Congratulations to Carrie & West Maple Elementary!!! Very exciting news! Cathy Lancaster Youth Services Coordinator Library of Michigan 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48915 My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See www.mypronouns.org<http://www.mypronouns.org/> to learn more. LancasterC5@michigan.gov<mailto:LancasterC5@michigan.gov> | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan> Follow us: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/libraryofmichigan/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/libraryofmich> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/libraryofmichigan/> Join the MiYouth<http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/miyouth> Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services. From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> On Behalf Of Lester, Kathy via Michlib-l Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2023 6:08 AM To: michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> Subject: [Michlib-l] West Maple Elementary Named AASL National School Library of the Year! CAUTION: This is an External email. Please send suspicious emails to abuse@michigan.gov<mailto:abuse@michigan.gov> 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/3MXj9lb<http://bit.ly/3MXj9lb> AASL'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: https://sites.google.com/bps-schools.com/westmaplelibrary/home 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 2019-2022 ISTE Making IT Happen Award Winner 2017 MAME Michigan School Library Program of the Year 2012 State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner kathyL@mimasl.org<mailto:kathyL@mimasl.org> twitter: @LibraryL<https://twitter.com/LibraryL> "Every school librarian is a leader; every learner has a school librarian" --American Association of School Librarians<http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/advocacy/tools/docs/AASL_Position_Statement_Effective_SLP_2018.pdf> (AASL)