The ALA Youth Media Awards will take place virtually on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, at 8 a.m. CT during LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience. That’s less than 2 weeks from now! Are you offering a Mock Election to prepare for this event?
Author: Mary Voors
Mary R. Voors is the ALSC Blog Manager. She loves reading picture books, early chapter books, YA fiction & nonfiction, and the occasional book written for adults. Mary has served on a variety of ALSC committees including the Newbery committee, the ALSC International Relations committee, the Great Web Sites committee (chair), the BWI Summer Reading Program Grant committee, the Notable Children’s Books committee, the Intellectual Freedom committee, the ALSC Board of Directors, and the Oral History committee.
Joining the LibLearnX Blogging Team
LibLearnX is coming up in just a few weeks this year and the ALSC Blog will be offering updates about what is happening at the conference with a team of conference guest bloggers. If YOU are interested in writing brief updates about the programs you attend, the speakers you hear, or the information you are learning, please let us know by filling out the Conference Blogging Interest Form.
Becoming a Guest Contributor for the ALSC Blog
Earlier this year, the ALSC Board of Directors revised the ALSC Blog policy. The essential mission of the blog remained the same: The mission of the ALSC Blog is to provide a venue for coverage of time sensitive news in children’s librarianship, current issues in the field, and programs, conferences, initiatives, resources, and activities of interest to ALSC members and those interested in children’s librarianship” and an important addition was made: “The ALSC Blog must align with ALSC’s vision, core values and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
Don’t Forget to Submit Your Mock YMA Results!
Is your library conducting a Mock Newbery discussion and election? Has your online book group been pondering which great picture book deserves to win the upcoming Caldecott Award? Are your middle schoolers reading, reading, reading in preparation for a Mock Printz discussion? Or maybe your bookstore is planning a Mock Sibert discussion and has pulled together a great selection of children’s nonfiction from this year for your customers to read and think about. When you complete your program, don’t forget to submit your winning title(s) to the Mock Youth Media Awards (YMA) results page on the ALSC Blog.
The 2022 Mock YMA Election Results Page is now open!
We are approaching one of my favorite times of the year. No, it’s not the first snowfall or the upcoming winter holiday season. It is the time of year to participate in mock discussions and elections of children’s books, and to submit YOUR Mock YMA Election Results.
Have you ever thought about blogging for the ALSC Blog?
As a reader of the ALSC Blog, we know you are interested in issues related to kids, books, and libraries. Are you also interested in blogging?
52nd Annual Coretta Scott King Book Awards at #alaac21
I was excited to attend the premier broadcast of the 52nd annual Coretta Scott King Book Award celebration this morning. While this event hosted on YouTube did not equal the excitement of an in-person gathering, it was wonderful to share the experience virtually, and to hear the winners offer not only their thanks for having their books recognized with a Coretta Scott King award, but also offer personal stories as to why they wrote the book or issues of societal impact related to their titles. Passionate and powerful, affirming and challenging, filled with both calls to action and personal statements… I was profoundly moved by the sincerity and truth of their words. I tried to think of how I could encapsulate this ceremony and the words spoken, and decided I really just wanted to encourage you to watch and enjoy the speeches yourself. It is available to view at https://youtu.be/0bFLbnvSc7c….
2020 Censorship by the Numbers #alaac21
The Assistant Director for ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, Kristin Pekoll, offered an “on-demand” session during the ALA Conference about 2020 trends and numbers as well as discussing how the information is obtained. It was a quick but fascinating look at censorship in our libraries.