The University of South Carolina’s College of Education and School of Library and Information Science and the University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Science offer the second annual celebration of Latino children’s literature April 24 and 25 in Columbia, South Carolina. Speakers for this year’s conference include Dr. Sonia Nieto, Lulu Delacre, Maya [...]

April 19-25, 2009 is designated as the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) – so get ready now! The Liaisons with National Organizations Serving Children and Youth Committee (LNOSCY) encourages you to contact child care centers in your area to invite them to display children’s art work in your library throughout April. Bulletin [...]

Before the Newbery, Caldecott, King, and ALA’s other prestigious youth media awards were announced at the Midwinter Meeting in Denver, the selection committees crowded into tiny private rooms to call the honorees. This year, AL Focus was invited to capture some of those happy calls and reactions.
 

The story of what I wasn’t taught in library school is particularly embarrassing. Because it’s something I probably should have known long before that—and should probably never admit that I didn’t know. But in fact I started my first job as a children’s librarian without knowing how to do the Hokey-Pokey. I didn’t even know [...]

Judging by the activity in my inbox of late, many of you have heard that the ALSC Board has elected me as vice-president/president-elect of our division. The circumstances of my election are difficult, for all of us. Many of us knew Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz, and witnessed their industry and commitment first hand. Others [...]

You know how something happens that makes you more aware of something and then suddenly it seems like the whole world is full of this thing?  Your best friend gets pregnant, say, and suddenly you see pregnant women everywhere, or you finally learn what jejune means and the word is suddenly popping up every day.  [...]

ALSC offers several professional awards including grants and fellowships to recognize our members, support their outstanding programming, and aid in their continuing education. Congratulations to the following ALSC members!
Jane Botham is the 2009 recipient of the ALSC Distinguished Service Award. As stated in the press release, Botham’s contribution to the library profession is summed up [...]

Conferences tend to be a mixture of busy and fun, and this year I was anxious to get to Mid-Winter in Denver to take up my post as a member of the Maureen Hayes Award Committee. The purpose of the Maureen Hayes Award is to “bring together children and nationally recognized authors/illustrators by funding [...]

Join colleagues across the country as libraries nationwide celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day). Held annually on April 30, Día promotes the importance of advocating literacy for every child, regardless of linguistic and cultural background. Through Día celebrations, libraries showcase their multicultural programs and services. While supplies last, [...]

Thom Barthelmess, Youth Services Manager, Austin Public Library, has been elected vice-president/president-elect of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The vice presidency became vacant in late January with the sudden death of Kate McClelland, who had been elected to the position last spring. ALSC Bylaws [...]