I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: ALSC members are the association’s driving force! Through the expertise and creativity of our committee, task force, and other working group members, ALSC is able to deliver beneficial resources like professional development, reading lists, toolkits, and more.
Numerous committees are active in Children and Libraries (CAL), ALSC’s quarterly, digital journal, sharing their know-how, perspectives, and practical tips and information. Regular committee columns in each issue of CAL cover an array of topics such as public awareness, research, and children’s services management. In case you missed them, here are a few columns from recent CAL issues.
A Sampling of Committee Columns
Nurturing Summer Wellness: Strategies for Youth Services Librarians and Managers (Spring 2024)
ALSC member Maria Vega reminds library staffers to practice self-care during the very hectic, high-energy summer months. She shares wellness tips to help us stay charged and avoid burnout all year long.
Fostering Racial Literacy with Children’s Literature (Fall 2023)
Dr. Grace Enriquez and Dr. Detra Price-Dennis address the meaning and components of racial literacy. They present two children’s books, Beauty Woke and The Parker Inheritance, and how these stories can be used to help develop racial literacy in young readers.
Building in the Library: The Importance of Block Play (Summer 2023)
Betsy Diamant-Cohen and Lisa Sensale Yazdian discuss the benefits of construction toys and play, from developing problem-solving abilities and exercising imagination, to learning patience and persistence and fostering planning skills. They also share published resources that explain the value of these activities in children’s development.
Interested in Writing for Children and Libraries?
CAL features articles on current research and practice related to library service to children. We welcome your submissions for consideration. To learn more, see the Author Guidelines on the ALSC website.
More about CAL
Children and Libraries is a benefit of ALSC membership. Subscriptions to CAL are also available.
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This post addresses the core competency of VII. Professionalism and Professional Development.
Laura Schulte-Cooper (she/her/hers) is Senior Program Officer for Communications in the ALSC office and CAL’s Managing Editor.