For immediate release | September 22, 2015

AASL awarded IMLS grant for causal research

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has been awarded a 2015 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Laura Bush program grants support the recruiting and educating library students, continuing education for those already in the profession, research and new programs that build institutional capacity. The purpose of the AASL grant is to discover what works at that intersection of formal and informal learning in the school library learning space, as to provide reliable information by which to assess the impact of specific actions in library programs and by certified school library staffing.

"School librarianship continues to be on the forefront of educational research and best practices,” said AASL President Leslie Preddy. “Through this IMLS grant, the best library researchers will continue the work begun in 2014, moving the national research agenda forward with a causal analysis of the impact of school libraries on diverse student populations. Learning has no limits. The role of the school librarian evolves alongside the youth they serve and the school library is customized to fit the needs of the school community.”

Grant funds will support Causality: School Libraries and Student Success II (CLASS II), an AASL initiative to move the national school library research agenda toward the causal analyses underlying the differences school librarians can make for students from diverse backgrounds, poverty and special needs. CLASS II will provide the profession a voice, amplified by scientific proof, to advocate for adequate resources and equitable access to school library programs to help students be academically successful.

CLASS II continues the work of the 2014 Causality: School Libraries and Student Success forum, a consensus-building initiative that brought together the best minds in school library research and related fields to start the ongoing dialogue representing a national agenda focusing on libraries and learning. CLASS II will move the research agenda forward by identifying key competencies that relate to the knowledge construction and deep learning advocated by school library researchers. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant number RE-00-15-0114-15.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Its grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow IMLS on Facebook and Twitter.

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

Contact:

Jennifer Habley

Manager, Web Communications

American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

jhabley@ala.org

312-280-4383