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INSIGHTS THAT INSPIRE

Page to Practice Stage 

LOCATION: Next to the AASL Bookstore in the Exhibit Hall

Where Professional Reading Meets Real-World Action
Join AASL and ALA Editions authors for fast-paced, high-impact presentations designed with school librarians in mind. These short-format sessions deliver inspiration you can use—right now.

Located next to the AASL25 Bookstore on the Exhibit Floor, the Page to Practice stage features authors sharing ideas that move beyond the page. Each session delivers actionable insights, fresh strategies, and thought-provoking perspectives tailored to your day-to-day work.

AfterWords Alcove

Meet authors beyond the stage and keep the conversation going.

Just behind the Bookstore, the AfterWords Alcove offers space for deeper engagement—whether to ask questions, buy signed books, or have conversations that extend the impact of what you heard on stage. Stop by this dedicated follow-up space for one-on-one moments and personal takeaways you can’t get from the stage.


SPEAKER SCHEDULE

Thursday, October 16

Start Time

Format

Session Title

Book Title(s)

Author(s)

10:20 AM

Myth-Busting

What is Keeping You from Gardening?

Libraries and Gardens: Growing Together, Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline: An Action Guide for Libraries

Carrie Scott Banks

10:50 AM

Problem Solving

From Ghost Stories to Trust Stories: School Librarians as Narrative Leaders

Generative AI and Libraries: Claiming Our Place in the Center of a Shared Future

Michael Hanegan and Chris Rosser

11:20 AM

20 Tips in 20 Minutes

(Almost) Everything in 20 Minutes

The School Librarian's Guide to (Almost) Everything

Maura Madigan

11:50 AM

Interactive Interview

Beyond Books: Real Talk on Active Learning in Elementary Spaces

STEAM Activities in 30 Minutes for Elementary Learners, Project-Based Learning for Elementary Grades, and Learning Centers for School Libraries

Deborah Rinio and Maura Madigan

12:30 PM

Good, Better, Best

Ecosystem Thinking Moves Advocacy from Good to Great with #OneVoice

Strengthening Library Ecosystems: Collaborate for Advocacy and Impact

Dorcas Hand, Sara Kelly Johns, Michelle Robertson, and Eryn Duffee

1:00 PM

Interactive Interview

Behind the Book: A Dialogue on Empowering Student Volunteers

From Learners to Leaders: Empowering Student Volunteers in the School Library

Dione Mila and Diana Haneski

2:00 PM

Lightning Round Panel

Challenge Accepted: A Shared Foundations Lightning Round

Inquire, Include, Curate, and Explore

Lori Donovan, Julie Stivers, Daniella Smith, Sarah Searles, and Jennifer Sturge (moderator)

Break for Opening General Session

5:10 PM

Good, Better, Best

From Page to Peace: Supporting Children's Mental Health the Good, Better, Best Way

Using Literature to Support Children's Mental Health

Kim Becnel and Robin A. Moeller

5:40: PM

Problem Solving

Incorporating Sustainability Content into information Literacy Instruction

Inspiring Teens, Tweens, and Families to Make a Difference in the World: Programming to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals

Amanda Moss Struckmeyer

6:10 PM

Problem Solving

Wonder Libraries: What Kids Need Now

Wonder Libraries: 20 Expert Perspectives on What Kids Need Now

Elizabeth M. McChesney

Friday, October 17

Start Time

Format

Session Title

Book Title(s)

Author(s)

9:10 AM

20 Tips in 20 Minutes

Second Edition, First Glance: A Quick-Start to the AASL Standards

National School Library Standards, 2nd edition

AASL Standards Committee

12:00 PM

Myth-Busting

AI Unmasked: Truth vs. Myth in School Libraries

Leveraging AI in School Libraries: From Basics to Best Practices

Delandrus Lenet Ieashea Seales

2:00 PM

Interactive Interview

Assessment in Action: A Dialogue on Growth Through the AASL Standards

Assessing Learners: Using the AASL Standards to Measure Competency and Growth and National School Library Standards, 2nd edition

Elizabeth Burns and Marie Langevin

2:40 PM

Myth-Busting

Myth-Conceptions: Debunking Barriers to the Brand

Elevating the School Library: Building Positive Perceptions through Brand Behavior

Susan D. Ballard and Sara Kelly Johns

Saturday, October 18

Start Time

Format

Session Title

Book Title(s)

Author(s)

9:00 AM

20-Minute Huddle

Cooling Down Eco-Anxiety: How Can We Help Students Cope, Connect, and Act?

Helping Youth Navigate Eco-Anxiety (Working Title)

Kelsey LaPort

9:30 AM

20-Minute Huddle

Sustainable Momentum: How Can We Build and Maintain Impactful Collaboration?

Transformative Collaborations (Working Title)

Maegan Heindel

10:00 AM

20-Minute Huddle

Publishing with AASL/Editions: Ready to Turn Your Ideas into Impact?

AASL & ALA Editions

Stephanie Book and Jamie Santoro

12:00 PM

Myth-Busting

Myth-Busting Manga Misconceptions

Manga Goes to School: Cultivating Engagement and Inclusion in K–12 Settings

Ashley Hawkins, Emily Ratica,
Sara Smith, and Julie Stivers

12:30 PM

Interactive Interview

Trading Secrets to Thriving Secondary Libraries

Growing Teen Engagement: Strategies to Captivate Secondary Learners and Content-Area Collaborations for Secondary Grades

Jessica Fitzpatrick and Liz Deskins


PRESENTATION FORMATS

💡 Mini-Workshop

Learn it today. Use it tomorrow.
Authors share a hands-on strategy or framework from their book—like “3 Steps to [X]” or “How to Handle [Y].” Expect practical takeaways you can apply immediately.


🧩 Problem-Solving

Tackling real challenges together.
Authors walk through a real-world issue facing school librarians and apply ideas from their book to explore possible solutions.


Lightning Lessons

3 quick ideas. 15 minutes. Big impact.
Short on time? These fast-paced sessions pack in three actionable strategies from the author, followed by a Q&A or interactive moment.


🔍 Myth-Busting

Think differently. Challenge the status quo.
Authors take on 3–5 common misconceptions in education or librarianship and replace them with evidence-based insights from their work.


🔄 Good, Better, Best

Watch improvement in action.
See how a common practice evolves from “good” to “better,” and then to “best,” with examples informed by the author’s research or experience.


🕒 20 Tips in 20 Minutes

High-speed, high-value.
Get 20 quick, practical tips in just 20 minutes. Ideal for attendees who want to gather a lot of ideas in a short time.


🗨️ 20-Minute Huddles

Jump into the conversation.
Join small, informal discussion groups on timely topics in school librarianship. No slides—just real talk and idea sharing.


🎙️ Interactive Interviews

Two authors. One engaging exchange.
Authors interview each other with tailored questions that uncover both the personal and practical sides of their work. Includes audience Q&A.


🚀 Lightning Round Panel

Fast answers. Fresh perspectives.
A moderator asks big, bold questions. Authors have just 60–90 seconds to respond. No intros, just rapid insight and real perspective.