Julie Stivers selected as AASL Emerging Leader

For Immediate Release
Mon, 12/18/2017

Contact:

Jennifer Habley

Manager, Web Communications

American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

312-280-4383

jhabley@ala.org

CHICAGO – Julie Stivers has been selected as one of two American Association of School Librarians (AASL) sponsored participants in the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2018 Emerging Leaders program. The Emerging Leaders program enables newer library workers from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Stivers and Juan Rivera will join 48 of their peers as the program kicks off at the 2018 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver.

Stivers, of Raleigh, N.C., earned her master’s in library science from the University of North Carolina in May 2015. She was a member of the Beta Phi Mu Honor Society and earned a scholarship for the highest first year GPA. Since 2015, Stivers has worked as the school librarian at Mount Vernon Middle School where she manages the library and collection for a public, alternative middle school serving youth in an academic-recovery environment. She is also a literacy volunteer for the Durham Youth Home where she shares her skills in preparing lesson plans, facilitating book clubs and matching reading materials to youth interests.

When asked what she hoped to gain through participation in the Emerging Leaders program, Strivers replied: “I love learning through ALA and member organizations and rely on them for resources, tools, and virtual PLNs that strengthen and expand my library practice. Participating in the program would give me experience with those organization that I rely on so frequently – and an opportunity to support them myself. I would love to gain real experience with committees and the crucial work ALA does for its members. Learning with a cohort of dedicated, new librarians would be an incredible opportunity!”

Following the kickoff session, the Emerging Leaders will collaborate with their peers in an online learning and networking environment. Their work culminates with a poster session during the 2018 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. With its sponsorship of Stivers and Rivera, AASL will defray the cost of attending both the 2018 ALA Midwinter Meeting and the 2018 ALA Annual Conference.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.