Join us December 6-8 for the 2024 SLJ Summit: “All Together Now.”

Convening in Raleigh, NC—live and in person—the Summit will assemble school library leaders and community stakeholders to consider the challenges and opportunities surrounding major topics in the profession, from applying AI in library services and mentoring the current generation of school librarians, to the finer points of collection development in divisive times.

Rooted in SLJ’s award-winning coverage at the convergence of K–12 and libraries, the Summit—now in its 20th year—welcomes the community to gather in an especially critical moment for the profession, and the students and families that you serve.

Over the two-day program:

• Get hands on with artificial intelligence and receive practical guidance on the tools available and how to apply AI to library tasks, from book recommendations and social media posting to recommendation letters.
• Learn activities toward restorative library practice, including circulation circles and strategies to address reading trauma. Suggested approaches to bring administrators on board with equitable programming will help you navigate a fraught environment for librarianship and maximize service to students.
• Draw inspiration from one librarian’s journey, Amanda Chacon, 2024 School Librarian of the Year, who will share her experience of inspiration, working with and for her community.
• Practice “all together now” with your colleagues in some high-energy brainstorming on: the librarians role in the Science of Reading; marketing the school library and idea sharing, from AI to collection development, weeding. All facilitated conversations in our Breakout Sessions.
• Celebrate books with a panel featuring Family Stories.

This year, attendees will get a chance to take the mic in lightning sessions, fast-paced five-minute presentations on a topic of their choice.  

More details will be released as our program develops, so keep an eye on your inbox. In the meantime, take a look at last year's packed program to begin planning your trip. See you in Raleigh!  

Please note: Space is limited at this event, so if you've registered and cannot attend for any reason, please let us know.
No-shows exact a cost for planners, sponsors, presenters, and most importantly your peers - there's always a waitlist for this event. 
By notifying us, you open a spot for a fellow librarian to attend the SLJ Summit, which remains free, thanks to our sponsors. 

Who should attend: school and district level librarians, library leaders and K-12 administrators.

Hotel information: Hotel reservation information will appear on your confirmation after registering.

Interested In Sponsoring? Please contact Advertising Director Roy Futterman: rfutterman@mediasourceinc.com

Friday, December 6, 2024 - Pre Conference Events 

12:00 PM  Tours
3:00 - 5:00 PM | Focus groups

5:30 - 6:30 PM | Welcome reception 

Saturday, December 7, 2024

8:00 - 9:30 AM | Focus groups

8:15 - 9:45 AM | Breakfast

8:30 - 9:45 AM | Registration

9:45 AM | Welcome
Kathy Ishizuka, Editor in Chief, SLJ

10:00 - 10:45 AM | Keynote

10:45 - 11:00 AM | Break

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM | Inoculation, Mitigation, Participation: School Library Policy for the New Era
Presentation, followed by discussion

Speaker:
John Chrastka, Executive Director, EveryLibrary

12:15 - 1:00 PM | Lunch 

1:00 - 1:45 PM | Breakout Conversations | Session 1

• Science of Reading vs. Joy of Reading: Librarians don't teach reading, but rather inspire avid readers. So what is the library's involvement in SoR? 
• Marketing the school library 
• Collection development/weeding

2:00 - 2:45 PM Restorative Practice
The library welcomes all students, it’s a core principle. So how do we achieve this? In this session, learn practical actions and activities, including circulation circles; collection development; and strategies to address reading trauma. Included, too: suggestions on using/adjusting language to bring administrators on board with equitable library programming in these divisive times.
Speakers:
Julie Stivers, Upper School Librarian, Carolina Friends School, Durham, NC, 2023 School Librarian of the Year
Julia Torres, Public Teen Librarian, Denver, CO

2:45 - 3:00 PM | Break

2:45 - 3:45 PM |Family Ties: Drama, Trauma, and How Family Stories Shape Young People’s Identities (author panel)
From picture books to YA, these titles (and their authors) explore all types of families and the ways children survive and thrive because (or in spite) of them.
Speakers t/c:

3:45 - 4:30 PM | Autographing session

5:00 - 6:00 PM | Cocktail party

Sunday, December 8, 2024

8:00 - 8:45 AM | Breakfast 
 

8:45 - 9:15 AM   Keynote 

9:15 - 9:45 AM | Community + the Library
Speaker:
Amanda Chacon, librarian, H. M. Carroll Elementary in Houston, TX, 2024 School Librarian of the Year
 

9:45 - 10:30 AM | AI in the Library
Get hands on with artificial intelligence in this practical session. Learn to apply AI to library tasks, from book recommendations and social media posting to recommendation letters, and correspondence.
 
10:30 - 10:45 AM | Break

10:45 - 11:30 AM | Breakout Conversations | Session 2

• AI workshop
  Using LLMs (chatGPT, Bard, etc)
  Facilitator: Elissa Malespina, NJ school librarian and creator of the AI School Librarian newsletter

• Mentors needed: How to be a mentor
• Navigating the social media landscape

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Lightning Sessions 
Attendees take the mic in these crowd-sourced sessions—fast-paced, five-minute presentations on a topic submitted in advance by audience members.

12:15 pm | Closing

SLJ Summit Advisory Board

Becky Calzada, District Library Coordinator, Leander ISD, TX

Donna Gray, Library Coordinator, NYC school system

Jennifer Sturge, Library Coordinator, Calvert County Public Schools, MD

Jonathan Hunt, Coordinator, Library Media Services, San Diego County Office of Ed, CA

Kerry Townsend, Library Media Coordinator, Columbia Public Schools, MO

Dr. Kevin M. Washburn, Director of Library Programs, DC Public Schools

Liz Phipps-Soeiro, Director of Library Services, Boston Public Schools

Melissa Jacobs, Director of Library Services, NYC DOE

Michelle Jarrett, School Library Supervisor, Osceola County School District, FL

Sarah Steiger, Manager, Libraries & Digital Media, Chicago Public Schools

Tom Bober, District Library Coordinator, School District of Clayton, MO