The good news is I’m here, which is more than I can say for last PLA. Snow was predicted (again!) for Chicago, so I hopped on a flight a day early on Monday night in hopes of actually getting here. Being early for a big (8,000 library peeps!) conference is a great idea. Saw the Nashville Public Library while it was still quiet-ish! an amazing storytime by…wait for it, 3! people who were not librarians but “performance artists.”There were lights, recordings, puppets, juggling, witty repartee and more. Lots of fun, and they’re doing it again tomorrow morning, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30. Brian Hull, or the “Professor” manages Wishing Chair Productions and told a few of us librarians about the deep, strong tradition of puppets here in Nashville. He’s super excited about the String City shows coming up which are an extra you can order on the PLA app.
Category: Children’s Librarians are Experts
Passive Programming Builds Community
Winter and spring breaks are coming up, which means our libraries might be more crowded than usual! This is a great time to engage library users, but can also be a bit stressful when trying to manage many age groups simultaneously. Your regularly scheduled toddler storytime now might include older siblings attending, and your children’s section might be filled much earlier than usual. So, how do you balance all of your patrons’ needs simultaneously? Passive programming! But, passive programming is so much more than a tool to help you multitask; it helps build community.
Are you interested in writing for the ALSC Blog?
Are you interested in writing for the ALSC Blog? Do you have an energetic/compelling/effective writing style? Do you want to help support the ALSC Blog mission “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?” Two opportunities await!
Virtual TBR: Books to Look for in 2020
The Youth Media Awards may have only been announced two days ago – and what incredible choices those committees made – but I’m already looking forward to tracking down the next best books of the year. With that in mind, I spent pretty much my entire time at Midwinter touring the Exhibit hall, chatting up vendors, and asking for book recommendations. Here are just ten of the titles for kids currently on my TBR pile:
Picture Book Month 2019
In celebration of Picture Book Month, I’ve yet again reached out to some of my favorite librarians for their takes on the best picture books of 2019. Like my August and October posts, the following are in the words of the librarians themselves.
The Art of the Con – plan, host, conduct and maintain!
The Art of the Con The Art of the con or convention is a fine art, but thankfully for you fearless reader, we have on hand Elise VanCise, creator and coordinator of the Annual Astor Library Geek Fest, now in its fourth year! Elise is the young adult coordinator for the Astor County Library in sunny Astor, Florida. First Things First! J – For the purposes of this article, we’re going to focus on what it takes to plan, host, conduct and maintain a successful con. But first, what exactly is a Geek Fest and why would a library want to have one? VanCise – Geek Fest is the name we gave to our mini-comic con or convention. It’s a one-day con where we have cosplay, anything you geek is basically our theme – superheroes, science fiction, horror – anything you want! This year we have exhibitors that do everything…
Holy Cupcakes! Batman Turns 80
80 Years of Conceptual Continuity Batman Day is coming up! Are you prepared? Monday, September 16th, 2019 marks the day it all began. The Batman character was born out of tragedy and flew into the psyche of comic book aficionados worldwide.
Readers Advocacy: Book Talking Your Library
National Library week may be over, but the Advocacy and Legislation Committee wants to help you keep the party going at your library. Picture books set in the library highlight the joy and importance of reading. For young children these books guide conversations about familiar experiences and reinforce the relevance of a library in their lives. In short, these books advocate for the library. Below is a limited selection of picture books celebrating the library. Create a display or book talk these titles and let your families inspire their own advocacy for libraries at home! What are some of your favorite picture books that celebrate all things library? Comment below and help our list grow! A Library Book for Bear by Bonny Becker. Illus by Kady McDonald Candlewick Press, 2014 A curmudgeonly bear does not want to go to the library. After all, he as seven perfectly good books at…