A Peek into …. the William Morris Seminar!
As you walk into the room…. your eye scans from table to table, book by book. Amidst intermittent laughter you are drawn to expressions of reflection.
As a lover of books, you immediately recognize the devotion to librarianship and high regard for children’s literature. The silence, the laughter, the reverence for listening to learn engulfs the attendee in a community of enlightened solidarity. This is not a chance meeting, but a skillfully orchestrated series of events.
Attendees began preparing months ago, reading, critiquing and getting acquainted. Held biennially, the William Morris Seminar Book Evaluation training is a great way to kick off an ALSC National Institute. Join Individuals from across a spectrum of library related professional roles join together to experience panel and round-table discussions, Q and A sessions and of course the deep dive into our first love…book evaluation.
This was my first ever ALSC National Institute and I was primed and ready to embrace a day of networking and critical book evaluation. From the moment I sat down and said, “Hello, my name is…”, I was reciprocated with the passion and energy of others seeking to learn.
The Morris Seminar is a biennial, all-day seminar that takes place the day immediately preceding ALSC National Institute. Applications should be accepted in January 2026.
Conference Blogger Mitzi Mack (she, /her) serves as a media specialist for a local magnet middle school in Hillsborough County and a circulation specialist at the University of Tampa Library. One thing she’s looking forward to at the Institute is the opportunity to dig into award books in depth to gain a greater understanding and awareness of specific criteria. As a child, growing up, all she ever wanted to do was, read! In fact, Tell Me A Mitzi by Lore SegaI was a National Book Award finalist and the first book that helped her fall in love with her name. At the Institute, you might see her munching on Cheez-its and fruit snacks. If she could read one book again for the first time, it would be Babel…because it was one of the most inspiring and engaging books that spoke to the power of words.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.