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Professional Development: American Library Association

AASL

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is the only national professional membership organization focused on school librarians and the school library community. AASL has more than 7,000 members and serves school librarians in the United States, Canada, and around the world.

The AASL Chapters is appointed delegates from state level school librarian organizations, which ensures the AASL Board of Directors is aware of matters of consequence to the school librarian field. AASL also maintains three member sections and two special interest groups that represent a special field of activity within the school library profession.

AASL became a division of ALA on January 1, 1951. Prior to independent division status, AASL was a section of American Library Association. Having supported the profession for 65 years, AASL understands the current realities and evolving dynamics of the professional environment and is positioned to help members achieve universal recognition of school librarians as indispensable educational leaders.

Mission

The American Association of School Librarians empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.

Strategic Plan

AASL is a national organization proactive to issues, anticipatory of trends, and defining the future agenda for the profession through its strategic plan. The current strategic plan, approved by the AASL Board of Directors at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference, examines three critical issues: association relevance, membership development, and association governance and leadership.

American Library Association

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The American Library Association (ALA) offers professional development courses that run through all types of librarianship. The main ALA eLearning page lists the continuing education options offered by the different subsidiaries of the association. 

The American Library Association is dedicated to libraries of all types across the country to help them with whatever their needs may be. This includes providing professional development on the different topics and fields of librarianship. 

This site has a combination of courses and webinars available and the topics depend on the section of ALA that the user is consulting. Some of these resources are free and others have a fee. The fee range can start at $50 and go up to at least $200 but it depends entirely on the course.