American Association of School Librarians

CHICAGO — School library professionals are encouraged to register for the new Knowledge Quest webinar, “Making the Most of Professional Learning Communities” taking place at 6 p.m. Central time on Dec. 12, 2012. Hosted by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), the webinar will examine the variety of roles school librarians play as members of professional learning communities (PLCs). To register, visit www.ala.org/aasl/ecollab/upcoming.

CHICAGO — The place of transmedia in learning will be examined in a new webinar offered by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). Taking place at 6 p.m. Central time on Dec. 11, 2012, “Worlds of Learning with Inanimate Alice” will explore how transmedia storytelling exemplifies learning in the 21st century. To register, visit www.ala.org/aasl/ecollab/upcoming.

CHICAGO — The Beyond Words website, part of the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) Beyond Words Grant funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, contains linked resources for school librarians and students to use while recovering from a natural disaster. Links include guides to facilities and funding, recovery and repair of damaged materials and helping students cope and process their experiences. Resources can be accessed at www.ala.org/aasl/disasterrecovery.

CHICAGO — According to the results of the 2012 School Libraries Count! longitudinal survey conducted by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), the filtering of legitimate, educational websites and academically useful social networking tools continues to be an issue in most schools across the country.  While these schools report that overly restrictive filters negatively impact student learning, findings indicate educator curriculum development and collaboration activities are also impeded.