AASL News April 9, 2008
Posted by mjones in : AASL News , trackbackAASL Seeks School Library Presentations for ALA 2009 Annual Conference
AASL invites proposal submissions for 1-1/2 hour concurrent sessions or half- to full-day preconference professional development programs to be held during the ALA 2009 Annual Conference from July 9 to 15, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois. Submissions will be accepted through May 26, 2008. The RFP and presentation proposal submission form are available on the AASL Web site.
Capstone Publishers Hosts Networking Reception at 2008 AASL Fall Forum
AASL is pleased to announce that Capstone Publishers will sponsor the Saturday Night Networking Reception at the 2008 Fall Forum, “Assessment, Part II: Constructing and Interpreting Viable Tools for Effective Student Learning in the Library Media Center.” Read the press release of this announcement.
The Fall Forum will be held at the Oak Brook Hills Marriot Resort, Oak Brook, Illinois (Chicago area), from October 17 to 19. Registration for the event is available online.
Reminder: Quick Survey Available on AASL Communications
Take a moment to fill out a quick online survey measuring the effectiveness of AASL’s communication of news. The results will help AASL to communicate important news more effectively. The survey closes April 14.
NLW in Second Life
During the week of April 13-19, ALA will celebrate National Library Week (NLW). This year, ALA will host several events in Second Life. ALA and AASL members are encouraged to take part in the many festivities available throughout the week, including a maze, several parties with fireworks, story times featuring School Library Media Month (SLMM) spokesperson Carmen Agra Deedy, and a presentation by Doug Johnson on Monday evening entitled “Beating the No U-Turn Syndrome: A new approach to teaching and enforcing copyright compliance.” AASL will release the final schedule shortly on AASLblog and in our Events Calendar. Be sure to stop by ALA Island the week of April 13-19 and join the festivities happening in Second Life.
SLMM Launch Event a Resounding Success
On Monday, April 7, award-winning author and School Library Media Month (SLMM) spokesperson Carmen Agra Deedy helped kick off SLMM with an event at a public school in New York City. The event included a reading with Ms. Deedy and one second- and one third-grade class. Photos from the event (below) are also available on the SLMM Web page.
Nominate a Library Employee as a NLWD Star
National Library Workers Day (NLWD) is April 15. Be sure to nominate your favorite library employee as an NLWD Star. By submitting your favorite NLWD Star, dozens of library staff, users, administrators, and friends groups will recognize how crucial library workers are to their respective communities. All NLWD Stars will be entered into a drawing for a “Libraries Work Because We Do” T-shirt or tote bag.
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I was fortunate to attend the event with Carmen Agra Deedy. A storyteller as much as an author, she enchanted the students — and the adults — by recounting the tale of Martina the Beautiful Cockroach without using her book. Needless to say, some members of the audience well-versed in the story, let her know when she changed wording. Deedy, noting that once something is in print it never changes, took it all in stride.
Once the tale was complete, she responded to student’s questions paying them the serious attention they deserved. In response to one, she observed that writers always write and have a jounal with them at all times. She showed the two classes the one she carries.
Although students have Deedy’s autograph to keep, it is the memory of her animated face as she shared a folktale from her heritage that will remain with them forever.