Registration now open for 2010 ALSC National Institute

CONTACT:


Jenny Najduch


ALSC Marketing Specialist


(312) 280-4026


JNajduch@ala.org

NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


April 6, 2010

CHICAGO— Registration is now open for the Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) biennial National Institute, taking place Sept 23 – 25, 2010 in Atlanta, Ga. The Institute is one of the only education and networking events devoted solely to children’s and youth library services.

With just 225 attendees, the ALSC Institute offers participants an intimate setting in which to participate in programming and brainstorm ideas. Attendees can take advantage of nearly 30 hours of educational programming, as well as numerous networking opportunities, author presentations and events.

Three tracks of programming will be offered, including: The Technology Factor, Children’s Literature—You Have to Read This and Programming and Partnerships Make the World Go Round. A few of the specific programs being presented include: Transforming Gamers into Readers; Digital Natives: How Technology Affects Their Learning; Diversity in Children’s Literature; Collection Development; Storytelling: Alive and Well; All for One: Community Partnerships; and more.

Also featured at the Institute will be keynote addresses, book signings and author receptions. Award winning authors and illustrators scheduled for the event include: Ashley Bryan, Carmen Deedy, John McCutcheon, Brian Selznick, Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers. Participants will also receive a behind the scenes look at the Center for Puppetry Arts. This nationally and internationally recognized venue has received awards and grants from the Ford Foundation and Kresge Foundation for its innovative programming and was recognized by
Newsweek magazine as "one of the most exciting companies in American theater".

For as little as $360, participants will receive five meals, three snack breaks, a choice of six track programs, three keynote sessions, all handout materials (which will not be available to non-participants) and multiple networking activities. Pricing information is available on the ALSC Web site; early bird registration is going on now until June 30.

“The ALSC institute was wonderful,” said 2008 Institute participant, Peggy Morley. “I came away with so much and loved meeting library staff from all over. It truly energized me and gave me a reassurance that serving children through working in the library is the best job in the world, and truly does make a positive impact in the lives of those that I serve and in my community.”

The Emory Conference Center in Atlanta, Ga., on the campus of Emory University will host the Institute, and specifics regarding registration and programs are on the ALSC Web site at:
www.ala.org/alscevents. Contact ALSC Deputy Director Kirby Simmering at
ksimmering@ala.org or (312) 280-2164 with questions.


ALSC, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,200 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 Web site at
www.ala.org/alsc.

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