Blogger Kirsten Caldwell

Baby STEAM Program for Summer

We are officially in prep mode for our summer learning program! My library is using the iRead theme: Find Your Voice. I have a great love of STEAM and we already have existing programs for older kids but haven’t had anything for babies and toddlers that is STEAM related. STEAM allows children to find their voice in different ways and we are always trying to incorporate it more into our programming. Our newest program will be a drop-in program for ages 0-3!

ALSC Board

Meet Your ALSC Board: Maria Estrella

Monthly, we will profile current ALSC Board members. We hope to offer information about the people who work to guide the organization so that you can feel more comfortable in reaching out to them with your concerns, questions, or comments. This month, we invite you to meet ALSC Board member, Maria Estrella. How did you first get involved with ALSC? I first became involved with the Association for Library Service to Children approximately a decade ago. I was a Youth Services Subject Department Librarian, and my incredibly supportive Public Services Manager encouraged me to submit an ALSC Committee Volunteer Form.  There was limited representation of Latine librarians in the state of Ohio at that point in time, and connecting with fellow BIPOC professionals was a professional objective.  To my delight, I was selected to serve in the 2016 Pura Belpré Award with five amazing Latinas, one also being Colombian.   How…

Blogger Intellectual Freedom Committee

Changes to Roald Dahl’s Works Spark Controversy. Is it Right or Wrong?

The Roald Dahl Story Company, recently purchased by Netflix, has agreed to change the wording in 17 of Roald Dahl’s written works, after suggestions by consultants from Inclusive Minds, an organization that aims to represent a diverse society through books that foster “inclusivity, diversity, equality, and accessibility in children’s literature.” [Article here.]

Blogger Chelsey Roos

Poetry Programs for the Reluctant Poet

April is National Poetry Month! Many people find poetry intimidating. Between meter, rhyme scheme, teachers overly focused on anything written prior to 1900, and words like “troche” and “anaphora,” the language of poetry can seem complex. But it is not too late – or too hard – to unlock your inner poet. Consider adding one of the following poetry programs to your calendar. They all use common library or household supplies, take no special knowledge or skill to lead, and can be put together in an hour or less. Gather ye thine quills and parchment!

Blogger Children and Technology Committee

Coding and Beyond: Inspiring young girls to pursue technology careers

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, women are underrepresented in the technology industry – comprising just 25% of the workforce. These careers are often higher-paid, and technology skills are in high demand, so it should be an important mission of libraries to help ensure that young girls have opportunities to explore technology-related careers. (In this article, “girls” refers to all who identify as girls and is inclusive of gender-nonconforming children.) Many librarians are intimidated by the prospect of creating STEM programming for young children, but it can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor, with benefits that go beyond simply learning how to code.