Keith Michael Fiels

Advocacy School Is in Session

September 1, 2016

With a sustained national advocacy campaign our first priority, the Libraries Transform public awareness program launched last year. More than 3,000 libraries and supporters have already signed on to be part of the campaign. Last year we saw 144,001 page views of LibrariesTransform.org, 12,387 downloads of the library toolkit, 22,000 #LibrariesTransform mentions on Twitter, 65,000 … Continue reading Advocacy School Is in Session


Sedley Abercrombie and Avi

Writing Advice from Avi

June 25, 2016

Children’s author Avi was the featured speaker at the President’s Program of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) on Saturday morning. AASL President Leslie Preddy introduced the 2003 Newbery Medal‒winner (for Crispin, the Cross of Lead), saying, “He writes literature, not books” and “never ‘writes down’ to his readers,” skillfully using “power, voice, and integrity in his writing.”


Champions of Children's Privacy

Champions of Children’s Privacy

May 2, 2016

But in one sense, it’s already happening. In December 2015, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a nonprofit digital technology rights group, filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission against Google for Education, alleging that the company is surreptitiously collecting data about students as they use their school-owned Chromebooks and education apps—data that they’re using … Continue reading Champions of Children’s Privacy


Author Megan McDonald (far left) reads to kids during a School Library Month event.

Newsmaker: Megan McDonald

April 18, 2016

How did you become this year’s spokesperson for School Library Month?  MEGAN McDONALD: It’s been amazing. I didn’t even really grasp what was being asked of me, but the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) came to Candlewick Press, my publisher, and asked if I’d be the spokesperson for School Library Month. I feel so … Continue reading Newsmaker: Megan McDonald


An AASL makerspace in the exhibit hall attracted attendees to work with littleBits electronic building blocks and create lighted name badges and low-tech maker crafts.

Makerspaces, Digital Literacy, Advocacy at AASL15

January 4, 2016

Before the opening general session began, hundreds of school librarians met at IdeaLab, a digitally enhanced poster session with 20 video displays on topics that included STEM and STEAM, national standards, and Common Core, among others. Later, keynote speaker Heidi Hayes Jacobs challenged librarians to throw away old roles, quit making decisions based on habit, … Continue reading Makerspaces, Digital Literacy, Advocacy at AASL15


Caldecott-winning author Brian Selznick talked about his story process and how important librarians have been to him since elementary school.

Brian Selznick, Digital Research, and the Digitally Naive

November 9, 2015

There was no snoozing through Selznick’s early morning talk about his story process and how important librarians have been to him since elementary school in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Selznick, a 2008 Caldecott Medal winner for his self-illustrated book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, had everyone laughing and sighing over his beautiful illustrations and stories … Continue reading Brian Selznick, Digital Research, and the Digitally Naive



AASL Best App for Teaching and Learning Logo

Best Apps for Teaching and Learning

June 28, 2015

The apps were evaluated on numerous criteria, including innovation, engagement, user-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, minimal (or no) advertising, a clear connection to education, and being geared to the individual learner. Apps were also divided into categories—a book app has different qualities and requirements from a STEM app, for example. The panel acknowledged that the categories may evolve … Continue reading Best Apps for Teaching and Learning