While I absolutely enjoy singing and using music during my baby and toddler storytimes, no one could ever mistake me for Lisa Loeb. It’s a good day if I remember to clap correctly to Bingo the Dog, nevermind stay in key. I’ve often fantasized about learning the guitar and being a kind of librarian lovechild of Joni Mitchell and Raffi. But alas, it is simply not to be. While I still hold out hope to one day learn enough chords to strum along to Wheels on the Bus, in the meantime I’ve found another way to strengthen the pre-literacy skills of my littlest patrons: American Sign Language (ASL). As evidenced by the popularity of baby sign books and DVDs, using ASL with hearing populations is a major trend. And with good reason. Babies are capable of understanding words and meanings much earlier than they are physiologically capable of speech. A…
Month: October 2008
Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Visit Award
“What was this writer thinking?!” “Would you like to ask the writer yourself?” Maureen Hayes knew the importance of bringing children and author/illustrator together and the impact it can have on their lives. In 2005, the Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Visit Award was established with funding from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. The award honors Maureen Hayes’ life-long effort to make such visits a reality. The award provides up to $4,000 towards the honorarium and travel costs of a writer/illustrator to visit a location where children might otherwise never have this amazing opportunity. The applicant must be an ALSC member, work in conjunction with other organizations, and be able to supply administrative support, facilities and visibly promote this presentation as a distinctive event. For more information, visit the ALSC website (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/profawards/hayesaward/index.cfm) or contact Linda Ernst . Applications can be found on the ALSC site under Awards & Grants –> Professional Awards….
Tech Savvy Librarians Moodle around with Booktalks and more
by Lisa Taylor Ocean County (NJ) Library If the inaugural session of ALSC’s new online continuing ed courses is any indication, they’re going to be a great success! In “classes” powered by the software program, Moodle, librarians gathered online to participate in Sharing Poetry with Children, Reading Instruction and Children’s Books, The Technology-Enhanced Library Professional, and in my case, The Tech Savvy Booktalker. Recent library school graduates are likely familiar with online classes and should find the format familiar and easy to work with. Less tech-savvy librarians should take the plunge and learn the benefits of online classes. Online courses run asynchronously; participants log in and participate when it’s most convenient for them, not the instructor. It’s easy to catch up on what’s happened in class since your last login. Online courses allow us to learn new skills without leaving the library for the day and wasting time (and gas!)…
Publishing Opportunity!
Many ALSC members not only work with children, but also with teens. Some of you may also be members of ALA’s Young Adult Library Services Association. Well, YALSA member, Jenine Lillian is working on a new professional resource called Cool Teen Programs on a Shoestring. The book will consist of different programs that are fun and appealing to teen audiences, and Jenine is looking for ideas from all of you! This is not only a great publishing opportunity for any Librarians who have had great and inexpensive teen programs, but also, there is the potential for them to share their ideas at a YALSA event at the ALA Annual Conference in July, 2009 with the editor. I’ve attached the submission form here for those of you who would like to get involved. The deadline for submissions is November 20th! Cool Teen Program Submission Form
Week of the Young Child
April 19-25, 2009, is designated as the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) – but it’s time to 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 boards, blank walls, even shelf ends can provide attractive display space. This project can provide terrific photo opportunities for families and the media. Begin with a simple phone call and follow-up with a letter Ask for child-created work only (no color-sheets or crafts from patterns – maybe children’s impressions after hearing a favorite story) Prepare a letter to send home with children inviting parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to the library through the month of April If art work has no ‘frame,’ back each piece with colored construction paper Identify the child care facility…
Check out the Cereal Aisle
First Book announced that they are distributing five million children’s books as giveaways inside boxes of Cheerios cereal. Be sure to display these books and others by the same authors or on the same themes in your library. The books, 3 million of which have been printed in both English and Spanish, are: Duck for President, by Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Betsy Lewin; When Dinosaurs Came with Everything, by Elise Broach; illustrated by David Small; Romeo and Lou Blast Off, written and illustrated by Derek Anderson; Monkey and Me, written and illustrated by Emily Gravett; Diego’s Wolf Pup Rescue, adapted by Christine Ricci; illustrated by Art Mawhinney. First Book, www.firstbook.org, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books.
A Warm and Fuzzy Storytime
We’re experiencing our first major cold fronts of the season in northern Virginia. We are ready to put away our short sleeved shirts, drag out our heavy coats, and throw on a heavy quilt or bedspread for chilly nights. It’s also a perfect time to do a blankets and quilts themed story time. Many children have a favorite stuffed animal or object that they cuddle before falling asleep. When that special item is missing, sleep becomes nearly impossible. That’s the situation in which Flora’s parents and siblings find themselves. They go on an extended search throughout the home and yard, with no luck. Flora grows irritated and sleepy as time goes on; eventually, despite the loss of her blanket, she succumbs to sleep. Her weary parents shuffle off to bed, where the hiding location of Flora’s blanket is discovered. With appealing pastel illustrations and a short yet engaging storyline, Flora’s Blanket will charm both children and parents. The children in…
New Series Beginning in November
In November ALSC will be starting a new series on the blog entitle, “Things I Didn’t Learn in Library School…,” to give our student members a feel for what it’s like to be a new librarian. Obviously Library School prepares you well professionally, but what about all of those “real life” situations that come up, and you’re left wondering, “What do I do now?!” If you have a humorous anecdote or a piece of advice you would like to share please send it my way. I’m going to compile responses and post a few on the blog every month. If you’re already an ALSC blogger, feel free to post your own come November! Please send entries to me, Jenny Najduch, at jnajduch@ala.org This is meant to be fun and lighthearted, so please, have a good time with it and share a story that will make fellow members smile! 🙂 Remember to check-back…