Call for nominees - deadline approaching April 30, 2008
Posted by mjones in : Opportunities , add a commentIFLA Standing Committee
AASL is seeking suggestions for nominees for membership on the International Federation of Library Association and Institutions (IFLA) standing committee for the Section of School Libraries and Resource Centers. The nominee will be selected by the ALA Executive Board for a four-year term (2009-2013).
Qualifications:
The nominee should be an expert in the field covered by the section (see http://www.ifla.org/VII/s11/index.htm for information about the Section of School Libraries and Resource Centers) and have a working knowledge of at least one working language of IFLA (English is an IFLA working language).
Documentation:
The ALA Executive Board requires that suggestions for nominations be accompanied by a resume. If nominated, IFLA requires that the following be provided:
(a) an indication of acceptance of the nomination by the individual;
(b) a short statement detailing the nominee’s qualifications and indication of present position; and
(c) affirmation that the person can fulfill the working language and travel requirements.
Future IFLA conferences:
2008 - 10-15, August Québec, Canada
2009 - Milan, Italy
2010 - Brisbane, Australia
AASL personal members interested in being suggested as a possible nominee should submit their resume to Julie Walker <jwalker@ala.org> no later than May 5, 2008.
Expenses to attend IFLA meeting/conferences are the responsibility of the individual or his/her institution. IFLA, ALA, and AASL do not provide financial support.
Board of Examiners of the NCATE
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is seeking individuals to recommend for service on the Board of Examiners of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Nominees must have demonstrated expertise in the field of professional education,
skill in the use of evaluation techniques, good writing skills, ability to make impartial professional judgements, and good interpersonal skills.
This appointment is time intensive; support from nominee’s employer is critical for the three year term. Those chosen by AASL/ALA will begin service on January 1, 2009.
Full information on the requirements, etc. can be found on the NCATE Web site.
Nominees are asked to submit a current vitae to Julie Walker <jwalker@ala.org> by May 16, 2008.
AASL News
Posted by mjones in : AASL News , add a commentAASL hosts additional events in Second Life
Thanks to all who joined AASL on the dance floor in Second Life last Friday evening. This evening AASL will host its final event celebrating School Library Media Month on ALA Island. Details below.
Wednesday, April 30 @ 6:00 p.m. (SLT)/8:00 p.m. CDT
Podcast and discussion on the importance of school libraries
In the current climate of school budget cuts, school library media programs are one of the first programs to be considered for elimination to alleviate substantial deficits. Listen to a podcast by Julie Walker, AASL’s Executive Director, as she talks about the importance of school library media programs. Discussion to follow.
Register for Teen Read Week
Show your support of teens and literature by registering (it’s fast and free) for Teen Read Week (TRW)! More information, including details about great free stuff registrants receive, can be found on the TRW Web site. TRW 2008 is October 12-18, and the theme is “Books with Bite @ your library.” Visit the Web site for ideas to help plan an event in your community.
Registrants will have access to this year’s logo and YALSA’s pocket-sized “Books with Bite” pamphlet, which offers recommended themed reads for teens, as well as special offers from YALSA’s Corporate Sponsor, Mirrorstone Books, and its Promotional Partners. When you register, please indicate if you would like to participate in YALSA’s 2008-2009 WrestleMania Reading Challenge, which is a program designed to encourage teens to continue their reading beyond TRW and earn a reward for doing so by offering a chance to win prizes donated by WWE, including $2,000 cash for your library. The program will run from October 12, 2008, through January 12, 2009.
ALA Diversity Office extends deadline for research grant proposals
The Office for Diversity has extended its deadline for proposals for the 2008 Diversity Research Grants from April 30 to May 19, 2008. Applicants must be current ALA members, and 2008 proposals must address one of three identified topics:
1. The Impact of Rapidly Shifting Demographics on Information Needs, Services, and Strategies
2. Diversity and Library Services to LGBTQ Communities
3. The Impact of Library 2.0 Initiatives on Services to Under-Served Populations
Since 2002, the office has sponsored the program to address critical gaps in the knowledge of diversity issues within library and information science. Only proposals demonstrating relevance to the 2008 research topics will be considered. For a complete list of the criteria on which proposals will be evaluated, please visit the Diversity Research Grants Web page.
If you are not presently a member of ALA but wish to submit a proposal, please visit the ALA Membership page for information on becoming a member. Applicants must supply membership ID numbers with proposals. Electronic submissions are preferred and should be submitted in a Word document attachment. Email electronic submissions to diversity@ala.org. Mailed submissions should be sent to the ALA Office for Diversity, Attn: Gwendolyn Prellwitz, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611.
For more information, email diversity@ala.org, or call 800-545-2433 ext. 5048.
AASL Blog Book Club April 29, 2008
Posted by maharlan in : Check this out! , 1 comment so farI know many of us are preparing to end the year. If your library is anything like mine, chaos ensues. It is my busiest time of the year. What a great time to start a book club!!
O.K. I only partly jest. This is to announce the beginning of the AASL Blog Book Club, a chance to read and share with one another. We will select a title, read it together, and use the blogs and comments to discuss the title beginning at a set time. For an example of what we envision see the “Night blog.” Think One Conference, One Book on the blog. Examples of titles can be anything from A Whole New Mind, The World is Flat, or Three Cups of Tea. Think about a title that has some, however nebulous, relation to our profession and that will stimulate discussion. So among all the chaos use the comments to make a reading suggestion. I will post the selected title and reading schedule next week.
Books online April 28, 2008
Posted by Debbie Stafford in : Check this out! , add a commentThere is any number of websites where those interested in music and listen to up and coming artists and even download the music for free. Artists are often those who might not otherwise get noticed. Some artists put the music out for free in order to build an audience. The point is that music fans can listen to music before paying.
There are also sites where readers can download free books. Project Gutenberg is one. Libravox is another where you can download free audio books. Both offer titles that are in the public domain.
Last week I heard about a web site Lookybook.com where readers can preview picture books online, then order directly to Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Book Sense. The key is that you can literally read the whole book online. The web states that books online don’t replace books in the hand but you can use the site to select books you want to read. Publishers are invited to submit books and they don’t take self-publishers.
Looks like an interesting way to promote new and old books. There is quite a long list of picture book artists and authors available, some new titles and some old titles.
Last Day to Vote! April 23, 2008
Posted by Sara Kelly Johns in : Check this out! , add a commentIf you haven’t filled out your ballot for the AASL/ALA elections, today (Thurs.) is tha last day! Dig through your e-mail for the one with your election password from ALA Elections, take a look at the AASL election page <http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aboutaasl/aaslgovernance/aaslelections/aaslelections.cfm> and let your voice be heard. It’s important for school librarians to have a LOUD voice in ALA.
Thanks to all who vote!