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Summer Institute 2025
Savannah, GA
June 15-17,2024
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Hello
Reem Faruqi is the award-winning children’s book author of “Lailah’s Lunchbox,” a book based on her own experiences as a young Muslim girl immigrating to the United States. She’s also the author of “Amira’s Picture Day,” “I Can Help,” “Milloo’s Mind,” “Anisa’s International Day,” and three middle grade novels in verse, “Unsettled,” “Golden Girl,” and “Call Me Adnan,” many of which received starred reviews. After surviving Atlanta traffic and the school drop off, Reem spends her days trying to write, but instead gets distracted easily by her camera and buttery sunlight. Reem Faruqi lives in Atlanta with her husband and daughters. You can find her at www.ReemFaruqi.com or on Instagram or Twitter.
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welcome reception
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Jerry Craft is the author-illustrator of #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novels New Kid, and its companion book, Class Act. New Kid was the first book in history to win the Newbery Medal, The Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature. In his latest book, School Trip, Jerry hopes to share his love of travel in order to inspire kids and their families to see the world and embrace new cultures. He received his BFA from the School of
Visual Arts and now lives in Florida.
welcome reception
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You Won't Want to Miss This!
You are not going to want to miss our AMAZING welcome reception. Fefe Handy of Page Turners Make Great Learners and Jennifer Saunders will facilitate a conversation with authors HD Hunter, Mark Oshiro, Nic Stone, and Angie Thomas. After the chat, guests will be able to purchase books from the Brave + Kind Bookshop and have them signed by the authors.
2025 Awards Ceremony
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The 2025 Awards Ceremony will be hosted on the Savannah River Queen which is docked at River Street Market Landing. The event includes dinner, dancing, and the awards presentation. The price is included with registration; however, attendees MUST RSVP.
Boarding Time: 6PM
Sailing Time: 7PM
Returns to Dock: 9PM
award ceremony and gala
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You Won't Want to Miss This!
“The Unwritten Chapter: A Night of Story and Celebration”. Join us for a fancy night celebrating librarians! Registrants can sign up for the welcome reception and gala when purchasing event tickets.
Keynote speaker: amanda hunt
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Amanda Hunt, aka TheNextGenLibrarian, is a 6th-8th middle school librarian in Texas and is the Secondary Lead Librarian for her district. She’s been a librarian for 14 years at both elementary and secondary campuses and an educator for years before that. She was the chair for the Mavericks Graphic Novel Reading List Committee for TLA from 2021-2023 and serves on many committees still within TLA. She is also on the AASL Standards Committee for the new book releasing in 2025. Amanda is an Adobe Innovator and Trainer. Follow her across social media @thenextgenlibrarian
author keynote speaker: john schu
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John Schu has made a career out of advocating for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, and the people who connect them. He is the children’s librarian for Bookelicious and the New York Times best-selling author of Louder Than Hunger; This Is a School, illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison; This Is a Story, illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo; Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea, illustrated by Holly Hatam (publishing in March 2025); and The Gift of Story: Exploring the Affective Side of the Reading Life. John Schu lives in Naperville, Illinois
GLMA Sustainability Pledge
Please pledge to commit to making the GLMA Conference more sustainable. Choose one or as many as you’d like:
When On-site:
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Use low-carbon transportation options. While onsite, ride public transportation (buses and trains), or rideshare with people you know.
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Participate in your hotel's green initiatives (e.g., opt-out of daily linen changes, take advantage of paperless check-in/check-out options).
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Download the Conference Mobile App to schedule events and sessions.
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Bring your own reusable mug or water bottle.
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Turn in your conference badge at the end of the conference.
When traveling to Conference:
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Try to book direct routes when flying. Planes release the most carbon during takeoff and landing.
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Fly economy. First and Business class takes up more space per seat, which means more fuel per passenger.
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Pack light, as heavy luggage requires more fuel to carry.
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Avoid food and water waste. Bring meals with you and refill your own water bottle.
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Ask your hotel what they're doing to reduce their carbon footprint (i.e., LED lights, thermal insulation, less frequent laundering, etc.).
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thank you to
our sponsors!
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