President's Page

Kathryn Roots Lewis AASL President 2018 - 2019 Director of Libraries & Instructional Technology Norman (Oklahoma) Public Schools

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! I am thrilled and honored to be your 2018-2019 AASL president. This year I am building on the important work of Past President Steven Yates and all AASL Presidents who have come before me. What a legacy they leave! Do you know that AASL is the only national professional membership organization focused on school librarians and the school library community? And do you know that your professional association has more than 7,000 members and serves school librarians in the United States, Canada, and around the world?

Across the country and around the world school librarians are leading the charge to transform teaching and learning, to be learner-ready school librarians in learner-ready school libraries. Think for a moment about our mission: The American Association of School Librarians empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning. This year school librarians, like you, throughout the profession are engaged in implementation of the new National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians and School Libraries (NSLS). As you embark on this year, consider how the Shared Foundations impact you and your learners.  What if our learners demonstrated the competencies of Inquire, Include, Curate, Collaborate, Explore, and Engage? What a goal to aim for, what a win for deep learning, innovation, problem solving, creativity, and learners who exhibit a growth mindset; a win for every learner, for every school, for the world! You are the change that transforms teaching and learning. I encourage you to look to AASL to support your important work with learners.

My presidential initiative is focused on helping others understand the standards and how they support deep learning, inclusion, creativity, diversity, inquiry, engagement, curation, and collaboration. The initiative is built around explaining the structure, purpose, and value of the new National School Library Standards to stakeholders and partners in the education community and creating tools for school librarians to do just that. 

What can AASL do for you? Did you know…

• That the AASL Board of Directors serves you as a school librarian to support your work as an learner-ready school librarian
• That you can sign up for AASL’s online sharing community
• That you can find all things standards at standards.aasl.org
• That free webinars, online resources, print resources and videos about the National School Library Standards are available at standards.aasl.org
• That you can email me at  aaslpresident@ala.org
• That you can find important advocacy information and that the AASL office is available to help
• That you can find the AASL Best Apps and AASL Best Websites
• That you can follow AASL on Twitter @AASL
• That you can follow me on Twitter at @AASLpresident
• That you can follow AASL on Facebook at American Association of School Librarians
• That you can follow AASL on Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, & Google+
• That you can apply for a myriad of awards, grants, recognitions, scholarships, and programs
• That you can find Position Statements that support the incredible work you do
• That you can see the amazing list of AASL Past Presidents
• That your Regional Director serves as a communication channel between the AASL Board and your state
• That you can see the work of the AASL Board of Directors at the AASL website

You’ve got this, let AASL help you be a learner-ready school librarian!

Kathryn Roots Lewis

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President's Travel Schedule

• October 17-20, 2018: Washington Library Association, School Library Division (Yakima, WA)

• November 9-11, 2018: AASL Fall Executive Committee Meeting (Chicago, IL)

• November 28-30, 2018: Florida Association of Media in Education (Orlando, FL)

• January 24-29, 2019: ALA Midwinter Meeting (Seattle, WA)

• March 24-26, 2019: Missouri Association of School Librarians (Osage Beach, MO)

• April 2019: Maine Association of School Libraries (Bangor or Augusta, ME)

• April 12-14, 2019: AASL Spring Executive Committee Meeting (Norman, OK)

• June 11-12, 2019: Alabama School Library Association (Birmingham, AL)

• June 20-15, 2019: ALA Annual Meeting (Washington, DC)