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AASL News July 2, 2008

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AASL honors the work of Daniel Callison, SLMR editor from 1997 to 2007
At AASL’s Board of Directors meeting during the ALA 2008 Annual Conference, Daniel Callison was honored for his work as School Library Media Research’s (SLMR) editor from 1997 to 2007. During his tenure, Dr. Callison transformed the peer-reviewed journal into a top-ranked scholarly online publication. In 2004, SLMR was ranked 16th out of more than 70 journals in the library and information science field by the deans and directors of ALA-accredited MLS-degree programs in North America. SLMR was the top-ranked journal related to the school library media field and is the only online journal that ranked among the top twenty. Current co-editor for SLMR Jean Donham says, “Dr. Callison has set the standard for SLMR as a respected and rigorous peer-reviewed publication. As co-editor, I am committed to continuing his tradition.”

Read the press release.

AASL’s second longitudinal survey explores the use of social networking tools in schools
Selected questions from AASL’s second longitudinal survey focused on the use of social networking tools by school library media specialists and their teacher collaborators in elementary and secondary schools. The questions asked specifically which social networking tools schools utilized in preparing their students for learning in the 21st century. Preliminary findings from the study show that elementary, middle, and high schools are using social networking tools to prepare students for the 21st century. Final results of the 2008 survey will be released in August 2008.

Read the press release.

AASL News June 25, 2008

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AASL seeks proposals for 2009 National Conference
AASL is currently seeking proposals for preconferences at the AASL 2009 National Conference in Charlotte, NC. The theme of the conference is “Rev Up Learning @ your library.” Submitted proposals should be for half-day workshops that will be presented to school library media specialists November 4-5. Each proposal should address at least one of these themes:

The deadline for proposals is 4:30 p.m. CDT on Monday, September 15. Proposals can be submitted electronically to Kelly Bishop, manager of professional development, at kbishop@ala.org, or by fax to (312) 280-5276. They can also be submitted in writing to Kelly Bishop, Manager of Professional Development, AASL, American Library Association, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60611.

AASL News June 18, 2008

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AASL receives funding for school library relief program
AASL announced that an additional $520,000 is available for Beyond Words: The Dollar General School Library Relief Program. Funds will be available June 2008 to May 2010. To be eligible for a Beyond Words grant, applicants must be located within 20 miles of a Dollar General store, distribution center, or corporate office and must represent public schools serving students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Grant applicants must also meet one of two eligibility requirements: the library must have lost its building or incurred substantial damage or hardship due to a natural disaster, fire, or an act recognized by the federal government as terrorism. Complete eligibility requirements are in the Beyond Words section of the AASL Web site. Read the press release.

AASL to sponsor two Emerging Leaders
For the third year, AASL will sponsor two members for the 2009 class of Emerging Leaders. Those selected will each receive $1,000 for travel expenses when attending the ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference – $500 for each conference. AASL’s Emerging Leaders will have the opportunity to participate in projects crucial to their profession. During conference, they will also benefit from attending specific workshops geared toward networking with fellow peers in the program. For more information about the program, please visit the Emerging Leaders wiki or contact Beatrice Calvin at bcalvin@ala.org. Those requesting consideration for the AASL stipend should indicate that on the application. The deadline to apply is July 31. Read the press release.

AASL 2009 Nominating Committee seeks candidates for AASL offices
The AASL 2009 Nominating Committee is soliciting AASL members who might be interested in the following AASL offices. The Committee will select two candidates to run for:

Nominees must be AASL members. If you have an interest in being considered for nomination to any of the offices, please email one of the 2009 Nominating Committee members listed below:

Dee Gwaltney, Chair: deegwaltney@comcast.net
Linda Gann: linda.gann@mac.com
Laura Pearle: lpearle@gmail.com
Carol Doll: cdoll@odu.edu
Leslie Forsman: lforsman@hotmail.com

AASL News June 11, 2008

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Play the California Dreaming big game at Annual Conference
This summer at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, your knowledge will be put to the test in California Dreaming, a conference-wide scavenger hunt.

California has always been steeped in myths, from the lush valleys of Steinbeck to the sun-soaked beaches of the Beach Boys to the rain-drenched noir of Chandler. Each artist has created his/her own unique dream of the Golden State. Can you separate the fiction from the reality and discover the real California? As attendees explore the conference, they will encounter cryptic quotes and brain-teasing puzzles taken from books, movies, and music about California.

A little friendly competition quickens the pulse. With so many information professionals on the case, the competition will be quick and stiff. See how your problem-solving and information-gathering skills match up against your peers.

Are you California Dreaming? For more information, visit the California Dreaming wiki.

At Annual 2008, be ready for Virtual Library Day on the Hill!
The ALA Washington Office is hosting an event at ALA’s 2008 Annual Conference in Anaheim that is set to steal the spotlight of election year politics: Virtual Library Day on the Hill!

Virtual Library Day on the Hill will take place on Tuesday, July 1, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Conference attendees will have the chance to both email and fax their Members of Congress on important library issues and learn how they can register to vote, using computer terminals located on the exhibit floor.

We are looking for librarians and library supporters from across the country to call attention to the value of today’s libraries, as well as the issues the library community is facing. This is especially important in an election year, as many of our nation’s legislators will be looking to hear from their constituents. This is our chance to make the library voice heard!

Former Los Angeles Lakers great and avid library supporter Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be right there with you, writing his Senators and Representative about how much he supports libraries!

The Internet Room, which is on the Exhibit Floor, will be used exclusively for this event, as will several terminals in the Internet Café. After writing their Members of Congress, participants will receive a coupon for a free “Vote for Libraries” T-shirt.

Volunteers needed!
In order to make Virtual Library Day on the Hill a success, we will need a few extra helping hands! Volunteers will help participants use the computers to write their Members of Congress, to answer any questions they might have, and to hand out T-shirts.

If you are available on Tuesday, July 1, between 8:00 a.m. and noon and can volunteer for two hours, please send an e-mail to Melanie Anderson <manderson@alawash.org>. Please specify if you volunteered last year and/or if you have used CapWiz before.

AASL News June 4, 2008

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Survey on ALA volunteer practices and attitudes for ALA members
Posted on behalf of John Chrastka, ALA Director of Membership Development:

The ALA Task Force on Electronic Membership Participation (TFOEMP) has been charged with evaluating ALA policy as it relates to members’ ability to engage with and interact with the work of the association through committees and other working groups. A survey of members’ practice and attitudes toward serving on Association committees, task forces, and interests groups at a distance is being undertaken. Through this survey, the TFOEMP hopes to gauge member familiarity, interest, and comfort with various means of participating both synchronously and asynchronously.

Respond to the survey, on or before Friday, June 13. You will be asked to provide your ALA Membership ID. The survey will take 10 minutes and offers both structured and open responses. Findings will be reported on by the TFOEMP at Annual Conference in Anaheim.

For more information or to leave a comment, please visit the ALA Member Blog.

Friday is the last day to submit comments for the Learning Standards in Action
The first draft of the “Standards for the 21st-Century Learner in Action,” the working title for the publication being prepared by the AASL Learning Standards Indicators and Assessment Task Force, is still available for AASL member review and input. AASL members are encouraged to thoroughly examine and critique the contents of this document before June 6, 2008. Those attending the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim should plan to attend the Open Forum on Saturday, June 28, at 9:00 a.m. to provide input to the task force members in person.