Last summer I attended my first ALA Annual Conference. I was excited but immediately felt adrift in a sea of conference-goers representing every field and aspect of librarianship. How did I find the children’s librarians? At the ALSC Meet-Up event! On Friday afternoon, 40 ALSC members took a break from the conference bustle and hoofed it to Planet Word, a literary museum in D.C. We reunited with old friends, made new connections, and had a blast playing and learning together in this interactive museum.
photo: Allison Knight
This summer, you can join in the fun at ALA Chicago! Meet fellow ALSC members and other youth services enthusiasts for a low-key gathering in downtown Chicago on Friday evening! (You know, before your super-packed schedule starts bright and early the next day?)
Not an ALSC member? This is a great opportunity to learn more about the organization. You can chat in person with committee members and learn how to get involved. Or just enjoy the camaraderie of youth library workers from far and wide.
We will meet at the Millennium Monument (a circular fountain right on the corner of Michigan Ave. & Randolph) at 6:00pm CT and then do a brief, self-guided walking tour of the highlights of Millennium and Grant Parks: Cloudgate (or, as everyone calls it, the Bean), the Lurie Botanical Gardens at the Art Institute, and then leisurely down to end at Buckingham Fountain. Join us!
RSVP here for more information.
Sarah Jo Zaharako is a youth services librarian at Wilmette Public Library in Illinois. This year, she launched an initiative called Let’s Learn Together, which provides a framework for families to engage in challenging topics. She lives in Evanston with her husband, three kids, two dogs, and a cat.
This blog post relates to ALSC Core Competencies of: VII. Professionalism and Professional Development.