AASL to sponsor two Emerging Leaders

Contact: Melissa B. Jones


AASL Communications Specialist


(312) 280-4381


mjones@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


June 17, 2008


AASL to sponsor two Emerging Leaders

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), will sponsor two members for the 2009 class of Emerging Leaders. This is the third year in which AASL has offered its members sponsorship in the program.

Those selected will each receive $1,000 for travel expenses when attending the ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference­­­ – $500 for each conference. AASL's Emerging Leaders will have the opportunity to participate in projects crucial to their profession. During conference, they will also benefit from attending specific workshops geared toward networking with fellow peers in the program. Applications can be found at
http://cs.ala.org/hrdr/emergingleaders. Those requesting consideration for the AASL stipend should indicate that on the applications.
The deadline to apply is July 31.

The Emerging Leaders program enables newer librarians from across the country to participate in workgroups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA's structure and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Each participant is expected to provide two years of service to ALA or one of its units. More than 100 librarians will get on the fast track to leadership in ALA and the profession in the 2009 program.

In order to be considered for sponsorship by AASL, applicants must be an individual member of the division. Applicants must also meet the following program requirements:

  1. Be under 35 years of age or be a new librarian of any age with fewer than 5 years post-MLS experience;
  2. Have a recent MLS degree from an ALA- or NCATE-accredited program or be in an MLS program currently;
  3. Be able to attend both ALA conferences and work virtually in between each;
  4. Be prepared to commit to serve on an ALA, Division, Chapter, or Round Table committee, taskforce or workgroup upon completion of program; and
  5. Be an ALA member or join upon selection if not already a member.

For more information about the program, please visit the Emerging Leaders wiki at
http://wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders or contact Beatrice Calvin at
bcalvin@ala.org.

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.