Two new podcasts are available on the YALitLovers blog. The podcasts are discussion and reviews of current children and teen books, topical discussions and recommendations by Cathie Sue, Emily, Jenny and Adrienne. Currently, there are two podcasts: White Cat by Holly Black and Incarceron by Catherine Fisher.

Upcoming books for review are:

• The Wager by Donna Jo Napoli
• Heist Society by Ally Carter
• One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

You can subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, or listen to the mp3 online.

Learn to better utilize picture books in your library’s programming by seeing these books through the eyes of the people who create them!  Register for the ALSC 2010 Annual Conference Pre-conference, Drawn to Delight: How Picture Books Work (And Play) Today, taking place on Friday, June 25, 2010, from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Space is limited; register today to reserve your spot!

Why the ALSC Pre-conference?

* Provides you with a one of a kind look into the world of picturebooks–you won’t find a more in-depth, day-long workshop on the subject anywhere else!

* Learn from more than 15 top authors and illustrators including three Caldecott medal winners, two Caldecott honor winners, one Belpré medal winner, one Coretta Scott King medal winner and one Coretta Scott King honor winner.

* Transfer the knowledge gained back to your library to provide better experiences for young patrons and families reading picture books.

* Hands-on opportunities during artist-lead small group studio sessions taking place throughout the gallery.

* Unbeatable ALSC member rate of $195 for the entire day; this includes: preconference registration, continental breakfast, lunch, evening reception, admission to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and a chance to win original art work by the illustrators.

* If you’re not attending ALA Annual Conference that’s not a problem!  You do NOT need to register for conference to attend the preconference.

Advance registration, separate form ALA Annual Conference registration, is required for the preconference.  Costs are $249 for ALA members, $195 for ALSC members, $180 for retired and student members, and $280 for non-members.  The onsite cost will be $325 for all; advance registration ends May 15, 2010, after which time all registration will be considered onsite.  When registering for ALA Annual Conference, the event code is ALS1.  You do not need to be registered for ALA Annual Conference to attend this Preconference.

For more information, visit the ALSC Web site: www.ala.org/alscevents.  Questions should be directed to ALSC Deputy Director Kirby Simmering at ksimmering@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 2164.

Congratulations to Hobart Public Library, Frederick Public Library, Hennessey Public Library and Grandfield Public Library on being January 2010 Libri Foundation Grant receipents!

Superhero Sweethearts at Action Figure Museum

Toy and Action Figure Museum

February 13 is Valentine’s Day at the Toy & Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley. Doors open at 10am and close at 5pm as usual, but on this day guests will be welcomed by a “Prom” like photo opportunity at the Gateway to Action Figure Heaven.

AFM Director, Lisa Driskill says “There will also be several of our famous scavenger hunts, which are always fun, but this time we will be looking for action figure sweethearts like Spiderman & Mary Jane Watson, Homer & Marge Simpson, even Daredevil & Elektra .”

Several professional artists will be on hand with materials and ideas to help young artists make Valentine cards. Just bring your imagination. That is what the Toy & Action Figure Museum is all about.

There will alsobe  trivia games for prizes throughout the day and a few lucky visitors will go home with a new Action Figure toy, an AFM T-shirt or maybe even an AFM Annual Membership pass.

Admission to the attraction is $6. Group rates and special tours can be arranged by calling 405/238-6300.

The Libri Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2010 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grants.

The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization which donates new, quality, hardcover children’s books to small, rural public libraries throughout the United States.  Since October 1990, the Foundation has donated over $4,000,000 worth of new children’s books to more than 2,500 libraries in 49 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.

In order to encourage and reward local support of libraries, The Libri Foundation will match any amount of money raised by your local sponsors from $50 to $350 on a 2-to-1 ratio.  Thus, a library can receive up to $1,050 worth of new children’s books.  After a library receives a grant, local sponsors (such as formal or informal Friends groups, civic or social organizations, local businesses, etc.) have four months, or longer if necessary, to raise their matching funds.

The librarian of each participating library selects the books her library will receive from a booklist provided by the Foundation.  The 700-plus fiction and nonfiction titles on the booklist reflect the very best of children’s literature published primarily in the last three years. These titles, which are for children ages 12 and under, are award-winners or have received starred reviews in library, literary, or education journals.  The booklist also includes a selection of classic children’s titles.

Libraries are qualified on an individual basis.  In general, county libraries should serve a population under 16,000 and town libraries should serve a population under 10,000 (usually under 5,000).  Libraries should be in a rural area, have a limited operating budget, and an active children’s department.

Please note:  Rural is usually considered to be at least 30 miles from a city with a population over 40,000.  Town libraries with total operating budgets over $150,000 and county libraries with total operating budgets over $350,000 are rarely given grants.

Applications are accepted from independent libraries as well as libraries which are part of a county, regional, or cooperative library system.

A school library may apply only if it also serves as the public library (i.e. it is open to the everyone in the community, has some summer hours, and there is no public library in town).

A branch library may apply if the community it is in meets the definition of rural.  If the branch library receives its funding from its parent institution, then the parent institution’s total operating budget, not just the branch library’s total operating budget, must meet the budget guidelines.

Previous BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grant recipients are eligible to apply for another grant three years after the receipt of their last grant.
Libraries that do not fulfill all grant requirements, including the final report, may not apply for another grant.

Application deadlines for 2010 are:  (postmarked by) January 23rd (extended), April 15th, and August 15th.

Grants are awarded January 31st, April 30th, and August 31st.

Application guidelines and forms may be downloaded from the Foundation’s website at: www.librifoundation.org.

For more information about The Libri Foundation or its Books for Children program, please contact Ms. Barbara J. McKillip, President, The Libri Foundation, PO Box 10246, Eugene, OR  97440.  541-747-9655 (phone); 541-747-4348 (fax); libri AT librifoundation.org (email).  Normal office hours are:  Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Time.

ALSC Online Education

Registration is now open for ALSC’s winter Online Education courses!  All five courses begin on Feb. 1 and last four to six weeks, depending on the course.  Course space is limited, so please register early to reserve your spot.  Don’t miss this great opportunity to liven up your library this winter!

Connecting with Tween Readers
Examine the developmental needs and abilities of children ages 10-12, and learn why children of this age group are particularly vulnerable to illiteracy.  Participants will discuss unique activities and programs (including the utilization of currently popular technologies) libraries can offer to keep children on the path to becoming lifelong readers. A primary focus of the course will be studying the literature available for tweens.  The instructor is Edward T. Sullivan.

View more information about Connecting with Tween Readers on the ALSC Web site.

Information Literacy – From Preschool to High School
Learn how to conduct information literacy instruction for children of all ages.  Participants will be encouraged to examine their local schools’ and state’s requirements pertaining to library skills, and to develop methods of using the library to complement those requirements.  The course will include examples of successful programs, and participants will also discuss ways that information literacy instruction can be a useful “outreach” tool.  The instructor is Maryann Mori, director of the Waukee (Iowa) Public Library.

View more information about Information Literacy – From Preschool to High School on the ALSC Web site.

The Newbery Medal: Past, Present and Future
Discuss the different aspects of the Newbery award, as well as the history of the medal and how it has changed over time.  Participants are given an opportunity to read, discuss and consider past and present Newbery winners with their colleagues from across the nation.  The instructor is Kathleen T. Horning, director of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

View more information about The Newbery Medal: Past, Present and Future on the ALSC Web site.

Reading Instruction and Children’s Books***
This course focuses on the different methodologies for reading instruction and how to determine and interpret grade-level assigned books to effectively assist patrons.  Participants will then evaluate children’s materials for grade-level of reading and develop strategies for clearly communicating this system to parents and teachers.  The instructor is Katherine Todd, adjunct instructor at Manhattanville (N.Y.) College.

View more information about Reading Instruction and Children’s Books on the ALSC Web site.

***This course fills up extremely quickly; there will be a wait list once the course is full.

Series Programming for Elementary School Age
All kids love series books!  That’s why this course will teach participants how to add series clubs to the library in order to get children reading and using the library more. Using trivia, games, music and reading, children will come back for more each week. Series such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Magic Tree House, Spiderwick, Fancy Nancy, Froggy, Curious George and American Girl will be discussed.  The instructor is Lisa M. Shaia, children’s librarian at Oliver Wolcott Public Library.

View more information about Series Programming for Elementary School Age on the ALSC Web site.

Courses are taught asynchronously using Moodle, an online learning community.  A certificate of completion will be sent to participants upon successful completion of the course.  Detailed descriptions and registration information is available on the ALSC Web site at www.ala.org/alsced.  Fees are $95 for personal ALSC members; $145 for personal ALA members; and $165 for non-members.

Questions?  Please contact ALSC Deputy Director Kirby Simmering at ksimmering AT ala DOT org or (312) 280-2164.

Texas Library Associaton Maverick

The Texas Library Association has inaugurated their first Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List.

“Together with YALSA’s annual Great Graphic Novels for Teens list, the Maverick list should serve as a valuable resource for all librarians seeking graphic novels that are both age-appropriate and high quality.”

The list is for grades from 6 – 8, 6 – 12,  9 – 12 and adult titles for young adults. Fiction, non-fiction and manga titles are included. Titles on the list must be published within 2 years prior to the list. The Maverick Reading List is meant to explore the variety of books currently available and encourage reading for pleasure. The books on the list can be published outside of the US but must be widely available.

President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities: Coming Up Taller Awards

President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities

The Coming Up Taller Awards reward outstanding after-school and out-of-school arts and humanities programs for underserved children and youth.

Maximum award: $10,000.

Eligibility: programs initiated by museums, libraries, performing arts organizations, universities, colleges, arts centers, community service organizations, schools, businesses, and eligible government entities.

Deadline: January 29, 2010.
http://www.pcah.gov/cut.htm

Ever been stumped trying to find a read-alike book for a patron? Have you heard about Ebsco’s Novelist and wondered how it could help you?

Ebsco NoveList

Linda Gens, director of the Guthrie Public Library is inviting interested librarians to a free Novelist training session. The training will be presented by an Ebsco representative Friday, December 18^th, 2009. Libraries that subscribe to Ebsco’s Novelist have reader’s advisory, book talks, recommended reads to name a few, resources at their fingertips.

Attendees are required to bring their own laptops. The training session will be from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Ebsco Novelist Training Session
Friday, December 18, 2009
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Guthrie Public Library
201 North Division
Guthrie, OK 73044
405.282.0050

Contact Linda Gens, 405.282.0050 or lgens AT cityofguthrie.com.

Rural Library Initiative

Title: Children’s Services Fundamentals

Format: Online

Dates: January 5, 2010 – February 1, 2010

To register for this workshop: Use the online registration form at

http://infopeople.org/rural/workshop/440

Fee:  $75 for those in the California library community and Infopeople Partners, $150 for all others.

Does your work in the library include service to children and their families? Are you new to your responsibilities for children’s services or returning after a long absence? Do you want to do a better job in providing homework assistance, readers’ advisory, library tours, or family programs?

Expert children’s librarian and author Penny Peck will help you to acquire knowledge and skills to make you more comfortable and confident about providing fundamental children’s services. As a result of the course you will be able to:

• Conduct a reference interview to match grade-appropriate resources with children’s information needs
• Determine children’s reading interests, including those of reluctant readers, and find books to meet those interests
• Plan and host entertaining programs that attract families to the library
• Conduct a book discussion group for school-age children
• Promote books and reading through booktalking, library tours, and displays

Whether you are new or not-so-new to children’s services, you’ll come away with resources, best practices, and useful tips and techniques that can be applied immediately in your library.

Because the topics of children’s storytime and collection development are covered in other Infopeople courses, they will not be covered in this course.

Course Description: This four-week online course begins with the basic services of reference, homework help, and readers’ advisory, then builds on those skills with library tours, booktalks, and basic youth programming. You will develop a booklist, record a booktalk, plan for a library tour, and do other assignments to practice the skills learned. The instructor will provide a variety of online resources and handouts as a toolkit to use whenever you are serving children and families in the library. You will also participate in discussion forums and online meetings as part of the online learning process.

Preliminary Course Outline: Using your web browser and your Internet connection, you will log in to the Infopeople online learning site and complete the following learning modules:

• Week 1: Children’s Reference and Homework Help

What is reference? How a child’s developmental level affects reference

Reference interview questions and techniques, including body language

Homework: finding what children need, which may not be what they ask for initially

Math questions and homework

Useful online resources for information and homework

• Week 2: Readers Advisory for Children

What is readers’ advisory? Overview of recreational reading for children

Recreational reading by grade level and by genre of fiction

Readers’ advisory interview questions and techniques

Finding read-alikes and books for reluctant readers

Online resources to assist with readers’ advisory

• Week 3: Programming for School-Age Children

Overview of library programming for youth (excluding storytime)

Entertainment programs from planning stage to delivery

Book discussion groups for older children and “tweens”

Summer reading programs

Do-it-yourself programs and films

Online resources for planning library programs

• Week 4: Tours and Book Promotion

Conducting exciting tours for classes visiting the library

Booktalking as a way to promote recreational reading

Other forms of book promotion including booklists and online book promotion

Simple library displays.

Online resources for tours, library instruction, booktalks, and book promotion.

Instructor: Penny Peck. Penny Peck has been a children’s librarian for 25 years. Her experience includes performing thousands of children’s storytimes, leading hundreds of book club discussions for students in grades 4-12, conducting hundreds of school tours and assemblies, reviewing children’s books and media, and conducting the Performers’ Showcase for auditioning library entertainment. She is editor of  BayNews, the newsletter for the Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California.  Since 2002 she has been a part-time instructor at San Jose State University, specializing in classes on youth and teen services and programming.

Time required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 3 hours per week. You can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night. However, it is recommended that you complete each week’s assignments within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: Any library staff who provide service to children, including reference librarians or other staff who substitute at the children’s desk; new children’s librarians or other library staff who are relatively new to serving children. This course is particularly valuable for support staff whose work includes children’s services responsibilities.

Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at

http://www.infopeople.org/training/learning_details.html

If you would like to subscribe via RSS and be notified whenever new Infopeople training events are available, you can use these links:

**For new on-ground or online workshops: http://infopeople.org/workshop/rss

**For new podcasts: http://feeds.feedburner.com/InfopeoplePodcasts

To view a complete list of Infopeople workshops and for general information about Infopeople Training opportunities, go to the main Infopeople Workshops page at http://infopeople.org/workshop

If you have questions about registration or scheduling of workshops, please contact Linda Rodenspiel, the Infopeople Project Assistant, at assist@infopeople.org or by phone at 650-578-9685.