91´«Ã½

CHICAGO – The Texas Association of School Librarians (TASL) and its program “TASL and the Texas PTA – A Partnership for Learning” received the 2011 American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant. Established in 1986 and sponsored by ABC-CLIO, the grant of up to $1,750 is given to school library associations that are AASL affiliates for planning and implementing leadership programs at the state, regional or local levels.

In its proposal TASL looks to strengthen its collaboration with the Texas Parent Teacher Association (TxPTA) by sending member volunteers to TxPTA’s summer leadership seminars. Volunteers will be trained to tell the story of the critical role school librarians play in student learning and will be provided with resources and strategies to share with seminar attendees via a TASL sponsored booth on the exhibit floor. Other TASL members will lead a breakout session focused on the librarian/parent partnership in learning.

“Partnerships and collaboration among like-minded groups are needed now more than ever to make sure students have access to the resources and services they need to be successful in the future,” explains David Schuster, TASL member and project contact. “The partnership between TASL and TxPTA has been a great fit. During this tough legislative year it was especially helpful to have the TxPTA on the side of school libraries. Their members urged legislators to maintain funding for school and community libraries when they met for TxPTA’s Legislative Day.”

The Texas Association of School Librarians and other AASL award winners will be honored at AASL's Awards Luncheon during 91´«Ã½'s 2011 Annual Conference in New Orleans. The luncheon will be held Monday, June 27, and Lauren Myracle, best-selling young adult author and national spokesperson for intellectual freedom, will headline. Ticket information can be found on the AASL website at .

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.