I started my Institute with something special this year–the Bill Morris Seminar. This is something special that ALSC offers as a way to train and mentor book evaluators for possible future ALSC evaluation committees. The process started in the spring with an application process and we received notification that we were accepted in late April. Then we spent May-September reading some preparation materials, including Kathleen T. Horning’s From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children’s Books. We received a title list of 5 picture books and 5 chapter books that were selected by the 2024 Morris Co-Chairs that needed to be read before today. Then we came prepared to engage, learn, and discuss.
The seminar was scheduled from 7 am-4:15 pm, but was broken up with information about participating on award committees, panels from past award committee members who discussed different facets of the process, and actual discussion time when we evaluated 5 titles based on Caldecott criteria and 6 titles based on Notable Books criteria. The day was thought provoking and an invaluable training for anyone who may have a future interest in serving on an evaluation committee.
I didn’t take a lot of notes as I was getting a lot out of the actual discussions, but some that I jotted down include:
- Find a way to organize that works for you. You will be dealing with A LOT of books (1500 was one number from Notable Books committee members). How are you going to sort them so you can find them? Also, how are you going to keep track of your notes?
- Try the books with kids and get their opinions of them, especially as you start to move through the process.
- Prepare for the books that you don’t like. Also, use a different lens on books that you love and prepare for those who may have concerns.
If any of this sounds interesting to you, I recommend watching for an announcement in winter/spring 2026 as ALSC prepares for its next National Institute. I highly recommend it.
Conference Blogger Lisa Mulvenna (she/her/hers) is the Head of Children’s and Teen Services at Clinton-Macomb Public Library. You can also find her online on X @lmulvenna. She is looking forward to networking with colleagues and the ability to share ideas. This is her 3rd ALSC Institute and she will be presenting on both Friday and Saturday.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.