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.
Mentoring School Librarians Matters: Teamwork in Vermont
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
Mentoring School Librarians Matters is a professional collaboration between the Vermont School Library Association (VSLA) and the Vermont Affiliate of the National Education Association (Vermont NEA).
Funded through a NEA Great Public Schools Grant, the goal is for EVERY new librarian in Vermont to be mentored by an experienced practitioner trained in mentoring and coaching.
This workshop will describe the transition from idea to reality for a professional mentoring program.
Share Your Story! Getting Started with Professional Writing
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Credits: None available.
Start your professional writing journey today! Hear key tips and brainstorm ideas to get started. Walk away with a plan for submission.
Your story matters. School library & other professional publications are fabulous resources, but they are only as good as their content. That’s where you come in. Whatever part of school librarianship sparks your passion or you are most proud of is something others would benefit from reading about. Great for first timers but published writers are welcome too!
50+ Makerspaces for the Secondary Library
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
Are you looking for Makerspace Ideas to use with your secondary library patrons? This is the session for you! Two librarians, one high school and one intermediate, will present 50+ makerspace ideas that we have used successfully with our own students. We will share our knowledge and our philosophies, and we will have fun! We hope you will share, too!
All Aboard the Book Bus
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
How do you keep students reading when they are not in school physically? You go to the students. In our district, many of our virtual students wanted to read but had little to no books in their homes. These students were hungry for books. So I drove all over town delivering books to any student who asked for them, and the program grew so much we hired a bus to help with delivery. I decided to expand the program to the summer, to help prevent summer slide. I invited the public library along, and with the help of some community grants our book bus was once again hitting the streets. Learn how to create your own book bus program.
Speaker(s):
Conflict Becomes Collaboration: Managing Professional Relationships
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
Collaboration is the foundation of a high quality library program. Conflict can derail vital collaborations in an instant. School librarians establish the strong collegial relationships that are vital to creating collaborative opportunities. Attendees will learn strategies to recognize and manage conflict, enhancing their value as leaders and collaborators. By the identifying silent warning signs of conflict, school librarians can connect in a proactive manner to build trusting relationships.
Speaker(s):
School and Public Library = Indispensable Partnerships
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
Collaboration between school librarians and their local public library creates a partnership of community advocates. These partnerships lead students to explore diverse perspectives, and engage with multiple community contacts. Together these school and public librarians give students the opportunity to think flexibly and develop critical thinking skills that will be utilized throughout their lifetime. Attendees of this session will witness successful collaborative programs created in 3 different districts with one goal in mind…. Student success! This session will include practical ideas for collaboration between public libraries and school librarians. Technology is what we make it. With access to future ready tools and the age of COVID, the variety of communication options are limitless. Attendees will draft a plan to contact and connect with their local public library, with a take-away of great resources and ideas.
Speaker(s):
Stories from the Field
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
Sarah Beth Nelson tells tales of being a school librarian, and invites you to do the same! If you are interested in sharing a brief (5 minute) story about being a school librarian, you may put your name in a hat to participate in the open mic portion of the workshop. Sarah Beth will share stories of her own, and lead a discussion on how personal stories can help prepare future school librarians.
School Libraries & the Whole Child
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Credits: None available.
School Librarians are leaders in their school communities in supporting the whole child. In this session, attendees will learn how the National School Library Standards connect to the ASCD Whole Child Tenets as school librarians create healthy and safe spaces, engage and challenge students through inquiry learning, and support students and the school community through access to diverse resources and lessons.
Forget the Elevator Pitch: Making Real Library Change
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
When positions are converted and eliminated, an elevator pitch won’t save jobs. Here, school library leaders present a professional learning initiative for school librarians, their answer to strengthening library programs by meeting the AASL National Standards and becoming Future Ready. With a structure to identify areas for improvement, set goals, collaborate with stakeholders, implement changes, and reflect, school librarians advance library programs in tangible, measurable, and visible ways.
Centering Our Values through Classroom-Library Collaboration: The Key to Enacting School Librarian Leadership
Preview Available
Credits: None available.
Positioning library values--equity, diversity, inclusion, and intellectual freedom--at the center of the academic program benefits all learners. Classroom-library collaboration for instruction means equitable access to diverse and inclusive resources and programming. Coteaching ensures that learners have physical access and increased opportunities for intellectual access to ideas and information. With a values-centered practice, school librarians lead the entire school community toward success.