Caring is Essential

Volume 40, No. 5
May/Jun 2012

The theme for the May/Jun 2012 Knowledge Quest is “Caring is Essential.” This issue explores the effects of caring on students and the ways in which school librarians can help foster caring environments. The issue is guest edited by Jami L. Jones. 

AASL Members can find the current issue on AASL's Metapress site.  (Learn how to set up your access.)

You can also view the entire “Caring is Essential” issue in an electronic flipbook at the all-new AASL eCOLLAB, an elearning laboratory for AASL members and subscribers. To gain access to this repository of professional development and resources, you are invited to join AASL or subscribe to eCOLLAB.

Below you will find a variety of related resources and content that tie into the issue!

Table of Contents

*click on the image to view

Guest Editor

Jami L. Jones is an associate professor in the Department of Library Science at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. She is coauthor (with Gail Bush) of Tales Out of the School Library: Developing Professional Dispositions (Libraries Unlimited 2010), and books and articles on the role of the school librarian in preventing dropout, nurturing resilient students, and fostering creative school library programs.

Read Jami’s Guest Editor column, “Caring: A Bridge to a New Era” from the issue!

Listen to a podcast interview with Jami on “Care in the School Library!”

Online Exclusive Features

Interview with Former First Lady Laura Bush on the caring power of the Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative

	“Creating Self and World: Youth Development and Care Define the Possibility Project,” by Michael Hanchett Hanson

Knowledge Quest Webinar

Knowledge Quest is proud to present a webinar by Olga M. Nesi, based on her article in the May/June issue. 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.

The Transformative Power of Care with Olga Nesi

Olga M. Nesi was the librarian at I.S. 281 Joseph B. Cavallaro in Brooklyn, New York, for eleven years. She is now a library coordinator for the New York City School Library System at the Office of Library Services, NYC Department of Education.

To view the webinar archives, you will be taken to AASL eCOLLAB, AASL's professional development repository. You must be logged in to the AASL website as either an AASL member or eCOLLAB subscriber to view the archives.

School Library Research (SLR) Spotlight

If you liked the May/June 2012 Knowledge Quest articles on “Caring is Essential” you may be interested in this research study published in School Library Research (SLR):

What We Want: Boys and Girls Talk about Reading

Visit the SLR Spotlight page for additional articles related to Knowledge Quest themes.

30 Second Thought Leader Videos

New 30 Second Thought Leader videos answering the question, "How do school library programs contribute to the development of the Whole Child?”

30 Second Thought Leaders

Additional Resources for Caring

Essential Links

Here are some Essential Links related to Caring that you may find useful at your school library.

Essential Links is a wiki that comprises a working bibliography of resources for school librarians, principals, parents, charter school organizers, library para-professionals, government officials, and college instructors. Books, journal articles, websites, and other media are included.

Visit the KQ Additional Resources page for additional resources related to Knowledge Quest Themes.