I was so excited to see Teen Services Development Day (TSDD) added to the beginning of the ALSC Institute. As a manager of both children’s and teen librarians, it was always more important for me to send my teen librarians to YALSA and not take their place. With TSDD taking place on Thursday, I was able to attend my first teen-specific professional development event!
The day had some fantastic authors who spoke, from Delali Adjoa, who made the National Book Award Longlist with her first title, to Candace Fleming, whose nonfiction I have enjoyed for years. My breakout sessions brought topics from navigating generative AI to hosting inclusive large-scale programs. My takeaways include:
- Programming is about them, not you. So it is great if you like something or have a passion, but if it doesn’t interest the teens, they just won’t come.
- AI literacy belongs alongside information literacy and digital literacy.
- Ask*Check*Connect is a simple patron framework for using AI in libraries. AI is not taking the place of librarians. We can teach patrons to check where info came from, if info can be verified, and what AI may be missing or assuming.
- AI is here and if you aren’t learning it, you do run the risk of being marginalized.
- There are now 8 senses instead of 5: smell, taste, sight, hearing, touch, vestibular, interoception, and proprioception.
- If you don’t have the info, the next ALSC Institute will be in Chicago, IL, in January 2028. I have already had to submit my budget request for this one.
While my first TSDD event is done, ALSC Institute kicks off in an hour with an opening keynote from Angie Thomas. I am looking forward to a great Institute!
Conference Blogger Lisa Mulvenna (she/her/hers) is the Head of Children’s and Teen Services at Clinton-Macomb Public Library. She is looking forward to networking with colleagues and the ability to share ideas. This is her 5th ALSC Institute.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.
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