AASL issues request for proposal for operation of a virtual help and referral service for K-12 students

Contact: Steven Hofmann


312-280-4389

shofmann@ala.org

For Immediate Release


September 26, 2002

AASL issues request for proposal for operation of a virtual help and referral service for K-12 students

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), is seeking proposals from nonprofit educational institutions (including colleges and universities) - acting independently or in collaboration with other nonprofit institutions - interested in obtaining no-cost license to use KidsConnect and assume management of the day-to-day operation of the program.
One print copy of the proposal and one electronic copy are due by 5:00 p.m. (CDT) October 23, 2002.

KidsConnect is an online question answering and referral service, solely owned by AASL, a division of the American Library Association (ALA). KidsConnect began as a component of ICONnect, a technology initiative of AASL. School library media specialists throughout the world collaborate on KidsConnect to provide direct assistance to K-12 students looking for resources for school or personal interests. Through e-mail, students contact KidsConnect and receive a message from a volunteer library media specialist suggesting relevant Web sites and other resources within two school days.

Through these licensing arrangements, AASL seeks to provide conditions under which innovation results in the next iteration of KidsConnect as a research and development platform with the potential to produce significant benefits to the school library media profession.

For more information, please visit the
AASL Web site.

Proposals should be sent to:


Julie A. Walker, Executive Director


American Association of School Librarians


50 East Huron Street


Chicago, IL 60611-2795


Phone: 800-545-2433 ext. 4389


E-mail:
jwalker@ala.org