Carmen Agra Deedy lends her voice to School Library Media Month with public service announcements

NEWS

For Immediate Release

March 26, 2008

Melissa Jones

Communications Specialist, AASL
mjones@ala.org<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Carmen Agra Deedy lends her voice to School Library Media Month with public service announcements

CHICAGO – As spokesperson for School Library Media Month (SLMM), which is supported by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), award-winning author Carmen Agra Deedy is the voice behind various public service announcements (PSAs) advocating for school library media centers in schools across the country.

The PSAs range from 10 to 30 seconds and are available in mp3 or broadcast-quality formats. Listeners are invited by Deedy to "Join the circle of knowledge" in their school libraries by celebrating SLMM. "Join the circle of knowledge @ your library" is the theme of this year's SLMM, and also of National Library Week, which will be celebrated from April 13 to 19. School library media specialists are encouraged to use the PSAs on their schools' broadcasting and local radio stations during the month of April. AASL is proud to have Carmen Agra Deedy as spokesperson for SLMM.

School library media specialists will find the PSAs, links to fun activities, and other tools on the AASL Web site to help observe SLMM. "AASL wanted to give its members a complete set of tools to convey the importance of school library media programs. Carmen Agra Deedy's PSAs are the perfect addition to promoting School Library Media Month," says SLMM Task Force Chair Melissa Johnston.

First observed in 1985, School Library Media Month expands on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />ALA's National Library Week celebration and provides a month-long opportunity for school library media specialists to highlight the variety and excitement of school library programs. For more information on SLMM, visit the Advocacy section of the AASL Web site at http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslissues/aasladvocacy/schoollibrary.cfm.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, 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.