I am so excited to share the great news that West Maple Elementary in Birmingham Public Schools has been selected as the AASL National School Library of the Year!
Congratulations to Carrie Betts, School Librarian, at West Maple Elementary School!
You can find Birmingham Public School's announcement here:
bit.ly/3MXj9lbAASL's Press Release is forthcoming.
Disclosure: I did not realize Carrie was applying for this award -- and AASL did not disclose to me that she was a finalist. The AASL National School Library of the Year Committee Chairs - Mary Woodard (Texas) and Phoebe Warmack (Virginia) were able to visit West Maple Elementary and the other finalist library -- New Tazewell Elementary (New Tazewell, TN); Blake Hopper, -- and lead the NSLY committee in making the decision independent of the AASL Board.
Carrie shared this website giving an overview of West Maple Library:
I am so very proud that the NSLY is in Michigan!
All students in Michigan deserve the equity of access to this type of library.
Congratulations again to Carrie!
All my best,
--Kathy
Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA
Advocacy Co-Chair, Past-President 2014,
Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL)
President, 2022-2023
American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
Councilor At Large
American Library Association (ALA)
School Library Media Specialist / Technology Coach,
East Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Schools
SL21 Model Library, 2017-2018
SL21 Exemplary Ranking - Michigan School Libraries for the 21st Century 2019-2022ISTE Making IT Happen Award Winner
2017 MAME Michigan School Library Program of the Year
2012 State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner
"Every school librarian is a leader; every learner has a school librarian"