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CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) held its first coffee chat session designed to help school librarians learn more about its national institute, Fall Forum. "In Focus: The Essentials for 21st-Century Learning," will be held Nov. 5-6, 2010 in Portland, Ore. More information can be found at .

The chats are also geared to help the presenters design their sessions based on feedback from school librarians.

The first chat on Essential Questions was led by Gail Dickinson. Dickinson, an associate professor of library science at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., was a co-chair for the task force that developed AASL's "Standards for the 21^st-Century Learner. "This publication, along with "Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs," will be the focus of learning at the institute. The in the of the Fall Forum.

Future chats, led by session presenters Leslie Maniotes and Ross Todd, are scheduled for August. Maniotes will discuss the theory of Enduring Understanding at 9 a.m. CDT/10 a.m. EDT on Wed., Aug. 18. Todd will discuss Evidenced-based Practice at 9 a.m. CDT/10 a.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 27. School librarians interested in learning more about these theories and the Fall Forum should plan to attend both sessions. They will also be archived for future viewing.

The Fall Forum occurs in the years that AASL does not host a National Conference. For more information about the 2010 Fall Forum and to register, visit the . Attendees will receive a price break for registering before Oct. 4. Rates on or before Oct. 4 are: AASL members, $289; 91´«Ã½ members, $339; Non-members, $404.

The American Association of School Librarians, , a division of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.