Contact: Melissa B. Jones
AASL Communciations Specialist
(312) 280-4381
mjones@ala.org
NEWS
For immediate release
August 5, 2008
AASL requests proposals for its 2009 National Conference
CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is currently accepting proposals for the concurrent and Exploratorium sessions at its 14th National Conference in Charlotte, N.C.
The conference, "Rev Up Learning @ your library," will be held Nov. 5-8, 2009. Those seeking to submit a proposal are encouraged to visit the National Conference pages at http://www.ala.org/aasl/charlotte.
AASL President Ann M. Martin said, "AASL's track record for excellence in the choices of concurrent and Exploratorium sessions at national conferences results from members sharing innovative ideas that are implemented in library media centers across the country. Consider communicating your best idea by applying to present a concurrent or Exploratorium session at AASL's 14th National Conference. Members will benefit from relevant, tested practices when the rubber meets the road in Charlotte."
The conference will offer multiple 75-minute peer-reviewed concurrent sessions. Concurrent session proposals must address the three areas of responsibility as identified in “Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning:”
Proposals should try to inform conference attendees of the new "Standards for the 21st-Century Learner." The deadline to submit a proposal for a concurrent session is Dec. 1. More information on criteria and the submission process are available at http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/conferencesandevents/national/charlotte2009/forpresenters/requestforproposal/rfp2009program.cfm.
The Exploratorium, held on Thursday during the National Conference, is a two-hour session offering participants the opportunity visit learning stations and browse at their own pace. Exploratorium proposals will be accepted until March 30, 2009. Proposals will be accepted on many topics, including, advocacy, collaboration, copyright, meeting special needs and reading promotion. More proposal topics and information on submitting a proposal are available at http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/conferencesandevents/national/charlotte2009/forpresenters/requestforproposal/rfp2009exploratorium.cfm.
AASL's National Conference is an opportunity for professionals in the school library media field, and those who support school library media programs, to gather for networking and learning centered on the profession. Ann Marie Pipkin, National Conference Committee co-chair, said, "If you have never been to an AASL conference, once you go to your first, you won't miss another one. It is the only conference I know of that focuses on the school librarians and those who support school libraries." To find out more information about AASL's 14th National Conference, visit http://www.ala.org/aasl/charlotte.
The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library media services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library media field.