Harvey elected AASL President, 2011-2012

Contact: Melissa Jacobsen


AASL Communications Specialist


(312) 280-4381


mjacobsen@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


May 4, 2010

CHICAGO – Carl A. Harvey III, school librarian for North Elementary School, Noblesville, Ind., has been elected president-elect of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).

For his election platform, Harvey stated "I believe the future for our profession lies with involvement. School librarians are leaders in teaching 21st Century skills; yet, due to budget shortfalls positions are being cut. Being involved is convincing decision makers that library programs are a good use of scarce dollars. These are unsettling times, but being involved and working together we can fulfill a vision where school libraries are a necessity in every district and every school."

Harvey is currently a member of AASL's Board of Directors. He served as a chair of AASL's Affiliate Assembly in 2007, and has served on many other AASL committees. Outside of AASL, he serves as a board member for the Indiana Library Federation and has authored three publications, including the 2010 release "The 21st Century Elementary Library Media Program."

Harvey's school library program at North Elementary was the recipient of the AASL National School Library Program of the Year award (NSLPY), previously NSLMPY, in 2007. Of winning NSLPY Harvey says, "To me, my major accomplishment wasn't really mine at all, but rather a team effort of our entire school. It truly was an example of the hard work of our entire school -- library staff, teachers, administrators, students and parents." His exemplary work as a school librarian has won him numerous other awards and accolades.

Harvey will serve as president-elect during 2010-2011 under Nancy Everhart, AASL's current president-elect.

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