AASL releases position statement on diversity in the organization

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has released a position statement on diversity in the organization. “This position statement is a welcomed testament to AASL's commitment to diversity,” said Pauletta Bracy, chair of the task force that drafted the statement. “It provides a strategic direction for ensuring inclusiveness in its leadership.” The statement can be found on the AASL website at www.ala.org/aasl/positionstatements.

In the position statement, AASL recognizes that diversity is an integral face of the American landscape and permeates all professions – including school librarianship – and recognizes the necessity of diversity within the organization. The statement affirms AASL’s commitment to increasing diversity among its members in leadership positions. It points to AASL’s values that state AASL “will encourage diversity in its membership,” the AASL vision statement that reads that AASL is “an open, friendly, welcoming organization that embraces cultural and ethnic diversity” and the AASL strategic plan that aims to “increase the diversity of the membership and leadership of AASL.”

A leadership development task force led by Past President Ann M. Martin is charged with developing specific strategies that will incorporate a diversity goal into an overall leadership development plan.

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.