IdeaLab Presentations
Thursday, October 19 | 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The listing provided below may differ from content presented at the AASL National Conference as presenters, sessions, etc., may have changed or cancelled since their original acceptance. AASL provides this listing as an example of the professional development school librarians can expect at the event.
Conference attendees may use the AASL2023 app for an up-to-date and comprehensive listing of all conference events. The app will launch in early October.
Book Tasting Reimagined with Placemats
Discover a dynamic and interactive idea to engage learners in the library. See how Book Review Placemats promote a culture of reading and sharing among students aligning with the AASL standards. You will be equipped with implementation strategies to incorporate Book Review Placemats into your library activities. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your library program, ignite curiosity, and celebrate the joy of reading by inspiring learners through the power of Book Review Placemats!
Strand: Design & Create
Bridge to Beyond: Navigating the Library Shift from High School to College: Discovering the Key Differences, Essential Tips & Valuable Resources
In the overwhelming transition from high school to college, one area that often gets overlooked is the library experience and expectations. This IdeaLab explores the key differences between K-12 libraries and college and university libraries, equipping college freshmen with the essential knowledge they need to thrive in their academic journey. Get ready for your students to level up their library game armed with the knowledge and resources to conquer college libraries like a pro.
Strand: Teaching & Learning
Building Recognition and Strength in School Libraries Through Labor Unions
Learn how one district used the power of their teacher’s union to add over 100 new school librarian positions – take your advocacy to the next level with an action plan to put in place to build strength through your union. No union? You can still harness collective power for school librarians with an action plan to connect with colleagues.
Strand: Leadership & Advocacy
Create an Automated Library Infographic with Google Forms
I will showcase how Looker Studio can be used to share an library infographic that automatically updates. This can be utilized by any educator to better visualize all kinds of data. We will specifically look at integrating Looker Studio with the impact of school libraries, as well as a few other use cases. We can go over the very beginnings and basics of Google Looker Studio. This can be utilized by any educator to better visualize all kinds of data, but we will specifically look at integrating Looker Studio with the impact of school libraries, as well as a few other use cases.
Strand: Leadership & Advocacy
Curating Your Elementary Collection: Looking Through A New Lens
Take a look through a lens! This IdeaLab will provide school librarians with a QR code so they can access a collection development acronym called PLACID: Pleasure, Level, Awards, Curriculum, Illustrations, and Diversity. This can be easily layered upon traditional approaches such as MUSTIE to develop a robust library collection. Ultimately, we want kids to see themselves represented in books they love to read!
Strand: Collection Development
Diversity Audits: Using the Diverse BookFinder’s Collection Analysis Tool
This presentation will introduce attendees to a free online resource called the Diverse BookFinder (DBF) and demonstrate its collection audit feature called the Collection Analysis Tool (CAT). Attendees will have the opportunity to run a simulated CAT report and receive instructions on how to run their own diversity audit. The presenters will also share about the IMLS grant awarded to expand the DBF from only picture books to also include books for older readers.
Strand: Collection Development
Exploring the Past, Empowering the Future: A Social Studies Resource Odyssey
Are you an school librarian looking for ways to collaborate with your teachers, particularly with social studies content? Stop by our booth to find out about FREE resources(K-12) that will allow teachers and students to locate and incorporate primary and secondary sources into their lessons, strategies for using technology to seamlessly share curated information, and walk away with a list of picture books that will captivate your students that correlate to the C3 Social Studies State Standards, plus access to our HERO Hub.
Strand: Research
Flying Books: Students Turn Weeded Titles into Sculptural Art
Are you inundated with weeded books that are still eye-catching? Looking for low-cost ways to liven up your library space? Interested in an SEL-related art project that can be completed within a class period? Meet Flying Books, student-created sculptural works made from tucking pages on books that have been removed from circulation. These sculptural works will adorn your library space with colorful flourishes and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to reuse, creativity and innovation.
Strand: Design & Create
Grab & Go Maker Kits: Taking the Makerspace Home
Summer is an important time for play and time off from school; however, summer can also provide the opportunity for students to learn about things that are personally interesting. This poster session will share information about our grab-and-go maker kits for students to pursue educational opportunities that pique their personal interests as a way to learn and grow during the summer. Each kit contains projects, a book, and promotional material (swag). Grab-and-go kits are easy to replicate, and many are very low-cost.
Strand: Design & Create
Integrating Mathematical Literacy in the Elementary Library Media Center
Elementary school librarians will discover techniques to effectively integrate mathematical concepts in their teaching. Topics will include math-based read aloud stories, hands-on math-based learning activities, teaching and promoting algorithmic thinking, sequential thinking, and geometric thinking all in the library setting. Attendees will be introduced to grade level appropriate booklists through the Mathical Book Prize lists and how to promote the collection to students and teachers.
Strand: Teaching & Learning
Let’s Get Physical: Collaboration, Engagement and Movement in Library Lessons
We wanted to make our lessons more interactive and engaging with students so we added some movement and now that has become the expectation in our space. Discover how to add movement to your lessons and activities in ways you can start tomorrow with no money needed.
Strand: Teaching & Learning
Library Vibe Squad: Bringing Student Voice into Your Space with a Leadership Team
Want to bring more student voice into your library space? Start a library student leadership team! Our Library Vibe Squad helps plan programs, displays, outreach, etc. I’ll share about the process of getting started, planning meetings, divvying up responsibilities and creating space for student voice. Students from our leadership team will be at the session to share their own experiences. No matter where you’re at with student leadership in your library, there will be something for you here.
Strand: Leadership & Advocacy
Lights! Camera! Literacy!: Use your Media Production Program to Promote Reading & Learning
Turn your studio into a wonderland of literacy-based activities! See clips from award-winning student book trailers & learn how to create a worthwhile news show that teachers always want to share in the classroom. These ideas are not only fun, they are research-based ways of driving circulation, encouraging reading choice, improving prosody & developing the home/school connection. Next-level media production positively impacts school culture, learning gains & community excitement!
Strand: Literacy
May We Use This? Teaching Copyright to K-12 Students and It’s All Free!
We’re excited to share our FREE K-12 Copyright and Creativity materials, including curriculum, PD and added resources, such as infographics and plug-n-play slides. These materials provide accessible and practical information about copyright and its protections, its limitations, and its role in encouraging creativity. We offer useful and positive information about what copyright allows and how students can successfully navigate and rely on copyright in their own roles as creators.
Strand: Teaching & Learning
OSLIS: Free Web-Based, Librarian-Created Resources for Student Research
The Oregon School Library Information System provides FREE easy-to-access, librarian-created resources for both elementary and secondary research instruction that supports and expands student information literacy, including video tutorials and an accurate and easy-to-use citation tool with no ads or subscription fees. Learn how to access these resources to help engage students in step-by-step research and bolster citation and documentation skills in both MLA and APA formats!
Strand: Research
Problem Solving with Podcasts
Listening to podcasts is a FANTASTIC way to solve your library problems. Always FREE, customizable and convenient, podcasts provide instant access to experts and their resources. Learn how to use podcasts for district approved PD and to support initiatives and programs you want to implement in your library today!
Strand: Leadership & Advocacy
Show Me’ Readers, Makers, Explorers, & Innovators: Using State Award Books to Meet the Standards
Come see how two Missouri librarians started using the Missouri Show-Me Reader Award nominee books as a starting point for their elementary library lessons that include love of reading, technology, digital citizenship, STEM and more! Resources will be shared to incorporate these ideas into your own library lessons!
Strand: Design & Create
Sketchnote to Increase Memory & Comprehension: Literature
Visual Note-taking, otherwise known as Sketchnoting, involves using hand-drawn doodles along with minimal text to record information. Research shows that the use of visuals in notes increases comprehension. Using sketchnotes while reading allows students to better remember important story elements – not just the things asked on AR tests. You’ll leave with handouts to give you a jumpstart so you and your students can start creating Book Sketchnotes on your own.
Strand: Teaching & Learning
Trail Challenge: Building Literacy via a Whole-District Reading Initiative
Learn how to build a district-wide reading program to build excitement around literature. The ten librarians in our district have refined our district-wide reading program over the last five years. Come see how we have structured our successful program and get ideas how to create and implement this program in your school or district.
Strand: Literacy
225 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601