Conversation Starter: If you build it, they will come: How a handful of determined librarians brought together 14 high schools, 30 workshop sessions, and Jason Reynolds to create a dynamic literary conference focused on reluctant readers

Monday, June 24

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Location: Washington Convention Center, 152B

From one school librarian’s brainchild to an auditorium full of 800+ high school students - what does it take to plan, fund, promote, and realize a district-wide conference focused on literature and literacy, where students participated in workshop sessions, a keynote and Q&A with author Jason Reynolds, and a small-group book discussion? Five school librarians who worked on the committee will focus on the planning that was required to make the conference happen, how it was funded, successes and challenges, lessons learned, and ways to adapt their conference model in other places.

ALA Unit/Subunit: ALA
Meeting Type: Conversation Starter
Cost: Included with full conference registration.
Open/Closed: Open

Speaker(s)

Stacey Blum

School Librarian
Meade High School
Andrea Sporre

School Librarian
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Lenora Puglisi

School Librarian
Annapolis High School
Timothy Swann

School Librarian
Northeast High School