AASL Affiliate News
Georgia Library Media Association Delegate Report
June 15 & 16, 2020
June 15: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
June 16: Leadership, Concerns, & Commendations
June 15, 2020
Cherish Cultural Diversity
Shatter Single Stories
What are you...?
Cherish Cultural Diversity
Definitions for Discussion
Everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership.
Microsassault
Verbal or nonverbal attack meant to hurt the intended victim through name-calling, avoidant behavior, or purposeful discriminatory actions. "Example: Students wear Confederate flag clothing."
Microinsult
Insensitive communication that demeans someone's racial identity, signaling to people of color that "their contributions are unimportant." Example: A teacher corrects the grammar only of Hispanic children.
Microinvalidation
Involves negating or ignoring the "psychological thoughts, feelings, or experiential reality of a person of color." Example: An Asian American student from the U.S. is asked where she was born, which conveys the message that she is not really an American.
Examples of Microagressions in the School Library
1. Failing to pronounce a student's name correctly even after you have been corrected or assigning a student an easier name because you have difficulty pronouncing his/her name.
2. Compiling lists of required readings where the protagonist is always white.
3. Having an absence of diverse people represented in artwork, displays, posters, or other artifacts in the school library.
4. Featuring pictures from the one ethnicity, racial background or gender on your website or in official publications.
How are you curating your reading lists for students?
- Reading Lists
Which books do they include? How are you choosing the books? Do they represent the diversity of your students? Are you including diverse books in a predominantly white student population? - Read Alouds:
What books are you choosing to read aloud? How do you make the selection? Does the story represent a diverse population of students? Are you choosing the book based on your comfort level? - Book Talks:
Which books are you talking about? Are you book talking a diverse selection of books? Are you selecting stories that represent all students? - Book Age:
How old are the books in your lists? Have you updated your book lists to include current diverse selections? Do you resort back to the same comfortable stories, or do you intentionally look for new titles?
Reasons for Challenges
Soft Censorship
Top Challenged Books 2019
Going Fine Free in Your School Library
Fines are:
- A form of social inequity
- Monetary fines present an economic barrier to access of library materials & services
- Mounting evidence that indicates eliminating fines increase library card adoption and library usage
- Absorb valuable staff time applying, collecting, and managing dues
- Monetary fines ultimately do not serve the core mission of the modern library
Potential Considerations - No late fines
- No limit on book checkouts
- Summer stack checkouts
- Holds are a case by case basis
- Lost book fines on a case by case basis
Supporting Different Languages in the School Library
- Signage in your library
- Books that reflect the languages taught in your school
- Books that reflect the languages spoken by students in your school
- Literacy in more than one language is positive
- Instructing students on how to change the language in your databases
- Books in translation
- Promote personal identity and cultural heritage
- Consider if your school has a language policy
"Librarians recognize the power of language to teach all children about themselves, their peers, and people in the world. Mindful use of language communicates to students positive and important messages about belonging and humanity." -Rebecca J. Morris
June 16, 2020
AASL Mission Statement
AASL Vision Statement
AASL Core Values
AASL Chapter Concerns
The following concerns were introduced to the AASL Chapters for vote to move on to the AASL Board of Directors.
- State DOE Representation
Take action to address the lack of representation at state departments of education for library media specialists. - Distance Learning
Take action to clarify the role of the school librarian in distance learning. - Access to School Libraries
Take action to address staffing and funding disparity, i.e. omitting school librarians in the federal teacher shortage list. - Leadership
Take action to address the lack of willing leadership in our state organizations.
All passed to go to the AASL Board of Directors.
AASL 2020-21 Board of Directors & Leaders
AASL 2020-2021 Board of Directors
AASL Presidential Task Force
AASL Chapter Coordinating Team
AASL School Leader Collaborative
An AASL Task Force was created to construct a school leader collaborative.
- Members are nominated by Library Media Specialists
- Members are school leaders who advocate for school librarians/libraries
- Members understand the depth of what school librarians do in their roles
- Members work together to craft positive messages that will resonate
AASL Board Commendations
Examples of Shared Commendations passed for AASL Board Recognition
INFOhio
The 1890 Research & Extension Program
The Noble Neighbor
Cbus Libraries
United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County Holiday Book Drive
Greensboro Bound Authors Engaging Students
AASL Standards
AASL Standards
AASL National Crosswalks
AASL Shared Foundations
AASL 2021 Conference: Salt Lake City
AASL Membership
Sources
The information reported in this newsletter was presented by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) during the AASL Affiliate Assembly Meetings on June 15 & 16, 2020.
Credit & Contributing AASL Members
Board of Directors
AASL Chapter Coordinators
AASL Presidential Task Force
GLMA is an affiliate of AASL and information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only. Any questions or concerns should be addressed to the proper AASL member constituent(s). Contact AASL at www.aasl.org.
Georgia Library Media Association
Lori Quintana, Ed.S., Cobb County School District
AASL Affiliate Delegate:
Angie Hawkesworth, Carroll County Schools
Email: glma.aasl.affiliate@gmail.com
Website: www.glma-inc.org
Phone: 0000000000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaLibraryMediaAssociation/
Twitter: @glma