Contact: Melissa Jones
AASL Communications Specialist
(312) 280-4381
mjones@ala.org

For Immediate Release,
February 19, 2008

AASL seeks presenter for "Reading and the Secondary School Library Media Specialist" Institute

CHICAGO - The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is now seeking a presenter for the "Reading and the Secondary School Library Media Specialist" institute. The deadline to apply to serve as presenter is March 14 at 4:30 p.m. CST.

The institute was designed to address critical topics in reading for library media specialists serving grades 7 to 12. The institute will engage the library media specialist in topics that impact student reading - including current research, reading strategies, current national legislation and essential reading lesson elements. Through this institute, attendees will expand their knowledge, confidence and understanding vital to their role as an instructional partner in developing reading fluency and meeting the needs of all their students.

The presenter will be responsible for presenting content, developed and supplied by AASL, to regions throughout the United States, starting at the 2008 ALA Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., in June. Qualifications include:

• Experience as a library media specialist or with library media specialists in a 7-12 environment;
  
• Appropriate background in reading literacy;
  
• Excellent communication skills;
  
• Experience presenting adult-centered educational programs;
  
• A solid and thorough understanding of the issues and challenges facing the school library media field in regard to reading and literacy; and
  
• Ability to travel