SLRI Newsletter
March 2015
Conference Information
Our Conference Day is Coming Soon
School Librarians of Rhode Island will hold their annual conference on Friday, April 10th at the Providence Marriott. Click here to register.
You will definitely want to be there for the opportunity to listen to an incredible panel of authors and illustrators who will talk about their craft and then have book signings immediately following the panel!
Early registration ends March 23 (this coming Monday). After Monday, additional registration fees will apply. We need all registrations submitted online or postmarked by March 30. We can't wait to share this conference experience with you!
Author Panel Information
Brief Board Update
- The letter sent to the University of Rhode Island Provost in support of their School Library Media Program was reviewed.
- The NISTE “Making IT Happen” award was approved.
- Discussion was held on Doctoral Student request to survey membership about how No Child Left Behind affected Library Programs.
- The Conference Committee shared information on the April 10th conference. The conference form, renewal options, and conference sign up were discussed.
The most recent Watering Hole, organized by Diane Walsh and Katie O'Kane, was held March 10th at J. Gray's Family Tavern in Cumberland.
Advocacy for School Library Month
Advocacy Committee
School Library Month is on its way, and we want to spread the word about what our members do all day. One activity we have planned is a media advisory to local print, online, and broadcast outlets inviting them to spend time at a school library. If you are interested in possibly hosting a reporter, please email Meredith Moore at mercolleen@gmail.com.
Member Spotlight: Jackie Lamoureux
What a journey it has been. A believer in lifelong learning before it was a buzz phrase, I went into the field because I wanted to share my love reading and my passion for discovering new things. And that is still what I love about this profession.
This is my 27th year in school libraries. Currently, I am at Deering Middle School in West Warwick. Before that I worked mostly in public libraries, but also in a medical library and even did a short stint in a film library. And I loved it all. I had wonderful colleagues over the years, willing to share what they are learning and doing, and always willing to offer suggestions and solutions. Serving with these colleagues in professional organizations has been both a way to learn and a way to give back. I have been on the SLRI board for about 10 years in various capacities, including president.
For the past few years I have been RIDE liaison. Though It sounded a little scary at first, I had the opportunity to get out the word about what we do, how policies affect us, and to give input from SLRI members into the decision making process. I won't pretend that my efforts made a big difference, but I do believe we are now expected to be part of the conversations.
As I contemplate retirement, and look at the school librarians who are active in the field, I know the profession is in good hands, and I encourage you to be active in SLRI. There are so many ways to contribute. Pursue your interests: advocacy, legislative issues, technology initiatives, collaboration, etc.; and the whole association will benefit along with you.