ALA Midwinter 2011

Heartbreaking, But Necessary #alamw12

I just had to pack into mailing boxes my signed copy of John Green’s new book The Fault In Our Stars (Dutton), along with all of those books the publishers gifted me with.  (THANK YOU ALA Midwinter Venders!) ALA wisely invites the U.S. Post Office to bring their services to a corner of the convention floor so that we can use their boxes and tape to secure our free stuff for the ride home.  I came here with 38 pounds of suitcase and I can’t afford the airline’s overweight charge, so it’s a relief to have an alternative mode of transportation for all of those lovely books. However, I really wanted to start reading Stars, so it’s a little heart-breaking too.  Oh well, I hear that it’s not a book to be read around strangers in an airplane unless you don’t  mind crying around strangers in an airplane. Becky White…

ALA Midwinter 2011

2011 YMA Video

This year, ALSC was able to take some very informal video of the 2011 Youth Media Awards. We stress that this is not the official version. Sorry about the quality, our camera didn’t pick up the stage as well as we’d like. We’ll get it right next year! Regardless of the quality, you can definitely feel the excitement in the room before and during the announcements. Enjoy!

ALA Midwinter 2011

2011 Notable Children’s Books

Many people viewed the blog post earlier this month which listed the titles discussed as possible Notable Children’s Books for 2011. From the ALA ALSC page, here is a complete list of the 2011 Notable Children’s Books. Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators! Each year a committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children’s books. According to the Notables Criteria, “notable” is defined as: Worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children’s books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children’s interests in exemplary ways. According to ALSC policy, the current year’s Newbery, Caldecott,  Belpré, Sibert, Geisel, and Batchelder Award and Honor books automatically are added to the Notable Children’s…

ALA Midwinter 2011

Notable Children’s Books – Nominated Titles for 2011

After a full year of intense reading, evaluation, and re-reading by committee members, the final 2011 Notable Children’s Books Midwinter discussion list and ballot is now available.  Final selections will be made at the ALA Midwinter conference. The Notable Children’s Books Committee will meet Friday, January 7 through Monday, January 10, 1:30-4:30pm as well as Tuesday, January 11 from 8am-Noon at the San Diego Convention Center, Room 03. Chairperson Katie O’Dell promises it will be a lively discussion of the most notable books for children of 2010! Here is a complete list of the titles: Title Author Illustrator Publisher Fiction The Adventures of Nanny Piggins Spratt, R.A. Santat, Dan Little, Brown After Ever After Sonnenblick, Jordan Scholastic Aggie the Brave Ries, Lori Dormer, Frank W. Charlesbridge Alchemy and Meggy Swann Cushman, Karen Clarion Books Anna Hibiscus Atinuke Tobia, Lauren Kane Miller As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the…

ALA Midwinter 2011

Notable Children’s Recordings – Nominated Titles

The Notable Children’s Recordings committee has been busy listening their ears off! Ninety-eight titles are on this year’s  discussion list of nominated titles for inclusion in the ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings List for 2011. The discussion of these titles will be held during the ALA Midwinter Conference in San Diego. These meeting are open to the membership and are being held at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel (next to convention center) in Indigo 204 A/B at the following times: Friday, January 7: 9:00 to 5:30 Saturday, January 8:  1:30 to 6:00 Sunday, January 9:  9:00 to 6:00 Here is a complete list of the titles being discussed: Alchemy and Meggy Swan. 4 hr, 23 min.  Listening Library.  CD, $38.  1-800-733-3000. Ages 9-14. All the Broken Pieces. 1 hr, 52 min. Scholastic.  CD, $29.99.  1-800-724-6527.  Ages 12-14. Annie and Snowball and the Shining Star. 15 min. Recorded Books.  CS, $15.75; CD, $15.75;…

ALA Midwinter 2011

Library Programs for School Readiness

Do you work with preschoolers? Are you interested in services for preschoolers? Are you heading to ALA Midwinter?  You are invited to check out the Preschool Services Discussion Group meeting on Sunday, January 9th from 4:00 to 5:30. The group will meet in Room 30B of the San Diego Convention Center to discuss the topic of “Library Programs for School Readiness: Getting Kids Ready for School.” Jill Bickford from the West Bloomfield Township Public Library in Michigan will address the topic of How Libraries Can Help Parents Get Their Children Ready for School and Partnering with Schools, and Janet Ginsburg, a representative for Stuart Murphy, will speak on the new series of I See I Learn books. You are invited to participate in a round table discussion as well.  Come ready to share your ideas, programs, and services you have have for school readiness for kindergarten kids. Notes from this…

ALA Midwinter 2011

Midwinter Calendar and Updates!

If you’ll be in San Diego, join ALSC for these exciting events! FRIDAY, January 7 ALSC Speed Networking, 7:30 — 9 p.m., MAR/Santa Rosa The object of the evening is to meet as many professionals as you can… with Speed Networking! Join ALSC for this fun spin on the classic speed dating structure. Participants will be organized to move around the room every couple of minutes, meeting new colleagues and exchanging ideas. The event is free and refreshments will be provided. ALSC Speed Networking is being sponsored by Disney-Hyperion. SUNDAY, January 9 ALSC All Committee Meeting, 8 a.m. — Noon, SDCC/Room 32 A/B and 30 C/D All committees will meet during this time to discuss the year’s happenings and future plans. All members are welcome to attend and sit-in on open committee meetings! MONDAY, January 10 ALA Youth Media Awards Announcement, 7:45 a.m., SDCC/Ballrooms A-D The ALA Public Information Office…