AASL News March 27, 2008
Posted by mjones in : AASL News , add a commentResources available for School Library Media Month, including PSAs
To help observe School Library Media Month (SLMM) during the month of April, school library media specialists can find public service announcements (PSAs), links to fun activities, and other tools on the AASL Web site. Several PSAs, created by Carmen Agra Deedy, award-winning author of “Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale,” convey the importance of school library media programs. Listen to the PSAs and take advantage of the other tools available for SLMM.
Idea: have the PSAs aired on local radio stations and make them a part of your school’s broadcasting system. Find tips on how to get the PSAs aired on your local radio station on the SLMM Web page.
First Lady Laura Bush discusses post–White House agenda
In an interview with American Libraries Editor-in-Chief Leonard Kniffel, first Lady Laura Bush announced that she would play a role in the establishment of her husband’s presidential library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. The First Lady also talked about how her profession as a former librarian and teacher influenced her initiatives. She also emphasized the importance of advocating for books, reading, and school libraries. Watch a videocast of the interview and view a full transcript of the interview on the American Libraries Web site.
National Library Week videos available through AL Focus
NLW: Reference Desk
NLW: Game On
* These are the first two of eight quirky and humorous NLW videos that are appearing on AL Focus every other business day between now and April 14. The animated introduction has also been posted by itself.
School Libraries and School Accreditation March 23, 2008
Posted by Debbie Stafford in : Check this out!, Community , 1 comment so farMost, if not all, high school library media specialists are familiar with school accreditation team visits. Middle school and elementary school librarians may also be familiar with these. Many of us remember the days when the paperwork required prior to a visit looked at how many books were in the library, regardless of their age. Now these reports only ask for “adequate” if they look at the library program at all.One of the largest school accreditation organizations is AdvancED which combines NCA CASI and SACS CASI. Last week NCA held their annual convention in Chicago. I was in attendance and while there looked to see what would be of interest to school librarians and whether school librarians were at all represented.One strand was identified as Reading/Writing/Literacy. In the program I found three school librarians making presentations and I found two sessions focusing on Information Literacy and Reading Comprehension. There were a small number of vendors, two of them were programs familiar to school librarians, one a read and test program the other a read and discuss program. Assessment especially formative seemed to be the biggest topics in all strands.
Now my questions; what role should school librarians take in this area of school accreditation? Since we know that school libraries have a big effect on student performance, how can we make sure that school libraries are represented at conferences like these?
AASL News March 19, 2008
Posted by mjones in : AASL News , add a commentAbigail Breslin named spokesperson for School Library Media Month
Abigail Breslin, celebrated for her Academy Award nominated performance in “Little Miss Sunshine” has agreed to be a spokesperson for AASL’s School Library Media Month. In collaboration with Picturehouse, HBOFilms and American Girl, AASL has produced a poster featuring Breslin in her newest role as “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” and celebrating School Library Media Month. The poster, which will be distributed to all AASL members working in elementary and middle schools, features information about the Great Depression and activities developed by the AASL School Library Media Month Task Force.
Find tools for celebrating School Library Media Month online
How will you celebrate School Library Media Month (SLMM)? AASL is celebrating, along with Carmen Agra Deedy and Abigail Breslin, by giving school library media specialists the tools needed to promote and celebrate school library media specialists and their programs during the month of April. Many AASL members will receive the Breslin poster, but for more ideas on activities you can do at your school to celebrate SLMM, visit the Advocacy section of the AASL Web site at http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslissues/aasladvocacy/schoollibrary.cfm. There, you will also find public service announcements in both English and Spanish done by Carmen Agra Deedy; news releases on School Library Media Month; and a brief history of SLMM. AASL encourages school library media specialists to use the public service announcements on their school broadcast systems during the month of April.
National Library Week honorary chair named
“Join the circle of knowledge @ your library” during this year’s National Library Week celebrated from April 13 – 19, 2008. Julie Andrews, named honorary chair of National Library Week, stars in public service announcements which are able to be viewed and downloaded at http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/natlibraryweek/nlw.htm#events. Visit this page for more information on important events happening during the week, interviews, a history of National Library Week, and future dates for celebrating the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians.
Online facilitated courses registration ends April 3
Registration for Spring online courses is open until April 3! Be sure to register today! The online facilitated courses offer the opportunity for participants to share and collaborate while AASL experts guide learners through key points within the program. Facilitated topics include copyright issues and the classroom, creating collaborative lessons for both elementary and middle schools and creating compelling programming in school libraries. Self-paced courses are also available. For more specific information on the courses, including cost and dates, visit http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aasleducation/onlinecontinuing/courses/courses.cfm.
Register online, by mail, or fax for AASL’s 2008 Fall Forum
AASL’s 2008 Fall Forum is now open for registration online, as well as by fax and mail. This year’s forum, “Assessment, Part II: Constructing and Interpreting Viable Tools for Effective Student Learning in the Library Media Center” will be held on October 17-19, 2008, in Oak Brook, Illinois, located approximately 25 miles from Chicago. To download a printable version of the registration form, register online, or learn more about the Fall Forum, visit http://www.ala.org/aasl/fallforum.
I voted. Did you? March 18, 2008
Posted by Laura Pearle in : Community , add a commentYesterday my e-mail inbox had a message entitled “ALA 2008 election login information”. I clicked, entered my id and password (helpfully supplied by ALA in the message text), and voted.
If you haven’t received one of these messages, call 866-909-3549 or mailto:2008electionhelp@alavote.org. My vote counted. Shouldn’t yours?
New ALA e-Government subcommittee; AASL can submit names for possible membership March 17, 2008
Posted by Sara Kelly Johns in : Check this out! , add a commentIf you have an interest in e-government, would like to participate in the committee described below, and will be in Anaheim and can attend the subcommittee’s meeting, please contact me <johns@northnet.org> before the end of the week (by March 22) with a message describing your experience and interest. The decision about who will represent us will be made next week.
It’s a great opportunity to get involved in an ALA committee if you are interested in e-government.
ALA Committee on Legislation’s new “Ad-Hoc Subcommittee on E-Government Services,” would like to create a committee that is comprised of people who have some knowledge of E-Government services and who are eager to work with a diverse group of people from many different ALA units. The draft charge of this subcommittee is:
to develop policy recommendations, legislative proposals and other strategies for the ALA Committee on Legislation related to the role of libraries and the delivery of E-Government services to the American public. The subcommittee shall seek involvement from the broadest range of interested units within ALA and promote collaboration to determine and meet the needs for policy, training, research, legislation and other activities related to libraries and E-Government services.
We have a chance to send in names for this. Anyone will be able to participate on the subcommittee’s wiki. This is a large issue, affecting many areas of the library world in different ways and we want to ensure that everyone’s perspective is heard.
This sub-committee will be meeting at Annual but the subcommittee will begin its work before the conference. We need to make our recommendation very soon!