Whew! My final day at AASL 2025 has come and gone, and it was another doozy! I wasn’t sure my brain could handle another day of learning. My worries were for naught! It was a day of nonstop, highly engaging, deeply relevant and important idea sharing.
I am going to admit that I am generally not much of a fan boy when it comes to authors. I love their work, I admire what they do. But they fall into that category in my head of the skilled craftsman. Some folks can build a house, repair a drain, or do your taxes. Authors are humans who happen to have honed their word craft.
Nevertheless, I did quite enjoy hearing Jason Reynolds speak. He managed to weave back and forth between the mundane (how he likes to soak in the tub to reset himself mentally) and the profound (how all kids make the best choices they know how, even when we might think those choices are the wrong ones).
Speaking of authors, one of the things that keeps returning to my mind from a trip full of great moments and memories was something author Soman Chainani said during the We Need Diverse Books keynote on Friday morning. Discussing the book banning and censorship, he explained that books being targeted as ‘inappropriate’ books are not necessarily so, because “You can only imagine the words you know and your experience – unlike a video that shows you everything – so in a way, a book gate-keeps itself.”
I want to get this sentiment on a T-shirt, emblazoned it on posters, and surround embattled libraries with it.
While hearing others share ideas provided some food for thought, it was the conversations I had that really made the conference deeply meaningful. Between sessions. Waiting on lines. During lunch. Sometimes with people I didn’t know but happened to be standing near. Sometimes with friends I often share social media post-length thoughts with. Having the time to have these conversations was refreshing, both personally and professionally. Being in a place where I, as a school library professional, am surrounded by similar professionals was not not pleasant, but necessary.It was a constantly topped-off glass of water, and I hadn’t realized how dehydrated I had been. These conversations are, by themselves, enough reason to attend a conference. Then add on the presentations.
Today I was fortunate enough to see a lot of friends sharing what’s worked for them so others can expand their own programs. I saw friends challenging us to think critically and carefully about our practice and our resources. I saw friends standing up for themselves and their students. And I learned – oh, how I learned!
The past several days have felt a bit like a nonstop whirlwind, and I am tired in mind and body. But I am refreshed in spirit. I can’t wait to go back to my school and my students and start making changes that will make their experience of the library safer, more engaging, and more enjoyable.
I know not everyone is able to attend AASL conferences. But I hope you will find your library people, in whatever forum or format that is. I hope you will engage with them. Because we are truly #BetterTogether. And I have never come away from an earnest engagement with another school librarian without something new to think about or try out. Learning with and from others is not only easier, and more enjoyable, but it can refill your cup when it feels empty. It can lighten your load when you feel like you’re being buried.
Unfortunately, I left before the closing dance party. But my mind is dancing with ideas. My heart is dancing with friendships, new and old. And my spirit is dancing, secure in the knowledge that I am not alone in my school librarianship journey.
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