As my colleague prepared to attend her first ALA Annual Conference in Chicago later this week, I found myself daydreaming of the sessions I’d attend. My colleague is an adult services librarian, so her professional interests vary wildly from my own in youth services and early learning. I decided to scour the official scheduler to find all the early learning options and share my findings below. Definitely check out the 2023 ALA Annual Conference Scheduler to view session descriptions in full; I’ve only included a very succinct summary (any quotes are taken from the session description). All events take place in McCormick Place unless otherwise noted.
Thursday and Friday
These days include preconference workshops and professional meetings, many of which need a pre-purchased ticket. The opening general session features Judy Blume (!!) and the exhibit floor opens with lots of giveaways.
Saturday
Bright and early from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. are two sessions that seem fabulous:
- “Talk Story: Centering Oral Traditions to Advance Literacy Justice and Transform Community Relationships” located in room W186b. This panel discussion “will present Talk Story as a community of practice to recenter youth literacy programs as intergenerational literacy opportunities with emphasis on oral histories and traditions, intersectional community building, and cultural sensitivities.” Participants will have an opportunity to listen to short storytelling sessions and engage in a discussion on oral storytelling and its positive impacts within communities.
- “Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit for Libraries” will be in room W183b. Facilitators will share information on a free research-backed toolkit for librarians who serve families aged 0-8, developed by the Bay Area Discovery Museum and the California State Library.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- “Culture in My Neighborhood: Bringing the Arts to Every Community and Every Library” located in room W186. Perhaps more early learning-adjacent as it’s fairly all ages, this session is about “libraries and parks are connecting with the community to bring year-round arts opportunities to children, families, and adults.”
12:30 – 1:20 p.m.
- “Representing Deafness in Literature and Creating Deaf-Friendly Spaces” located in Exhibit Hall, PopTop Stage (end of 1600 aisle). Always useful to hear how to make literacy more accessible for Deaf, DeafBlind and Heard of Hearing patrons. Especially pertinent to those incorporating ASL into their early learning programs.
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- “Programming for Accessibility: Workshops, Graphic Design and 508 Compliance” located in room W181a. Listen to how the strive for accessibility impacted the founder of Mother Goose on the Loose: Hatchlings and the graphic designer and 508 specialists working with her on this program.
- “Reading Nation Waterfall Year Two: The Role of Libraries in Supporting Early Children’s Literacy in Tribal Communities” located in room W181b. Hear how the incredible Reading Nation Waterfall grant has worked to remove barriers to literacy resources and libraries in five tribal communities.
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
- “Supporting Young Children’s Social and Emotional Development with Children’s Literature” located in room W186. Book titles paired with developmentally appropriate activities to support social emotional development, participants are invited to actively engage in the practices.
Sunday
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
- “Stories to Empower our Communities: Promoting Diverse LGBTQIA+ Narratives in Picture Book Collections” located in room W184d. Join “to gain a better understanding of the current landscape of LGBTQIA+ representation in picture books and learn about new tools designed by the presenters to help you develop and advocate for rich collections that feature an array of authentic LGBTQIA+ stories.”
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Three different meetup opportunities. In theory you may be able to attend more than one!
- Preschool Services Discussion Group takes place in Hyatt Regency Chicago, Grand Hall H.
- ALSC Interest Meetup takes place in Hyatt Regency Chicago, Grand Hall 1.
- ALSC BIPOC Discussion Group takes place in Hyatt Regency Chicago, Grand Hall J.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- “StoryTeen: Encouraging Teen Interns & Volunteers to Offer Storytime, Support Early Literacy, and Explore Careers in Early Education and Librarianship” located in room W184d. A previous ALSC post, ALA Annual 2023 Program Preview #alaac23, discussed this program in detail.
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- “Transforming Everyday Spaces: Deepening Equity in Early Childhood Learning” located in W184d. Learn about the national effort to transform everyday spaces “into robust and creative early learning spaces that serve children in poverty and those historically excluded.”
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
- Poster sessions in room W190a include one called “Libraries, Museums and Hospitals: The behavioral impact that ‘Goslings-II’ early literacy programs has on parent-infant interaction in the NICU” (poster 29).
6:30 – 11:00 p.m.
- Wrap up the day with the ever-popular and always entertaining Newbery-Caldecott-Legacy Awards Banquet! Located in the Hyatt Regency McCormick, Grant Park ABC, pre-registration is required.
Monday
8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
- 2023 ALSC Awards located in room W470. Celebrate the Batchelder, Geisel, and Sibert Awards bright and early in the morning.
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
- ALSC Membership Meeting located in room W183c.
Tuesday
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Finish off the conference by listening to the Main Stage Speaker: Amanda Gorman and Chirstian Robinson speak about their upcoming book, Something, Someday. Located in room W375d-e/Skyline.
What are you planning to attend at ALA Annual?
Any must-see early learning programs, sessions, or even author events that I missed? Share them in the comments below!
Unable to attend this year? Join me in reading the updates and posts by guest bloggers all this week or follow #alaac23 on social media.
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Meg Beade Stowe is co-chair of the Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee and a Youth Services Librarian at Kitsap Regional Library.