American Association of School Librarians

1. Mission

The mission of the American Association of School Librarians is to advocate excellence, facilitate change, and develop leaders in the school library media field.

Goals

AASL works to ensure that all members of the school library media field collaborate to:

• provide leadership in the total education program
• participate as active partners in the teaching/learning process
• connect learners with ideas and information, and
• prepare students for life-long learning, informed decision-making, a love of reading, and the use of information technologies.

2. Role of organization in respect to school media specialist

Vision and Voice: Developing, implementing, and articulating a vision for the profession through standards, frameworks and guidelines.

Development of the Knowledge Base: Developing and disseminating theory, best practice and research to move the field forward.

Continuing Issues: Continuing support for the major issues in the field such as funding, reading, technology and intellectual freedom.

3. Important documents of organization

Your School Library Media Program and No Child Left Behind Brochure

This brochure was developed by AASL to help building leaders recognize the school library media specialist's important role in helping schools meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

4. Professional Development:

Provides  opportunities for continuing education.

5. Publications & Journals

Serial and non-serial print and electronic publications and products for school library media professionals, supporters, and advocates. Also, information for AASL authors, editors, and advertisers.

AASL Hotlinks

Archived issues of the AASL Hotlinks monthly e-mail newsletter. Access is restricted to current AASL members only.

Knowledge Quest

AASL's print journal.

School Library Media Research

AASL's online research journal

American Library Association

1. Mission

“The object of the American Library Association shall be to promote library service and librarianship.” The stated mission is, “To provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.”

 

2. Role of organization in respect to school media specialist

Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession -The association actively works to increase public awareness of the crucial value of libraries and librarians, to promote state and national legislation beneficial to libraries and library users, and to supply the resources, training and support networks needed by local advocates seeking to increase support for libraries of all types.

Literacy The ALA assists and promotes libraries in helping children and adults develop the skills they need-the ability to read and use computers-understanding that the ability to seek and effectively utilize information resources is essential in a global information society

 

 

3. Important documents of organization

Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning -,a guide for school library media specialists in helping students flourish in a learning community not limited by time, place, age, occupation or disciplinary borders.

4. Professional Development:

ALA Annual Conference

5. Publications & Journals

 

ALA TechSource -Information on integrating all kinds of technologies in libraries

 

Library Technology Reports Expert guides to integrating technology, including web 2.0 and gaming.

American Libraries -The magazine of the American Library Association

 

Booklist magazine- Reviews of books, media, and reference for collection development and RA.

Booklist Online - Book review site, IDEAL collection development and readers' advisory tool

 

 

Alabama Library Association

1.     Mission

To provide leadership for the development, advocacy, and improvement of the library and information services and to promote the profession of librarianship, in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information to all.

2. Role of organization in respect to school media specialist

ALLA supports its members through a variety of means such as Divisions, Roundtables, and Committees.

 

3. Important documents of organization

The Alabama Library Association’s (ALLA) Strategic Plan & Action Plan.  This plan is used for guidance and as a reminder of who the association is and what it is doing. 

 

4. Professional Development:

The Annual Convention held every April is the culmination of each year's hard work and provides an opportunity for members to gather for professional development.

5. Publications & Journals

ALLA Brochure

 

 

Alabama Instructional Media Association

1. Mission

The purposes and objectives of the Alabama Instructional Media

Association are:

• to promote the effective use of instructional media.
• to keep educators adequately informed about media services

  and materials.

• to recruit personnel and to encourage and promote professional

  growth.

• to serve as an organization to coordinate research on

  evaluation in the use of instructional media.

• to plan and conduct long range programs for the development

  and improvement of instructional media in general, and to

  cooperate with other organizations and agencies whose

  interests and purposes are similar to this organization.

• to provide a framework for members to meet on state level as

  well as the district level.

 

2. Role of organization in respect to school media specialist

It provides a forum for school  library media specialists, administrators, curriculum specialists, teachers, library media educators, graduate students, professional association leaders, and retired library media professionals, to promote excellence in education in Alabama through effective school library media programs.     

3. Important documents of organization

Membership Directory

 

4. Professional Development:

Annual conference and meetings for members to gather for professional development

5. Publications & Journals

Newsletters

 

Association for Educational Communications and Technology

1. Mission

The mission of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology is to provide international leadership by promoting scholarship and best practices in the creation, use, and management of technologies for effective teaching and learning in a wide range of settings

2. Role of organization in respect to school media specialist

It provides an international forum for the exchange and dissemination of ideas for its members and for larger audiences.

 

3. Important documents of organization

Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology

 

4. Professional Development:

Annual Conference for members to gather for professional development

5. Publications & Journals

Educational Technology Research and Development- A bi-monthly publication of the Association for Educational Communications & Technology

TechTrends - Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning

 

Association for Library Services for Children

1. Mission

 

2. Role of organization in respect to school media specialist

ALSC's networks  more than 4,200 children's and youth librarians, children's literature experts, publishers, education and library school faculty members, and other adults dedicated to creating a better future for children through libraries.

3. Important documents of organization

ALSC Strategic Plan, 2006-2011 Core Ideology & Envisioned Future

4. Professional Development:

ALSC's online courses and face-to-face conference programs will help you achieve your professional development goals. 

5. Publications & Journals\

Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries

 

 

International Reading Association

 

1. Mission

The mission of the International Reading Association is to promote reading by continuously advancing the quality of literacy instruction and research worldwide

2. Role of organization in respect to school media specialist

Advocate for research, policy, and practices that support the best interests of all learners and reading professionals

·        Foster life-long literacy habits

·        Promote high quality teacher and student learning to improve reading instruction

·        Keep policy makers informed about IRA’s positions

·        Develop policy and position statements

·        Provide members with background information and resources

·        Collaborate with national and international policy makers

 

3. Important documents of organization

Standards for Reading Professionals—Revised 2003 [Standards 2003] provides criteria for developing and evaluating preparation programs for reading professionals.

 

4. Professional Development:

Conferences and smaller meetings provide professional development opportunities to educators across the globe.

 

 

5. Publications & Journals

Reading Today - bimonthly newspaper covers both Association news and news of the profession.

 The Reading Teacher - Articles written by reading professionals, for reading professionals

 

 

 

Library Leadership & Management Association

 

1. Mission

The mission of the Library Leadership and Management Association is to encourage and nurture current and future library leaders, and to develop and promote outstanding leadership and management practices

 

2. Role of organization in respect to school media specialist

LLAMA equips library professionals with dynamic tools for building vibrant library services and successful careers. Highlighting all aspects of library management, LLAMA's sections (special interest groups) offer not only opportunities to connect with people of similar interests, but also to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, publish research, mentor future leaders, and hone leadership and managerial skills

3. Important documents of organization

Standards for Reading Professionals—Revised 2003 [Standards 2003] provides criteria for developing and evaluating preparation programs for reading professionals.

4. Professional Development:

Preconference session at the annual conference offer opportunity for professional development

 

5. Publications & Journals

Library Leadership & Management- focuses on assisting library administrators and managers at all levels as they deal with day-to-day challenges

 

 

The Reference and User Services Association

1. Mission

To stimulate and support excellence in the delivery of general library services and materials to adults, and the provision of reference and information services, collection development, and resource sharing for all ages, in every type of library

2. Role of organization in respect to school media specialist

Conduct  activities and projects within the association's areas of responsibility; Encouragement of the development of librarians engaged in these activities, and stimulation of participation by members of appropriate type-of-library divisions;

3. Important documents of organization

RUSA's Current Strategic Plan- Every three years, the RUSA Board of Directors develops a strategic plan. The Objectives of this plan for 2008-11 are:

1.     Provide leadership and opportunities in professional development for reference, user technology, readers' advisory, access, and computer-based research  librarians and staff. 

2.     Work towards equity of access.  

3.     Seek ways to improve participation in RUSA by reference, user technology, readers' advisory, access, and computer-based research fields librarians and library staff. 

4.     Ensure the effectiveness of RUSA in meeting its and ALA's mission.

5.     Increase the visibility of RUSA in the profession and promote the professional skills and services RUSA members offer to society at large.

 

4. Professional Development:

RUSA holds online classes and events to further your knowledge and career skills

5.     Publications & Journals

RUSQ-The Journal of the Reference and User Services Association. Published quarterly.

International Association of School Librarianship

1. Mission

The mission of the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) is to provide an international forum for those people interested in promoting effective school library media programs as viable instruments in the educational process.

 

2. Role of organization in respect to school media specialist

To provides guidance and advice for the development of school library programs and the school library profession.

 

3. Important documents of organization

IASL : Getting Started : Starting a School Library Association

 

4. Professional Development:

The annual conference offer opportunity for professional development

 

5.     Publications & Journal

School Libraries Worldwide is the Association's refereed research and professional journal.

IASL Newsletter is a thrice-yearly newsletter that carries short articles, a feature article, news, announcements, information about new publications, and information     

for members.