We Declared Our Rights To Libraries At The School Library Journal Summit

Last weekend I had the honor of attending the School Library Journal Summit in Austin, Texas. The Summit is always my favorite event of the year. I have to say that this years Summit was the best for so many reasons...more to come on that.             

                            

One of the my most special parts was being inspired by my dear friend Barbara Stripling, American Library Association President.  

Barbara spoke about many things close to her heart including the Presidential Initiative Libraries Change Lives.  She is lifting up the importance of school libraries in the Declaration for the Right to Libraries, as the cornerstone document of her presidential initiative.

Barbara encouraged all of us to plan a event celebrating the signing of the Declaration.  With these events, we can lift up school libraries and support teacher librarians, teachers, our community, and most of all, our children, by signing the Declaration for the Right to Libraries.

I wrote more about her initiative at the post, "It's Time For Our Voices To Be Heard..... Let's Declare Our Rights To Libraries". 

 Barbara told everyone that we had the Declaration for the Rights to Libraries there at the Summit too.  Everyone was very excited and couldn't wait to support and lift up school libraries everywhere.

Rebecca Miller, Editor-in-Chief of Library Journal and School Library Journal, was the first to sign the Declaration at the Summit.

Then all of the teacher librarians, administrators, teachers, publishers, and other vendors lined up and waited to sign too.

Joyce Valenza signing the Declaration.

These are the signatures of over 100 passionate individuals who want to continue to change lives and support our right to libraries.

We look forward to hearing how everyone is going to celebrate the signing of the Declaration at libraries, schools, offices, and other places that support the love we have for libraries.

Thank you everyone at the School Library Journal for signing.

As one of Barbara's beautiful slides said.....

They will listen to us and to the voices of our children too.  This will make a difference.