Independent school librarians invited to network at AASL national conference

CHICAGO — The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) 16th National Conference & Exhibition, taking place Nov. 14-17, 2013, in Hartford, Conn., will host events encouraging school librarians working in independent schools to network and build community. The conference, “Rising to the Challenge,” will feature an Independent School Section (ISS) networking reception and two tours to local independent schools. More information on these events can be found at national.aasl.org.

The AASL Independent Schools Section will host a networking reception at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Marriott Hotel. Independent school librarians and their guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments, a cash bar and the ability to network with their peers in a casual, intimate setting. To attend this event, an additional registration fee of $38 and pre-registration is required.

Those wishing to see innovative independent school libraries in action have the ability to attend their choice of two school tours. The Independent School Tour 1 on Wednesday, Nov. 13, will take attendees to visit the Swain Library at Hamden Hall Country Day School. Swain Library is the very hub of the school community, due to its strong program and also to its location - in the school courtyard. The Hulbert Taft, Jr. Library at The Taft School takes center stage during the Independent School Tour 2 on Thursday, Nov. 14. The library houses more than 10 distinct collections, with the main circulating collection comprising the bulk of the library's 58,000 volumes. An additional, pre-registration fee of $45 is required to attend either tour.

Registration for the AASL 16th National Conference & Exhibition is now open at national.aasl.org. Those wishing to join their colleagues for dedicated learning and networking are encouraged to register before the Aug. 22 early bird deadline to save $100 on registration rates.

The AASL national conference is the only national conference dedicated solely to the needs of school librarians and their roles as educational leaders. The 16th National Conference & Exhibition, "Rising to the Challenge," taking place Nov. 14–17, 2013, in Hartford, Conn., will feature preconference workshops, concurrent sessions and an exhibition featuring companies relevant to the school library profession.

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.