I recently spoke with Ms. Emily Woodward, current President of the Association of Independent School Librarians (AISL), who shared details of the association’s mandate and activities in support of people who work in libraries within private independent schools. My interview with her is below.
Please introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Emily Woodward. I’m a Lower School Librarian, serving pre-K through 5th grade at a private independent all-girls school in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Currently, I am also the President of the Association of Independent School Librarians. It’s a three-year commitment followed by a two-year past president commitment. In this role, I run the board meetings, and we’re currently updating our bylaws to ensure everything is accurate and up to date.
We’re also looking into financial management companies because we want to ensure the organization is on solid financial ground going forward—so that if someone has a life event, we’re not left waiting for them to return. Additionally, another committee is planning our upcoming AISL annual conference.
Briefly tell us about the Association of Independent School Librarians.
We’re an organization for people who work in private independent schools. Many of those schools aren’t part of a district or don’t have a close community nearby, so a lot of what we do is to provide a community of librarians to help each other out. We bounce ideas off each other and provide information to the group through a listserv. We also hold a conference every couple of years and offer professional development opportunities throughout the year.
What distinguishes independent school libraries from other school libraries, and what do they have in common?
Private Independent Schools are not required to have the teaching certification that public school librarians need. In Pennsylvania, for example, the Philadelphia School District currently has very few librarians—I believe only two for the entire district.
Independent school librarians may also have varying backgrounds. I have my master’s degree in Library and Information Science, but the librarian at the private independent school next door does social-emotional work and runs the library, because that’s their priority.
We’re very supportive of one another, and if someone needs something, we try to provide it. That’s actually one of the reasons I’m hosting a summer institute for elementary school librarians—a two-day intensive where attendees can build curriculum skills, practice reading aloud, and learn other foundational skills.
What priorities does the Association of Independent School Librarians currently have?
Right now, we’re really focused on supporting our members. We have several cohorts—one focused on moving from teaching into administration and career growth, one dedicated to discussing AI and everything that comes along with it, and a new librarians’ cohort for those who are new to the job and looking to make connections. We’re also focused on our conference, which will be held in October 2026 in Philadelphia.
What most excites you about the Association of Independent School Librarians today?
I’m really excited about where we’re headed and what we’ll be able to accomplish in the future. We have our current cohorts, but I’d love to see us create more. We also want to provide leadership opportunities for members who want to get involved—even if they aren’t able to join the board, we want to give them a way to contribute and pursue their goals. I’m hoping we can develop more committees and cohorts so that more people can step into leadership roles and make a real impact.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Conference registration opened in March, with the event taking place in October. We’re also looking for sponsors and those interested in presenting a poster session or participating in other ways. The summer institute is also open for registration now.
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