AASL Chapters Forum

Posted on behalf of Courtney Pentland, AASL Immediate Past President - Please Share.

Sharing again in case you missed this announcement in June & please share with your school librarian friends and colleagues!:

Usually the honoree(s) of the AASL Crystal Apple recognition is announced AASL President's Program at ALA Annual. The Crystal Apple is given at the discretion of the AASL President to an individual or group who has had significant impact on school libraries and students. This year, I announced the winners early, because this situation is a little different than in past years.

I struggled with this decision, not because there are not many deserving individuals and groups that could receive this recognition, but because I kept coming back to the same idea in my head. In my heart, the group I thought was most deserving of this recognition was all of you! 

School librarians across our country have been doing their incredibly challenging and vital day to day work all while faced with the repercussions of a vocal minority's anti-school library actions. It doesn't matter if your community has been affected by these actions yet or not as we all are feeling the stress and anxiety they have caused, though at varying levels.

As I thought about the people I have met while visiting school library conferences across the country, and especially those I encountered at the AASL National Conference in Tampa last October, I knew this was the decision of my heart, but I wondered if it was even possible.

Again, I thought, "Why not?!" It is my choice as to who receives this recognition, and I can celebrate school librarians however I want to! I truly believe that each and every one of you deserves this recognition because of the relationships you build every day that positively influence your school communities. Your influence goes beyond the walls of your school library and even beyond the walls of your school building and the boundaries of your city or town. 

Each student you teach, each staff member you collaborate with, each community member you invite into your space is changed for the better because of you. They take the opportunities you have provided with them out into the world, no matter where they end up in life. Their lives are better because of you. Bestowing the Crystal Apple Recognition on all school librarians is one small way to acknowledge the local, national, and even global difference each certified school librarian can have on generations of learners.

So, without further ado…CONGRATULATIONS!     

YOU (all of you) are the winners of the 2024 AASL Crystal Apple!

While I wish we could mail each and every one of you a physical crystal apple, you can understand why that is logistically and fiscally not possible. BUT, we tried to come up with a few ideas that will allow you to still celebrate receiving this much deserved recognition.

1. A Canva template to insert yourself into a graphic announcing this recognition! We ask that the only changes you make to the template are to add your picture and your name to the graphic.

2. A Canva template to insert your name into a certificate for receiving this recognition! Again, we ask that the only changes you make to the template are to add your picture and your name to the graphic.

3. If you have access to a 3D printer, you can print your own Crystal Apple recognition! Thank you to AASL Board Member Barbara Johnson for putting this file together. This file can be scaled to print smaller or larger if desired, and you can pick your favorite filament color!  I printed a copy using the original file dimensions, and here is what it will look like! I used my local public library's maker space to print this one. It is 4.5" tall from bottom of the base to the top of the stem. The base is 4" x 4".      

As my presidential year comes to a close I am incredibly grateful for the relationships I have built with our AASL board members, folks in ALA like Emily Drabinski (2023-24 ALA President), folks from AASL chapters that I have met both in person and online, and all of the school librarians who have attended any of our virtual or in person events.

You have brought joy to my journey, and I will never forget the influence you all have had on my life. Thank you with my whole heart for doing the vital, important work of school librarianship and for sharing your stories with me. And, please keep in touch. As I tell my graduate students at the end of each semester, I'm not going away from your lives. I'm still here. Reach out if you need anything or to share your joys and successes! You can email me at aaslpentland@gmail.com

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Courtney Pentland
Living and loving library life with
Lincoln North Star High (School Librarian)
University of Nebraska Omaha School Library Program (Adjunct Faculty)
Nebraska School Librarians Association (former board member)
2023-24 AASL President
Twitter = @livluvlibrary
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