Explore diversity, teens and reading with the Young Adult Library Services Association this November!

YALSA will host the biennial Young Adult Literature Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 5-7!

This year’s theme, “Diversity, Literature, and Teens: Beyond Good Intentions,” discusses today’s generation of teens — likely the most diverse generation ever. Does today’s young adult literature reflect the many different faces, beliefs and identities of today’s teens? What impact is this generation having on young adult literature and vice versa? Join YALSA as we explore the depth and breadth of contemporary literature in search of an answer to these questions.
On Friday, attendees can add an optional full-day preconference on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender topics in YA literature to their registration. They can also add optional half-day mini forums on street literature, teen readers’ advisory, or body acceptance in YA literature. On Saturday, registrants can add the optional Bill Morris Memorial Author Luncheon, featuring Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (Coretta Scott King Award winning author of Bad News for Outlaws) or a tour and reception at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

The symposium registration includes a Friday welcome reception, educational sessions on Saturday and Sunday, and an authors’ happy hour on Saturday afternoon.

All symposium attendees will receive a continuing education certificate showing the number of contact hours each person received. For example, an attendee who attended the preconference and four sessions will earn a certificate showing they received 12 contact hours.

Early bird registration (through September 10) starts at $195 for YALSA members. You can find a preliminary program, program list, registration and more at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.

Questions? Contact YALSA at yalsa@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4390.

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.

The third and final Hunger Games book, Mockingjay, cover is out! The release date is August 24th. *dance of joy*

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

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.

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.

December 1, 2009 is the deadline for the following award/grant applications.
Applications for awards and grants are now available on the ALSC Web site at www.ala.org/alsc If you have any questions please contact Linda Ernst, Grant Administration Committee, Chair <lindaern[at]kcls[dot]org>

Association for Library Services to Children

•    Bookapalooza! Each year the ALSC office receives almost 3,000 newly
published books, videos, audio books and recordings from children’s trade publishers for award and notables consideration.  At the end of the year, after the awards have been given out, ALSC selects three libraries to receive a Bookapalooza collection of these materials (estimated to be worth $10,000 each) to be used in a way that creatively enhances their library service to children and families.

•    ALSC/BWI Summer Reading Grant provides $3,000 in financial assistance to a public library for developing an outstanding summer reading program for children.

•    The Penguin Young Readers Group Award provides a $600 stipend, provided by Penguin Young Reader’s Group, for winners to attend their first ALA Annual Conference.  Applicants must have less than 10 years of experience as a children’s librarian and work directly with children.

•    The Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award was established with funding from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in honor of Maureen Hayes, to bring together children and nationally recognized authors/illustrators.  This award provides $4,000 to fund an author/illustrator visit to a school or public library.

Laura Bush Foundation

The Laura Bush Foundation makes grants of up to $6,000 each to update, extend, and diversify the book collections of school libraries. All LBF grants are made to individual schools rather than to school districts, county systems, private organizations, foundations, or other entities. LBF gives selection preference to schools in which 90 percent or more of the students receive free or reduced lunches and are likely to have the fewest books at home.
Foundation funds are available only for library books and magazine/serial copies and subscriptions. The Laura Bush Foundation is unable to honor requests for staffing, shelving, furniture, equipment, software, videos, classroom book sets or any kind of book guides, tests, or exams. Only one application per school is allowed per year.
Libraries at public and private schools are eligible to apply.

The deadline to apply is Dec. 31, 2009.

The application can be found at:
http://www.laurabushfoundation.org/web2/index.html

books

I had a goal this year to try and read 100 books. However, my goal did not take in account how to keep track of what I read. It is easy for me to finish a book and pick up another one without pause. And, what constituted “finishing” a book? There are several I started and could not finish for various reasons. Does reading 50 or more pages count, or do I have to read the entire book for it to count? So I’m back to the drawing board.

Here’s an idea for you, though. I know we just finished Teen Read Month for the teens, but what about the tweens?

Can your tweens out read you?

Challenge your tweens to try and read either more pages or books than you in a span of time. Meet with them and decide on rules that you both can agree, like how to keep track of what’s read, for how long and if will be there be prizes or bragging rights. This could be a great way for early Christmas giving as well. Have participants contribute a item of no more than $5.00, the winner gets the entire lot, or you can split the items up based on the number of pages/books read. They can keep the item, donate it or give it as a gift. Another idea is to have everyone contribute and the winner decides what local charity the items are donated. The winner gets their picture, name, charity and bragging rights placed in a public area for all to see.