Not to be hyperbolic in any way, but this year’s National Institute might be the most important ALSC Conference in years. This is the first time that YALSA and ALSC members will be together since the reunification, and it is also the first conference post-reunification where panels and presentations will include both children’s services and teen services. This is a big deal!
Category: Bloggers
#alsc26 Went to the Dogs!
In the best way possible! SPCA’s PAWS FOR LOVE was an In-Kind sponsor of the Institute, which means we had dogs visiting us at the Hyatt. Every. Day!! For attendees, speakers, or staff having a RUFF, stressful, or exhausting day, a team of amazing, adorable pooches were on standby to give us their PAWSITIVELY unconditional love. It was so restorative to pop over between tasks and soak up a bit of the love, joy, and serenity that was radiating from Violet and Rosebud. (I regret that I was unable to spend any quality time with Trixie!) The furry and feathered friends from the PAWS FOR LOVE therapy pet visitation program travel all across Erie County (NY), bringing their special brand of comfort and delight to assisted living facilities, courts, group homes, children’s facilities, and other locations where they are needed. And, these pet volunteers aren’t just of the canine variety….
Reflecting on #alsc26
As a new(er) librarian, this was the first time that I had the opportunity to attend ALSC National Institute, and let me tell you – it did not disappoint!
Reunification Recap at #alsc26
Saturday morning started bright and early for several ALSC members as we headed to ALSC 201 to discuss reunification updates!
Escape (Room) Your Book Club at #alsc26
This afternoon was full of play at #alsc26 as I learned how to transform my book club into an engaging tabletop escape room for teens and tweens!
Mastering the Dungeon at #alsc26
Have you ever wanted to start a TTRPG (tabletop role-playing game) program at your library? Perhaps you’ve never played a game yourself before, but you know that youth at your library would be interested. Perhaps you were not a theater kid and are worried that you just aren’t a good actor or good at improv. Or, maybe you have completed a few campaigns with a local D&D group, and you know how much preparation goes into a successful campaign. You worry that you just don’t have enough hours in the day to prepare something fun and engaging for your library patrons. This morning at #alsc26, Youth & Teen Services Librarian Elizabeth Sanderson aimed to help with these common challenges, and more!
Angie Thomas – “I’m Looking Forward To Getting Banned Again”
This year’s #alsc26 started strong with a delicious dinner and remarks from the amazing Angie Thomas, author of the frequently challenged title The Hate U Give. In conversation with ALSC president Ariana Hussain, Thomas discussed her notable Nic Blake and The Remarkables series, the current state of multicultural children’s books in the U.S., and her recent collaborations with other authors of books for tweens and teens.
Conference Blogging from the 2026 ALSC Institute
The 2026 National ALSC Institute is starting today! Participants will discover a wide range of educational opportunities especially developed for youth librarians. In addition, the Teen Services Development Day will focus entirely on educational programs designed to support Teen Services library staff and participants at the Bill Morris Seminar will together about children’s media evaluation techniques Are you unable to attend and wondering how you can keep up with all that’s going on at #alsc26? We’ve got you covered!