A Year of Professional Development

The AISL Board is pleased to share an update on our plans for this year. While we won't be holding an in-person conference, we are excited to announce that we will be hosting a dynamic series of webinars and cohort groups throughout the school year. These virtual sessions will provide great opportunities for professional development, collaboration, and growth from the convenience of your own space. 

We have several virtual discussions already planned on current topics of interest to our members. 

Current Events

• AISL Summer Institute (PD in June, July & August)

Information Covered: 

In this hands-on session, we'll cover best practices for designing LibGuides that are easy to navigate and engaging for your users. We’ll cover organizing content, adding visuals, and making guides accessible to all. By the end, you'll have practical skills to create LibGuides that make finding and using library resources simpler and more enjoyable for you and your users.

Recent Events:

• AI: Ethical Considerations in the School Community - Part 2 November 14, 2024 - Alex Brown, Director of the Boswell Library & Archives, The Thatcher School, and Matthew Noe, Lead Collection and Knowledge Management Librarian at Harvard  Medical School and a Part Time Instructor in Library Science at the University of Kentucky. All are welcome including those who weren't able to make the first Zoom
  
  
• A virtual discussion with Amanda Jones author of That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America, November 21, 2024 - Moderated by Faith Ward, William Penn Charter School
  
  
• Preparing Our Students for College-Level Research, December 4, 2024 - A discussion with the research librarians at Texas Christian University moderated by Patricia deWinter, The Oakridge School

• Designing User-friendly LibGuides- Nancy Florio, Westover School - Wednesday, February 19, 2025: 5:00 ET, 4:00 CT, 3:00 MT, 2:00 PT with Nancy Florio, Director of Library and Archives, Westover School. A recording will be available for those who can't join us live.

• “It’s Almost Summer" Institute, Booked for the Day: Reading, Reflection, and Revitalization. - May 21, 2025 -A day featuring workshops on Children's and Young Adult Literature, Manga Collection, and 

Suggestions Welcomed:

If you have a topic that you would like to explore on a webinar with other librarians, please let us know and we will work with you to help plan and host the virtual event. The following are a few of the events happening so far this year.

Next In-Person Conference:

Additionally, we are already in initial discussions regarding our next in-person conference, and we would love your input! If your institution is interested in hosting—or helping to host—the conference in either 2026 or 2027, please send an email to the Board expressing your interest. Hosting provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase your campus and bring together our community.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement. We’re excited about the year ahead and look forward to connecting with you through our virtual events!

Visit our A Year of Professional Development guide for more detailed information about planned upcoming events.

Warm regards,
AISL Board of Directors