding your dream library projects. Press play, grab your coffee, and let's get that library funded!
Have a favorite grant or funding secret that wasn't mentioned? Leave a comment below—we’d love to feature your ideas in an upcoming episode!

Are school author visits really worth the budget, stress, and schedule juggling? Spoiler alert: The data says a resounding YES!

In this episode of Sorry, I’m All Booked, host Emily Golightly dives into the real magic—and hard numbers—behind bringing published creators into your school. We’re unpacking how author visits dramatically boost literacy, double student reading levels, and ignite a passion for writing in even the most reluctant readers.

Whether you're a school librarian, teacher, administrator, or PTO volunteer, hit play to learn how to make author visits seamless, affordable, and high-impact!

Follow me on social to stay connected, share ideas, and ask questions!

Facebook: @emilyg143

X/Twitter: @EmilyGolightly3

Instagram: @sorryimallbookedwithemilyg or @egolightlyLinktree

Episode Resource Links:

• • Discovery Education Blog: The Pros and Cons of AI in Education: Benefits, Risks, and Real Examples
  • AI Safety & Insider Warnings: Recent statements and safety concerns from frontier AI developers and researchers
  • Diffit
  • MagicSchoolAI
  • Curipod

Unpacking what recent national data tells us about student reading habits, how we unintentionally created a culture of "readicide" in our schools, and most importantly, how small, deliberate shifts—like bringing back dedicated choice reading time and protecting school libraries—can completely turn the tide

Links:

Follow me on social to stay connected, share ideas, and ask questions!

Facebook: @emilyg143

Twitter: @EmilyGolightly3

Instagram: @sorryimallbookedwithemilyg or @egolightlyLinktree

References:

Gallagher, K., & Allington, R. L. (2023). Readicide: How schools are killing reading and what you can do about it. Routledge.

Miller, D., & Anderson, J. (2013). The book whisperer: Awakening the inner reader in every child. Jossey-Bass.

Miller, D., Kelley, S., & Lesesne, T. S. (2014). Reading in the wild: The book whisperer’s keys to cultivating lifelong reading habits. Jossey-Bass.

Mowreader, A. (2026, June 10). Reading for pleasure sharply down among Schoolkids, Education Department report shows. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/kids-reading-less-lower-levels-department-education-study-rcna348987

National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). NAEP long-term trend assessment results:reading and mathematics. The Nation’s Report Card. https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ltt/2025/

Today’s episode is all about celebrating Banned Books Week.  I will also review one of my latest reads, and then we’ll get a little sneak peak into a future episode. Happy listening!

Links:Follow me on social to stay connected, share ideas, and ask questions!Facebook: ⁠@emilyg143⁠

Twitter/X: ⁠@EmilyGolightly3⁠

Instagram: ⁠@sorryimallbookedwithemilyg⁠ or ⁠@egolightly⁠⁠Linktree⁠

Follow the American Library Association here:

Website: https://www.ala.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanLibraryAssociation

Twitter/X: @ALALibrary

Instagram: @americanlibraryassociation

Information on Banned Books Week (from the ALA website):

Levar Burton will headline a live virtual conversation with Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair Da’Taeveyon Daniels about censorship and advocacy at 8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 4. The event will stream live on Instagram (@banned_books_week). Visit BannedBooksWeek.org for more details.

Saturday, October 7, will mark Let Freedom Read Day, a day of action against censorship. From calling decision-makers to checking out or buying banned books to writing letters and more, everyone is encouraged to do at least one thing to defend the right to read and to speak on behalf of those who ensure access to information. For information about ways to participate and resources, visit bannedbooksweek.org/let-freedom-read-day/.

Book Ban Data

The Library Bill of Rights

We Need Diverse Books

For more info:

Betsy Gomez

Coordinator

Banned Books Week Coalition

[email protected]

If you would like to help support the podcast and the creation of future episodes, you can ⁠click here⁠! Thanks for your support!

Today’s episode is all about the read aloud, and I will be chatting with a special guest, Lauren Simmons, about ways to engage our littlest learners.  I will also review one of my latest reads, and then we’ll get a little sneak peak into a future episode. Happy listening!

Links:
Follow me on social to stay connected, share ideas, and ask questions!
Facebook: @emilyg143
Twitter: @EmilyGolightly3
Instagram: @sorryimallbookedwithemilyg or @egolightly
Linktree

Follow Lauren on Instagram: @beachgirlfarmworld

Follow Author/Speaker Lester Laminack on Twitter for more great read aloud recommendations: @lester_laminack

Check out these resources for making your read alouds more interactive:
NovelEffect

If you would like to help support the podcast and the creation of future episodes, you can click here! Thanks for your support!

Today’s episode is all about gifts for bookworms, both adults and kids alike.  I will also review one of my latest reads, and then we’ll get a little sneak peak into a future episode. Happy listening!

Links:
Follow me on social to stay connected, share ideas, and ask questions!
Facebook: @emilyg143
Twitter: @EmilyGolightly3
Instagram: @sorryimallbookedwithemilyg or @egolightly
Linktree

Article:
Karen Iorio Adelson, H. R. (2022, November 22). The best gifts for bookworms (that aren't books). The Strategist. Retrieved December 4, 2022, from https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-gifts-for-book-lovers.html

Ideal Bookshelf
Some Other Ideal Bookshelf Options from Etsy:
Book Spine Art by CarmenDrawsTonight
Personalised Bookshelf Print by The Origami Fox
Personalized Bookshelf Print by LauraRowStudio

In this episode, I interview Julie Stivers as we discuss equity, book fairs, and ways to make book fairs more equitable through her idea of having a #TrueBookFair where students receive books for FREE. I really enjoyed this interview, and I hope you'll check it out!

Links:
Follow me on social to stay connected, share ideas, and ask questions!
Facebook: @emilyg143
Twitter: @EmilyGolightly3
Instagram: @sorryimallbookedwithemilyg or @egolightly
Linktree

Follow Julie Stivers at @BespokeLib on Twitter and @mvlibraryreads on IG

Children’s Rights to Read www.rightstoread.org

Article About Julie Stivers: https://sils.unc.edu/news/Stivers-Award-2022
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. (2022, October 24). Alum Julie Stivers (MSLS '15) named North Carolina Library Media Coordinator of the year by North Carolina School Library Media Association. sils.unc.edu. Retrieved December 7, 2022, from https://sils.unc.edu/news/Stivers-Award-2022

Article About #TrueBookFairs: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/116407/ Dankowski, T. (Ed.). (2020, June 24). Ridding schools of reading trauma. American Libraries Magazine. Retrieved December 7, 2022, from https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/116407/

Link to purchase Julie's book from the American Library Association

What is Julie reading that she recommends?

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum

Fame: Bad Bunny by Eric Esquivel and Amanda del Cid Lugo (graphic novel)