[CASL-L] Fw: AASL Hotlinks - May 2012

[IRENE KWIDZINSKI]

FYI


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From: American Association of School Librarians <aasl at ala.org>
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Sent: Mon, May 7, 2012 6:00:16 PM
Subject: AASL Hotlinks - May 2012

AASL Hotlinks - May 2012  
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Volume 11, Issue 2
May 2012
 

In this Issue: 
 Association News
Education News
Resources for School Librarians
Grants & Awards
Partnership News
Member Spotlight

________________________________
 

Association News
________________________________
 
Gail Dickinson Elected 2013-2014 AASL President
Gail Dickinson, associate professor at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, 
Virginia has been elected to the 2013-2014 presidency of the American 
Association of School Librarians (AASL). Dickinson has been an active member of 
AASL for several decades. In recent years she served as chair of Research & 
Statistics (2011-2012), the AASL Nominating Committee (2010), and co-chair of 
the task force writing the 2007 AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learners. 
Dickinson will become president-elect on July 1, 2012, and will assume the AASL 
presidency on July 1, 2013, following the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. 
Other AASL members elected to office include:

AASL Board
Robbie Leah Nickel - Member-At-Large
Sara Kelly Johns - Division Councilor
Eileen F. Kern - Director-Elect Region 2
Michelle McBenge Wilson - Director-Elect Region 5
Ken W. Stewart - Director-Elect Region 9
Judy T. Bivens - Educators of School Librarians Section (ESLS) Chair-Elect
Ramona Kerby - ESLS Secretary

Independent Schools Section (ISS)
Cheri Dobbs - ISS Chair-Elect
Cathy Gulley Evans - ISS Representative to the Board

Supervisors Section (SPVS)
Kathryn Roots Lewis - SPVS Chair-Elect

You can read more about the election at the AASL elections Web page.

AASL Launches New Professional Development Resource - eCOLLAB
AASL has debuted a new feature of AASL membership, eCOLLAB –Your eLearning 
Laboratory: Content Collaboration Community. This repository of AASL 
professional development provides members and subscribers with a central 
location to find and manage their e-learning as well as to connect with others 
in the learning community. eCOLLAB contains webcasts, podcasts, and resources 
from various AASL professional development events, as well as the latest issue 
Knowledge Quest in an interactive PDF format. The repository currently hosts 
digital resources such as handouts and presentations on relevant topics such as 
21st century standards, student achievement, collaboration and assessment. At 
launch, the site contains over 25 webcasts and over 70 session 
handouts/presentations. New resources will continue to migrate to the 
repository, keeping e-learning opportunities consistently fresh and focused on 
the topics facing the profession today. eCOLLAB is available to AASL personal 
members as a feature of their membership and non-members can access eCOLLAB via 
paid subscription.

AASL members can access eCOLLAB by logging into the AASL website using their 
ALA-provided website login. Nonmembers can receive access to eCOLLAB resources 
with an annual subscription of $199 per year. Visit the eCOLLAB Website to 
access its resources or to subscribe.

AASL President Comments on White House Response to School Library Petition
President Obama’s administration has responded to the petition created in 
support of school library programs by Carl Harvey, Indiana school librarian and 
the president of AASL. Harvey discusses the response from Roberto Rodriguez, 
special assistant to the president for education policy, in his latest blog 
post. By using the “We the People” petition website provided by whitehouse.gov, 
Harvey called on the administration to ensure every child in America has access 
to an effective school library program by using the reauthorization of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to provide dedicated funding to 
help support those programs. Posted on Jan. 5, 2012, the petition had one month 
to garner the 25,000 signatures needed to require a response from the White 
House. Through grassroots communication efforts, the threshold was crossed Jan. 
31 – four days before the Feb. 4 deadline. To date, the petition has received 
28,619 signatures.

AASL Announces 2012 Award Winners
Each year AASL presents awards and grants to school librarians and educators who 
make outstanding contributions to school librarianship and school library 
development. The AASL award winners will be honored at AASL's Awards Luncheon 
during ALA's 2012 Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif. The luncheon will be held 
Monday, June 25. Carmen Agra Deedy, best-selling author and ardent supporter of 
libraries, will attend the ceremony courtesy of Peachtree Publishing.

AASL President Recognizes Senator Jack Reed with AASL Crystal Apple
AASL President Carl Harvey has selected Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island as the 
recipient of the 2012 Crystal Apple or his years of strong advocacy to secure 
support and funding for school libraries in Congress. The honor is given at the 
discretion of the AASL president to an individual or group that has had a 
significant impact on school library programs and students.Harvey presented the 
apple to Senator Reed in a special ceremony taking place during National Library 
Legislation Day (NLLD)  on April 23. In addition to the Crystal Apple, Senator 
Reed was bestowed with an Honorary Membership by the American Library 
Association (ALA) in recognition of his continuing and unwavering support of 
libraries in the U.S. Congress.

To learn more about the AASL President's Crystal Apple and its recipients visit 
the AASL Awards Web page.

Two School Districts Receive the National School Library Program of the Year 
Award
AASL has named South Texas Independent School District (STISD) and Hinsdale 
Township High School District 86, recipients of the 2012 National School Library 
Program of the Year (NSLPY) Award. Established in 1963, the NSLPY Award honors 
school library programs practicing their commitment to ensure that students and 
staff are effective users of ideas and information, as well as exemplifying 
implementation of AASL’s learning standards and program guidelines. The award 
recognizes exemplary school library programs that are fully integrated into the 
school's curriculum. Sponsored by Follett Library Resources, each recipient is 
recognized with a crystal obelisk and $10,000 for their school library program.

To learn more about the National School Library Program of the Year (NSLPY) 
Award and its recipients visit the AASL Awards Web page.

Sharon Coatney Receives AASL Distinguished Service Award
Sharon Coatney is the 2012 recipient of the AASL Distinguished Service Award. 
Established in 1978 and sponsored by Baker and Taylor, the award recognizes an 
individual member of the library profession who has, over a significant period 
of time, made an outstanding national contribution to school librarianship and 
school library development. Dedicated to the profession, Coatney has been 
described as “influential in providing a model of what a school library should 
be.” She moved from directing a program in a small district in rural Kansas to 
serving in leadership positions in both state and national organizations.

To learn more about the AASL Distinguished Service Award visit the AASL Awards 
Web page.

Albany High School Educators Win AASL Collaborative School Library Award
The “EDSET Research Poster Session and Podcast Project” team from Albany High 
School in Albany, Calif., is the 2012 recipient of the AASL Collaborative School 
Library Award. The team – consisting of Sara Oremland, school librarian; Darren 
McNally, environmental science teacher; Corinne Berletti, history teacher; and 
Jessica Park, English teacher – works with junior and senior high school 
students participating in the school’s Environmental Design, Sciences, 
Engineering, and Technology (EDSET) academy. Sponsored by Highsmith, the $2,500 
AASL Collaborative School Library Award recognizes and encourages collaboration 
and partnerships between school librarians and teachers in meeting goals 
outlined in “Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs” 
through joint planning of a program, unit or event in support of the curriculum 
and using school library resources. To learn more about the AASL Collaborative 
School Library Award visit the AASL Awards Web page.

AASL Innovative Reading Grant Awarded to Kristine Klopp
Kristine Klopp’s project, “Square Off for Reading!,” is the 2012 recipient of 
the AASL Innovative Reading Grant. Sponsored by Capstone, this grant of $2,500 
supports the planning and implementation of a unique and innovative program for 
children that motivates and encourages reading, especially with struggling 
readers. The “Square Off for Reading!” project will pair Klopp, the school 
librarian at Lindbergh Elementary School in Madison, Wis., with the school's 
educational specialist to provide a fun and challenging summer reading program.

To learn more about the AASL Innovative Reading Grant visit the AASL Awards Web 
page.

ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant Awarded to the Iowa Association of School Librarians
The Iowa Association of School Librarians (IASL) and its program “Growing the 
Next Generation of Leaders: A Leadership Academy,” were named the winner of 
AASL’s 2012 ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant. Established in 1986 and sponsored by 
ABC-CLIO, the grant of $1,750 is given to school library associations that are 
AASL affiliates for planning and implementing leadership programs at the state, 
regional or local levels. The goals of IASL’s leadership academy are to develop 
the leadership skills of a new generation of school librarians and to identify 
and engage new leaders for the association. To accomplish this, project leaders 
will develop a two-day academy during which selected school librarians will 
develop skills such as leading from the middle, advocacy and effective 
communication, mentoring and principle-centered leadership.

To learn more about the AASL ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant visit the AASL Awards Web 
page.

AASL Research Grants Awarded to Ann Dutton Ewbank and Daniella Smith
Researchers Ann Dutton Ewbank from Arizona and Daniella Smith from Texas are the 
2012 recipients of the AASL Research Grant sponsored by Capstone. Established in 
1993, AASL Research Grants are given to up to two school librarians, library 
educators or library information science or education professors to conduct 
innovative research aimed at measuring and evaluating the impact of school 
library programs on learning and education.

Ann’s project, “The Role of Teacher Unions in School Library Advocacy: A Case 
Study of the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association and the British 
Columbia Teacher’s Federation,” will investigate the unique relationship between 
the two organizations and how they work together to advocate for strong school 
library programs in the Canadian province.  

Daniella’s project, “An Examination of the Impact of Resiliency and School 
Organizational Structures on the Self-Perceived Leadership Behaviors of School 
Librarians,” is designed to determine the impact of resiliency and school 
organizational structure on the leadership behaviors of school librarians.  

To learn more about the AASL Research Grant visit the AASL Awards Web page.


Mays and Kahn Win AASL Information Technology Pathfinder Award
School librarians Sally Mays and Elizabeth Kahn are the recipients of the 2012 
AASL Information Technology Pathfinder Award. Sponsored by Follett Software 
Company, the $1,500 award recognizes and honors two school librarians – one 
elementary and one secondary – for demonstrating vision and leadership through 
the use of information technology to build lifelong learners.

Sally Mays, the recipient of the elementary division award, is the bibliotecaria 
at Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion, a kindergarten through fifth grade magnet 
school located in New Hope, Minn. She faces the challenge of empowering students 
for whom Spanish is their second language by helping them develop information 
literacy and research skills. Through technology, Mays is able to meet the needs 
of the students in ways not previously possible.

Elizabeth Kahn, the recipient of the secondary division award, is the school 
librarian at Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy in Jefferson, La, 
which serves grades 6-12. The academy is the only Science, Technology, 
Engineering and Math (STEM) school in the Jefferson Public School System as well 
as the only school in the system to have a one-to-one laptop program.

To learn more about the AASL Information Technology Pathfinder Award visit the 
AASL Awards Web page.

AASL Frances Henne Award Goes to Alisa Auchmoedy-Finck
Alisa Auchmoedy-Finck, school librarian at the Marbletown Elementary School in 
Stone Ridge, N.Y., is the 2012 recipient of the AASL Frances Henne Award. 
Established in 1986, the $1,250 award, sponsored by ABC-CLIO, recognizes a 
school librarian with five years or less experience who demonstrates leadership 
qualities with students, teachers and administrators. As the award recipient, 
Auchmoedy-Finck has the opportunity to attend her first ALA Annual Conference.

A second-year school librarian after years working as a classroom teacher, 
Auchmoedy-Finck strives to provide each of her students with the tools needed to 
succeed in the 21st century. Her instruction ranges from teaching kindergartners 
the very basics of navigating the library to empowering fourth graders to 
analyze and present information they’ve learned in creative, engaging ways.  To 
accomplish this, she has created interactive review games, a Website, and 
WebQuests that support the curriculum and are also used by the school’s 
classroom teachers.

To learn more about the AASL Frances Henne Award visit the AASL Awards Web page.

Mat McRae Receives AASL Distinguished School Administrators Award
Mat McRae, principal of Swan Valley high school in Saginaw, Mich., is the 2012 
recipient of the AASL Distinguished School Administrators Award. Faced with the 
potential elimination of the Swan Valley high school library program as a way to 
overcome budget shortfalls, Principal Mat McRae vowed that as long as he was 
principal, there would be no cuts to the library program. Believing that the 
school library program is the answer to most of the issues, questions, dilemmas, 
technology and educational problems faced by public schools, he instead made 
other adjustments to the budget, even earmarking money from his administrative 
funds to maintain library spending. The school library program at Swan Valley 
high school has been transformed since McRae took over as principal nearly a 
decade ago. Former students and staff members once described the old library as 
an echoing “tomb” that no one entered. Today, the library is alive with 
activity, as McRae encourages the entire staff and student body to become 
involved in library programs.

To learn more about the AASL Distinguished School Administrators Award visit the 
AASL Awards Web page.

Kristin Fontichiaro and R. David Lankes Join Henry Jenkins as AASL 2012 Fall 
Forum Facilitators
AASL has added Kristin Fontichiaro and R. David Lankes to the roster of 
facilitators for AASL’s 2012 Fall Forum, "Transliteracy and the School Library 
Program.” Fontichiaro and Lankes will join media studies scholar, Henry Jenkins, 
in providing a comprehensive overview of transliteracy and its importance in 
education during AASL’s national institute taking place Oct. 12-13, 2012, in 
Greenville, S.C.

Kristin Fontichiaro is a clinical assistant professor at the University of 
Michigan School of Information, where she coordinates the school library media 
program. She also co-teaches a teaching with technology course in the University 
of Michigan school of education. Fontichiaro was named an Emerging Leader by the 
American Library Association, a distinguished alumna by the Wayne State 
University library and information science program and a 2012 Library Journal 
Mover and Shaker. She writes a blog and writes the “Nudging Toward Inquiry” 
column for School Library Monthly. She will work with Fall Forum attendees to 
deconstruct the concept of transliteracy into smaller, more manageable facets, 
and focus on how to collaboratively work with teachers to empower students with 
transliteracy skills.

R. David Lankes is a professor and Dean’s Scholar for the New Librarianship at 
Syracuse University’s school of information studies, director of the library 
science program for the school and director of the Information Institute of 
Syracuse. His book, "The Atlas of New Librarianship," won the 2012 
ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Award for the Best Book in Library Literature. He will advise 
attendees on how to advocate for and highlight the relevance of school 
librarians in environment of ever-changing educational priorities, and guide 
them through building community engagement and cultivating school boards.   

The AASL Fall Forum is a multi-day national institute held during non-AASL 
national conference years. A more intimate event, the institute focuses on one 
topic of importance to the profession. Transliteracy and the School Library 
Program will be held Oct. 12-13, 2012, in Greenville, S.C., and via satellite 
sites in Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Pennsylvania, North Texas and the 
California Bay Area. More information on programming, sites and registration can 
be found at the Fall Forum Website.

AASL Debuts New Website and Format for School Library Research
AASL has launched a new website for its online, referred research journal, 
School Library Research (SLR). The new website coincides with a new name for the 
journal formerly known as School Library Media Research (SLMR). The name change 
reflects the adoption of the professional title, “school librarian,” and a 
rebirth for the journal, which presents research on instructional theory, 
teaching methods and critical issues relevant to school libraries and school 
librarians. Along with the change in name and a new logo, the new School Library 
Research website contains all new navigation, formatting and features. Changes 
include:

	* A new PDF format for all published manuscripts beginning with Volume 15 
(2012) and a retroactive conversion of all prior volumes.
	* The ability to download each manuscript individually or all manuscripts 
contained in a volume. Volume files include a cover with the new logo and table 
of contents.
	* Revised submission guidelines and a new online manuscript submission form.
	* New communication venues including an electronic mailing list and a news and 
highlights page for those wanting to keep up to date with the latest published 
research.  A new feedback form allows readers to share feedback on published 
manuscripts.
	* Correlations to other AASL publications. This includes an all new Editor’s 
Choice, a bibliography of SLR manuscripts that provide insight into chapters 
from AASL’s Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs and a 
Knowledge Quest spotlight page, highlighting manuscripts that complement 
Knowledge Quest themes.
	* A new citations page, listing all SLR citations in alphabetical order by 
volume and author.
In addition to the new features, the website launch also marks the publication 
of the first three research papers of Volume 15 (2012).



AASL Offers Professional Development Webinars for Members
AASL is offering three complimentary professional development webinars in May 
and June for AASL personal members.

Tech Flex: A No-Cost Staff Technology Training Program Organized and Guided by 
the Librarian
Presenters: Lindsey Myers and Emily Sanders
Wednesday, May 16, 2012  |  6:00 p.m. CDT
In the age of the 21st-century learner, a school needs a guide to lead teachers 
to the best new online tools and resources. The librarian can be that 
indispensable guide, as is the case with the Tech Flex technology professional 
development program at Peters Township High School. Come to this presentation to 
learn how administration and the librarian can work together to facilitate 
teacher-led professional development opportunities for staff without violating 
the terms of a teacher contract. You’ll come away knowing how to create a 
similar program of no-cost professional development seminars using a free online 
tool such as Google Apps, as well as how to get your own administration on board 
with such a program. A big bonus for you is that this method of creating 
professional development opportunities encourages faculty to view the librarian 
as a resource for new technology.

Common Core Carpe Diem: Seize the Day on Information Integration!
Presenter: Paige Jaeger
Wednesday, June 6, 2012  |  6:00 p.m. CDT
With the adoption of the Common Core Learning Standards comes a paradigm shift 
in both content and pedagogy. The librarian, or cybrarian, can play a vital role 
to assist teachers in implementing the CCSS. Technology will no longer save your 
job-it will certainly help, but it is no longer being the focus for star 
performance. To survive budget cuts, we need to become an essential link in 
content delivery and achievement.

The Transformative Power of Care
Presenter: Olga Nesi
Tuesday, June 12, 2012  |  7:00 p.m. CDT
Care is central to the improvement of all school library endeavors.  
Interactions, inquiry instruction, readers’ advisory, collection development and 
the library’s physical environment are all positively transformed by the 
consistent demonstration and application of care.

To register for a professional development program visit the AASL Website.

AASL Seeks Proposals for Preconference Workshops at the AASL 16th National 
Conference
AASL invites proposals for preconference workshops to be presented during the 
AASL 16th National Conference and Exhibition. Preconference workshops will be 
held on Wed., Nov. 13 and Thurs., Nov 14. The submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. 
CDT on Friday, Jun. 15, 2012.

Proposals should be for half- or full-day preconference workshops. All proposals 
should include up to three learning objectives and should address how the 
session supports the AASL Strategic Plan, the AASL Standards for the 
21st-Century Learner, and/or Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library 
Programs. The AASL National Conference committee will evaluate proposals for 
clarity, originality and timeliness. Submissions will only be accepted via the 
online form. Email, mail or fax submissions will not be accepted. Submitters 
will be notified of their proposal's status on or before Friday, Aug. 17, 2012.

The AASL National Conference and Exhibition, "Rising to the Challenge," is the 
only national conference dedicated solely to the needs of school librarians and 
their roles as educational leaders. Taking place Nov. 13-17, 2013 in Hartford, 
Conn., the AASL National Conference will feature preconference workshops, 
concurrent sessions and an exhibition featuring companies relevant to the school 
library profession. More information on the conference, including special 
events, author appearances, and keynote presenters will be available on or 
before January 2013.

AASL Announces Winners of the School Library Month Video Contest
AASL is proud to announce the winners of the "You Belong @ Your School Library" 
Student Video Contest.  The contest solicited videos illustrating why the school 
library is (either physically or virtually) the place to be. Forty-two entries 
were received, and one winner at the elementary, middle and high school levels 
was selected based on scores awarded by a panel of judges.

The winning entries are:

Elementary School
Why We Love the Library!
Town School For Boys
San Francisco, Calif.

Middle School
Top Ten Tips for Library Fun
Harry F. Byrd Middle School
Richmond, Va.

High School
You Belong @ Your School Library
White Plains High School
Anniston, Ala.

Student winners will receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card and Mackin will provide 
their school library a prize of $500 in books. In addition, winning entries will 
be featured on the AASL and SchoolTube websites and social networking platforms. 
All contest entries can be seen via AASL’s 2012 School Library Month SchoolTube.

Founder of School Library Month Shares Her Story in New Audio Podcast
Lucille Thomas, chair of the first School Library Month committee, shares the 
planning and presentation of the first month dedicated to celebrating the school 
library profession in a new audio podcast presented by AASL. Interviewed by 
Susan Hess, member of 2012 School Library Month committee, Thomas speaks about 
developing a national celebration for AASL and the officially declaration of the 
April as National School Library Month in 1985.

For a more detailed history of School Library Month, and sample proclamations to 
share with local elected officials, visit the School Library Month Website.

AASL Joins CoSN in Release of Report on Mobile Technologies and Social Media
AASL has joined with the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and other 
leading education associations in releasing a new report aimed at helping inform 
and guide education decision makers as they revise policies related to the use 
of mobile technologies and social media in schools. The report, “Making 
Progress: Rethinking State and School District Policies Concerning Mobile 
Technologies and Social Media,” was produced by CoSN and the FrameWorks 
Institute.

The report includes several key observations:

	1. The use of mobile Internet devices and social media by young people is 
widely prevalent. The use of student-owned mobile devices for classroom 
instruction is growing, and more schools are moving from policies that ban their 
use to integrating them into the classroom.
	2. Students and schools experience substantial educational benefits through the 
use of mobile devices and social media.
	3. There are legitimate concerns about the use of social media that need to be 
addressed.
	4. Current federal, state and local policies and procedures need modification 
or clarification in order to respond to current realities of expanded social 
media and mobile devices in schools.
	5. Equity is a vital issue to consider when establishing policy around social 
media and mobile technologies.AASL Seeks Proposals for ALA 2013 Annual 
Conference Programs
AASL invites proposals for programs to be presented during the American Library 
Association (ALA) 2013 Annual Conference. The conference will be held June 27- 
July 2 in Chicago. The submission deadline is 5:00 pm CDT on Friday, June 1, 
2012. AASL seeks proposals for 90 90-minute concurrent sessions and half- or 
full-day preconference workshops. All programs should include up to three 
learning objectives and should address how the session supports the AASL 
Strategic Plan, the AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner, and/or 
Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs. The AASL Annual 
Conference committee will evaluate proposals for clarity, originality, and 
timeliness. Submissions will only be accepted via the online form. Submitters 
will be notified as to the proposal's status on or before Friday, July 13, 2012.

AASL Seeks Researcher for Survey Analysis
AASL is seeking a researcher or team of researchers to assist in a data analysis 
of its national longitudinal survey of school library programs, School Libraries 
Count! The data to be analyzed runs from the survey’s inception in 2007 through 
2011. The researcher, or research team selected, will be expected to create a 
statistical analysis using five years of raw survey data from School Libraries 
Count! and create a report to be published and distributed by AASL. While AASL 
will share the entire report with AASL members, the researcher or research team 
will work with AASL to submit selected results in peer-reviewed journals outside 
of the school library profession. Additionally, the researcher or research team 
will collaborate with AASL to submit programs related to the findings to venues 
both inside and outside the profession.

Those interested should submit a cover letter describing their qualifications, 
resume and a proposal detailing how the required tasks will be completed to the 
AASL office no later than May 25. Visit AASL’s Request for Proposals page to 
submit a proposal and for contact information. Finalists will be interviewed by 
phone or in-person during the ALA 2012 Annual Conference taking place June 20-26 
in Anaheim, Calif.

Best-Selling Author Carmen Agra Deedy to Speak at AASL Awards Luncheon
New York Times best-selling author Carmen Agra Deedy will speak during the 
annual Awards Luncheon for AASL.  The luncheon will be held Monday, June 25, 
during the ALA 2012 Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif. Deedy’s children's 
books have won numerous awards, including the Jane Addams Peace Association Book 
Award, the International Latino Book Award and the Best Children's Books of the 
Year from the Bank Street College of Education. She served as the 2008 
spokesperson for AASL's School Library Month and has shared her stories with 
hundreds of thousands of school children.

The AASL Awards Luncheon highlights the best of the best in the school library 
field and gives members a chance to celebrate the accomplishments of their 
colleagues. Luncheon tickets are $55 and must be purchased in advance. The 
deadline for purchase is June 15. Deedy’s appearance at the awards luncheon is 
sponsored by Peachtree Publishers. To register for the luncheon, and for more 
information about this and other AASL events at the 2012 ALA Annual Conference, 
visit the conference website.

AASL's eAcademy Offers Additional Online Courses
Register now for one or more of AASL’s e-Academy courses scheduled through the 
end of summer. The four-week self-paced courses are designed to give 
participants 12 hours of learning led by experts in the school library field. 
The upcoming courses include:

	* Jul. 9 – Aug.  3 Design for Understanding Meets the 21st Century School 
Librarian
	* Jul. 16 – Aug. 10 From 0 to 60: Implement eBooks in Your Library Program in 4 
Weeks
	* Jul. 16 – Aug. 10 Making a Place, Making a Case for Read-Alouds: A Powerful 
Teaching Tool for Literacy
AASL e-Academy courses are led in Moodle, a Web-based online learning system 
that students access from their browser. Each course is designed with the busy 
school librarian in mind - participants can complete coursework at a time that 
is most convenient for them. Detailed descriptions of each course and 
registration information are available on the AASL e-Academy pages.

Register for AASL Preconferences at the 2012 ALA Annual Conference
This year’s conference in Anaheim, CA will bring together more than 25,000 
librarians, educators, authors, publishers, literacy experts, illustrators and 
the leading suppliers to the market. As part of this annual event, AASL will 
offer three exciting preconferences onFriday, June 22:

Libraries in the Cloud
8:30 am to Noon
Doug Johnson will host this preconference on how libraries can benefit by moving 
to the cloud and what role librarians can play when staff and student 
applications become hosted. The session discusses the implication of hosted 
computer applications and resources on school library programs and the role of 
the school librarian.

Leading Professional Development that Matters…and Works
12:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Debbie Abilock, Kristin Fontichiaro, and Violet H. Harada will discuss several 
professional development models for cultivating leadership in school librarians, 
and explore how schools can be improved from the inside out.

Ticket price information for these AASL preconferences can be found at the ALA 
Annual Conference Website. For more information on AASL preconferences and 
sessions at the 2012 ALA annual Conference visit the AASL @ ALA Annual 
Conference website.


 
 
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Education News
________________________________
 Rutgers Study Finds Effective School Libraries Impact Entire School
A recent two-phase study by Rutgers University's Center for International 
Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL) found that an effective school library 
not only impacts student achievement positively, it lifts a school's entire 
educational climate. The study, conducted on behalf of the New Jersey 
Association of School Librarians (NJASL), noted that effective school libraries 
reflect strong cooperation, collaboration, and communication among classroom 
teachers, administrators and school librarians. The study said participants in 
12 focus groups provided evidence that the school library shapes the learning 
environment by:

	* Providing  equitable and stable information access to all
	* Establishing a learning environment where students are guided by 
professionals to effectively utilize information and technology tools in ethical 
and safe ways
	* Supporting investigation and experimentation with information and technology 
to foster quality teaching that empowers learning across the school
	* Conducting substantial, cost-effective, hands-on professional development to 
faculty and staff through the cooperative design of learning experiences that 
integrate information and technology
	* Contributing  quality teaching in schools through the provision of 
inquiry-based instruction implemented through instructional teams
	* Offering a central, safe place that removes barriers and constraints to 
learning with information resources and  information technology
	* Offering services that are different from those provided in the classroom: It 
connects information and expertise at the intersection of digital and print 
information in and beyond the walls of the school
	* Providing a center, not only for  information exchange and reading 
enrichment, but for for digital literacy
	* Building capacity for students’ critical engagement with information, with an 
emphasis the critical evaluation of sources, on the critical interrogation of 
diverse sources of information, and on asking, thinking and creatingStudy Finds 
Struggling Students Enjoy Reading More with Kindles
“Reluctant Readers in Middle School: Successful Engagement with Text Using the 
E-Reader,” a study of struggling middle school students, found that the kids 
felt better about reading after a course in which they used Amazon Kindles. The 
research, published in the International Journal of Applied Science and 
Technology was based on a two-month study of 199 middle-schoolers in a reading 
improvement class in Texas. They had 15 to 25 minutes every day when they were 
free to read on the Kindle. In general, the students felt the device improved 
their reading ability and they enjoyed using it. They also noted the ease of 
carrying multiple books in one device, and commented that reading on a high-tech 
device was not a “boring waste of time” like reading traditional books. Some 
readers mentioned that the Kindle saved them from embarrassment because it kept 
peers in the dark about what title they were reading.

Pew Survey Finds e-Readers Renew Love of Book Reading in All Formats
According to a survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, a fifth of 
American adults (age 16 and older) have read an electronic version of a book in 
the last year, a trend that is fueling a renewed love of reading. The portion of 
e-book readers among all American adults has increased to 21 percent from 17 
percent between December and February, due in large part to a boom in tablet and 
e-reader sales. E-book readers plowed through an average of 24 titles in the 
past year, the study found, compared with an average of 15 for readers of 
physical books. Researchers also discovered that e-book readers are also 
checking out more books at libraries and buying more at bookstores and online – 
nine in 10 e-book readers said they have also read printed books in the past 
year. The Pew survey found that 30 percent of those who read e-content now spend 
more time reading.

Annenberg Institute Report Reveals Common Strategies for College Readiness
A new report from the Annenberg Institute for School Reform examines the 
burgeoning field of college readiness, with models to help districts, schools, 
and other interested stakeholders prepare students for college success. The 
report is part of the College Readiness Indicator System initiative funded by 
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The report defines college-readiness 
through three dimensions – academic preparedness, academic tenacity, and college 
knowledge. Researchers found that common strategies to help students gain 
content-area knowledge and key cognitive skills for success in college include: 
aligning standards, curricula, and assessments to college-ready expectations; 
using data to drive college-readiness policies; and intervening early to keep 
students on a college-ready track. The study also discusses what makes programs 
successful, such as supporting students through the college-planning process, 
and engaging families in learning about and supporting college-going.

Article in American Journalism Review Questions Media Coverage of "Failing" 
Schools
An article by Paul Farhi in The American Journalism Review asks, “Have the 
nation's schools have gotten noticeably worse, or media coverage has made it 
seem that way? According to Farhi, if you plug in the phrase "failing schools" 
to Nexis, an electronic database for legal and public-records related 
information, you will get 544 hits in newspapers and wire stories for January 
2012 alone. However, he writes, there is a lot of positive data that isn’t being 
reported. American elementary and middle school students have improved 
performance on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study every 
four years since the tests began in 1995 and are above the international average 
in all categories, and within a few percentage points of global leaders. Another 
data point: The number of Americans with at least some college education has 
ballooned over the past 70 years, from 10 percent in 1940 to 56 percent today, 
even as our population has tripled and grown more diverse. Farhi says a 2011 
Gallop poll found the percentage of parents grading their children's school A 
was at its highest ever (37 percent), yet only 1 percent rated the nation's 
schools overall that way. Gallup asked people about the disparity, and found 
people knew local schools through direct experience, but learned about education 
nationally through the media. Farhi concludes that the performance of schools is 
much more complicated and journalists should provide a broader frame to assess 
alleged problems with the state of the education system.

Innovate Programs Boost Student Achievement in 28 States
The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) released a series 
of case studies from 28 states highlighting examples of innovative educational 
initiatives that are playing a crucial role in improving K-12 education across 
the country. The programs identified in these case studies were funded through 
the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program as part of the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The case studies are 
illustrative of unique state grant programs tailored to meet the needs of 
teachers and students in those states. Educators and students across the country 
have benefitted from these innovative programs as shown by higher formative and 
standardized test scores, increased technology literacy and technology 
integration, improved access to both digital curriculum resources and project 
based learning initiatives and increased student engagement. While each program 
is unique, some common themes have emerged:

	* Scaling Up Successful Programs: ARRA EETT funds enabled states and districts 
to scale up research-based innovative programs, such asNorth Carolina’s IMPACT 
and the Texas Immersion Pilot (TIP).
	* Innovating for Learning: Many grantees supported the development of 
project-based learning curricula and the development of digital and open 
educational resources through technology-rich learning environments.
	* Supporting Educator Effectiveness: States and districts provided high-quality 
professional development through coaching/mentoring, communities of practice, 
and train-the-trainer models for teachers who were implementing significant 
changes to their instruction using technology.Author Brad Meltzer Calls for 
School Library Support
In celebration of National Library Week, Brad Meltzer, bestselling author and 
host of "Brad Meltzer's Decoded" on the History Channel wrote an op-ed for the 
Huffington Post about the value of school libraries and librarians, and the loss 
of federal funding that has had a significant impact on them. In his piece 
titled, “The Unsung Heroes in our Schools,” Meltzer said, “School librarians 
transform lives through education and make it possible for students to thrive in 
a 21st century learning environment. [They] play an integral role in their 
schools, collaborating with teachers on lesson plans, working with 
administrators to obtain grants and aiding students in using new media.”

Meltzer mentions AASL’s 2011 National School Library Program of the Year award 
winner, Pine Grove Middle School, and recognizes the efforts of AASL member Sue 
Kowalski. AASL president Carl Harvey’s petition to the White House calling for 
every child in America to receive access to an effective school library program 
is highlighted as well. Meltzer discusses the uphill battle school libraries are 
facing and calls for additional federal funding. “When I see what is happening 
to school library budgets today, I am horrified to think that we live in a 
country where school librarians – with the power to inspire, as my former 
teacher inspired me – are considered expendable just for the sake of saving a 
few bucks. We are a world starving for heroes. If you want to find them, support 
our school libraries.”

You can read the full article at the Huffington Post Website.



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 Resources for School Librarians 
________________________________
 


NetSmartz Offers Free Internet Safety e-Book for Children
NetSmartz Workshop, a program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited 
Children, has a new and exciting way for children ages 5-10 to learn important 
Internet safety lessons. In its first e-book, Delivery for Webster, children 
learn why it's important to ask a trusted adult before sharing their information 
online. Delivery for Webster features animated graphics, dramatic sound effects, 
and a "read-to-me" narration for early readers. Parents, educators, school 
librarians, childcare providers, and others can also utilize the accompanying 
discussion guide to start a conversation about Webster's adventure, pop-ups, and 
personal information with children.

TED Offers New Education Platform and Free Video Lessons
TED, a nonprofit organization, has launched a brand-new TED-Ed website with 
tools to help educators use video in the classroom. The new platform allows 
educators to take any useful educational video and create a customized lesson 
around it. Users can distribute the lessons, publicly or privately, and track 
their impact on a class or an individual student. Educators also can browse TED 
content based on the subject they teach. Each video on the TED-Ed site is tagged 
to a curriculum subject and is accompanied by supplementary materials to help 
educators and students use or understand the video lesson. Supplementary 
materials include multiple-choice questions, open-answer questions, and links to 
more information on the topic. The site also offers an innovative customization 
program called “flipping” that allows educators to customize supplementary 
materials and render lessons on a new and private web page, and a TED-Ed YouTube 
channel with free video lessons by leaders in innovation and thinking.

Endangered Species Day Resources Now Available for School Librarians
School librarians throughout the country are encouraged to help celebrate the 
7th annual national Endangered Species Day on May 18. The goal of Endangered 
Species Day is to educate people about the importance of protecting our rare, 
threatened, and endangered animal and plant species. Endangered Species Day 
provides an opportunity for community and school libraries to educate the public 
about the importance of protecting endangered species. The following are a few 
of the potential ways that libraries can participate in Endangered Species Day:
	1. Display/share an Endangered Species Reading List.
	2. Create an exhibit of endangered species-related books, photos and artwork.
	3. Host an Endangered Species Day activity, such as a book reading by a 
librarian or local celebrity. You can also provide special handouts including 
bookmark, activity/coloring book and other material available from the 
Endangered Species Day Toolkit.
A variety of resources are also available on the Endangered Species Day Website:
	* Planning/Hosting an Endangered Species Day Event: The Endangered Species Day 
Toolkit includes information on planning an activity, along with bookmarks, 
stickers, activity books and other material that can be downloaded and printed.
	* Reading List: A suggested book list for young people and adult readers.
	* Photos/Artwork: You can find links to photos of threatened and endangered 
species from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other sources, along with 
artwork from the 2011Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest.
Involve Students in Food Day with Free Resources
Food movement leaders are gearing up for the second annual Food Day on October 
24, the nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced 
food. Food Day brings together organizations and individuals working on food 
issues as varied as hunger, nutrition, agriculture policy, animal welfare, and 
farmworker justice. The Food Day Website offers resources for educators 
interested in getting their schools involved, including a curriculum that 
provides teaching tools and example activities for elementary, middle, and high 
school students. More than 2,300 events in all 50 states took place on the first 
Food Day in 2011, and organizers intend for Food Day 2012 to represent an even 
bigger grassroots campaign for improved food policies. For more information on 
how to get involved with Food Day events, visit the Website.

 
back to top

Grants & Awards
________________________________
 
Next Generation Learning Challenges Announces Third Wave of Grants
Recognizing the need for a fundamental change in the way education is designed 
and delivered across secondary and postsecondary institutions, Next Generation 
Learning Challenges (NGLC) has announced the availability of $12 million in 
grants for comprehensive whole school and college models that use technology to 
achieve more personalized learning experiences. Funding is being provided by the 
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Initial applications will be accepted on a 
rolling basis until June 8, 2012. Visit the Next Generation website for more 
information.

NAIS Offers Challenge 20/20
The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) invites schools to 
participate in Challenge 20/20, a program that brings together one school from 
the United States and one school from outside of the United States. 
Teacher-student teams from both schools work together throughout the fall 2012 
school semester to come up with a solution to a global problem. Challenge 20/20 
is based on Jean Francois Rischard's book, High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 
Years to Solve Them. All U.S. schools, elementary and secondary, public or 
private, are eligible. The deadline to enter is August 17.

Brown Rudnick Center for Public Interest Offers Community Grant Program
The Brown Rudnick Center Community Grant Program recognizes, encourages, and 
collaborates with front-line workers within the educational system who often do 
not have a voice in funding decisions; and provides funding to assist with 
small, concrete projects or needs that will make an improvement in inner-city 
education in Boston, Hartford, New York City, Providence, and Washington, D.C. 
within a year of the award. The maximum award is $2,000. “Front line educational 
workers" involved in the education field or a related field in Boston, Hartford, 
New York City, Providence, or Washington, D.C. partnered with a non-profit 
organization or tax-exempt organization (e.g. a public school) that is willing 
to accept the grant and use it in the required manner are eligible. The Deadline 
is rolling. Visit the Website to view submission dates.



back to top

 

Partnership News
________________________________
 

P21 Releases 21st Century Skills Math Map for Educators
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21), a national organization that 
advocates for 21st century readiness for every student, has released the Math 
Map which provides timely Common Core and 21st Century Skills connections. The 
release of this resource coincided with the Mathematics Awareness Month in 
April. Rounding out P21's existing library of content maps for English, Social 
Studies, Science, Geography, the Arts, and World Languages, the P21 Math Map was 
designed in collaboration with the nation's leading math educators, and with the 
support of the Mathematical Association of America, and the National Council of 
Teachers of Mathematics.

The P21 Math Map (along with the rest of the 21st Century Skills content maps) 
is available for download free of charge.



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Member Spotlight
________________________________
 
AASL Member and Past President Barbara Stripling Wins 2013-14 ALA Presidency
Barbara K. Stripling, assistant professor of practice at Syracuse University in 
Syracuse, N.Y., has been elected to the 2013-14 presidency of the American 
Library Association (ALA). Stripling received 6,272 of the 10,758 votes cast 
votes, defeating her opponent, Gina J. Milsap. Stripling will become 
president-elect in June 2012, and will assume the ALA presidency in June 2013, 
following the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. She will serve a one-year term 
as president and a one-year term as immediate past president. Stripling has been 
a member of ALA since 1977, and served as AASL President from 1996-1997. She has 
held numerous committee positions within AASL. Complete election results are at 
the ALA website.


We love to brag about our members! Looking to make it into AASL's Member 
Spotlight? Submit your spotlight to Markisan Naso for inclusion in the next 
Member Spotlight segment.



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AASL Calendar
2012

June
21-26: AASL at ALA 2012 Annual Conference

July
9: Design for Understanding Meets the 21st Century School Librarian

16: From 0 to 60: Implement eBooks in Your Library Program in 4 weeks

16: Making a Place, Making a Case for Read-Alouds: A Powerful Teaching Tool for 
Literacy

October
12-13: AASL 2012 Fall Forum

________________________________
 
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