AASL Conference

AASL Opens Call For 2025 AASL National Conference Committee Members

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) seeks enthusiastic and profession-focused school librarians to serve on the 2025 AASL National Conference Committee. The conference, taking place October 16-18, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri, is the only national conference dedicated solely to the needs of school librarians and their roles as educational leaders. AASL members may apply at www.ala.org/aasl/app

AASL’s exploration of the Shared Foundations concludes with Curate

CHICAGO — Published by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and ALA Editions, “Curate” helps to connect learners to resources in more thoughtful, meaningful ways. Through teaching learners and other educators to curate—to overcome their own biases to find, organize, and share the best information—school librarians build connections between learners, knowledge, and the world. Written by Daniella LaShaun Smith and Len Bryan, this practical guide features:

Using brand behavior to elevate the school library

CHICAGO —Branding isn't just for celebrities and corporations. Published by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and ALA Editions, “Elevating the School Library: Building Positive Perceptions through Brand Behavior” by Susan D. Ballard and Sara Kelly Johns shows how school librarians can raise and deepen positive perceptions of school libraries through developing a brand in alignment with the AASL Standards.

Nic Stone to Keynote AASL National Conference General Session

CHICAGO – Acclaimed author, Nic Stone, will keynote the Saturday general session during the 2023 AASL National Conference.  Stone’s appearance is made possible by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House. Full conference information and programming can be found at national.aasl.org.

AASL National Conference General Session Explores Censorship and Equity in Education

CHICAGO – Presented by the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) and sponsored by Sora by OverDrive Education, the Friday General Session during the 2023 AASL National Conference will explore how curriculum censorship can diminish a learner’s access to high-quality, age-appropriate instruction. The session will also share strategies for crafting effective messaging to fight censorship and promote equity in education.

AASL National Conference Closing Session Features Authors on the Right to Read

CHICAGO – A panel of authors sponsored by We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) will close out the 2023 AASL National Conference taking place October 19-21 in Tampa, Florida. The moderated panel will include bestselling authors Samira Ahmed, Phil Bildner, and Tracey Baptiste and the authors will present concrete ideas for how to respond to censorship attempts in the school library. More information on the conference and closing session can be found at national.aasl.org.

Together We’re Stronger National Conference Registration Grants

CHICAGO — Thirty conference registration grants are available to school library professionals wishing to attend the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference. Sponsored by Penguin Random House, the “Together We’re Stronger National Conference Registration Grants,” will offer thirty AASL members complimentary registration to AASL National Conference, October 19-21, 2023, in Tampa, Florida.

AASL Announces Inaugural Toor Scholarship Recipients

CHICAGO – Eight school librarians from across the country have been awarded an American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) Toor Scholarship for Strong Public-School Libraries. The Toor Family, in honor of their parents, Jay and Ruth Toor, established the Toor Scholarships for Strong Public-School Libraries.  The scholarships are awarded to public school librarians who have created and implemented a local public awareness/marketing campaign that promotes and positions their school library as a necessary resource in the community.

AASL opens call for Poster and IdeaLab Proposals

CHICAGO – AASL invites proposals for Poster and IdeaLab Presentations, to be presented Thursday, October 19, 2023, in Tampa, Florida. Complete proposals must be submitted by Thurs., July 6, 2023. To submit a proposal, visit national.aasl.org.

ARTivist Nikkolas Smith to open AASL National Conference

CHICAGO – Nikkolas Smith, ARTivist, Concept artist, Children's Books Author, and Film Illustrator, will keynote the opening general session of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference. The conference will be held Oct. 19-21, in Tampa, Florida. Full conference details can be found at national.aasl.org.