In the spirit of reunification and the inclusion of teens into the charge of the Library Services to Underserved Children and their Caregivers Committee: Many years ago, when I was regularly doing outreach to juvenile detention centers as a teen librarian, I arranged a summer schedule with an intake center nearby. The site served teen boys who were waiting for their placements—they might be released to their parents or assigned to a non-secure or secure detention facility. The center was very short-term; the boys were there no more than a week so planning programming meant something that was contained to that hour-long visit but couldn’t be the same week-to-week because there would be some overlap. That year, the summer reading theme was Get a Clue/You Never Know (I did say this was many years ago!) and as I struggled to come up with an activity for my first visit, I…
Making the Library Feel Magical: A Case for Creative Youth Spaces
I’ll admit it: I love a Youth Services department that looks like children actually spend time there. Give me colorful bulletin boards, giant cardboard creations, characters peeking out from bookshelves, seasonal decorations, interactive displays, and something slightly ridiculous made out of butcher paper.
Reduce Harmful Habits: Evaluating Library Programs
This year, “traditional” New Year’s resolutions through a library lens. So far, we’ve explored ways to exercise more, live life to the fullest, eat healthier, lose weight, save money, get organized, and learn a new skill. This month, tackling one of the most common resolutions: reducing harmful habits. Rather than focusing on our own habits, we’ll explore the habits library programs develop over time. Just because we’ve always offered a program or presented it a certain way doesn’t mean that it’s still the best option. Instead, thoughful evaluation can help us find what no longer serves community needs, library goals, or even staff capacity.
Triaging Your Work Flow
For most people, having a massive to-do list can feel extremely overwhelming. As summer comes to a close and the hectic back to school season begins, our daily to-do lists must pivot while we switch gears. Changing routines, schedules, and tasks can impact our responsibilities, projects, and daily duties. Having a system to organize our busy to-do lists can help to improve work flow and efficiency, while also reducing stress and overwhelm.
Reunification! September 1st is Almost Here
In just a few days, on September 1, ALSC and YALSA will officially come together as one division. I wanted to write a short reminder of what that means for you, where to find more information, and, of course, an invitation to get involved.
Malls and Libraries: The Rivals-to-Romance Tale of Two American Institutions
There’s a storefront at our local mall that has a year-round sale where everything is 100% off. It reminds me a lot of my library, actually. Just today, when I left with 11 books, the bottom of my receipt said, “You saved $198.97 by using your library.” As an 80s baby, I grew up in the height of mall culture. The time I spent in malls, “window shopping” with my friends, rivals the time I spent in the library. The irony is not lost on me. Or perhaps it’s not irony, but a trope. A rivals-to-romance tale of two American institutions. (Tentatively titled A Court of Food and Beverages.) Or a tragedy, depending on who you ask. While malls have more than survived in cities like the one I was born and raised—Miami, Florida—they’ve struggled in places like the mid-sized North Central Florida college town I’ve called home for nearly…
A Tribute to Dolly
Libraries lost a staunch and much beloved ally with the death of Dolly Parton on August 25th. Parton founded her Imagination Library in 1995 in honor of her father. Though she considered him the smartest man she ever knew, he never attended school and therefore never learned to read. Robert Lee Parton lived to the year 2000 and loved that little children called his daughter the “book lady.”
Back to School Picture Books
Back to School is here! This season brings a wide range of emotions for children. Whether they are excited or nervous, a great read aloud can help them to understand their feelings, connect with new situations, feel comfortable with change, and maybe even laugh about silly school shenanigans. The following books published in 2026 have stood out to me as great choices for this time of year.