|
|
On October 3, 2006, the New York Library Association and Scholastic Inc. partnered together to host a Roundtable Discussion on School Libraries with state and local policymakers. The purpose of the event was to inform policymakers about the critical role of school libraries in bolstering academic achievement.
The event included welcome remarks by Evan St. Lifer, Vice President and General Manager, Scholastic Library Publishing, Brian Keeney, Editor-in-Chief, School Library Journal and presentations by Janet Welch, NYS Librarians, Dr. Ross Todd, Associate Professor at Rutgers University, Barbara Stripling, Director of Library Services, NYC Dept. of Education and a panel of distinguished school librarians from around the state (Frances Roscello, Rocco Staino, Susan Glaser, Sally Daniels, Ellen Rubin, Stephanie Rosalia) moderated by Sara Kelly Johns, President-Elect, American Association of School Librarians and concluding remarks by Michael J. Borges, NYLA Executive Director.
Elected officials participating in the days dialogue were Assemblymember Patricia Eddington, Chair of the Libraries and Education Technology Committee, Assemblymembers Barbara Clark and Sandra Galef, Senator Stephen Saland, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and NYC Councilman Vincent Gentile, Chair of the Library Committee.
Dialogue participants discussed relevant research and practice around how school libraries are best used as educational centers at the national, state and local levels as well as school librarian testimonials on what students learn in the library, how they improve student literacy, how school libraries are constantly evolving to meet student needs, how technology is integrated into the learning process and how school libraries prepare students to meet the challenges of the Information Age. |
