KANSAS

ASSOCIATION OF
SCHOOL LIBRARIANS
A periodic newsletter by KASL Council Members to share information,
ideas, and inspiration with the school librarians of Kansas.

MISSION OF KASL
The Kansas Association of School Librarians is a non-profit, educational organization that
promotes the interests of school libraries in the state of Kansas, encourages
professional growth of library media specialists, and develops cooperation among all
types of libraries and educational organizations to enhance library service.
~KASL Constitution 2001

NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, July 17 ~ Summer Institute!
Register here and find more
May 2023
As I write this, it is officially my last day of school for 2022- information about the day!
23. I have completed inventories in both of my buildings,
have put my personal belongings away, and unplugged my
mini-frig.
As you finish up your school year, please add these KASL
things to your to-do lists before you leave your building(s)
for the summer!
~ Thoughtfully consider whether you might be one
to fill an open role on KASL Council and complete this
interest form. The form is due THIS FRIDAY, May 26. We
need people to be involved to ensure the success of this
organization!
November 1-3 ~ KLA/KASL Conference
~ Register for Summer Institute at ESU on Monday, July 17!
It promises to be a day of good learning and connecting.
~ Nominate a deserving school librarian for the President's
Distinguished Library Media Specialist Award. The KASL OFFICER
nomination form can be found below and is due August 1.
SPOTLIGHT
Have a restful, rejuvenating summer! Karen is serving as first vice president of KASL.
She will fill the role of president in 2024-2025.

Karen Wilson
KASL LIBRARIAN OF THE MONTH:
I am currently a K-5
LESLIE WEISHAAR librarian at Lincoln
We are highlighting Leslie this month as she will be
retiring this spring. Congratulations, Leslie! Elementary and
I am proud to have served students in our Roosevelt Elementary in Hays, KS.
Next year, I will be at Lincoln
district as middle school librarian for 14 years
Elementary, Hays Middle, and Hays
years and high school librarian for 12 years. It has been a
High School. I'm excited to get to
pleasure being a member of KASL. I have served as District I serve grades K-12! I have been in the
assistant director and director and am currently the KASL Hays district for 3 years and was a 7-
liaison to the State Library board. When I began my library 12 librarian for 3 years at Plainville
career, the school library had 6 stand-alone computers with Jr/Sr High School in Plainville, KS.
CD-ROM towers, then we had computer labs in the library Before becoming a librarian, I was a
with 25-30 computers, now all students have a device, and Spanish teacher and have taught
the library is back to having just 6 computers. Obviously, grades 1-12 throughout my career. I've
things are always changing, and librarians are great at always been an avid reader and can
remember my mom telling me that I
adapting. My advice for my peers is to Join KASL for
could only check out as many books
connections, professional development, and advocacy. My
from the library as I could carry. I love
goal has always been to provide the best possible library helping students develop a love of
services and resources representing all students. This has reading and nothing beats the feeling
never been more important than it is now. when you help a student find just the
right book. I truly believe the library is
a magical place.
KS LIBRARY
MEDIA
STANDARDS BOOK GIVEAWAY!
Congratulations to Megan Bohannon at Neodesha High School
UPDATE for being the winner of last newsletter's giveaway! She won
A committee has been Reimagining Library Spaces.
formed to review the
standards, and the work Enter this month's drawing here to win one of five books perfect
began on May 1. The for summer reading!
plan is to present any
revisions to the State
Board of Education in
early fall.

President's Distinguished
Congratulations!
AWARDS

Library Media Specialist Award Congratulations to Kristy Oborny from

KASL

An award to honor an outstanding Hays who received the AASL National

Library Media Specialist in Kansas Conference Award. She will be attending
Details and the nomination form the AASL Conference in October with
here Rachel Yoder. Look for a session at the
Nominations are due August 1, 2023 KLA Conference about their experience!

KANSAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS

https://www.ksschoollibrarians.org/