Where does your school reside in the United States? Depending on your answer, that may indicate whether you’re still in session in June. For some, June marks the beginning of summer with many schools concluding their academic years; however, for others, they may still be in session.  Regardless of where you live in the United States, the special events taking place in June can still be shared with school communities since summer break is expected to include some type of reading and learning!

The members of the AASL School Library Event Promotion Committee worked hard to provide resources for school librarians who want to highlight the following events and observances throughout the month of June:

LGBTQ Pride Month celebrates the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan from 1969. Resources include AASL-aligned standards to LGBTQ materials and advocacy support  for libraries facing pushback against the offering of these materials. The book lists are my favorite part of the resources since I am always looking for titles that will resonate well with my school community. 

Rainbow Book Month also falls under the June umbrella of special observances to honor LGBTQ authors and the writing of their experiences. What sets these resources apart from the Pride Month resources is that these focus on the literature aspect of the LGBTQ community. 

National Immigrant Heritage Month emphasizes on the ways U.S. residents can explore the roots of their own heritage. From programming ideas to a hub of current event social justice resources, there is so much to offer your school communities to expand their knowledge on this important topic. 

Audiobook Appreciation Month is dedicated to praising the value of audiobooks for readers of all ages. School librarians will have a lot to discover about this format of reading from the curated resources.  The timeline of audiobooks is especially interesting alongside the Odyssey award winning audiobooks that will be sure to hook readers to this format. 

It has been a delight to work with the hardworking members of the AASL School Library Event Promotion Committee this year and we will have more events to highlight in the upcoming school year. So be sure to check the AASL website for a look at the entire year’s worth of events when you are planning for your library’s programming, displays and community building connections for your school.