Have you committed to a reading challenge in 2021? There are all kinds of reading challenges on the web, challenging you to step outside your reading comfort zone and check off certain reading tasks throughout the year. I think it can be a really beneficial for librarians because I think we’re able to provide better service to our patrons if we challenge ourselves to read widely. I wasn’t going to commit to one this year, but then I saw that the American Indian Library Association is presenting their first ever Read Native reading challenge and I knew that was the one for me!
Author: abbylibrarian
I'm the Children's Services Manager at the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library in Southern Indiana.
Coming Together for the #ALAYMA While Apart at #ALAMW21
Did you tune in for the live Youth Media Award announcements this morning?! It’s one of my favorite conference activities, whether I’m attending in person or not. I wasn’t sure what it would be like without the reactions from the crowd, so I made my own crowd!
Joy Harjo at #ALAMW21
This afternoon I was able to tune into Poet Laureate Joy Harjo’s talk while tackling some meal prep tasks in my kitchen. Joy Harjo (Muscogee (Creek)) is the 23rd Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry and the first Native American to hold the position. One thing that poet laureates do (I learned) is that she works on a special project of her choice with the Library of Congress. Joy Harjo’s chosen project is a story map of living Native poets called Living Nations, Living Words and it’s an amazing resource.
Exploring the Exhibits at #ALAMW21
As a collection development librarian, the exhibits are always a huge draw for me at conferences. Since we’re virtual this year, what do the ALA Midwinter 2021 exhibits look like? Well, of course I’m not able to pick up physical galleys (my shoulders appreciate that!), but there is still a lot to look through on the conference website. Bonus: many digital galleys are available to request by folks who aren’t registered for the conference, too!
A Choir Singing About African American History at #ALAMW21
As a youth specialist, I don’t always prioritize reading adult books, particularly doorstopper nonfiction history books. But I’m making an exception for Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America 1619 – 2019 edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, our ALA Midwinter opening speakers.
ALSC Mixer at #ALAMW21
What fun we had last night at the ALSC Midwinter Mixer! At live conferences, ALSC has been putting together dinners for ALSC members to get together and get to know each other. Of course, that wasn’t possible this year, but the ALSC Membership Committee threw a virtual mixer on Zoom, BYOD – Bring Your Own Dinner.
Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson at #ALAMW21
What does seeing yourself represented in books mean to you? This afternoon I had the pleasure to tune in to a conversation between the award-winning duo Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson, author and illustrator of Last Stop on Market Street, Carmela Full of Wishes, and the upcoming Milo Imagines the World.
Benefits of a Virtual #ALAMW21
It’s happening! I’m here! I’ve made it allllllll the way to my couch in the basement and my luggage made it all the way, too! Huzzah! 😉 I’m attending ALA Midwinter virtually and, while my overwhelming feeling is that I miss my people*, there are lots of things I’m digging about a virtual conference.