Contact: Kathy Agarwal

Communications Specialist

312-280-4381

kagarwal@ala.org

For Immediate Release

October 31, 2006

AASL launches Professional Learning Community

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce the launch of its first Professional Learning Community.  The AASL Teaching for Learning Community, focused on student assessment, was unveiled during the AASL Fall Forum on October 15, 2006. 

The community builds on the topics discussed at the AASL Fall Forum and is open to all members of the division. AASL developed the Teaching for Learning Community in response to significant member interest in the Fall Forum; this is a natural step to address the needs of the membership.

One of the components of the Teaching for Learning Community is a virtual meeting place facilitated online by a dedicated group of members, lead by Marjorie Pappas, an expert on assessment and a presenter at the Forum.   The online community features forum discussions, live chats, document sharing and other tools to facilitate knowledge-sharing on topics related to the role of school library media specialists in student assessment. 

In addition to developing the knowledge base of our members, the Professional Learning Community is a virtual place for general networking and sharing of ideas.  The Professional Learning Community will also have an offline component, allowing members to meet face to face and continue their discussions or present their findings or accomplishments.

“All interested members are encouraged to use the Teaching for Learning community as a professional resource,” said AASL President Cyndi Phillip.  “We hope it will grow and be a source for professional learning with members sharing the effectiveness of their instructional practices and exchanging ideas about assessment tools and techniques.  AASL has plans for additional communities in various topical areas, which will draw their inspiration from the success of the Teaching for Learning pilot.”

For more information about AASL’s Professional Learning Communities and guidelines for joining, visit http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aasleducation/professionallearningcommunities/plc.htm.

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.