High School District 214, located in Arlington Heights, Illinois, is the recipient of the American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) 2019 National School Library of the Year Award. Sponsored by Follett, the annual award honors a single school or district-wide school library that exemplifies implementation of AASL's "National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries." High School District 214 will receive a crystal obelisk and $10,000 toward its school libraries at the AASL Awards Ceremony during the 2019 ALA Annual Conference.
High School District 214 has an iSchool connection: two of the district’s librarians, Dawn Ferencz and Kim Miklusak, have participated in the School's continuing education program.
"I learned so much through the iSchool as a result of the range of assignments, texts, viewpoints, and resources," said Ferencz, head librarian for Elk Grove High School, who completed her library information specialist endorsement in May 2016. "The endorsement program allowed me to practice many aspects of librarianship in a safe and supportive environment, and I am grateful to the instructors and classmates for the incredibly positive experience."
Miklusak, library media specialist for Buffalo Grove High School, is currently working toward her school librarian endorsement as a continuing education student.
"What I appreciate most about iSchool is its relevance," she said. "The readings and assignments are all immediately useful and easy to apply to the library. The iSchool has provided me with a solid foundation to begin my work in the school library role."
The primary mission of High School District 214 is to help all students learn the skills, acquire the knowledge, and develop the behaviors necessary for them to reach their full potential as citizens who can meet the challenges of a changing society. They strive to empower students with analytic capabilities, communication skills, problem solving skills, and technological literacy.
"This honor recognizes a commitment to excellence in providing learners equitable access to a school library that exemplifies the AASL Standards," said Kathryn Roots Lewis, AASL President. "I commend High School District 214 on their leadership in providing a strong school library that embodies the work school librarians do to transform teaching and learning for their school communities."
Ferencz and Miklusak will facilitate a panel presentation about their award-winning AASL library district, Demystifying the AASL National Library Standards, during the iSchool’s Summer Getaway.