Just as folks turned to backyards and public parks during COVID lockdowns, libraries had to shift their focus outdoors during building closures and beyond. Michelle Willis from Scotch Plains Public Library (NJ) demonstrated in “Beyond Storytime: Library Programs the Snap, Crackle, and Pop” with Denise Lyons (SC) that moving programs outdoors can be more than a solution – it can enhance them. And in “Black Kids Camp Too, Don’t They?” Michelle Martin stressed the need for more representation of Black children and families (and BIPOC at large) in wild, outdoor spaces.
Author: Eleanor Richardson
Play at #ALSC2022: Let Children Lead!
Play is the work of children. What kind of work do we want the children we serve to do? What kind of play opportunities do we want to create?
Reflecting on the Pandemic Reminds Us of What Matters Most #alsc22
What did your library do during during COVID-19 lockdowns? How did your services shift as infection rates, building closures, mask mandates, and patron safety shifted? And most importantly, what effect did this have on your staff and the children you serve? With the help of Samantha Eichelberger and Rosana M. Santana from Schaumburg Township District Library (IL) and Sarah Koncos, Glenside Public Library (IL), we gathered to consider these questions and more at “Pivot! Adapting Programming for School-Aged Children in a Changing World”. After hearing about how these libraries tackled the many challenges of the early pandemic with their school-age services, much of this program was devoted to small-group discussions of our own libraries’ responses. Now, I have to make a confession – I didn’t work in libraries until the summer of 2021. I didn’t experience the abrupt and unexpectedly long building closures, nor did I contribute to any of…
Live from Kansas City…
…it’s #ALSC2022! I’m thrilled to be at my first-ever conference – for ALSC, for libraries, for… anything! Looking ahead to this weekend, I’m keeping my mind open and ready to learn from the experience. While the official festivities have yet to begin, I’m here to share some initial thoughts.