| | | AASL empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning. | | | | | AASL President Becky Calzada Honors The Librarians Filmmakers and Book Riot's Kelly Jensen with Presidential Commendations During the 2025 ALA Annual Conference, AASL President Becky Calzada awarded her Presidential Commendations in recognition of outstanding advocacy for school libraries, school librarians, and intellectual freedom. Calzada honored the creative team behind the powerful documentary The Librarians, which spotlights the courage and resilience of school librarians on the front lines of the fight against censorship. In addition, author, advocate, and Book Riot contributor Kelly Jensen was also recognized with a Presidential Commendation for her unwavering commitment to elevating the voices of school librarians and defending students' right to read. | Susan D. Ballard receives AASL Distinguished Service Award Susan D. Ballard, past president of AASL and a retired district director of Library, Media, and Technology (Londonderry, NH), is the recipient of the 2025 AASL Distinguished Service Award. Sponsored by the AASL Distinguished Service Award Fund, the $1,000 award recognizes an individual member of the library profession who has, over a significant period of time, made an outstanding national contribution to school librarianship and school library development. |
| | | | Jason Reynolds to Keynote AASL National Conference General Session Acclaimed author Jason Reynolds will keynote the Saturday general session in a conversation with author co-chairs Shannon Giles and Mia Gittlen. "Jason Reynolds isn't just an author, he's an activist. Jason uses his platform to promote empathy and understanding," said Gittlen. "Our learners need stories that don't shy away from tough topics, and Jason's raw honesty is critical not just for this time in history, but for learners to know that their stories matter." Reynolds's appearance is made possible by Simon & Schuster. | AASL25 Bookstore: Purchase Order Opportunity for Schools & Libraries Planning to attend the AASL National Conference? Organizations with ALA Store accounts-such as schools, libraries, and educational groups-can take advantage of purchase orders at the AASL25 Bookstore! This convenient option allows you to access member pricing, skip shipping fees, use professional development funds, and pick up materials on-site. Submit your PO by Monday, August 18 to have your order ready for pickup at the conference. Orders will be held until 12:00 p.m. on Friday, October 17. Can't submit in advance? On-site POs will be accepted, but stock is not guaranteed. Questions? Contact aasl@ala.org or visit the Special Assistance desk at registration. | Save $30 on Registration through August 31 Register today to attend three days packed with education, networking, and new discoveries surrounded by other school librarians from across the country. Highlights include keynotes, 140+ sessions including author panels and research presentations, IdeaLab and Posters, 100+ exhibitors, and endless networking opportunities. Use promo code AASL30 before August 31 and save $30 on full conference registration! |
| | AASL Chapter News & Events | | | | August 6 | AASL Chapters Coordinating Team* | | August 20 | SIFnet (State Intellectual Freedom Network) Meeting* | | August 27 | AASL Chapter Delegate Orientation* | * Indicates group membership required. | | | August 5 | AASL Standards Committee Meeting* | | August 19 | AASL Board of Directors Meeting | | August 19 | ISS Board Meeting | | August 21 | AASL National Conference Committee Meeting* | | August 21 | School Library Event Promotion Commitee Meeting* | | August 31 | AASL30 Code Expiration (Save $30 on AASL National Conference Registration) | * Indicates group membership required. To receive upcoming AASL events and deadlines on a weekly basis, subscribe to AASL Friday Forecast. | | | Change to Dewey Assignment in Cataloging in Publication Records As of July 1, Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) numbers are being included only in Cataloging in Publication (CIP) records for selected titles, with a focus on non-fiction works most likely to be acquired by public and K–12 school libraries where DDC assignment plays a vital role in access and discovery. This change reflects a strategic reallocation of resources within the CIP Program, allowing classification efforts to be concentrated where they are most impactful. While CIP records will continue to be available, some will no longer include DDC numbers. The Library of Congress remains committed to supporting school librarians by providing essential prepublication metadata to aid in collection development and cataloging workflows. Celebrate Summer Reading with CBC's Curated Book Lists!
This summer, the Children's Book Council (CBC) is spotlighting three exciting book lists as part of its #cbcsummerfunreading campaign. Explore the CBC Summer Showcase featuring picture books about the wonders of water, discover the top 15 new board books with insights from leading editors, and dive into 99 of the best new graphic novels for middle-grade and teen readers. Each list includes cover images and downloadable spreadsheets to make browsing and ordering easy. "FOR OUR LIBRARIES" Fundraising Challenge Join the fundraising challenge-you can help protect libraries and win your way to ALA Annual 2026 in Chicago! From now through December, ALA is calling on our biggest library advocates-the people who use, defend, and power them every day-to help raise funds For Our Libraries. Every dollar raised supports ALA's fight for the future of libraries. Fund raised make possible: - Lawsuits to protect federal library funding
- Nationwide campaigns to fight book bans and defend the freedom to read
- Emergency grants for libraries recovering from natural disasters
- Public programs that promote diverse books, digital equity, and lifelong learning
The top 10 fundraisers will win free registration to ALA Annual 2026 in Chicago, with an all-expenses-paid trip forthe grand prize winner. | | | | | |  | | | AASL IN THE KNOW | August 2025: Back to School with AASL | | | | | | | | Copyright © 2025 AASL, All rights reserved. AASL, 225 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601 | |
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