Tag Archives: AASL

Conference, School Media Specialist

AASL seeks program proposals for 2018 ALA Annual Conference

American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

Contact:

Jennifer Habley
Manager, Web Communications
American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
312-280-4383
jhabley@ala.org

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) invites proposals for concurrent sessions to be presented during the 2018 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference. The conference will be held June 21 – 26 in New Orleans, La. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. Central on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017.

AASL seeks proposals for 60-minute concurrent sessions. All programs should include up to three learning objectives and should address how the session supports the AASL standards and strategic plan.

Continue reading AASL seeks program proposals for 2018 ALA Annual Conference →

Children's services, Conference, School Media Specialist

School library professionals invited to attend AASL’s virtual membership meeting

American Association of School Librarians

Contact:

Jennifer Habley
Manager, Web Communications
American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
312-280-4383
jhabley@ala.org

 

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) will hold its annual virtual membership meeting at 5 p.m. Central (6 p.m. Eastern, 4 p.m. Mountain, 3 p.m. Pacific) on Sunday, June 4, 2017. The annual membership meeting provides AASL members with a “state of the association” update via reports from AASL leadership.

As the membership meeting requires no official vote of AASL membership, all members of the school library profession are invited to attend. RSVP here to receive an email with a link to the online meeting space. AASL leadership encourages active participation in the meeting and will be available for questions via the chatbox during the presentation.

In appreciation of their attendance at the meeting, three AASL members will be drawn at random from the attendee’s names and gifted with either a tour during the AASL National Conference & Exhibition, a year of AASL membership, or a copy of the new “National Standards for School Libraries” when it launches in November.

Continue reading School library professionals invited to attend AASL’s virtual membership meeting →

Advocacy, Communication, Programs, School Media Specialist, Training

AASL President’s Program addresses “What an administrator wants”

Dr. Scott Beck

Contact:

Jennifer Habley
Manager, Web Communications
American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
312-280-4383
jhabley@ala.org

CHICAGO – Scott Beck, head principal at Norman (Okla.) High School, will conclude the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) Awards Ceremony & President’s Program taking place at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, as part of the 2017 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

“As school librarians, we know how critical it is to the success of our library programs to have a supportive administrator,” said AASL President Audrey Church. “I am very excited to have Dr. Scott Beck as my President’s Program speaker. Dr. Beck knows what a 21st-century library program that contributes to student learning looks like and understands the key role that today’s school librarian plays in instruction in his/her school. We look forward to him sharing his perspective on how school librarians transform student learning.”

Beck is currently the head principal at Norman High School, serving 2,000 students in grades 9-12. Over the course of his 17-year career in education, Beck has also served as an assistant principal and a National Board Certified social studies teacher. As principal, Beck has overseen a 30-million-dollar renovation at the high school, including a state-of-the-art learning commons and a 1:1 laptop initiative.

Beck presents nationally and internationally on educational issues. Past presentations include “Library as School Hub” and “Building the Eclectic High School” presented at the 2012 and 2013 High Schools that Work National Conferences. He holds a Master’s degree in education administration, curriculum and supervision and a Ph.D. in education leadership and policy studies from the University of Oklahoma.

The AASL Awards Ceremony and President’s Program is an annual event featuring prominent experts on issues relevant to school librarianship and is open to all registered conference attendees. For more information about this and other AASL programs at the 2017 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, visit www.ala.org/aasl/annual.

The American Association of School Librarians www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.

Books, Children's services, Resources, School Media Specialist

In smartphone era, students still head to school library

Image result for american association of school librarians(From GoDanRiver.com, byTrevor Metcalfe )

“At George Washington High School’s student library around 2:30 p.m. on a recent Wednesday, students are busy. Some are looking for books, while others work on research projects on the computers.

Around all of the activity, librarians Haley Walters and Kim Roberson say the activity points to a singular belief: in an age of smartphones and evolving technology, school libraries still matter.

“We have a lot of kids who just enjoy reading,” Walters said.

Walters leveraged that enthusiasm for reading into a grant proposal for the American Association of School Librarians’ Inspire Collection Development Grant, and submitted the grant just before winter break.

Recently, the library organization announced GW was one of six recipients of the grant. The school will receive $3,000 to improve its selection.

“The need for general fiction, graphic novels, and hi/lo books is significant in order to support so many students who are entering the school reading at below grade level,” said grant committee chairman Floyd Pentlin in a news release.

Additionally, Walters said for many students the library is the only place access books — with few chain or local book stores in the area.

(Read the rest of this article here!)

 

School Media Specialist

April 4th is School Librarian Day!

April is School Library Month, so of course there’s a day specifically to celebrate school librarians. That day is today, April 4th!

If you are a school librarian – we appreciate you and the incredible work that you do! If you know a school librarian, share your appreciation and admiration!

AASL has a whole page devoted to School Library Month, so make sure to check that out. This year’s theme is Because School Libraries Empower Students and the hashtag is #slm17. Their page also includes complimentary webinars and graphics to use at your school library or media center.

School librarians and media specialists do so much to equip students with necessary research, technology, and literacy skills. For a few examples of the cool things that school librarians are doing, see this article from Education Week or this one from Learning.com.

Many of CMLE’s members are school libraries and we have been able to visit several of them. Discover all the excellent programs and activities taking place at these local libraries on our Library Visit page.

Thank you to school librarians and media specialists for all that you do! 🙂