Happy 100th birthday, Newbery! My ALSC Blog colleagues have done a wonderful job writing about Newbery events for #alaac2022, so read them (here and here and here)! I want to share a few highlights from two wonderful events.
Author: Katie Clausen
New Toys in 2022!
Discovering new toys for kids is one of the favorite parts of my job. From STEM to art to discovery based play, I envision young patrons’ faces lighting up even before I put new toys on the floor. There are fun things in 2022! Here are some highlights from the exhibit halls this year.
Middle Management and Leadership
Are you a supervisor or manager, but not the head of your department? I attended this #alaac2022 session “Supervisors in Transition: Navigating Moments of Change” because, while I’m not a new manager anymore, I always need new information, advice, and experience from others to navigate my role and mentor my direct reports.
The Art of Children’s Books #ALAAC22
Saturday morning at #alaac22 with pastries and three distinguished illustrators? Hands down, YES! This session was a wonderful blend of literacy, artistry, and storytelling. Daniel Bernstrom, Dan Yaccarino, and Ricardo “Liniers” Siri shared their own stories of creating picture books.
Embracing Diversity in Book Evaluation Committees #LibLearnX
Presenters Crystal Chen, Daniella Pagan, and Jessica Agudelo shared a wealth of knowledge in this session titled “Embracing Diversity in Book Evaluation Committes”! Even if you aren’t starting your own committee, I want to share valuable information for any library staff working with children. There’s too much juicy goodness to cover in one blog post, but here are some takeaways:
How to Think Like a Library Project Manager
An idea without a plan for execution is just making trouble for somebody else. – paraphrased from #LibLearnX presenter Don’t you love ideas? I sure do. During my first year as a children’s librarian, I wanted to do everything. Outreach, collection, storytimes, technology, you name it…bring it on. Fast forward. It’s the middle of a global pandemic. Staff. Are. Tired. What projects do we take on?
ALA President Patty Wong in Conversation with U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono #LibLearnX
It’s not every day that the first female Asian-American U.S. Senator and the first Asian American ALA president sit down and talk together! Today’s opening session was a kaleidoscope of thought, feeling, and action. Senator Hirono discussed her new memoir Heart of Fire, the story of her mother’s grit, grace, and resilience. The conversation developed into an intricate discussion of personal and professional values, including diversity, national identity, and using our voice. Here are some key takeaways: Every person has a voice. Use it! Speaking out can mean small things. Ask deep questions about systems and the world. Books broaden our horizons and expand our thinking. Be anti-racist: diversity makes our country strong. Encounter each other with grace, not divisiveness. ALA President Wong shared pieces of her family story as well. The two women together reflected on art, the state of the world, and then offered a call to action….
Song & Story Share!
Wow! This session was a plethora of amazing information. People shared in the chat, in a Google Document, and turned on their camera to share live. Topics included Baby Storytime, Favorite Storytime Books, Rhymes, Flannelboards, Inclusivity, and more! I’ll just share some highlights and links: The Resource Handout from today’s brainstorm is here. ALSC’s Virtual Storytime Services Guide is here. Miss Rose’s Ukulele Storytimes are here. A wonderful ASL (American Sign Language) resource is here. Someone shared an amazing personal Storytime Resources document (can’t find the person’s name- I apologize!). It’s here. Renee Grassi was a superb host! I had to download the transcript so I can look back later for all the great sharing! I could have been there for hours.