All Sessions

Meeting of the AASL Executive Committee.

Meeting of the AASL/ALSC/YALSA Joint Executive Committees.

Something for everyone – including the nature lover! Join the AASL Independent Schools Section as they visit Flintridge Prep, an Upper Level Independent School near Pasadena and Los Angeles. Then, tour Polytechnic, a co-ed K-12 independent school, which is also the setting for the television show, “Big Bang Theory.” Finally we will head to the Huntington Library to view their superb collection of books, art and tour their famous gardens.

Discover 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.

What are the advantages of moving to a "hosted" school library catalog and circulation system? How can school librarians themselve take advantage of GoogleApps and similar cloud-based productivity tools? And what roles can the school librarian play when a school adopts a program like GoogleApps for Education?

A meeting for the Executive Committee of the AASL Affiliate Assembly.

A closed meeting to develop alliances between AASL and the business community to promote cooperative plans for supporting and enhancing AASL activities and services and to provide a recognition program for companies that participate in the AASL Alliance.

New and experienced reviewers are encouraged to attend this session featuring Rebecca Pasco, Chair of the NCATE Coordinating Committee, and Elizabeth Vilky, Accreditation Associate for Program Review at NCATE. Reviewers will learn about the NCATE process, the 2010 ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Preparation of School Librarians, writing and reviewing reports, and appropriate assessments. Special focus will be on the newly approved 2010 Standards and their application in the review process. Attendees will study a sample report and participate in a review exercise. Program report writers are welcome to attend as observers.

In this era of unprecedented school reform, librarians can thrive as embedded professional development (PD) leaders. Adult learners bring a wealth of background skills, interests, and experiences (Early and Bubb 2004). Unlike the one-shot, one-size-fits-all workshops of the past, today’s PD considers time, setting, circumstances, pedagogical choices, and level of formality for customized PD. We will discuss several PD models, exploring together how we can improve our schools from the inside out.

Meeting of the AASL Board of Directors.

Enjoy light refreshments and the company of members of the AASL Independent Schools Section (ISS). Advance tickets are required. Exact location will be noted on your event ticket.

Meeting of the Delegates of the AASL Affiliate Assembly.

After months of deliberation, the AASL Best Websites for Teaching and Learning Committee is finally ready to unveil the AASL 2012 Top 25 Websites for Teaching and Learning. Join the committee as they share 25 websites that best support the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner, inquiry learning and the curriculum.

The general purpose of this meeting shall be to provide a membership group for the exchange of ideas, for the review and study of curricula, and the development of research activities for educators in colleges and universities whose programs focus on school library education and training.

Meeting of the Supervisors Section (SPVS) of the American Association of School Librarians.

A practical application of the AASL "Planning Guide for Empowering Learners" and Common Core Standards happens in unexpected ways and across great divides as divergent worlds of public/private, urban/suburban, teacher/administrator, AASL/ Common Core Standards collude/collide. National Board Certified school librarian Susannah Tamarkin and Academic Dean Tiffany Della Vedova present ready-to-go adapted planning and evaluation techniques that challenge participants to recognize opportunities in the face of impediments. http://ithsnyclibrary.wikispaces.com

How can K-12 and academic librarians prepare learners to work successfully in information- and technology-rich environments so they will be college-ready? How can we librarians expand our focus from information literacy to incorporate all 21st Century skills that boost deep content understanding, and successfully collaborate with teachers and professors to truly integrate these skills? This program features school and academic librarians who met this challenge and succeeded in integrating information literacy into their curriculum.

Lori Takeuchi, director of research, at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, will present on the "Families Matter" report issued in June 2011. The report shares results from a survey of more than 800 parents of children ages 3 through 10 and reveals how parents nationwide feel about raising children in a digital age. Lori will share in-depth case studies on how parents' attitudes toward technology, along with family values, routines, and structures, are shaping young children’s experiences using digital media. A brief address from AASL President, Carl A. Harvey II, will precede Lori’s presentation.

Red Hawk Elementary, the newest elementary school in the St. Vrain Valley School District, located in Longmont, Colorado, is our pilot school using the Bookstore Model instead of the Dewey Decimal System. The school opened in August 2011 and the impact on students, staff, parents, and district leadership has been transformative. This library is one of a kind in the United States. It is impacting school libraries, principals, and teachers across the country. The session will include the details of why this model was chosen, the transformative searching changes that have occurred for students and staff. The session will also include an analysis of the data that has been collected over a two year time frame. A longer version of this session was presented at AASL in October 2011. The presentation will be via slide show with some handouts and photographs and charts showcasing the data.

Join expert library advocates for face-to-face conversations about the latest issues affecting libraries and ways to deal with them. A series of short discussions , workshops and Q&A sessions will take place, designed to improve advocacy skills and to showcase current advocacy initiatives from all facets of the profession. Location: ALA Member Pavilion, Exhibits Floor

February Should be Your “Library Lovers Month”
Noon – 12:30 p.m.
Susan Schmidt, Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) Division Councilor, Friends of the Library Montgomery County (MD)
Library Lovers' Month is a month-long celebration of school, public, and private libraries of all types. This is a time for everyone, especially library support groups, to recognize the value of libraries and to work to assure that the Nation's libraries will continue to serve.    Library supporters create a celebration of their very own in honor of libraries.  For the past 12 years, the Friends of the Library, Montgomery County MD, Trustees and Staff have shown elected officials and their community how much we value our libraries.  See and hear some ideas you can bring home to create your own “Library Lovers Month.” Sponsor: ALTAFF

Influencing Opinion Leaders: Practical Strategies for Library Board Trustees
12:30 – 1 p.m.
Jenny Benedict, Directory of Library Services, West Vancouver Memorial Library
In this time of shrinking dollars and increasing competition, how can Library Board Trustees improve the likelihood of securing the funding your library needs?  This session will present the principles of influence and share practical strategies for communicating with opinion leaders and key stakeholders. Sponsor: Committee on Library Advocacy (COLA)

Learn about Turning the Page 2.0, Public Library Association’s (PLA) free advocacy training program
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Lynn Slawsky, Program Officer, PLA, and Stephanie Gerding, Turning the Page 2.0 facilitator and independent library consultant
Turning the Page 2.0 is a free advocacy training offered by PLA with generous support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In up to 18 hours spread over 6 weeks, participants in Turning the Page 2.0 learn about advocacy and develop Advocacy Work Plans. In this 30-minute informational session at the Advocacy Corner, attendees will hear an overview of the course, including how our facilitators will help you plan an advocacy project. Attendees can then request to be contacted when registration opens for the autumn course, which will run the weeks of Sept. 24 – Oct. 29. Sponsor: PLA

National Statistics for Local Advocacy? You Betcha!
1:30 – 2 p.m.
Judy Hoffman, Project Manager, Office for Research & Statistics
Combining national/state statistics, your library’s statistics, and real-life examples provide the basis for truly powerful stories. Since 2007, local and state libraries across the nation have utilized national and state data from the Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study to help craft effective advocacy and marketing messages.  Learn how to interpret the data, access new advocacy and marketing tools and make your library’s case to elected officials and community stakeholders. The Study is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ALA. Check it out at www.ala.org/plinternetfunding. Sponsor: ORS 

Winning the Influence Game: 10 D.C. Insider Strategies for Making a Difference for Libraries
2 – 2:30 p.m.
Stephanie Vance, Advocacy Associates
Listen to the “Advocacy Guru” share valuable tips on getting legislators to listen to your message. Learn the most important tactics for communicating effectively with your elected officials and tips on what staffers hate to hear the most.
Sponsor: ALA’s Office of Government Relations (OGR)

Power of Persuasion 
2:30 – 3 p.m.
Dr. Ken Haycock, Research Professor of Management and Organization, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
Six research-based principles have been proven to work in studies of library funding. Our advocacy efforts may be off base.

A Guided Tour of AASL's Advocacy Resources 
3 - 3:30 p.m.
Judi Repman, AASL Advocacy Committee Chair, Professor of Instructional Technology at Georgia Southern and other members of the Advocacy Committee
Join members of the AASL Advocacy Committee for a tour of AASL’s Advocacy Resources and share ideas for how these resources can be used. Sponsor: AASL

Unleash Advocacy for Your Library 
3:30 - 4 p.m.
Linden Renner, Deputy Director of Libraries, Alexandria Library, Alexandria, VA and Joan S. Weeks, Sr. Instruction Librarian, Library of Congress and Adjunct Faculty at the Catholic University School of Library and Information Science
Bring the challenges facing your library to this interactive networking session facilitated by ALA’s Committee on Library Advocacy (COLA) members Joan Weeks and Linden Renner. Learn how you can tap into ALA’s Advocacy University, which provides information, courses and tools to help library advocates at the local level.  Share your success stories to inspire and empower others. Sponsor: COLA

An Annual Grassroots Advocacy Campaign that Keeps Public $ Strong 
4– 4:30 p.m.
Peter Pearson, President, the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library
Peter Pearson will describe a process used for 18 years, which uses citizens to lobby for increased funding for the St. Paul Public Library. The process is simple and effective. Sponsor: ALTAFF

The ALA Membership Pavilion is booth 1939 in the Anaheim Convention Center. The event takes place from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 23 and from Noon to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 24.