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CHICAGO – Dohnia Galloway, media specialist at Mayo High School for Math, Science, and Technology in Darlington, South Carolina, is one of five school librarians from across the country receiving a 2022 American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) Inspire Special Event Grant. Made possible by the generosity of AASL member Marina “Marney” Welmers, the grant program provides funds for public middle or high school libraries to plan a special event to enhance student learning.

The “Student Achievement STEMS from Collaboration” program at the Mayo High School for Math, Science, and Technology will enable a space for more collaborative group experiments, and school-wide events including reading challenges, TeenTober activities, collaborative lessons with classroom teachers, as well as provide space for recreational reading. This program will be an extension of a teacher collaboration and student initiative by the Library Advisory Committee and the National Art Honor Society.

“Any school librarian who has purchased new pieces of furniture for their space understands the impact it can have on a school and library,” said committee chair Zandra Lopez. “The committee loved the inclusion of student voices and students leading the projects and events in the Learning Commons. The ownership of the space will only further the school library as a space for collaborative experimentation and problem-solving.”

“Mayo High School’s learning commons, represents the best practices to meet AASL’s Explore Shared Foundation,” said AASL President Jennisen Lucas. “Creating a space for learners to share, collaborate and learn, but also recreational reading is meeting the varied needs of all learners and is a great use of library space to meet all learners’ interests.”

The AASL award winners will be recognized during the 2023 AASL National Conference taking place October 19-21 in Tampa, Florida.

The American Association of School Librarians, , a division of the ������ý (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.