Member News
ALSC/ALA News: Registration Open for ALSC Institute | Newbery Practitioner's Guide | Apply for Welcoming Spaces Forum | Día News | Youth Media Awards Recording | Jaffarian Award Applications
Resource Round-Up: Bibliography--Books dealing with Trauma | Best Multicultural Books List
Member News
Congratulations to Dorothy Stoltz, who retired from the Carroll County (Maryland) Public Library at the end of 2021. Dorothy has been an active ALSC and ALA member and the lead author on numerous books on topics from inspired thinking and collaboration to the power of play. We wish Dorothy all the best as she begins this exciting new chapter!
Hyunjin Han, children's librarian, Mandel Public Library, West Palm Beach, Florida, has been named ALSC's representative in the 2022 Emerging Leader program. She graduated in 2016 with her Masters of Library and Information Science (MLS) from Emporia State University and has been the recipient of numerous grants, including a 2020 Dollar General Summer Reading Grant and a 2019 Google Library Ready to Code Minigrant. Additionally, she served on ALSC’s 2021 Newbery Committee. Congrats, Hyunjin!
Let's Talk about Race in Storytimes (ALA Editions) by Jessica Anne Bratt, director of Community Engagement and Outreach, Grand Rapids Public Library, was released this year. The book includes adaptable storytime activities, tools for self-reflection, and discussion starters to help guide children’s librarians in putting anti-racism work into their professional practice. Congratulations, Jessica!
Lisa Kropp, director, Lindenhurst Memorial Library, co-authored a chapter, "Walking the Path to Sustainable Library Certification," in Libraries & Sustainability: Programs and Practices for Community Impact (ALA Editions, 2021). This title provides an easy-to-digest introduction to what staff at a range of libraries have accomplished in incorporating sustainability into their decision making and professional practices and includes discussion about the role of economics and sustainability to challenge readers to stretch in new ways to positively impact their communities. Kudos, Lisa!
Patricia Sarles, coordinator of Library Services, New York City Department of Education, wrote a chapter, “Heather Has a Donor: 30 Years of International Lesbian-Themed Children's Picture Books about Donor Insemination, 1989– 2019,” in the new publication International LGBTQ+ Literature for Children and Young Adults (Anthem Press, 2021). Kudos, Patricia!
Raynelda Calderon, general librarian, Queens Borough Public Library, has a children's book coming out on March 1, for Women's History Month. The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies (Cayena Press, 2022) is the story of three sisters, living in the Dominican Republic during a time of merciless dictatorship rule, whose deaths in 1960 (at ages 36, 34, and 25) received international coverage. Congratulations, Raynelda!
ALSC Institute Headed to Kansas City
Registration is open for the ALSC National Institute, September 29 through October 1, 2022, in Kansas City, Missouri. This intimate, intensive learning opportunity with a youth services focus features education programming, keynotes, networking opportunities and much more. It is designed for front-line youth library staff, children’s literature experts, education and library school faculty members, and other interested adults. ALSC National Institute is one of the only conferences devoted solely to children's librarianship, literature and technology.
ALSC members, be sure to take advantage of the special Early Bird discount rate through June 30, 2022. Not a member yet? Visit the ALSC Membership webpage to learn more about member benefits, like reduced registration rates for Institute, discounts on ALSC eLearning opportunities, and more!
Visit the National Institute webpage for more details about this premier ALSC event.
New Newbery Publication from ALSC and ALA Editions
Celebrate a century of the Newbery Medal with this handy new guide! The Newbery Practitioner’s Guide: Making the Most of the Award in Your Work digs in and explores where this distinguished award intersects with library work in a range of areas such as collection policy, advocacy, programming, EDI efforts, and censorship. Recognized experts in the fields of library service to youth, children’s literature, and education present strategies, guidance, and tips to support practitioners in making the most of the Newbery in their work. The guide is now available for preorder in the ALA Store. The Newbery Practitioner’s Guide releases early this summer.
ALSC Accepting Applications for Welcoming Spaces National Forum (Virtual)
ALSC members are invited to apply now to attend a virtual forum to share best practices in library service to children and families who have recently immigrated to or sought refuge in the United States. Hosted by ALSC and the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), the Welcoming Spaces National Forum will take place virtually in June 2022. The application deadline HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 4. Selected participants will represent 12 children’s museums and 12 libraries with experience in serving immigrants and refugees, and up to 24 of their partnering organizations. Participants will be selected on a rolling basis with priority given to applicants planning to attend the forum as part of a collaborative team. For more information, please visit the project webpage. The application form is at https://airtable.com/shruoOSuWrohl6bKg.
Día News
ALSC encourages libraries and community organizations to connect children with diverse books and programming opportunities through Día - Children's Day/Book Day. Día is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds.
National Día Program Registry 2022. Is your library hosting Dia programming this year? We invite you to share information about public programs that you are having at your library or community organization. The Día Program Registry is a national database showcasing all types and sizes of Día programming and searchable on a national Día map and display website. Program coordinators who use the registry also receive a personalized webpage to help promote their Día events. For more information, visit the Program Registry webpage.
Día Products Still Available. Have you checked out the Día bibs, bags, totes, T's and more, featuring designs by Reggie Brown, New York Times best selling illustrator? These adorable products are only available through the end of April. Don't miss your chance to spread the Día love.
Youth Media Awards Rewind
Were you unable to attend the Youth Media Awards Announcements in January? You are in luck! A recording of the event is available for viewing online. In addition, you can find the press release with the complete 2022 list of ALA and affiliate youth media award winners at https://ala.unikron.com/?fbclid=IwAR1N756w1y-fs_07iEF96ii50Hwj51Ammivblze5Rs8EmCAxWREIxj2Bm4
Jaffarian Award Applications Open
ALA invites school librarians to apply for the Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award, a $5,000 award recognizing outstanding humanities programming for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The award is presented annually by the ALA Public Programs Office and is sponsored by ALA’s Cultural Communities Fund in cooperation with the American Association of School Librarians. Applications will be accepted until May 5, 2022. For more details, please visit the Jaffarian Award website.
Bibilography to Benefit Youth Dealing with Trauma
A Children in Trauma Bibliography, created by Dr. Megan McCaffrey, assistant professor in the Division of Education at Governors State University, is available at https://libguides.govst.edu/childrenintraumabibliography. The resource is for teachers, librarians, parents, counselors, and others interacting with children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences. Titles are broken into six thematic groups such as domestic/physical abuse, bullying, and sexual abuse; illness, disability, anxiety, and depression; and poverty, homelessness, and hunger; among others. This project was funded by a 2019 ALA Carnegie-Whitney Grant.
CSMCL Chooses Best Multicultural Books of 2021
Each year a committee of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) identifies the best in multicultural books for preschool through middle school. The 2021 best books list includes 59 diverse titles curated by Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada, Dr. Sujin Huggins, Dr. Naomi Caldwell, and Patricia Miranda. Find the complete list at the center's website.