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.
Administrative and Management Skills

Help! We Are Looking for Live Bloggers to Report on the 2020 ALSC Virtual Institute

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ALSC 2020 Virtual Institute

The ALSC 2020 Virtual Institute, one of the only conferences devoted solely to children’s librarianship, literature, and technology, is taking place in just a few weeks on October 2nd and 3rd. This year’s schedule includes six general sessions of authors, illustrators, and thought leadership in children’s literacy and development; a robust slate of education programs; and other virtual networking opportunities. The ALSC Blog would love your help! We are looking for Virtual Institute attendees to volunteer as live bloggers; these live bloggers are invited to write about what they are learning and experiencing as they attend sessions so those who are #leftbehind can share your excitement and enthusiasm.

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ALA Virtual Conference 2020

Notable Children’s Books Discussion List, Summer 2020

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Be a part of history! Join the Notable Children’s Books meetings from the comfort and privacy of your home or office. The ALSC Notable Children’s Books committee is taking their public discussions to you! This committee normally holds their evaluation meetings in an open, public forum at the Mid-Winter and Annual conferences. Without an in-person Annual Conference, the committee will host their discussions over Zoom, and YOU are invited to listen in. Audience members do not contribute to the discussion, but listen as the committee members debate each of the items on their discussion lists as they search for materials that meet the Notable criteria. This is an opportunity to hear about some children’s books that have been published in the first half of 2020; it is also an opportunity to learn about the evaluation process. Two meetings to be held on Wednesday, July 1 and Thursday July 2 at 1:00 pm Central…

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ALA Virtual Conference 2020

The ALA Book Award Celebration #TheBookAwardCelebration

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Today was supposed to be the Newbery Caldecott Legacy Banquet — the big celebration of children’s books at the ALA Annual Conference which honors some of the best of the best in children’s books which were published last year. As we all know, due to the pandemic, the “in person” conference was cancelled this year, and with it, the “in person” Banquet. But never fear! ALA has come up with an astounding day celebrating even more books for youth in an all day celebration! It’s The ALA Book Award Celebration! And that day is TODAY! Read on for for more information from the official ALA anouncement which gives all the details: The American Library Association (ALA) is offering an exciting new free all-day virtual event celebrating the winners of several of its major book awards, including the esteemed Newbery and Caldecott medals, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, the Printz Award,…

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ALA Virtual Conference 2020

Don’t Miss the Exhibits at #alavirtual2020

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I have enjoyed and learned from  many of the sessions I’ve attended at the ALA Conference. Some of the sessions which come immediately to mind are: the initial keynote address by Misty Copeland which was such an intimate and thoughtful conversation between the first African American female principal “dancer” in the American Ballet Theatre’s long history and the incoming chair of the the video visit with featured speaker Matthew Cordell as he spoke so lovingly about Mister Rogers, the subject of his newest picture book biography the timely panel discussion titled Are the Kids Okay? How Librarians Can Help Kids Navigate Socioemotional Stress or — as Kelly Jensen, the moderator, so eloquently stated — “All the different ways that a story can impact somebody, particularly when it comes to their mental health.” the session I found so VERY informative titled “Trouble in Paradise: Are You Violating Copyright by Using Social…

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