The winner of this year's Distinguished School Administrator Award is Riley Brewer, the Assistant Principal at Halls High School in Knox County. She was nominated by her librarian Brandi Hartsell. Ms. Brewer goes above and beyond in supporting the school library and librarian at Halls High School. Every day and in many ways, Ms. Brewer... Continue Reading →
Left to Right: Donna Gillum, principal, and Lee Ann Barrow, library media specialist Donna Gillum is the Principal at Stewart County Middle School in Stewart County. She was nominated by her librarian Lee Ann Barrow. Lee Ann had this to say, “ I nominated her for her dedication to the teachers, students and our library... Continue Reading →
Left to Right: Britni Sauceman and Shannon Silvers The winner is of this year's Innovative Library Media Award in the high school division is Britni Sauceman from Tennessee High School in Bristol City Schools for her Potty Press and Potty PD newsletters posted in her school’s bathrooms. Potty Press was focused on students and was... Continue Reading →
Back in August, TASL partnered with The Children's Diversity and Justice Library, The Bottom Knox, and UT Knoxville's Center for Children's and Young Adult Literature to create a crowdsourced reading list during the Zinn Education Project's "Days of Action" to "Teach the Truth" Campaign. We are excited to share that compiled list with you below.... Continue Reading →
The Clara Hasbrouck Award is named after a founding member of TASL. This special award is given to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated dedication and commitment to furthering the cause of school libraries in Tennessee by contributing time, leadership, and effort to numerous TASL activities over a period of years. This year’s Clara Hasbrouck... Continue Reading →
Due to the recent increase in challenges in Tennessee, the Tennessee Libraries Ecosystem, which is a partnership between TASL, TLA, and Friends of Tennessee Libraries, have written a "Position Statement on the Censorship of Books in School Libraries in Tennessee." We will be sharing this on our website, social media, and to school boards and... Continue Reading →
by Xan Lasko It’s coming!! Banned Books Week is September 27 – October 3, 2020. The TASL Intellectual Freedom Committee has curated some resources for you to help display those challenged, banned, and controversial titles in our libraries. Remember that it may be uncomfortable, but it is right to protect student rights to materials that are enlightening, accessible, equitable,... Continue Reading →
Written by Brandi Hartsell In the wake of civil unrest across the country after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, TASL President Vicki Winstead released today a statement crafted with the help of the Executive Board and Erika Long, Chair of the AASL Presidential Initiative Task Force on... Continue Reading →
by Brandi Hartsell With schools across the country closing to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, we were certain that our Tennessee School Librarians would be jumping in feet first to support their school communities. Districts across the state are responding in varying ways. Some are offering formal online learning opportunities while some are restricting the... Continue Reading →
by Brandi Hartsell With schools across the country closing to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, we were certain that our Tennessee School Librarians would be jumping in feet first to support their school communities. Districts across the state are responding in varying ways. Some are offering formal online learning opportunities while some are restricting the... Continue Reading →
TASL Talks 