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 Christina Gonzalez and Lucia M. Gonzalez. Friday night of the conference will highlight Noche de Cuentos, a free and open-to-the public storytelling event celebrating El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) with activities for all ages. For more information, registration fees and registration form, visit the Latino Literature Conference page at www.ed.sc.edu/latinoconf or call 803-777-2901.
Month: February 2009
Libraries and NAEYC
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 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 providing the display…
A Behind the Scenes Look…
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. [youtube qcVZXq2eOAg nolink]
What I Wasn’t Taught in Library School: The Hokey-Pokey
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 the song. Luckily a kind group of regular library visitors for whom the Hokey-Pokey was the traditional opener taught it to me and managed not to laugh as I tried to figure out which one was my left hand (always a challenge). Although this may seem utterly ridiculous (and I’m sure I looked that way at the time) for me it’s a reminder that practical observation and/or experience in a library is an incredibly valuable part of library school education. As with any job, the nuts and bolts of what you do all day doesn’t…
Thom’s Message to ALSC
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 never met them, but benefited from their considerable contributions to ALSC, all the same. Kate was a good friend, a great lady, and a formidable children’s librarian. She was on her way to being an exceptional ALSC president. Her dedication will serve as an example to me as I move to take up this mantle. Things are happening quickly for me. I did not run for this office, and did not have a stretch of time to prepare myself for the procedural or philosophical facets of its many responsibilities. Similarly, you didn’t have the opportunity…
Graphic novels are haunting my dreams
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. You wonder, “Is it just that I’m now noticing pregnant women more — or are there really a whole bunch more pregnant women roaming the streets?!” This is how it is with graphic novels and me. Oh, I’ve been a fan of graphic novels for all ages for at least a year now (don’t snort — I’ve always been a late-bloomer). But suddenly it feels like graphic novels for kids are just exploding; you can’t turn a corner without bumping into some mention of them. Whether it’s various lucky ducks attending the New York Comic…
2009 ALSC Professional Award recipients
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 well in the words of ALSC member Mimi Kayden, “She knows so much, imparts it so well and is so entertaining when she does it.” The Fair Oaks branch of the Redwood City (CA) Public Library, partnered with the Garfield Elementary Charter School, has been awarded the 2009 Maureen Hayes Award. Award-winning author Pam Muñoz Ryan, whose books portray and honor the Latino cultural experience, will visit the Garfield school which, as shared in the press release, is 94 percent Latino. The 2009 ALSC Penguin Young Readers Group Award allows four children’s librarians to…
My First ALSC Committee: The Maureen Hayes Award
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 an author/illustrator visit to a library.” Working in a school as I do, I am well aware of the difference that meeting an author can make in the lives of children. The MHA exists to bring authors into libraries that would not otherwise have an opportunity to do so, and I hope that this post may encourage ALSC librarians to find school and public libraries that can utilize this award. The committee met on a snowy Denver morning to discuss the applicants. Since there are very clear rules outlining who is eligible for the award, going…