A Public Park for Your Brain

The closing session of the conference featured the founder of Blackplanet.com, Omar Wasow.

Before Wasow spoke, Julie Walker, the Executive Director of AASL and Ann Martin, AASL President-Elect, gave an overview of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, which is the subject of speaker Charles Fadel's presentation at the MSLA conference on November 11th.

The realities of the new global economy require that students be critical thinkers and problem solvers, globally aware, self-directed, good collaborators, and effective communicators. P21's Skills Framework includes themes that must be infused throughout all the core subjects:

• Global awareness
• Financial/economic literacy
• Civic literacy
• Health literacy
• Learning and innovation skills, which include Information and Media Literacy

On November 7th, the Partnership will unveil Route21, an online one-stop-shop for 21st century skills-related information and resources. The site will answer the question "What are 21st Century Skills?" and showcase standards, assessments, professional development, and teaching and learning resources. It will provide examples, models, best practices, and a user-generated database of resources for teaching 21st century skills. School librarians are invited to add content and tags on the Route21 site.

Next, Carl Harvey, conference co-chair, introduced Omar Wasow, who spoke about How Libraries Can Thrive in the Age of Google. He argued that school libraries must inform as well as transform.

• Libraries can continue to be successful by focusing on their unique strengths and core values
• Libraries must emphasize their distinct qualities as places to learn critical thinking and research skills and for individuals and groups to work and reflect amid fewer distractions

Wasow counseled that libraries must evolve from Service to Transformation. Being in a library can be as important to students as the information available in it. Two key steps to transformation:

• The physical experience must get better for individuals and groups who want to study together
• School libraries need to shift from primarily offering a service to helping others self-serve so that everyone can acquire the skills of a librarian

How does a library transform? The desired product is a changed person who:

• can better navigate oceans of information as a result of assistance and training
• has made progress on a vital task by finding peace from the hubbub outside
• has been energized about exciting ideas

Wasow challenged school librarians to envision what an MLIS-style curriculum would look like for grades K-12. How can school library programs become more tightly integrated into what kids learn? He contended that to succeed, school libraries must embrace the idea that they are Temples of Thought, containing not just published ideas, but living thoughts - a public park for your brain. They should be both sacred and worldly, fighting to democratize access to information.

The Action is Non Stop!!!

Reno is an amazing city seemingly dropped into a bowl of desert sand with mountain edges. Known as the "Biggest Little City in the World" it is a combination of awesome natural beauty, Times Square neon lights and friendly people.

I am amazed at the overwhelming number of attendees here from Massachusetts and the east. It was a long trip but well worth the time and effort to get here. The conference has been excellent, well planned and organized, much variety and offering fabulous opportunities for networking with the top practitioners and resource providers in the U.S.

The theme that has stayed with me throughout this week has been from Dan Pink's speech at the Opening Session. We all need to remember we are educating our students for "their futures NOT our past." Knowing that in 2 weeks our own conference theme is School Libraries in a 2.0 World, I am looking for the ways I can do just that, educate my students for their future knowing my own education is from a different time! I know that my colleagues are of a similar background while the children we teach are digital natives and thinkers who's brains function in different and interesting ways and who need to be creative thinkers and innovators to be successful in their future...That is a TALL order!!

The best way, maybe the only way we can succeed at our mission is to stay informed and be the cutting edge resource for our schools. If you are "on the fence" about attending our annual conference just remember, YOU are the only true advocate for your own job in your school. Your professional organization is your best source of professional development to stay on top of latest initiatives and cutting edge resources. Your membership provides you advocacy and representation in times of need. I am very excited to be bringing back to you our new national information literacy standards, hot off the press and released here in Reno for the first time. Join me with AASL President Sarah Kelly Johns, Chris Harris, Allison Zmuda, Meredith Farkas and other 2.0 innovators at our conference....
Get your hands on the new standards, Scholastic's third and latest release of School Libraries Work AND....the hottest release for Massachusetts' school library teachers and technology professionals....the first ever joint statement of the Massachusetts School Library Association and MassCUE!!! Make an investment in your future, I promise you will not regret the decision. Sandy :-)

Vendor Vibes

All conferences include a vendor hall, and what a fun and exciting experience this can be. Lights, glitter, action and learning co-exist in any large vendor hall. Row upon row of vendor exhibits line each row - with over 1, 153 library vendors represented!! From the American Association of School Librarians huge display and bookstore in the middle of the vendor hall, to Child World's booth full of great children's books to WGBH Boston Video with a large and wonderful selection of DVD's for library and classroom use.

Of course, free goodies abound: pens, pencils, sticky notes, candy, bookmarks, rulers, posters, etc. Lots of free stuff for the taking. Of course, there are books, DVDs, and all types of walk-away media for sale. The last day of the conference, most vendors discount titles anywhere from 20 - 50% off.

The following is a list of what can be found in the vendor hall on any given moment:

Learning Opportunities:

• Interested in learning more about available databases? Database demonstrations from all of the major database providers. From individual to group demos, the opportunity exists to learn about all of the offerings and how they might benefit your school. What could be better than to have a database demonstrated with your needs in mind and with your specific questions answered! Purchase on the spot: done! Request a free trial: done as well!
• New books abound and are yours for the perusing. Many of the major publishing houses are represented, with new titles on display! Read a few lines, ask questions about the book, and even pick up a few sample copies for free! Also, remember the great discounts offered on the last day of the conference! This is a great collection development opportunity!
• Building a new library or renovating an older facility? There are numerous vendors here at AASL in Reno to help you do just that! New shelving? Comfortable furniture, including sofas, chairs, and lounge furniture? Need a detailed layout for a new library? Book trucks, display cases, circulation desks, lighting? All of this is here and more!
  
• Interested in Library Automation? Well, this is the place for you, with over ten vendors demonstrating their products, offering free trials, and conducting training sessions on existing products. Gather your information, sign up for free trials, and talk to the vendors present. Your decision making will be much easier and more informed than ever before!
• Want to make new library displays? Vendors are here to help - from die-cut lettering to new posters to stands and even stuffed animals for your display!!
• Looking for professional resources? Check out the AASL store, as well as publishers booths, including Linworth, Libraries Unlimited, and Neal Schuman. Many of the titles are also offered at great discounts on the last vendor hall day!
• Want to further your education in the library field or enter a new program? Many graduate schools that offer programs in the library field are on hand to speak to you directly about what programs they sponsor. These schools send representatives to the conference, and are available for personal consultations about entering their schools.
• Shipping books/stuff home? The USPS maintains a shipping center in the vendor hall, with a UPS and FedEx shipping station just outside the hall. Take your pick - getting your treasures home or back to your school library is a breeze!

As important as the conference sessions are, the vendor hall offers a myriad of learning and growth opportunities whether you ahve been in the field for 1 year or 20 years! Experience the thrill of the vendor hall - enter a raffle, play a vendor-sponsored game, and join in the fun. You will be learning all the way - sometimes without even knowing that you are!!

School Libraries Count!

Yesterday wasn't all about socializing - we all attend workshop sessions, but there were Wi-Fi connectivity problems in the morning, so we weren't able to blog live. I attended a session facilitated by Annette Lamb called Re-imagine Rejuvenate Renew: Beyond Library Media Specialist 2.0 and one by Betty Morris on her research study, Principal Support of Media Specialist & Teacher Collaboration. Sandy and I also went to a demonstration of ABC-CLIO's social studies database facilitated by Pam Berger. Lunch was provided and participants had a chance to work collaboratively to get a feel for this resource. That's how we realized that MSLA member Elizabeth Tully from Phillips Andover Academy was sitting right next to us. Elizabeth will be doing a session at our MSLA conference in a couple of weeks called Wonderful Wikis.

The session that provided the most new information for me was Keith Curry Lance's overview of his research in Sizing Up American’s School Libraries: The First Annual Report on AASL’s School Libraries Count! Survey. Here are some brief notes on his findings:

Over 4500 responses completed: 4000 public; over 200 independent. States with more than 100 responses: CA, MD, PA, FL, NC, TX, TN, VA, ID, OR, OH, IL, WI, NY, NJ, SC (3/4 of responses)

• Staffing: HS, 1.5 FTE; others 1 FTE
  Enrollment: 1k+ 2+ FTE; <1k>
• Staff activities:
  Delivering instruction: ES 15 hrs; MS 10; HS 8
  Overseeing budget
  Planning with teachers
• Collection
  # of books: HS 14k; others 11k
  volumes/student: ES 22; MS 16; HS 12
  age of collection: median copyright date 1994 or earlier
• Technology
  LMC computers: ES 9; MS 20; HS 32
  Networked computers elsewhere in school: ES 72; MS __; HS__
  Remote database access: 65%
• LMC visits
  Individual: ES 60; others 200-300
  Group: ES 23; others 20
• Expenditures
  Total: ES $5k; MS $8k; HS $11k
  Per student: 2k+ $20k - $8/student; <300>

Gearing up for 2008*

• Watch AASL website, e-newsletter, listservs, etc.
• Spread the word via your state/regional association, state library agency, LIS education program, etc.
• Help us improve returns from private & charter schools, other under-represented groups (magnet, special ed, vo-tech)
• Suggest 3-5 one-time questions on hot topics
• Plan to participate & encourage your colleagues

*2008 survey will launch at Midwinter, January 11th in Philadelphia

Valerie has set up a wiki where we will post notes on the sessions we attend and links to the presenters' handouts. Later today I'll post links there to Keith's full presentation as well as the others I attended.

Administrator of the Year

The Nevada Museum of Art was the setting for Londonderry, New Hampshire's Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Nathan Greenberg, to receive the 2007 Administrator of the Year Award sponsored by School Library Journal and Greenwood Pubishing. We were there to congratulate our colleague Sue Ballard, the Director of Library Media and Technology in Londonderry and President of NEEMA, who nominated this supportive administrator to whom she gives credit for much of the success of her program. Before and after the ceremony there was time to wander around the museum and visit with the other attendees. Eventually almost everyone ended up on the roof where we enjoyed the great view of Reno and a lovely sunset.

That event was followed by a dessert reception hosted by Follett at our hotel, the Silver Legacy. We were delighted to have time to visit with Kim Fusco, who formerly worked for Winnebago and is now with Follett Software. We'll see Kim again at our own conference in a couple of weeks.

AASL president Sarah Kelly Johns was honored by Enslow Publishing at yet another reception tonight. After a full day of presentations at the Conference Center, it was nice to have time at the end of the day to socialize with colleagues from around the country and see some more of Reno.

There are more of our photos on flickr.

Chris Harris and the Web 2.0 Survival Guide

He's thrilled to be coming to our conference in November and his message is loud and clear! Chris Harris declares that school librarians cannot be tourists in the new world of Web 2.0. Throughout his presentation, Chris referred to Tim O'Reilly's work and announced that the web is really a platform all in itself. This is one of seven concepts that he will be discussing when he arrives in Sturbrudge in two weeks for the MSLA conference. I don't want to give any more of his presentation away, but I can tell you that it will be electric and controversial.

As a matter of fact, Chris' presence will be proof that together we can find and create more than any one of us alone, and in this way, Web 2.0's interactiveness will harness the collective intelligence. In only a matter of minutes, I learned about so many new ways to share great ideas from my students and teachers. For exaample, he showed us a new product called GoogleLabs, a collection of websites that can provide a timeline of information on any subject. This is free – it's is virtually seamless: no new product to purchase, no licenses to renew, just free access to a knowledge. There was so much more, but you'll have to wait and see.

Please join us in Sturbridge for an exciting and enlightening discussion about the ways in which school librarians are the aggregators, the guides and the gurus. Our own profession is in need of a paradigm shift to participate in the 2.0 world of interactivity and Chris Harris will provide innovative ways to help us accomplish just that.

Virtual Authors in Your School

Imagine Jack Gantos talking to your class about the way he breathes life into his wonderful characters. Wouldn't you love that to happen anytime you want? And as many times as you want? I certainly would. Well, various publishers and online sources are offering online experiences just like that. During Friday's seesion, I was introduced to TeachingBooks.net, a subscription-based web portal that organizes all types of formats (text and media) to spotlight authors and literature resources.

I watched Jack Gantos' online interview and was delighted with candid comments about his beginnings and inspirations. You can't get this type of close-up portrait unless he is invited to your school (and we know how much that costs). This celebrated author answered the “invisible interviewer's” questions about the value of reading, journaling, and how personal experiences can influence writing. If I were a child watching this interview either individually or with my class, I would feel that he was personally mentoring me by advising me to fix my mistakes as I make them, and encouraging me to journal and draw to express all my feelings. His love of children is so obvious in this filmed interview, and I was impressed by the intimacy of the online experience.

TeachingBooks.net offered a variety of ways to utilize online media to enhance the author connection. For example, online author interiews can be used at a variety of levels: one librarian suggested that her HS career class could benefit by using author interviews online, and others promoted a variety of ELA and character education connections at the middle and elementary levels.

How can online media support research skills? It creates a primary source that is easily shared, cost efficient, and archivable. Chris Crutcher was captured on an audiofile that explained Deadline's plot, and as he read Chapter One aloud, it was obvious that because the author is “there” to introduce the book, it makes it more interesting to the student. In another example, Roald Dahl's voice gave listeners an insight into how his famous characters were developed while his image was displayed along side his most famous books.

The multimedia lessons through TeachingBooks.net's portal are not just for students. There are professional development opportunities that assist teachers in a multitude of strategies. For example, how about being introduced to Reader's Theatre via a personally performed reading by Walter Dean Myers, Sharon Creech, Avi, and Sarah Weeks? Wow. I was impressed. The instuctional video offered advice and realistic ways to create a successful reader's theatre experience for any teacher interested in alternative assessment or fun.

Let's not forget the illustrators! We had the pleasure of watching one illustrator's techniques as she worked in her own studio, and I can guess that students would be mesmerized by the feeling of being there to help. This particular video, and others featuring picturebook illustrators would serve as fun guides for classes who are studying the art of book making.

TeachingBooks.net suggested that there are a many ways that streaming audio and video can be used to support balanced literacy. This technology teaches skills through authentic literature and can help students learn about design and artistic purpose. (That sounds a lot like Dan Pink's opening session speech!) For more information, you can check them out at www.TeachingBooks.net.

Dan Pink's Brave New World

The opening session of the 2007 AASL Conference in Reno was as lively and sparkling as the city itself. News about our efforts nationally were cheered as the new Standards fro the 21st-Century Learner were unveiled. What a wonderful lead-in to our speaker, the always controversial and innovative Dan Pink, author of A Whole New Mind. Focusing on the “six abilities that organizations and individuals must master” in order to succeed in our automated society, we were made aware of the power of effective teaching, and the role that school librarians have in the future of our children. Pink discussed the ways in which right-brained thinking has affected our economy, and emphasized the paradigm shift that hiring executives now consider when seeking an effective workforce; more design and less engineering. In other words, the linear, logical, and right-brained skills that were so necessary in twentieth century manufacturing and technology worlds have now, for the most part, been automated. The new workforce is creative, artistic, empathetic and, well, left-brained.

Pink claims that the causes for this shift are three-fold: abundance, Asia, and automation, and his right-brained logic is uncanny. Let's face it, we live in a country now where most citizens have so many material items that we need storage units to hold them (we should all go into the storage business!). Our parents and grandparents did not have to rely on the amount of “stuff” and technology to be happy and productive. So we need to consider the “stuff” when we teach because it is now part of our culture.

Asia plays a very important part in our future, as we all know, simply because the growing population in India and other Asian nations is becoming English-literate, technologically savvy, and willing to work for less money. The numbers are staggering, and I suggest that you read Pink's previous book, Free Agent Nation.
As for automation, I sit here using my 3 lb. laptop at 5:45 a.m., looking at the breathtaking sunrise over Reno (Ansel Adams moon as well) and wonder what my mother would have been doing right now. If she wanted to share her thoughts with me, she would have reached over to the nightstand, pulled out some hotel stationery, and, with pen in hand and exquisite handwriting, write a letter to mail at the post office. I have to ask myself the question that Pink repeated in his speech: are we preparing our students for their future or our past?

He doesn't claim to have all the answers, but the right questions for school librarians to be asking when we prepare our students to be successful lifelong learners and workers.

The Real Ponderosa

The conference officially opens in about an hour so we'll soon have a lot to report. This morning we had the opportunity to take a tour of Virginia City, the mining town that was the setting for the TV series Bonanza. Our very large tour bus made the precarious ascent over many switchbacks to the Gold Hills where this boom town of old still has many of its original buildings and remnants of its Gold Rush mines. On the way up we stopped to take in the panoramic view and have this photo taken of some of our blog team. Shown l-r are Valerie Diggs, Professional Standards Chair; Gerri Fegan, Northeast Area Co-Director; Ann Perham, Webmaster; Kathy Lowe, Executive Director; Sandy Kelly, President; and Linda Friel, Northeast Area Co-Director. Little Joe and Hoss send their regards!

What's In a Conference?

What is the difference between an AASL division conference and an ALA entire organization conference, you ask? Okay, maybe you didn’t ask, but is that any reason not to tell you? One difference is that the people who attend AASL are entirely library teachers while at ALA we get mixed in with all the other librarians. Both have their advantages.  Still it is great now and then to get together with a big bunch of people from all over the country who walk the same road in their daily work.

The other major difference, at least for me, is that AASL sessions all relate to my daily work while ALA is mainly meetings and planning sessions. I mean, I suppose someone could go to ALA and focus on library teacher related workshops and stuff, but by choice I work on various committees and this work involves much of the conference. So a lot of the ALA conference is about helping to run the organization, including the AASL division. On the other hand, at AASL conferences committee work is prohibited. Yes, not merely off the schedule; affirmatively disallowed!! So the whole conference is about working with students, handling resources, and other things connected to what I do in my work day to day. Both kinds of conferences serve valuable purposes and I am pleased for the opportunity to do both. Still there was something refreshing and invigorating about my first AASL conference and I expect this, my second, to have similar qualities.

As I look forward to AASL beginning later this week, I am planning to bring my laptop. So perhaps while I am there I will blog answers to a few more questions you didn’t ask – or if you like, did ask on the blog or the MSLA listserv.

Doc

"Click your heels, Dorothy..."

The first national conference I attended was the 2003 AASL in Kansas City....there was a picture of Dorothy's red shoes in the hotel and I kept thinking of the line, "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." It was an "Oz" of workshops, networking, new products, and vendors. I vowed to put a priority on attending future AASL conferences because they represent the pinnacle of learning opportunities for the library leader. In 2005, I made good on my vow and attended the AASL in Pittsburg .... again I experienced the wonder of a perfect professional experience. Now, as I pack my bags, and anticipate the fun of traveling with my "library buddies", I know about the tornado of excitement and learning ahead. I know that the "yellow brick road" will take us to Emerald City. Reno, here we come!

Almost ready to roll!

I am looking forward to our time in Reno and eager to hop on the plane and get started on that journey. Although it's difficult to imagine being eager to work my way through the airport and all that entails, but I am. I have attended other AASL conferences and am always thrilled to network with colleagues from around the world. Today it's easy to meet other folks in the profession and keep in touch via e-mail and touching base at conferences. What marvelous opportunities present themselves. I still attend every opening session and marvel that all of these people work at the same job that I do, understand what I do and am attempting to do for our students' educations, and even serve on the same AASL committees and task forces that I do.

This is the the year of exciting opportunities for our profession, with the SKILLS Act, higher visibility, and the unveiling of our new standards at Reno. I believe that each person should try to attend an AASL conference at least once in his or her career. The professional development, learning and networking opportunities, and chance to make a difference are unsurpassed.

I look forward to blogging from Reno and you can guarantee that I will keep in touch with all of you.

Looking Forward to the Conference!

This is the first AASL Conference I've attended in a very long time. My most vived memory of the other conferences is the sheer number of library teachers being in the same place! When we, typically, are the only ones who do our jobs in our school buildings, the excitement of meeting with thousands of others who know what you really do! I've signed up for the Copyright and Plagiarism session with Dr. Carol Simpson on Thursday and I've been trying to decide which of the dozens of concurrent sessions to go to. (This is a lot like trying to choose your favorite book - almost impossible to choose just one per session...)
Can't wait to get started!

Leading and Learning

Certainly the contingency heading for Reno this Wednesday are both leaders in the field as well as life-long learners, anxious to arrive at a conference that will stimulate both new ideas and contribute to future planning for school libraries here in Massachusetts. I am excited about the opportunity I have been given to be to be on the Gale Advisory Board, with the expectation to contribute new ideas and suggestions for upcoming resources as well as look at what is available for our students now. This type of brainstorming is fascinating, more so when conducted in a group setting.

Reading Dan Pink's book this summer was both thought-provoking a great way to prepare for the upcoming conference. Get ready, right-brainers of the world, for the conference ride of your life!

More later as the conference approaches.

Heading to Reno....

I can't wait to get to Reno. AASL conferences are the best because they really concentrate on issues related just to school libraries. If ever there is a conference you should try to attend once in a lifetime, AASL would be the right choice. I too am hoping to read Dan Pink's book before I hear him speak. Since MA has become a P21 state I have been involved with learning more about the ICT, information communication technologies, that we already teach and will need to integrate in our school's curriculums. I am hoping to find how other school districts across the nation are able to work around district filters and policies that will not allow even the teaching staff to access some of these 2.0 and social networking resources. If our students know how to use them and circumvent the proxies that block them I think it is time to start teaching how to use them safely and effectively...hopefully I will have some thoughts to share back at our own conference in Sturbridge next month! :-) Sandy

We're heading to Reno!

A bunch of colleagues from the Massachusetts School Library Association are winging it to Reno this week for the 13th AASL National Conference and Exhibition: The Future Begins@Your Library.

To prepare for the conference, I'm reading Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind. Daniel will be giving the keynote address at the opening session on Thursday. The book charts the rise of right-brain thinking in modern economies and explains the six abilities individuals and organizations must master in an outsourced and automated world. I'm finding the implications for our profession fascinating, exciting and a little unsettling, so I'm really looking forward to this talk.

I invite my sidekicks to introduce themselves in separate messages. Watch this space for posts throughout the conference.