Our Summer 2010 conference theme is: *Powering Up Alabama School Libraries!*

We have had many quality presenters in the past, and are eager to collect proposals for this year's conference. If you are interested in presenting, please complete the Request for Proposal form on the conferences page under forms, and return it to Annalisa Crews.

The deadline is Friday, April 30th. Shortly after that date, you will be contacted to confirm your role as a presenter, and will also be given important details at that time.

We look forward to receiving your proposals!

 Alabama's The Big Read: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.  It's purpose is to bring reading back to the forefront of American life.  Alabama is participating this year with the selection The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.  If you have questions, or would like to participate, please click on the links below or contact your local public library.  Let's read!

http://www.projectreadonebook.org/

http://alabamareads.org/

http://bigreadresources.pbworks.com/

Midwinter Conference Wrap Up

Thanks to all of you who joined us for AIMA's Midwinter Conference, Friday, January 15, at Auburn University at Montgomery!  Our attendance proved that Alabama school librarians are committed to professional development.  A special thanks to our keynote speaker, Cynthia Schmidt, our featured presenters, Megan Hicks and Karen Lowe, and all of our vendors for helping to make this great conference possible.  Lastly, to all who volunteered to help put the conference together- we couldn't have done it without you!  Please check back soon for preliminary information about our summer conference 2010!   

You can learn more about our keynote speaker and featured presenters by clicking on their names below:

Cynthia Schmidt  

Megan Hicks

Karen Lowe

Check the Conference page, then click on files to download presentation materials from presenters who have been kind enough to share their information with us.

Remember, the STI PD title number for the midwinter conference is *SDELIB051.* Make sure you register in STIPD if you want to receive professional development credit!

Thanks to all Alabama library media specialists for making the first ever Alabama School Library Week a success!  With our theme, Learning 4 Life @ Your Library, we were able to let everyone in our community see the importance of strong library media programs.  Libraries across the state created displays, held receptions, author visits, and contests, contacted the media, and just overall got the word out about school library media centers. 

What people are saying about Alabama School Library Week:

"One of the activities that we conducted as a part of Alabama School Library Week was Family Literacy Night. We had a large number of parents who came out to learn more about how they can help their child become a better reader. Building stronger connections with our parents and families was a wonderful outcome of this aspect of Alabama School Library Week for our school."

Laura Ware
Principal
North Highland Elementary School

Check out the great coverage from the front page of the Birmingham News on Monday, November 16 by clicking here.

Also, if anyone has pictures they would like to share for the website, please email them here.

"This research foundation paper from Scholastic Publishing, updated from the 2006 edition of School Libraries Work!, brings together nearly two decades of empirical studies that cite the measurable impact school libraries and library media specialists have on student achievement."  Source: 2009, 3rd ed. Scholastic Research and Results, used by permission, Scholastic Publishing.

Download a PDF file of the research here: School Libraries Work!

Stay Connected!