As the ALSC Membership and Marketing Specialist, I usually have the honor of seeing members connect and collaborate with each other (both in-person and online!) It genuinely fascinates me and makes me so happy to see people go from being strangers serving on a committee together, to becoming friends in real life. Whenever I see these bonds forming right before my eyes, I’m always brought back to ALSC President Lucia Gonzalez’s ALSC Matters! column from 2020 where she said, “Throughout this time of transformations and uncertainties, ALSC performed its unifying role by being the platform where children’s library workers meet for the exchange of ideas…” ALSC is a unifier of people, ideas, creativity, and so much more! I am always reminded of this when it’s conference time. It’s been wonderful to see so many people again in real life and I hope all members, those joining online and in-person, are…
Category: – ALA Annual Conference 2022
Happy Birthday Newbery!
Librarians standing in line to enter the party celebrating 100 years of the Newbery Award at #alaac22 spontaneously broke into singing “Happy Birthday” setting the tone for a late afternoon party to end all parties.
Notes from the Show Floor (Plus Bunny Island)
Below the engaging sessions and awards celebrations of #ALAAC22, the exhibit hall (officially called The Library Marketplace and literally underground), has had a joyful atmosphere the whole conference. On Friday, opening night of the exhibit hall, publishers and vendors actually cheered as librarians and other conference goers descended the escalator. Everyone was so excited to be back!
ALSC Interest Meet Up at #ALAAC22
My Sunday morning at #alaac22 started with the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Interest Meet Up facilitated by incoming ALSC President Amy Koester. Always a good sign when you note for next year to have more chairs.
Magical Tea with #libcomix
Saturday was a “magical” day at #ALAAC2022. The Graphic Novel and and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) hosted a tea. But, this was not just any tea party. Attendees (it was a ticketed event) got to meet publishers and creators in a speed dating format. There were some festive costumes including a GNCRT member dressed as Alice in Wonderland.
Early Learning Activities to Support New Parents
And just like that, my time at #ALAAC22 is off to a fantastic start. Yesterday morning I attended the program ”Supporting New Parents in Diverse Communities with Creativity and Compassion” led by Dr. Tess Pendergrast and Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen (the creator of Mother Goose on the Loose). They provided many excellent strategies and fun new songs to use in outreach or programs with new parents and babies. I’ll list a few that stood out to me below.
The Art of Children’s Books #ALAAC22
Saturday morning at #alaac22 with pastries and three distinguished illustrators? Hands down, YES! This session was a wonderful blend of literacy, artistry, and storytelling. Daniel Bernstrom, Dan Yaccarino, and Ricardo “Liniers” Siri shared their own stories of creating picture books.
Taking Advantage of Schedule Changes at #alaac22
The last time I was at an in-person conference was ALA Midwinter January 2020 in Philadelphia, PA. I am excited to return to an in-person conference but feeling a bit of trepidation. My itinerary for this conference is a bit over enthusiastic. My intensive DC conference planning is packed full reconnecting with mentors, mentees, friends, committee members, translators, publishers, and of course authors, while trying to go to programming and go to the ALSC Awards on Monday morning to see the presentation of my favorite award – The Mildred L. Batchelder.