Hello and welcome to another scintillating installment in the “Behind the ALSC Scenes” adventure series!
As program officer for communications here in ALSC, I divide my time working on ALSConnect, the Kids! @ your library® Campaign, the ALSC Web site, Children and Libraries, non-serial publications, and the electronic discussion lists (not necessarily in that order!).
As you might gather from my job title and responsibilities, I like the written word. And this often amazes me, considering this very slow-reading gal spent every Friday of third grade DREADING the day’s torturous McCall-Crabbs reading test. (I’m cringing just thinking about those days. Talk about ruining a perfectly good Friday.) I’m sure I flunked every last one of those tests! Either I’d try reading the entire text and have NO time to answer the associated questions, or I’d skim the text so lightly that I couldn’t correctly answer the questions. (Doh!) Was it the strange allure of our makeshift library (where dear mom volunteered once a week) or the spiffy, easy-to-read, and eye-catching book club catalogs that drew me to words, books, and reading? I don’t really know, but I’m glad I found my way there despite the continual reading failures of third grade.**
But enough of those early formative years, back to the ALSC scene! Things are never dull here and there’s always something new to work on. Did you know, ALSC members, that our newsletter ALSConnect is now an electronic publication? The first paperless issue was September 2007. So, if you’ve been wondering why you haven’t seen a copy in your mailbox lately, please be sure to login and read all the latest news online. Just go to www.ala.org/alsc and click on Members Only — ALSConnect Online. ALSC members also receive an e-mail reminder each time a new issue is posted online.
Have you checked out the Kids! @ your library® Campaign? If not, you’re missing out! Our campaign tool kit offers so many free, that’s right FREE, resources for promoting the library and its services to children (k-4) and their families. There is a downloadable theme song “At Your Library,” written by the Grammy-winning Bill Harley, logos and public service announcements, library-themed games and activities, and much more. Our hard-working Public Awareness Committee is also in the early stages of developing promotion materials geared for kids in grades 5-8. Stay tuned as plans progress… www.ala.org/kids.
Okay, okay! I’ll stop shamelessly promoting pet projects! Thank you for reading and please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions about the Web site or electronic discussion lists, story ideas and news for ALSConnect and Children and Libraries; and feedback on the Kids! Campaign. I welcome your input!
–Laura Schulte-Cooper
**Don’t feel too badly for me! For Friday night brought the Brady Bunch and often mom’s spaghetti supper (two personal favorites!). So, Friday morning McCall-Crabbs reading tests be darned! Fridays DID finish out on a pretty good note indeed!