Best-selling author James Patterson to deliver special session at AASL National Conference
Contact: Melissa B. Jacobsen
AASL Communications Specialist
312-280-4381
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2008
CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is pleased to announce that best-selling author James Patterson will be the speaker at a special author session at its 2009 National Conference, "Rev Up Learning @ your library." AASL's biennial national conference will take place Nov. 5-8, 2009, in Charlotte, N.C.
James Patterson has been the number-one selling author in America for the past three years and is the author of the critically acclaimed
Maximum Ride series, an American Library Association (ALA) 2005 Teens Top Ten pick. Patterson, dubbed "the man who can't miss" by Time magazine, has brought his sure-fire success to children by focusing on getting them to love reading. His new Web site, ReadKiddoRead.com, is designed to help parents, teachers and librarians find books that will appeal to kids at all reading levels and interest levels.
According to Victoria Stapleton, manager of School and Library Marketing at Little Brown, which supports Patterson's appearance, Patterson chose to present at AASL National Conference because he "knows that school library media specialists are on the front lines in the effort to get kids reading. He believes that these professionals know how to pair a student with a good book to make a great reading experience and a lifelong reader."
During the special session on Nov. 6, Patterson will present
Turbocharge Your Day with James Patterson!—Read Kiddo Read! Parents and Librarians Band Together to Make Kids Lifelong Readers. During the special session, he will thank school library media specialists for their important role in a student's educational career and encourage them as they fight to bring books to life.
AASL President Ann M. Martin said, "James Patterson’s gripping, suspenseful, can’t-put-the-book-down writing engages readers on all levels. AASL is privileged that he shares that same energy and emotion for the work of school library media specialists. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover another way to lead your students to reading."
The AASL 14th National Conference & Exhibition, "Rev up learning @ your library," is the only national conference dedicated solely to the needs of school library media specialists and their roles as educational leaders. AASL National Conference will feature 10 preconferences, numerous concurrent sessions, more than 200 exhibiting companies, educational and school tours, a storytelling festival and special appearances by award-winning authors. For more information on AASL's 14th National Conference & Exhibition, visit
http://www.ala.org/aasl/charlotte.
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.
