For immediate release | April 2, 2012

Early bird registration available for ALSC National Institute

CHICAGO — The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) invites members to take advantage of early bird registration for the 2012 ALSC National Institute. Early bird registration ends June 30, 2012.

ALSC members can save up to $95 if they register before June 30, and non-ALSC members receive a discount if they register before August 24, 2012. ALSC also encourages students to register for this event with a discounted student rate.

The Institute is taking place Sept. 20 – 22 in Indianapolis. This two-and-a-half-day workshop, devoted solely to children’s and youth library services, offers attendees an intimate setting for participating in programming and networking with colleagues.

Programs delve into some of the most important topics in library service to children, such as using technology in programming, what’s hot in children’s spaces, working with underserved populations, putting Every Child Ready to Read into practice and using local partnerships to improve programming.

The Institute will be the kick-off to the Caldecott Award’s 75th anniversary celebration and will feature a very special Breakfast for Bill panel, including past Caldecott Award winners and honorees Denise Fleming, Kevin Henkes and Eric Rohmann, as well as the director of the Mazza Museum: International Art from Picture Books, Ben Sapp.

Additional award-winning authors and illustrators scheduled to speak at the Institute include Peter Brown at the Opening General Session and Gary Paulsen as the Friday Author Luncheon speaker. The closing general session, Exploring Nonfiction through Authors and Illustrators, will be a panel discussion with authors/illustrators Bryan Collier, Doreen Rappaport and April Pulley Sayre.

The Institute is being held at the Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre. Specifics regarding registration and programs are on the ALSC website at: www.ala.org/alscinstitute. Please contact ALSC Program Officer Jenny Najduch at jnajduch@ala.org or (312) 280-4026 with questions.

ALSC, a division of the ALA, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at www.ala.org/alsc.

Contact:

Dan Rude