AASL names 2008 Collaborative School Library Media Award recipient

Contact: Melissa Jones
AASL Communications Spec
(312) 280-4381
mjones@ala.org
For Immediate Release,
May 6, 2008

AASL names 2008 Collaborative School Library Media Award recipient

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce the 2008 Collaborative School Library Media Award recipients, Ronda Hassig and Kathy Hill of Harmony Middle School in Overland Park, Kan. The winners will receive the award at the AASL Awards Luncheon during the 2008 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Hassig and Hill collaborated on a project, "A Small World—Technology Connecting Kids to Kids," involving students in a problem-solving model to identify a world problem to research and look for viable solutions. In student groups, classmates work together to create a public service announcement. In the first year of the project, Hassig sent the PSAs to the United Nations, which subsequently posted them on the UN Web site. Harmony Middle School student Candice Tarver wrote, "When I look back, I remember how [my topic] affected me. I try to find ways to support my topic in everyday life."

"Ronda and Kathy have created and implemented the project for the past two years, and the public service announcements just get better every year. There are three other middle schools in our district that are implementing this research unit because of Ronda and Kathy…This project is a global collaboration. It's an alliance that involves our Harmony community, including parents, school board, administration and ultimately the world." said Harmony Middle School Principal Sheila Birrane Albers.

Established in 2000, the $2,500 AASL Collaborative School Library Media Award recognizes and encourages collaboration and partnerships between school library media specialists and teachers in meeting goals outlined in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning through joint planning of a program, unit or event in support of the curriculum and using media center resources. The award is sponsored by Highsmith, Inc.

The AASL Awards Luncheon will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, June 30, at the Marriot Hotel-Anaheim. The fee to attend is $49. Special guest speaker for the event is award-winning author Wendy Mass. For more information about this event and more AASL programs in Anaheim, visit http://www.ala.org/aasl/annual.

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.