AASL commends 10 programs aligned with association’s values and mission

CHICAGO — Moving on recommendations made by its Affiliate Assembly, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) formally commended 10 programs based on the programs’ support of the school librarian profession. To be considered, programs must align with AASL’s learning standards and program guidelines as well as the principles expressed in the AASL mission and value statements.

“Every year, AASL commends programs and events championing the school library profession. These programs are brought to the attention of the Board of Directors by state associations who are members of the AASL Affiliate Assembly,” said Gail Dickinson, AASL president. “This year, we saw a great variety of outstanding nominations ranging from literacy initiatives to networking and professional development summits to promoting parent involvement. AASL is truly pleased to give these programs, who support the profession and its professionals in a phenomenal way, the recognition they deserve at the national level.”

The commended programs are as follows:

BE A PRO - Digital Literacy for Families

Nominated by: California School Library Association

Cleveland Plain Dealer "Tapping Into Parent Power"

Nominated by: Ohio Educational Library Media Association

Common Ground 2013: Leading and Learning in the Digital Age

(Maryland’s Premier Professional Development Event)

Nominated by: Maryland Association of School Librarians

Gary Literacy Coalition

Nominated by: Association of Indiana School Library Educators

Humanities Tennessee Student Reader Day Program

Nominated by: Tennessee Association of School Librarians

Librarian to Librarian Networking Summit

Nominated by: North Carolina School Library Media Association

Library: A Weinberg Project (Weinberg Foundation)

Nominated by: Maryland Association of School Librarians

Second and Seven Foundation “Tackle Illiteracy”

Nominated by: Ohio Educational Library Media Association



Tennessee First Lady’s Read20 Book Club

Nominated by: Nominated by: Tennessee Association of School Librarians

YALLFest: Raising local literacy through great YA authors

Nominated by: South Carolina Association of School Librarians

For more information regarding the Commendation process and past recipients, please visit www.ala.org/aasl/about/affils/commend.

The Affiliate Assembly provides a channel of communication for reporting concerns of the affiliated organizations and their membership to the AASL Board of Directors; facilitates discussion of activities and concerns of AASL as reported by the AASL president, executive director and Board of Directors; and reports the actions of AASL to the affiliates. Affiliates nominate outstanding programs and events for commendations which are then reviewed and approved by the AASL Board of Directors. More information on the Affiliate Assembly can be found at www.ala.org/aasl/affiliates.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.