Report
from AASL at ALA
in New Orleans
Melissa Johnston,
AASL Liaison
The AASL Board and Affiliate Assembly meetings at ALA annual
in New Orleans were very productive this year. Numerous concerns
that had been brought forth from various states were addressed
by the Board and actions are in progress. GLMA is an official
affiliate of AASL and is represented by me and now Lynn Strickland
on the AASL Board of Directors. Here is a brief summary of the
issues we dealt with:
- Concern: Non-instructional classification of school library
media specialist by the National Council for Educational Statistics
(NCES) puts SLMS in jeopardy of being eliminated as they are
not identified as instruction staff. This includes the “65%
Solution” whereas an increase in classroom spending threatens
funding for school libraries because they are not considered
instructional classrooms
- Action Taken: AASL Executive Board has met with NCES representatives
to discuss these concerns. The NCES was receptive to our
concerns and a definition change is pending. AASL also proposed
a change in format of report to include instructional and
instructional-related.
- Concern: No Child Left Behind (NCLB) does not include SLMS
in the “highly qualified” teacher classification
and therefore positions are in jeopardy of being eliminated
or filled with non-certified persons.
- Action Taken: AASL Executive Board presented a document
of amendments to the U.S. Department of Education for consideration
during the reauthorization of NCLB in 2007.
- Concern: The nine information literacy standards in Information
Power need to be completely rewritten to reflect changing times
and the ever changing field of school library media. Our national
standards also need to include quantitative and qualitative
measures to identify, promote and support their uses in exemplary
media programs
- Action taken: The AASL Board voted to begin the process
of completely rewriting national standards for the school
library media programs.
As you can see this is a very exciting time to be involved in
AASL! If you are not a member of AASL I would urge you to join
because this is an organization that is working to ensure the
representation of its member’s needs. If you are a member
it is time for you to be active in your organization! Join a
committee and work on something that you are truly passionate
about or attend the national conferences and make your voice
heard at Affiliate Assembly. I have seen the impact that the
input that comes from each state can have and we need to make
sure that GLMA’s voice is heard.