The AASL National Conference is the only national conference devoted solely to the needs of school librarians. In 2021, concurrent sessions focused on AASL's National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries, giving school librarians and other educator attendees an opportunity to dig deep into the guiding document of the profession.
Creating a Library Community Through Fun and Engaging Programming
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
Have you considered trying out some new program ideas in your library but aren’t sure where to start? In this session, you will learn from a combined 30 years of experience with innovative, fun, and collaborative library programs. This session will be interactive and informative as participants learn about examples ranging from low to high tech and free to nominal in cost. Three areas of programming will be shared: community building, literature, and information literacy.
Speaker(s):
Critical Conversations Through Read-Alouds of Paired Picture Books
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Credits: None available.
In this session, participants will be introduced to the art of interactive read-alouds and 12 picturebook pairings they can use in order to create critical conversations with young readers during read-alouds. Participants will also engage in an interactive discussion to thoughtfully consider the ways single stories (i.e., stereotypes) can be productively dismantled or unproductively reified when sharing paired texts in elementary settings.
Speaker(s):
Core Values Lighting Our Way: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Intellectual Freedom
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
How do school librarians transform library policies, programs, and practices to create equitable, diverse, and inclusive spaces that support K-12 students in exercising their right to thrive? The presenters, all practicing school librarians, will share ways they have implemented change in their library spaces and will engage participants in critical discussions and reflection about how we can further improve our practices to achieve social justice within our sphere of influence.
Credits: None available.
Self-care and social-emotional wellbeing is extremely important in order for students and teachers to be their best selves. Attendees will have hands-on experience with mindfulness techniques and curated resources will be shared. Crowd-sourced resources will be curated, as well as actionable tips to take the first steps to create a school library that is inclusive and mindful of all learners, including those struggling with self-identification, mental disorders (including depression and anxiety).
Credits: None available.
Building an inclusive, district-wide digital collection that serves your entire school community can seem challenging - but sometimes all it takes are small steps that lead to big success! Join Monica Flint, Library Supervisor at Davis School District (UT), to learn how a collaborative approach to digital collection management - including a shared district collection, customizable school accounts, staff trainings and more - helps address students’ reading and learning needs, no matter where they are.
Collaboration between Librarians and Principals
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
A key to a successful school library program is having a collaborative relationship between the school librarian and their principal(s). This session will provide attendees with tools on how librarians can approach their principal and create a collaborative working environment that will support their school’s diverse learning environment. And how library science programs and educational leadership programs can help support a collaborative environment between school librarians and ed leadership.
Copyright Connections: Be Future Ready with the 5th C!
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
Creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication are the 4 C's of learning, but what about the 5th C? COPYRIGHT! It's critical that we teach students how copyright applies to them as creators and publishers in the digital world. Learn how to incorporate a free K-12 copyright curriculum into what you already teach with innovative, digital project ideas. Attend this session to learn practical, authentic ways to teach about copyright while having your students be ethical creators!
Cultivating Expertise in Multiple Literacies
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
"Multiple literacies" is essentially the content area in which school librarians are expected to provide instructional leadership to their students and faculty. In this session, participants will define “multiple literacies,” discuss effective strategies for integrating them into the curriculum, and explore the best resources for cultivating ongoing expertise in these literacies.
Speaker(s):
Manga in the School Library: What, Why, & How?
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
Have you wanted to add manga to your library collection but don't know where to start? Are you overwhelmed by the available manga series that are unreviewed? This introduction to manga will help you get started on what manga is, why you should make space for it on your shelves, what titles you should purchase to develop your collection, and how to catalog, process, and protect your books. Manga newbies and otaku welcome!
Speaker(s):Credits: None available.
Civil rights education is often criticized for being limited to biographies of a few leaders and the “I Have a Dream” speech. This session will present an overview of how graphic novels can be paired with primary sources to teach the civil rights movement to middle and high school students. A variety of resources and instructional strategies will be provided. Participants will collaborate and share ideas on how to use these resources to make the civil rights movement more relevant to students.
