AASL lauds four programs
Contact: Melissa Jacobsen
AASL Communications Specialist
(312) 280-4381
mjacobsen@ala.org
NEWS
For Immediate Release
September 22, 2009
Programs align with association’s values, mission
CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) formally commended the following programs because they align with AASL's learning standards and guidelines and principles expressed in AASL's mission and value statements – the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the William Allen White Children's Book Awards program, No Book Left Unread and Funds for Public Schools' Library REACH. The Affiliate Assembly of AASL presented these programs to the AASL Board at the ALA 2009 Annual Conference in Chicago.
The William Allen White Children's Book Awards Program of Kansas is commended for bringing attention to the importance that books play in the lives of children. Barb Bahm from the Kansas Association of School Librarians brought the program's work to the attention of the assembly. The program was the first statewide children's choice award program in the United States. Its founder, Ruth Garver Gagliardo, established the award with the direction of Emporia State University in 1952 to honor the memory of the state's most distinguished citizen by encouraging the boys and girls of Kansas to read and enjoy good books.
Merlyn Miller, president of the New England School Library Association, brought the work of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., Commission on Public Secondary Schools to the attention of the Assembly. NEASC/Commission on Public Secondary Schools is commended for incorporating and upholding the language and concepts expressed in AASL's learning standards into the standards of NEASC membership. As the nation's oldest accrediting association, NEASC serves more than 2,000 public and independent schools, colleges and universities in the six states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and American/international schools in more than 65 nations worldwide.
Currently in its third year, No Book Left Unread is a summer reading program open to all schools in South Carolina. The program, offered by the South Carolina State Department of Education, is recognized for bringing attention to the importance that books play in the lives of children. The purpose of No Book Left Unread is to encourage students to read for fun and recreation during the summer months and to encourage self-selected reading without worry about reading levels, Lexiles or assessment. Valerie Byrd Fort, president of the South Carolina Association of School Librarians, brought the summer reading program's work to the attention of the assembly.
Funds for Public Schools' Library REACH (Revitalizing Education for Adolescents and Children) was nominated by Sally Daniels, Region II director-elect, to receive commendation by the Assembly. Library REACH program uses private sector contributions from New York City retailers to transform school libraries. According to its Web site, "Library REACH is based on the idea that a small amount of money – when strategically placed in the hands of an enthusiastic librarian and a principal with vision – can transform a public school library into a center for literacy and learning for the entire school community." Competitive grants totaling up to $10,000 per school have been awarded to school libraries.
The the Affiliate Assembly provides a channel of communication for reporting concerns of the affiliated organizations and their membership to the AASL Board of Directors; facilitates discussion of activities and concerns of AASL as reported by the AASL president, executive director and Board of Directors; and reports the actions of AASL to the affiliates. More information on the Affiliates Assembly can be found at
www.ala.org/aasl/affiliates.
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.
