AASL to provide support for two Emerging Leader applicants

Contact: Kathy Agarwal
Communications Specialist
312-280-4381

kagarwal@ala.org

For Immediate Release
August 1, 2006

AASL to provide support for two Emerging Leader applicants

CHICAGO - The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced its support of the Emerging Leaders 2007 initiative.
ALA President Leslie Burger launched the new initiative to "enable 100 new librarians to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership" and enrich the association's incoming volunteer base with practical skills and applicable knowledge.

Emerging Leaders 2007 will select and train 100 new librarians to get a jump-start in leadership.
The initiative will kick off with a day-long session during the 2007 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, Wash., and it will grow and develop virtually for six months, culminating at the 2007 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

"The AASL Board of Directors, in its support of the initiative, has voted to sponsor two of our members who are accepted into the program," said AASL President Cyndi Phillip.
"The new AASL Strategic Plan calls for increased involvement in ALA activities and this initiative offers valuable support for new leaders in our profession."

Selected AASL participants will join other ALA members and attend Emerging Leaders meetings in Seattle and Washington, D.C.
Contingent upon the member's acceptance to the Emerging Leaders 2007 program, AASL will provide two members with a $500 stipend for travel to each conference.
AASL is also urging its state affiliates to consider supporting an emerging leader from their organization.

Applicants wishing to seek financial sponsorship from AASL should send a copy of their application via email to Jen Habley,
jhabley@ala.org, no later than September 15.
Applicants will be notified by September 22.

More information about the Emerging Leader 2007 initiative and instructions on submitting an application can be found at Leslie Burger's Web site:
http://lb.princetonlibrary.org/emerging_leaders.html.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library media 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 media field.