School librarians to share School Library Month activities in AASL social media communities
Contact: Stephanie Book
AASL Manager, Communication
(312) 280-4389
sbook@ala.org
NEWS
For Immediate Release
March 9, 2010
CHICAGO – During the month of April, school librarians are encouraged to participate in the American Association of School Librarian’s (AASL) social media channels, where library professionals will be sharing information about the School Library Month (SLM) activities happening in their school library programs.
“What better way to exemplify this year’s theme, ‘Communities Thrive @ your library!’” said SLM committee chair Sue Kowalski. “The School Library Month committee has provided a great starting point for 30 days of activities, but I can’t wait to see what new ideas are posted by school librarians in the AASL social media communities.”
Library professionals across the country can engage in discussion about what they're doing to advocate for their programs in the 25th year of the SLM celebration, while getting the latest AASL news and updates on SLM resources and activities.
“School librarians are some of the most technically savvy and socially connected in the education community,” said Charmaine Walker, SLM committee member and social media lead. “With an event like School Library Month, you have 30 days of opportunity to advocate for your program and to touch your school and local community, so being able to share and brainstorm new ideas and activities with your colleagues is a real value.”
To become part of this thriving SLM community and follow AASL news and updates, join the AASL networks on the AASL Blog (
http://aasl.ala.org/aaslblog), ALA Connect (
http://connect.ala.org/node/88509), Facebook (
www.facebook.com/aaslala), Twitter (
www.twitter.com/aasl), Flickr (
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aasl), and YouTube (
http://www.youtube.com/user/AASLALA). Use the tag slm2010 on blogs and community media areas and the hash tag #slm2010 on Twitter.
School Librarians are encouraged to visit the SLM Web pages regularly to find updated resources to help celebrate SLM within their school and local community. Currently, letters for local legislators and 30 days of activities based on the SLM theme are available to download. Watch for updates about the AASL official SLM spokesperson, award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson, including a school library visit and public service announcements for school librarians to use in their schools to promote SLM. Member voting begins in March on submissions to the AASL sponsored SLM video contest for members and their students to share how their school library program helps their community thrive. In addition, every Wednesday, starting April 7, AASL will offer webinars for school librarians to learn more about the implementation of AASL's program guidelines. Visit the AASL Web site (
www.ala.org/aasl/slm) for more information.
School Library Month, begun in 1985, is celebrated in conjunction with National Library Week (April 12-18). Every April school librarians are encouraged to create activities to help their school and local community celebrate the essential role that strong school library programs play in a student's educational career. The 2010 theme is "Communities thrive @ your library."
The American Association of School Librarians, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library 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 field.
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